Week Eight:
Emma-
Emma could hardly contain her excitement. She was going to Enchanted Forest! It was one of the most up and becoming fashion capitals of the world because of it's bizarre style trends. It was also considered one of the most romantic places in the world. Emma had never even been abroad before. She had lived in Boston her whole life, and had only ever travelled to Storybrooke for the Top Model competition.
"I've never been on a plane!" Emma revealed as she packed her bag. "I don't know if I'm more excited or anxious about it!"
"It's going to be fine." Regina assured her. "Hold my hand when we take off, and then sleep. It's an eight hour flight, and I don't imagine we'll have a lot of free time after we get off the plane."
"I won't be able to sleep, I'm way too jittery." Emma replied.
"We'll see about that, dear." Regina smirked.
The plane was finally taking off, and Emma was terrified. Not that she'd admit it, but flying freaked her out. She had a death grip on Regina's hand as they escalated into the sky. Her ears popped, and she wondered how long it would take before they were high enough.
"See, wasn't so bad, was it?" Regina asked once they had finally stopped ascending.
"I think you're right, I think I'm gonna sleep the rest of this flight away." Emma joked. Regina chuckled.
Emma laid her head on Regina's should and closed her eyes. She decided if she was going to die on this metal contraption, she was going to be comfortable.
In just a few minutes, Emma was fast asleep.
Emma woke a few hours later. Regina had her nose in a book. Emma smiled, at the sight. Regina rarely wore her glasses, but Emma found them to be very attractive. She wondered if she could convince her girlfriend to wear them more often once they were done with the competition.
"Morning sleepy head." Regina smiled when she noticed that the blonde was awake. "You have a nice nap?"
"How long was I out?" Emma asked as she stretched as best she could in the tight space.
"Couple hours." Regina replied.
"Ugh, when will this flight be over?"
"We have two hours and forty five minutes left." Regina replied. Emma grumbled which cause Regina to chuckle. "I know a way we can make this flight go faster."
Emma gave Regina wink and the brunette let out a rich, throaty laugh. She gave her girlfriend a playful shove.
"Not like that you dork!" Regina exclaimed. "I was thinking we could talk. Find out somethings we don't know about each other."
"Okay, like what?" Emma asked.
"I don't know. Anything. What's something you haven't told many people?" Regina asked.
"Well, I was in foster care basically my whole life. I had a family until I was three, but when they had their own child, they sent me back." Emma began. Regina squeezed her hand in a comforting manner. "When I was thirteen I ran away and tried to find my birth parents, but I got caught and sent to a group home. Most of the time I was ignored, but I lived in some not so good homes. When I turned 17 I got out of there for good and started trying to get into modeling."
"I'm so sorry, Emma." Regina told her softly. "How many homes were you in?"
"Nine in seventeen years." Emma said. "When I was little all I wanted was to have a family who loved me and didn't want to send me away."
"I know it's not the same, Emma, but you have me know. I will never send you away." Regina promised. "We're in this together."
"It's not what I imagined when I was six and wished on stars to send me someone, but now that I'm an adult ...well when I look at you it's more than anything I could have dreamed of." Emma replies.
The two smile at one another before they continue on talking. The rest of the flight did go by faster. As they told stories of their childhoods, teenage years, and anything else that came to mind, Regina felt she knew her girlfriend better. Emma told Regina things that she had even forgotten had happened. It was a nice break from the competition. Regina was looking forward to be doing here so that they could have a real date and learn even more about one another.
The plane landed and the girls were greeted by Tyra. They were all shocked to see her soon after landing, but it made it clear that they were getting right back into the competition.
"I'm sure you are already to see your new home here in Storybrooke." Tyra said to them. "But ...you have to find it first."
The girls looked at one another knowing this was not going to be easy. They definitely weren't going to just be handed the keys to their new home. This was still Top Model, however, and that meant that this would be a challenge.
"You and a partner will have to race around the city for clues to where your house is. The first pair to find it will win 50 extra frames each in the photo shoot!" Tyra explained. "Now you will be paired off as follows: Emma and Ella. Tink and Ruby. Mary Margaret and Regina. Off you go with the first clue."
The pairs were all given the first clue to follow. Emma was sad that Regina wasn't her partner because she knew how could her girlfriend was at puzzles. Sure enough, Mary Margaret and Regina were the first to decipher the clue and run off to find the second one.
Roses are red, violets are blue, I know who turns straw to gold, do you?
"Rumple Gold!" Ella whispers in excitement. "He has a shop that just opened in Storybrooke!"
"Let's get a cab!" Emma replied as they hurried out the door.
Somehow, Emma and Ella ended up getting to the house last. They walked in and couldn't help but laugh. Even if they didn't win, it was still a lot of fun.
"Good job, Regina." Emma smiled. "And Mary Margaret."
"Actually, Tink and Ruby beat us." Mary Margaret replied. "Ruby figured out where Granny's diner was, and Tink was able to figure out the last clue ridiculously fast."
"That was fun." Tink grinned.
"It was." Emma agreed. "But now, I'm beat."
"Me too." Regina replied with a yawn. "I'm gonna shower and then sleep."
"Sleep sounds perfect." Ella stated.
"I'm sure tomorrow will be busy, we should all get some shut eye." Ruby suggested.
The girls all moved to claim their rooms and crawl into bed. Naturally Regina and Emma took one room. Mary Margaret and Ruby took the second room, and Ella and Tink shared the last one.
It was nice to have a little space of their own. Emma and Regina loved the other girls, but a room of their own was a definite perk of the new place. After her shower, Regina came in and snuggled next to Emma. They had taken the room with the large king bed, which meant they could cuddle up at night.
