Chapter 3

"So rumor has it, you went on a date with Abigail Nolan," Blue said nonchalantly as she rubbed David's shoulders. She had just attempted to teach him how to play tennis and it had been an abject failure. After her patience had run out, she had suggested some down time on the lawn. A blanket had been set out and wine provided. "I hear she's very nice."

"She's alright. She kept talking about this girlfriend she hung out with all of last semester and how she went complete Fatal Attraction on her all of a sudden."

"Really?" Blue said pausing.

"What a loser. She must have been one of those uber-liberal troublemakers you and my father were talking about." Blue dug her finger into a particularly bad knot she had found. He grunted in pain.

"Sorry."

"Anyway. Abbie has invited me to her parent's place for Labor Day." Blue winced at the nickname.

"That's great."

"You think so?" He asked, his voice betraying his nerves. "I don't know. I guess I'm just scared."

"Of what?"

He let out a long-suffering sigh. "Girls. Obviously."

"I'm a girl."

"It's different. You're my friend. You are like the sister I never had. I've never even gone to first base with a girl."

"So you ever practice with the guys on the farm?"

"Ew no." Blue could practically hear him screaming No Homo in her head. "That's gross."

"It's not gross. Gross would be using one of those sheep you herded. How do you think people learn?" she asked, patting his back. "Alright. Turn around and face me." He did it with an eyebrow raised. She took off her wide-brimmed hat. "As your big sister, I'm going to help you out. Close your eyes and wet your lips." He eyed her.

"Are you for real?"

"You want to learn or not?" she replied shortly.

"I guess." He did as she said and leaned forward. Blue closed the distance and their lips met for a few seconds.

Blue pulled away. "See that wasn't so scary."

"It was nothing," he said with a dazed smile.

"Okay." She took off her sunglasses and looked into his eyes. "I'm going to kiss you again. This time I am going to stick my tongue in your mouth and I want you to massage it gently with yours and that is what first base is." He nodded. "Eyes closed." He nodded again. "Follow my lead and remember what I do. Girls don't want a tongue shoved down their throat and drool all over their face." Blue leaned in and kissed him.

"Not bad," she said. David still had his eyes closed and was leaning toward her. If she didn't think sleeping with him would cause her all kinds of trouble, she knew she could have had him right then, sister or not.

"That was nice," He said eyes still closed. She put her sunglasses back on.

"Maybe you should try practicing with your friend Snow." David's eyes snapped open.

"What are you getting at?"

"Oh come on David. She looks at you like you are the answer to all her prayers. She's crazy about you." He blushed and looked away.

"She sends me letters," he said quietly. "And poems. Poems about love," he whispered.

"That's so romantic. Have you responded?"

"No," he said firmly.

"Well, don't you like her?" David huffed and stood.

"I do like her. She's just perfect, but my father! God if he ever found out. She's a scholarship student." He looked at the tennis racket lying to the side. "I doubt she's ever even held a tennis racket."

"Poor people do play tennis, David. You did hide the letters and poems, right?"

He nodded. "In an old trophy case."

"Okay. I want you to make copies of them and give them to me." He nodded again.

"Uh, why?"

""Because if there is one thing I'm good at it's people in love. With my help, you will get your girl and your happy ending." David smiled. "Now there's my Prince Charming," she said patting his cheek.

SQSQSQ

Later that night, Regina pulled back into the estate, following the winding roads with ease. She grabbed a book that had struck her interest and a few other necessities and headed to the pool area. She plugged her iPod in and started the 1812 Overture. One of the guest bedrooms had such faulty acoustics, the sound from the poolroom traveled over almost unencumbered. Regina delighted in the advantage. Not even five minutes later she heard the blonde enter the poolroom.

"Excuse me! Hello!" Emma called into the room. Regina pretended not to hear and continued to read. Emma didn't notice Regina sprawled out on a lounge chair until she rounded a corner and was a few feet away. "Excuse me," she said loudly trying to be heard over the cannons firing. Regina put her book down slowly and looked toward her guest.

"What a pleasant surprise." She snapped the remote in the direction of the speakers and they were suddenly in silence.

"Jesus. Were you aware of how loud you had that?"

"I think I'd have to be deaf not to."

"Well, it's deafening even in my room. Turn it down." Emma turned to walk away and Regina's wrist snapped back the remote and the chorus to Lovefool by the Cardigans began playing. Emma couldn't help the smile that graced her lips. She tried to push it away before she turned around, but hints of it could still be detected on her face.

"So, what are you doing in your room?" Regina asked teasingly.

"Reading."

"Anything interesting?" Regina asked standing. She was wearing tight black jeans and an oversized black designer t-shirt. Emma couldn't help but notice she wasn't wearing a bra.

"Yes. It's quite intriguing," she said, thinking about the letter she had been rereading. She watched Regina warily.

Regina moved to a side table and grabbed the bag she left there. She handed it to Emma. "For you, Miss Swan." Emma took it with confusion and no small amount of trepidation. Her eyebrows were furrowed as she took the bag and pulled out a soft beautiful black leather jacket. Her name was embroidered above the label inside the jacket. "A peace offering. Something to start the new school year." She gestured absently with her hand.

"You didn't have to do this." The gift shocked her. "When did you do this?"

