Thanks so much to everyone! Y'all are so awesome! Question: would you like a chapter from Regina's POV? Thanks so much! xx


"Wait, so... you abandoned a hot girl at a party because you were so horny you couldn't handle it?"

Emma groans, pushing Ruby jokingly, but she's legitimately annoyed. She's been over it, what, seven times? And each time, dear old Rubes takes it and spins the story into a wonderfully fictionalized version of Saturday night's events. And when she has the nerve to ask Emma why she's mad, Emma doesn't even know what to say.

"I told you that it's not true. Here we go, for the eighth time. Regina and I were hanging out and I had some inappropriate thoughts. I felt guilty, so I kind of just went back into the party and got a little distant, which I think made her feel bad. So I want to apologize, but she's just- she's nothing like me. I don't even know if I should try to be her friend."

"Yeah, okay," Ruby interrupts, ignoring the latter part of her explanation and jumping back, "but I still fail to see how my version's any different from yours. What you essentially did was abandon a hot girl at a party because you were horny."

"No!" Emma argues, exasperated. She doesn't even know why it's hitting a nerve. "Maybe to you it sounds the same, but take it closely. First, I did not abandon her. I got quieter, but I did not just leave her and go off. Second, it wasn't even a party. It was a boring dinner my mom had with a shit ton of old people. And third, I was not horny, I was- well, I was…"

"Yeah, you were," Ruby says seriously, taking Emma's hands and forcing her to look into her eyes. They're wide and so serious, unlike Emma has ever seen them. "But that's okay. And I notice you didn't argue that she's hot. It's because she is, right? You like her."

"No," Emma repeats, her teeth now gritted together. "She's pretty, but she's awkward. Really awkward and stiff. And shy. I'm telling you, we're nothing alike which is why I don't even think I should bother getting to know her."

It's towards the end of break and it's a dreary Monday, the one before winter break which is why everyone's procrastinating. Not to mention Emma's got a terrible case of senioritis (but, let's be real, she's had senioritis ever since she was a freshman) and she wants nothing more than to just start break early and condition herself more for soccer. There's also the winter assembly that Friday, which, as head of Student Council, she's in charge of.

Sometimes, she wonders why the hell she was elected and why the hell she took the position.

But nonetheless, it's her job, and when she has to do it, she does. And then she gets a two-week break and she gets to see Anna, Elsa, and Ingrid. She's counting down the days till Saturday.

"You know what? Belle's shy too, but she's an absolute sweetheart. And how do I know that? Oh, yeah, because I don't run away from her and I actually enjoyed the date on Saturday. Maybe if you just chillaxed, you'd find love. Besides, she could do so much worse than you."

"Thank you," Emma says, trying to keep her face as straight as possible. "I'm so glad that she could do worse than me."

"Shut up, you know what I mean," Ruby whines. It's good that the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch, so that Emma doesn't have to try to pretend to understand Ruby, which she's not sure she'll ever fully comprehend anyway. She hops up, shoulders her black leather backpack and pulls her hair free. She's wearing skinny jeans with dark brown boots and this time (plot twist) she's wearing a blue leather jacket. It's nice, but she just prefers red.

"See you, Emma!"

"Bye, Ruby," Emma calls, waving as she begins heading towards class. They'd been in an empty classroom since their topic of discussion had not been something for her usual crowd to hear (who all sit under the large tree on the picnic table). Her AP English class is all the way at the other side of the school so she barely makes it in time, collapsing into her seat. She can't help but scan the room, as usual, and sees Belle over near the back with a slight smile as she seems to read a text. Probably Ruby. Emma rolls her eyes, but secretly, she thinks it's sweet. There's an odd pang in her chest and she uncomfortably ignores it, opting to begin her warm ups before Mr. Booth throws a fit.

English is Emma's only AP class (and it's terrible) although she is taking Government Honors. She doesn't even remember why she chose them. Something about her previous teachers forcing her to. Nonetheless, she endures the first half hour of the class by having Mr. Booth blabbing about the importance of strong themes. She's daydreaming about the soccer field when Mr. Booth calls on her.

"Oh, uh, what?"

"Nice of you to join us, Emma. What was I just talking about?"

"Uh… fairytales."

She doesn't even know where it comes from and she certainly doesn't expect to be right, but then Mr. Booth raises an eyebrow and nods, affirming, though he's slightly suspicious. Emma sits up, eyes widening, and she mouths "score!" to herself. Several people laugh and Mr. Booth whips around, but Emma's prepared and she's sitting innocently, eyes wide.

So, yeah, she kind of sits in the front because she has a bit of trouble staying awake. Mr. Booth had just moved her right in front of his desk one day after she'd fallen asleep for the seventeenth time. Hey, if it'll keep her awake, then it'll keep her awake.

"As I was saying before Emma started daydreaming about God knows what, your next assignment will be a project that'll be due after break. It's simple: I want you all to create your own fairy tale. It should be no less than ten pages long, MLA, and though originality of the piece and quality of the writing will be taken into account, the heaviest weight factor will be the themes incorporated. This is a partner assignment-"

Emma immediately whips her head to make eye contact with Killian, who smirks, but nods. He's one of her close buds and usually her partner, though she occasionally also partners with Belle.

