A/N : Here the update, as planned. Like I already said, I will update once a week for now, not more, even if you request it ;-) I don't have a lot of free time and my betas can't only work on correcting my stories, they have a life too XD

Thank you for all your kind messages, either here or on twitter, I'm really glad to see you're as enthusiastic about this story as I am. If you are starting to think of theories about this story or what the next chapter is about -based on the title I give at the end-, do not hesitate to share them. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'm letting you discover this new chapter...

The car

Robin's waiting for her at the place where they first met, like every morning.

It's been their ritual for the last three weeks. He offered to meet somewhere in town in the morning and walk together to school -he takes the bus, but if spending more time with her means making a detour, he doesn't mind- but she declined his offer, quickly explained that she was always dropped and picked up in front of the school at a specific hour every day, following a very tight schedule, and he had wanted, really wanted to ask more. He hadn't, didn't want to scare her so soon.

But the fact that she makes a point not to talk about it is even more disturbing, intriguing, raising questions in his mind.

He saw her ride, eavesdropped from the other side of the school's wall after she bid him goodbye. A black Chevrolet with tinted windows, a driver who never gets out of the car, always parks at the same spot, as regular as a clockwork. The license plate is strange, a four letter word, customized, shining, unmistakable : GOLD.

He noticed several of them in town, actually, and although he doesn't know much, he heard of a casino, a place only made for the very rich or those with gambling tendencies. He's never been there, doesn't even know of its location, and Robin can't help but wonder if there is in fact a connection.

If that very wealthy person running the place has some kind of connection to this sweet, kind, funny girl he's discovered Regina Mills is, or if he's completely mistaken.

Speaking of her...

Regina walks in with a distant look on her face, one of those façade meant to hide her every thought from him and the world -he honestly hasn't managed to read her very well in the small time they've spent together, but sometimes she lets him see some glimpses, when it's safe, when she's not at risk to give too much. Her head is down, hands gripping the handle of her bag on her shoulder tightly.

She looks... nervous? Anxious?

No.

Unsettled maybe? Or worried? Concerned?

Alright, maybe if he simply asks, she'll tell him.

But even though he wants to ask her, wants her to open up, he knows she won't. If he has learned anything about Regina Mills during these three weeks, it's that she loves to speak about a lot of things, as long as it's not about herself. It's not that she doesn't share anything. They've talked about books, movies, music. She tells him about her plans after high school (they just started their junior year, so it's in two years, but they're already looking and filling college applications), about her ambition to study economy and trading -something he has difficulties understanding. When he asked why, she just shrugged and changed the subject.

But when he shares family's memories, anecdotes about him, his parents, tells her how the plumber ruined everything in their bathroom the first week they moved in, how they had to wash themselves with the sink in the kitchen, she just listens. Sometimes, she asks questions, seems to be pretty interested, at least more than any ordinary people would be. It's almost as if she doesn't know what he's talking about, doesn't know anything about what a normal family, a real and loving one, is. Like she has... no parents, perhaps?

But then again, who is paying for that luxurious car to come and pick her up every day?

Robin's been trying to understand who she is, but trying to read between the lines is exhausting sometimes, especially because she doesn't let him in.

He honestly can't complain, though. After all, she doesn't know him, not that much. He's only a stranger coming from the other side of the world, a guy who decided, for unknown reasons, to stick with the loneliest and most mysterious girl in the whole school.

But she seems to appreciate him nonetheless. At least, she doesn't complain about having to hang out, eat lunch, and team up with him in class, nor about having to help him get caught up on the four weeks of school he missed.

There are times, though, when she seems to look for that loneliness again, like she's missing it, and it doesn't go unnoticed by him. He sees it in the way her gaze flickers repeatedly to her book, the same one he saw her read eagerly, devouring actually. When that happens, he offers to go sit in their spot, the place where they met, where he's currently waiting for her, and lets her read. He stays with her, but doesn't disturb her, instead goes through his facebook page, talks with his friends from London, starts wracking his brain over the math problem they have to solve for the next day.

Other times, he senses her need for more alone time, for more privacy. During those moments, he lets her be. She usually disappears for the whole break, whether it is for lunch or a pause between two classes, only shows up five minutes before the bell rings. Where she's going and what she's doing is a mystery to him, one he doesn't have the guts to ask about. After all, everyone has their own secret garden, and he'll be damned if he robs her from that.

But right now, watching her walk briskly in his direction, he can't help but loath this look on her face. A look filled with sadness, fear and discomfort.

Well, whatever it is, he can't let her stay in that state, right?

So Robin jumps from the wall where he's sitting, bends slightly to catch her gaze, smiling despite his own anxiety.

"Hello, milady!"

She almost jumps back when she hears him, oblivious of his presence, and he feels a hint of guilt hit him, his hand already reaching for her arm, keeping her upright, a light touch, meant to be comforting.

"Robin, you scared me!" she almost scowls, but not quite -he knows when she's pissed at him and this isn't it-, and places a hand over her chest, trying to slow down her racing heart.

"I'm sorry, Regina. Honestly, I thought you saw me coming. Or at least..." he trails off with a smirk, "knew that you were coming close to that spot where I wait for you every morning."

She seems to realize his words then, looks around for a second, and sighs, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I overreacted," she apologizes.

He thinks she might add something, about her state of mind maybe, the reason why she didn't see him, the reason why she was so caught up in her thoughts that she forgot where she was. And she almost does, opens her mouth as if to say something, but closes it at the last minute.

And Robin knows that's all he'll get for today.

