"Bye, Ruby. Have a good night." Emma called back as she shut the diner door behind her. She turned to leave and stiffened when she saw who was waiting in the dimly lit alley. During their last run in she had panicked and bolted back inside, hoping he would think he had mistaken her for someone else. However, this time there was nowhere to run. Emma knew defeat when she saw it. She took a steadying breath and gathered up her courage.
"You're still here?"
He kicked himself off the wall he had been leaning against. "Aye. I had to be sure it was the prez I saw previously."
Emma returned his curious gaze with a wary one of her own, wondering what exactly he was up to. She took the awkward pause to take him in. He was wearing jeans and a button-down plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up, realizing she's never seen him outside of school. She met his eyes once more before striding past him. It was getting late and she really couldn't find it in herself to care anymore. By tomorrow the whole school would know about her situation. It was a good run while it lasted.
She heard him follow after her to the bus stop. Having caught up to her, they were quiet as they padded down the sidewalk. Her mind buzzing with all that happened today, Emma almost forgot he was there until he broke that silence. "Why do you work at that place?"
And there it was. The question she had been dreading the entire afternoon. She opted to go with the truth. There was no point in trying to fabricate a lie when he had seen her in all her apron-ed glory taking out the trash.
"There are a lot of expenses at home and my dad isn't around anymore."
"Can't you get a job that is closer? Why the next town over?"
Well she hadn't been expecting that. She had been preparing herself against the taunting remarks about her family's struggles that she was sure would have come, but instead he had actually seemed concerned.
"This one has the most flexible hours and I can't risk letting my grades suffer or slack on my duties as student council president."
"Hmm."
What must he think of me?
"Well, I'm sorry things are tough."
Emma whipped her head in his direction. His sincerity had caught her off guard. Yet, he managed to share his empathy without an ounce of pity. It seemed Killian Jones was full of surprises.
Three days. It had been three days since Killian Jones had walked her to the bus stop after work and yet school went on just as it always had. She had steeled herself for the bombshell that was surely awaiting her when she went to school the next day. But there was nothing. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't grown extremely paranoid in the last few days when the halls were as mundane as ever. She was hyperaware of every side conversation taking place as she walked by, dreading the snickers and judgmental looks. But they never came.
Why hasn't he told anyone about my job?
Does he plan to use this information against me?
"Are you okay? You seem tired," Ariel asked as she and Mary Margaret came up to her.
"Yeah, I was just thinking."
"You always have so much on your mind. Even the student council president needs to take a breather." Mary Margaret patted her arm gently.
"Umm, well actually we did come to ask you a favor," Ariel commented sheepishly.
"Well, that should do it," Emma stood with her hands on her hips.
"Thanks, Em! It would have taken us forever to move it all without you."
Emma waved away the praise and gave the redhead a soft smile. "Glad I could help."
Emma was stretching her aching arms when she felt someone's eyes on her. She glanced behind her to find Jones observing the trio. Unbeknownst to her that he had been silently watching Emma throughout the whole ordeal.
She hadn't seen him since their last conversation, which made her suddenly annoyed with his presence now.
"What do you want?" she barked.
He just stares blankly at her, eyebrow raised, before he turns around and walks away.
What is with that guy?
"He sure is handsome," Ariel sighed.
"What?"
"Yeah, he's been playing soccer ever since middle school. He makes excellent grades. And those good looks! He makes all the other guys pale in comparison. But now he's too popular that he isn't even interested in any girls."
"That doesn't stop them from confessing to him," Mary Margaret notes.
"I had no idea he was that popular," Emma murmured more to herself than aloud.
Maybe his lack of interest in girls is why he doesn't care about my job.
Emma tied her work apron around her waist before walking through the door to the dining area. However, she stops in her tracks when she spots a customer walking in. This time wearing a black leather jacket over a gray t-shirt whose neckline gave her quite the view of his dark chest hair, Killian Jones stood at the door appraising the small diner's retro decor.
What is he doing here!?
Having half a mind to ask him just that, she starts to make her way over to him.
"Ah, I found you."
Is he mocking me? It's been nearly five days with no mention of their last conversation and he has the gall to show up here. Is he testing my resolve? Is this a challenge? I bet it is. Fine, you're on.
"Welcome to Granny's," Emma said a bit too sweetly.
He bites down on his lower lip in a vain attempt to stifle his laughter. She rolls her eyes and walks off to a table, menu in hand, expecting him to follow.
After he's seated, she feels him staring after her as she continues to wait on her other tables.
Ruby, the owner's granddaughter, joined Emma at the counter, "Ooh he's cute."
Emma shakes her head at the older girl and doesn't say anything in response.
"Is he your boyfriend?" the older girl continues, still unashamedly checking him out. "He can't stop staring at you."
Emma places the plates on her tray with a little more force than necessary. "No, he's not," she replies with no small amount of indifference. She picks up her tray and heads to the group of rowdy teenagers, effectively ending the conversation.
He's playing mind games with me and getting some sick enjoyment out of it. She could practically see the devil horns peeking out from his perfectly tousled dark hair. Who orders one coffee and sits there for an hour?
Emma lets out a frustrated groan as she grabs her throbbing head. Great, a migraine is just what she needs right how.
Meanwhile, across campus Killian is enjoying his lunch with Robin outside on this sunny day.
"Can I ask you something, mate?" he questions between chews.
"What's on your mind?"
"You went to middle school with Emma Swan, right? What's the deal with her? Has she always been this way?"
