If today didn't already suck enough for Emma, being forced to sit waiting outside Principal Mills' office yet another time on a Friday straight after school wasn't exactly ideal. Sure, she had dropped the f-bomb a couple of times, but it was only a word. She didn't really deserve a huge punishment, did she? There were far more problems for the Principal to deal with, such as the much needed school supplies and heat ventilation. But Ms. Mills never let anything go.

"Am I in trouble?" Emma asked, the second she entered the office.

"Ah, Ms. Swan. Do sit down," said the Principal, ignoring Emma's question.

Perching herself down on the sofa, Emma swallowed before continuing. "Uh, if this is about earlier, I just want to say-"

"Save it," snapped the Principal, raising a hand. "I am not asking for an apology. I want to set the record straight."

"Okay?" Emma searched the room, and saw a record player at the far back of the room. She knew it was an idiom, but she wondered if the principal was the type of person to keep records.

"I don't want us to get off at the wrong foot. The way I see it, I believe we would make rather good allies, than enemies. Don't you agree?"

"If you are still trying to get me to help that poor kid, I am not getting involved."

"This isn't about that. I do not want to build any bad relationships with any students of my school. Equal treatment here is essential."

"So, you're trying to befriend me again."

"In a manner, yes."

"Regardless of what happened before?"

"It never happened."

Emma pouted her lower lip, and raised an eyebrow. "Okay, then. If that's all you wanted." She stood, but was stopped by Ms. Mills' last remark.

"Although, Ms. Swan. I would recommend staying away from the note incident. Wouldn't want anybody to get hurt, would you?"

It was a rare occasion seeing Aurora without makeup. She was usually smothered in it, everything from false tan to bright pink lipstick. Eyeliner brought out her big blue eyes, which dazzled brightly whenever she smiled. Mulan was probably the only person who had ever seen her without makeup. Aurora knew that Mulan didn't care, since she never judged her, and never wore makeup herself. That's why her best friend was so different to all of her other friends, the loud and pamper princesses that she hung out with at school. Mulan was more laid back, quiet and was always there for her, even if she was busy.

For the past few nights, Aurora had been sleeping at the guest bedroom at Mulan's place. Her Dad had found cigarettes in her handbag, and had tossed her out on the streets. That was the main reason why he could never know about her pregnancy, or else she would be in deep shit. Her Dad never listened to her side of the story. If only her mother was still around… maybe she wouldn't have chucked her out. Yet maybe she would have. One night, Aurora had woken up around 3 a.m. and found her father crying on the kitchen floor. She asked where her mother was, but got no reply. The next morning she discovered that all of her mother's clothes and belongings had vanished. She was gone. Without even saying goodbye.

Behind all the glam, and the dresses, and the popularity, was a lonely girl. A motherless girl, with an abusive father, who drank and drank until the crack of dawn. The cigarettes he found were not thrown in the trash- he most probably kept them in the bathroom store cupboard, where all the rest of his hidden supplies were. Though it wasn't the first time she was thrown out, this time Aurora certainly didn't plan on coming back. Even if he hired a search party. Which he probably would.

For most of the time, Aurora just lay on her side, staring straight ahead, letting the tears fall. Whenever Mulan entered, she asked her friend if she was OK, though they both knew that she certainly wasn't. Aurora always just nodded, however. She had been skipping school every day (even though it wasn't the first time, she'd done it plenty of times before with Killian) and Mulan told her to just give her a call if she needed anything.

Mulan knocked on the door at 7:21 A.M. every single day, without fail, to give her breakfast.

"Come in," Aurora would say, attempting but failing to speak in her usual cheery tone.

Mulan would place a plate of strawberry pancakes and fresh orange juice on the end of the bed. With an immediate thank you, Aurora would always eat every last bite. Strawberry pancakes had always been the brunette's favorite, ever since first grade when they served them at the school cafeteria. Aurora had gone back for seconds.

Though she checked up on her best friend a few times per day, Mulan never bothered her. Aurora would always give her a genuine smile whenever she entered, even though it took some strength to manage one. Mulan knew how brave she was, holding all her emotions in to manage a smile, but she never built up the courage to tell her.

One time, Mulan caught her at a bad moment. Aurora was sobbing down the phone, the occasional "I love you" coming in every now and then. She was an absolute mess, apologizing repeatedly and begging for Killian to not break up with her. For him not to leave her. For him not to abandon her.

"I'm so, so sorry. I'll do anything. Please, no, I love you…"

Aurora's heart broke when he hung up on her. She threw the phone across the room, and just started sobbing into her hands.

Not wanting to interrupt, Mulan just closed the door slowly, and tried to tiptoe away.

"Mulan?" Aurora's head snapped towards the door. "Please, Mulan, is that you?"

Slowly, Mulan reopened the door. "Yeah. Sorry, I was just checking up on you. I can leave…"

"No, please." Aurora begged. "Stay." She patted the space on the double bed next to her.

She hesitated for a moment, but she knew that she had to be there for the girl she'd known for over ten years. Sitting herself down on the bed, she opened her arms, and Mulan embraced her best friend, whispering words of comfort. "Everything's going to be ok," she promised. "Everything's going to be ok."

"So, I hear you and Principal Mills are sex partners now."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Where did you hear that from?"

"Oh, you know," said Ruby, taking a large sip from the straw of her double chocolate milkshake. "The local drag."

"Yourself, then?"

"Shh," Ruby laughed. "I also heard that you flipped on her earlier today."

"You heard correct."

"F-bomb? S-bomb? K-bomb?"

"K-bomb?"

"Fuck, sex, kinky time." Ruby smirked, not even caring that she was sitting in her grandmother's diner, and she was a mere few feet away from their booth. "Anyway, did you get another spanking this afternoon?"

"If by spanking you mean scolding, then yes. But she also asked if I wanted to be friends with her."

"Friends? Did you get rejected on the second try?"

"Shut up. Besides, the most likely person to hook up with a teacher here is you."

"Excuse me?"

"Mr. Whale."

"Oh, yeah. Fair enough." Ruby nodded. "For him I could make an exception."

Ruby took a large handful of fries that they had both split, and scoffed them into her mouth. She was about to say something to her friend opposite, but she got distracted as her eyes focused on something behind Emma. Turning around, Emma knew shit was going to go down as soon as she saw the person's face.

A/N: Mystery person! Who could it be?

Sorry for the lack of updates- writers block hit me hard. I thought I'd have more time to write now that it's summer, but it just seems like I've began to procrastinate even more lately.

Song of this chapter: The Irony of Choking on a Lifesaver- All Time Low (For Aurora)