Love Sick

Chapter 1

Emma was walking through the mall, on another boring Saturday - same mall, same dull people every time.

'Emma?' Came the curious voice of a woman.

Emma turned around. 'Hello. How are you?' she said, pretending to recognise the extremely elegant, skinny brunette that stood smiling at her because she didn't want to hurt the woman's feelings - she seemed kind and honest.

'Yes, I thought it was you,' the stranger said, looking her up and down quickly. 'I saw you in the book store just a moment ago, but couldn't quiet place you.' She paused for a moment and wagged her finger at the blonde. 'Then I remembered. Emma Swan. The girl who broke my Killian's heart that one summer.'

Her smile turned into a little smirk and she looked knowingly at Emma for a split second.

And it was then that Emma remembered her.

Emma knew exactly who she was and all of a sudden she felt somewhat unsettled by her presence.

Her name was Regina Mills.

Emma had never been sure but Regina might have caught her kissing someone - someone who wasn't her son. It had happened at some party on the first night that she'd been back home from her first (and last) year of college.

Emma looked down. She wouldn't mention it. Plus, she probably hadn't see her. It was too dark. 'Well, it wasn't anybody's fault...' she started, 'the break up I mean. Killian and I both came to a -'

'What happened is none of my business of course,' Regina interrupted.

Emma couldn't read her expression. If Regina had seen her she hid it well or perhaps, she just didn't want to get involved. Either way Emma didn't want to think about what had happened that night and she hoped that Regina wouldn't bring it up again.

'Anyway how have you been Miss Swan? How long has it been?' She took a quick sip of her coffee, eyeing Emma over the rim of her small, rectangular spectacles.

Emma couldn't remember her wearing glasses. She noticed a piece of torn string dangling from them. She must of just bought them and ripped off the tag.

Regina saw Emma eyeing her glasses. 'I only wear these for reading. I hate them,' she remarked.

'Not true. They look nice,' Emma said.

Regina took them off and slid them into her coat pocket. 'I know you're lying, but you're sweet to say so anyway.'

She smiled at her, and Emma couldn't help but smile back.

'So tell me what have been doing with yourself? You were so smart. I bet you're a Lawyer! You went to law school after graduating from Pol Sci right?'

'I'm a paralegal at a law firm,' Emma said in one quick breath. 'I took some time off after completing Pol Sci. I'll be graduating from law school at the end of the year,' she added.

It was an outright lie and Emma was not a liar. But she did not want to admit that she had dropped out of her political science degree and was now a Receptionist at a law firm. The plan had been for her to go law school.

It was embarrassing, plus people seemed to feel uncomfortable when she told them what she did, as though they felt bad for her. They were right. Emma detested her job - from the rude, mean people who she had to deal with and who enjoyed belittling her to the horrible air-conditioning vent that she sat beneath that made her sneeze fifty times a day.

Regina's eyes lit up with joy. The other woman was genuinely pleased for her and Emma felt a pang of guilt strike her chest.

'Wow! That's fantastic.' Regina smiled in admiration at Emma's achievements.

Emma pursed her lips together. 'It's nothing really,' she said in a small voice. 'I've not even finished it yet.'

'Don't be silly! You've done really well for yourself Emma. Good on you,' she said, nodding her head in approval.

'Thank you. Now tell me about you!' Emma said trying to change the subject.

Regina shrugged. 'Same old same really. Still a maths teacher.'

'I thought about becoming a teacher once. Thought it would be fulfilling,' Emma told her genuinely.

Regina knitted her brows together and shook her head. 'Don't,' she said, warning her off the profession for good. 'The pays rubbish and the kids are rude.' She looked down at her GAP jeggings that would pass off as Pradas (the woman could pull off a black bin bag). 'I have no money to buy anything decent - fashionable, you know?'

Emma couldn't help but laugh.

'Don't laugh,' Regina told her playfully. 'You should marry well - as a back up.' Her eyes opened wide suddenly and she asked, 'Are you married?'

Emma shook her head. She wished she hadn't brought up the topic of marriage. It made her feel uneasy.

Regina let out a small sigh. 'It's hard isn't it to find the right person?'

'Men are so needy. Selfish even. I can't stand them,' Emma blurted out without thinking, which was very unlike her.

Regina cocked her head curiously to one side. 'You're not into men then?' she asked, her eyes never leaving Emma's own.

Suddenly in Emma's mind the mall went silent and the people seemed to disappear.

Regina Mills had seen her.