Authors Note:
Apparently I'm continuing this story. Thank you all for the support with the first chapter. It means a lot! Especially everyone who followed/favorited/reviewed! I'm not a writer by trade or hobby, I just do the best I can. All mistakes are mine, and I'm sure there are plenty. I'm just learning as I go. I do not own the characters in this story, as they belong to A/E and Co. Enjoy.
"One day left until you owe me forty bucks!" Kathryn sing-songed, sitting at an empty desk in front of Ruby.
"Yeah yeah. Don't get too cocky. A lot can happen in 24 hours Kat."
"Are you serious?!" Kathryn said disbelieving, turning around in her chair. "Have you seen them lately? It's revolting."
"Yeah I've seen them. And it's not revolting." Ruby said rolling her eyes. "Speak of the Devils."
Ruby nodded her head towards the classroom door. Emma and Regina were walking in together hand in hand. Regina said hello toboth girls as she took a seat next to Kathryn in the front row. Emma placed Regina's books on her girlfriends desk and took the seat behind her.
"Sup Rubes." Emma said bumping her fist quickly against Ruby's, before leaning forward in her desk to whisper in Regina's ear.
Ruby's "sup" fell upon deaf ears however, as she watched Regina giggle. Regina NEVER giggles. It was short lived however, when Regina's eyes widened suddenly and she slapped Emma playfully across her shoulder. Emma burst out laughing as Regina turned fully around in her chair and grabbed a handful of Emma's shirt in her fist and yanked her forward.
"You better watch it Ms. Swan, you have no idea what I'm capable of." Regina said in her most menacing voice. Which actually would be pretty terrifying if not for the look in Regina's eyes that screamed I'm wanna jump your bones right now. Fortunately, there was enough chatter from the other students that it was just barely loud enough for both Ruby and Kathryn to overhear (even though they both pretended not to).
Having seen enough however, Ruby leaned forward slightly to whisper at Kathryn. "Okay, so it's revolting." And even though Kathryn was now facing forward Ruby knew that she had that stupid I told you so look on her face.
"So my mom wants to hear about your trip and told me to invite you to dinner tomorrow night." Emma asked sitting down next to Regina and taking her focus away from her friends at the lunch tables. Emma couldn't help but notice the apprehensive look on Regina's face.
"What? What's wrong?" Emma questioned.
"No. Nothing. I'm just...They aren't...mad at me or anything are they?" Regina sputtered out.
"What? Why would they be mad at you?"
"Because I broke up with you." Regina said as if Emma should already know.
"No Regina! Of course not! They are glad we're back together!" Emma reassured her. "Plus Henry misses you. He keeps asking me when your coming over."
Regina smiled at the mention of Henry, "I miss him too."
"So you'll come?" Emma asked hopefully.
"Yes I'll come. But only for Henry." Regina said popping a red grape into her mouth with a smirk.
Emma rolled her eyes, "For Henry huh? Well at least he's good for something other than annoying me."
Regina just shook her head in response.
"Alright I'm gunna go change for practice I'll see you after school." Emma said giving Regina a quick peck on the lips.
"How longs practice?" Regina asked.
"We'll be done by 3:00. Want me to come up to ASB after?"
"That'd be good."
"Okay. Love you!" Emma said grabbing her backpack and cleats off the floor and making her way out of the cafeteria.
"Love you too, be careful!" Regina shouted after her girlfriend.
Emma brought her shirt up to wipe the sweat from her forehead as she tried to slow her breathing. She had spent the last half hour doing various drills, working on her game. She was playing some of the best soccer she ever had. After the devastating loss in the state championships last year, Emma had been doing virtually nothing but working out. Four hours a day during the summer, and she had never felt better.
"Jesus Em you look like you just finished wind sprints." Ruby said as both her and Jamie set their stuff on the bleachers.
Emma grabbed her water bottle and took a drink before replying, "Just warming up."
"Dude that's not warming up." Jamie said, pulling out her cleats.
"I won't have as much time to practice now that we're back in school so I figured I'd try to get in a workout during lunch." Emma explained. Ruby and Jamie shared a knowing look, that Emma pretended not to notice.
"Emma, no one blames you, you know?" Ruby said softly.
Emma avoided their gazes, and took another sip from her water bottle. She waited a beat before responding. "Well you should... I do."
"Come on Emma, we win as a team, and we lose as a team. It wasn't your fault." Jamie said sincerely.
Emma had heard all this before, and they were right, but she should have been better.
"Yeah I know. But I had the shot. It was right there. Wide open. And I fucked it up. Everyone did what they were supposed to. Except me." Emma said, clearly still upset about it, tossing her water back onto her bag.
"It happens Em, besides I missed two saves, just as much my fault as anyone's." Ruby said.
