Chapter 11

5:48 p.m.

Regina helped Emma through all of her calculus homework. Emma may or may not have been paying attention to everything Regina had said. And Regina was aware, if not a little frustrated at times.

Emma grabs her things, "Well, thanks for the help."

"Don't mention it." Regina drawls, standing up from her seat. She grabs her purse, sweeps her hair back, then, without a word, she steps back and walks away. Emma quickly puts her things in her backpack, so she could catch up to Regina just as she reaches the exit.

Emma got in front of her to hold the door open and asked, "So, do you always leave without saying bye?

"Bye, Swan," Regina walks past without looking at her.

...

Regina rolls her eyes and lets out a sigh of relief. She walks to the driver's side of her car, and pulls keys out of her purse.

"Hey! So is this gonna be a thing?" Emma appears on the passenger side, making Regina almost drop her keys.

"A thing?" Regina gives a short chuckle.

"I mean, are you gonna tutor me regularly?"

"I said I would."

"Oh...cool..." Emma stuffs her hands in her pockets as she stares down at her own feet.

"What?" Regina abruptly says, loosing her patience. Emma sways on the heels of her sneakers, "...well, should we...um...exchange numbers?"

"No," Regina quickly answers.

Emma raises her eyebrows with a nod, "oh ok..."

Regina clenches her jaw. Emma takes a breath and awkwardly steps back to turn around and walk away. Regina closes her eyes and groans in her throat, before asking, "do you...need a ride?" Emma turns back around hesitantly, pointing at herself with a shrug, "Yeah..."

Car Ride Home

6:05 p.m.

"So..." Regina starts.

"So..."Emma repeats, her lips curling into a hesitant smile.

"Are things getting serious...?" Regina asks.

"With...?" Emma's eyebrows furrow.

"Lily."

"What?! She's my friend, OK? God!" Emma rolled her eyes; she felt her cheeks getting hot. Regina innocently says, "I just thought- you two seem close." Regina glances over at her, smugness washing over her. She really should stop. But Emma's reactions are so priceless.

Regina gives a sly smile as she side eyes her, "relax, Swan. That was a test...you passed...you're loyal to your girlfriend-sorry, friend."

"Ok can you quit it already? It's not funny." Emma sighs.

"Alright...OK. How about you tell me where I'm going?" Regina suppresses a grin, focusing back on the road.

...

"Reach into the glove compartment, and grab that pink bag."

Emma does and blows air out of her nose glancing from Regina and the item.

"You can have that." Regina says tight lipped.

"Perfume?" Emma asked. Regina nods. Emma inhaled and swallowed, slightly tilting her head.

"I don't-"

"It's just another peace offering. No big deal."

"Ok..." Emma smells it, she slightly smiles.

"Killian likes you."

"What?"

Regina glances over with an affirming nod.

Emma giggles, "thanks, but he's not really my type," Emma shakes her head with annoyance. Then drops it back into the bag putting it on the floor. Regina furrows her brow, with a still jaw, feeling a bit offended. Emma folded her arms. Regina sighed through her nose making a hmm sound.

"Yeah, I know…" Regina mutters.

"What do you mean you know?" Emma asks sitting up, fidgeting for a second before putting her hands in her lap.

Regina rolls her eyes, "I see the way you look at me," she sat up closer to the steering wheel.

"What? NO!" Emma scoffs.

"It's alright…Swan. I get it...ok?" Regina speaks as if she's talking to a child carefully saying her words.

"Um...OK..."

Emma nods and rubs her neck. Her breath catches as Regina reaches over her lap down between her legs.

"What are you-" Emma's eyes widen and she freezes as she places the bag in her lap. Emma looks down with an almost relieved chortled breath. "I told you I want you to have it." Regina said sternly.

"Fine," Emma huffed.

...

"Now that we've cleared the air, maybe, we could work together in a more beneficial way. Aside from tutoring."

"Doing what?" Emma asks.

"I have a few projects you can shadow me on."

"Seriously? You want me to follow you around?"

Regina throws her an annoyed glance, "Well, it's a win-win for you. Didn't you want us to start over? I suppose I could find a way to benefit from this, even if it is with you."

Emma began to involuntarily tingle, "Ok."

"Is that a yes?" Regina's eyebrow took a quizzical dip.

"Yeah."

6:47p.m.

They arrived in front of Emma's house.

"ok thanks, again," Emma took a light breath before getting out of the car.

"Alright...we'll talk soon," Regina says, driving off.

"Bye," Emma says to herself.

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Thanks for the patience guys!

Kudos and reviews are welcomed! Happy holidays! ;)