Emma found herself looking up into sparkling blue eyes that were set inside a head, attached to a body that she decided was now standing much too close to her.
"Hi! You're Emma." Said the head.
"…Hi?" Responded Emma, taking a step back.
"I'm Kathryn"
"Ok?"
"I'm Regina's friend. She told me you're going to be joining our extra-curricular group, and to come and collect you because the first meeting is happening now." Kathryn smiled as she spoke. Emma groaned internally at the thought of spending some surprise extra time with her new least favourite person.
"Oh right, well I've actually got someone coming to meet me at four, so I think I'll skip thi-."
"Yeah, no. Not happening, you've got twenty minutes and it's not going to take long. She's already in a bad mood and I'm not going back empty handed." Kathryn started walking and Emma felt compelled to move with her.
"I'm impressed actually, I mean, I know Regina is hardly 'easy going' at the best of times," Started Kathryn conversationally, using air quotes, "but the first day of school usually sees her lighter side. What did you do to piss her off so badly two hours into the day?" She was laughing. Emma watched Kathryn carefully. The girl had barely introduced herself and was speaking to Emma as if they'd left off mid-conversation earlier. As pleasant as Kathryn's company appeared to be, it was Emma's first day and she didn't want to be the cause of any drama so she avoided answering the question.
"I didn't do anything. Do you know what this project is about? Mr Gold only told me that I have to be involved, nothing else." Kathryn looked at her.
"Something about helping the homeless. Regina told about it ages ago. I imagine we're going to discuss it more today."
"Cool." The conversation seemed to draw to a natural conclusion and Emma breathed a sigh of relief. Then Kathryn started again.
"She's been even more of an ass than usual, complained about you all day." She punctuated her sentence with a grin.
"All I said was that she didn't have to show me around today if she didn't want to." said Emma, not understanding why this seemed to be a topic of great amusement for the other girl.
"Right. Well, don't take it personally, it's quite an achievement to get a reaction out of Regina," she said, "I live to annoy her and all I ever get is an eye roll." Emma chuckled at that.
"I thought you were friends?" questioned Emma.
"Oh we are," replied Kathryn, "best friends. And as Regina's best friend it's my job to ensure that that stick is never wedged too firmly up her ass." Emma was caught off-guard mid laugh when Kathryn stopped walking, she was pulling faces at someone through the small window of a classroom door. Kathryn looked back at Emma, "See, eye-rolls." She said with a smirk.
The classroom door swung open to reveal a male student with the same bright smile as Kathryn. Behind him Emma could see a table of six or seven students, including Ruby, all facing Regina who was seated on the other side facing the door.
"David," said Kathryn, jovially, "this is Emma, Emma this is David, my brother." David smiled.
"Hey, nice to meet you, I didn't realise we had a new person joining us."
"Yes," came Regina's voice from the back, "everyone, this is Miss Swan - Emma. I'm sure we all can't wait to get to know her."
Emma felt a flush spreading up her neck and across her cheeks, along with a fresh new wave of hatred for Regina. David gestured for them to enter the room and Emma felt Kathryn press into her back, urging her to move.
Settled in one of the chairs at the table, Emma received a few nods and small waves from the others, the only enthusiastic wave came from Ruby. "I'm sure most of us know why we're here, but I guess I'll reiterate for those of you late to the party" began Regina, looking pointedly at Emma. Emma looked straight back.
"Mr Gold has granted his permission to continue with the project I pitched to him at the end of last year. Supporting homeless help initiatives in Boston. Its purpose is to provide us with an opportunity to do some good community outreach work," Regina continued, "as well as something attractive to add to our college applications when the time comes."
A girl with dark curly hair spoke up, "Does that mean we'll actually get to go into Boston?"
"Yes Sabine, I was just getting to that," said Regina as the girl called Sabine did a mini fist pump and nudged the grinning girl sitting next to her, "I called this meeting because we need to discuss the logistics of how we're going to go about it. Sidney, you continue."
Emma felt a short, sharp bolt of fear roll up her spine at the thought of returning to Boston. The foster parents she'd had there were some of the worst and she had run away from them on more than one occasion, opting to sleep on the streets or in squat houses rather than in their homes.
Emma looked over to the end of the table where Regina had gestured and saw boy wearing glasses and …a bow tie? stand up holding a piece of paper. "So, as Regina said, we'll be working in Boston, but in order to do that we need to work out ho we're going to get there and what we actually want to be doing when we do." The guy clearly wasn't as comfortable holding the attention of a room as Regina was, shuffling his piece of paper between his hands.
