Chapter Fifty-Seven: First Day Back
- Oh my God – Emma said pulling the pillow over her head - - Make that stop!
- Good morning to you too, dear – Regina said shutting the alarm down.
Emma moved her hand up and removed the pillow from her face. The room was still dark and Emma's naked body was cold. She looked at Regina who was already all dress up in a grey dress and matching suit. Her hair was done and straight and her makeup was done to perfection. How could she look this good already?
- The alarm clock just rang, right? – Emma asked.
- Yes, dear!
- How on earth are you all dress up already?
- I woke up at five.
- Why?
- Because I have you and Henry do deal with this morning – Regina said - I'm sure his behavior will be much like yours when I go wake him up.
- I don't have a behavior – Emma said pouting.
- Yes, you do – Regina smirked and sat down next to Emma kissing her forehead – Good morning, my love.
- Morning, baby – Emma said taking Regina's hand to her lips – You smell nice.
- Don't I always?
- Yes – Emma said sheepishly.
- Come on – Regina said – Go take a shower. I'm gonna go wake up Henry.
- Good luck with that!
- Thanks – Regina laughed.
Emma rose from the bed and went straight into the shower. She moaned when the warm water hit her body. She could still feel Regina inside her, or at least the gap she left inside her. Her body is covered in scratches when she soaps her body and Emma can help but feel very proud when she thinks her woman did that to her. Hers. Today the whole world, well, the University world anyway, would know that they were together. They were a couple. They belonged to each other. Emma quite like that idea, even though it was still scary.
When Emma was done with the shower, she changed into the dress and boots Regina had got her for Christmas. The dress was beautiful, and the boots even more so. She hadn't worn the dress to Regina yet and she was quite excited about seen her face when she went downstairs for breakfast. She finished getting ready by putting on her contacts and adding a little bit of makeup to her face. She quickly stylish her hair into a few curls and then went downstairs to the kitchen.
- Morning, kid – Emma said – Excited to come back to school today?
- No! – Henry answered her grumpy – Are you?
- Yep! – Emma answered him – Today is a big day!
- Yes, it is – Regina said and walked closer to Emma wrapping her arms around her waist – You look beautiful.
- Thanks – Emma said back with a smile.
Regina kissed her lips and whispered something about taking the dress off later. Emma couldn't quite understand what she said, she spoke too low for the kid's sake. Regina then let go of Emma and took two coffee mugs, placing one in front of her before sitting down herself. They had their breakfast and not long after, the three of them were ready for their first day back. They were taking separate cars, that morning. Regina told Henry to get inside the Mercedes and then walked Emma to the bug. They stopped in front of the driver's door, where Regina intertwined one of her hands with Emma's.
- Ready? – Regina asked.
- Yes! – Emma said sincerely, something that took her by surprise – I am!
- Good! – Regina said and kissed her lips – I'll see you in a few.
She let go of Emma's hand and walked back to the house, in the direction of the garage. Emma bit her lower lip and then got inside the bug. She drove to the University feeling more at ease with herself. She was nervous, sure, but all would be okay. Who cares about the gossip? Regina was right, it would fade away as soon as there was another scandal for them to talk about, and, considering the size of that University, it wouldn't take long for that to happen.
Emma parked the bug on the very far area to the campus and walked in the direction of the classroom. It was nice to be back, even though she was dreading the idea of leaving the beach house…or the bed that very morning. She entered the hallway of the law department and watched all the other students all greeting each other, talking happily with one another. She reached the classroom, and reached for the doorknob, pulling it down and pushing the door inside. When she entered the room, she saw a bunch of students close together all-around Regina's desk. She wondered for a second if she was late and Regina was already in but a quick look at the watch told her there were still fifteen minutes left for classes to begin. She walked to where all the students were pushed together, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening. And that's when she saw him, with that smug smile of his, looking at her as if he owned the world.
- Hello, Love. Did you miss me?
- Killian – Emma said, her features hardened – What the hell are you doing here?
- My suspension is over, Love. And I have a surprise for you – Killian said and pointed at something on the board – Do you like it? – He whispered in her ear.
Emma was frozen, root to the floor with what she saw. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not today. Emma saw a picture of her, something she did a long time ago when she was nineteen years old. A colleague of hers convinced her to take a sexy photo to put on a website to attract more clients. Emma had taken the picture wearing a golden bikini kneeling on the floor with her legs slightly open with "Are you looking for a good time? Call Crystal" written under it. It was a stupid thing to do and after a week Emma had asked her friend to take it down. Way too many creeps had called her, to the point she had to changed her number. And she did take it down. Emma knew that because she didn't trust anyone, and so, she had stood right behind her friend until she took her picture off the website. So how the fuck did Killian got this?
