They were quiet the next morning.

Emma walked her tutor to class, again missing her opportunity to lock lips with the beautiful brunette. All day, she found her mind flooding with thoughts of the young woman's soft and rosy lips, cliché phrases of infatuation filling her head.

What the fuck is up with this? Emma spent the day thinking.

Of course, she wasn't used to feeling more than fleeting attraction to anyone, especially not someone she considered a friend. Were they even friends? If anything, their relationship had become more professional. Yes, they'd enjoyed pizza and a movie, but the night had been about exchanging lessons in their specialties. Just as the purpose of their relationship had been established, Emma began to sense more emotion than she wanted to feel. I hate this. She stayed stuck in her thoughts until she left her last class and found Belle waiting for her just outside the door.

"Hey," the girl greeted her with a smile. "What's up?"

"Nothin' much. Just finishing up for the day, about to go back to the dorm and work on some homework."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Wanting to impress Miss Regina?" Belle giggled, giving Emma a playful shove, but Emma just scowled at her, not finding the joke very funny.

"You're hilarious."

"So did you score yet?" Ruby asked, appearing beside Belle.

"Shut up, Ruby! She's not a piece of meat."

"How many times did you have to masturbate last night, buddy? Six? Seven?"

"I'm going to kill you."

"You're not helping, Ruby," Belle scolded the dark-haired girl. "Emma needs support right now, not your ridiculous nagging."

Emma sighed and leaned back against the wall, clutching her books to her chest.

"So, are you seeing her tonight?" Belle asked Emma.

"Belle, come on! Not you too! You just told Ruby to shut up about it!"

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to know if you could hang out or not. I mean, I know you have homework, but it's been a while since we've been out."

With another sigh, Emma pushed a hand through her hair.

"If you're going to do homework, you can home over until six. Otherwise, I really need to be alone. I have to get this stuff done before Regina gets there so she can check my math."

Ruby laughed, but turned and started to walk away, calling back, "You are such a square now. What happened to you?"

Emma ignored this and looked away as Ruby disappeared into the crowd of students in the hallway.

"Don't mind her," Belle said softly, touching Emma's shoulder. "I think she might just be jealous."

"Jealous? What?"

"Well, it's not like she has anyone."

"I don't either, Belle. She's just my tutor," Emma responded. "Besides, she's crazy about you. Can't you tell that?"

Belle blushed and looked away, not wanting to acknowledge the truth in Emma's words. She knew it was true - it was in the way they looked at each other - but neither of them wanted a serious relationship. At least, that was what they told themselves, and each other.

"That's ridiculous. We're just friends."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"All right, Belle," Emma laughed. "Whatever you say."

The two stood in silence for a few moments before Belle took the girl's hand and led her down the hallway and back to Emma's dorm room.

"I think you'll be able to win her over," Belle said confidently as she flopped down on the bed and laid back against the pillows.

"Get off my bed, punk!" Emma cried, jumping on the twin-sized bed beside the brunette.

"No way, José," Belle giggled. "I live here now."

"You're such a twerp," Emma laughed, shaking her head. "I thought we were gonna do homework."

"You are. Mine's done. I'll be quiet though. I'm just glad to be hanging out with you again. You've kinda been with Regina all the time lately. It's sort of annoying, honestly."

"I'm sorry," Emma said, lowering her head. "I really need to pass, Belle. It's important. I don't want to get kicked out of school. Contrary to popular belief, I actually do care."

"I know, Emma," Belle said, leaning in and kissing her friend's cheek, stroking the girl's hair, "and I'm proud of you."

Emma looked surprised as she turned to look at her friend. As their eyes connected, Belle could see the pain there, understanding her struggle.

"Really?"

"Of course. You've been doing great. I just miss you is all. We used to be so close."

"We're still close, Belle. I'm just busy, and we're hanging out now, aren't we?"

"I guess so. You're going to be working, though."

"It probably won't take me long. I've been getting the hang of it since Regina started helping me. I'm still struggling, but it's a lot easier."

"That's really good, Emma."

Belle watched Emma work for a while, then slowly fell asleep on the bed. She was so completely silent that Emma actually forgot she was there. In fact, she was so focused that it only took her thirty minutes to finish the homework that would have taken her an hour and a half a month ago.

"Done!" Emma cried happily, stirring Belle awake. "Let's go get dinner!"

At the dining hall - without Ruby, that time - they laughed about things completely unrelated to Emma's tutor, which came as a relief. In fact, it took some of the weight off her shoulders, at least for a few short moments. Laughing felt good, and for a while, it helped her forget her frustration.

When five-forty-five rolled around and it was time to go back to the dorm, Emma hugged her friend and left the dining hall, nearly running back to her room so as not to be late. She was there just in time for Regina to knock on the door.

"Hey, kiddo," the brunette said with a smile.

"Ew. Don't call me that."

"Why not? It's cute!"

"I'm not a kid."

"I didn't call you a kid. I called you kiddo."

Regina winked and sat down at the desk, promptly opening her books and encouraging Emma to get to work. Hours later, when Emma still hadn't gotten up for a break, Regina looked over at her and gave another smile.

"You're doing really great, Emma. I'm proud of you."

Having heard that twice in one day, Emma started to believe it.