Emma stared down at a slice of pizza that was dripping in grease. The cafeteria food sucked, that was a no brainer. Tomorrow was manager's special, which usually was leftovers and meatloaf that was sent from hell just for their high school to serve. It was god awful. She'd sworn she seen a fingernail in it before.

What sucked more than disgusting and overcooked food was being ditched by your friend. That entire morning, Emma would see Graham in passing and just when she went to say hi, he disappeared. Now it's lunchtime, and he's nowhere to be seen. It was pretty weird of him to act like this. Especially since just Friday they were hugging in front of the school. Maybe Emma did lead him on a little too much, but she never anticipated for him to like her more than a friend.

She picked up the stiff slice of pizza to eat when a familiar male voice stopped her, "Please tell me you're not actually going to eat that?"

Emma looked up to none other than her friend Graham. He looked extremely tired and like he just rolled out of bed.

"Yeah, what's it to you anyways and why do you look like a cast member from the Walking Dead?" Emma asked sincerely. Her friend looked like he'd been through hell and back.

"I was up all night studying for that stupid calc test. I think i'm going to flunk it." He acted a bit fidgety as he looked down at his hands.

"Why didn't you study more?" Emma asked.

Graham looked up at his friend to explain what happened when he saw it. It was unmistakable.

"Care to tell me how you studied enough given that hickey on your neck?" He snapped a little too harshly. He was jealous and if Emma wasn't mistaken, a tad green too.

"Uhm… Graham, I can explain." Emma said as she tried to search the filing cabinets in her brain for some sort of scapegoat. Could she really explain? That morning she thought she'd covered the purple bruise on her neck that Regina left behind. However, her crappy dollar store foundation didn't last her through the day, instead it just rubbed off.

While trying to figure out some sort of an excuse, Emma looked up just as Regina walked into the cafeteria. A smile broke out across her face instantly as she watched the woman gracefully take her seat to eat her lunch.

Shaking out of an obvious hypnotic- like trance, Emma said quickly, "Ruby, she's my girlfriend, we were having girls night on Friday. Things got a little carried away at the bar… Listen, I don't really talk about my private life. I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner."

Graham turned his head away from Emma. He looked like he'd just been slapped in the face. It was one thing to be misled, but it was another thing to be lied to. Trying to not snap back at his so-called friend, he stood and walked away.

Emma was hiding something. He knew whatever it was it had to do with Ms. Mills.

"Okay, bye?" Emma yelled to her friend a little taken aback from his strange behavior. It wasn't like him to be dressed like a slob or to not be prepared for a test.

"You have approximately sixty minutes to complete your test. There are twenty problems so you have ample time to finish. If you have any questions, please raise your hand and I will come to your desk. If you finish before the time is up, turn the test face down and wait for me to collect it."

As soon as Emma got her test, she started punching in different numbers into her calculator, and was able to solve each equation in record time. It only took her twenty-five minutes. She flipped the papers over and watched as her classmates all worked to finish on time.

This was the absolute quickest she'd ever done on a test in math. Sunday, after she finished her chores she spent the entire day reviewing everything.

It made sense to her, that if she really invested herself, that things would fly by quicker. School was only a few short months away from being finished. While she was extremely hesitant at first to even consider things with Regina, now she's sure she did the right thing. She thought she'd be distracted, but this proves that the exact opposite is happening.

"Ms. Swan, that was rather quick, are you sure you don't want to take more time to go over each problem?" Mr. Albert asked trying to make sure Emma was really ready to turn it in.

"I was very prepared." Was all she told her balding teacher. She could have sworn he'd lost more and more hair each day.

Emma looked around the classroom, all of her classmates were still eagerly working on each of the problems. Then she saw Graham, he was off to the side of the room, hunched over his test, tapping his pencil not answer any of the questions. There was something really wrong with him today.

"Well, alright then. I'm going to start grading it." Her teacher distracted her attention away from her friend.

Emma nodded in reassurance. He turned and walked over to his desk. She watched as he grabbed his red pen, ready to find any mistakes. Instead, she watched the old man flip through the test not once touching the paper with his pen.

He looked up, shocked at Emma, and wrote at the top of the page her grade. Emma knew she aced her test. She spent most of her weekend preparing for it to keep Regina off her mind.

Now she didn't have to daydream about Regina to feel fulfilled. She already had her. She was her girlfriend.

Emma stupidly grinned to herself, Regina was her girlfriend. She couldn't stop smiling. Those four words meant everything to her.

Emma knew that she didn't know a lot about Regina just yet, but dating her would allow her to learn more about her. This weekend she learned how amazing she was at cooking and that she owned a horse. Those were things she wouldn't have known if she didn't take the time to.

