A/N: Super long chapter yay! Hope you enjoy this.

So it begins

Emma

He wouldn't stop texting me all weekend, It was so great. Our plan worked, and even though I had to kiss Regina… a lot it was totally worth it to see Neal's face. He just couldn't stand that I had been dating a girl.

The texts were all "There's no way you're into girls." "I know you." and "How much did you pay that girl to date you?" I ignored most of them, only replying to a few to let him know I was too busy with Regina to chat with him; and laughed out loud when he couldn't let it go. He just kept on with the texts telling me how dumb I was being and how he didn't believe I was gay.

He's right, of course, but he doesn't have to know that. He's just in denial and I know he believes this was all real, because Regina put on one heck of a show. Even I would've believed she liked me if I didn't know any better.

I smile brightly to myself as I open up my locker first thing Monday morning. I was in a great mood, and nothing was going to change that. "Hey Emma… why are you so happy?" I hear a voice from the other side of my locker. "It's a sin to be this happy on a Monday morning."

My smile doesn't falter, and I shrug dumping everything into my locker. I don't need anything for drama. "What's the good news?" I hear another voice, and now it does falter a little.

I lower my gaze to avoid eye contact with Graham, because I feel like I broke some sort of bro code or something with him. I know I'm pretending to be Regina's girlfriend, but he won't know that and he was just trying to be my friend. I suppose the only thing I can do is talk to him and tell him I'm dating her… but I can't even look him in the eyes.

I steel my reserve and was about to ask him to talk but he was faced away from me staring at someone. Then I see Regina heading directly for me. She's not really paying attention to where she is going. She has a coffee in one hand, and her phone in the other, and that has all of her attention.

I marvel at how she seems to avoid all obstacles in her way, or is it that people are moving out of her way, I can't decide. But I hope she doesn't have an accident, I don't want her hurt even if she is a royal pain in my ass.

"Morning Regina." I say cheerfully, mostly so that I could see the brown in her eyes. She scowls but she doesn't look up from her phone. Oh… it's a facade… I get it. Graham is right there, and she doesn't want to make eye contact anymore than I do.

Then before she passes by me, she makes eye contact. "I hate mornings, dear," She tells me as if I should already know this, before she kisses me right on the mouth… in front of everyone… I mean EVERYONE. Then she walks away toward Drama class, and leaves me to deal with Graham.

Fuck…

I don't even spare Graham or Ruby a glance before quickly following behind her. All I could think about was this stupid kiss now, and why she gave it to me… I mean I know why she kissed me, but why did she kiss me like that? She didn't even check to see if Graham had reacted to it. I know she wants to get a rise out of him, and since that' what she wants, why did she kiss me the way she did. It was a normal couple kiss not one that was all exaggerated and showy just to make him uncomfortable. It was a quick peck as if she didn't have to explain herself to anyone. As if we had been doing this forever…

then I remember her words and groan. If we do this, we go all out. That's what she had said. She is not my Pretend girlfriend she is my real girlfriend. That's why it felt so natural.

I was not smart like Regina, I did lay it on thick for Neal on Friday… I thought I had done so well but… this… this was brilliant. I found my seat and was lost in thought as I went over all that I had done on Friday. It had worked right?

"Hey Emma!" A shout came from beside me.

"What, Ruby?" I snap. Okay, I know what she had been calling me for a while, but I don't want to talk about that kiss out loud. She points to the front of the room at Mr. Hopper and I realized I had missed a question.

"Anything you want to share with the class Emma?" He asks taking a sip of his coffee. I glance around the classroom without really making eye contact with anyone. I'm still able to see the way Graham and Ruby are still staring at me with those looks as if they want to know what I am thinking. I notice the way Lily is looking from Regina to me then back to Regina repeatedly, and Regina has got a smirk on her face as she stares at me.

