The next day, Regina wasn't out of work until five, so Emma decided to wait at school, rather than take the bus back to her foster parents' house. So, she sat in the hallway with her legs crossed, comic book open on her lap, and waited for the time to pass.

"You're going to trip somebody," a soft voice echoed through the empty hallway a while after the bell had rung.

Emma lifted her head slowly, knowing the voice, and subconsciously bit her lip.

"Hi."

"Since when are you such a nerd?" the brunette asked, giving the bottom of the other girl's shoe a gentle kick.

Emma shrugged and said, "Since always. Why?"

"Because it's nerdy. I can't be seen hanging out with nerds."

"Then don't."

"I was kidding..."

Emma shrugged again and lowered her head, pretending to be reading again, but the small paperback was quickly swiped away, and she was forced to look up into her friend's eyes.

"Give it back," Emma mumbled, holding out her hand, but the other girl refused. "Belle, come on."

"It's for your own good," the brunette said, cracking a smile.

The blonde just sighed and let her head crash back against the locker behind her, saying nothing else.

"So," Belle said, and waited for Emma to respond.

"So, what?"

"So, don't you have anything to say?"

"Why weren't you in school yesterday?"

"That's not really any of your business." Emma was taken aback by this, and again, she said nothing else, so Belle continued, saying, "I didn't want to see you."

"Oh."

"I was embarrassed."

Emma lifted her head.

"What?"

"I said, 'I was embarrassed.'"

"But, why?"

"Because I said some really nasty things, and I regret saying them."

"But-"

"Wait," Belle interjected. "Before you say anything, just listen. I still think what's going on between you and Regina is wrong, but the way I treated you was completely unacceptable, and I'm sorry."

Emma's lips parted slightly as she stared at her friend, trying to take in the completely unexpected response.

"I want you to leave her," the brunette said slowly, looking into her friend's eyes.

"That's not going to happen," Emma said sharply, starting to grab her backpack and prepare to stand up, ready to walk away from the conversation altogether.

"Emma, wait," Belle pleaded, grabbing the girl's hand. "Please. I... I don't want you to leave her just because I think it's wrong. I want you to leave her because... because..."

After a moment of silence, Emma asked, "Belle?" and waited for the girl to finish the thought.

"I want you to be with me, Emma," Belle sighed. "I want you to be mine."

Emma sighed too, saying, "I'm sorry, Belle. I just don't feel that way about you."

Her friend gave a weak nod, but her eyes welled up with tears.

"Belle... Honey..."

"Don't," the broken-hearted girl snapped, moving away from Emma.

"Come here," Emma said softly, holding her arms out.

At first, Belle looked as though she might stand up and leave, but after a moment of hesitation, she found herself in Emma's arms, crying onto her shoulder.

"Is that why you got so upset?" Emma asked.

"I got upset," Belle sniffled, "because you're choosing someone who's taking advantage of you over someone who really loves you."

"She's not taking advantage of me, Belle. She does love me. And you need to know that even if I wasn't with Regina, you and I still wouldn't be together. I love you like a sister."

The words stung Belle deeply, but at the same time, hearing that Emma loved her at all healed part of the wound.

"I just want you to be treated well."

"She does treat me well."

"Emma-"

"I was in the hospital, Belle."

"I know. Your foster parents told me when I stopped by to get my stuff."

"You moved out?!" Emma gasped.

"No. I wanted to, but they asked me to stay, so I did."

"I'm glad..."

"I should have called you," Belle sighed. "I'm so sorry. Why did you do it?"

"I thought I'd lost the one person I could truly call a friend."

"You haven't lost me, Emma. I'm always going to be here for you. I said some really stupid things I didn't mean, but that doesn't change how I feel about you. You're a nerd, but I love you."

At the last comment, Belle smiled, and Emma glared at her.

"I'm not a nerd," the blonde protested, finally snatching the comic book out of her friend's hand.

"You are, but that's okay."

Sticking out her lower lip in a pout, Emma crossed her arms.

"Don't do that," Belle said sternly. "It makes me want to kiss you. I always want to kiss you..."

"Belle," Emma sighed, dropping the comic book onto her lap and covering her face with her hands. "Please understand."

"I do. It's just hard, you know? When you love someone so much and they don't love you the same way."

"I do love you, though. I do."

"I know, Emma," Belle said slowly.

"Don't leave me, okay? Everyone leaves. Don't be like them. Don't leave me. I need you. You're..."

"What?"

"You're my best friend."

"And you're mine."

When they embraced again, Emma could feel the tears on Belle's cheeks.

"I'm going to Regina's tonight, but tomorrow, we should do something together. Do you want to go see a movie or something?"

Belle hesitated, wanting to make a snide remark about the girl's lover, but decided against it.

"Yeah," she said instead. "That would be nice."

When Emma checked the clock on her phone and saw that it was nearly five fifteen, the time Regina was supposed to be there to pick her up, she quickly gathered her things.

"I've gotta go. Walk me out?"

"I don't want to see her..."

With a sigh, Emma nodded her head, slung her bag over her shoulder, holding the comic book tightly in her hand, and made her way down the hallway to the front entrance, knowing that her friend was hurt, but grateful that they were still on speaking terms and that they'd mostly settled their disagreement.