Regina woke with her head on Emma's chest and their legs tangled together, a familiar position for them.

"Emma," Regina whispered, nudging the girl's shoulder. "It's time to get up. You've got class."

When Emma didn't stir, she pressed her lips against the nape of the girl's neck. When this didn't earn a response beyond a slight shift, Regina kissed the spot again, this time dragging her tongue a short distance along the skin there.

"Em-ma," she cooed, stroking the blonde's cheek. "Wakey wakey."

Finally, Emma's eyes fluttered open with a soft moan.

"Gina?"

"Yes, love. You need to get up now."

"After that?"

"I had to wake you somehow. You sleep like a rock."

Emma chuckled at this, gently easing Regina onto her side in order to sit up in bed. Then, her expression faded as she looked over at her partner, who was starting to sit up as well.

As soon as Regina noticed, she asked, "What is it?"

"I don't know…" Emma told her slowly. "I guess I just… I don't know. It's weird to wake up with you again, pretending nothing happened."

"Listen, Em… I'm sorry. I—"

"No, wait. Regina… I just… It's just… It feels weird… that you slept in her bed…"

"Oh, Emma… It wasn't like that. I was just trashed, and she was only trying to—"

"Don't. It's okay. You don't have to explain. It just feels weird is all."

"Emma, nothing happened."

"I know!" the blonde snapped. "I know. I'm not mad, okay? Just… I don't know."

With a sigh, Regina dropped her gaze.

"I love you," Emma told her, lifting her chin. "It doesn't matter, okay?"

"It matters. You're hurt," Regina said, then quickly added, "And I love you too."

"So are you. You felt like I was trying to control you. You felt trapped. I'd never mean to make you feel that way."

"I know, Emma. I know."

"How'd it go?"

"Actually… It went really well. She loved the painting. Called it 'insightful,' even."

"Holy shit, Em! Insightful? That's awesome!" Regina cried, rushing towards her lover with her arms open.

Emma welcomed her with surprised eyes but a warm embrace.

"I, um… I mean… It's not really a big deal…"

"It is," Regina corrected her. "I am very proud of you."

With a blush rising to her cheeks, Emma looked away and loosened her grip around Regina's torso. Her lover lifted her chin though, not allowing her to avoid her eyes.

"I love you, Emma. I truly am proud of you."

"You don't have to say that," Emma countered quickly, pulling away.

"I know I don't. I'm saying it because it's true, and I want you to know."

"It wasn't that impressive."

"I loved it, to be honest."

"Wait, what?"

"I, uh… I sort of… peeked…"

"Regina!" Emma shouted. "Seriously?"

"Why would you hide it, babe? It was beautiful…"

"I didn't want you to see it."

"But why?"

"Because… Because it was going to be a gift… for your birthday, next month, once I got it back from Ms. Diamond."

"Oh, Emma! You're so sweet," Regina cried, pulling her lover back into a tight hug. "But why did you decide to paint me?"

"I just… I paint what I love, I guess…" the blonde muttered, looking down but returning the embrace.

"You are an absolute sweetheart."

"I'm really not."

"The sweetest girl I've ever met," the brunette replied. "I am so in love with you."

When Regina's lips touched her cheek, Emma's blush returned.

"I'm not sweet."

"Oh, hush, you," Regina chuckled, ruffling Emma's curls.

"I missed this," Emma sighed, pressing her cheek to her lover's. "I missed you. I'm so sorry that I got so upset. I do trust you to make your own decisions, Regina. I just get scared. I want to protect you from any harm. But I know now that that's not my job."

"You're right. Your job is to love me, support me, and tell me when you're concerned. My job is to love you just as much and listen to your concerns."

"l can do that."

"Thank you, darling."

"Anyway," Emma said. "How was your day, honey?"

"It was alright. Nothing special."

"How'd your photography portfolio presentation go over?"

"It went well."

"Let me guess: A+?"

Blushing, Regina nodded her head reluctantly.

"Proud of you, honey," Emma told her with a smile. "So proud." After sitting down next to Regina on her bed, the blonde added, "C'mere, kiddo," and wrapped an arm around her lover.

Smiling softly at the gesture, Regina leaned in and pressed her lips to Emma's. The kiss burned slowly, growing in intensity with each passing moment, until Emma had to beak away for air.

"Regina," she said breathlessly. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm? Yeah. I'm fine. Come back here."

