A/N: HEYYY! Here's the next one, thanks for the feedback, I REALLLY appreciate it. I still hope you enjoy this chapter, and yeah, hum read on :P

I STILLLLLL own nothing. But I am continuing with my ownership of the trees here, okie?

Emma once again found herself in the library that evening, and once again she was thinking about the brunette teacher.

She had already finished re-writing her paper, and in hindsight was very glad that the woman gave her a second chance. Albeit a surprising second chance, it was a second chance nonetheless. Emma checked her phone after printing off her paper to find that it was nearly seven, meaning that the library would be closing soon as well as the campus. She stood up to stretch, nearly moaning at the wonders it did for her back. Sliding on her jacket, Emma walked out of the library and made her way towards the side of the campus where she had parked. Opting to take a shortcut through the Literature department, Emma found herself walking past Professor Mills' room and stopped. Emma raised her eyebrows to herself at the fact that the woman was still there, well past her last class that ended at around three.

Might as well turn this in today. Emma thinks, looking down at the finished essay in her hand. Slowly pushing the door open, the blonde walked through the lecture hall towards the singular light coming from the Professor's office.

Knocking lightly on the door frame, Emma looked in to see the brunette, a startled expression adorning her features. Upon recognizing who it was, the woman's face relaxed, and Emma swore a small smile ghosted her features.

"Miss Swan," the professor caught herself, "I mean, Emma. May I ask what you're doing here?"

"Not being a workaholic, unlike you, apparently." Emma laughed slightly, walking further into the office.

The brunette woman looked at the blonde with an interested expression, "Thank you, for that observation. Now, what can I do for you?"

"Ah, I meant to turn this in. I had extra time and finished it, so I figured I'd see if you were still here and turn it in."

"How responsible of you." the woman scoffed, but Emma could hear the smile in her voice, "Shouldn't you be going, though?"

"I could ask you the same thing. It's like, way past dinner anyway. At least, normal people dinner. You know what, here." Emma rambled out before reaching into her bag and tossing a bag of animal crackers at the brunette before she even registered her actions.

The bag of cookies landed on the woman's desk with a thud, and she looked up to Emma with a lopsided smirk.

"I'm not even surprised."

"Yeah, well. I'm kind of an open book so don't be too surprised."

"Then you are right, Emma." the brunette said quietly.

"Huh?"

"First impressions are entirely wrong."

Emma smiled, "Yeah, uh, I got the same from you. For example, you're not actually a hardass."

The professor's eyes widened, "Excuse me?"

"Well I mean, like, everyone says so, and initially I thought you'd bite my head off for being late but you didn't. And I thought you'd fail me for my paper, but again, you didn't. I don't think you're as mean or cold as everyone says, and so far you're proving that."

"I see." the brunette's eyes softened significantly, "Or so you think."

"Nah, I know you're not like that."

"You're not subtle at all, are you, Miss Swan?"

"Eh, not really. Anyway, have a good night, Professor Mills. Enjoy your crackers." Emma gave her one last smile before turning to walk out the door.

The brunette's voice stopped her as she was about to walk out, "Regina."

"What?" Emma turned, a confused look on her face.

"My name. It's Regina-"

"Oh, I know."

"-and I don't tell a lot of people," she stopped talking, "Wait, what?"

"I said, I know. Your name. I knew what it was." Emma smirked.

"Then why bother me about it?" Regina questioned, standing to talk to the girl.

"To see if I was right about you." the blonde shrugged.

"And?"

"I was." Emma offered a small smile before turning to the door once more, "I really gotta go though, go home. It's late." Emma walked out of the office before leaning back in quickly, "I almost forgot, have a good evening…Regina."

Emma smirked once more to herself at the sight of the stunned teacher, and began to walk out of the lecture hall. She barely caught the whispered 'Goodnight, Emma.' from her professor, but she did, and let out a huge smile.

One layer down, hella more to go.

Okokokok I know I used the word hella. Don't throw rocks pls. I don't even know what I was doing but I'm just gonna have to live with it. I may very well change it later depending on how guilty I feel. Thanks for reading 3