Chapter 6:
Emma finally got back to her flat at 7:45 on Saturday evening, so she would only have 45 minutes to get ready to go out with Regina. That'd be plenty of time.
"Emma! Your home!" Belle cheerily greeted her friend, enveloping the blonde in a hug.
"Hey Belle." Emma returned the hug.
"Are you still off out tonight?" Belle asked Emma as she went back to where she was sitting on the sofa.
"Yeah, I'm getting picked up at 8:30." Emma said as dropped her bag from her shoulder and fell next to her friend onto the sofa. Emma leaned her head onto the brunette's shoulder.
"Is it a date?" Belle asked, as she began idly stroking the blonde's hair.
"What? No. Why would you think that?" Emma asked as she screwed up her nose.
"Well, she is picking you up, and rather late. I just thought maybe it could be a date…" Belle trailed off.
"No, we are just friends. You have issues if you think that's what qualifies something as a date." Emma laughed at her friend.
"I know what a date is Emma. Or have you forgotten what I'm doing tonight." Belle poked her tongue out at Emma.
"Are you sure you're not too young to go on a date?" Emma asked her friend as she returned the gesture.
"Ha-ha. I just thought, maybe… you were finally getting back out there; I can't even remember the last time you had a date. It's been years since all that crap happened wi-"
"B, what's my one rule." Emma jerked herself away from the brunette and stared ahead, her eyes glazing over.
"Sorry. I didn't say his name though… I just forgot. I'm sorry." Belle pushed herself forward slightly and hugged Emma from behind. "Pwease forgive me." The brunette said as she lightly tickled the blonde.
"Stop, stop! You know how ticklish I am! I forgive you, just stop please." Emma the flew off the couch and onto the floor in a fit of laughter.
"So are you going on you date dressed like that?" Belle asked as she looked Emma up and down.
"No, I'm going to get out of these awful clothes now." The blonde stood and went to her bedroom. Just as she was about to close the door she shouted down the hall way "And it's not a date!"
She quickly stripped out of her work clothes and left them in a heap on her bed. She then walked over to her dresser where a pair of blue skinny jeans and black vest-top were pre-prepared in a neat pile on her chair. She quickly dressed herself and touched up her make-up. She then opened her wardrobe and pulled out her dark-brown leather jacket, she hoped that if she didn't wear her red one, that she would be spared from being subjected to Regina's taunts about her 'awful' clothing choices. After she pulled on a pair of mid-calf length, black boots and swiftly ran a brush through her long, blonde hair. She stood in front of her mirror and made small adjustments to her clothes and hair, when she was finally satisfied with her look she walked back to the living room to sit with her friend.
"What time is it now?" The blonde asked Belle as she slumped down next to her again.
"Like ten past eight. Someone's all dressed up and eager for her not-date." Belle smirked at her friend.
"Don't start your shit again. What time are you leaving?" Emma warned her friend.
"I'm getting picked up the same time as you." Belle replied as she began to flick through the channels.
"Okay, but am I actually allowed to meet this one?" Emma asked.
"What do you mean?" Belle asked, she had decided on a comedy show.
"I mean you've been going on dates every weekend for the past few months and I haven't met a single person!" Emma's tone made the brunette feel as though she was being scolded by a parent.
"Well, none of them have been serious, Em. It's pointless you meeting someone if I'm never gonna see them again." Belle said apologetically.
"Okay, but promise me that as soon as you meet someone you like-like, even a little, you have to let me meet them! I needa make sure you're not dating a bigger loser than yourself." Emma laughed as she nudged her friend's arm.
"Of course, Em. As long as you promise not to scare them off!"
"Me? Scare someone off? I don't know what you're talking about?" Emma said sarcastically. "I only do it because I love you, B. Y'know that. Plus, if they really liked you, I wouldn't be able to scare them off."
"Yeah, yeah. I know." Belle said as she put an arm around the blonde and pulled her into a sideways embrace, "and I expect to meet this not-date person soon."
"Sure… I don't see why not." Emma said.
"How about we have a dinner party? Next weekend? It could be like a flat-warming. You could invite your not-date." Belle asked her friend as she pulled away from the hug.
"That's a good idea! We can invite Ruby, Graham and Killian." Emma suggested. "They've been dying to see our new place."
"Sounds like a plan!" Belle triumphantly said as a buzz filled the room. "Someone is rather keen! I wonder whose date got here first." Belle giggled as she jumped off the sofa and ran to the intercom.
"It's not a date!" Emma almost screamed at Belle.
Belle pressed the answer button and said, "Hello. Who is it?"
"Er… it's Will. I'm here to pick up Belle." A muffled voice came through the speaker.
"Okay, I'm on my way down." Belle said. "See ya, Em. Have fun on your not-date."
"Wait, B." Emma called as she scrambled from the sofa to the front door.
"Whoa, what's wrong?" Belle asked.
"Nothing, it's just… You look amazing! Go have fun on your date and remember, drop me a text if he gets weird or boring." Emma said.
"Of course. This guy seems nice though, I've been speaking to him for a while now, as long as he looks like his photo, it should be a good night." Belle reassured the blonde and then pulled her in for a hug.
"Okay, I'll see you later." Emma said as she pulled away.
"See ya, you have fun, too. On you not-date." Belle winked at the blonde as she closed the door. Emma rolled her eyes then strolled back to the sofa, and then sprawled herself out on top of it.
Emma sat watching the show Belle had put on for almost twenty minutes before the buzzer had sounded again. Regina's here.
Emma walked over to the intercom and pushed the answer button, "Regina?" she asked.
"Are you expecting someone else, dear?" the calm, regal voice retorted. Yep, definitely Regina.