Gently, Regina tugged the girl closer and caught her lips again. When Emma moved to pull away again, she held the girl still by cupping the back of her neck. The kiss continued for several moments before Regina pushed Emma back against the wall and straddled her lap, without breaking their lips apart.

"Regina," Emma tried again, surprised by her lover's sudden forwardness.

"Hey, um… Emma… Would you… Can I… Can I read that piece of fanfiction you were writing a while ago?"

Emma burst out laughing at this, and once she'd caught her breath, she asked, "I mean, I guess so. But why are you asking that now?"

"I dunno… I just… You said it was smutty, and I…"

"You…?"

"Like I told you… I've never read fanfiction or any erotica… I guess I'm just… uh… curious…"

If it was possible, Emma's eyes widened further, but eventually, she snapped out of her stupor and reached for her laptop, which was on her desk in front of the bed. After opening it and finding the document, she handed the computer to Regina and watched as the girl began to read after moving off her lap. The further along Regina got, the wider her eyes became, and soon, she was feeling the same surprise that Emma had been. Instead of looking at Emma when she was finished, Regina simply lifted her head and stared at the wall briefly.

"Well…?" Emma asked curiously, noting the girl's blank expression.

"Oh. I. Um…"

"Gross, right?"

"Actually… Uh…" Regina started, then swallowed hard. "It… It was kind of… hot."

"Oh?" Emma asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah…"

"You're blushing."

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are," the blonde argued, poking Regina's cheeks at the same time. "Cutie. Are you embarrassed?"

"Of course not!"

"No?"

"No. I just… Um…"

"Cat got your tongue?"

"No! I just… feel… warm."

"I think you mean 'turned on,'" Emma laughed, taking the laptop back, closing it, and placing it on the desk.

"Hey, shut up. It's just… just writing…"

"Yeah, but you liked it."

Blushing brighter, Regina looked away.

"Aww, honey," Emma giggled, slowly stroking the girl's thigh. "It's okay."

Already made sensitive by the explicit, erotic words Emma had written, Regina shivered.

"Do you want help with that, baby?" Emma teased, sliding her hand further up her lover's thigh.

"What do you mean?"

"Come here. I'll show you."

When Regina scooted closer, Emma caught her lips in a messy kiss, their teeth crashing together roughly. Soon, Emma's hands were wandering, moving from the girl's hips up to her breasts, then slowly unbuttoning her blouse. Once her bra was exposed, Regina returned Emma's favor by taking off the blonde's paint-speckled tank top.

"Do you want me to make love to you?" Emma whispered, after removing Regina's bra and unclasping the buttons of her slacks.

Regina couldn't speak. Instead, she nodded her head slowly and licked her lips. In response, Emma tugged the girl's pants down, then wiggled out of her own and straddled the brunette's hips. After several minutes of hot, wet kissing and heavy petting, their hands exploring each other's bodies, they both managed to get out of their panties, leaving them naked in each other's arms.

"Are you ready?" Emma husked, stroking her lover's hair back out of her face.

"Y-Yes."

With a confident nod, Emma reached between Regina's legs and began to slide her fingers between the girl's soaked folds, savoring the slickness she found there.

"Fuck. You're so fucking wet," the blonde commented happily, pressing her fingertips lightly against her lover's clit.

"Em-ma," Regina whimpered, body jerking from the sudden stimulation of her most sensitive organ. When the girl pulled her fingers away, Regina stammered, "D-Don't tease me."

"Why not? You tease me."

"B-Because… Because I… I need you…"

"Need me to what?"

"Emma!"

"Yes, love?"

Emma was smirking triumphantly as she stared lovingly into Regina's dark eyes, and it served to both embarrass and infuriate the other girl.

"Stop it. Just…"

"Just what?"

"Just fuck me!"

Then, Emma's expression suddenly changed, melting into one of tender affection as she rubbed her thumb over Regina's cheek.

"I think… I think I'd rather make love to you right now."

It wasn't their usual method. By default, their sex was intense and rough. Not emotionless, though. Never emotionless. It was always filled with passion and adoration. They worshiped each other. But in this moment, Emma needed something else. She needed tenderness. She needed it—

"Slow and steady?" she asked, her eyes full of love as her hands slid down the soft skin over Regina's ribs.

When the girl nodded, Emma smiled slightly and pushed two fingers into Regina's entrance and curled them slowly. As soon as Regina felt Emma's fingers curling within her, instantly hitting her G-spot without need for adjustment, her hips lifted involuntarily, pushing Emma deeper.