David spoke up then. "So we're getting to choose?"
"Yes, David," interrupted Regina, "as a senior group - mostly, we've been given permission to make all the decisions, however we will also be expected to pull this off sensibly." She looked at Sabine and her friend, "So don't expect this to be a fun shopping trip or night on the town, we'll likely only have one full day in Boston to do this and it needs to go well." A low groan started wth Ruby and rolled around the table.
Regina started again, reaching across to pluck the piece of paper out of Sidney's hands, "I have come up with options for things we might do." Sidney sat back down. "When we decide what, I think we should split into small teams and begin preparations." Said Regina, looking around the room. The group nodded.
Regina read out her list, which turned out to be two suggestions, both of which involved stationing themselves in a soup kitchen for a day. Emma had been expecting something with a little more substance to it than serving in a soup kitchen. When Regina was finished she looked up and asked "Any other ideas?" The group was quiet. "Ok, good. Now-" Regina was cut off.
Emma heard her own voice say out of nowhere "What about helping homeless people outside of the soup kitchens?"
Regina shot her a look. "What do you mean?"
"I just think that, although soup kitchens are in need of support, they might not necessarily need ten teenagers traipsing in looking to help all at once. It might be overkill." Emma explained.
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Regina, looking at her curiously.
"I'm not sure…we could find a way to do something for the people who don't make it to the shelters, or we could split into teams like you talked about before and do both?" suggested Emma.
"Actually, that sounds like a great idea," came Kathryn's voice from beside her, "we could make up care packages and hand them out. What do you think, Emma?" Heads were nodding around the table.
"Well, yeah, that sounds good." replied Emma.
Regina paused before she started to speak, "Okay, that's not half bad. We can split the group in half. Kathryn, you can be in charge of care packages and I'll do the soup kitchen."
"Well, actually,"started Kathryn, "I'm going to be pretty busy this year trying to pass classes, maybe Emma could do it instead? It was basically her idea anyway."
Emma's eyes flicked to Regina, who was looking at Kathryn like she had personally cursed her first born.
"I guess that would be fine. Unless any of the other seniors would like the role?" questioned Regina. The head shaking was unanimous. "Ok then. Emma, I want you to spend the week thinking about what we've spoken about and meet with me on Sunday to discuss it ahead of our meeting next week." Emma opened her mouth to speak, but Regina ploughed on, "As for the rest of you, I want you to think of fundraising ideas so we can actually get to Boston. We're going to need to rent a mini-bus and find someone who can drive it. See you here, this time next week." Regina stood abruptly and Emma took it to mean that the meeting was over.
Kathryn leaned over to Emma and whispered "I think she likes you really." before moving to stand and talk to Regina.
Emma stood up slowly and put her satchel over her shoulder, checking the clock above where Kathryn and Regina were standing seeing it was only three fifty-five, leaving her a couple of minutes still to meet MM out front. She caught Kathryn's eye and was met with a wink.
All but running from the room, Emma bumped into Sabine's friend. "Oh! I'm sorry!" Emma rushed.
The other girl laughed and introduced herself. "Don't worry about it. I'm Jacinda. And I take it you're new?"
"Yeah, I just moved." replied Emma.
"Your first day and you've already been roped into the senior goodwill project? What did you do to deserve that?" asked Jacinda.
Emma suppressed a groan, "Well if you asked Regina she'd probably tell you I'm doing it to spite her specifically."
Jacinda laughed again "Don't mind Regina, she's a good person, and she mellows a bit when you get to know her," Jacinda paused, rolling her eyes, "well, kind of." she continued, before adding Your idea was good though! I think this year might actually be really interesting."
Ruby appeared behind Jacinda saying, "Oh my God, remember that project the seniors had to do a couple of years ago, something about old people? Anyway it was a total snooze fest. I didn't realise you were signed up for this project Em, I'm looking forward to what you cook up for the next meeting."
Besides wondering what previous projects had involved for this year to sound so much better, and also how she had been elected the idea master of the project, Emma was pleased to be avoiding Regina's icy glare for the moment.
"You and me both, it was a pleasant surprise for me this morning. And I wouldn't arrive next week expecting miracles," Emma joked, glancing at the clock, again. "oh shit, it's four already. I need go, I'm meeting someone." Moving towards the door she called back, "It was nice to meet you Jacinda!" Jacinda and Ruby both waved to her then started up a conversation between themselves. Emma excused herself before anyone else could have a chance to talk to her.
