A/N: I think this is probably my longest chapter yet. I really hope you all enjoy it! I'd appreciate the feedback, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to post another chapter within the next two days. Who knows? Lol. Enjoy! All mistakes made are mine.
"What do you think of this dress?" Ruby asks me as she models her tenth dress of the day. For the last two hours, Ruby has been putting on, and taking off dresses, never seeming to find one that she deems worthy of her date. She's also been styling her hair a hundred different ways, whining that she couldn't find a suitable style that would make Belle go weak in the knees. I think Ruby could show up for their date in nothing but a diaper and Belle would still get weak in the knees just by the sight of her. It's been two weeks since Ruby told me that she and Belle kissed, and it wasn't until last week that they approached the subject of where they'd go from there. As you can probably tell, they decided that they were going to start over fresh and see exactly where they stand with one another. And tonight is their first real date. They never went on actual dates while they were dating in high school; so this is new and unfamiliar territory for both of them. Obviously, Ruby is freaking out, and judging by the text's I've been receiving from Aurora, Belle is fairing no better. Both Ruby and Belle decided that they were going to get ready in different places, which means while Ruby is getting ready here at our apartment, Belle is getting ready at Aurora and Phillip's. I watch in amusement as Ruby plays with her hair for the thousandth time, ruffling up her bangs, while fluffing up the body of her hair. "How's my hair now?" She asks nervously. I chuckle in amusement and give her two thumbs up.
"I think your dress looks great, just like the other nine dresses you've tried on today. And your hair looks no different than the last thousand styles you've shown me. You look great, Rubes; really great. Belle isn't going to be able to keep her eyes off of you. I promise." I tell her reassuringly. Ruby offers me a shy smile and nods.
"Thanks, Ems."
"No problem." I tell her with a small smile. Just when she's about to open her mouth to respond, a knock sounds at the front door. Ruby's eyes widen in shock as we both turn our heads towards my bedside clock and see that it's 7 o' clock on the dot; exactly when Belle said that she would be here to pick up Ruby.
"Oh my god, she's here! What do I do? What do I do?!" Ruby says to me in panic as she begins pacing the floor of my room. I put my open palm over my mouth to muster my giggles of amusement…. but I just can't seem to keep as quiet as I had intended to. Ruby stops pacing and glares at me. I put my hands up in mock surrender and smirk playfully at her.
"Stop freaking out and go answer the damn door! I'm hundred percent positive that Belle is as nervous as you are right now. You've spent the last five minutes pacing the floor, while our poor Australian Belle is standing outside of our apartment door, probably debating on whether or not she should wait for you to open the door or use her key to rush in. Just go, Rubes. Have a good time." I tell her softly. She audibly gulps and nods her head determinedly. I watch with a proud smile as she heads outside of my bedroom and opens the front door. I hop off of my bed and peek outside of my bedroom door to see my two best friends standing in the middle of the living room, trading shy glances and soft smiles. I listen to their soft, yet somewhat awkward, small talk and giggle to myself when Belle compliments Ruby, causing the brunette to blush fiercely. I can't help but internally coo at the adorableness of Belle's shy offer of her arm to Ruby. Ruby links her arm through Belle's, and together, they head out of the apartment, locking the door behind them. I shake my head to myself amusedly and head back into my room to grab my wallet. While those two are out spoiling each other rotten, I'll go out and spoil myself rotten too. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll randomly run into Regina. Unfortunately, I've only seen her in class these last two weeks, seeing as she has yet to take me up on my "catch up" offer. Maybe she eventually will…. One can only hope.
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"Table for one, miss?" The waiter asks me as I enter our campus' local restaurant. I nod to him and he grabs a menu, making a 'follow me' gesture as he turns around and begins walking. I follow after him and he seats me at a table nearest to the window facing our campus' rec center. I immediately order my beverage and don't even bother looking through my menu, seeing as how I eat at this restaurant twice a week. When the waiter returns with my beverage, I tell him my order and hand back my menu. He writes down my order and scurries off in the direction of the kitchen. Once I'm alone again, I take my phone out of my pocket and immediately open Angry Birds, using the game as a distraction until I hear a throat clear above me. I look up from my game and my eyes lock onto familiar mocha orbs.
