A/N: Let me just say thank you to all of you who have favorited and followed this story and sent me reviews both here and on tumblr! The response has been most unexpected as the story just randomly popped into my head, but since there is interest, I've decided to develop it a bit more. Hope you like this next chapter, and we shall see where the muses take us!
In the light of the next morning, Emma began to wonder if perhaps she had dreamed up the interaction between herself and Killian Jones. Now would be the time when having friends might come in handy. They could talk about it, analyze from all angles and assess if there was any sort of next step Emma should be prepping for. But as it was, Emma Swan had carved out a nice, quiet existence for herself as a lone wolf, and lone wolves didn't give sinfully attractive charmers a second thought.
Emma couldn't deny though that she had been feeling a bit lonely recently. For whatever reason, the comfort she usually took in being alone was no longer as strong. Killian had, of course, caused an attraction to flare up in her that told her she had needs as a woman, but Emma also felt now that she had needs just as a person. Maybe she wanted someone to confide in, to be on her side no matter what, and to root for her to get the guy.
These were the thoughts consuming Emma as she made her way through the dining hall selecting her usual breakfast fare. Once at the register she looked into the sea of students, sitting, laughing, studying, gossiping, you name it. Among them, hovering just on the outskirts sat Mary Margaret. Poised with a third year anatomy book in hand and spinning around the spoon in her morning hot chocolate, Mary Margaret seemed oblivious to the goings on around her.
It occurred to Emma that though Mary Margaret knew everyone, and was almost universally liked, Emma couldn't actually name any close friends of the girl. Maybe, just maybe, Mary Margaret had a similar problem though in a different form. Perhaps instead of having no one because she made no effort, Mary Margaret had no one because she was so nice to everyone. Could that actually be a possibility?
As Emma finished paying, the girl in question raised her head and saw Emma looking at her. She gave a small wave and Emma smiled back. Then, gathering her courage and putting her best foot forward, Emma moved over to Mary Margaret's table.
"This seat taken?" Emma asked.
"Not at all." Emma sat down and watched Mary Margaret try and hide her confusion. After a moment of silence between the girls, Emma realized that Mary Margaret likely thought any conversation would spook Emma like some sort of frightened animal, and the thought almost made her laugh. For now it was up to Emma to break the ice.
"So, I hear you're tutoring David Nolan." Okay Emma, maybe not the best intro to a conversation with a potential new friend, Emma scolded herself. Mary Margaret blushed and cleared her throat.
"Um, yeah, well we're study partners for Professor Hanson's infectious disease course. I'm not tutoring him, he's really smart he doesn't need my help – just a partner – I mean a study partner not like a partner partner." Emma smiled at the poor girl. She clearly had it bad for David if completely losing her cool was any indication.
"Well his girlfriend seems a bit put out."
"Kathryn Parker is downright – "
"Insufferable? Catty? Shallow? Yeah she is. So, what are you going to do about it?" Emma asked as she dug into the cocoa puffs in front of her.
"What am I going to do about it? Nothing!" Mary Margaret was truly taken aback at the suggestion.
"Okay then. What are we going to do about it? Look, let's just cut through the crap. You like David, right?" Mary Margaret blinked at Emma still shocked at the line of questioning but nodded.
"Well I don't really know the guy but I know he's way too good for Kathryn. So I repeat what are we going to do about it?" Emma's nonchalant attitude still perplexed Mary Margaret.
"Why do you want to help me?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Honestly, I don't really understand most of the people here, but you're different. You're not fake you're just a nice person and I was thinking we could be friends." Emma spoke the words so fast that they seemed to fly right over Mary Margaret's head but as realization set in, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"Well sure I'd like to be friends, but I mean we could just go to the mall or binge Netflix or something. You don't have to set me up to be my friend." Emma laughed and Mary Margaret joined her.
"I know, I just think this could be fun. I'm tired of living with what-ifs, and I feel like maybe you can empathize with that." Emma's honesty surprised even herself. Then again she'd chosen Mary Margaret as a potential friend for a reason and one of the contributing factors was that she never seemed to gossip about anyone.
"Yeah I can definitely empathize with that."