"I'm coming down, won't be a sec." Emma quickly said. She ran back to the living room and grabbed her back. She quickly checked that her phone, keys and purse were inside and then left.
Whoa. Regina has a nice car. Like, a really nice car.
"Are you okay, Emma?" Regina asked the stunned blonde. The brunette stood next to her car, by the passenger side, and opened the door as Emma drew closer.
"Yeah, I'm good. I… er, really like your car." The blonde said as she slid into the passenger seat of the black Benz, Regina closed the door behind her then walked round the front of the car to get in herself.
"Thanks. Buckle up." Regina ordered as she made herself comfortable.
Twenty minutes of silence later, they walked into the cinema.
"Do you want a drink or popcorn?" Regina asked as they made their way to the refreshments counter.
"No, I'm okay thanks." Emma replied, already feeling guilty about the brunette paying for her ticket.
"Are you sure? I don't mind." Regina said.
"Yep. Honestly, I'm good." The brunette just nodded and ordered herself a large coke, with two straws, and large sweet popcorn. After paying, Regina made her way to the screening room. A nervous Emma trailing behind her.
"Don't we need to get out tickets?" Emma asked as she broke into a mini-jog in an attempt to keep up with Regina's abnormally fast pace.
"I booked our seats online, dear. I didn't want to risk it being sold out." Regina smiled at the young man standing by the screening room door as she pulled out her phone and showed him their reservation. He nodded then opened the door and gestured for them to enter. "After you." Regina said.
Regina barely watched any of the film, she hated horrors, she spent most of the time watching Emma's reactions. She seemed to really enjoy the gory parts, it appeared as though she almost found them to be humorous, and she never once jumped. During the film, Regina kept gesturing to Emma to take some popcorn and to have a drink, eventually Emma gave in and began to eat the popcorn and took a few large sips of the large drink, although she actually disliked sweet popcorn, so she could focus better on the film.
When the film ended Emma broke out in wild applause and Regina rolled her eyes and laughed at her. From the moment they stepped foot out of the screening room until the moment Regina turned off the engine outside Emma's flat, Emma didn't stop chewing Regina's ear off. She described the film in such detail and with such passion you'd think she wrote, directed and starred in it. Regina didn't mind, she hadn't been paying much attention during the movie, and the way Emma told the story was much more appealing to her.
"Well I'm so glad that you enjoyed yourself, dear" Regina said when Emma finally stopped yapping.
"I really did, thank you!" Emma smiled at the brunette. And Regina smiled back at her. Silence washed over them, and for once it wasn't awkward. It was a comfortable silence; the kind that you'd have with someone you'd been friends with for years and years. Their eyes never breaking contact.
Emma licked, then bit her bottom lip. Regina's chocolate eyes were now glued to the blonde's plump, glossy, pink lips. Regina leaned forward slightly, and bit her own lip. Hoping, praying she had read Emma correctly.
She hadn't.
"Goodnight, Regina." Emma finally said, seemingly unaware of Regina's closer proxemics, as she unbuckled her seat belt and opened the car door.
"Um… Yes. Goodnight, Emma. I'll see you Monday." Regina said, trying to mask her disappointment.
She watched Emma walk up to the door of her flat and didn't drive away until the blonde was completely out of her sight. When she arrived home she heard her phone beep. Curious as to who would text her, and at this hour, she checked her phone straight away.
Why would you go watch a film that you weren't even remotely interested in? X
Regina's heart skipped a beat. Emma had noticed.
What do you mean? The film was delightful. X
Didn't anyone teach you that lying is wrong X
No actually. X
Ha ha! Seriously why did you wanna go see it so bad? I swear you said you don't even like horrors X
Am I really that easy to read? I could see how eager you were to see it and, if I'm honest, it made me a little upset that you couldn't see it, so I wanted to take you to see it. X
If I'm being honest I've never met anyone easier to read, Miss Mills. But I never had you pegged as the good Samaritan. (but thanks) x
I am no Samaritan. My motives were purely selfish. I wanted to feel better. I guess you don't know me as well as you think, Miss… What is your surname? X
Of course, and the names Swan Emma Swan X
Well, Miss Swan, I must say I'm still not a large fan of your humour. X
And I, you x
Surely it's past your bed time, Miss Swan? X
Isn't it past yours, Miss Mills? I thought over 60s found it hard to stay awake past 6 X
My hatred for your humour just continues to grow, miss Swan. X
What a shame. Anyway, the reason I text was to actually ask you if you would like to come to my dinner party/flat warming next Saturday? X
Sorry, I currently have plans next Saturday. X
Really? Can't you get out of them? There won't be many people, just us, my flat mate and three of our friends from college? It'll be fun! You can bring a date if you want? X
I'll see what I can do. However, it is a work event, and those are rather difficult to get out of. And I most definitely will not be bringing a date. X
I wouldn't know, I've never had a job as posh as yours. That's cool, just let me know asap. X
I don't think you can even class what you have as humour anymore, Miss Swan. And my occupation is hardly posh. I shall let you know. X
I am very funny, miss Mills! I will get you to admit that your job is super posh, one day… mark my words. P.s I think you should cut out the 'miss swan' crap now. It's weird. I feel like a teacher or someone important. Goodnight. X
That is honestly the best joke you've ever made. I will admit my job is posh, when you admit how awful that jacket of yours is. I'll stop if it bugs you that much, Emma. Goodnight. X
Whoa whoa whoa now you're getting personal. What did my jacket ever do to receive your disproval? Thanks Regina, night X
That jacket is bright Red. And leather. X
I see no negatives X
Goodnight, Emma! X
Goodnight, Regina! X