A/N: Glad people are enjoying so far!
Regina rested her elbows on the table in a way Cora would definitely yell at her for, her chin on her hands. The combination of too-loud music and the fact that she'd hardly eaten all day were giving her a terrible headache, and more than anything she just wanted to go home.
But her mother definitely wouldn't take well to her leaving prom early.
"Want to get out of here?"
She looked up to see Leo leaning over her. "Yeah," she said after a pause. She didn't want to go anywhere with him, but even just a bit of fresh air would be wonderful. She grabbed her clutch and followed him out into the lobby of the hotel.
"I took the liberty of getting us a room," he said with a grin, pulling a key card from his pocket, and Regina stopped short.
"That's not happening," she said, eyes wide with disbelief. "This is not some terrible 90's movie."
"Regina," he said with a pout. "Come on. You turned me down when I asked you, and then a day later you changed your mind. Don't pretend you're not using me too." Leo stepped closer, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "You kind of owe me."
"So I'll buy you a coffee some time." She shrugged him away roughly. "Or, I don't know, maybe I'll write up every damn lab report flawlessly while you sleep through class. Oh, wait, I already do." She stormed towards the front doors of the hotel, trying to keep up her angry façade despite the fact that she was truly a little afraid. She cursed herself under her breath as she stepped out into the chilly night air. It would have been smarter to go back into the ballroom, really, to stay safe among her classmates, but doing so now would mean facing Leo again. Instead, she picked a direction at random and started walking as fast as she could in heels, wrapping her arms around herself for both warmth and comfort. She cast a look over her shoulder when she'd made it a block, relieved to see that Leo wasn't following her.
Regina turned the corner and pulled her phone from her purse, wondering if she should attempt to call her father. He'd come get her, of course he would, but she knew all too well who would be sitting in the passenger seat with disappointment written all over her face.
No, she decided, she'd take her time, find somewhere to eat and warm up and call for a ride when it was a little later. She slipped the phone back into her bag, stepping on a grate in the sidewalk and stumbling when her heel caught. She let out an exasperated sigh, pulling the ridiculous blue tulle that was blocking her view to the side in an attempt to assess the damage.
"Careful, Cinderella."
Regina tensed at the unfamiliar voice, twisting around to see a girl about her age stopping behind her. At least it wasn't Leo, at least it wasn't anything worse than a skinny blonde in glasses.
"Do you need help?" the girl asked, coming around to Regina's side so they could see each other more easily.
Regina tried to pull her foot up, but she had to admit that she was stuck. "If you wouldn't mind," she said, and the blonde crouched down instantly. She shivered as the girl's cold fingers brushed against her ankle, holding her skirt up and watching as the stranger finally managed to tug the heel free.
"You know," the girl said, glancing at her watch as she stood, "it's not even midnight yet."
Regina couldn't help smiling. The blonde's new position revealed green eyes full of laughter behind the rims of her glasses. "It was a particularly bad ball," the brunette replied.
"And the prince?"
"Don't ask." Regina glanced over her shoulder again instinctively, but there was still no one there.
The girl followed her gaze, a frown suddenly playing over her lips as she recognized that look, the tinge of fear in Regina's eyes. "I can walk with you," she offered. "I don't have anywhere to be."
"And I have no clue where I'm going," Regina admitted. "Any idea where I could eat at this hour?"
"There's a disgusting greasy diner two blocks away."
"Perfect." Regina walked a little more carefully now, eyes on the ground to look for obstacles, not noticing the glances that the other girl kept sneaking at her. "I'm Regina."
"Emma." Emma took off her backpack while they walked and shrugged out of her beloved and very worn faux leather jacket, tucking it around Regina's bare shoulders.
Regina looked back up at her, startled, and slipped her arms into the sleeves. "Thank you."
Granny's Diner was quiet at that hour, and Regina was thankful for that. She glanced at herself in the mirrors that lined one of the walls, blushing at how ridiculous she looked. The hair and makeup were tasteful, she'd give her mother that, but really not her style. There wasn't much she could do about it now, but she yanked out the little tiara-shaped comb that had been digging into her scalp all evening. As she slid into the booth across from Emma, she removed the rest of her gaudy, sparkling jewelry and stuffed it into her clutch.
"You look very pretty," Emma said with a smile, sensing the brunette's self-consciousness. "A little overdressed for a late night diner run, but pretty."
Regina blushed even more at that. "I would be much happier if I looked like you right now," she said, taking in the blonde's easy striped tee and jeans. "I've never even owned a pair of jeans."
"What?" Emma dropped the menu that she'd just begun to open, gaping across the table. "How is that possible?"
"My mother is very particular about appearance," Regina said with a grimace. "Which is also why I haven't eaten all day."
Emma stared at her for a moment, both amazement and concern in her green eyes. "That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
"She's pretty much psychotic. She doesn't even want to let me go to college."
"Whoa, only one dose of crazy at a time, please." Emma flagged down the waitress and Regina gratefully ordered a burger and fries. The blonde got a milkshake, not particularly hungry and not too confident about the amount of money she had on her.
"God, this is so much better than prom," Regina said, realizing that she no longer had a headache.
"I'm suddenly glad I didn't go to mine." Emma glanced down, playing with her silverware. "I'm not a big fan of things that require dates. And I've only been at this school for two years, so I don't have many friends anyway."
"I've been at the same school since kindergarten," Regina replied, "and I still don't have many friends." Emma looked up again and she hurriedly added, "Because I'm not into the whole clique thing, you know? Not because I'm weird or something."
Emma laughed, and Regina instantly relaxed. "I'm at a random diner with a stranger in a big poofy dress. I'm not judging."
"This is probably the stupidest thing I've ever done," Regina admitted.
Emma rolled her eyes at that. "I clearly have a lot to teach you." Her milkshake arrived, and she took a sip before offering it across the table. "You can repay me in fries."
"Thank you." Regina took the glass and drank, glad to finally have something in her stomach.
Emma watched her closely enough to make Regina blush. "So, did you have a date?" she asked, forcing her eyes elsewhere for a moment. "Boyfriend? Girlfriend?"
"Lab partner," Regina replied, passing the milkshake back to the blonde. "I don't really date."
"Crazy mom thing?"
"Crazy me thing." Regina shook her head. "My mom would be thrilled if I ever had a boyfriend, but…" She paused. Having as few friends as she did, she rarely had to put her thoughts into words for anyone else.
"Sometimes it just doesn't happen," Emma finished for her with a shrug. "Nothing wrong with that."
Regina smiled gratefully, and then the waitress slid a plate in front of her. They fell into an easy silence, Regina focused on her burger and Emma stealing fries to dunk into her shake. When they finished, Regina paid, smiling as she set her credit card on top of the bill before Emma could get out money. "On my crazy mom," she said, reveling in the tiny act of disobedience.
They walked together back to the hotel, Regina feeling so much safer with this complete stranger beside her. But Emma didn't feel like a stranger. In the hour they'd spent together, she felt more like a friend than Regina had ever had.
As Henry pulled up, Emma took Regina's hand and squeezed it, and Regina couldn't help smiling shyly at the small gesture before hurrying at the curb. As the brunette got in, Emma realized that the other girl was still wearing her jacket, but she didn't call after her. She kind of liked it on Regina. And now she had a reason to see her again, to get it back.