"Regina? Hey! What are you doing here?" I ask in surprise, a smile threatening to spread across my lips. Looks like I got lucky after all.
"Hey, well I came here to eat, which I'm assuming is why you're here as well." Regina says matter-of-factly, causing my cheeks to tinge pink in embarrassment.
"Right...duh. I so knew that. Well, um, would you like to sit and keep me company?" I ask nervously, biting my bottom lip in apprehension. I watch as a slow smile spreads across her lips, and without supplying a verbal answer, she pulls out the chair across from me and takes a seat.
"I would love to. That was actually why I headed over here. I'm taking you up on your offer to catch up. So, how's everything going, Miss Nolan?" She asks me nonchalantly, the smile still on her lips. I openly gape at her for a good two minutes before I manage to gather my bearings and offer an answer.
"Uh, um…I'm great! How have you been?" I ask lamely. She lightly laughs at me and shrugs nonchalantly.
"I'm great, Miss Nolan. So, where are your friends? Don't you usually spend your weekends with Ruby and Belle?"
"Well, yeah, but this weekend they're spending time with each other. They're on a date right now, so I figured that while they're treating each other to dinner and dessert, I could treat myself to the same thing." I tell her with a shrug. A grin spreads across her face at the mention of their date.
"They're on a date? That's so cute! I've always suspected that there was something more going on between them. Those longing glances they exchange during my class are anything but discreet." Regina says with a laugh. I laugh along with her and offer her a smile. The waiter comes back to my table when he sees a new addition, and he politely asks for Regina's order. Regina quickly tells him her beverage and meal order, and the waiter scurries of again, only to come back a few seconds later with Regina's drink. Regina politely thanks him as he walks back into the direction of the kitchen. "So, tell me Swan, why isn't someone as gorgeous as you out on a date tonight? Or any other night for that matter? Every weekend I either see you in the library, or somewhere random, like here." Regina says to me with a sweet smile. I smile bashfully at that and shrug nonchalantly.
"I guess I just haven't had any date offers as of late. Plus, it's not like I'm really interested in anyone… Or, well I am, but this person is definitely not interested." I babble out before I can stop it. My cheeks tinge pink at my sudden confession and I decide to avoid Regina's amused expression.
"Is that so? Well, I highly doubt this person is uninterested, Miss Nolan. From what I can see, not only are you a gorgeous young woman, but you are quite intelligent, and sweet, funny, generous. You're the whole package, my dear. Any guy or girl, would be lucky to have you."
"Do you really think that?"
"Of course I do. Why would I lie? I'm not one to say words that I do not mean, and Miss Nolan, I mean every word." She tells me with a wink. I smile shyly at the compliment, and break eye contact with the beautiful brunette sitting across from me.
"Thanks…"
"No need to thank me, Emma. I was simply telling you the truth." She says with a shrug. I look up from the table and lock eyes with her, losing my breath when I catch sight of the bright smile spread across her lips. I timidly smile back and hold her gaze for a moment longer. Eventually, our gaze is broken when our waiter returns with our meals in hand. He places our meals in front of us and tells us to enjoy before disappearing again. "Well, that certainly looks appetizing." Regina says, pointing to my double bacon cheeseburger and cheese fries. I smirk at her and pick up a cheese-smothered fry, popping the deliciously greasy and cheesy substance into my mouth.
"Mm, you jealous?" I ask with a cocked brow.
"Yes, dear. I am completely jealous of that heart attack on a plate." She says in a deadpan voice, causing a breathy laugh to escape my mouth.
"Well, at least my heart attack on a plate is much tastier than the rabbit food on yours. I mean, seriously, a salad, Regina? Really?" I ask with an incredulous laugh. She spears her leafy greens with her fork and sticks her tongue out at me playfully, before shoving the greens into her mouth. I chuckle at her childishness and decide to start devouring my beautiful burger. I bite into the greasy goodness and make obscenely over-sexualized noises with each bite I take. Regina rolls her eyes at me amusedly and continues eating her salad like the sophisticated woman she is. By the time I make it through 75% of my burger, I discontinue my sexual noises and finish the rest of it in silence.