Emma was sure there were many more different layers to the older woman. She seemed so different from the first day she met her in the bar. Regina knows what she wants, but she's also extremely caring.

The weekend felt so far away and all Emma wanted was to kiss Regina again.

She strutted from her desk to the chalkboard, "Who can tell me which group most strongly embraced the ideals and principles of enlightenment?"

She turned to the class to see three hands raise. "Killian." She called out to the most annoying student in the classroom.

"That would be bourgeoise." He said cockily as his eyes scanned every fine detail of Regina's body. He practically was drooling over the woman right in front of his girlfriend as he watched her praise him. "Wonderful job Killian." She turned to write the term on the blackboard.

Emma cut her eyes over at Killian who had the nerve to keep oogaling Ms. Mills, their teacher, her girlfriend.

"Now, can someone describe to me the tax system in France in the years preceding the French Revolution?"

More than anything, Emma hated answering questions in class, but screw this bullshit with Killian. She raised her hand.

Killian and Emma were the only two students to raise their hands.

Regina sighed to herself and called upon Emma. "Alright, Em...Emma." Regina's voice quivered ever so slightly.

Emma tried ignore it and answered, "It was found that the members of the third estate paid nearly all of the taxes."

"Thank you, Emma, that's correct." Regina turned and wrote the key point on the board.

Turning back around, she asked her next question. "What successful event used Enlightenment ideals and influenced the French in overthrowing their government?"

Not shocked, two students rose their hands.

"Emma?"

"The American Revolution." She said confidently.

"That's right. Good job." Regina reinforced with a smile, the same smile that Emma loved because when Regina smiled, it made everything in her body feel like it was on fire. All she wanted was to scream on the rooftops that she was dating Regina Mills. She was perfect in every aspect and she wanted everyone to know that they were a couple.

While Emma dreamily stared at her teacher, next to her sat Graham. He could see that look in his friend's eye. That's the same look that used to shine in his own when he looked at Emma. Except whatever he felt clearly wasn't reciprocated.

Regina lost her concentration from the way Emma was looking at her from across the room. She walked to her desk collecting her thoughts and picked up her glasses. Emma's eyes watched her every move. Her body was stunning in her perfect burgundy dress that emphasized Regina's petite waist and smooth curves.

Recalling her next question, Regina asked, "Why was the fall of the Bastille important to the French people?" She asked to what appeared to be a room full of dead students, except Killian and Emma of course.

"Can anyone other than Killian, or Emma answer the question?"

You could almost hear crickets as the students sat impeccably still.

"So no one?" She challenged again.

"Right then, I'm not going to go over any more of the key terms or events. You have a quiz tomorrow, better come prepared, or else." She said in a devilish tone.

A ruckus broke out across the classroom when she said there'd be a quiz.

She heard, "This sucks" and "Seriously, I have a basketball game tonight."

"I don't want to hear it." Regina snapped at her class. "Pull out your books and refresh yourselves on the material. Seems i've failed at helping you guys, so teach yourselves." It was blatantly clear she was pissed off at her class.

By the time the bells rang, Emma had already made thirty notecards on key terms and events.

While the rest of the class was eager to leave, Emma was trying to lag behind, she slowly put each item in her backpack away. Then she rearranged everything to make it seem like she was busy so she could be the last to leave.

Once Killian was out of the room, Emma turned to Regina. "Hey, uhm.. so would like to come to the library later this afternoon? You could help me put the books away and maybe we can go over some things, you know school related? Or not, it's whatever." She scratched the back of her head and rocked on her heels nervously.

Emma's nervousness was met with kind and gentle eyes. "I have a teachers meeting until five thirty. I can meet you around six?" Regina smiled at her girlfriend.

"Yeah that sounds great." The two stood awkwardly for a few seconds. Normal couples would just hug or kiss one another bye, but they couldn't. Instead, they stood there while awkward tension filled the void between them. Emma started to turn to grab her things when she felt a hand on her own.

She turned and locked eyes with Regina. She too felt that tug, or pull towards Emma, it was electric. She squeezed her hand reassuringly and said, "It's just a few more hours." Emma nodded and smiled. She grabbed her things and left for the library, knowing Regina would be there soon.

It was undeniable how much she wanted to always be around Regina. Everything was just so much better with the other woman. It was only just a few days into their relationship and Emma desperately craved more of her time.

Dropping a stack of ancient, dust covered, books in front of Emma, Belle said, "I found these books at a garage sale the other day. Can you please key them into the system and put them on the shelves? Also, I left a list of books we want to pull from the shelves. These books are to be discarded because they haven't been checked out in two years."

