A/N: Hello all, so here's the next chapter. I actually meant to finish and post this last week, but work and my muse are both a bitch that seem to plot with each other to happen at the same time. But anyway, I'm off to camp in three days and will most likely not have access to a computer for two weeks. I will probably end up writing a chapter or two and a few short stories long hand, and then type them up when I get back but I really have no idea how much down time I'm going to have (this isn't your shits and giggles summer camp). So I give you this semi-long chapter to keep you going, I may upload a one-shot or two before I leave, depends on whether I finish those or sit on my ass scrolling through tumblr and reading other fics.
"I'll see you after class," Emma muttered, giving the brunette in front of her one last quick- okay not so quick- kiss before pushing off the wall of lockers and sauntering away. Regina sighed, her eyes sliding closed as her head fell back against the metal behind her, her body already missing the presence of another pressed against her.
"You're gonna be late," came the sing song voice of the other blonde Regina seemed unable to stay away from.
"I don't care," the brunette sighed, though she did grudgingly grab her bag and follow her friend down the hall way to their first class.
"So have you told her yet?" Kathryn asked, looking over her shoulder at the slightly shorter girl who still had an overly dreamy look plastered on her face.
"Told who what?" she played dumb, her mind seeming to come back to the moment and off her girlfriend.
"Emma," she exclaimed, then more quietly, "that you love her."
"We just had our one month anniversary, Kat, we-"
"And? That girl fuckin' adores you, you let her get away and I will kill you. Or handcuff you both to a bed and let nature sort itself out."
"I can tell you how that situation would end," Regina mumbled as they joined the throng of students attempting to enter the classroom all at once.
"God, Gina, I don't need to know that," the blonde groaned as they fell into their seats at the front of the classroom. The older girl smirked as she fished around in her backpack for the materials she needed, only to be interrupted by the ringing of her phone. Thinking it was Emma she quickly slipped it out of her pocket, only to have her hopes drop as she saw who it really was.
Message: ^mom^~
Sweetie don't forget we have that banquet tonight. You must come home directly after school to get ready. I hear the mayor from the next town over is bringing his son and I would really like for you to meet them. -Mayor Mills
"Shit," Regina mumbled, tossing her phone onto the desk as she slumped back in the chair.
"What?" Kathryn asked, immediately ditching the conversation she was having in favor of comforting her friend. The brunette didn't answer, merely pushed her phone towards the other girl, who picked it up and quickly read over the message.
"I thought you told her you and Emma were together," Kathryn said as she reread the seemingly harmless but truly horrible words.
"Every time I've tried, I either freak out or she has something more important to do."
"Why don't you bring Emma?" the blonde suggests, searching through her friend's contacts for that very person. Regina is too caught up in her thoughts to notice what the other girl is doing.
"I don't want to put her in a situation like that," the brunette groans, leaning forward against the desk with her hands clasped behind her head. "Her foster family is just so excepting, I don't want her to have to deal with shit from my mother about who we are."
"I get that, but what I don't get are the weird squiggles around your mother's contact."
"Oh," Regina chuckled, looking over at the blonde, who quickly dropped the phone like it was a piece of hot coal. "That was Emma, it's supposed to be like devil horns and a tail, but the little triangle thing never stayed after she saved it."
"You don't mind that she's basically calling your mom a devil?" Kathryn raised her eyebrows, while Regina just blushed.
"That was, ah, actually after the first night I tried to tell her. I had gone over to Emma's afterwards to..." she trailed off as her phone buzzed again.
Message: Emma :p
Yeah sure
"What the hell does that mean?" Regina mumbled, unlocking her phone to see the previous messages. "What the hell did you do?" she gasped, looking up at her friend, whose face was quickly turning red.
"I just invited her to the banquet, that's all," the blonde squeaked.
"That's all. Do you realize what you've done! You are such an-"
"Miss Mills," a stern voice interrupted. Regina's mouth immediately clamped shut as she turned to the teacher who was standing over their table, hands on her hips and a not-so-happy expression on her face. "Class has started, and I will thank you to listen and not insult your classmates."
"Sorry, Miss Blue," the girl muttered, turning in her seat so she was facing forwards and slouching down in her chair. She zoned out the rest of the lesson, her mind stuck on how she was supposed to explain to Emma that she hadn't actually told her mother about them yet. And she knew that confrontation would not go as good as the one here at school had. Save for one less person on the cheer leading squad, not much had changed.
A number of students had already known, which only vaguely surprised the brunette after her little talk with Kathryn. David, Kathryn's ex and still good friend, on the football team. It was both of them whom had first come up with the idea themselves. And then there were the "bad boys" Neal and Killian, who had both gone after Emma, only to be shot down with, as the blonde had said 'I prefer sexy brunette cheerleaders'. Plus the kids in Emma's foster family.
Regina was first out the door when the bell rang, short hair and bag swinging madly as she tore down the hallway towards Emma's class.
"Oh hey," the blonde said, a smile spreading across her face as she leaned in to kiss her girlfriend.
"No," the brunette interrupted, ducking out of the way and grabbing the other girl's hand instead and dragging her to the nearest bathroom. "Out," she growled at the poor freshman in there.