"That it, baby?" Emma purred, curling her fingers again. "There?"

"Mhmm," Regina hummed. "There."

In response, Emma continued to curl her fingers slowly, steadily, as she leaned in and pressed her lips to Regina's, carefully pulling the girl's bottom lip into her mouth and sucking it gently.

Regina whimpered at the erotic, tender touch of Emma's lips against hers and returned the kiss eagerly. Feeling the brunette's intense desperation as she continued to kiss her and curl her fingers with calculated movements, Emma slowed the kissed purposefully, using her free hand to hold herself up. But Regina needed her closer. Needed Emma to melt into her. To stay in her forever. So she pulled hard on the girl's hips, pressing them against her own, squishing Emma's hand into an uncomfortable bent position between them.

"Shh," Emma hushed her. "Easy, champ."

Pulling away slowly, Emma relaxed the muscles in her wrist to relieve the discomfort of the angle they'd just been bent into, then curled her fingers inside Regina's core once more, stroking the wall of her sex in just the right place to make the girl cry out.

"Em!"

"Yeah, baby."

Then, Regina was dragging her nails down Emma's bare back, all the way down over her ass, making Emma's body jerk too. This time, the brunette pushed Emma's hips further away, then moved her own hand between them.

"Emma," she whispered, slipping her fingers between Emma's folds.

Once she felt how wet Emma was too, Regina pushed two fingers into the girl's entrance, burying them deeply until she was knuckle-deep in Emma's cunt.

"Fuck," Emma gasped. "Gina."

Regina just kissed her hungrily in reply, but kept the kiss slow, letting it burn steadily, lighting them both on fire.

"God, I fucking love you," Emma sighed, rocking her hips against her lover's hand as she pressed her own harder against Regina's core.

Carefully, the blonde rubbed the palm of her hand in little circles over Regina's clit as she curled her fingers. This happened a few times before Regina stopped pushing her fingers in and out of Emma's cunt and stopped to leave them inside, curling them just as Emma was doing to her.

"Oh, shit," Emma cursed, her eyes falling shut.

As soon as they closed, though, Emma opened them again, realizing quickly that she needed to see the look on Regina's face as they made love.

"That's it, babe," Regina urged her lover, squeezing Emma's ass with her free hand. "Just like that."

Encouraged by Regina's words, Emma kept up her movements until Regina started to breathe heavily and let out little gasps of surprise and pleasure as her lover began to stroke the inside of her walls harder and more persistently.

"Fuck, I'm close," the desperate brunette confessed breathlessly, pulling Emma closer until their sweat-soaked foreheads were pressed together.

"Uuugh. Baby," Emma moaned, feeling the fire of Regina's touch inside her. "Me too."

"I love you."

"I love you too, princess," the blonde replied. Then, her body jerking as she reached her peak with one stroke of Regina's fingers against her clit, she gasped, "Cum with me, baby."

"Oh, God. Fuck. That's it. Right—Ah!—Fuck. Just like—Shit!"

"Ah!" Emma shouted, thrusting against Regina's hand, which had switched its tactic to rubbing Emma's clit rapidly in small circles.

The blonde mirrored her lover's movements with her fingers, making Regina cry out again.

"Fuck, Emma! Yes!"

"I'm—I'm gonna—" Emma gasped. Then, "Fuck!"

Regina screamed as Emma thrust three fingers in one last time, hard and fast, filling her exactly the way she needed to be filled, and Emma swore again as they both came hard, their walls squeezing the fingers inside them.

"God, that was good," Regina sighed, closing her eyes as her head fell back on her pillow, once the fluttering had stopped and they were both completely spent.

Emma just nodded and relaxed on top of her lover, breathing heavily on Regina's neck.

"Stop it!" Regina cried with a laugh. "That tickles!"

With a grin, Emma leaned in and bit down hard, making Regina jump.

"Ouch!" she laughed, trying to push Emma away, but the girl was persistent and kissed the bite mark passionately, sucking on the skin there until it was red and Regina was moaning. "S-Stop, honey."

Sticking her lower lip out in an obvious, exaggerated pouting expression, Emma whimpered and nuzzled the girl's neck.

This earned a full laugh from Regina, who stroked her lover's long blonde hair back and out of her face.

After a moment of quiet as Emma relaxed, the blonde asked, "What would you do if I cut my hair?"

