"So you two really went out last night?"
Ruby Lucas' voice reached Regina's ears as she walked past the teachers' lounge. Normally she wasn't one to eavesdrop, nor care for gossip, but her attention was drawn when she heard her sister's voice answering.
"Just for coffee, but I'm sure he'll ask me on a real date soon. He's been flirting with me ever since we first met, after all! I'm surprised he waited this long."
"Um, right, of course." Ruby responded after a moment.
"Yeah, congratulations, Zelena," Mary-Margaret Blanchard chimed in before adding hesitantly, "Though, I didn't even really know you were interested in him."
"Oh, he is a bit dull, but I found he as other...attributes to make for it," Zelena drawled.
Regina rolled her eyes thinking sarcastically to herself that she pitied whoever this poor sap was that her sister had set her sights on. These things rarely ended well for Zelena or the guy.
"Well, if you and Mr. Locksley are happy we're...all happy for you," Mary-Margaret answered.
Regina had already started continuing along to her office, but that stopped her in her tracks.
Mr. Locksley. Robin Locksley?
She thought of her new 6th grade teacher who replaced James Nolan after his reserve unit was deployed in the middle of the semester. He and Zelena were dating?
"Thank you. I'm bit happy for me too," her sister answered pridefully, "I might even take the initiative and ask if he wants be my escort for the staff party. No need to just wait around for the man to do all the work, eh girls?"
Escort? Really, Zelena?
"Of course not. It is the 21st century," Mary-Margaret answered.
Zelena chuckled, "Yes, so perhaps if things go well I'll also invite to him to my place for dessert."
Regina straightened upright. She'd heard enough.
Her heels clicked on the floor as she rounded the corner into the lounge.
"Regina! Good afternoon," Mary-Margaret greeted her immediately, gratitude for the interruption evident in her voice
Regina didn't notice it though.
"Ladies," the principal greeted her three members of staff formally. Mary-Margaret she mostly ignored all-together, but she did take note of Ruby Lucas's bright red skinny jeans under her white smock, and big hoop earrings. She'd have to talk to her about those later.
Noticing her bosses scrutiny, the assistant cafeteria manager stood up straight, "Well I'd better get back. My break is almost over."
"Yeah, I'd better go as well," Mary-Margaret added, "I'm sure, thanks to your Granny's gingerbread cake, the kids will be bouncing off the walls when they come back from lunch."
Ruby laughed as the two quickly hurried out the door.
Zelena, however, simply turned back to the coffee pot and refilled her cup.
"May I have a word with you, Zelena?" Regina asked.
"Certainly. What can I do for you, Sis?" the other woman answered, fully knowing Regina hated it when she called her that at work.
"I couldn't help overhearing your conversation a minute ago."
"Oh?" Zelena smiled widely as she stirred cream and sugar into her coffee.
"Yes, and I just wanted to remind you that, though there is no official policy against teachers socializing outside of work, we do ask that there be no discussion of personal relationships on school grounds," Regina explained.
Zelena set her spoon in the sink and turned to face her sister, "Are you jealous?"
Regina slowly counted down from ten in her head. Was this really how yet another conversation with her sister was going to go?
Before she could form a response though, Zelena smile, somehow, turned even more smug as she purred, "I've seen the way you look at him."
"I don't know what you're referring to," Regina answered evenly, "I simply wanted to remind you that the conversation you were just having is not appropriate for the work place. Particularly not during hours when students are on campus."
The other woman smirked, "Come on, now. You really think you can fool me? That I don't know my little sister?"
"This isn't personal, Zelena," she sighed, "It's school policy, and, as principal, its my job to enforce it."
The red-head's smile faltered, her eyes turning hard, "You just can't stand it can you?"
Regina looked down warily, knowing that, as usual, this was going to go right back to her getting an administrative position before Zelena, or the fact that Zelena had to come to Regina to ask her for a job when she got fired from her teaching position at a public school in Augusta for an incident with a student teacher, or any number instances of apparent favoritism from their childhood.
Regina had long ago realized that she and her sister would never be close, but did everything always have to be a battle?
"You can't stand the thought that someone might choose me," Zelena continued without bothering to wait for a response, "Might think me the better sister rather instead of you? Well I'm afraid our lovely Mr. Robin Locksley does, and, you can pretend all you want, but I know that fact upsets you. I wasn't kidding when I said I saw you looking at him. I was surprised even. After all, you've haven't shown any interest in a man since that cop. What was his name again?"
Regina gritted her teeth.
Zelena perked up as if she were a cartoon character with a light-bulb coming on over her head.