"You haven't changed at all." Regina says with a shake of her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Is that a good or bad thing?" I ask curiously, picking up my fork to begin stabbing my cheese fries. Regina chuckles and allows the smile to take over her face.
"It's definitely a good thing. I mean, you definitely matured both mentally and physically, but I'm glad to see that you still have your sense of humor."
"Well, thanks." I say shyly, polishing off the rest of my cheese fries.
"Well, my rabbit food was delicious."
"Obviously not delicious enough. I didn't hear you making obscene noises." She smirks at me and shrugs.
"Well, there had to be at least one civilized adult at the table."
"Damn, you got me." I say with my hands put up in mock surrender. She giggles at my silliness, and the familiar fluttering in my chest surfaces at the sound. I smile goofily at Regina, easily getting lost in her eyes. She smiles sweetly at me, and I can't help but internally swoon. She's just so damn gorgeous.
"Here you go ladies." The waiter says, coming out of freaking nowhere and placing our checks onto the table. I reach for my check, only for it to be swiped up by Regina. I gape at her, my jaw hanging low, as she places our checks together and places her credit card with them. Before I get the chance to snatch my check back, our waiter comes back to our table, taking the checks and Regina's credit card with him.
"Regina! You didn't have to pay for my meal. I fully intended to pay for myself." I tell her with a gob smacked expression. She smiles at me and shrugs.
"Well, I wanted to, so I did. It's too late for you to do anything about it."
"But you really didn't have to..."
"I know I didn't, Emma. Just think of this as me paying you back for the two weeks that I didn't spend reconnecting with you." I continue to gape at her incredulously.
"You don't have to pay me back for having a life, Regina. It's not like I bugged you every day to hang out with me or anything." I counter. She shrugs again as our waiter comes back and hands Regina back her card. Regina rises up from her seat, and I follow suit, both of us heading out of the restaurant and out into the chilly night air. We walk towards the parking lot until we reach my yellow bug. Regina visibly grimaces at my car, and I can't help but pout at her obvious disapproval.
"This is what you drive?"
"Yes. My parents got it for me as a graduation present." I tell her with a small smile.
"This is definitely a present I would have returned. This car is a deathtrap on wheels. And that shade of yellow is a total eyesore." Regina says with disgust. I cross my arms over my chest defensively, leaning closer to my car in a protective manner.
"She didn't mean it, Jody. She was only kidding." I whisper to my car. Regina raises an amused brow at me and smirks.
"You named your car Jody?"
"Yes…" I mumble out sheepishly. She releases another giggle that causes my heart to flutter for the second time tonight.
"I'm not even going to ask. Well, it's getting late, Emma, and I, unfortunately, have many ungraded test papers waiting for me on my coffee table. I guess this is where we part." Regina says, awkwardly offering out her hand for me to shake. I chuckle lowly at the gesture and grip her hand in mine, shaking it gently. Our hands stay in each other's hold for a few more seconds before we let go of each other's hands and smile at each other awkwardly. "Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight, Regina. And don't think I've forgotten how you unsuspectingly paid for my meal back there. That was sweet of you, but so not cool."
"Well, you'll just have to make sure you pay next time." She says coyly, walking away before I get the chance to fully process her words. But when I do, I yell out to her.
"Who says there will be a next time? I thought you didn't date your students?" I ask with a quirked brow.
"There will definitely be a next time. And I never said it was a date." She yells back with a sexy wink. With that, she turns on her heels and walks towards her car, leaving me standing in the empty parking lot, gaping after her.
Yup, I finally have my answer. Regina is totally gay. And I'm pretty sure that she was flirting with me. I mean, she was, right? And she paid for both of our meals….isn't that what you do on a date? Was this a date?! Holy shit…I think it was.
"I don't date students, my ass." I mutter under my breath as I unlock my car and get in. Looks like I have a lot of evaluating to do when I get home. With that thought in mind, I start up my car and peel out of the parking lot.