"Empathize with what, love?" The low, teasing tones of Killian Jones' voice sent a pleasurable chill down Emma's spine as he sat down beside her. Before she turned his way though, she looked at Mary Margaret. Her new friend wasn't looking at Killian. Instead she was looking behind him with stars in her eyes. Emma turned to their new guests.
"Mary Margaret knows a thing or two about guys crossing the threshold into stalking territory."
"Who's bothering you?" The words from David Nolan were charged and demanding. In their tone Emma heard everything she needed to know, which was that David Nolan was likely just as taken with Mary Margaret as she was with him. Good, that would make things far easier.
"Oh I was only teasing. Just a joke at the expense of Killian, here." Killian's eyes lit up with amusement at Emma's comments.
"Running into you twice is hardly stalking, love."
"Well considering the fact that we've been at this school for three years and spoken twice, both in the past twenty four hours, you can hardly fault a girl for feeling wary."
"I'd be hard pressed to find any faults in you, love. Are you going to the homecoming festivities this weekend?" He placed a finger to his lips drawing Emma's attention to his mouth. Despite the voice inside her head screaming at her to flirt back and let him know that she wanted him, she saw his inquiry as an opportunity to help out a new friend.
"Yeah, Mary Margaret and I were thinking of going."
"Perhaps you'll save a dance for me, then Swan."
"I don't know if my date would like that very much." Emma watched as the mirth in his eyes clouded over and the bright blue of his irises turned stormy. Oh yeah, he was jealous. Time for the real show though. She turned to David to watch his response to this next part.
"You guys know Graham Huntsman and Lance Knight on the hockey team?" Both men nodded gruffly and David went so far as to cross his arms in an unconscious move of discomfort. "We're going with them."
"I didn't know you knew them, Mary Margaret." David said, and amazingly – no fantastically – Mary Margaret totally held her own and kept cool.
"Well why would you really?" She stood and Emma followed. "We should actually be going though, we have some last minute shopping to do for the dance." Emma smiled at the coolness Mary Margaret showed David (which was definitely working). With that Mary Margaret and Emma moved to throw their stuff away. Before she could go, Killian gripped at Emma's wrist firmly but not painfully. She looked back at him and into once again amused eyes.
"Whatever you're up to Swan, just remember this: you're a bit of an open book. And if you need another ally, or another escort, I'm at your service." Emma moved closer to him and watched as his face filled with surprise, then she whispered low in his ear.
"You talk a good game, Jones, but you and I both know you couldn't handle it." Then she turned to join Mary Margaret as he called out loud enough for everyone in the cafeteria to hear him.
"Perhaps it is you who couldn't handle it, love." Ignoring the butterflies straining to break free inside her (and the dozens of people now looking her way), Emma sent him a mocking salute and hooked arms with Mary Margaret strutting out of the dining hall.
"Holy crap, that was crazy! You weren't kidding about helping me. I think David was even jealous! But wait how are we going to-"
"Hold that thought," Emma said as she watched Graham and Lance across the quad. "Hey Graham!" she yelled and he waved over to her, rerouting himself and Lance to Emma and Mary Margaret.
"Well if it isn't Emma Swan. Long time no see, you switched out of the criminal justice program and it's like you fell of the earth."
"Yeah sorry about that. I actually was wondering if you guys could do me a favor."
"Sure, what's up?" Graham asked.
"Will you be our dates for the homecoming dance this weekend?" A huge grin spread on the faces of both guys.
"Hell yeah!" They said in unison earning them a laugh from Emma and Mary Margaret.
"Great, wanna pick us up at my dorm at 9?" The guys agreed and the four of them parted ways. When they had turned a corner on the path back towards Emma's dorm Mary Margaret surprised her with a huge hug.
"Emma Swan, I think you may be my savior." Emma laughed.
"I typically accept payment for my services in grilled cheese and onion rings."
"Is there a friends and family discount on this sort of thing?"
"Are we friends?" Mary Margaret laughed again.
"Oh you are so stuck with me now. And the first thing on our friendship to do list is a trip to the mall to find the best outfits for Saturday. Are you ready?"
"Definitely."