Emma nodded as she grabbed the list and started looking at the titles. Her eyes zoomed past the majority of the titles, most were ones she'd never heard of before.

"So how's school, Emma?" Belle asked. Belle never asked her how things were. It was weird.

"S'good." Emma's eyes caught the clock above her counter. It was five minutes before six. Belle had stayed late to talk to her about some of the things she needed done. This hardly ever happened. Of course she stays later the one day that she's expecting Regina.

"Good, well you're almost done with school. Have you heard back from any of the colleges you applied to?'

"Actually, I haven't. I don't think I will hear back till much later since I applied late." Emma answered honestly.

Her eyes caught the clock once again and noticed it was six. "I'll be right back." She told the friendly librarian.

Emma walked out of the front doors and rounded the corner to the parking lot as soon as a very casually dressed Regina stepped out of her car. Her eyes bulged from her skull.

"You look amazing." She acknowledged the change. Regina wore dark skinny jeans and a nice top.

"Well, I couldn't show up in a business dress now could I?"

"You could wear anything, or nothing at all and I wouldn't care. Okay, maybe I would care if other people saw." Emma playfully told her girlfriend, who's eyes rolled.

Before Emma could warn Regina about Belle being in the library, Regina stepped closer and kissed her lips. "I missed you." She tucked a tendril of blonde hair behind her ear.

The moment was interrupted, "Emma, I am so sorry to interrupt, but I have to go. I think you're all set. Nice to see you again, Regina."

Emma froze. Her body grew stiff as she realized the petite librarians presence. "Jeez, Belle, I'm sorry. It's okay Regina is here right? She's just helping me get done sooner so I can go home and study." She said smoothly.

"Oh no worries. You guys are very cute together." The librarian said as sweet as she could.

Regina visibly relaxed hearing the kind words from the other woman. "Thank you Belle, for your kindness."

The two watched as the other woman left in an old silver Cadillac.

"That was close, too close." Regina told Emma.

"I know, but honestly, she's harmless. She doesn't know anyone and she seemed fine with everything." Emma reassured. If this wasn't Belle that caught them, Emma would be in full on panic mode.

Grabbing Regina's hand, Emma escorted her to the library entrance and opened the door for her.

Looking down at the stack of books, Emma read off all the titles to Regina. The two worked together quickly to get all of the tasks done. Afterwards, the pair sat on the couch in the corner and started reviewing for Emma's quiz.

"You know you know everything already. You don't need to study." Regina told her student.

"I know, but it's keeping us from making out right now, isn't it?"

The pair stared at one another. Both of their hearts raced. All they wanted was to throw the note cards on the floor and rip their clothes off and take each other right there on the couch.

But they couldn't.

"Regina." Her voice warned, but it also oozed with want, telling the brunette what she needed.

"Emma?" Regina said in a sexy sweet tone as she tossed the cards off to the side. "Is it okay if I kiss you?"

Before an answer escaped Emma's mouth, Regina toppled her, capturing Emma's lips as if they were a prisoner, showing no mercy. Her hands dove into rough blonde curls and their bodies fused together as they kissed each other.

Regina pulled back, "You were amazing in class today. Answering all of my questions, my little teacher's pet." She said in a low, husky tone. "I loved it." She continued, "You made it hard for me to focus."

Shivers ran down Emma's spine.

"Yeah?" The blonde bit her bottom lip. "Maybe I should be like that more often?" She said as her hands explored the curves of the woman on top of her.

"I dare you to." A raspy voice echoed through the rows of books. She closed the distance between them and kissed the blonde's lips.

Emma's hands daringly grabbed Regina's chest as she got lost in the moment. The pair spent the rest of the hour, kissing one another with heated passion.

Aiming at the dartboard, Emma shot the dart forward smacking the bull's eye on her first try.

"Wow, get it killer. That's amazing. How the hell did you manage that?" Ruby said to her friend whose history at playing darts wasn't in her favor.

"Well Rubes, you are looking at a taken woman. I think that's boosted my confidence." Emma finally told her friend.

It was now Tuesday and it had been nearly five days since she'd seen her friend. She'd decided that it was best to tell her in person, but the day before she got a little tangled up in the library with Regina.

"So tell me everything." The brunette bartender said excitedly.

"Well, drunk me managed to win over Regina. I really don't know how, but she listened to me talk and by the end we agreed to take things slowly."

Ruby smiled, "And how is that working out?"

Emma smirked a little to herself, "It's proving to be quite the challenge." Last night could have escalated further, but by the end they both pulled apart, unfortunately.