I finally make eye contact with my girlfriend and she licks her lips. My eyes widen and my face goes red as I remember that tongue in my mouth. "Uh…"

"Well?" Hopper prompts. I shake my head and put it quickly down on my desk to hide my embarrassment. "Good, now we can start the class." He goes to the board and once his back is to us, I get a tap on my shoulder.

I frown when I turn and I don't know this guys name, but he is handing me a note, and I am pretty sure it came from Regina because he is staring at her and not me. And his hand is shaking.

I roll my eyes and take the piece of paper, she probably threatened to turn him into a toad if he read it. When I open the note, I saw it was not words, it was a drawing… a naughty one that I would never have expected my girlfriend to draw. I looked back at her and raised a brow and smirked.

I drew a response, and had the kid give the note back to her. She looked and gasped at the return "Regina, do you have something to share with the class?"

Regina was flustered as Mr. hopper reaches out and tugs on the note in her hand. That's when I react. Shit I do not want to be suspended. I covered my eyes and wished the paper was in my hand instead. "You have magic!" I heard Regina shout.

"What?" I said opening my eyes and the drawing was face up on my desk. I took it and ball it up and stuffed it in my mouth.

"Emma, spit the note out." Hopper coaxes. I shake my head and attempt to swallow it. I say attempt because it doesn't work out well. I choke on the note, and I begin to cough. but there is a paper jam in my esophagus.

I start to panic because I can't breathe. I'm trying to get air into my lungs but there is too much paper. Great… I find out I have magic and now I just might die. I'm going to end up on one of those one thousand ways to die shows because I swallowed a dirty note with even dirtier pictures on it. So not the way to make a TV debut.

"Jesus Emma!" I hear Regina yell. There is nothing but pure panic in her tone. I'd think it was weird any other day because she hates me; but as I'm her girlfriend, I expect that she would show a bit of concern. Even if she is acting.

She wraps her arms around me and does the Heimlich. "Breathe damn it." She grunts as she continues to push on me. I can feel the paper totally sliding it's way down and I lift my hand to stop her from doing anymore. "Next time, just soak it, idiot. People can't read soggy paper." She whispers in my ear. Then she slaps my back so hard.

"Ow!" I wheeze looking up at her. "I'm good…' She has her hand reared back ready to strike again.

"Are you sure?" She questions. I nod my head vigorously and let out another soft cough.

"Maybe she should go see the nurse." Ruby suggests.

"I'll take her," Graham offers like I'm some kindergartner.

"Yes, please." Hopper concedes.

"She's fine." Regina sends a quick glare her ex's way before turning back to me. "Aren't you"

Cough, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Alright." Hopper says and continues with his lesson.

Regina then arranges her seat so that she is now sat behind me. she moves my seat so that I straddle it and she sits behind me and kneads at my back attempting to give me some comfort when I cough. "Just let it out," She says soothingly as she taps my back softly. I press my lips together fighting the urge to smile. If I seem happy Regina will probably think she needs to scale back on the nice and start slapping me really hard instead.

I concentrated on the feeling of her hands on my back the press of her hips and legs on my ass and thighs and think yeah this feels like a relationship. I look around the room and notice Graham and ruby completely dumbfounded by the position we were in.

I began to focus on the class and Hopper was talking about Method acting. and how once he had thrown himself down the stairs for a part… and it clicked… I don't have a plan for this part that I am playing. I have to throw myself down a flight of stairs. I have got to become attracted to Regina. I have to like her, like her . for real. I can do that I think.

Regina drops her hand from my back and it casually rests on the front of my jean. I feel that, but I can't be bothered to react. I had to find what I liked about this girl. She bends to the side pressing the flat of her hand against my chest. I feel that too, of course, but she's trying to pick something up and I can't be bothered to let her fall on her face.

So what do I like about Regina… She's gorgeous, though it doesn't have much bearing in this, it helps a lot. She's got those big brown eyes.I feel her fumbling behind me and I subconsciously move my hair over my right shoulder. She drops a kiss on my shoulder. I turn to glare at her, what if Hopper had seen? She smirks at me then she kisses my lips defiantly.

