Week Six:
Emma-
Regina and Emma had spent the past few days enjoying their new found relationship. All the girls knew they were together now, but only a few had really talked about it. So far, no one had been rude or disrespectful, which was nice. If anything, some of the girls seemed a little envious that Regina and Emma had someone to lean on in such a stressful situation.
The girls received a Tyra mail about their next challenge. The clue gave it away that it would have something to do with posing. Emma knew Regina was a strong poser, and that Mary Margaret had been practicing every day. Emma wasn't expecting to win, but she hoped she could at least do a good job.
When the limo pulled up to an agility course, Emma was shocked. This had not been what she was expecting. Obviously they hadn't been completely right when they guessed the clue.
"Good morning, ladies." Jay smiled at them. "We have a fun little challenge for you today. Behind me is, as you can see, an agility course. In modeling, sets can get complicated, and you have to learn how to use them. So, each girl will make her way through this course, but when she hears the blare of the ANTM horn, she must stop and strike a pose. The girl that does the best will win a great prize. So, up first is Mary Margaret."
Emma and Regina sat together as the other models made their way through the course. It was entertaining to watch. Mal had gotten tangled in the ropes and couldn't finish the course. Belle had missed a horn blow, and was disqualified. Mulan moved through the course with grace and elegance. Ruby had also done a pretty good job, but she was a little shaky on her last pose.
"Okay, Emma, you're up." Jay announced.
Emma made her way to the course starting line. Regina gave her a thumbs up for encouragement. Emma sighed, and began to make her way over the first obstacle, a rock wall. The horn blew and she held a pose at the top of the wall. She made it through the next two obstacles before the horn blew on the rope bridge. Emma gave a half hearted pose, but she could feel the exhaustion hit. She couldn't believe how tiring this challenge was. She was glad when she finally finished.
Tink was called next. Tink made it to the last obstacle, but her poses were definitely weak. Ella went next, but she couldn't get over the rock wall. It was too bad, because Emma knew Ella had some strong poses.
Last up was Regina. Emma wished her luck, and hoped Regina did well. Regina climbed the wall with grace, and easily made a strong pose at the end. Emma watched with pride as Regina hit pose after pose on the obstacles. Finally, Regina hit the last obstacle and landed one last beautiful pose.
"Way to go everyone, I know that wasn't easy!" Jay told them with a smile. "There were a few of you that did really, really great. But, as you know we can only have one winner. Mulan, you win a fabulous dinner at The Castle for you and two friends. Who would you like to bring?"
"I am so excited." Mulan smiled. "Uhm, I'm gonna bring Ruby and Regina."
Emma felt a surge of jealousy. Even though she knew Regina had no feelings for Mulan, she still thought about Mulan kissing Regina. She wished that she was going to dinner as well, but at least Regina would have a nice night out.
Mulan, Regina and Ruby had been shuffled right to dinner, so Emma was hanging out by herself. She was sulking a bit, even though she knew there was nothing to be upset about. Regina didn't have a choice, and she deserved to go out after doing so well in the challenge.
"Hey." Emma looked up to see Mary Margaret. The pixie hair woman had become a mother figure in the house. Emma had found that Mary Margaret had been easy to talk to and had a kind heart.
"Hey." Emma smiled.
Mary Margaret crossed the room and came to sit beside Emma. The blonde made room for her competitor. Emma had a feeling Mary Margaret knew that Emma was a bit upset, and was coming to try and cheer her up.
"You okay?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I'm fine." Emma shrugged. "Do I love the thought of Regina and Mulan having dinner together, no, but it's not like I need to worry."
"Regina only wants you." Mary Margaret assured Emma. "Everyone knows that. Mulan picked her because Regina clearly did well in the challenge. Besides, Ruby is the number one Swan Queen shipped, she's not going to let Mulan try and steal your girl."
"Swan Queen?" Emma chuckled.
"That's what we call you." Mary Margaret grinned proudly. "You know because of the first shoot with Regina as the Queen, and you're Emma Swan...so, yeah. Swan Queen."
"I like it." Emma laughed.
"Hey." Emma looked up to that Regina was back from dinner.
"I'll leave you two be." Mary Margaret smiled at them before leaving the room.
