(A/N) Thank you all for reading! Even bigger thanks to both L and ohthesefeelingz for helping out!
Remember guys, reviews are my motivation (hint hint)
Onwards with the story!
Once Claudia had dragged Emma to the back of the room and planted her firmly between herself and Steve, it was time to wait for the infamous Helena and Regina to appear.
"So. Which ones are they?" Emma asked as she watched every pupil walk into the room
"That's no fun. You have to guess" Steve stated as he placed his books onto his desk. Emma let out a huff
"I don't care though" Emma sighed
"Lie"
"Dammit" she sighed again
"Swan, Jinksy, if you both told a lie to one another, what would happen?" Claudia spoke suddenly causing both Emma and Steve to stare at her
"Like, would the world implode?" she added. Steve and Emma stared at her for a moment, and then back at one another
"Lets not find out shall we?" Emma suggested. From the corner of her eye she saw two figures enter the room, Emma turned her attention to the two women. One had long, dark hair and damn was it possible for hair to be that shiny? Emma thought to herself, her head was dipped slightly, hiding part of her face from Emma's view. The second girl followed suit, short black hair.
"Holy crap. That's them?" Emma asked, her eyes not leaving the two girls as they made there way to their seats
"We have a winner" Steve chuckled
"Holy crap which one is which?"
"Regina is the one with the short hair" Claudia stated. Emma watched Regina walk around her desk to her seat, she walked as though she could command an army
"She acts like a queen" Emma stated with a shake of her head "So the other is Helena?"
"You got that right"
"Are they like... top of the school?"
"Yes and no" Steve replied, only to be met with a confused stare from Emma
"What Jinks is saying is, yeah, they're top of the school because they're all mysterious and all the boys want them but at the same time they aren't because... well, they're mysterious, like I've hardly ever seen them talk to anybody else, well I've seen Helena chat to the occasional person but Regina? Not since last year"
"I don't think I've even seen them talk to one another" Steve added
"Weird"
"Well? What do you think?" Claudia asked
"I don't know, I haven't spoken to them! But I get a bitchy, full of herself vibe from Regina" Emma admitted.
"Wait, where's Ruby?" Steve asked
"Oh yeah, Myka said she'd be back for class..." Emma replied
"Oh well- Crap, Mr Nolan. Okay Emma, rule 101 of world history, unless you want extra homework, don't let him catch you talking ok?"
"Right"
"That was borrriiiing" Emma whined as soon as they were out of earshot.
"You picked the worst time to show up" Claudia laughed
"I thought I was going to fall asleep"
"You did" Claudia stated with a straight face
"lie" Emma grinned
"I hate that Jinks 2.0" Claudia frowned. Emma made an attempt to reply but was cut off by the sound of cheering coming from around the corridor. She watched Claudia and Steve share a concerned look
"What? What's happening?" Emma asked. Not giving them a chance to reply she followed the sound to a group of students crowded around by the lockers.
"Emma wait!" she heard Claudia call from behind her, instead of stopping Emma pushed her way through the crowd to the front, there she was met with Pete being pushed around by the footballer from earlier, Neal. Myka was stood nearby and before she knew it, Steve and Claudia were by her side
"I take it that's why Pete hates the football team so much?" Emma asked, only receiving a frown and a nod from Claudia, Emma bit her tongue. Myka approached them
"Why isn't anybody doing anything?" Emma asked again, her tone becoming angry
"You don't-"
"fuck with the football squad?" Emma finished for Myka who nodded. She looked back over at Pete, who's nose was now bleeding
"Fuck that" Emma growled, ignoring Claudia, Myka and Steve's attempts to stop her, Emma walked up to Neal, grabbed the back of his collar and slammed his face directly into the locker next to where Pete was stood. Horrified gasps filled the air as Neal dropped to his knees. The three other footballers stood awe-struck, as did everybody else who was currently surrounding the scene.
"Why don't you all take a fucking picture? It'll last longer!" Emma yelled at the crowd.
"You okay?" She turned to Pete
"Holy crap that was awesome" He stuttered causing Emma to grin "You're shaking" He stated looking down at her hands
"Yeah well-"
"Miss Swan!" Emma and Pete turned to see Mr Nolan, the history teacher walking up to them "Principals office. Now. Lattimer, get to the nurses office"
"But Sir.." Emma began to defend
"Office. Now" He pointed towards where the principals office sat before getting to his knees to check on the still kneeling Neal Cassidy. Emma let out an agitated growl before being dragged away by Pete, she turned to glance at her friends, who shot her apologetic smiles, except for Claudia who was grinning and holding her thumbs up in approval. As Emma turned to walk in step with Pete she caught eyes with Helena who was stood a short distance away, Regina was stood close but seemed indifferent to the scene that had just unfolded, Helena however seemed intrigued.