I roll my eyes and turn back to the front, giving Hopper half of my attention. I think I have found another great thing about Regina. She is a great kisser. I mean… wow. When I kissed Ruby it had been the best kiss i'd ever gotten, 'til Regina kissed me. Wait, does this make me gay?

The bell rings, and Hopper says, " Emma and Lily… hang back a bit please."

I sigh, and I feel my girlfriend let go of me. "Later." She says

"See you at lunch?" I ask turning to look at her.

"Duh." She answers drops a kiss on my lips and walks out of the room.

{~~~O~~~}

I don't even bother to stop for food. I have no money I already gave it to Regina. So I search for "Our table" weird, I've never had an "our table" before… but it just seems that Regina, Graham Ruby and I tend to sit at the same table every day. They are all there. And despite the fact that they have broken up, Regina is sitting next to Graham. Their tension stiffened backs both facing me. Even weirder, is that no one is talking. Not even Ruby.

I take a deep breath before putting on a smile and quickly making my way toward them. Ruby spots me first and smiles at me waving me over. I smile back and drop down next to Regina. She barely glances at me, and I reach over to take one of her fries. She didn't seem like the french fries type. I mean who orders a salad and a side of fries? Regina, that's who.

"Do that again, Swan, and they will never find your body," she grunts.

I shrug. "You nearly killed me in there. Did you bruise my back?"

"There's nothing there." she says immediately.

"You didn't even look." I turned and gave her a pout.

She rolls her eyes and lifts my shirt to take a good look. "Nothing but back zits." she claims.

"I do not have back zits!" I say with a giggle.

She chuckles and leans closer leaving one of her hands under my shirt. She begins rubbing lazy circles into my skin and I found the third thing I liked about Regina. I loved her subtle affection.

Wait, "Why is everyone so quiet?" I ask looking at the table, well except Graham cause I'm "dating" his ex. and I was still a little skeeved about talking to him.

"We were talking…" Ruby spoke up,

"But then that Kid August asked me where I got this mark." Regina finished up. I looked at her and she was pointing at the beautiful hickey I left on her neck on Friday. I have to say I'm very proud of the work I did.

It looks way worse than it did that night. I can see where she tried to cover it with makeup, but the dark spot still lingers under the surface. I smirk and turn my head. "So, how is that relevant?" I ask.

"Regina said you're a bier," Graham finally speaks up as he is waiting for the real reason she is bruised. That, however, is the real reason. I bit Regina.

"Just that once." I defend myself.

"And the time in my room." Regina says reminding me of the very naked fight on her bed, in which I might have nipped her ear.

"Okay, Twice." I say.

"You bit her leg in Drama class." Ruby chimed in.

"Okay! fine I', a biter! Geez."

"So you and Regina... " Graham makes a gesture with his hand hoping i'd fill in the blank. There is nothing left to say. I pick up a few of Regina's fries and stuff them in my mouth quickly so that she doesn't see me.

She snorts prettily, if a snort can be pretty, and places the fries in front of me and goes back to her salad. "I saw that."

I roll my eyes again but I am relieved, because I was starving, and I thought she would pitch a fit about me stealing her food.

"Can you just tell us what the fuck is going on?" Ruby asks.

I open my mouth to speak but Regina placed a finger on my lips. "Don't talk with your mouth full, it's unseemly." She commands before facing Ruby, "We're dating."

Ruby smiles with all of her teeth. It was eerie how much like a wolf she looked like now. "Hot!"

"You're kidding right? That's like a social experiment or something for Mr. Ho-." Graham ads.

"No, we're dating. For real." Regina interrupts.

"When did this happen?" Ruby says excitedly.

"Friday-ish." I answer finally meeting Graham's eyes.

"The day after we broke up?" HE completely ignores me and addresses Regina.

"Precisely." Regina answers, not elaborating… no other explanation cause she's bad-ass.