Regina kicked off her shoes before climbing onto the bed next to Emma. Emma cuddled up next to the brunette. She'd only been gone a few hours, but Emma had missed Regina's presence.
"How was dinner?" Emma asked.
"It would have been better with you there." Regina replied truthfully.
With that, all jealousy was gone. Emma's smile grew even wider. She and Regina were together, and no one would come between them. Emma was confident in that.
*EMMA CONFESSIONAL*
"I feel like having Regina with me in this competition is making things easier. She is just an amazing person and has been my rock these past few weeks. I am so lucky to have her by my side."
Regina-
The girls were all eating breakfast together the next morning. Ella and Mary Margaret had decided to cook for everyone. Ella had a one year old daughter at home, and it was clear she missed her. Regina had talked to Ella once about it, and found it very admiring. Ella had Alexandria when she was only 17, but Ella and her boyfriend put their lives on hold for their baby. Thomas had told Ella it was time for her to chase her dreams, and here she was.
"So, what is everyone looking forward to when they get home?" Mary Margaret asked all the girls while they sat around the table.
"Seeing Alex." Ella smiled. "And Thomas. I miss them so much, but I know I'm here to provide better for my family."
"I can't wait to eat a nice grilled cheese and some onion rings." Emma grinned. Everyone chuckled.
"I can't wait for sex." Ruby admitted.
"Some of us don't have to wait." Mal muttered under her breath.
"Excuse me?" Emma gasped.
"I mean, it's gross. The two of you all over each other. Not everyone wants to see that." Mal replied. Before Emma or Regina could speak, everyone came to their defense.
"Woah, they are not all over each other." Belle stated.
"Do you have an issue with them?" Ruby demanded.
"I just don't feel comfortable with them in the house, and I'm going to make sure Tyra knows it." Mal said firmly. "I am not here to be friends with any of you. I'm here to win, not hang out with you want-to-be-models. I am not looking forward to anything when I go home, because I'm not going home. I'm here to win."
With that Mal stood up and left the room. An awkward silence settled over. Emma took Regina's hand. Regina had never faced any sort of hate like this before. She had been sheltered her whole life, and hadn't came out as a lesbian before. Now, hearing those words about her was unsettling.
"Don't listen to her." Mulan told them gently. "She's a bitch."
"Yeah, none of us feel that way." Tink agreed. "Mal is a mean girl. She's not going to win this competition. You two are people that little girls and people in the LGBT community to look up to. Mal is scared because she knows she isn't a role model."
It made Regina feel better when she saw the other girls nodded their heads in agreement. A moment later, all of the girls stood and gathered around Emma and Regina. They all brought them into a group hug that made Regina's heart swell. She realized that even those these girls were her competition, they were her friends too. And she cared about them. If she lost to one of these girls, she would lose knowing they deserved it just as much as she did.
That night the girls received another Tyra Mail. Mal had stayed alone in her room all day while the other girls had enjoyed one another's company. The atmosphere was better without Mal, and when she came to read the message, the tension filled the air like smoke.
So you think you can dance? Fierce and Love, Tyra.
Regina felt like she had this one in the bag. With her dance background, she had an upper hand. She just hoped that the other girls would do better than Mal.
The next morning, the girls were ushered to their photoshoot. The ride there was awkward as Mal gave all the girls dirty looks. She was making most of the girls feel uncomfortable. It was clear that everyone wanted her to go home.
"Welcome to your photoshoot today, ladies." Jay greeted. "As you probably guessed your theme is dance today. We want you to remember the challenge about posing and use that in your photos today. So, you will all have a different type of dance to represent in your pictures. Emma, tango. Mulan, tap. Regina, hip hop. Mal, disco. Ella, ballet. Tink, break dancing. Ruby, swing. And last but not least Mary Margaret, jive."
Regina was disappointed that she didn't get ballet, but she was ready for the challenge. She helped some of the girls learn some moves and a bit about their style. Mal sat in a corner and didn't even attempt to work on her dance moves. Ella struggled with some of the ballet poses, but Regina showed her how to cheat them a bit.
Mulan was called up for the first photo and Regina watched as she nailed every pose. Mulan hadn't had any dance experience, but she was graceful, and picked up quick. Ruby came next, and they told her she was being too sexy. Ella nailed the tricks Regina gave. Emma managed to keep her face soft, and Regina knew she got a good picture. Tink struggled a bit with the break dancing, and Regina had admittedly not been much help with the style, but Regina was sure Tink still got a good picture.
