Friendship

Chapter two

Thank you all for your support so far and I am glad you are enjoying the story. Don't forget to click that review button, I would love to hear your opinions.

...

It was difficult to hear Ruby talking over the bustle of students rushing past them in the hallway as they went about their business for the day. Emma found she had to raise her voice over them all as she addressed her classmate, which was an awkward affair.

'That Miss Mills is pretty weird,' she said, hoping that no one was too interested in her 'new student status' to be listening.

With a shrug, Ruby chuckled. 'Just get on her good side. She's kinda scary when she gets mad but she's okay. Some of the lads call her the Evil Queen, 'she gave an almost theatrical wave of her hand, as though casting a spell, 'its an appropriate name I guess.'

They stopped at Ruby's locker, and Emma watched as she entered her combination and threw the door open. She tried to peek inside at its messy interior but Ruby swiftly slammed it shut, retrieving only a pack of cigarettes from amongst its contents. She stuffed them down her bra and tilted her head to Emma, indicating they should move along quickly before they got caught.

'Hey, wait!' Someone shouted out to them from behind.

Turning, both girls found Killian hurrying towards them, cheeks flushed and looking embarrassed. He smiled a bashful smile and rubbed the back of his neck as if unsure what to do. Emma looked him up and down. He was quite tall, his form towering over her and had a rough, scratchy-looking dark beard. She noted his thick black eyelashes and his black attire. Black eyeliner, she mused to herself, was this guy from a rock band?

Still feeling the effects of her encounter with him earlier, she crossed her hands over her chest and eyed him defensively.

'What's up?'

'Look, I just wanted to say that you can forget about what happened in class just now,' said Killian with a grimace, 'I was just being a jerk.'

Emma stared at him hard for what felt like minutes, rather than seconds. He sounded earnest but her body was already seized up, ready to protect herself against any sudden verbal harassment. When she finally realised his apology was sincere she offered him a light nod and with that, Killian turned and ran back to his friends, leaving the girls alone together.

'What the hell?' Ruby said to a confused Emma.

….

Ruby led Emma out of the school and onto an isolated part of its ground, just behind the gym where there was only the rustling of the leaves, and the wind bending around the trees. The back of the gym looked run-down, the walls loose of colour, the wood rotting away and the windows held up with metal rusted bars.

They came to an embankment, and with a confident smile over her shoulder at Emma, Ruby climbed down the grass banking and looked around to make sure the coast was clear, before pulling the cigarettes out of her bra. She slid one between her lips and lit it up. She then proceeded to offer one to Emma, who took it without hesitation, accepting the lighter and igniting her own. She felt the urge to cough but was relieved when she didn't. It had been a while since she had smoked but already her body was growing accustomed to it, as though welcoming an old friend back. She could feel Ruby's gaze on her, unaware that her new friend was thinking about the cigarette between her lips, jealous of it almost, watching Emma tasting and breathing it in.

'So, what's your story?'

'Its boring,' answered Emma, 'not worth telling. You?'

Ruby shrugged. 'Same really. Nothing exciting happens around here. Its just me and my grandmother. She runs the cafe in town.'

'Granny. We're renting from her.'

'Oh I didn't know you were renting from my Granny,' Ruby's eyes lit up. 'What do you think of the colour?'

'Ha, I didn't realise someone could like pink so much.'

'Yeah, she has a thing about pink. It's like a disease...it was only something small at first but within a few months the pink had spread everywhere. But anyway, there was something I wanted to ask you. I heard you got kicked out of your last school?" A twinkle in her jade green eyes, Ruby leant a little closer to the blonde.

Emma coughed, suddenly choking on a cloud of smoke before spluttering, 'where did you hear that?'

'Oh I have my ways.' Ruby smiled mischievously, before taking another deep succulent drag from her cigarette.

Emma stared into space and in a quiet tone answered, 'there was more to it than getting kicked out. But enough, what do you guys do around here for fun?'

'I will get it out of you one day Swan,' said Ruby, amused, 'but since you asked, there's the bowling alley in town. That's alright. And the small nightclub where they allow under eighteens on certain days, The Ice Palace.'

'The Ice Palace? Sounds a bit crap if I'm honest.'

'It's not too bad. Woman called Elsa runs it, and her little sister goes to our school.'

Emma nodded and silence filled between them. It wasn't awkward. There was a relaxed air about them. Ruby sneakily glanced at Emma, taking in her features. She was pretty, she noted, her blond hair, her pale smooth skin, those soft pink lips...

Emma coughed realising she was being stared at. 'What?' she demanded, breaking the silence and forcing Ruby to busy herself by stubbing out her cigarette.

'We should really get to gym, or Hood will be pissed off.'

