Chapter 2

'Oh, I miss the comfort of this house
Where we are, where we are
Where we are, where we are
The floor under our feet whispers out;
"Come on in, come on in, where it all begins"

Lakehouse by: Of Monsters and Men

Emma hadn't realized how much time had already gone by when Ruby came in for the start of her shift at 10 o'clock. As usual Ruby unlocked the store, got the register set up, and went back to the studio to find Emma. She could hear Emma's Bluetooth playing as Ruby smiled admiring watching Emma so concentrated on her work.

Emma's concentration was suddenly broke when she felt a hand grab her shoulder from behind. She jumped up quickly while muttering cuss words to herself using her carver as a defense weapon.

"Shit Ruby! You scared me!" Emma yelled at her friend.

Ruby did nothing but laugh before responding, "That's what you get for leaving me without saying anything last night!"

"You seemed to be very well occupied…" Emma smirked back at her friend.

"Regardless Emma you shouldn't be walking around downtown by yourself that late at night."

"Why not? I've got this." Emma stated as she pointed down to her key ring to where a small can of mace was dangling.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "So did you leave shortly after I last saw you, or did you end up meeting anyone new?"

Emma laughed out loud as she looked at her friend, "Me? Meet anyone? How am I going to meet anyone when I'm not even looking? Besides I've got a great relationship right here." She pointed at her newest work of art.

"Well as amazing as that looks you can't have a relationship with your work. It's not healthy."

"What's the difference!?" Emma began getting defensive. Ruby knew that Emma's past relationships weren't the greatest, and that it was a very sensitive topic for Emma to speak about. Before Emma could continue speaking Ruby cut her off.

"I know. But before you write off all hope I was thinking that maybe you would reconsider and go on a double date with Kat and I…?"

"KAT?" Emma questioned. "This wouldn't so happen to be the tall long legged blonde from the bar would it?"

Ruby looked as innocently as she could at her friend.

"Oh my gosh! Ruby are you going on a second date? You must really like her. I can't even remember the last time you've carried on a one night stand to an actual date."

"Hey now!" Ruby defended herself. "Kat is a really amazing woman and we actually really clicked last night."

Emma scoffed, "Yeah clicked…" as she began moving her hands in a scissoring motion. She laughed as Ruby's eyes widened at Emma's actions before smacking Emma's arm playfully.

"For your information she didn't even come home with me, and for a change it was actually kind of nice." Ruby replied looking in quite a daze.

Emma rolled her eyes at Ruby's comment. "So that's why we're doing this double date? You think that if you actually court the girl your chances are going to change?"

"I'm serious Emma! I really think that there may be potential here… She's different. Anyways I would really like you to consider our offer."

"Our offer?" Emma asked.

"Well while we were dancing last night she had mentioned that she was standing at the bar earlier in the night because she was meeting some friends before I interrupted by buying her a drink. Now before you say anything I would never even mention agreeing to this let alone actually asking you if I didn't think that this woman would be worth your time. I know what Belle did to you really messed you up."

Emma cringed just hearing her name come from Ruby's lips.

Ruby continued, "I get that, but you can't continue pushing away every single opportunity that presents itself, and you a chance at being happy!"

Emma sighed. Ruby had a point, but a blind date, really? I mean how often do setups like this really work out? She began to think about how terrible this really could end up being. Ruby could read this in her face by the fear Emma expressed.

"Hey, trust me. I met her for a moment last night. She really seems like a great catch. I wouldn't put you in a situation that I didn't think would be worth your time, and she's absolutely gorgeous." Ruby interrupted.

Just as Emma began to come around to possibly agreeing the two girls heard the bell ring on the door at the front of the shop. Customers. Emma smiled as she said, "Saved by the bell."

Ruby turned her head over her shoulder as she walked away yelling out, "We're not finished with this conversation!"

Emma rolled her eyes again at her friend, but really began to think about what her friend had asked. The thought of dating again has not sounded appealing at all to Emma in the past couple years, and it honestly still didn't. She was content, comfortable, and happy. Wasn't she? She began feeling overwhelmed at second guessing herself, and looked down at her watch before seeing that it was now 10:45. She's already been working for over 3 hours before Ruby came in to disrupt her groove she had going on.