"What?"

"If I cut my hair short. What would you do?"

"Nothing. It's your hair…"

"But…?"

"But… I'd be a little sad, I guess…"

"Why?"

"I'd have less to pull on when I fuck you."

Blushing, Emma buried her face back in her lover's warm neck and giggled.

"I love you, goober," Regina chuckled, turning her head to kiss Emma's cheek.

"Emma? What's wrong?" Regina asked anxiously, dropping her bag on the floor of the dorm as soon as she saw Emma sitting at her desk crying.

"I… I…" the girl tried, but choked on a sob.

"It's gonna be okay, honey," the brunette assured her, kneeling next to her chair and taking her hands. "Tell me what happened."

"I f-failed my f-final d-drawing project."

"Oh shit…"

This reaction only served to further upset Emma, and as distraught as she was, she found herself unable to say more.

Regina quickly tried to back-peddle, saying, "Fuck. I'm sorry, Emma. It's okay, really. We'll—"

"I b-bombed Art History too," the blonde stammered. "F-Forty t-two on my f-final."

Lips parting, Regina squeezed her lover's hands and stared at her, unsure of what to say. Two out of four classes… She was going to fail out completely.

"Emma… It's… It's going to be okay…" Regina tried, rubbing the backs of Emma's hands with her thumbs.

But Emma pulled away quickly, covering her face with her hands as she let out another body-shaking sob.

"I'm sure you could… re-take the classes next semester. They'll let you—"

"T-This semester was my l-last chance to p-pull up my grades. Without a B average, I'll fail out."

"Oh, Emma…"

"I'm done."

"I'm sure you could talk to your professors and—"

"No. This was my last chance, Gina. I'm done."

At a loss for any helpful words, Regina simply wrapped her arms around Emma and allowed her to cry into her shoulder. Emma clung to her in return, not letting go until the sobs had finally stopped and she'd steadied her breathing.

"I'm sorry," Regina told the girl. "I didn't realize. I would've helped you. I would've—"

"I hate school, Regina. I hate it. I love art, but I hate being critiqued for every little brush stroke. Everyone lies and says I'm talented to motivate me, but I keep producing poor quality work, and—"

"Your work is not poor quality! You just forget to turn in half of it and refuse to study!"

Face flooding with hot, red anger, Emma scowled at Regina and spat, "Whatever."

"Fuck. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, Em. I just—"

"Stop. Just stop."

"Emma. Really, I—"

"That's enough. I'm going to pack."

Pulling away from her lover's arms, Emma rose to her feet and opened the top drawer of her dresser. As soon as she started to pull some items from the drawer, though, Regina stood and grabbed her arm, carefully pulling her back.

"Stop!" Emma cried, jerking her arm away. "I don't even care about school! It doesn't matter! I don't need a degree to become a good artist."

"You're right. You don't. And you are a good artist, Emma. You are very talented. Your work is amazing, and everyone knows it. And besides, if you didn't care about school, you wouldn't be crying."

Freezing in place, Emma stared at Regina seriously and countered, "I don't care about school. I care about having to leave you."

Regina's eyes widened at Emma's confession, and after a moment of silence, she stepped forward and braved a stolen kiss. Before Emma could pull away, Regina gripped her wrist to hold her still and kept their lips together. The blonde hesitated but eventually kissed the girl back, and as soon as she did, Regina threaded her fingers through Emma's long blonde locks of hair.

"I love you," Regina whispered. "It's going to be okay."

"How? How is this going to be okay?"

"I'll get an apartment on campus. I'll—"

"Neither of us have money for that."

"I'll make it work. I'll get a job and—"

"No. I'll get a job. I'll waitress at the Rabbit Hole. I'll take care of you. I'll—"

"Oh, Emma," the brunette sighed, pulling her lover into her arms. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Emma sniffled, nuzzling the girl's neck. "Will you really get an apartment with me?"

"Yes, of course. That was the plan anyway, before… you know… before the funding ran out."

"Yeah?"

Regina chuckled, "Yeah. I kinda hate the dorms," and kissed Emma's cheek.

"Me too. Except that you're here."

"We'll make this work, Emma. I'm just worried about your education."

"My education?" Emma laughed. "I'll be fine. I'll just paint houses for a living."

"Oh, hush. You will not."

"Sure I will."

"No, you will not waste your talent like that."

Emma paused, looking deeply into Regina's eyes. She was serious.

"Thank you, Regina."

