Regina Mills
"Do we have to go in? It's a school night and I don't want to be seen with all these college students." I whined as my sister was already climbing out of her car, ignoring my plea and leaving me behind. She slammed the door in the middle of my rant, so I scrambled out of the car, ready to chase her.
"First of all, it's a school night in college, that doesn't count. Second of all, we are celebrating you landing this wonderful job so quickly, you're only twenty-five. And lastly, shut up! You're beginning to sound like our mother!" Zelena demanded as she strolled down the sidewalk, full of confidence and toward the extremely tiny bar.
My mind was quickly sidetracked from the large group of people lingering near the doorway, smoking cigarettes. The cool, crisp evening air was suddenly filled with a thick gray cloud of smoke, making me cringe. I could already feel the bass of the music pumping violently in sync with my heart and I haven't even stepped inside yet. I clenched my fists tightly feeling the overwhelming sensation of anxious nerves crawling slowly up the back of my spine. This is not my scene, it never has been.
"I do not sound like mother!" I snapped once my mind cleared from my slight panic attack and I realized my sister was insulting me. "And I didn't land this job, mother was the one who set everything up," I explained again while walking a little faster to catch up to my older sister.
"She may have set it up sis, but you're the one that went through all those annoying interviews and won everyone over. That was all you darling!"
I felt a small smile tug at the corner of my mouth and soon it spread wide across my face with pride at my sister's admission. Zelena could be a pain in the ass sometimes, but she always has my back and knows exactly when praise is due.
When I achieved my bachelor's degree, I proceeded with my education and received my masters in two years. I continued after that to start my doctorate. I was halfway through when my mother was informed about this new position opening up. The professor was being forced to leave and luckily my mother was well acquainted with most of the faculty.
I followed my sister's lead into the bar, that was more along her style and her idea of an evening of fun. The moment I stepped inside the overly crowded dive bar, a wave of nausea hit me. I was quickly reminded as to why I fought the woman so hard about coming here tonight, but Zelena is exceptionally stubborn. My older sister always wins when we argue, it's those icy blue eyes that always scare me into submission.
My sister curled her fingers around my wrist and dragged me through the over populated bar. I tried my best to mutter a small, excuse me or I'm sorry as I bumped into people along the way. My heart hammered furiously in my chest as the pulsating music grew louder and louder. The air was thick around us, with people perspiring from dancing and their hot breath from shouting over the music. I cringed inwardly and made a mental note to scold my sister on her poor choice of "a fun evening out".
Finally, Zelena reached our destination and forcefully tugged on my arm one last time until I was propped up against the sticky bar top.
"Shots tonight sis!" Zelena beamed before she turned her attention to the attractive bartender.
The man was tall, dark and handsome to say the very least. His popped collar shirt was clinging to his ripped chest. My eyes drifted to his bulging biceps and I wondered if his sleeves might be cutting off circulation for how tight they appeared to be.
I know my boisterous sister and soon that man will be wrapped around her pretty little finger. I watched in amusement as she slid her upper body onto the bar top, indefinitely offering a nice view down her shirt for the young man. She flipped her silky smooth, long brown hair that shined brightly with a reddish tint in just the right light. Just then I felt a light tap upon my right shoulder.
"Hey!" I quickly turned around, startled by the unwanted attention, almost bumping directly into a beautiful blonde. My eyes were instantly drawn to the most stunning green eyes I think I have ever laid eyes upon. Green eyes are such a rarity that I'm finding myself a little lost in the beauty of them. Warm, golden specks are scattered across the green irises, drawing me in. I try to take a step back from her close proximity but there simply isn't enough room and my back is already digging into the counter behind me. "You're the new TA for Glass, yeah?" The stranger shouted as she leaned a little closer into my ear. Her warm breath swept across my ear eliciting a cold shiver to run down my spine.
I gulped down my anxiety of feeling a little claustrophobic and nodded politely. I held out my hand professionally and introduced myself. "Miss Mills."
Her sandy blonde eyebrows furrowed as she stared at my hand in confusion. Has this woman never engaged in the common courtesy of a handshake before? The woman ignored the gesture and pointed to a tall brunette who seemed to have forgotten half her wardrobe before she left this evening.
"This is my friend Ruby..." the blonde then pointed to another brunette who was much smaller. She reminded me of a librarian, all that seemed to be missing were a set of glasses. "And this is Belle."
My eyes shifted back and forth between all three women. I was a little taken back by her boldness to approach me like this. I wouldn't know if this is a common occurrence in a situation like this considering I never go out.
My eyes slowly drifted back to those stunning green eyes, that were watching me carefully. Her porcelain skin was slightly flushed from the number of people pressing into our bodies. A ghost of a mischievous grin danced across her pale pink lips as she stared directly into my eyes, a moment longer than what would deem as appropriate.
"And you are..." my sister questioned staring blankly at the blonde forcing the woman and I to break our intense gaze.
"Emma Swan," she smiled proudly, "I'm in that terrible seven a.m. class. I'm sorry you have to listen to his boring ass all day."
"I don't think that's very appropriate Miss Swan. I will be a member of the faculty come September," I stated firmly, conveying my authority, until my annoying sister placed a shot in my hand, throwing all my credibility out the window.
"Did I tell ya, or what?" Miss Swan asked her friend, Ruby, I believe it was, as she hooked her thumb in my direction. "Well Miss Mills," she mocked, "I graduate in three months and you don't become a professor until after that, so technically you won't ever be my teacher."
My lips twisted as my mind mulled this statement over. She was right. Technically I'm not her teacher as of right now and she will be leaving the campus in three short months. Besides, we are all adults here. My one question is, why does she want to spend her evening with me?
Before I could make an intelligent decision, an older, scruffy looking man, approached us. His eyes were dark brown matching his shaggy hair that was poking out from beneath his beanie. He was sporting a gray ribbed tank top and loose-fitting jeans. My first impression of this man was that he was dirty. I was just about to point him in the opposite direction when he wrapped his arms securely around the blonde, completely distracting me from my previous thoughts.
"For you sweetie," he said while handing the green-eyed girl a mixed drink.
"Thanks baby!" Miss Swan beamed as she leaned over her shoulder. The woman gently cupped the man's square jawline and placed a sweet kiss to his cheek. I tried to mask my face of disgust while I pondered how this beautiful woman was with a man like that.
"Who are these two?" He asked smiling my way, but for some reason I felt an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach about him.
"Oh! This is Mills and..." Miss Swan's eyes shifted back and forth between my sister and I, waiting for one of us to say something.
"I'm Zelena, Regina's sister," Zelena held out her hand politely and the man happily shook it.
"Regina huh?" Emma questioned as a playful smirk slid across her lips. I chose to ignore her exuberant disposition upon learning my name and focused on the interaction between my sister and this man.
"Neal." The scruffy man pulled away from my sister's hand and held his hand out for me.
I hesitated for a moment before I decided on accepting the gesture. I faked the best smile I could manage because I truthfully did not feel comfortable in this situation. In my peripheral vision, I noticed Miss Swan staring at me with a strange look upon her face, but I chose to ignore her, yet again.
"Well now that we are all acquainted..." Belle began but Ruby enthusiastically interrupted, "SHOTS!"