"Graham, right? As I recall he fell for another woman too," Zelena mused before pouting, "Poor Regina, always the unlucky in love career woman."
"That's enough!" her patience snapped, "I have already told you, more than once, that this sort of conversation is not appropriate. I don't want to hear any more about it, and, if I do, I will be forced to issue you a written reprimand."
"You'll be forced to?" the older woman sneered.
Regina looked hard at her sister, "Don't test me, Zelena, unless you want to explain to the board of directors why you think gossiping about your love-life takes precedence over school policy."
Her sister's face puckered as if she had sucked on a raw lemon, "Fine, my apologies, Principal Mills."
*0*0*0*
Regina rubbed her temples as she leaned her elbows down on her desk.
The chiming of the bell startled her back to attention.
She glanced at her watch and was dismayed to find it was already 3:00 PM, meaning that been the final bell letting school out for the day.
She'd made much less progress on paperwork than she'd planned to since lunch. It was hardly surprising, though, since she'd spent half that time nursing one of the headaches that so frequently followed run-ins with her older sister.
Taking a deep breath, Regina shoved herself up from her chair and retrieved her blazer from the back. It wasn't absolutely necessary that she be on hall duty while school was letting out, but she liked to, particularly since it was the last day of the semester.
Nodding to her assistant, Regina stepped out into the throng of students rushing through the halls.
"Boys, don't run!" she ordered as a particularly rowdy group sped past her.
"Merry Christmas, Ms. Mills," one of the girls from third grade waved to her with a sweet smile.
"Have a good holiday, Grace," Regina smiled back.
Making her way around she noticed with satisfaction that all of her teachers were on hall duty where they were supposed to be, the students leaving in an orderly-ish fashion, and, other than a few candy wrappers and stray pieces of construction paper garland, there were no catastrophic messes to be seen. Not bad for the last day before winter break.
As she turned back toward the direction of the office, she did a mental run-down of all of the tasks she needed to complete the rest of the afternoon. Finish up all the paperwork she hadn't gotten to after lunch. File the ones that had deadlines on or before January 1st. Answer a few emails. Go home to change, tidy up, and prepare a potluck item before heading to the annual end-of-semester staff party.
She also noted that having conversation with Robin Locksley about work place relationships was now also on that list, since apparently he and her sister were an item.
How had that happened anyway?
Although she didn't like to indulge in gossip, she did consider herself observant, but she hadn't seen this coming at all.
Regina sighed. This was not something she wanted to be dealing with on her last day before vacation.
She had to, though, because he and Zelena would probably see each other over the break, and, if Zelena caught wind that Regina had reprimanded her but not Robin...she wouldn't put it past her to try making a sexual discrimination complaint.
Not that Regina was truly worried the board would believe it, but it'd be just like Zelena to enjoy embarrassing her by forcing her to answer the accusation. Particularly if it included her accusation that Regina wanted Robin herself.
Regina shook her head, pointedly ignoring the funny feeling in her stomach at the thought.
No, she couldn't put this off.
She stepped up her pace turning into the front hallway as the last of the students filed out. As she rounded the corner she heard a familiar laugh, and looked up to see the man in question walking up the hall next to John Little.
She stood straighter, pretending that funny feeling hadn't ramped up to all-out butterflies.
She was not looking forward to this.
"Afternoon, Principal Mills," Mr. Little greeted her, "Happy Holidays."
"To you as well," Regina answered, "I trust you'll be at the staff party tonight?"
"Oh you know me, I never miss out on free food," the man joked, patting his large belly.
"I'll see you there then," she nodded before turning to Robin, "Mr. Locksley, I need to have a word with you in my office."
He raised an eyebrow, looking confused but still almost aggravatingly confident...sure of himself. It always felt like he could see right through her.
"Uh oh! What did you do to get in trouble, man?" Little joked, taking his good humor too far as usual.
Regina looked at him in annoyance, before turning her attention back to Locksley, "It's rather important."
"Of course," he agreed, nodding to Little, "Catch you later."
"Alright," John agreed and continued back to his classroom.
Regina felt as if she could feel his eyes on her with every moment, but she kept her back firmly turned as she led him into her office and shut the door firmly behind them.
"Please sit," she motioned to a seat as she stepped behind her desk, and sat down in her office chair.
He took a seat as well.
"What can I do for you, Principal Mills?" he asked, with an easy going expression on his face. The button down and tweed jacket he was wearing was, as always, just barely above casual, but the outfit brought out the color of his eyes so much they almost sparkled.