With a shrug, Regina replied, "No worries, babe. We'll be okay."

After returning from her evening shower, Regina found Emma sitting on the bed facing the small TV holding a console controller in her hand.

"What ya doin'?" Regina asked, smiling lightly at the adorable, highly focused expression on Emma's face.

"Video games," Emma mumbled, not tearing her eyes away from the screen. "Might as well."

"Emma…"

Then, Emma looked up from the screen after pausing the game and asked, "What?"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't, okay? It's fine. I kinda knew this would happen," the blonde huffed. "I mean… Obviously, I tried to avoid the inevitable, but—"

When Regina sat down beside her lover on the bed and wrapped her arms around the girl, the rest of Emma's words got stuck in her throat, choked down by a sudden sob.

"Oh, Emma," Regina said sweetly, stroking the girl's beautiful locks of hair. "It'll be alright. We'll get by."

"I hate myself."

"What?"

"I hate myself, Gina. I hate that I can't even pass a class that's not Painting."

"You can, Emma."

"But I didn't."

"Em… It's okay. It's—"

"Don't. Just stop. It's over for me here, and that's that," Emma sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I need to just get the fuck over it."

"You don't need to just 'get the fuck over it.' It's perfectly okay to be upset. I know how much this hurts you. How much you wanted to pass."

"And I failed. I'm a loser."

"You are not a loser!"

"I am! You're over there getting a perfect 4.0 grade average, and I literally failed out of school."

"You haven't failed out yet. You could still—"

"No. Not without passing those final projects. There's only a few small quizzes and assignments left for those classes. There is mathematically no way for me to pass now. I'm done."

"I'm so sorry, Emma. I wish I could help. If there was anything I could do—"

"Well, there's not. So let's just stop, alright? Let's just… I don't know. I want to forget about this. I want… I want to go out. Let's go out, okay? Let's get super hammered and—"

"No. I'm not going to let you deal with your problems by drinking or doing drugs."

"I didn't say I was going to use drugs, and even if I was, it wouldn't be up to you."

"Well isn't that the most hypocritical thing you've ever said to me!" Regina cried. "Are you fucking serious?"

Emma nearly jumped back, startled by the girl's severe, angered reaction. She realized quickly the implications of what she'd said and blushed from embarrassment.

"Sorry," she mumbled, looking down at the controller in her hands to shut down the gaming console and turn off the television.

With a heavy sigh, Regina pushed her hand through her hair and said, "It's fine. Anyway, you're right. Do what you want. But I'm not going with you."

Looking up, Emma but her lip and met Regina's gaze. Her eyes were sad and dark, and they made Emma feel guilty. Still, the urge to become intoxicated was nearly overwhelming, despite how badly she wanted to impress her lover and keep herself in a positive light.

"Gina…"

"Yes?" the brunette replied, still looking melancholy.

"I really need to drink. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to, Em. Just… Just relax with me, okay? Let's go get some pizza and—"

"You hate pizza."

"Yeah, but—"

"Please, give me a pass tonight. I feel like shit. And I really can't handle it. I just need to block it out for a little while before I finish packing."

"Babe… Don't leave."

"Please, just let me go out. Come with me."

"I meant don't move out yet. At least not until the end of the semester. We've only got a couple weeks left."

"There's no point in staying," Emma sighed. "Going to class won't do me any good now."

"No point? Really, Emma?"

"What?"

"What about me? What about us? Don't you want to stay with me?"

"Oh. Shit. Of course I do, Regina… It's just going to be hard to stay here without… without finishing, you know?"

With a slow nod of understanding, Regina lowered her head and mumbled, "Go out if you want to. I won't stop you. But I'm not going."

"Come on, Gina… Please?"

"I don't want to get drunk, okay? I'm upset too, and—"

"This isn't about you! You're going to graduate like the perfect little student you are, and I failed out like the loser I am. So don't tell me you're upset."

"I'm sorry. I just meant—"

"I'm going, okay?"

"Emma…"

"What?"

"Please, be safe…"

Emma paused, then answered, "I won't go overboard. I just need something to take the edge off, alright? It's okay if you don't want to go. I shouldn't have pressured you. I'm sorry. I should let Belle know anyway…"

"I guess you're right. Seriously, though. Be safe. I'll be right here waiting for you when you get home."

The blonde laughed at this, responding, "You'll be passed out like a baby when I get back."