Only getting lost once on her way back to the main entrance and out into the car park, Emma made a beeline for MM's little blue car when she saw it. Opening the door and flinging herself into the passenger seat she leaned back against the scratchy material of the chair and closed her eyes. She only looked up when she heard a short puff of airtime from somewhere to her right. She saw MM laughing at her from behind the steering wheel. "Was it really that bad?" She asked, still smiling.
Emma's its quirked up into a slight grin as she realised how dramatic she must look. "No, not that bad. But I'm still exhausted. It's been a weird day." MM Started the car.
"What do you say to a big bowl of homemade mac and cheese and you can tell me all about it-" she faltered "I mean, only if you want to of course."
Emma cracked proper smile at that and said "Mac and cheese sounds good." Before adding, "Do you know a Regina Mills?"
At home at her desk, Regina was working on a schedule for essay submissions, based on the hand-in dates she had, only mildly, threatened members of the teaching faculty to get that day. Once satisfied with her study plan Regina looked briefly at the clock on her bedside and saw it was well after six thirty. She was caught between relief and disappointment with the realisation that her mother would likely not be home in time to join her for dinner. Mother staying at the office late was nothing new for Regina, however since the passing of her father, the longer nights alone in the large house seemed much more bleak.
Regina's stomach rumbling gave her the nudge she needed to pad down the stairs and into the kitchen. She located the cupboard under the sink where their maid kept the cleaning produced she didn't want to carry back and forwards to their house, along with the snacks that Regina knew were kept in there for her. Rummaging around Regina found a bag of butter popcorn and some jelly beans. She perched on the counter top while she waited for the microwave to heat her popcorn and snagged a clementine from the fruit bowl next to her, in order to include at least one of the key food groups in her meal.
Peeling the clementine she considered whether her unsubstantial dinner choices whenever her mother works late could be put down to teenage rebellion or spite, protesting against the strict diet of bland meat and veg her mother insists upon, and her unfortunate belief that Regina's BMI correlates directly with her worth. Refusing to think about how much damage that particular world view of her main carer is going to affect her in the future, her thoughts drifted briefly towards Emma Swan and she wondered what she was eating for dinner tonight. Regina might've perhaps been arguably cold towards the girl, but she wasn't blind. Emma was tall, lean and appeared to be athletic, despite her ridiculous Disney princess hair. She settled on the notion of a high protein meal that would be followed by a six mile run.
Emma was also, if Regina squinted, quite attractive. It was just a shame she lacked any kind of personality and worse, was playing World's Worst Interloper at Gold's behest. Even if her suggestion of care packages was halfway decent. Meeting with her next week would decide if there was any substance to it or not. Regina quietly hoped there would be, as maintaining this level of dislike for the girl until graduation was energy she could do without spending.
When the microwave beeped Regina collected her popcorn and other foraged snacks and made her way back to her room. She decided that she had done enough work for her first day back at school and settled into her bed with her food, scanning the tv guide for something trashy and brainless to watch.
Emma lay in bed considering how her first day at this new school ranked in comparison to all of the others. She noted that at least here she seemed to have gotten herself involved in extra-curricular pretty early on, something previous guidance teachers had always been encouraging her to do. The were usually hoping that she would make some friends that way, instead of being the lonely foster kid stereotype she often was.
Emma groaned at the thought of what this new extra-curricular actually meant and the meeting she would have to have with Regina next week. After school she'd told MM what had happened she she seemed to think it was a positive thing. When Emma had started complaining about Regina and her attitude, MM had grown quiet. Over dinner, MM had explained to Emma that she had baby sat for Regina for a few years, and that while Regina wasn't always the easiest person to get along with, she hadn't always been as cold and abrupt she had been recently. She lowered her voice, as if telling a secret when she told Emma that Regina had recently lost someone close to her, and that while it doesn't excuse her poor behaviour, it explains it somewhat. Emma scoffed until MM pointed out that she would be putting up with her for a year regardless, so she better pull her big girl pants on and get on with it.
Emma contemplated what she would suggest for the project during her meeting with Regina. She wondered whether it would be worth telling her that exactly how much the homeless people of Boston would appreciate a bunch of do-gooding teenagers using them to bump up grades and improve their college applications. She knew that conversation would go down like a lead balloon. The thought of returning to Boston, specifically to meddle in circumstance not that unlike those she left behind only recently caused her stomach to roll. She decided to push the thought to the back of her mind, close her eyes and sleep, to prepare for whatever fresh hell the next school day would bring.