"But you hate her!" Graham protested. "You go at it like cats and dogs."

Regina's smile is insanely sexy and her voice gets a low fuck me tone. "Yeah we do."

I blush. " We went on a date on Friday night, kind of to see where the two of you stood. And it went really well... " I shrug and turn to face him. "Are you okay with it, I mean I wasn't planning on liking it so much."

Graham just stares at me for a while as if he can't believe this whole thing. Finally, he shrugs. "I'm cool with it," He says giving me a very small smile, but a smile none the less.

I jump up and hug him happy not to have totally lost my new friend. "Three… Two…"

I roll my eyes at Regina's countdown and turn to my girlfriend. "It's just a hug, Regina!"

"I know where your hugging leads to." Regina retorted.

"I'm not some dog that will hump everything with a pulse." I argued.

"Just sit down and eat your fries." Regina says and I do, between her and Graham. My phone buzzes and I pull it out and smile seeing the name on the text.

Neal: how long have you really been "dating" that girl.

I laughed to myself because he still can't accept it

Me: What are you asking? how long we've been dating or how long have we been fucking?

Neal: The second one.

Me: We told you already.

Neal: I don't believe it

Me: Why?

Neal: I know you. You don't just fuck someone after only just meeting them.

I giggled to myself, he means I didn't jump in bed with him after the first day… or week… or month.

"Who are you texting?"

I glance up at Regina who was trying to look over my shoulder. I lean away, "no one."

She raises a brow at me and holds her hand out expectantly. "Let me see."

I furrow my brow. "No." This chick was tripping.

"She raises her eyebrows at me. I quirked mine in defiance. My phone buzzes again and I should ignore it because Regina and I are having a moment, but I don't I read the text. I can't help it and I smile again. Neal is so full of it. Now he wants to meet me somewhere. Just the two of us so we can "talk"

As I decide to text him a firm "No thank you," Regina snatches the phone out of my hands. "Regina!"

She ignores me and reads my texts, her eyes going wide. She's angry. But I don't care, I'm just as ticked. I snatch my phone away from her.

"I thought I made it clear that I don't like that… not so "random" guy from the back of your stupid car." She yells at me.

"It didn't mean anything."

"Of course it did, Emma! Or you wouldn't have had to bring me on that stupid date."

"We're just trying to move past this and be friends." I say.

"Why?" she questions.

"Why not? You're still friends with Graham."

"That is because Graham is not a douche bag. I don't like the way he treats you like you are his property."

"Right, because that's your job!"

"Tell him to lose your number." She demands, getting even louder.

"I do what I want!" I yell back. It isn't that I mind not ever talking to Neal again, but I don't want her thinking she can tell me what to do, or who to talk to.

"Swan…" Regina growls warningly.

I get up and walk away. I don't need this. I don't get far because she follows me "Don't walk away from me!" she shouts and pulls on my arm.

I scowl down at her hand then back at her face. I'll walk away from whomever I please, and I will talk to whomever I please. My phone rings, and I know it's Neal and so does Regina because she growls. "Don't you dare answer that."

I look at her defiantly and engage the phone. "Hel- Regina!"

she snatches the phone away again. "Stop calling my girlfriend!" She yells into the phone. then turns away from me before I can take it back. "Lose her number now!"

She has gone too far. I snatch the phone away from her, as she glares at me breathing like a dragon. I see her fist clench and a spark of fire in between and I know that she and I could probably do some serious damage. "Are you kidding me?" I scream at her and throw my hands up in exasperation. "This is exactly why you broke up with Graham, because you can't get over your jealousy issues. You get mad at Graham because he is FRIENDS with Ruby… YOU're friend's with Ruby! and now you're mad at me because I am texting Neal. I don't even LIKE him and you know it. You know what he did to me! so what's your problem?"

I know I'm pushing it. but it was what I was feeling at the moment. It feels real. she snaps her mouth shut and there's this look on her face, I can't tell if she's angry but I can see that she is hurt.