"Depends on how late you stay out," Regina quipped, her words a subtle warning. "Anyway, if I fall asleep, just wake me up and let me know you're okay, please. Just… so I know you're safe."

"I'm not going to wake you, Gina. You need your rest. You have class early tomorrow." Sighing, Regina shrugged her shoulders before Emma added, "I'll text you when I'm on the way back."

"Alright. Be safe, babe."

With that, Regina kissed her lover on the lips and gently nudged her over to her dresser. Emma changed into a tightly-fitting pair of denim shorts and a tank top before giving Regina one last kiss and leaving the dorm.

"Hey, Belle," Emma said into the receiver of her cell phone, as soon as the call was answered.

"Yo. What's up?"

"You wanna crash a party?"

"Um, obviously. But what about your lady?"

"What about her?"

"Is she coming with?"

"Would that be a problem…?" Emma asked, her tone hinting to Belle that she should be careful with her answer.

"No! No, of course not. I didn't mean that. I just meant… Wouldn't she be pissed?"

"She said I could go out."

"Seriously? After everything?"

"Yeah. I, um… I have to tell you something."

"Okay. What's up?"

"Can I tell you in person, please?"

Sensing Emma's sudden shift into seriousness, Belle replied, "Of course, honey. Come on over. I'll be ready in five."

"Liar," Emma laughed. "You know damn well I'll be standing there waiting on you for twenty minutes or more."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatevs. Just get your ass over here."

Belle knew that if Emma hadn't been able to tell her what was wrong over the phone, it must have been serious, so as soon as the blonde stepped through the door of her apartment, she threw her arms around the girl and rubbed her back gently.

"Alright, darlin'," Belle said gently, taking one step back but leaving her hands on her friend's shoulders. "What's going on?"

"I… I need a few drinks first…"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Emma shrugged, saying, "Probably not. But it's a necessary idea."

Biting her lip with concern, Belle nodded her head in understanding.

Twenty-five minutes later, they were ready to leave the apartment. As soon as they arrived at the party, Emma downed two shots and grabbed Belle's hand, pulling the girl out onto the dance floor.

"Emma—" Belle tried, but the blonde shook her head and pulled her in close.

Belle sighed, but quickly relaxed as Emma started to dance with her. She was okay. Right?

She tried to stop Emma from grabbing two more shots of rum, but the girl pushed her hand away when Belle tried to take them from her and quickly downed those too. Emma savored the burn as the liquid went down, and shortly after, she was enjoying the light buzz the alcohol provided.

"Your turn," Emma announced, pushing a shot glass into Belle's hand, spilling some of the liquid over the side of the glass and onto the floor.

"I'm alright. I think I should just kind of… stay sober and make sure you don't—"

But Emma insisted, "Neck up, loser. Don't be a pussy."

"I'm not!" the brunette cried. "But you're obviously planning to get out of control, so I need to be able to hold your hair back when you start puking."

"One more," Emma pressed, reaching for another shot. When Belle tried to stop her again, after downing her own shot, the blonde said, "One more. I'm fine. I'm hardly buzzed. You know I'm not a lightweight."

"Fine," Belle sighed, allowing the girl one last shot before dragging her away from the bottle. "That's it though."

With a shrug, Emma pulled her friend back onto the dance floor, her moves quickly becoming sloppier than before as they danced.

As soon as the last of the alcohol finally hit her, she stumbled into her dance partner, who quickly caught her and prevented the fall.

"Alright. Time to sit down," Belle announced, gently pushing Emma towards the closest empty loveseat.

As soon as she was sitting, Emma dropped her head into her hands and started to sob. This startled Belle, and the brunette quickly wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulder and pulled her in close.

"What's wrong, honey?" she asked. When Emma's sobs grew louder and it became obvious that she was having trouble speaking, Belle urged her, "Talk to me, darlin'."

"I'm failing out!" the blonde cried loudly, her voice carrying over the music so that her companion could hear her.

"Oh, fuck," Belle gasped.

"I know!"

"Holy shit, Em. I'm so sorry… I know how much you love it here, and—"

"Shut up! I hate school," Emma snapped. "You know that."

Belle chuckled lightly at this, rubbing her friend's back gently as she countered, "And you know that's a lie."

This made Emma cry harder as she asked, "What the fuck am I gonna do now?"

"You're gonna keep painting, Em. You're not gonna give up. School isn't everything. You've always said that."

"It is if I ever want a job!"