'Hood?' Emma arched an eyebrow and followed Ruby who said no more.

They walked around the side of the gym, joining up with their classmates. All girls, Emma noted, the boys were on the other side of the field doing something else. Mr Hood, the teacher stood before them, a handsome man with a toned body, strong jawline and dazzling smile. The girls were all but swooning over him and that much could not be denied. You would have to be blind not to notice the great bulge in his track trousers and Emma found her gaze drifting there of its own accord, much to her discomfit.

'Your the new student I presume?' he said, 'Miss...?'

'Swan. But Emma is fine.'

'Good to know. Right girls, you know the drill. Get your kit on.' He enthusiastically clapped his hands together once, encouraging them to move.

'Don't worry, there's a kit waiting for you in there,' whispered Ruby and once again, Emma found herself being led away, into a communal changing room. She inwardly winced, when realising they would all be changing together and pulled her top over her head slowly when she located the newly packed uniform with her name on it, as if wanting to delay the process somehow. She noted that there was a musky smell of rotten wood in here too, as the girls began to change around the oak benches.

Ruby stood behind Emma and tried not to look at her as she changed, but somehow found herself taking a sneak peak at her toned abs and defined back. Blushing slightly, at the girls petite white bra, she tried desperately to make conversation.

'Man, I hate this lesson.'

'I love the outdoors,' said Emma, smiling with excitement, 'especially running.'

They talked a little more about this and that before Mr Hood was calling from outside for them all to join him. In the brisk wind on a spring morning filled with sunshine, Ruby found that she struggled to keep up on the track with Emma at all. She had to stop for short intervals and coughed and gasped short deep painful breaths. Eventually, when it got too much, she stopped completely and walked the rest of the way. I really need to kick those cigarettes, she thought as she watched Emma down the track, running with complete ease.

Mr Hood stood at the beginning of the track near the gym, timing them all with a stopwatch. He was very impressed, arching both eyebrows as he saw Emma's time, three minutes exactly. He laughed and cheered, pumping his arm biceps in the air saying with his husky voice, "well we have a new record!"

Emma, now feeling the strains of her labour, tried to catch her breath and sucked in the crisp spring day . Her shorts allowed her to try and cool off, as the sweat poured down her head and back. Ruby finally caught up staggering behind her, really struggling to breathe in the natural air.

'You...should try and quit...smoking...kid,' Emma advised between her breaths.

'Shut...up,' coughed Ruby, 'you...you wise...ass.'

It came suddenly. Like a prickling at the back of her neck, grinding into her skin. Emma felt someone's gaze on her, like she was being watched from afar.

Looking up towards the school, she saw the faint outline of someone standing in the window. She swore for a moment that it was Miss Mills, for the figure was womanly, but the way the sun was glaring down into her eyes made it so she wasn't quite sure.

….

Regina was in her classroom enjoying a coffee, smelling and taking in it's alluring aroma when something caught her eye from the window. Running around the track far in front of any other pupil was the athletic Miss Swan.

Regina smiled as she saw her run far ahead of the other girls. In that moment she felt a slight twinge in her stomach. Was it butterflies, perhaps? The feeling intensified into a panic as she saw Emma look up suddenly. She darted to the side, trying not to spill her coffee in the process. Excitement and terror running through, she realised Emma may have caught her staring.

…...

Emma started walking back from school at midday with Ruby. They both had two free periods and they were glad of the break. Her mother, she noted as she peered through the classroom window, looked like she was having a rough first day, what with the paint covered floor and the multicoloured blues, greens and yellow hand printed walls.

'Bella was NOT impressed you beat her in gym today,' said Ruby, and both girls laughed, 'you were on fire running around that track! Even I was impressed.'

'Hey you make me sound like I have no skills,' said Emma, playfully punching her arm.

'Well, you are a delinquent.'

'Whatever.'

'We should hang out more, Swan.'

Emma nodded, 'I'd like that Red.'

'Red?' Ruby arched her eyebrows up, confused.

'Yeah, your lipstick earlier?'

Ruby felt heat engulf her face. If Emma should only look a little closer, she would see the pink tinting her cheeks. She laughed nervously and said, 'yeah, cool nickname. Anyway, before I forget, here's my cell phone number,' she handed Emma a piece of paper, 'give me a text later, yeah?'

She gestured down a long winding street, filled with ancient houses and equally ancient trees.

'This is me. I'll talk to you later. See you Swan.'

Emma watched her run off down the street, school bag bouncing over her shoulder, before she turned and headed back home. It wasn't that far of a walk but it gave her a little time to think about her first day and how it had gone.