"Is this about that text, cause I kinda knew it wasn't you," Emma said as the door swung shut. Regina sighed, moving to lock the door- not making that mistake twice- before meeting the green eyes that were staring inquisitively at her.
"Yeah, I never got why Kat never just typed out the full words," the older girl chuckled. "I didn't even see her do more than read the message from my mother about the banquet. I was just annoyed because she wants me to meet with this boy and-"
"You haven't told her yet, have you?" It was more of a statement as the blonde crossed her arms over her chest, her tone almost accusing but still holding that hint of understanding.
"I've tried," Regina mumbled with a small shrug.
"It's fine, I believe you did. I've had a few foster families that have sent me back when they found out I was gay. It's scary to tell someone you look up too," Emma said, the only infliction in her voice empathy. "Which is why we're going to do it together." Regina was still for a moment before she launched herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around the blonde's neck and burying her nose in the unruly curls.
"Thank you," she mumbled. "For understanding, and helping. I love you so much." Oh fuck, the brunette thought as soon as those last words left her mouth, but the other girl barely moved, only continued to gently rub her back.
"I love you, too, Regina." Both girls leaned back slightly, just enough to meet the others gaze, goofy smiles on both their faces. "But I am going to need to borrow a dress for tonight."
"This is the fanciest thing I've worn in my life and I still feel under dressed," Emma grumbled, running her hands along her floor length maroon skirt as she looked around the large room and the well dressed people whom were milling around acting all hoity-toity.
"You look fine, now stop that," Regina hissed, lightly slapping her girlfriend's hand down before putting on a fake smile and greeting a man wearing a tux that Emma thought probably cost more than her whole wardrobe.
"If they don't know who you are, they for the most part will ignore you," Kathryn said, waving her hand at the people in question before taking a sip of wine. Emma had to agree with that since she really had just gone up to the bar and taken the glass sitting there without anyone noticing- or just possibly not caring.
"Yeah, well they're going to know who I am soon enough," the younger blonde groaned, falling back against the wall.
"Stand up straight," Regina commanded, her smile never faltering as she greeted someone else with a small nod.
"I'm not straight, why should I have to stand like I am," the young girl chuckled, fixing her posture as she received a menacing glare from her girlfriend.
"Have to act like a lady," Kathryn said in her best Lady Catelyn voice.
"But I don't want-"
"If you finish that sentence you're not going to grow old enough to be considered a lady," Regina hissed, turning on her heel and walking towards the large round table at the front. Emma shot the elder blonde a look before quickly following the other girl, well as quick as she could in the heels that Regina had lent her.
"You're sitting here," the brunette said, lying a hand on a chair as Emma approached.
"Where are you sitting?" the blonde asked, unsure if she was supposed be sitting down now or not.
"On the other end of the hall, where do you think I'm sitting?" Oh no, Emma thought, she's only sarcastic when she's worried, scared or incredibly happy- or drunk- and she's only had a sip of Kat's wine. And that is not a happy expression.
"I'm just making sure you're not leaving me alone with her or anything," Emma jabbed her thumb at the other blonde in attempt to calm her girlfriend. Mission accomplished, she internally cheered as s small smile appeared on Regina's face for a second before being covered with a mask of indifference once more.
"I heard that," Kathryn mumbled as she walked up behind the two girls. "Is your mother sitting here too?"
"Of course, sweetie," all three girls shuddered at the eerie sweetness that dripped from the elder woman's voice. Regina turned to look at her mother, barely resisting the urge to sink into Emma's protective arms.
"Hello, Mother," she muttered.
"Stand up straight dear, you want to make a good impression. You are a lady, act like one," Cora commanded. Emma snorted, earning a death glare from both brunettes, though probably for different reasons.
"Who are you?" the woman demanded.
"Mother, this is Emma, I told you about her last week."
"Ah, yes. Thank you for helping my daughter with her homework, she has been falling behind lately and I haven't the foggiest idea why." Cora waved her hand aimlessly, her gaze drifting around the large room- this conversation obviously not of the greatest interest to her.
"I think I know what's gotten into you," Emma whispered in the younger brunette's ear, it was all she could do to keep from laughing out loud at the lame excuses Regina sometimes made. Her statement earned her an elbow in the gut and she was thankful for Cora lack of concern over her daughter.
"That's actually something I wanted to talk to you about, Mother." Regina paused before continuing. "Emma has been doing more than just helping me study." Hell yeah I have, her inner mind said in the blonde's snarky voice.
"Oh, has she helped you finally find a suitable mate? That would be too bad, I really liked Leapold. He is quite a bit older than you, already in college, but he's already looking good in the business world," the woman rambled on, completely missing how her daughter's face was showing a mixture of fear and sadness with every word that passed her red painted lips.
"Yeah, I helped her find a mate," Emma stepped up behind Regina, wrapping her arm protectively around the brunette's waist as she did something the older girl would never have the courage to do, stand up to her mother. "Except it ain't no lame ass business man, or even a man." Okay, maybe that was too much, Emma internally cringed as an overly shocked expression crossed the elder woman's face.
"You...what!" Cora spat, her eyes darting back and forth between the two girls as her evidently shallow mind tried to comprehend what it was being told.
"We are dating mother," Regina said, her newly found voice assertive. "Emma's my girlfriend."