Fuck, I didn't mean to hurt her

I hang my head drawing a deep breath before getting the courage to look her in the eye again. "Sorry… I shouldn't have said that. But you really don't have to worry about Neal, or anyone else. I'll never cheat on you."

She just glares back at me without a word. and I find that I like it when Regina is mad. she's so damn sexy. wait… what?

She smiles lightly and takes my hand in hers entwining our fingers. I can't help it. I let a grin eat up my whole face. she pulls me to her , both hands curled firmly around my waist and she kisses me. "That is one promise you better keep Emma." she murmurs against my lips.

I pull back and look her in the eyes. "I will." I promise sincerely and I barely get the words out before she's kissing me again and again. what shocks me is the instinctive response to this kiss. Fuck, if I'm not gay, I'm gay for her.

Regina

"Guess what!" Emma singsongs coming up to me early one day.

I sighed. "I hate guessing things Dear." I tell her before leaning in and placing a coffee flavored kiss on her mouth.

She shrugs. "Okay." She says as she reaches behind her and pulls her phone out of her back pocket. I just beep alerting her that she got a text message.

I notice now that we have an audience out in the halls as we are the only lesbian coupe in this god forsaken town apparently. Though this may have everything to do with the fact that Swan and I are of warring families. On that front I can't really fault them for the gawking but it's getting irritating.

"See you in class then," Emma interrupts my musings shoving her phone back into her pocket and starts to walk away. What? wait didn't she have something to share with me?

I grab her hand before she gets too far and I pull her to me a little making her face me. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Her eyebrows dip in confusion then her eyes lit up. "Oh, sorry." She said then nipped my bottom lip. she never kisses me. she always bites… I love that she does that it's freaky and casual which suits me just fine since I don't like her, and it balances off all of the soft loving kisses I give her because that is what she likes.

I shake my head to focus on the moment again, because Emma turns and is leaving again, and still hasn't told me what she wanted to tell me earlier. "Not that , you idiot. Didn't you want to tell me something?"

"You didn't guess." She said feigning innocence. I know she was faking that.

"And I won't guess," I cross my arms over my chest defiantly.

"Yeah, I got that." she chuckles lightly, mirroring my stance in a more playful way. I'm not playing.

"And..?" I inquire, not bothering to smile back. I am losing my patience.

"And, what?"

"Tell me!" I hell throwing my arms down making to fists at my side.

"Tell you what, Regina?"

"How the hell should I know, you're the one that said guess what!"

"But you didn't guess…" She answers calmly with just a hint of a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

I work my jaw from side to side, she is messing with me and I really hate that. "Emma…" I growl I count to ten before I blast her with a fireball.

"Later, I gotta get to class." Emma winks at me before heading off. She walked away again!

"We still have five minutes till the bell rings!" I shout after her.

"I have to go to the bathroom." she calls back over her shoulder. I glare at her retreating back.

"So what do you have on her?" I hear . I hate when people sneak up from behind me and talk in my ear, even if these people are Graham.

I turn to face him, an aggravated scowl on my face. "What?" I ask, though I heard him perfectly well the first time.

"I said, what do you have on Emma?"

I tilt my head and narrow my eyes. "What do you mean?"

"How did you get her to pretend to date you?" he said with a cocky look on his face. Should I feel offended? I probably should, but he knows me well enough to know that I would probably do something like that. Argh… he knows everything except the fact that I'd probably rather be with a girl than a boy any day.

I kind of miss the ease of having him be mine. There is certain protection behind him being my boyfriend. My mother is being impossible about me having a girlfriend. She has been the only one I have confided to about my plan, because it would get her off my back long enough for me to see it through. She thinks it's fake, and that's all that matters.

"You've known Emma and I have been dating since Monday." I tell him, pausing giving him a pointed look.

"Yeah I know." He says with a shrug.

"It's Friday and you're just now asking me this? You're an awful friend." I accuse. Then I walk away, heading toward first period. I know he'll follow I never answered his question. Plus he is in that class.

