Regina spent Saturday studying. She had a lot to do and was quite overwhelmed by the amount of assignments and reading they expected in University. It was scary that she could barely keep up. She was used to studying, but everything in highschool came so easy to her. This was the first time in her life she had to work really hard to be good at something and she hated to admit she felt insecure.
Her obssesion with Gold wasn't helping. Her handsome teacher only noticed her because she did good in his class and she didn't want to disappoint him. As much as he was her motivation, he was also a distraction as she had to compose herself many times to keep her mind on the subject. Especially when he would pause to lick his lips in the middle of the lecture. She couldn't find one thing about him that she didn't find appealing.
Somewhere in the middle of her desperately turning pages of an extremely thick book on Classical Mechanics, her phone rang.
To her surprise, it was Emma, asking her if she wanted to go out tonight. She thought of refusing the offer, but then paused and thought about how she wasn't really good at making friends and going out was a good way to start.
They agreed to meet in front of Granny's diner and then see if there's something interesting going on at the shady bar called The Rabbit Hole. Regina didn't enjoy bars much, but she enjoyed dancing to rock music and Emma said there was a good chance of a local rock band playing there.
She washed her hair, took a shower and thought about what to wear. In the end, she chose a black satin slip dress, high boots and a suit jacket. She knew she was probably overdressed, but if she learned anything from her mother, it was that it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
As soon as she saw Emma, she regretted her choice. Emma wore jeans, a simple top and a red leather jacket. She wolf-whistled when she saw Regina.
"You're dressed up to the nines! I will have to save you from all the guys who will want to take you home!", she said.
Regina smiled coyly. Although she knew she was in no way unattractive, it was hard to imagine guys being overly interested in her. She was often told it was because she looked cold and a little bit conceited at first sight.
"Thank you! But I doubt I will be in need of a savior tonight", Regina exclaimed laughing.
Two girls went to the bar, chatting along the way. The band was playing, they got drinks and Regina was surprisingly having a good time. Soon she noticed that boy Emma flirted with walk into the bar. She suppressed a laugh at how cocky he seemed, running his fingers through his hair, undoubtedly on the lookout for girls to admire him. She nudged Emma and whispered he was there.
The blonde walked over to him confidently, something Regina envied greatly. She would never be able to approach a guy she liked like that.
"So, you went out for a drink alone? That's sad and don't make it a habit", Emma teased Killian.
"Well, we could have a drink together", he proposed.
"I'm here with a friend, but you can join us if you'd like".
He did and it went exactly the way it always goes. Emma and him were flirting, Regina awkwardly laughing and sipping her drink. Once she realised she was probably going to get drunk if she continues being so bored, she said goodbye to Emma and Killian and left. Her blonde friend tried half-heartedly to persuade her to stay, but she just winked and told her to have a nice time with her handsome fellow.
She was happy to be out in the fresh air, just strolling around because it was a warm night full of stars. It was when she was fumbling with her bag to find the lighter when she bumped into someone.
It was Gold, who headed out for a walk to clear his head.
"Um, hello, professor", she mumbled.
"Oh, Miss... Mills, right? Hi".
They just stood awkwardly for a couple of seconds.
"Weather talk. When you don't know what to say, comment on the weather", he thought to himself.
So did she, so they uttered in unison: "What a lovely night".
It was the laugh they shared over the situation that made them relax.
"Sorry, professor, it's just that I didn't expect to see you outside of University", she explained.
"I don't live there, you know", he said. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Miss Mills".
"Likewise. And it is really a lovely night. It reminds me of the night I spent in an Astronomy Institute. They have those radio telescopes. I saw my first and only pulsar that night."
"Are you positive it wasn't a quasar, Miss", he asked, with a smirk.
"They are completely different! People just always get the terms wrong", she answered.
If she stripped naked while licking a popsicle, he probably wouldn't have found it as erotic as this sentence. Gold tried to hide that he was mesmerized, by changing the subject.
"So, what were you doing on this lovely night?"
"Oh, I was in the bar with a friend. There was a band playing I wanted to check out".
"Were they any good? Storybrooke doesn't have much of a music scene", Gold said, disappointed.
"Actually, I loved them. Personally, I prefer bands who write their own stuff, but I can never resist a good AC/DC tribute".
She was that smart and had some musical taste. Why did the student he fell for have to be so perfect?
"Maybe I'll go see them. If I'm not too old for that place", he said and immediately regretted it. Why was he so stupid to remind her of his age?
"I don't think you are", she said sincerely. "Are you a Bon Scott or a Brian Johnson kind of guy?"
"What a preposterous question! Bon Scott was irreplaceble!"
"And yet I would bet my right hand you love Back In Black", she teased.
"Who doesn't, but it doesn't compare to High Voltage. Wait... Don't tell me you're a Johnson girl or I just might have to fail you", he joked.
"You wouldn't! Although it would go nicely with the reputation you have", she shot back.
Her intire body was trembling. She was nervous, talking to him. That and she cursed him for talking about things she liked. How was she supposed to resist him when everything about him fit her so well. She imagined for a second if their bodies would fit so well. Gold was so close. Their arms touched and she shivered.
"Are you cold, Miss?"
"No, not really", she said, but he thought she was lying.
"Here", he said taking off his jacket and putting it over her shoulders.
"I wouldn't want you to get sick. The average intelligence in my class would drop if you weren't there", Gold laughed.
It was when he was taking off his jacket that she noticed he had a nice body to go with those brains. His shoulders were wider that she tought. He had a little bit of a belly but she thought it was sexy. Nothing on him said that he worked out and still his body seemed strong and manly. She was sure he could pick her up and pin her to the wall if she wanted to and it made her slightly aroused.
They walked for a while, talking about classes she was taking, about music, astrophysics in general and how they should both stop smoking.
"It's bad for you, you know", he said, although he just lit up his third.
"Everything I want these days is bad for me", she blurted out.
"I'm not sure I understand", Gold was puzzled.
"I'm glad you don't. Well, here's my place. Thank you for keeping me company", she said, giving him his jacket.
"You too, Miss Mills".
And just like that she was gone and if she looked out the window she would have seen him dumbfounded, sniffing the collar of his jacket, excited like a teenager it now smelled of her.