Regina cleared her throat, bringing herself back to the matter at hand, "It's come to my attention that you may have a...romantic interest in a member of staff here."
His expression fell. He remained silent for a moment as he shifted and rubbed one hand up the back of his head in a sheepish gesture that was almost endearing.
"I didn't think I was that obvious."
She swallowed, "Well, I just wanted to take the opportunity to remind you of this school's policy. You haven't been here long, but I expect all my teachers to took keep their personal lives out of the work place and conduct themselves in manner that is appropriate for a learning environment."
"Yes, of course," He answered quickly.
"Good," Regina nodded.
She heard Robin shift in his seat, "Look, Ms. Mills, if I've made you uncomfortable in any way I truly apologize."
She looked up from straightening the papers on her desk, "You didn't. I'm just saying expect you to remain professional at all times when you're on school grounds."
"I will," he declared.
"I'm sure you will," she acknowledged, "Though, on a personal note, I feel I should warn you that my sister might test your commitment to that."
"Your sister?"" Robin asked.
Regina paused trying to decide how to explain Zelena.
"She likes to bend the rules," was what she finally went with.
"Okay, that's good to know, I suppose, but what does it have to do with anything?"
"Just know that I will not giving any sort of preferential treatment just because you're dating my sister."
"Excuse me?" he asked, "What would make you think I'm dating your sister?"
She sighed, "Zelena already told me that the two of you went on a date last night. Listen, I understand that asking teachers to refrain from intra-office relationships is like asking water to flow in the opposite direction. I'm not saying you have to break it off. Personal relationships aren't against policy; just keep it out of work."
"There's nothing to keep out! And I don't know why she would have said we went on a date because it was nothing like that," he said, voice rising.
"You don't need to-"
"I drove her home from work because her car broke down, and we stopped at a drive-thru," Robin continued before she could finish her protest, "Now if she got the wrong impression, and thought it was more just common courtesy I'm sorry, but mean it, Regina, I am in no way interested in your sister!"
In looking at him Regina could tell that he was sincere in what he was saying, and, thinking it over, it did sounded depressingly in character for Zelena to exaggerate something perfectly innocent to get attention. Probably to annoy Regina as well, since the other woman had apparently noticed how flustered Regina got in her new teacher's presence.
Although, one thing didn't make sense...
"Well if there's nothing between you and Zelena then why did you just say you didn't think you were being obvious-"
She cut herself of mid-sentence as the realization hit her, and slowly slid her eyes closed at her own stupidity.
"You were talking about someone else," she surmised, looking up at him.
He again looked slightly embarrassed, but met her gaze steadily, "Yes, I was."
Regina rubbed her hand across her forehead, already feeling her second headache of the day brewing behind it. She took a deep breath before answering, "Okay, well, I see I've embarrassed myself just as much as my sister."
"I wouldn't say that," he quirked a smile before looking serious for a moment, "Did you need me speak with her, though? Zelena?"
She sighed, "I hate to ask, but she'll never believe it if it comes from me."
"Don't worry, I'll make my feelings perfectly clear"
"Thank you, Robin," she said looking at him gratefully, "Thank you."
He smiled, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees and sending her a dimpled smile, "It's no trouble."
"And, um..." she began, "I'm really sorry to make things awkward, but I am going to have to eventually have a conversation with whomever this other woman is."
His expression turned to one of surprise.
She put her hand up to stop him as he opened his mouth to speak, "It's not that I particularly want to know your business. I just have to be able to say that I officially reminded you both of school policy.
"I'm certain she's aware," he answered.
"Even so, I prefer to keep things equal with my employees."
"Right," he sat back looking amused, "Well, that's a bit of a problem."
"Why is that?"
"She doesn't know how I feel about her," he answered and waited a second before continuing, "and I'm not certain I should be telling her since she just officially reminded me that discussing that sort of thing was not appropriate on school grounds."
"Well it doesn't have to be right away. Just let me know if anything changes between the two of you-...wait, what?"
"That is something I wouldn't mind discussing," Robin answered as she gaped at him, "At a more appropriate location, of course. That is if you'd like to."
"I...I," her stammers were interrupted by pounding at the door.
Her assistant opened it and leaned inside, "Hey, I'm sorry interrupt, Regina but Nurse Ratched's been calling. Apparently there was an incident in the bus lane with a student choking on a candy cane."
Regina jumped up, immediately back in professional mode and very glad to be there.
"I have to go," she muttered as she all but ran out the door.
TBC in part two...yes, we will see what happens at the holiday party.