"That was awesome" Pete repeated again, shaking Emma out of her trance
"Thank you" Emma mumbled
"Seriously, but you're going to be in a lot of trouble now"
"He was harassing you!" they stopped just outside of the nurses office
"Look, it's a long story, I'll explain everything if you get back to class" Pete sighed and disappeared into the nurses office.
And that was how Emma found herself sat outside of Mr Gold's office. Emma let out a long sigh, in all of her past schools, this was the quickest she had found herself in this position.
In the past Emma had tried not to get attached to anybody, not that that was difficult. Nobody wanted to get to know her, she was the "weird new girl", her expulsions from the other schools had been due to similar incidents, getting into fights- Emma had tried to explain that it was all in self defence, but that had been lost upon the ears of the headteachers, if you don't fit in. You don't belong.
"Come in" a voice from behind the door called. Emma stood up and took a deep breath before entering the room.
"Ah Miss Swan, do take a seat" Mr Gold gestured to one of the two empty seats opposite his desk, Emma quickly obliged
"What brings you here this afternoon? I trust you're finding the school satisfactory?" he asked, Emma noted how his voice had a seemingly cheerful tone to it despite his otherwise stoic face
"Actually sir... I may have gotten into a fight"
"On your first day? My my, you certainly know how to make a first impression, who may I ask was the poor soul?"
"The football guy, Neal something" Emma replied quickly. She watched as Mr Gold's entire body language changed immediately
"And why, may I ask was you fighting him?"
"He was harassing my friend"
"Ah, a good that you have made a friend, a Peter Lattimer I assume?"
"You assume correct"
"Now why would you step in?" Mr Gold asked
"Because I protect friends"
"But you have only known him for a few hours" Mr Gold replied
"Well then I was doing it because it was the right thing to do" Emma shot back. She didn't like this guy. Not one bit. Mr Gold seemed to pause in thought for a moment
"Well then Miss Swan, you're lucky you decided to make your presence known on a day where I'm in a good mood. A weeks detention, who was the teacher who sent you here?"
"Mr Nolan."
"Good" Mr Gold wrote something on a piece of paper before handing it to Emma "I trust you'll show this to Mr Nolan after you finish today's classes" he then handed Emma another slip of paper "And this to show to your new parents" Mr Gold's voice had a slight sneer to it, it took most of Emma's willpower to not bite back at the dig.
"You may go back to class now" He gestured towards the door. Emma wasted no time making a break for the exit. "Oh and Miss Swan?" Emma turned to face Mr Gold, her hand already on the handle "Don't bother Mr Cassidy again okay? Next time you're in here, you won't get off so easily, do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal" and then Emma was gone.
When Emma walked into psychics five minutes later she was relieved for two reasons, one: Pete was there and seemed to be well, two: they had all saved her a seat. After mumbling a half arsed apology to the teacher she took her seat in between Pete and Claudia, dropped her bag to the floor and placed her forehead on the desk
"How bad is it?" Claudia asked
"Weeks detention"
"Shit Swan, it's your first day here"
"Tell me something I don't know" Emma sighed
"You're lucky though" Myka piped up from beside Pete, Emma lifted her head to face Myka "Other kids have been expelled for less when it comes to crossing Neal"
"Seriously?" Emma asked, the entire group hummed in response "Why?" this time Emma directed her question to Pete
"Neal is Mr Gold's son" Pete whispered, now Emma knew why they always sat at the back, less chance of getting caught for talking.
"None of you thought that would be important to tell me before I smashed the principals kids face into a locker?!"
"We tried!" Steve spoke up
"You did kinda go 'Fuck this' and ran right into it" Claudia added
"Don't get me wrong it was bad ass" Myka added
"Totally bad ass" Pete finished. Emma let out a quiet whine
"You think Neal is going to have it in for me now?"
"It's a...possibility..." Pete replied
"And I can't fight back otherwise I get expelled right?"
"Pretty much" Claudia nodded
"Now I totally understand why none of you stepped in to defend Pete, how is your nose by the way?"
"It'll be fine, my body is too bad ass to let something like this hold it back" Pete winked
"Still no Ruby?" Emma asked, suddenly noticing the lack of the 6th member of their little group
"Nope, she'll be pissed she missed your totally kick ass moment"
"Does she always miss classes?"
