Shit! I missed my alarm and it's already 6:30! Wonder I even woke up now, considering the fact that I usually wake up around noon. I get up out of my bed, rub my eyes furiously before I can even see clearly and,it's fine, I can make it in this much time. I already ironed my shirt last night in case this happened, as it often does and I am late to almost anything.

I walk through the room I rented for a night, and also the one I won't be able to afford much longer. I need to find a roommate, I make a mental note, as I move to the toilet and brush my teeth as fast as I can. I am hurting my teeth, a lot, but it doesn't matter, as I spit the toothpaste and move to washing my face right away.

Should I put some makeup? I still have eye bags, though not as scary as the past few days because last night I finally slept eight hours! Whoo! Exciting. It's been a long time since I slept that long and it should feel great, but I only feel like I should keep sleeping for the rest of my life.

Either way, I find the first jeans from the pile of clothes in my suitcase and pull them on, satisfied with how I look in a full length mirror. I put on a white, plain T-shirt over my head and grab my phone and earphones from the table before putting on converse sneakers and heading out of the room.

The music is loud in my ears and gives me a bit of energy, even though I feel completely drained. I can see the restaurant name from far away, and I am wondering why a small restaurant like this, and even weirder, a healthy place, would be called "Regal". It sounds powerful, so I just assume it's my boss's choice, based on the energy that's all around her. She does look very regal indeed, especially since I can make out her body shape coming out of a black Mercedes in a tight, black dress, reaching down to her knees. Her legs are perfectly shaped and look even better than in my dreams.. She's turning around and, holy crap, I can feel my cheeks burning as her eyes lock on me.

I throw a quick glance at my phone and I am suddenly really proud of myself because it's 6:54a.m. and I am early for my first day of work. Nonetheless, I speed up a bit, seeing that my boss is not moving, but rather looks like she's waiting on me.

„Miss Swan, it's a pleasure. If you were late, I'd fire you before you started working here." Her voice is giving me chills, and she's saying all this in a serious tone, but her full lips are revealing a small smile. Hey eyes are a deep shade of brown, and I find myself pulled in the pool of their perfection. Who'd say that the queen of my heart would have such a warm, yet strict voice? It is nothing like through the phone, though no one's voice is. But up close, she looks much younger and, for who knows which time, I think about marrying the person in front of me.

„Good morning. Pleasure to meet you too..." What the hell is her name again? Crap.

„My name is Regina Mills, dear. I do hope you have a better memory for food than you have for names." I can literally hear her eyes rolling and I want to kill myself right here and now.

„Yeah, it is. I'm sorry, but..."

„No need to be sorry. You came here to work, so shall we?" Her face is emotionless and the next thing I hear is clicking of her heels on the hard concrete. Along with her back, though, comes her ass as well, and I follow her steps, just a bit behind, stealing a couple glances on the perfect backside.

If someone had told me a person could hold this much power over me, I'd say they were big, fat liars. But meeting this woman makes me question every single thing about me.

Get your shit together, Swan! What the hell are you even thinking? She's way out of your league and she must have someone already. She's quite perfect, and if there isn't a thousand men standing in a line to get her, then... Shit. Of course she has someone.

As on cue, a tall, blond man comes out of the booth and sneaks his hand around Regina's waist. He's handsome and her lips spread in the biggest smile I've seen on her, so I guess she's happy. It's not a surprise, really, but it is a bit disappointing to confirm she's seeing someone.

I look away as their lips connect in a chaste kiss. It's embarrasing to see and I just want to disappear.

„Miss Swan, this is Robin Locksley. We co-own the restaurant." I glance their way and he's offering me a hand. A hand I'd love to crush, but choose to squeeze just a bit stronger than needed, while flashing a fake smile his way.

„Strong handshake. My pleasure." He's smilling and damn, if I didn't choose to hate him just a couple seconds ago, I'd probably love him. His accent is a dream of every girl and piercing blue eyes just make it impossible to look away, but my eyes rather roam to find deep, brown ones that are already watching me. I smile a bit, to Regina, and look back to Robin.

„Emma Swan. Pleasure is all mine." There's an awkward silence for a couple seconds, before it's interupted by a handsome, young man whose name tag is hanging on his chest. August. He seems nice enough.

„You must be Emma!" And one more hand is being offered my way and I can't help but wonder if the whole day would be just shaking hands.

„And you're gonna be showing me around, August?" I flash a smile his way. He seems nice, handsome. If I didn't have my eyes on a certain brunette, I would most definitely be flirting with him right now.

„I see you already know my name." He lets his hand linger in mine a second longer, then pulls away to push them into pockets.

„I can read, you know."

„Good to know you can, actually, memorize a name, Miss Swan." Regina is giving me a glare, and before I have a chance to say anything, she's taking Robin's hand and turning around. I feel my heart sinking inside my chest because she's leaving, but I can't let it show, so I just turn to my new friend.

„What's her deal?"

„There's a reason they call her The Evil Queen, you know." He's laughing and motioning for me to follow him into the bar.

„She doesn't seem evil. Maybe a bit cold and bossy, but not evil."

„You should see her fire people around here. More people were fired out of here than there are in all of Storybrooke. I don't even know how she manages." He laughs, but I can feel myself freaking out at this notion. He seems to notice, and is quick to reassure. „Don't worry, she seems to like you."

„She has a funny way of showing it." I rub the back of my head, wondering if he's just trying to make me feel better now. Probably.

„Yeah... She likes you more than she liked me on my first day. I was late a minute." He laughs and I can already imagine how working here is going to be. I'm gonna turn my alarm on every morning at 4 o'clock, just to be sure. „Don't worry. Just don't step on her toes and you're good." He says it like it's easy, but by the look on his face, I can tell that this will be a hard job.

We spend the rest of the shift working together. For the first hour, he tries to explain how to make foam for coffees with milk, but I seem to be really bad at it. He says he was horrible at it too, but it's hard to imagine when every foam he makes feels like clouds on my tongue.

The next seven hours pass in me being his assistant. He won't let me take over new tables because I don't know all from the menu and he points out, a couple times through the shift, that I have to learn the menu in the next two days.

Just when the clock ticks 3p.m. and I feel like I am finally free, heels click on the tiles of the restaurant. Somehow, I can recognize Regina's footsteps already, probably because she made a hell of a first impression.

„How was your first day here, Miss Swan?" Her lips are painted deep red now and I notice she's changed since the last time we saw each other.

„Perfect." I blurt out, my eyes glued to the scar on her upper lip. „Yeah, perfect." I repeat, trying to tear my eyes from her lips. Now I'm looking her in the eyes and I can swear there's amusement lingering behind them. She caught me staring.

„I'm sure August taught you how to make coffee foam?"

„Well, he did try..." And he truly did, I am just the worst student. „But I learn quickly. I'm sure I'll be good with it in a couple of days." Her eyes are glued on mine and her eyebrow quirks up. I am not sure what that means, but I am praying she won't fire me because of foam. It's my first day, after all. In fact, I am not even working here officially, so the Queen can't fire me if I am not an employee.

„I want you here tomorrow at 6a.m." I am sure my face is hillarious as I feel my eyes widen slightly. I know that's not what she means, but hearing 'I want you here' kinda kicks out the job part from my head for a second.

„Oh, okay. Why, though?" My voice is smaller than usually and I feel like I am powerless in front of this woman.

„I'm going to teach you how to make coffee." And with that, she's gone.