Emma knew she was right. But she still felt responsible and no one was gunna change her mind. Luckily the other girls started showing up, effectively putting an end to the conversation.
Their first practice back was mostly uneventful. Coach Triton introduced the newbies and the captains, which wasn't a surprise for Emma, since she had been one last year. It was awesome though, that both Ruby and Jamie were named captains as well. The three of them had been mostly inseparable since Jamie moved to Storybrooke in junior high. It didn't hurt that they had become a powerful trifecta of girls high school soccer in Maine, with all three garnering college attention.
"Remember, picture day is next Saturday. Stay hydrated, eat right, because we have a long season ahead of us. I will post the schedule on the website this afternoon. Our first game is against Carson four weeks from Friday. Here are your practice schedules for the rest of August and September. Make sure you come see me if you are struggling in any classes, I don't want to see anyone become ineligible. Coach Sebastian will be back tomorrow, make sure you let him know he was missed. Any questions?" Coach Triton asked.
When no one spoke up Coach Triton dismissed them all and made his way off the field, followed by a number of the other girls heading back up to the locker room, leaving Emma, Ruby, Jamie, and Ashley stretching and talking amongst themselves.
Emma replaced her cleats with her white vans and pulled her phone out of her bag. "Crap." Emma said noting the time. "I gotta go. I told Regina we'd be done by 3."
"Geez Emma relax its only 3:10." Ruby said as she remained sitting in the grass.
"No! I told her I'd meet her up at asb." Emma said throwing her bag over her shoulder and jogging away.
"Your so whipped!" Ruby yelled out, but not causing any reaction from Emma.
"Em, make sure you put your collar on! I'm sure Regina will want to take you for a walk later!" Jamie called out after her. This time it did earn them a reaction. In the form of Emma's middle finger being held up as she continued to jog off the field, as the rest of them laughed out loud.
By the time Emma made it to Regina she was out of breath and very sweaty. But not wanting to be any later, Emma burst through the door.
"Babe sorry I'm la-" Emma froze as she noticed Regina sitting at the head of the table surrounded by the other members of the asb and teachers who were the advisors of the board. All of whom were currently staring at her, various expressions playing out on their faces. Emma didn't look at them long though because the look Regina was giving her was absolutely murderous.
"Emma honey, were almost done. Why don't you go wait in the hall?" Mrs. Nolan said, trying to diffuse the obvious embarrassment both her daughter and Regina were feeling.
Emma chuckled lamely trying to seem nonchalant about the whole encounter.
"Uh ... Yeah... I'm just gunna.." Emma said as she backed quickly out of the room closing the door in front of her.
She couldn't help but feel totally embarrassed. Not to mention Regina was going to be mad at her. Ten agonizingly long minutes later people started coming out of the room. Luckily none of them were stupid enough to try to say anything to her. Except of course Kathryn, who was the last student to file out of the room, and made a cracking the whip sound, then laughed and walked away down the hall.
Emma took a deep breath and re-entered the room. "Regina, I am so sorry. I had no idea you had a meeting."
"It's the first week of school Emma! We've had meetings all week" Regina whispered, not wanting Emma's mother to overhear them arguing.
"Please don't be mad" Emma said wrapping her arms around the other girls waist and giving her the saddest puppy dog eyes she could muster "I was just so excited to come see you I forgot to make sure it was just you in here."
Fortunately for Emma, those puppy dog eyes had been perfected long ago, and Regina was rarely able to resist them. Besides, Emma was the more embarrassed one anyway. That should be punishment enough.
"I don't know why I put up with you." Regina said relenting into Emma's hold.
"Because you love me?" Emma said goofily.
"Mm.. That must be it." Regina said leaning in to give Emma a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Regina, did Emma ask you to come to dinner tomorrow night?" Mrs. Nolan said feeling comfortable enough to interrupt them at this point. "We'd love to hear about your trip."
Regina pulled away from Emma, not being fully comfortable with a lot of PDA in front of people (let alone her girlfriends parents).
"Yes. She did. I'd love to. Thank you." Regina responded in kind.
"Great. Well I'll leave you two to it then. Dinners at 6:00 Emma, and I expect your homework to be done by then."
"How about I finish it before I go to bed tonight?" Emma bargained.
"How about you get it done before dinner?
"How about half before dinner, half after dinner?" Emma tried again.
"Of course she'll have her homework done before dinner. I'll make sure of it." Regina interrupted.
"What?!" Emma said looking all sorts of betrayed. "Excuse me but I don't think you really have a say and plus-"
Regina crossed her arms over her chest and gave Emma a pointed look.
Emma dropped her shoulders and looked at her mom. "I'll have my homework done before dinner." Emma mumbled. Regina beamed.
"Oh I did miss you Regina." Mrs. Nolan said chuckling, before walking out of the room.