"Shortly, after I heard you were going to be staying here." Emma stared at it in disbelief. Regina's face fell. "It's too much. You hate it," she said grabbing at the jacket, only to have Emma pull it toward her chest.

"No! I love it. You just didn't have to do it," Emma said emphatically. Regina's eyebrows rose in shock. "I'm surprised you gave it to me after the way I acted." Lovefool continued playing in the background. Regina smiled.

"Do you think you can tear yourself away from your reading and join me for a swim?"

Emma looked around. "It's rather late."

Regina scoffed. "It's 10 o'clock. Just because you are celibate like a nun doesn't mean you have to live like one."

"Well, I suppose I'm only mildly insulted." The corner of Regina's mouth twitched and her eyes crinkled. Emma's eyes drifted to her lips and the scar. 'So, maybe I'll consider it." Emma's eyes caught Regina's and she turned for the door.

Regina sat back down contemplating her next move. She knew Emma would be back. Her phone rang and she smiled when she saw it was Blue.

"Fuck her yet?" Blue asked as Astrid gave her a pedicure.

"It's a work in progress."

"Pathetic."

"Eat me."

"Call me later."

"Of course, dear."

SQSQSQ

Emma changed into a red one-piece suit and put on a white cotton robe on over it. She tied it firmly around herself as she grabbed a towel and made for the door. She paused a few steps away. This just screamed bad idea. Regina was trouble whether her friend was right about her or not. She was gorgeous and even when she was pissing Emma off she was delightfully tempting. She had never met anyone quite like her before. She returned to her dresser and applied more lip balm. Definitely a bad idea. She smiled at herself in the mirror and headed back to the poolroom.

The loud music from earlier was gone, replaced with a sultry woman's voice singing in a low haunting tone. She glanced around and didn't see Regina.

"Regina?" she called as she drew closer to the pool. Across the pool surrounded by steam drifting in from the showers, Regina stood with her back turned rubbing a towel through her hair. She was completely naked. Emma's mouth fell open as she took in the woman's curves and ass. Regina turned toward the noise exposing her body fully to Emma's eyes. She continued to dry her hair as she took in Emma's slack jawed response. Her eyebrows rose.

"Would you mind turning around so I can put on my bathing suit?" she asked dryly. Emma's mouth opened and closed before she mumbled her apologies and turned around. She muttered curses under her breath until she heard a splash. She walked over to the pool and threw her towel on a railing angry that Regina had gotten under her skin so easily. At least Regina had actually put on a strapless white two-piece instead of continuing her nudity. Emma observed her smoothly glide through the water and surface in the middle.

"It's amazing that someone as thoughtful as you can be so manipulative," she said as she took off her robe. Regina took in the exposed flesh with a sharp eye. She was a little disappointed it wasn't a bikini, but she was dealing with a virgin after all. She dove under and swam closer to the blonde entering the water.

"We are not going to start on that letter nonsense again, are we?" Regina said as she flipped her short brown hair and pushed it back with her hand.

"What was my favorite part?" Emma asked as she fully entered the water. It just reached her chest. "Oh right. Even more black-hearted than she is attractive. She has never uttered a single word about someone without dishonorable intent." Regina circled her as she stood in the warm water. "Every person she has successfully pursued has regretted it. Stay away from her," she finished as she turned toward Regina. The woman's face looked softer with her hair pushed back out of her face and without the heavy makeup.

"And yet, here you are. You know you could at least have the decency of telling me who is badmouthing me so I might have the opportunity of confronting them."

"Not a chance," Emma challenged. Regina broke the eye contact and swam around her, playfully splashing her. Emma spun to face her, blinking away the water.

"You were right you know," Regina said, tucking her legs up and wading in the water. It put her lower than Emma and forced her to look down at her.

"About what?"

"About what you said earlier. I've done some things I'm not proud of and they haven't made me happy."

"Look, I wasn't trying to give you a hard time."

"No, it's okay. I mean look at you with all your morals and values. You seem to be happy in your choices. I envy you," Regina said simply.

"Really?"

"Yes. You've got everything going for you. You have a loving family. You are smart, beautiful. You're determined. You're everything I'd want in a girlfriend." She looked up from her low position in the water, giving Emma a seductive look.

"You know I'm seeing someone right now."

"Oh yes, the understanding gem, Ruby." She moved close enough to touch, rising to her feet. "It's funny how you haven't mentioned her until now." Emma's eye drifted down to Regina's cleavage.

"She's taking over her grandparent's restaurants in New York. She's great." Regina lightly ran her fingers down Emma's arm. "I really miss her."

"I care?" Regina said, eyebrow quirked. Emma shook herself out of the daze Regina's closeness put her in.

"I'm sorry." She shook her head. "You're not my type," she said pulling away.

"Honestly?" Regina asked, following after her.

"Honestly," Emma replied firmly. "You're smart. You're beautiful. You're determined," she mocked. "Shameless flattery is not going to get you anywhere with me, especially after being informed of your misdeeds. I'm not that gullible." Emma glared at the woman who met her eyes with a cold dark stare. "Best you could hope for, Regina, is my friendship and you're really making it hard for me to even consider that," she said exiting the pool and storming off.

"Night dear," she shouted after her.

As poorly as their little encounter may have went, she couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction from it. She had been right about Emma Swan. She was a challenge.