"Oh you mean how she's a bit high strung, lording over the halls?"
Killian nods in response.
"No, just recently she's become that way. Some trouble at home I think. Why do you ask? It's not like you to ask about girls."
Killian only gives a noncommittal shrug and turns his attention back to his lunch.
He's back again. Shoot.
Emma freezes when she walks into work and spots Killian sitting at a table seemingly minding his own business and eating a sundae of all things. Except he wasn't minding his own business. Gosh, was this just going to keep happening? Was there no safe haven for her? She could feel her blood boiling.
"He seems worried about you. I can see it in his eyes." Ruby remarks as she dumps a stack of finished plates into a tub.
"What are you talking about?"
Emma chooses that moment to glance at him from the kitchen window and finds him staring back with his intense blue eyes. Emma quickly looks away before he can see the blush that's threatening to take over her face.
He's not worried. He's just nosy.
Hiding away in the student council room, Emma jots down the agenda for the upcoming meeting. Sensing someone's presence at her desk, she looks up from her task to find the council's treasurer shuffling on his feet looking quite uncomfortable.
"Yes?"
"Uhh, Emma, I—uh I…"
Emma gives him a pointed look to get on with it.
"The budget isn't balancing," he finishes quietly.
"What? How is that possible? I told you to keep up with it as payments are made so this wouldn't happen."
"I'm s-sorry."
Emma slumps back in her chair. "Fine, I'll do it myself."
The scared treasurer scurried away after leaving the paperwork on Emma's desk.
After an hour of completing her own work she rubbed at her temples as she closed her eyes. Geez, I'm so drained. She leaned back over her papers to start working on balancing that budget.
"Are you some sort of masochist?"
Emma startled out of her seat. He was always so quiet that she didn't notice him leaning against the doorway.
"What?"
"You may want to take things easy."
He moved into the room toward her desk. Placing a hand on her shoulder, she looked up at him.
"I could help you."
Emma decided to ignore his sincere tone and pulls away. "I don't need any help from you."
"Is that so?" he cocked an eyebrow.
She glares at him.
He leaves as quietly as he came.
Exiting the back of the diner after another afternoon of work, all she could think about was crashing onto her bed and getting some serious sleep. She was exhausted from…well everything. Another migraine had hit her earlier and had been pounding her skull since. She moved out from the alley and was heading to the bus stop when she spotted the three idiots walking toward her. Really? Can't she catch a break? Suddenly this town didn't seem far enough away from home.
Glancing away from their conversation, Walsh caught Emma staring at them.
"Is that the prez?"
"Dressed as a diner girl? This is rich."
"Wait 'til everyone hears about this! I'm getting a pic."
Emma didn't have the energy to deal with these jerks. She didn't even spare them a look as she made a move to sidestep the three.
"Why are you running away? Dressed liked this you even seem like a girly girl, prez."
Emma didn't see Jefferson reaching out a hand to grab her, but she did see a leather jacket appear in front of her. She looked up to find Killian placing a protective arm around her and giving the three idiots an unamused look.
"She may be cute, but she isn't yours to touch."
Knowing better than to pick a fight with Jones, the three hurry off without another word.
Killian peered down at Emma and took a step back to assess her. "Are you okay? You don't look well."
Emma was so tired she couldn't even comprehend what just happened.
"I'm sorry."
Why was he apologizing?
"Let me take you home."
Emma didn't even argue as he ushered her away.
The next day at school she found him exiting the hall to the stairwell. She followed him to the rooftop, wondering if this is where he spends his time. He was standing with his back to her looking out over the football field. The light wind picked up her golden locks. She swiped away at the stray hairs in her face before tucking the rest of it behind her ear.
"Don't worry those guys won't say anything about your job." He didn't turn around so she decided to slowly close the distance between them.
"Really? I was already prepared for the worst."
She was standing next to him now and peeked at him. "Did you do something to them?"
"Not really. I just said I was enjoying my guilty pleasure." He looked away from the jocks practicing and stared down at her. He was testing her, seeing how far she would allow him to go.
"So you are enjoying yourself?" Amused, she arched a brow.
"Well if I said I was worried you'd just get angry, right?" He smirks. "Of course I could always be the one to spill the beans."
Emma practically growled at him.
"After all, a part-time job doesn't change the fact that you're strong or smart or hard-working. You should be proud."
Emma's face softened. Maybe this wasn't all a game to him. She looked away from his intense stare and was suddenly very interested in football drills.
"Yesterday I was wondering why it is you are so infuriating."
Killian tilted his head to the side.
"I think it's because I'm trying my hardest and I'm barely keeping my sanity, but you—you're handling everything so easily. You have time to worry about me and that's maddening. But someday I'll catch up and be the one worrying about you."
She didn't catch his brief smile.
"Thanks for everything by the way. I owe you one, seriously."
She turned to find Killian giving her a small smile, one that she surprisingly felt herself returning. His smile widened to a toothy grin and his eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Then how about being my exclusive waitress for a day?"
Flabbergasted and mouth agape, she stomped away in annoyance.
Typical Jones.
Thank you for all the follows/favorites! I'm sorry it took a little while to get this updated. I have to wait between blocks at school because it keeps me so busy and since I just finished by neuro block I had a free weekend to crank this out.
Update 2/27/15: I won't be able to update this fic until May most likely. I have to study and sit for my national board exams so that I can be 1/2 of a doctor. Thank you for those who are sticking with it! I promise I will complete this fic one way or another because my personality doesn't allow me to leave things unfinished. Thank you for your patience!