"Are we at least even yet?" Emma said once the room was clear.
"I suppose that's agreeable."
"Good." Emma said as she grabbed Regina, picked her up, and set her on the desk kissing her hard.
"Emma stop you're all sweaty!" Regina said pulling Emma in closer and kissing her back harder.
"You like it." Emma said but pulling back from her anyways.
"Sometimes-" Regina admitted, kissing Emma once more before pushing her away and hopping off the table.
Emma just smiled in return. Regina made her way around the room packing up her stuff as she began telling Emma about the meeting. Emma sat in one of the chairs to listen as she pulled out her water bottle and took a large gulp. She felt her phone vibrate and pulled it out of her pocket.
Emma's brow furrowed as she saw it was a text from Whitney. She took another large drink of water as she opened the text.
Immediately Emma choked and sent water flying all over the table. As she took in the sight of Whitney in nothing but her underwear and bra.
"You okay Em?" Regina asked spinning around abruptly to Emma's coughing fit.
"Y-yeah.. W-wrong pipe" Emma wheezed out, as she immediately shoved the phone back into her pocket.
Once Emma finally got her breathing under control Regina continued.
"So will you help me?" Regina asked hopefully.
"Help you?" Emma asked confused... Clearly she had missed something. But there was no way she could tell Regina she wasn't listening. And there was an even slimmer chance she would show Regina the text she just got. So when Regina's face fell slightly Emma couldn't help but say yes and figure out exactly what she was supposed to be helping with later "Uh yeah of course I'll help you."
"Great! Thank you!" Regina said placing a kiss on Emma's cheek. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah yep.. Ready."
By the time Emma got home she was actually starting to freak out. So she did the only thing she could think of and texted Ruby.
E 5:50pm: Dude.. Whitney sent me a very suggestive picture.
R 5:53pm: What seriously?! Let me see!
E 5:53pm: I don't know what to do!
R 5:53pm: Well I can't help u if I don't know what it is ;)
E 5:53pm: ugh fine but you can't show anyone! -download attachment-
R 5:54pm: ooooooommmmmmmmmggggggg! What the fuck?!
E 5:54pm: I know! What do I do? I'm freaking out!
R 5:55pm: ok make sure u get rid of it... U don't want Regina 2 c that
E 5:55pm: deleted now what?
R 5:56pm: now what? Now nothing! It never happened!
E 5:56pm: so I shouldn't tell Regina?
R 5:57pm: r u crazy?! U can't tell her! She'll kill u...then Whitney.. Then u again!
R 5:57pm: plus u just deleted it so u don't have proof
E 5:58pm: you just told me to delete it!
R 5:58pm: sorry I hadn't thought it all the way through, but I'll just send it back 2 u!
E 5:58pm: NO! Don't! Just... hold onto it for now... until I figure out what to do.
R 5:59 pm: alright good idea. U know, Kathryn would probably know what 2 do...
E 5:59pm: wow. Great idea rubes. Let's tell my girlfriends best friend that someone is sending me half naked pictures. That won't be a bad idea at all.
R 5:59pm: ok ok. Just trying 2 help.
E 7:03pm: sorry. Dinner and shit. Yeah dude I don't know what to do.
R 7:45pm: me too... Change ur number? Lol jk
E 7:45pm: you are literally the worst when it comes to advice
R 10:30pm: just sleep on it.. We'll talk about it 2morrow!
Emma tossed her phone down onto her bed sighing as she made her way into the bathroom to brush her teeth. She contemplated things for a little while as she worked on some more homework (that she also never mentioned to Regina), before finally giving up for the night and turning her light off.
"Well it's Friday! Time to pay up!" Kathryn said in an overly chipper voice.
Ruby let out a heavy groan. "You're like the grim reaper this early in the morning..."
"Don't you like... have enough money?" Ruby whined as she continued walking down the hall.
"Actually ... I do... But it's more about winning than it is about the money" Kathryn said holding out her hand.
"Ugh fine... That's over four hours worth of work I hope you know!" Ruby said shoving two twenties in Kathryn's hand.
"Is it? I wouldn't know!" Kathryn said laughing.
"Right... Rich daddy and all." Ruby said with a hint of resentment.
"Oh relax Lucas I was never going to keep your money!" Kathryn said handing the girl back the bills.
"You weren't?" Ruby said brightening up immediately.
"Of course not.. I just wanted you to think I was... Otherwise it doesn't feel like a real bet. I like watching people squirm." Kathryn said voice laced with heavy innuendo.
Ruby's eye brows shot way up as her eyes went comically wide. It wasn't the suggestive comment that surprised her, as she is queen of innuendo, but rather who was giving it.
"You know what? I think we could have been friends in another life." Ruby said.
"Hmm... Perhaps." Kathryn said smirking. "Later Lucas".
