Emma was sitting in her favourite spot on the bleachers at the back of the sports field. It was fourth period and she still hadn't been to a single class that day- She was waiting for 6th period English.

By lunch the sports field was rather packed with jocks playing around. But they all kept to the east side of the sports field, close to the school.

Emma watched a figure walk across the sports field. A lone wolf. As the figure got closer Emma could see who it was. Regina Mills.

"You want a smoke?" Emma questioned as Regina came into ear shot.

"I don't smoke." Regina returned as she stopped at the bottom of the bleachers.

"You ought to. Stress release and you seem to have a lot of it." Emma quipped as she recalled the conversation she had overheard at least a month ago.

"I don't." Regina stated firmly, unaware of what Emma heard.

"Why you out here then?" Emma pressed as she packed away her books. "Not like you'd wanna be seen with a greaser like me." Emma found Regina intriguing, she wanted to know everything about Regina and yet she wanted nothing to do with her.

Regina stopped for a moment. She wasn't even sure why she was there, she had just walked across the sports field because- because why? - She had seen Emma.

"This new assignment." Regina started. "It's gotten me a little turned around." It hadn't, Regina knew exactly what she had to do. "Since you actually show up for that class, I was thinking maybe you'd be able to help."

Emma snorted. Regina was lying her ass off, you see Emma had an inbuilt lie detector- a magic power if you will. "What, none of your achievements going to help you?" Emma's words her harsh and they hit a nerve with Regina.

"I beg your pardon?" Regina felt it, deep down she knew Emma had overheard.

"It's a character analysis." Emma stated the obvious. "So we have to discuss Charlotte's characteristics, her motivations and we have to discuss how the author's context would affect the way she was written." Regina was surprised, Emma really knew what she was talking about. What Regina didn't realize was that Emma actually got good grades, she may not show up to classes but she always handed in the assignments.

"Thank-you, Miss Swan." Regina said as she turned on her heals and attempted to leave.

"Wait," Emma called out as she made her way to the bottom of the bleachers. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Regina had stopped moving but she didn't dare face Emma.

"I was just tryin' to bug ya. I didn't mean to stab so deep." Emma wasn't entirely sure why she was apologizing, she never apologized.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Regina was lying again. Emma could see it in her face as soon as Regina turned around.

"Your achievements" Emma quoted as she sat down on the lowest bench on the bleachers.

"What about them?" Regina's face was emotionless.

"Oh come on. I'm trying to apologize. Just take it." Emma groaned as she lit up a new cigarette. Why was she putting herself through this?

"I'll take a smoke." Regina murmured as she sat a foot or two from Emma.

"Thought ya didn't smoke." Emma sassed, but after getting a rather pointed look from Regina she handed her pack and lighter over.

The two sat in silence for what seemed like forever. Emma had to break it, she couldn't handle the tension any longer. "So…" She started.

"You're not the one that needs to apologize." Regina said softly, almost too quiet for Emma to hear. Almost.

"Parents…" Emma offered. "…Right."

"Right." Regina confirmed as she stood. Regina crushed the embers of her cigarette with her small two inch heal and walked away without another word.

Emma was left with her racing mind. What had just happened? Why after all these weeks of cruel words and judgmental looks was Regina playing nice. Emma wanted more of this woman- perhaps it was because, in an odd way, Emma let protective of Regina.

That day in English Regina sat in the same row as Emma. There was still 4 people between them but it was something, right? Maybe it was possible that these two would become friends.

…

"Em," Ruby called from her locker as she noticed her friend approaching. "Where have you been?" Ruby was questioning Emma because she hadn't shown up to school for the past few weeks. That wasn't normal- yes, Emma skipped classes but she would always be hanging around the school somewhere.

"Places." Emma winked.

"Places?" August and Graham asked in unison.

"Portland." Emma stated as though it were no big deal.

"What?" Ruby's mouth hung open a little. "That's so cool, Em!" She continued as she took her friend into a hug.

"Why?" August snipped, a little annoyed his friend hadn't told him were she was going.

"Got myself a car." Emma smirked, she left very cool.

"Oh sweet! Show us, will ya?" Graham was very excited, Emma was the first in their circle to get a car. It was big news.