- You know, if you had let me known you are a hooker, I would have gladly pay for your services – Killian said – In fact, how about we go back to my ship after classes, Love?
- Shut up! – Emma said trying her best not to cry.
- What is your price, Crystal? – Killian said getting closer to Emma. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and Emma felt her whole-body shiver with disgust.
- Shut the fuck up!
- Here – He said reaching inside his pockets taking off a couple of bills. He counted them in front of her stopping every now and then to ask – Not enough yet, Love?
And then he threw all the money right at her face. Emma saw red when he did that. Her hand had turned into a fist and then it collided with his nose. She jumped him, hitting his face and arms calling him whatever terrible thing that came into her mind. She couldn't even bring herself to cry. She was angry. Too angry. Everything inside her had turned into pure hate. She kept on hitting him and at some point, she knows he punched her back even though Emma couldn't quite acknowledge where or the pain. She heard people screaming around her and felt arms trying to pull her away from him, but Emma kept pushing it back and just hit him. And then something grabbed her waist and pulled her from above Killian's body. She had no idea why she let herself go with this particular touch, as she had avoided many others, maybe she was tired, maybe her body had recognized Regina's touch and just went along with it. The moment she looked at her face, she finally felt the tears made an appearance behind her eyes.
- What the hell is going on here? – Regina asked angrily.
- What is going on is that this fucking hooker attacked me – Killian said – For a second time now!
- What are you doing on Campus, Mister Jones? – Regina asked.
- The suspension is over, Prof – Killian said with that smug smile even though his face was covered in blood – And I couldn't wait to let everyone know who this bitch really is!
Killian stepped to the side and then she watched Regina looking at the poster with her picture from when she was nineteen. Emma felt a whole new wave of tears falling down her face, only this time they were out of embarrassment. Regina would never forgive her for this. It was too much. She let the tears fall down, not saying a word. Not that she couldn't anyway, even if she tried to, she knew nothing would come out.
- To the Dean's office both of you – Regina said sounding even angrier than before – NOW!
Regina walked in front of them and held the door open waiting for them to follow. Killian walked ahead while Emma tried to work out how to make her legs work again. Eventually, they did and Emma walked out of the door, both herself and Killian following her. She had no idea how long they walked, she wasn't even sure she has ever even been on that side of campus, but after a few turns, they were inside another hallway and the Regina was knocking on the door to the Dean's office. After a moment or so, a voice told them to come in and Regina pushed the door open.
- Professor Mills – The Dean said – I thought our meeting was at two?
- Yes, it is – Regina said politely – But I had an issue in class this morning – Regina made a movement with her head, and then both Emma and Killian entered the room.
- I see – The Dean said – Thank you, Professor Mills. I'll take it from here.
- I really think I should be part of the…
- You have a class to teach, Professor – The Dean said – This is a University, not a kindergarten. You may leave.
Emma watched Regina smile politely at the man and then leave the room. Both Emma and Killian sat down on the chairs in front of his desk and each one of them told the man what had happened. It was horrible. Emma had to admit that what he was saying was true and by the end of it, they were both with two weeks of academic suspension. They were dismissed to go to the infirmary, but Emma couldn't bring herself to be at campus anymore. All she wanted to do was leave that place, pack her things and run away, somewhere far, somewhere nobody knew her, where her past wouldn't be a threat. She reached her car and turned the engine on, tears falling down her face again. She stopped at a red sign and heard her phone beep. She took it from the first pocket in her backpack and saw there was a text from Regina. With trembling fingers, Emma tapped her password and then tapped again to open the text. "Go back to my place" it had written. The signal turned green and the cars started to honk behind Emma. She hit the gas and drove to the mansion.
Once inside, Emma went to the bathroom and did a crap job at trying to patch herself up. She couldn't feel the pain. Not really. She knew it was there, her hand was red and a little bit of purple was already forming right beside her split lip. Killian had hit her, his ring made contact with her lip and now she had a nasty cut on it. She walked downstairs to the kitchen and found a tray of ice in the freezer. She took two cubes, putting them inside a dishcloth, and brought them to her lip. This time, she felt the pain. Once the ice was melted, Emma did house chores to help pass the time. She cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast that morning. When the kitchen was clean, she walked to Regina's bedroom and cleaned everything there before going to Henry's. By the time she finished everything, there were still two hours for Regina to come home.