"Be honest. Have you ever really wanted a job?"

The blonde lifted her head and looked at her friend with sad eyes. Belle reached out and carefully wiped her tears with her thumbs.

After a long pause, Emma replied, "I guess not…"

"You're here because you love art, Emma. Because you want to learn new techniques, improve your skills, and hone your talent."

"What talent?" the blonde asked bitterly, pushing Belle's hands away to wipe her own eyes again.

"Emma, stop it. You know you're talented. You're amazing. That's why you got in here. That's why you excel when you try."

"I do not."

"Of course you do. Every project you've ever cared about, you've aced."

"Shut up."

"It's true, Em. You just struggle really hard with things you're not interested in, and that's why you've had trouble here."

It took a moment for Emma to realize the truth of Belle's words, but when she did, she replied, "Thank you, Belle… What you just said means… It means everything to me…"

"You know, your girl feels the same way about you."

"Yeah, I know. But she's biased," Emma laughed lightly.

Belle just smiled at her, reaching around to rub her back again.

"I love you, Em."

"I love you too."

"You're gonna be okay, champ."

Again, there was a pause before Emma spoke again.

Then, she asked, "You wanna know something kinda crazy?"

"Of course I do. Tell me all the freaky things you two do. I've been waiting to hear that shit forever," Belle teased, grinning at her friend.

"Oh, my God. Shut up. You are such an ass," the blonde laughed, shoving Belle's shoulder. "I'm being serious."

The smile faded from Belle's lips as she said, "Alright. My bad. I'm sorry. Go ahead and tell me. I'll be chill."

"I kinda wish I hadn't messed things up with Ruby."

"You didn't. It was a mutual misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? We were douchebags to each other."

"Okay… Maybe so. Either way, it was mutual. You both had a hand it. It definitely wasn't all you."

"Well, it doesn't matter whose fault it is now. She'll never speak to me again."

"You don't know that."

"Sure I do."

"Okay, smartass. How?"

"Because… Um…"

"Oh, my God, Belle," Emma gaped. "Did you talk to her?"

"Of course I talked to her! We're all friends, remember? I wasn't gonna bail on Ruby just because you two were fighting. You were, as you said, both being douchebags."

"I never expected you to stop being her friend. I meant, did you really talk to her about me."

"Oh. Sorry. Uh… Well… No… Not exactly."

"What do you mean 'not exactly?'"

"She started it."

"I don't care who started it! Why were you two talking about me?" the blonde snapped, feeling quite a bit more sober than she had been when the conversation had started. "Wait… She brought it up?" When Belle bit her lip and didn't reply, Emma pressed, "Belle. What did she say?"

"You know I can't tell you that," Belle sighed, pushing her hair back.

"Why the fuck not?"

"Because I wouldn't tell her anything you've said either."

This, Emma could understand, so she huffed, "Fine. Whatever."

"All I can say is that I doubt she'll never talk to you again, okay?"

"Okay. I mean, I can't really believe you without knowing what she said, but… ya know."

"Emma, stop it. Don't be a dick. I can't tell you."

"Belle!"

"Stop! Jesus Christ. You know something, Em? You really are obnoxious. Drunk or not."

Emma's smile faded slowly into a warm smile as she replied, "You love me."

Rolling her eyes, Belle hugged the girl tightly and told her, "Of course I do. I always will." Then, after wiping the tears from her friend's eyes again, she said, "You're going to get through this. It might be hard, but you will. You don't need school to be successful. Yes, it makes life easier, but it's not everything."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because my parents refuse to back me as an artist without a formal education," Belle laughed. "But anyway. I'm serious. You're gonna be alright."

"Regina wants to get an apartment together next year."

"That's great, Em!"

"No. It's not. Because neither of us can afford it."

"It'll all work out, honey." Then, as her eyes scanned the large room, Belle said, "Ohhh, shit."

"What?" Emma blurted quickly, her hear jerking in the direction that her friend was staring.

Of course, at the worst, most ironic moment possible, she saw Ruby standing on the other side of the room, with her hand on the hip of a girl Emma didn't know. Probably a freshman, Emma noted, but she couldn't tear her eyes away. For some reason, finding out that she was failing out of school was making her reconsider most of her life choices, including being so harsh with Ruby. Before she managed to look away, Ruby saw her.

"Emma, don't-" Belle started, gripping the girl's hand, but Emma was already on her feet.

