A/N: Here is another chapter, my friends! I do hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much for your questions/comments/concerns, etc. I will try to take into account all suggestions made to me! I unfortunately do not own Once Upon a Time or any characters/likenesses in this story, but the story itself is mine! I hope you enjoy, love to you all~ 3
XX
Emma groaned, wiping a spot of icing from her mouth. Her foster parents liked to joke that she was a bottomless pit, and she really was; she had learned as a child that the best way to get by was to eat as much as she could, while she could, so that during the numerous times that her foster parents proved unable to feed her she could survive. Her current foster parents, the Nolans, understood this to a point, however, and as such ensured that there was always something for her to eat, something that they knew she would like. As such, Mary Margaret had taken out all the stops for this evening's dinner, and after Emma's second cheeseburger and second serving of fries, Emma began eying the cake in the middle of the table. Mary Margaret immediately stood up to grab a serving spatula, and Emma dug into the chocolate marbled cake with white and green frosting with fervor. Her parents just watched her fondly, and she grew a bit self conscious, attempting to slow her consumption of the sugary confection and instead motioning to the envelopes on the table with interest.
"What are the cards for," Emma tried to be polite, despite the fact that she was talking with her mouth full. Mary Margaret immediately winced but continued on, regardless.
"These are from us, to you, Emma, to show you how proud of you we are." Mary Margaret positively beamed, and David was no less giddy as Emma's cheeks tinted a light pink, and she reached over to grab the small pile of cards. The first one had evidently been picked out by Mary Margaret, as it was a violent shade of pink and blue, and Emma grinned happily despite the colorful assault on her eyes. "To our daughter," the card read, "words cannot describe just how proud we are of you. Proud that you have come so far, proud that you are your own individual, but on this day, we are most proud to call you our own. We love you so much, and want you to know it every day of your life." Emma smiled down at the card, and although she was never one to show much emotion, she didn't even wince when the tears flowed freely down her face. There was a post it note on the card, that simply said 'hall closet', and Emma stood up, confused, making her way to the offending door. She pulled it open and gasped when it revealed a red pleather jacket. Emma ripped it off the hanger, almost jumping from joy as she pulled it on. Mary Margaret smiled wider, excited that she had picked a clothing item that her daughter seemed to love already, and when Emma ran over to give her a tight hug, she swallowed the lump in her throat at her teenager turned almost full fledged woman. David, for his part, laughed quietly, and a deep voice startled his wife and foster daughter from their happy moment.
"What about my present?" Emma nodded, making her way to the table and opening up a card, black and white, that showed a picture of a younger Emma and David fishing. Emma's eyes welled up once more, and she opened the card, proclaiming "You will always be my little girl." The blonde smiled up at David and looked down at the sticky note, which simply said "outside." Emma immediately felt her eyes widen as she all but jumped the couch to make it to the front door, and almost ripping it off the hinges to get to her prize revealed a slightly beat up, bright yellow VW bug.
"HOLYSHI-"
"Emma!" Mary Margaret quickly cut her off, a stern edge to her voice despite her smile.
"-TAKEMUSHROOMS!" Emma finished lamely, shooting her parents a sheepish grin before almost tackling them both.
"Thank you so much, Mom, Dad. I love them both!"
Her parents' hearts swelled at the use of the term of endearment which they rarely heard, and Emma followed them back into the house. Mary Margaret gave her a quick once over before deciding to tell her of the next day's plans. Emma's heart sank immediately, and she looked sadly down at the floor.
"Emma, honey, what's wrong?" Evidently her mother had noticed her change of mood, and Emma looked into worried eyes. Emma's heart sank even further, and a lump in her throat formed at having to lie to such wonderful people. For the best, Swan, she told herself over and over again, before swallowing the lump down to explain how she'd lost her summer.
"Well, you see, I decided that I wanted to be a high school English teacher out of college, and I asked Miss Mills, and she offered to spend this summer teaching me the ropes, so to speak. She has set aside time specifically for me, and I can't really tell her no, now.."
Mary Margaret sighed, setting a soft hand on her shoulder. "That's fine, Emma, but I do wish you had told us sooner. I'll have to reschedule plans, but that's okay, we have all summer. Are you going to be at her house every day?" At this, Emma nodded slightly, afraid her parents would be upset with her. "Well, that's fine, we'll hang out on the weekends, okay?" Emma nodded meekly up at her mother, suddenly exhausted. It had never bothered her so much to lie before, but this time was simply different, and Emma couldn't quite understand why. However, the lie meant she'd be able to spend the summer with the beautiful brunette, so really, who was she hurting here? This logic helped the blonde to clear her mind, and she allowed a smile smile to play across her lips.