"Regina, you're up." Jay called. "I know hip hop isn't what you have the most background with, but trust in your ability."
Regina took his advice. She found a rhythm and managed to land some poses. It wasn't her best shot, but she knew she did well. Mary Margaret had a great shoot with the hand jive poses, but she struggled to get the right face. Mal did decent, but Jay seemed to notice a change in her attitude. Regina hoped her brought it up to Tyra.
Panel was the next night. The girls all stood in line as Tyra greeted them like usual. Once she had finished the greetings she started to call the girls forward.
"Up first is Emma." Tyra announced. "Emma your face is killer in this photo. The pose could be a little stronger, but I still think you did a great job."
The girls kept getting called up. The judges loved Mulan's photo. Regina was proud of how well the other girls had done this week. Finally, they called up Mal. Regina crossed her fingers.
"Mal, Jay sayed you seemed angry on set, and I think we see it in your eyes here." Tyra stated.
"Was something wrong?" Nigel asked. "Something that distracted you?"
"Yes, actually." Mal said. Regina held her breath. "There's two girls in the house that make me extremely uncomfortable. You should know that Emma and Regina are a couple and that-"
"Wait a moment." Tyra cut Mal off. "Do you have an issue with an LGBT couple?"
"I just don't think they should be able to flaunt it." Mal replied. "It's unprofessional."
"What about when I kiss my boyfriend?" Tyra asked. "Does that bother you."
"No." Mal shrugged.
"Okay, please return to your place." Tyra said. "Regina, you're up. Now, I know about you and Emma, but if there's anything you'd like to say, now would be the time to do so."
"A lot of the girls in the house feel that Mal makes us uncomfortable." Regina admitted. "She called Emma and I out at breakfast, and it's really hard to be in the house with her. Emma and I don't flaunt anything, and none of the other girls have felt this way about us."
"Well, thank you for your honesty." Tyra replied gently. "I want you to know that you have nothing to be ashamed of, and that your relationship with Emma has nothing to do with how you two do in this competition."
"Your photo is stunning." Nigel told her. "I know you have a dance background and you used it to your advantage."
"I do think you show a bit too much composure for it to be hip hop." Tyra replied. "You can see how the ballet is coming through."
After Regina was done, the judges sent them out to deliberate. Despite what Tyra had said, Regina was nervous. Mal had attacked her relationship and brought it to panel. Emma was shaking her leg nervously as they waited. Regina grabbed her girlfriend's hand to help sooth her. Regina just hoped she and Emma would remain in this competition.
The girls are finally called back to the room. Tyra stands before them with the stack of pictures just like she did every week. Regina and Emma stand side by side waiting for the results.
"I only have eight photos in my hands, and these photos represent the eight of you that will still be in the running toward becoming America's Next Top Model. The girl that I do not call must immediately return to your house, pack your bags and go home." Tyra tells them. "Best photo this week goes to Mulan. Runner up, Ella. Mary Margaret. Emma. Belle. Regina. Tink."
Regina's heart dropped when she saw that Ruby was in the bottom. She held her breath. All she could do was hope that Ruby stayed and Mal was finally sent home.
"Ruby, Mal. You two struggled this week for two very different reasons. Ruby, this week we saw far too much sexy in your pictures. We are concerned that you will be unable to bring that down. Mal, you showed all of your anger in your eyes this week. On top of that you have a prejudice against two girls in this competition." Tyra began. "Top Model is about being a role model to all different people out there. One of you has that potential. The other, lost any chance she had of winning this week because she outcasted two competitors. That's not what a role model would do. So Mal, you may go and pack your bags. Ruby, you get another chance to prove that you have it in you to be versatile."
*REGINA CONFESSIONAL*
"I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest. Knowing that Mal left because of her disrimination makes me feel so much lighter. I know now that whoever wins is going to be someone caring and deserving. All the other girls are great and I am so glad that I have gotten to know them. They support Emma and I and that's just such a good feeling to have people supporting us. The dragon lady is gone!"
A/N MAL IS FINALL GONE! A new character will enter in the next chapter and she might be a threat to our happy couple... -Kaila