She Tried to watch tv, but the only thing she really did was passing channels. She couldn't really focus on anything but skipping from one channel to another somehow made her mind busy. When she couldn't even stay sat anymore, she decided to start on lunch. She had just finished preparing everything when she heard the front door being open. It was Regina. It was over.
- Hi – Emma said, greeting Regina by the door.
- What the hell was that, Emma? – Regina asked.
- You saw the picture!
- I did, yes! – Regina said looking down – Why did you attack him?
- Do you really need to ask?
- This complicates everything.
- I know. You are done now, right? – Emma asked, already crying.
- Excuse me? – Regina asked.
- You are done with me – Emma said – I'm trouble. I cause too much of it.
- Oh, shut up your idiot.
Regina walked to where Emma was rooted and hugged her. Emma cried at the contact of Regina's skin on her, her smell, her softness. Emma hugged her back, letting the tears fall down to Regina's shoulder, soaking her suit.
- Are you okay? – Regina asked patting her head.
- Not really, no! – Emma answered her when they broke apart.
- God, your lip! – Regina said, moving Emma's face from one side to the other.
- He looks worse!
- Good!
Regina let out a small smile and walked with Emma to the kitchen where she looked at her hand. She told Emma to sit down and then came back with a medical kit. She wrapped Emma's hand in gauze and then treated her split lip with so much care that Emma felt like crying again. She only didn't because Regina would think she was hurting her, when in fact, she was doing the exact opposite.
- What happened in the Dean's office?
- I'm suspended – Emma said – We both are.
- Damn it – Regina said – I guess I'll be going to the meeting alone then.
- What? – Emma asked eyes widened – Regina, you can't do that!
- Emma…
- No! Are you crazy? – Emma asked.
- We always knew this was a possibility!
- After we came out, not before.
- Emma, I am going to the meeting.
- No! I forbid you
- Excuse me?
- I'm not okay with this anymore – Emma said – Do you have any idea what kind of things people will say about you?
- I don't care about that.
- Your mother was right – Emma said – I'll ruin you!
- Stop it! – Regina said angrily – I agree that this isn't the way I planned things to be, but, it doesn't change anything.
- It changes everything – Emma said – I can't do this right now, Regina! It's too much!
- Emma, please…
- I have to go – Emma said already getting up.
- Where are you going?
- I need to think – Emma said – Promise me you won't go to that meeting today?
- I…
- Promise me, Regina? – Emma said sounding angrier now.
- Okay! I promise.
Emma put on her boots, which she had already left in the closet next to the door in case she had to run out of the house. She put on her jacket, her keys already inside the inner pocket, and drove away. She went to her apartment where she cried herself out under the shower. She fucked up! She fucked everything up. She let the shower and tried to make herself something to eat, but nothing came out. Randoms thoughts made their way inside her head, old habits already sinking inside her brain. What if she ran away? What if she packed whatever she needed and got inside her bug and drove away? Where would she go? She still had a good chunk of money in her bank account. It was enough to settle down in a new town start over. Somewhere far and small. Could she do that? Could she go away without looking back? Could she just leave Regina and Henry behind? The thought of abandoning the only two people in the world who ever truly loved her brought a pang of pain so deep inside her heart that she felt her chest tighten. How could she even think that? How could she be so fucking selfish? Emma felt a whole new set of tears fall down her face. She looked at the watch, it was nearly eleven. Where did the time go? She wondered! She picked up the phone and dialed Regina's number. The phone rang once, twice and then
- Hello – Regina's voice said on the other side.
- I'm sorry! – Emma said – I'm so sorry, Regina.
- It wasn't your fault, Emma.
- I fucked it up!
- We'll fix it – Regina said – Where are you?
- My apartment.
- Are you okay?
- No – Emma said, sniffing heavily due to the tears – I miss you.
- Then come back home!
Emma smiled as freshly new tears came down her face. Home. She had a home. Regina was her home and that was exactly why she could never run away again because no matter how far she would go, without Regina, she would never be at home.
- I'll be there in a few.
Emma rose from the couch and put on her jacket before leaving the apartment. She drove fast to the mansion and rushed inside the house when she arrived. She found Regina in her room, sitting on her side of the bed, the room illuminated only by the dim light of a lamp. Regina opened her arms when Emma entered the room and Emma ran to her, crushing her body with hers. Regina held her tightly inside her arms and Emma smelled her apple shampoo scent invade her nose. She was home.