"Mom, Dad, I'm really tired, okay? Thank you, for everything, but I think I'm gonna head to bed." After a quick hug and peck on the cheek from both her parents, Emma made her way up the stairs with the set of keys her father had given her, smiling as she set them on the night stand beside her bed before stripping down to short shorts and a tank top. She laid in her bed for a while, staring up at the ceiling, before turning to look at her alarm clock once more. The bright red numbers flashed eleven pm, and her last thoughts before falling into a fitful sleep were of dark chocolate eyes and the heavy scent of apples.
XX
Emma leisurely sauntered through the halls, a girl on a mission. With each passing step, her body drew closer to it's final destination. Her steps echoed throughout the empty corridors, mirrored only by the buzzing in her own head. She shifted each leg with purpose, moving forward with a grace never fully possessed by a seventeen year old. She lifted her wrist, drawing back as if to knock, although she noticed a lack of necessity in doing so. Shifting her weight and carrying on once more, Emma waltzed into her room, her eyes shooting to the teacher's face. Brunette hair fanned out perfectly, and almost of it's own accord her body continued moving forward. She perched atop the desk, perfect white teeth set in an alluring smile. Emma moved ever forward, mesmerized, as the brunette beauty's legs slowly uncrossed, her eyes beckoning Emma closer. Finally, painfully, Emma arrived at the place she most wanted to be in that moment, her arms on either side of the brunette, who watched her with hooded eyes, bated breath, lips parted in want. Emma was so close, she could taste the older woman's coffee, and she placed her arms on either side of the brunette, leaning up to finally capture those soft lips with her own-
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
Emma's alarm screamed through the air, and she angrily muttered quiet curses to herself, unhappy with the recent turn of events.
I almost kissed her, Emma realized, as she placed her right hand over her heart, finding it beating at a strangely frantic pace. Never mind, why would I have those kinds of dreams about her? She's my teacher, for fuck's sake.
Emma groaned, wincing at the sunlight streaming through her windows. She hadn't slept very well, especially after the dream she'd been having when she was unceremoniously ripped from her pathetic attempt at slumber. The violent red of the alarm clock informed her that it was seven am, and Emma moved to get out of bed, eager to shower before heading to her teacher's house. She blushed slightly at the wetness pooling in her boxers, but paid no attention as she lathered and rinsed. Emma presumed she wouldn't have to adhere to any sort of dress code, and as such pulled on her shortest pair of denim cutoffs and a white tank top. Emma pulled her still-wet hair into a ponytail atop her head and slipped on a pair of socks, followed by her trademark Converse. She had only been living in Maine a few years, however she recognized the glaring sun as an insistence of the sweltering heat the day no doubt had to offer. After hugging her parents goodbye, Emma made her way to the bright yellow bug outside which she already loved. Checking her phone, she noticed it was only seven thirty, so she decided to get acquainted with her vehicle by driving to Granny's. Emma turned the key in the ignition for the first time, thankful that her parents had allowed her to get her license when she turned seventeen, and made her way through the quiet streets of Storybrooke, Maine. The day already turned out to be warmer than usual, and Emma was thankful she had not decided to dress conservatively, albeit the jeans and flannel piled up in the passenger's seat seemed to be a good idea in case she offended Miss Mills with her casual clothing. Emma was uncertain why it seemed so important to her to be on a good note with her teacher, but she simply shrugged off the thoughts, pulling into a parking spot outside Granny's diner. She smiled fondly at her bug, patting her lovingly in thanks for driving so well, before making her way inside, ambushed instantly by Ruby.
"Oh my God, Em, is that yours?!" Emma couldn't help but giggle at her friend's excitement, nodding almost shyly to the older girl, who immediately pushed past her outside, ignoring Granny's shouting in the background.
"Taking five, Granny!" Ruby called back to her, Emma following her to the vehicle. It had dents and dings, but so did Emma, and she couldn't help but to love the older vehicle, which was totally her style. Ruby gushed to her friend about how lucky she was to have parents to buy her a vehicle, and Emma took it in stride, knowing that all Ruby had was Granny and the diner, and that she'd had to save up her own checks to purchase a vehicle. Ruby wasn't jealous, Emma noted, but that didn't stop her almost apologetic smile as Ruby pulled her into a hug before latching onto her hand and pulling her back through the diner's door. Emma slid a bill across the diner's counter before ordering her usual, a bear claw and a cinnamon hot cocoa. Nervously, she amended her order, adding a large black coffee and a slice of apple pie. Ruby said nothing, allowing the not so subtle raise of her eyebrow to do the talking for her, as she realized that Emma needed to come to the conclusion about her feelings for Regina Mills on her own, and she simply nodded, placing both breakfast items in a takeout bag and watching her friend leave the diner with an ecstatic smile on her face.
I can't wait until she realizes, Ruby thought to herself, scowling when Granny snapped a wet dish towel at her.
A/N: SORRYNOTSORRY.