"I'd never have pegged you for a cuddler the first time I met you." Emma tells her girlfriend.
"Sh, don't tell me secret." Regina teases. Emma laughs.
"Whatever you say, babe."
*EMMA CONFESSIONAL*
"Being in this beautiful place with Regina has been amazing. I can't imagine not having her in my life now. No matter what happens in this competition, I will always be thankful that it gave me Regina. I am falling in love with her."
Regina-
The morning after they arrived in Storybrooke, the girls received a Tyra mail. Regina knew it would be coming since they were bound to have a photoshoot soon.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles….Fierce and Love, Tyra
There were a lot of things that could mean. They all hope that they wouldn't be going anywhere. They were still recovering from the long flight to Storybrooke. Regina knew the Jetlag was still getting to her. She hoped it wouldn't affect her shoot.
The girls were shuttled to an old time looking train station. Jay greeted them outside it. They were excited to see their director here in Storybrooke with them. He could be harsh sometimes, but he always knew what he was talking about, and he cared about them. Regina knew he truly wanted to see them do well.
"Welcome to Storybrooke Station!" He said. "My top six girls, how does it feel?"
"Awesome!" Ruby exclaimed.
"You guys are nearing the end! We have a wonderful shoot today, so don't lose steam. This is not the time to get lazy!" He told them. "Today, you will be posing like you're trying to catch the train. You will be dressed like women from the 1930s, and the photo will be in black and white to give it an old time effect. Are we ready?"
The girls replied in excitement that they were ready to do this. They were sent to hair and makeup to get ready for their pictures. They were enjoying how cool it was that they were being taken back in time.
"Okay, Regina, you are lucky number one!" Jay called out.
Regina hurried over to the set. They perched her up on the steps to the train. Regina had to admit, this was going to be tricky. There's wasn't much wiggle room and her heels were getting caught in the holes of the steps.
"Regina, don't overthink it!" Jay told her "It doesn't have to be a literal waving down the train. Make it your own, and make it fashion."
"Got it!" Regina replied.
She stepped back for a moment and made herself think like a fashion magazine editor. What picture would they want? Something different. She sat down on the steps and angled herself against the railings to give herself shape.
"Oh gorgeous!" Jay called out.
After a few of those ones, she moved to perch over the railing like she was leaning. She moved to many angles so that there would be a variety to choose from.
"These were genius!" Jay complimented. "Once you got out of your own head, you turned into a high fashion model."
Regina felt good leaving the set. She returned to hair and makeup to hangout with the girls. Ella was called after Regina and the brunette wished her friend luck as she passed by.
"How was it?" Emma asked.
"A little harder than I thought." Regina warned the girls. "Watch out for your shoes on the platform."
The girls chatted as the got called one by one to set. Emma was the last to go and Regina went to watch her shoot. Emma struggled a bit at first to get comfortable, but she eventually found a good rhythm.
Finally the shoot was over and the girls were able to return back to their home. Regina couldn't imagine who would be leaving. Everyone was so good, and Regina cared about all of them. It would be sad saying goodbye to someone.
The next day the girls had a panel with the judges. Emma and Regina had done well in their shoot, but Mary Margaret had felt disappointed in how she did. Regina couldn't imagine they'd send Mary Margaret home. The woman was like a Disney Princess come to life.
"Alright ladies, welcome to the first judging here in Storybrooke." Tyra greeted them. "We'll get right to it, first up is Ella."
They went through Ella's comments before moving onto Ruby. They seemed a bit indifferent about Ruby's photo. They claimed she needed to show more emotion in her eyes. Next they called up Tink. Tink looked short in her picture, which was a down side because otherwise her photo was beautiful.
"Next up is Regina." Tyra called up. "Regina I love that you gave us SO much to choose from. Any job you get will appreciate variety."
"You definitely know your angles." Nigel said. "You make beautiful shapes and sell the garment."
Regina thanked them before returning to her place. They called up Mary Margaret next. They told her she was too posey and that she needed to learn to let it come naturally. One judge said he was worried if it was this late in the competition and they still had to tell her this. Regina felt bad for her.
"Emma, last but not least." Tyra called up. The picture they chose was of Emma's profile. It was a new look for her, but it was stunning. "Woah."
"I agree." Nigel said. "Emma, this is breathtaking. Even in black and white, the light hitting your face is phenomenal!"
Emma thanked them. They sent her back and then dismissed the girls so they could discuss. Regina felt confident that she and Emma weren't leaving, but one of their friends would not be so lucky.
The girls were called back into the judging room. Tyra stood before them holding a stack of photos. Regina wondered whose picture was missing from the pile.
"I only have five photos in my hands, and these photos represent the five 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 goes to, Emma. Regina. Ella. Tink."
Regina held her breath. Mary Margaret and Ruby were the only two left. Regina couldn't believe that one of them would no longer be in the house or doing photoshoots with them.
"Mary Margaret, you are so striking. You capture the attention of anyone in the room when you walk in. But, you struggle to not be too much of an amature in your pictures, especially for a girl who made the top six. Ruby, you lack emotion in your eyes. You can't just have the model body, you have to show it in the face too. So, who stays in this competition? Ruby."
Mary Margaret gave Ruby a hug, but she was crying. It was awful to see the girl's dreams ending. She said goodbye to Tyra and then hugged her friends one last time.
*REGINA CONFESSIONAL*
"It was so sad to watch Mary Margaret leave. She is a wonderful friend and I am going to miss her. But, I have to be thankful that I am still here with the woman I am quickly falling in love with."
A/N: ugh I suck at updating lately. I am back at school and classes have been ROUGH. I will try and do better I promise! I hope you liked this chapter! -Kaila