A/N: To clarify for any confusion, the timer works only when both soul mates have a timer. Once it is installed and both parties have one, it will flash and have a countdown to the years/months/days/minutes/seconds until you lock eyes with that person. It will no longer be blank or simply gray. Hope this clears it up! :)

So sorry it has taken me so long to update this story. My writers block has been hitting me hard lately and my life has been hectic. I will continue on with this story though! :) Thanks for reading, enjoy. :)

Chapter Three

It was two days later and Regina was thrilled when her mock courtroom class got let out early. This means she could be early to her next class just how she liked. Although she was dreading the confrontation she was about to face with Emma.

As the brunette walked to her literature class she reflected on a decision that she made two nights ago. She refused to let another decision that her mother made for her dictate the way she lived her life. It has become habit to constantly check her timer, partly praying for a change to see it come to life but partly relieved when it stayed the same. Because if she was honest with herself she had no idea how she would react if she actually got an answer. But this semester she refused to let her obsession with finding her soul mate take over her life. There's no way she could back off cold turkey though, right? Not when it's become an integral part of her life and the way she acts in relationships. So she's allowing herself a look at the gray strip in the morning when she wakes up and at night when she goes to bed.

She finds herself fidgeting with it though on her walk because of the nerves. When she realizes what she's doing, she mentally scolds herself and removes her fingers from playing with it.

Regina desperately wants to find love but she also wants it to be real and not forced. That's one reason that pushed her to make this decision. Whenever she found herself interested in someone there was always a problem when it came to the timer. If they had a timer, theirs didn't match up. That always put the idea in Regina's head that it would be a waste of time and emotions to continue that relationship. If they didn't have a timer, then she wanted them to get one so that she could find out if they were a match made by the fate gods. The more mismatched timers she encountered, the more she thought she didn't have a match.

No longer would she dwell on all that. She wanted life to come as a surprise and not try to control it anymore. Regina loved having control but she loved being happy more. This was a start to living her life in a healthier and happier way. Or so she had hoped.

She arrived to her literature class ten minutes before it started and she rolled her eyes as she took the same seat she sat in last class. The seat was in a location she did not like but she figured there was no other choice if she was going to sit next to Emma.

For the next five minutes Regina began reading the first book their class would discuss. She was interrupted when she heard a body slam down in the chair to her left. A groan escaped from the blonde's mouth as she rolled her eyes.

"Didn't you get us new partners? Why are you sitting here?"

Regina took a deep breath. "No, I did not. This is our problem to deal with, not the professor's. We can work this out together."

"You've got to be kidding me. I need a reliable partner so that I can get a good grade on this project."

"I am reliable. Give me some time to prove it to you."

"Yeah? Well what am I supposed to do when my time is wasted and I can't get it back?"

Regina closed her eyes. "I know all too well about wasted time. I will show you that I am a worthy partner."

Emma contemplated this for a bit and sighed. "Fine."

The brunette gave a small, triumphant smile before it was wiped away as soon as the blonde opened her mouth again.

"But I have some ground rules. You must always be reachable if I should need your help and you have to respond within an hour. The only exception is when you're in class or asleep."

Regina nodded in agreement to Emma's demands.

"You must put in as much effort as I do in this project."

"Of course. I always go above and beyond-"

Emma stopped her.

"And we will meet up every Tuesday afternoon after our classes at the Daily Grind to discuss the project and work on it. You will, of course, be buying my coffee."

Regina opened her mouth to protest but Emma gave her a warning glare before anything could come out.

"Fine. Maybe you'll view me as a friend by the end of this semester."

Emma laughed, "Don't push it, Regina,".

The professor finally came in the room and began their lesson for the day.

Butterflies crept into her stomach as she thought about being able to work side by side with Regina all semester. Sure, she was still mad at the girl for being rude and inconsiderate. But she could still be excited about working with a sexy, very sexy, woman for the next few months. She sneaked a glance out of the corner of her eye at the beautiful girl. With force, she pressed her lips together and turned her attention to the professor.

Regina was pacing around her apartment later that night while gripping index cards in her left hand and talking with her right. She was practicing and rehearsing for her upcoming mock trial class but she found it hard to concentrate. With a groan, she slapped the cards down on her desk and immediately began to play with the timer on her wrist. The brunette gave in to her wandering thoughts and went back and forth in her own mind.

Emma had been at the back of her head all day. She felt so bad about hurting the blonde's feelings when they met. Although she had apologized, she knew it wasn't enough to Emma. Words went a long way but actions went even farther. First impressions were extremely important and while she had made a good one, her second one was obviously terrible. That prevented them from being able to form a true friendship and get to know each other better.

Regina was determined to change the blonde's opinion of her and become friends. But why was she so determined? Sure, she felt a connection between them the night they met but that doesn't matter when Emma doesn't even want to work with her in class. Regina was desperate to change the nature of all of her new relationships: romantic and friendly. Because of her mother she had constantly been living every aspect of her life due to a schedule. She was ready for change after a bunch of failed relationships; she needed a change.

The brunette was always and extraordinary student but Emma's lack of faith in her pushed her even harder to go above and beyond. Realizing that she would no longer be able to focus on anything else for the rest of the night, she put away her things for the mock trial class and got out her notes for her literature class.

Their semester long project consisted of working together to write a piece of fiction that would convince their professor that it was contemporary piece written by an influential author from the early 1900's or earlier. Emma and Regina had been assigned to Shakespeare. Regina found it ironic since their relationship had already suffered a seemingly demise like most Shakespearean stories often portrayed.

The brunette got to work by reading biographies about his life and selected works. Her first assignment was to bring Emma all of the information about him that seemed important for them to be able to fully understand him. She got busy reading and quickly filled up five note pages with facts.

She finished when she was satisfied with the amount of work she had completed and she put everything away. After she completed her nightly routine, she crawled into bed and took a deep breath. She gave into her personal allowance and stared at the gray strip on her wrist. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness when she noticed it was still blank. Trying to clear her mind, she closed her eyes and let sleep take her somewhere else.

Emma was on her way to class when she felt her phone vibrate. Her nose crinkled when she saw that it was an unknown number. With curiosity coursing through her, she opened the text message.

Hi, Emma. This is Regina Mills. I wanted to let you know that I have completed parts 1A and 1B of our project. I know our usual meetup will be Tuesdays but I was wondering if you'd like to get ahead on the project this weekend?

Emma didn't want to admit it but when she saw that it was from Regina her heart began to race. She rolled her eyes and feigned annoyance even though no one was there to see her. The only person she was trying to convince that she didn't care about the brunette was herself. She hesitated for a few more minutes before responding.

You're treat? I like pizza. And beer. But you already know that. I'm free Sunday. Does that work for you?

The blonde unconsciously let out a smile as she put her phone back in her pocket. A new text didn't come from Regina until she made it to her class.

Yes, it does work. And of course, my treat. I'll see you at 1 pm? Just let me know where you'd like to meet.

In her mind, she swears that she was not flirting with Regina. It was just a playful banter.

Alright, your majesty. I'll tell you where to meet your knight in shining armor later. ;)

Class started and Emma was surprisingly excited for Sunday to come.