By now the rumbling in her stomach told her that it was time to take a break, and get some food. She walked upstairs to grab her wallet. She was definitely in the mood for something from the Panera Bread a few blocks down the road. As she was leaving she asked Ruby if she would like anything, but her friend politely declined going on about how she already indulged in a greasy breakfast sandwich on her way in to help with her hangover from the night before. Emma knew exactly how she felt. The local diner in town, 'Granny's' was a usual spot for the two of them to go especially for their hangover remedies after a long night out on the town.

As Emma walked outside it was an absolutely beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly, and the light breeze felt good upon her pale skin. It was the end of May the time of year she has been anxiously waiting for when the temperature rises, and there was a lot more of her hobbies she could pursue. She knew that walking the distance was the only means of travel for today. As she began her stroll she began to think about this woman of potential that Ruby had told her about. Was she tall? Short? Maybe she had blonde hair like herself, or was she a brunette? Would she have a creative mind with a personality to match, or a mathematical way of thinking where there was only one answer for every thing. Oh she hoped that she was at least open-minded. Emma felt a blush rising in her cheeks as she realized the entire walk she had been imagining the possibilities this mystery woman was. She shook her head feeling silly and childish again.

She finally arrived to her destination walked through the doors, and waited in line. She didn't even need to look at the menu considering that she got the same thing each time she went.

"Hey Emma!" The barista greeted her. "Let me guess… A cup of broccoli soup, and a French baguette?" Emma didn't know whether to be proud of the young woman, or embarrassed that she already knew her order.

"Yes please, and may I also have a large drink as well?" Emma asked.

"Oh of course! It will be out shortly." Emma then paid the young woman the amount owed, thanked her, and then walked away from the counter. She took her cup to the fountain machine, and picked the Sobe Lifewater before filling her cup to the rim. Her eyes wandered around the café observing the people dining in. There were varieties of all sorts of people may it be young college kids, older couples, to families, younger couples, and those like herself eating alone. She began to watch a few of the couples more intently watching the smiles and body language the individuals shared with one another. Emma began to feel a tinge of sadness run through her veins. Why was she so scared to try to love again? Why did she let that one person ruin her idea of the future of her happiness?

Maybe it was because she thought that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. She began to flash back to the night 2 years ago when she was arriving home from her night class. As she walked into the front door of the apartment she shared with Ruby at the time. Seeing the pair of red high heals made her stomach drop as she began to feel a pain in her chest. She snapped herself out of it. Emma thought that running away from everyone would solve the issue of never being hurt again. Why should she isolate herself from the chance of happiness over someone whom never deserved her in the first place. She was scared. She knew that.

As Emma finished up her meal she began walking back to her shop. The minute she walked through the door she saw Ruby smiling while she was texting on her phone.

"Get a room!" Emma jokingly said to Ruby. Ruby followed Emma as she sat down at the computer in the back.

"Sooo…" Ruby asked. "Have you thought about what you'd like to do yet?"

Emma looked up at her from the computer. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Come on Emma! If you come I promise to never try setting you up again."

As tempting as that offer sounded Emma believed it to be only about fifty percent true. Emma put her face into her hands and let out a big sigh, "Fine. On one condition if it's a dud you cannot stop me from dipping out early."

"Seriously?!" Ruby squealed from excitement. "Oh my gosh I can't wait to tell Kat!" She hugged Emma tight before pulling out her phone texting madly.

"What's her name anyways? HELLO? Earth to Ruby!" Emma said trying to get her friend's attention.

Ruby finally peeled her eyes away from her phone long enough to give Emma a smile before finally saying, "Regina."

Emma thought to herself, 'Regina' that was a different name.

Ruby laughed before saying, "You don't know any Regina's so stop thinking of people to associate her with to get out of this!"

Emma smiled to herself at the thought of her friend knowing her so well. As Ruby walked off and Emma began her work on the computer she whispered the name to herself as she smile slightly.

"Regina."