Emma had been right, the bitchy librarian wouldn't issue Emma a library card, no matter how much Regina vouched for who she was. "She doesn't have a permanent address, she doesn't have parents, she doesn't have any ID, I simply can't let her take books out of here." Emma felt like she was dying of embarrassment as she listened to the librarian list all the reasons why she didn't belong. Emma of course, already knew all this, but knowing Ms. Mills was hearing it as well was just mortifying.
"It's ok, lets just go" Emma tugged at her teacher's sleeve.
"No we will not". Regina turned to Emma and then back to the librarian "This is just unacceptable, my taxes pay your wages you know, I want to speak to your boss. Now!"
Emma tugged at her teacher again, and when Regina turned to face her Emma mouthed the words 'please' and Regina might have been wrong but she thought she saw tears in the girls eyes. Regina was a woman who was used to getting what she wanted, but figured she shouldn't push this too far.
"Ok," Regina turned back around to the librarian "How about I sign up for the library card and the books go under my name?" Regina offered as a compromise, flashing her brightest, most insincere smile to the librarian.
"That is fine, but you would be responsible for the books. If this one takes of with them, they are your responsibility." The Liberian pointed at Emma and Regina instinctively stood in front of her.
"She won't. It is fine." Regina assured the librarian. "Where do I sign?"
Once Emma was piled up with books, her and Regina exited the library, Regina feeling triumphant, Emma feeling like crap. "So where is home?" Regina asked Emma.
"What?"
"Where do you live?"
"Oh, um, why?"
"So I know where to drop you." Regina answered with a slight chuckle at the girl's resistance.
"Oh, that's ok, I'll just walk."
"Not a chance. You are carrying half the library with you. And those books are my responsibility. So you can walk, but the books are definitely getting a lift." Regina tried to joke, but Emma seemed to stiffen up even more.
"Um ok, it's not that far though, 108 Dharma Street, I'll direct you."
"It's ok, I know the street" Regina replied unlocking her car and sliding into the drivers seat as Emma tossed her bag in the back and sat herself in the passengers seat.
Regina started the car and they headed north towards Emma's foster home.
"You know you didn't have to do that." Regina was shocked to her upset in Emma's voice."
"Do what Ms. Swan?"
"Get all these books for me. I would have been fine."
"I know. But you need the books, and I have the means to get them for you." Regina looked over at Emma who was staring out the window. "And besides, it really wasn't that difficult."
Emma didn't say anything else for the rest of the drive back to her house. Regina pulled up outside what appeared to be a standard, well kept, suburban home, and Emma muttered a quick thanks before opening the car door to escape. Regina once again grabbed the girl's wrist before she could flee. The girl looked back at her teacher and waited for her to speak.
"Emma" Regina said softly. Both women stared at each other for a moment before Regina closed her sentence of with a question "what's wrong?"
Emma yanked herself free of her Regina's grasp and stare and practically jumped out of the car.
"Nothing, thanks for the books, I'll see you tomorrow" and just like that, Emma was gone.
Emma couldn't believe what she had just done. Ms. Mills had done nothing but be perfectly nice and Emma had to screw it up by acting like a totally spaz. "Damn it" Emma muttered to herself as she let herself inside her house. "What is wrong with you?" She asked herself, knowing very well what the answer was.
Emma had moved to Maine only a week earlier. Before that she had been in a group home in Boston, before that she had been with a different foster family. Emma had been moved around from group homes and foster families for as long as she could remember, and had no idea how to react when someone was gentle with her.
"Where the hell have you been?" Emma's fosters father yelled at her as she walked into the kitchen.
"The library." Emma responded.
"Well we didn't know if you were coming home or not so we ate dinner without you."
"That's fine."
"Make yourself some toast or something but DO NOT make a mess."
"I am not hungry." Emma responded before turning on her heels and heading to her room.
One of the things that Emma did like about this foster family was that for the first time in her life she had her own room. Whilst the dad was an angry slob, he didn't hit her like other foster dad's had, and although they mostly ignored her and barely fed her, Emma still thought that this was probably the best foster family she had been in yet. The only real problem was their son Jordan. He was older than Emma, Emma guessed early 20's and was the one who gave Emma that cut on her eye when she had called him out for staring at her. He made Emma nervous, but she knew better than to complain. She just needed to be able to stay in this family until the school year finished and then she would turn 18, get her high school certificate and be able to make it on her own.
Emma through herself on her bed and looked around her. The room was scarce. There was the single bed she was lying on with its miserable grey bedding; some empty shelves; a set of draws that contained Emma's very few items of clothing and a desk with her newly borrowed books on it. The walls were white and bare. 'This room was specifically designed to depress people', Emma thought to herself, but she didn't mind, she had stayed in worse.
"Emma" Jordan walked into her room without knocking, "where were you? Everyone was pissed."
"I was at the library." Emma responded, quickly sitting up from her laying down position.
"I covered for you, told them not to get mad."
"Um, thanks"
"Yeah, so now you owe me."
"Fuck off Jordan." Emma now standing up, feeling somewhat brave knowing that Jordan's parents' were at home.
"Jesus, why you gotta be such a bitch?" Jordan mumbled whilst he turned around and walked out of Emma's room.
'I wonder if they will let me put a lock on the door' Emma thought to herself whilst making a mental note to ask.
A couple of weeks had passed and Regina noticed that Emma seemed to be both avoiding her and falling behind in her schoolwork. Regina waited until she had dismissed her class before calling out to Emma. "Ms. Swan, a word please."
Emma packed up her books but remained seated at the desk. Regina dragged a spare chair over to Emma's desk and sat by her, ensuring to keep some distance between the two.
"I see your cut has healed up nicely." Regina smiled to her student.
"Yeah, thanks."
"Ms. Swan, you still haven't handed me the Macbeth scene one questions that were due three days ago." A statement, and a question.
"Oh, yeah sorry, I will get them to you tomorrow." Emma stood up to leave.
"Ms. Swan, please sit." Emma of course complied. "It isn't just about the questions, I am worried about you. I've spoken to your other teachers and we all agree that..."
"You were talking about me?" Emma spat out, obviously offended at the thought.
Regina was taken aback. "Of course dear, don't be upset, we need to know how you are going in all of your classes and makes sure you are adjusting to your new life here ok."
Emma sighed, and looked slightly pissed off. Regina placed her hand over the girls before se had the chance to second-guess herself. "Emma," Regina continued, "It is because we all care about you."
"No they don't." Emma scoffed at the comment.
Regina squeezed Emma's hand, knowing that Emma was telling the truth, "Well I do."
"Why? You don't even know me."
"Well obviously because you're my student." Regina said honestly, wounding the young girls pride and prompting her to pull her hand out from under Regina's.
Regina reached out and reclaimed Emma's hand in her own, this time entwining their fingers. "And just because I do Emma. You are so bright, and kind and funny and beautiful and I am afraid that no one ever tells you any of that so you don't even know it."
Emma didn't even crack a smile, but squeezed her teacher's hand.
Regina spoke again "come see me tomorrow after school and we will go through the questions together and make sure you are caught up."
Emma nodded, and neither woman let go of the others hand until the bell sounded.