"… but I've already assigned you all partners."

The class groans in unison ad Emma unintentionally says a very audible cuss word.

"Just for Miss Swan, the essay can be twenty pages. Any more complaints and the whole class will have the same," Mr. Booth continues, smirking. Emma sticks her tongue out at him. He loves to torture her, and yet, he's really chill at the same time. She's fallen asleep, been caught texting, and cussed out loud more times than she can count, but he's never sent her to the dean's, just given her an insane amount of homework and confiscated her phone. Emma will take it.

"Anyway, I suggest you guys meet up a couple of times during break to work on it. Don't be like Emma and do it the night before or even the morning of."

Emma shrugs; it's absolutely true.

"Now, the partners are as follows, and I've combined you all for some reason. It's because of grades or similar writing styles. Or, for some of you, I frankly am just interested to see what comes of you working together. Let's see… since Caitlin is leaving us over break, we'll have an even number, which means everyone is going to have a partner. Please sit with your partner after I assign you all and use the remainder of the period to plan out. Peter and Tink. Mulan and Marian. Belle and Kathryn. Robin and Killian…"

Emma wait patiently, but her hopes fall as she slowly hears all of her friends being paired off with each other. Her face falls completely as she hears Aurora and Frederick paired up. Looking around, she realizes that just about everyone's been named. Mr. Booth looks down at the bottom of the list and looks amused. Emma waits, not amused, and looks at him with a skeptical face.

"And my most interesting pairing. Emma and Regina."

Emma's stomach drops. Seriously? She's that unlucky? She doesn't even get how that could have happened and she just feels really bad after having basically ignored Regina the rest of that night. She sneezes, wipes her nose with her sleeve, and looks at Mr. Booth pleadingly.

"Come and sit next to Emma, Regina. I do hope some of your work ethics and intelligence will rub off on her. And maybe she can get some of your quietness and close her big mouth for once."

"Hey!" Emma protests. Mr. Booth just gives a chuckle.

"Only kidding."

Emma scowls, but takes a deep breath. It's just a project, right? She reluctantly pushes her desk next to another, and tenses as she sees Regina slowly moving from the back of the room to sit next to her. Her eyes are wide and uncomfortable and she looks just as scared as always. Now Regina wears light jeans and a cream colored button up shirt with brown combat boots and her hair is in its usual braid. She carefully sits down and Emma gets the whiff of apples again.

Though she's always been more of an orange person, apples are starting to grow on her.

"Hey," Emma says as soon as Regina's settled and gives her a warm smile. She may be terrified but she won't show it. "So we meet again."

"So we do," Regina says quietly. She's smiling, but she still looks uncomfortable. Though for all Emma knows, Regina's always uncomfortable. Those brown eyes are clearly flecked with fear, but there's almost a yearning underneath and Emma just doesn't know what it's for. Regina seems too sweet to yearn for anything.

"I just- wanted to apologize for Saturday night. I was kind of upset because of Neal."

That's partially true, but not really. Still, Regina seems to buy it. The tension eases because Regina suddenly looks very relieved, her eyes widening in realization.

"Oh. I thought it was something I- never mind. Of course it's okay, things happen and I completely understand."

Emma smiles and Regina smiles back. It's honest. It's true. But it's still lacking. And Emma can't quite put her finger on it, though she decides not to.

"Let's think about this project later. We have the rest of this week and break. I hope I'll be seeing you around, though? Like, at the club and stuff?"

"Oh, yes, of course," Regina answers, looking excited at the prospect. Emma's not sure how to interpret that, because on one hand, Regina has a tendency to act too excited at the prospect of making friends and all Emma can do is wonder if the poor girl really is so lonely that she actually gets excited over projects. But on the other hand, Regina, from what Emma knows, is extremely kind and always trying to make people feel good.

She's such a mystery.

"Maybe we can talk over the weekend?" Regina presses sweetly. It's so hard to look into such a gentle and innocent face with wide eyes. Regina is exactly a cute bunny, so Emma has no idea why she'd been so… flustered the other night. Like she'd previously concluded, Regina is a mystery.

"Uh, yeah. Just, my friends are coming this weekend, But I still remember I told you I'd introduce you to Elsa and we can totally meet up sometime. Besides, I'll see you at the club, right?"

"Without fail," Regina whispers, one of those genuine, wide smiles coming to her face. Emma almost feels guilty as the bell rings and Regina's face falters slightly.

"Cool. I'll, uh, see you, then."

She gives Regina one last smile before turning and filing out of the classroom with everyone else.

It's not until that night, when she's at the club, that she suddenly realizes what is missing from Regina.

Emma yearns for the cold Regina on ice, confident and beautiful. Normal Regina is sweet and cute, but there's no passion there. Emma likes the passion. She likes the girl who owns the ice rink. She likes the confidence, although humble, radiating out, and she likes to see Regina whipping around the rink with a smirk.

She likes the Ice Queen.