"Yeah? I bet you won't last long before you both give in and have sex, again."

"You know what Ruby? We aren't even going to go there. I just need to not think about it. The more I entertain the idea, the more I'll want it."

"Fair enough." Ruby agreed. "Speaking of your super hot girlfriend. She stopped by here the other day and told me to stop serving you as much as I did Friday night. You're already on a leash." She said in a teasing tone.

"Whatever, at least I have someone now!" Emma said happily.

"Well anyways, what are you guys doing on your first date?"

Emma shifted on her barstool and licked her bottom lip.

"Oh my god, you've already been on your first date already?"

"Well no, I really don't know." Emma said shyly. She was a very private person. "We went to visit her horse and she made me breakfast, which was amazing."

"Whoa, that's insane. She owns a horse? You guys might as well go ahead and get married now that she's making you breakfast too." Ruby joked at her friend. She was so clearly falling in love with the other woman.

"Stop. It's not something to joke about. It was nice, but I mean was that our first date?"

"Did you guys plan it, or just do it?"

"She took me there. She goes every weekend." Emma informed her friend who stood behind the bar pouring beer into glasses for other patrons in the bar.

"Then I think that you need to plan an official date. Ask her out for this weekend. This way you guys have a few days to figure out some plans."

Emma Swan was not a planner. Her palms started to sweat at just the idea of wooing Regina Mills on their first date.

Shoving her calculus book into her locker she caught sight of her friend. "Graham, hey, how are you doing?" She asked in a slightly worried tone. Her friend had been dodging her for days now. He was acting strange and looked like he'd rolled around in the dumpster.

"I'm fine." He said in a monotoned voice.

"Don't lie to me." Emma stared at her friend. She knew he was lying. She'd seen him these past few days slamming his locker door and acting out of character.

"Seriously Graham, I care about you. You're my friend and I feel bad that something's upsetting you."

"Butt out of it Emma." He snapped.

A voice interrupted the pair. "Is everything okay here?" A very old Ms. Lucas asked as she slugged on by.

"We're fine." Emma told the teacher who was two feet away from falling to her grave.

"I really hope whatever is wrong that you'll tell me." Emma tried to ease back into conversation.

"You know what, Emma. My parents are getting divorced. I found out Friday night. I'm beyond upset and then come Monday when I was panicking because I didn't study for my test I saw that hickey on your neck. I don't care who you're with or what your sexualtiy is, but you lead me on to think we could be a thing." He said angry at his friend.

Emma's jaw dropped. Her heart sank as she realized that her friend was coping with so much.

"Graham, that's terrible. I'm so sorry to hear about that. And I'm really sorry I feel horrible about things between us. Being gay is hard, sometimes I may come off as flirtatious when I'm being friendly. I like you, but not as a boyfriend."

She really did feel bad. She technically did lead him on to get to get a rise out of Regina. Never did she think it would affect him so much.

"I get that. I'm just going through a hard time." Her friend said as he turned and left her at her locker. Emma was beyond caught of gaurd. Never did she expect him to say that his parents were getting a divorce.

She felt horrible.

Waiting for the class to shuffle out of the classroom, Emma remained seated at her desk.

Regina shut the classroom door and turned to Emma. "What's up?"

Emma stood and walked over to where her teacher stood. "So I was thinking. This past weekend was great and I had a lot of fun with you. I want to do that again, but can we have like a first date?" Emma asked her girlfriend.

She watched as the other woman smiled and nodded her head. "I think that would be a great idea, but I get to plan everything." She told her student.

Regina Mills loved being in control and getting being able to plan everything.

Relaxing, Emma felt more at ease as the pressure of planning a first date was no longer on her shoulders.

"So, Saturday?" Emma said excitedly as she walked closer to her girlfriend who towered over her in her four inch stilettos.

"Once I figure it out, I'll let you know." She said nonchalantly.

"It's really hard being the only one in the classroom with you right now."

"Then maybe you should leave before you get us both in a world of trouble."

"Maybe I should then, if that's what you want." Emma challenged her sexy other half.

"I don't want you to leave, what I want is for you to be home in my bed waiting for me." Regina steered the conversation further.

"In your dreams." Emma said with a wink as she grabbed her things.

"I guess, I'll just have to wait." The woman sighed. " I'm not very patient." She said a little more seductively.

Emma walked and stood right in front of Regina's face. "You'll learn to be." She moved in to kiss Regina, but pulled away at the last second. The sexual tension in the room was unbearable for Regina as she watched her student leave. No one had ever left her standing like that before.

Regina was certain of one thing: It would not be happening again.