"Sure." Emma smiled. She led her friends towards the large parking lot at the side of the school.

Emma was beaming when she walked up to her car. A beautiful black low riding 1953 Cadillac. It was spotless and glorious.

"Emmmmm!" Graham exhaled as he hugged the car. "You've got to be kidding me?"

"Nope." Emma held up a set of keys. "All mine."

"This thing is a machine. The guys at the Barn will love this!" Graham noted. "How'd you get the crash?"

"Never said I paid for it." Emma stated simply as she unlocked the car so her friends could look inside.

"Em, you didn't steal it?" Ruby asked, a little nervous that Emma would say yes. Emma was known for her hood rat status but for the majority of the time Emma stayed on the right side of the law.

"No," Emma said a little hurt. "Won it." She smiled, proud of herself. "In a race." She clarified.

"Oh, what'd you race with to start with?" August questioned- He was unaware that Emma took part in racing which cut him, he liked to think he knew everything about Emma.

"Have a cousin, Marko, in Portland. Borrowed his car."

"Like your damn family could afford a beauty like this." Came a voice (That clearly hadn't heard the whole conversation) from the other side of the car.

"Beat it, Billy." Emma growled.

"Who'd you beat for this car?" He quipped as he rounded the Cadillac.

"I actually won it." Emma smiled- another fake plastic smile.

"You can't drive to save a life." Billy spat, he was in denial, Emma- a woman- couldn't be a better driver than he was, he'd never won such a nice car. "I'll race ya, next fortnight." Billy was referring to the fortnightly drag races that happened on the edge of town.

"If you're so lucky." Emma smiled, though she had no intention to show.

…

6th period English was a nice end to the day.

Emma had noticed that Regina had moved back a sat. Regina was now three seats away from her.

"Miss Swan?" Regina called, stopping Emma just before she made her way into the busy corridor at the end of the class.

"Yes?" Emma smiled as she swung around on her heels.

"Where have you been?" Regina asked.

"Why? Were you concerned?" Emma smirked, it was something in Regina's voice that made that question appropriate.

"No." Regina rushed to the defence. "You seem to like English, is all." It wasn't all.

"I do." Emma said as she started walking again. Regina seemed to be close at her heel.

"You're going to fall behind." Regina offered, she wasn't trying to offend the blonde- she was just curious about Emma's whereabouts.

"Are you offering to help me?" Emma retorted with a smirk.

"What? No." Regina was a little taken aback at how forward Emma was being.

"Shame." Emma smiled- getting under Regina's skin was so easy, Emma liked it- as she pushed through the double doors that lead to the parking lot.

"Until Monday." Emma offered as she unlocked her car.

"This is yours?" Regina asked in shock, she didn't even have a car and her parents clearly had the money for it.

"It is." Emma smiled. She was now in the 10% of students that actually owned a motorized vehicle.

The two stood in silence for a moment. Emma wasn't ready to say goodbye and by the looks of it, neither was Regina.

"Want a lift?" Emma finally broke the silence. Emma hit herself internally, why did she have to say that of all things, why not just say goodbye and be done with it? There was definitely something about this women.

Regina thought for a moment. Would getting in this greaser's car ruin everything she had built for herself in the past few months at Storybrooke High? "Sure."

The drive to Regina's house was quiet except for the directions that Regina gave. At times Emma found it hard to consecrate on the road, there was something about the way the sun was hitting Regina's shoulder length brown locks- it was angelic. Emma took it in, she had enjoyed Regina's beauty from the second they met but something about the lighting, something about her was different now.

Emma was instructed to pull into the drive-way of a large white house. It was beautiful and clearly showed off Regina's fortune. It was a two story suburban home surrounded by a beautiful and lush green garden. Emma felt a ping of jealously- her home wasn't a hole but this place was a castle.

"Thanks." Regina smiled- it was actually genuine.

Emma smiled as her green eyes caught Regina's brown and she nodded in response. Emma knew she shouldn't have lingered, she just couldn't help but watch Regina walked up the path and disappear into the large house.

...

Another chapter. Hope you are liking the story so far!
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