The streets were busy, people leaving school or coming from work. She crossed the road to pass the old library she saw yesterday when arriving at Storybrooke. It looked bigger now with its white exterior panel wooden frame, and the clock in the centre was like a giant, rounded face and large ticking hands.

Finally reaching her destination, Emma glared at the outrageous pink house that was now her home She checked the post box and was disappointed to find they had no mail. She was still surprised she had heard nothing from her father, but he was busy with his new life and probably had very little time to think about her.

Like I really care, she thought as she opened the front door and let herself, looking around at the unpacked few remaining boxes. She made her way upstairs, kicking her shoes off and jumping onto her bed, hearing the springs creak and squeak under her weight.

Sighing she looked at the book that fell out of her bag. The Colour Purple? She picked it up, examining the cover of a woman in purple sitting in a house. She looked at the back and scoffed before throwing it back onto the floor. 'Like I have time to read that shit.'

She threw her headphones in from her green Ipod before scrolling to blink 182 and attempted to forget about the world.

….

A couple of hours past and Emma's stomach began to gurgle with hunger waiting for her mother to come home. She looked at the clock. 3:00PM. It was unusual her mother was not home yet but it was her first day as well. She remembered Ruby's number. Emma dug it out of her school blazer before entering it and texting her. Hey Red, fancy fd? Moments later she heard a ping!

Sure,meet me at Granny's?

Emma quickly grabbed a white t-shirt from her wardrobe, some slick skinny blue jeans and her favourite red leather jacket. Making her way down the street she finally made it to Granny's a little after 3:30PM.

Walking up to the small diner, there were flowers in hanging baskets on either side of the front white door alongside a few small chairs and tables where some residents were sat, soaking up the sun. Making her way into the building the bell jingled and she began quickly scanning for Ruby.

Granny was behind the counter serving a customer before her eyes met Emma's. She turned and shouted behind her. "RUBY! EMMA'S HERE!"

Emma shoved her hands in her pockets a bit awkwardly as some curious people began looking at the new comer. Ruby arrived moments later wearing tight blue jeans, and a blue tank top. She pointed to the empty table at the back of the diner.

'I would recommend the beef burger and milkshake,' she said, sitting down and offering Emma a menu.

'That sounds amazing. I am sooooooo hungry.'

Emma scanned the menu quickly, taking everything in. There was so much variety and the more she looked, the hungrier she felt. She looked up at Ruby, indecisive on what to have. She just wanted food. 'What are you having?'

'My favourite a grilled cheese toastie, and a chocolate milkshake.'

'Sounds good. Think your right, I'll stick to the burger.'

'Great, let me go and tell Granny.'

Emma began looking around the Diner as Ruby disappeared with their order. It was quite small, but it had a welcoming feel to it. There were metal red seated stools at the bar which had a small assortment of cakes set across its top, and the walls were an ashen white with shadowy trees imprinted all along its texture, creating a darkness about the place. The booth in which she was sat was also red and the the condiments were cute, in a sickening 'american-honey' kind of way with the ketchup bottles in the shape of an actual tomato.

Ruby returned shortly and Emma leant forward to discuss the awful morning she'd had. 'What's the deal with that Headmaster Gold?'

'Why did something happen?' Ruby asked.

'Well...let just say he didn't give me a warm welcome.'

'Hmm...well just try to avoid him. He gives me the creeps.'

"I know, he scares me too, 'Emma leant even closer, 'what's this Ice Palace like? I would love to check it out, there doesn't seem to be much here in town to do.'

'There's plenty to do. You got this Diner, hiking in the forest, there's the Bay that does boat trips, and sometimes we have parties on the beach...but the Ice Palace is pretty cool. Everyone from our school pretty much goes there, and Elsa is a little bit abrupt but I usually hang out with Anna.'

'Anna?'

"Yeah, I mentioned her earlier, remember? Elsa's sister, she's really nice and very perky.'

Granny soon brought out their food and Emma could feel her mouth begin to water as her sizzling burger and fries was placed in front of her, served with green salad and ozzing melted cheese dripping out and down the bun.

'That looks very sexy Swan.' Ruby said as she grabbed the tomato ketchup to drizzle over her fries alongside her cheese toastie. She laughed as Emma picked up the full burger and sank her teeth into it, moaning loudly in appraisal.

…...

Regina finally began packing up her bag after her last class of the day. Sighing with relief, she exited her classroom and began walking down the hallway, a few students drifting past her. A classroom door was ajar and as she glanced in she saw the new teacher cleaning the walls with a soapy brush and bucket. She chuckled before deciding to go and introduce herself. She knocked the door gently and leant in saying.

'Hey, you must be the new teacher, Miss Blanche?'