"Well I'm here now." He says once we're walking side by side. "come on, Regina. She's cool people. This has gone on long enough. Whatever you have on her just let it go."

wow… simple and straight to the point. No lessons in morality and what's right and wrong.

I turn to him and ask. "What makes you think she didn't ask me out?"

He looks at me as if I'm a strange bird. Emma asking me out did sound very strange indeed, but she did ask me. I shrug my shoulders and turn away. " I have nothing on the charming spawn… She's just pretty, and I like pretty things."

"Oh please, she wouldn't pretend to date you unless you had something on her." He said incredulously. This is a great assumption, but it was wrong.

"Why would I need her to pretend? Don't you think she might like pretty things too? Don't you think I'm pretty?"

"You just want to make me jealous." he retorted. I stop in my tracks but not because I'm shocked, or anything like that. We've made it to the classroom. I put my hand on the doorknob and turn it. "If I wanted to make you jealous, I wouldn't use Emma, she's just for me." I say before walking into class and leaving Graham in the hallway to think about what I said.

At the End of Drama class I pull Emma to just outside the classroom door and kiss her, much the same I would have done Graham. A short goodbye make out session to get us through the next class. "See you at lunch?" I murmured.

"Yeah," She answered and gave me another peck on the lips. "We have an audience." she mentions, signalling to Graham as if I didn't already know he was standing there. "You guys getting things sorted? Do I have to worry?"

"No, dear… you don't ever have to worry." I say and kiss her one last time and let her head off to class.

I turn to head toward mine knowing he is going to follow. I pretend not to see him and head for my locker. "Regina!"

"what?" I answer, not even bothering to check behind myself.

Graham has to jog a little to catch up "What did you mean back there before drama?"

I make a face, like I don't know what he is referring to. "Be more specific, I said a lot of things this morning."

"You said, you wouldn't use Emma to make me jealous."

"Right…" I say rolling my eyes.

"Then who would you use to make me jealous?" He scowls crossing his arms over his chest.

"Don't you have a class to get to?" I ask grabbing my books from my locker.

"I'm ready," He says showing me that he has everything he needs with him. "Just answer my question."

"What question," I mutter distractedly as I swap out my books.

"Who would you use to make me jealous?" He repeats and I sigh impatiently.

"If I were to do something as pathetically immature as that?" I said walking toward my next class.

I waited for his respond allowing him to feel the shame of thinking I'd do something that immature… even though that exactly what I was doing. "Yeah…" He said sheepishly.

I bit back a chuckle this was too easy. I shrug my shoulders instead, keeping my demeanor cool as I answer. "I don't know some random guy… Maybe Killian, he's rather handsome… or maybe even someone like Leroy… That would probably make you feel bad about yourself." I shudder a bit noting how disgusted I was by the thought of it.

"Leroy is old." He said with a disgusted face.

"I know, but I'd do that. Completely destroy your ego for sure." I answer.

He falters. "And Emma?"

"What about her?"

"You said she was for you?"

"Your point?" I ask making a motion with my hand to suggest he was taking up way too much of my time. I was already at my classroom door.

"What did you mean by that?" He asks

"It means, I'm not dating her to make you jealous. I kiss her whether you're there or not." I shrug and turn toward the door.

"And we're back to what you may have on her." He insisted. "She wouldn't agree to any of this unless you threatened her."

I roll my eyes and walk away. I smile to myself as I sit down at my seat. he will be back and waiting for me at the door when class is over.

This whole dating Emma to make Graham jealous thing is working better than I thought it would. He is taking his sweet old time about it but he makes it so easy. I know Graham, and I know he's not going to give in to this right away.

He will take the five stages of grief with him. Denial being the first stage and he has certainly reached that part of the process. he is probably going to want to prove this isn't real, which means I have to actually date the girl outside of school.