If Belle said that Ruby might talk to her again, why not try now? It wasn't like she'd see her around campus anymore. Emma was sure that she wouldn't be spending much time there after she left. She didn't have the gall to show her face at a school she failed out of. Might as well try making up with her now, while I have the chance, Emma was thinking. Then again… I could end up making things worse…

Still, she didn't stop walking towards the brunette, even when her other friend called out her name. Belle was probably right to caution her against jumping right into a conversation with Ruby while she was buzzed and Ruby was probably drunk, but Emma didn't care.

At first, when she reached Ruby, who had looked away before Emma had started to walk towards her, Emma paused awkwardly, not having planned exactly what to say.

It came out pathetically in a small, "Hey," that Ruby didn't even hear.

But Ruby saw her standing there out of the corner of her eye and quickly turned around when she noticed the girl's presence.

"What do you want?" the brunette snapped.

Emma blushed, but replied, "N-Nothing. I just—"

"Can't you see I'm a little busy?"

Sighing, Emma replied, "Yeah, I see. Busy trying to get laid, like always."

"Did you come over here to make comments about my sex life? Because last I checked, you're the slut."

This stung, even though it hadn't really the first few times Ruby had said it, so Emma looked away.

When Ruby saw the pain and disappointment on Emma's face – the girl was unable to hide it – she pressed, "Well? What do you want?"

"Can we, um… just… talk? For a minute?"

Ruby stared at her, blinking a few times before speaking.

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Alright. Well… Maybe you could just listen?"

Emma's voice sounded small, and Ruby wasn't used to this, so it caught her off guard and intrigued her enough to turn back to her younger companion and say, "I gotta deal with this, okay? I'll find you later. Don't get too drunk without me."

Then, Ruby watched as Emma looked down and shoved her hands into her pockets.

"I'm listening," the brunette said firmly, crossing her arms.

Ruby's aggressiveness was off-putting and made Emma nervous, but she knew she had to speak, so she forced herself to say, "I'm failing out."

Starting blankly, hardly believing the girl's words, Ruby remained quiet for a while, before she finally said, "What do I care?"

Sighing, Emma replied, "You probably don't. I guess I just wanted you to know that you probably won't see me around much after the next couple weeks, if at all. Maybe you'll be happier that way, though. Anyway…" She swallowed hard before squeezing out her next words, "I'm sorry. I was a complete dickhead. And you're right, Ruby. I am a slut."

Again, the blonde felt herself getting choked up, and Ruby wasn't replying, so she started to turn around. Might as well quit before I make it worse, she figured. At least she knows now. But Ruby grabbed her arm quickly and jerked her back.

"You're not a slut." As much as she hated it, Emma couldn't keep the tears from filling her eyes, and a few of them dripped down her cheek before Ruby added, "I'm sorry too. I never should have said that. I just… wanted to hurt you…"

"It worked," Emma croaked, reaching up to quickly wipe the evidence of her pain from her eyes.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. God, I'm such a fuck. I don't know why I always do this to the people I love."

Love.

"Love?"

"Yes, love, you idiot!" As Emma stared at her, Ruby asked, "Why did you think I reacted that way? I'm fucking in love with you."

Everything in the room faded away. The roar of drunken conversations and loud music blended into each other and were tuned out. Emma's face went white.

"Fuck," she breathed. "I never thought you actually…"

"Yeah, well. I was a dipshit for falling for you. I don't really think you're a slut, Emma, but damn do you get around. I just thought…when we started… you know… getting a little… uh… crazy… in the bedroom… that we had something special. I stupidly thought I was different, and I was wrong. And that hurt, so I lashed out at you."

"And Regina."

"Yeah." Then, Ruby confessed, "I was jealous. I am jealous."

"I'm… I'm sorry, Ruby. I mean, it was obvious that you were jealous of the attention I was giving her, but I didn't know you were… in love with me…"

"Yeah, well… I wish I wasn't."

"Me too. Because I don't want to hurt you. I was an asshole to you. And obviously… I also broke your heart in the process. But I swear I didn't mean to do that. I don't want to lose you as a friend, Ruby."

"I can't, Emma," Ruby sighed. "I just can't be near you and be okay. I'll never be able to look at her and not want to punch her fucking lights out. And I'll never be able to look at you and not picture you fucking me."

Emma nodded slowly, saying, "I understand. Anyway, my failing out should make things easier on you. You'll be able to forget about me."

"I could never forget about you, Emma. Not ever."