Yet, he can't help asking, locking their eyes again, frowning with concern. "No apologize needed. Are you alright?" He punctuates his words with a slight squeeze on her arm, but she slips the mask on immediately, the way she always does, a weak smile appearing on her face as she tucks her hair behind her ear -he knows this is part of the façade.

"Yes. I am. So, tell me..." her tone has changed, shifted into something lighter, something less preoccupied and mostly, something he knows will make the conversation about him instead of her. And as expected, she does. "Are you ready for that biology test?"

He gives her that break, knows she will only level up her defenses if he keeps pushing the subject. Instead, he grunts, lets his head fall back as they start to enter the building.

"Oh God! I better be! I studied all night. Thanks for those revision sheets you gave me by the way, they saved me a lot of time!"

"Of course," she shrugs. "I don't mind. I have them for every class, you just have to ask."

"And you wondered why I wanted you to be my guide here?" Robin teases, bumping his shoulder into hers playfully, earning a soft smile, and maybe -at this point he can't tell if he's imagining things or not- he catches sight of a slight blush in reward.

"You know, I could teach you how to make your own." she offers, looking up at him. "It's even more effective when you make them yourself."

"I'm not saying no. But please, not today!" he decides. "I'm gonna need a break after two hours of wracking my brain over this damn test, and the only free period we have today is right after." He looks at her with pleading eyes, reminiscent of a puppy dog, joining his hands to add to the caricature. "Please, tell me you won't make me study after that! I'm begging you!"

Regina looks at him with a raised brow, the way he likes, when she's still deciding whether to play his game or make fun of him, and then she chuckles, and shakes her head. "I don't plan to, don't worry. I thought we could check for those extra-curriculars you told me about. The teams are already full, but Mr Booth said he could let you try and practice anyway, even if you're not entering a team."

He can almost see his own eyes go as big as saucers with excitement, the way his whole body tenses to prevent him from jumping up and down like a child, because he's been so looking forward to this, but hadn't dare to ask, and that wonderful, amazing person next to him just read right through his soul, and the thought both scares and excites him.

"Regina Mills, have I ever told you you're my savior?"

She smiles softly, this time actually blushes, and he loves that he's the reason why, that he managed to change her mood from whatever it was to this beautiful smile perfectly tugging at her lips.

"I just happen to know the PE teacher, that's all," she shrugs sheepishly.

"Well, anyway, if this works, I owe you one! Two, actually, if I succeed in my biology test!" he reminds.

"Honestly," she says, her tone growing more serious, but her eyes playful. "If you succeed it's because of your hard work, not just my notes."

"Maybe, but they are perfect! So what will it be?" he challenges, enthusiastic. "Name your price and you'll get it if either one of those things work out! Double dose if both of them do."

They have stopped in front of the lockers, and he leans against them as she removes books from hers, his arms folded over his chest as he waits, smiling at her.

"I don't know, Robin. You don't have to owe me anything for this. I really don't mind."

She's almost embarrassed, but he's too cheerful to pay attention to it, instead insists. "Come on! There has to be something! It doesn't have to be big. A coffee? A CD? A book? A trip out of town maybe, a wild weekend of camping in the woods?"

He doesn't even mean the last one, can't really afford it yet with the money his family spent with the relocation, but Regina suddenly tenses, her hand shaking as she slams the locker's door with force, startling everyone around and cutting him off effectively.

He looks at her with shock then, surprised, bewildered, because it's the first time the mask falls and she seems powerless to put it back on, but he's too stunned to react, too petrified to add something. So he just looks at her in silence, oblivious to the looks everyone around is giving them, lets her even her breathing and come back to her senses, her eyes screwed shut, and her hands balled into tight fists as she tries to stop them from shaking.

Robin doesn't move until she opens her eyes again, letting out a soft exhale, relaxing her fingers that come flat against the cold metallic structure.

"Regina?" he asks warily, his voice low, his tone careful, anxious, unsettled.

"I'm alright." She murmurs, still not looking at him. "I'm alright."

It's more of a mantra than an answer, he realizes, something she's telling herself to lock all her emotions back into a well-hidden cage, one he doesn't have access to, not now, not yet. The bell ringing startles them both, and she finally pulls back from the locker, rolls her shoulders and straightens her spine, avoiding his look when she turns to him.

"Let's just go to class."

He follows her with a simple nod, but they haven't taken two steps when she stops him, her hand reaching for his, a small pressure, nothing more, but at least now she's looking up at him, even if it's with hesitant eyes.

"Like I said, I'm happy to help you. Nail that test and convince Mr. Booth, and I'll have my reward. I don't need anything else, okay?"

Robin squeezes her fingers lightly, gently, not much, not too much, because he doesn't want to throw her over the edge once more, just reassure her, so he nods. "Okay."

The rest of the day goes by without another incident, but that lightness he managed to create earlier in her eyes doesn't come back, although her enthusiasm is present when she helps him plead his case to the PE teacher.

After that, he gets the opportunity to train with the archery team -it's amazing how a small town like Storybrooke can have, among everything else, an archery class in its only high school-. He also manages to answer all the questions in the biology test. If he's wrong or not, he doesn't know yet, but he's certain that without Regina's magical revision sheets, he'd have never made it through the first five chapters in one week.

At the end of the day, she waves him a small goodbye, different from usual, as if she doesn't want to leave. As if, as awkward as the day had been, she dreads to pass through the door and step into that black car.

So today, after she's turned her back to him, he takes a few steps, and steals a glimpse of the vehicle. Same as always, shining as new. But Regina walks almost reluctantly to it.

The moment she rests her hand on the door handle, he's far, but he's sure.

She hesitates.

Regina hesitates, and her hand is trembling.

Please, tell me what you think!

Title of the next chapter : The book