That ought to be easy enough. Daddy already thinks we're being intimate, but now I have to go make nice with Snow White and her idiot shepherd boy. And it's got to happen today. I hope Emma is ready for this. It's about to get very uncomfortable for her tonight. And if we can convince them all that we're together. Stage two will not be too far away for Graham. Anger.

I don't think he will go overboard with the anger once he realizes Emma and I are really together, He's a pretty laid back guy. Most of the anger will probably be directed at Emma anyway. He will be wondering what it is that she has that he does not. I'm difficult, I will not deny it, which means I have to be happy with Emma. He has got to see a real change. No sweat.

I was lost in thought at the bell rings. I was startled and chastised myself because If we were to be tested on what had been taught that day, I'd fail completely.

Graham is standing at the door as I walk out of class this time. Making sure I see him. I make a face at the sight of him as if I'm, tired of having to see him. "You know we're not together anymore. You should stop walking me to classes I don't feel like having to explain to my girlfriend why my ex has been following me around like a lost puppy."

"Then answer my questions." He shrugs.

I smirk at his ultimatum. "You trying to tell me what to do?" I ask

"Fine." He says and walks silently beside me. I know It's time for him to go now. If I don't send him away, he'll know that I don't mind his company and deduce that I am pretending to be tired of having him follow me around.

"Fine, " I relent, stopping in my tracks. "I don't have anything on Emma and I never asked her to pretend to be my girlfriend. Now will you leave me alone?" I say. It's all true. She asked me to be her girlfriend.

"So…" he makes a motion with his hand asking me to continue.

I sigh, "So she's my girlfriend. Probably a rebound right now, but she's honestly really hot, and I really like her so I don't know. Maybe she'll be around a while." I answer. "If you utter a word to her about what I just said I will fireball you into ashes." I ended this with a threat so that he doesn't forget who he is talking to.

"Please! You don't like Emma. You never liked her!" He yells at me irritably .

I was elated at his reaction but I roll my eyes exasperated. "Never? Graham, I've known her two weeks, there is not enough time for me to have made an informed decision. right now, I like her, I may love her later, or I may hate her." He scoffs not believing what I am saying. "Look. i know there are these unwritten rules and rights and stuff exes have. In all seriousness I do not have to answer to you we are broken up. but if I give you an answer will you drop this forever?"

"If I believe it."

I roll my eyes knowing that's the best I'm gonna get. "I like her because she is not afraid of me. Happy?" Wait… that was not what I wanted to say… what does this mean?

"Nope I'm still waiting for this to make sense." He says and I'm thinking along the same lines.

I sighed and remember Emma's first day at our school and I smile a little. She bit me, she fought me. "She never lets me win."

What?" He says snapping me out of my trance. I shake away the uninvited warm thoughts towards the blonde.

"She's a challenge." I try to clarify. "I like challenges."

Graham has nothing to say. He has no argument because he knows it's true. I do like a challenge.

{~~~O~~~}

When I get to lunch, My girlfriend is there sharing a grilled cheese with Ruby. "Why are you eating her food?" I asked sitting next to her.

"Because you always get us salad, and Granny's has the best grilled cheese!" Emma answers taking a huge bite of the sandwich.

"So how come you never buy your own lunch Emma? Don't you have any money?"

I roll my eyes. I knew Graham would be on a mission to prove we weren't dating. "I put her on a diet." I answer.

Emma laughs and spears some lettuce off my plate. "Regina, would it really kill you to let them know how nice you are?"

"yes." I push through clenched teeth. I don't know what she is getting at I just wish people would mind their own business.

Everyone at the table looks confused until Emma rolls her eyes. "I'm trying to save my money, so Regina is sharing her lunch with me." I guess she has given this some thought.

"What are you saving up for?" Graham asks nosily

Emma blushes a little. "I wanna keep it to myself a while. It's a surprise, Regina doesn't even know yet." She lies smoothly

"Dear, I hate surprises." I grumble.