"It's not a normal day if she doesn't miss at least one" Myka laughed
"Swan." Claudia spoke suddenly
"hm?"
"You are awesome"
"...thanks?"
"That's Claudia's way of saying welcome to our crazy little family" Steve clarified
"For better or worst" Claudia added
"Most likely worst, we're all pretty messed up" Pete smiled
"That's a relief, I'm pretty sure my messed up levels are reaching critical mass" Emma mumbled
"Yep. Totally one of us" Claudia folded her arms and grinned. Emma couldn't help but grin as well as she folded her arms as to be able to rest her chin on them.
"Have fun at detention Em's" Pete winked as the rest of the group prepared to go their own ways.
"Gee, thanks" Emma rolled her eyes
"It'll be fine" he replied encouragingly, pulling her into a quick hug "What's your number Em's? We'll start coordinating meeting up before classes"
"I...don't actually have a phone" Emma admitted as she stared at the floor
"WHAT" Claudia yelled, drawing the attention of passing students. "Swan. I am giving you a phone tomorrow okay? Okay, well now that that's cleared up. I have to get going, later nerds!" Claudia waved and set off out of the building.
"Man I'm going to stop by Granny's on the way back. Pete needs pancakes..." Pete mumbled
"Pete stop thinking with your stomach, god!" Myka groaned "So we'll see you tomorrow?" Myka asked
"Yeah.." Emma replied "Yeah definitely" She grinned "I better get to detention before I get another week thrown on..."
"Yeah, you don't want to be late, see you tomorrow Emma!"
"Bye Ems!"
Emma waved as Pete and Myka began to walk away from her before turning in the direction of Mr Nolans class.
He hadn't paid her any attention, just thrown a piece of paper down and told her to write "I will not fight" two hundred times, before disappearing off to the staff room.
An hour later Emma emerged, wrist aching and exhausted. Sliding her bag over her shoulder Emma quickly made her way towards the exit, she could hear people in some of the classrooms, why people stay behind to take part in extra curricular classes she will never know.
Emma exited the building and began to walk across the car park
"Hi there"
Emma had never moved so fast in her life, she spun around to the source of the sound clutching her chest
"Holy mother of god" Emma whispered to herself.
"Apologies, I didn't mean to scare you." Emma looked up at the sudden visitor. It was Helena
"You're English" Emma stated, Helena faltered for a moment, clearly this was not the reaction she had expected
"Yes. I am, are you okay?" Helena sounded concerned now. Emma realised she was still clutching her heart
"Yeah, yeah I'm good. You scared the crap out of me" Emma took several steady breaths to calm herself down
"I'm Helena, Helena Wells" Helena held out her hand
"Emma Swan" Emma replied as she shook Helena's hand
"You're new yes?"
"Yep"
"You made quite the first impression today" Helena remarked, a slight smirk on her lips
"So I've been told"
"You're different. I like that" Helena stated as she stared at Emma
"Thank you..." Emma looked around, noticing that Regina wasn't with her, after a moments thought she couldn't help but wonder why Helena was even here in the first place "...What are you doing here?"
"How do you mean?" Helena appeared to be genuinely confused
"School's finished, are you here for a club... or to meet your friend or what?" Emma couldn't help herself. Helena laughed, just laughed
"I'm not here for a club, and if you're referring to Regina. No I am not waiting for her, she left with everybody else"
"Then why are you here? I'm assuming it wasn't to corner me in the school parking lot"
"A girl is allowed to have her secrets is she not?"
"She is indeed" Emma agreed. The pair fell into an abrupt silence. "I...I better go" Emma gestured towards the exit
"Yes of course" Helena nodded "I hope to see you around Emma Swan"
"Yeah...Okay" Emma replied cautiously "Bye Helena" she called over her shoulder as she turned to walk away
"Goodbye Emma" Helena called back before turning her attention back to the adjacent Gym building, a frown playing across her lips
Emma unlocked her front door to be greeted with darkness, frowning Emma flicked on a light switch and made her way towards the kitchen, noticing a post it note of the fridge Emma pulled it off
"Hi Emma, hope you had a good first day. Me and James are working late tonight- there's pizza on the side, help yourself
Marie X"
Emma sighed and stuck the note back to the fridge, grabbed the box of pizza and walked up to her room. The walls lay bare and there was only one box of possessions that remained unpacked. Marie had taken her shopping before they had moved in so that Emma would have plenty of clothes for school. They were nice, her adoptive parents, it made a pleasant change. Except they were never there.
With a sigh Emma dropped onto her bed, her final thoughts before drifting off to sleep were of her new-found friends.