Mary-Margaret gave a tired half smile replying, 'yep that's me, but Mary-Margaret is fine and as you can see these little terrors have been very creative today.'

'They can be troublesome, hence why I teach secondary. I'm Regina by the way. Hope you settle in ok.'

"Nice to meet you,' said Mary-Margaret, 'I love kids, but I wont lie its been a tricky first day.' She looked up at the clock saying and frowned. 'Is that the time already? My daughter will be wondering where I am.'

'You have a daughter?'

'Yeah, Emma. We just moved here from New York. What do you teach?'

A flicker of recognition took over Regina as she began to see the resemblance of the round face and warm eyes between this woman and her new student. Trying to shake away her thoughts, she replied, 'English, and ah yes, she was in my class today. She has a lot of catching up to do I wont lie.'

'Well I will see to it that she does. I better get back to cleaning this up. I'll see you around, yes Regina?'

'Sure thing, see you tomorrow in the staff room.'

Regina left and carried on walking to her car. She pulled out her keys from her jacket, pushing down on the key button to open the doors of her sleek new jet-black porsche. She slipped inside and sunk into the fine leather seats, starting the engine, relishing in the purr as she accelerated off, back to her house near the bay.

….

Emma laughed loudly as they left the Diner behind, enjoying the story Ruby was telling about one of the boys, Kristoff, and how is clothes had been stolen in school when he was in the showers.

'And he had to go to Mr Hood to borrow some clothes for the day,' said Ruby, eyes twinkling under Emma's joy.

Their laughter was cut short by a loud roaring from the bottom of the street. Going at a remarkable speed was a black porsche, darting like a bullet from gun and whizzing their way. Emma wolf-whistled her admiration.

'That's one bad ass car,' exclaimed Ruby.

'Yeah, its pretty nice,' Emma agreed, 'I wonder who's driving it?'

'Miss Mills,' her friend answered, 'she lives on the outskirts near the bay. Got a pretty fancy house up there. If you believe it or not she came into a bit of money when her father died. He left her thousands.'

It shot past them to the end of town at which point Ruby grabbed Emmas hand, pulling her across the street saying, 'come on, I've got something to show you.'

Emma didn't resist as she was dragged across the street, and behind a few houses, confused to where they were going.

Ruby looked at her reassuringly, 'don't worry, she said, 'trust me it will be worth it!'

They walked for about ten minutes, over a large open green field until they came to the most beautiful lake Emma had ever seen. The light filtered over it, making the smooth water glimmer and all sources of wildlife flocked in its centre, ducks and waddling ducklings, fish bubbling at the surface and wild birds of prey, flitting above. Emma was so awe-struck she didn't even notice that she was still holding Ruby's hand.

'I love this place,' her friend said shyly, 'I thought I would share it with you.'

They were both mesmerised by its natural glory and they only let go of each other when they reached the lake edge, watching the ducks quacking as the bathed themselves. Ruby looked a little disappointed at the lack of contact, but Emma didn't notice. The wind was rustling the leaves that danced on the trees, and something had settled between the girls, something exhilarating.

'Thanks Red, its beautiful.'

They sat on the grass together, feeling the sun touch their skin and the grass licking at their fingertips. There was a tightening in Emma's heart as she watched a duck nuzzle her ducklings along the embankment and into the water.

'You know my dad used to take me to places like this.'

'Yeah?'

'Yeah, before he left me and my mother.'

Ruby frowned, 'shit...' she murmured.

'Very shit, he's busy enjoying his new life with Kathryn.'

'God, I'm...I'm sorry to hear that. Sounds awful.'

'Yeah,' Emma sighed, playing with a strand of grass 'I hear from him sometimes but he's usually busy.'

'I know how you feel, my parents left on a big adventure when I was young. I haven't seen them since.' Ruby's voice was tinted with bitterness.

'That sucks.' She brought her hand closer to Emma again, touching her briefly before letting it drop away.

'It's ok... it was a long time ago.'

Silence filled the space between them and each girl allowed the other to sit with her thoughts and make peace in their own individual time. There was a comfort there, their hands not quite touching, their broken hearts not quite moving and all the while, taking in the lake with teenage leisure.

Maybe moving here wasn't such a bad idea after all, Emma thought, Ruby seems pretty nice so far.

She looked over at Ruby whose eyes were on the skies, watching the clouds roll by.

'You know Red, I'm glad we met,' she said with a smile.

Ruby's hand found Emma's again, and she claimed it possessively, cupping her palm with her fingers. There was a twinge of something in Emma's stomach but she did nothing to stop her friend. She turned to look at the lake, completely at ease for the first time at Storybrooke, and didn't see the look of sheer, greedy joy that that had taken over Ruby's face.

'Me too Swan.'

…...