"Really?" She asks distractedly pulling out her phone. It just beeped for the second time since I've sat down to lunch not five minutes ago. What could be the attraction to that contraption?

"Really." I confirm.

"Oh Mami you don't like anything." She shrugs, eyes still glued to her phone and fingers flying across the touch screen keyboard.

Mami? I'm a little at a loss for words, so I stuff some lettuce into my mouth. I call Emma Dear all the time, but she never once had used a term of endearment for me. she never calls me anything other than Regina. I've been expecting something a little more saccharine like sweetie, or honey or something, but she has always just used my name until this very moment.

Mami. I toss the word around in my head for a minute before deciding that i kind of like it. It makes me feel sexy; in a really subtle way. I also find myself wishing Emma would call me that more often. But I seriously doubt she will. I don't think she realizes what she said in the first place. She was so distracted with her phone it could have been a slip of the tongue.

"Dear," I say and wait until Emma gives me her attention before I continue. "I'm coming over after school today. I forgot something at your house."

"When, yesterday, or Tuesday?" she asked with a frown.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes because Tuesday you left your um…" She stops and glances at everyone at the table letting a blush come to her cheeks. "You- you left different things on different days." she finishes quieter.

I raise my eyebrows. Maybe I shouldn't be so worried on Emma's ability to keep this reuse up. She's not bad at this.

"I'm not going straight home today, but if you want I can bring your stuff tomorrow." She says,

I narrow my eyes at her. There is no stuff and she knows it! She knows that I want to come to her house and she is refusing me! Why?

"Why? where are you going?"

"Out!" She says.

"With who?" I scream and she startles along with everyone else. she chokes on the lettuce she had been chewing on before. I turn to help her yet again with her choking, I swear this girl is a hazard.

She reaches out, her eyes widening as she scoots away from me. "I'm fine, Mami. I don't need your help." She panics.

I back off letting recover on her own. She called me Mami again. I really like that.

"What?" she asks and I realize I've been staring at her for awhile. "DO I have something on my face?"

I roll my eyes more at myself than at her and shake my head. I don't know why I had been staring, all she did was call me that name I had heard on my father's lips toward my mother many times before. It's not that big of a deal.

"It's nothing." I shrug, before leaning in and trying to give her a casual kiss. She coughs straight into my mouth. She sees the look in my eye and bolts from her seat.

"I'm so sorry… It's your own fault really you shouldn't be mad at me."

"You coughed in my mouth!" I screamed at her.

"I was choking!" she says standing behind Graham. I can't believe she has the nerve to blame this on me. "You're such a freak."

I go deathly still. Oh I'm gonna kill her. "What did you just call me?" I ask, giving her a chance to back down.

"Don't say it Emma." Ruby warns.

Emma walks out from behind Graham and comes up to me standing in my personal space. Her face is set in resolute determination as she faces me, bravely looking me in my eyes without flinching in the least. She takes my hand in hers in a move to convey trust in the deal we had made. I snap my head up just in time for Emma to lean in and grab my top lip with her teeth. She tugs a little roughly before letting go and attacking my bottom lip, then she pulls back abruptly.

I lean in for more, because I want it. I know I shouldn't I didn't get anything out of that. It didn't last long enough for me to respond or kiss her back… wait. I open my eyes ( When did I close them," and she's standing in front of me with this smirk on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.

"You liked that Mami?" she said. " You can't tell me you're not a freak." she challenges.

My eyes widen and my nose flares. I can feel the rage coursing through my veins and I have one thought. "I Regina Mills, am going to end up in prison today cause I'm going to murder this girl and giver mutilated body to her sheriff daddy.

I think my thoughts are showing on my face because everyone has gone quiet. "Give. Me. Your. Arm." I growl.

"Don't do it Ems…" Ruby gulps out her warning. But Emma only smirks and gives it to me allowing me to pull her away from the table.

A/N: What do you think? Let me know in the box below. Cheer me up I'm just a little heart broken and your reviews help tons. 'til next time, Much love!~S.K.