"Where the hell are you?!" Regina bellowed over the phone, when she heard Emma click on.
"Huh? Regina? What?" Emma said sleepily checking the clock beside her bed 7:00 am.
"You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago!" I had to set everything up myself! And now the presentation is going to be fifteen minutes late!" Regina yelled through the phone.
"What? Regina, what are you talking about?" Emma asked totally confused.
"You made me look totally incapable!"
"Regina calm down I have no idea what you're talking about" Emma said calmly as she made her way out of bed and started putting on her clothes for the day.
"The presentation you told me you would help me with yesterday! You said you'd help!"
Oh shit. I totally forgot to find out what I was supposed to help her with. "Crap. Regina I'm so sor-"
"Just save it and get your ass down here. The presentation starts in 30 minutes... And don't forget to bring the notebooks with you." Regina said then hung up immediately.
Emma was ready in 5 minutes. Clothes, teeth, hair. Forget the hair, put it up. Backpack. Notebooks. Notebooks... Notebooks... What notebooks? Emma thought to herself. Think...think... Regina said something about.. Notebooks.. What did she say? Fireplace? No... Mom.. Yes definitely something to do with my mom... Extra school supplies... The closet! That's it we have extra notebooks in the closet! Emma ran to the closet, grabbed the extra notebooks in one of the boxes and rushed out to her car immediately.
Finally arriving at the school Emma ran inside as quickly as she could. There weren't too many people here yet as it was only 7:15 but the presentation was still set to start at 7:30 and would probably last until about 8:00 giving them only fifteen minutes to clean everything up before school started.
Regina ripped the notebooks from Emma's hands and began placing one at each chair surrounding the table.
"I can't believe you Emma. I was counting on you to be here." Regina began unable to hold in her anger any longer.
"I know I'm sorry Regina I forgot." Emma said sheepishly.
"It was yesterday Emma! YESTERDAY!" Regina continued. "I don't have time to fight with you right now. Just sit over there and don't say anything. When the Superintendent comes in just shake his hand, tell him how happy you are that he's here, that you look forward to seeing him at some of your soccer games, and that you hope he will support this fundraiser."
The presentation went really well. At least until everyone opened up the notebooks to see passed student work written in them. Emma visibly paled as the vein in Regina's head bulged out further than Emma has ever seen. Regina looked like she was about to explode and Emma knew she had to do something. And even though she was really only there to schmooze the superintendent, she couldn't sit by and let this presentation go to shit.
"Yes that's right! You all thought these notebooks were supposed to be blank. And they would be if we had the funding we needed for basic school supplies. Which is why we so desperately need your support for this fundraiser." Emma said with an unbelievable, yet still believable, air of confidence. Emma looked to Regina with the most apologetic look she could muster. The room was silent for a good ten seconds as Regina just continued to stare at Emma.
Eventually Regina gathered her composure and continued on with the presentation even cracking some jokes about the notebooks in hopes of lightening the mood. The rest of the presentation went by without a hitch and Emma let out a big sigh of relief when she heard the Superintendent congratulating Regina on such a well thought out plan and that she can definitely count on the districts support.
When the Superintendent left Regina turned sharply to Emma. "You have so much explaining to do!"
Emma visibly gulped but was literally saved by the bell.
"Just leave it." Regina said as she grabbed her books and bag, "I'll clean it up later, I don't want to be late for class."
They made their way out of the room together and towards their first class. "That was a disaster!" Regina exclaimed playing back the presentation in her head.
"It wasn't that bad Regina.. We figured it out!" Emma said trying to calm down her girlfriend. They rounded the corner and entered their classroom.
"We wouldn't of had to figure it out if you would have just done it right the first time!" Regina exclaimed taking her seat, causing the room to go silent and stare at them with smirks on their faces.
Emma looked confused until she realized that none of them had any idea what they were talking about. "She wasn't talking about that! Just go about your business." Emma said to the few students in the room already.
Regina for her part just stared straight ahead trying not to pay Emma any attention, even though she was currently still standing directly in front of Regina's desk.
Not knowing what else to say Emma leaned down and whispered an apology before trying to place a kiss on Regina's cheek. Regina however, moved out of the way, causing Emma to snap her head back. Trying to ignore the few oohs she heard at Regina's dismissal. Emma moved back and looked at Regina slightly shocked and a little bit angry. "Fine." Emma said before moving to sit behind Regina with a huff.
Emma looked over to Ruby who mouthed, "what happened?"
Emma shook her head and threw her hands up.
"Fight?" Ruby mouthed again.
Emma shook her head again in the affirmative before turning back to the front glaring at the back of Regina's head.
She was too angry to see Ruby lean forward towards Kathryn and say, "I hope you know I only lost that bet by 15 minutes."