Life had been going well for Emma Swan recently. She had finally found a loving family who supported and helped her get her life back on track. After being in care for the first seventeen years of her life, Emma, had practically given up on any chance of bettering herself. Now the charming's had given her a new chance. The first thing they encouraged her to do was to earn her high school diploma. She was already at the point in which she only had to pass the final three subjects before she graduated. This allowed Mary, her adoptive mother, to give her specialised support in those subjects and eventually help her apply to college. Despite not fully believing in herself, Emma, accepted a place at college, just a two hour drive from Storybooke. She was now officially half way through her course and she was finally able to see an end in which she had earned her degree and possibly found a way into further education or a career that she enjoyed and wanted to be in for her entire life.
She had to admit that moving away from Storybooke for college was the best option for her. She was officially proving to everyone including herself she could look after herself. She was budgeting well enough to move into a student flat with Ruby, who had also moved away from Storybooke for college. The two girls were the same age and made the move together, while they may not have gotten on when they were back home they became very close during road trips back home in their first year. Between the two they were pretty competent to run a house and start a rumour or two.
Back in Storybrooke people were starting to talk about the friendship and coming up with theories that the girls had started a relationship. Although the reality was very different, people had different opinions and they weren't afraid to voice them. For a start Emma's parents were supportive, asking her repeatedly whenever they saw her. Choruses of 'Emma, you know we'd support you no matter what,' and 'oh Ruby's a great young lady, are you sure you're just friends,' were now a reliable fixture of Sunday dinners and family walks. As much as she hated it, she couldn't help but feel for Ruby who had their friendship thrown in her face from her grandmother repeatedly. While she was clear that she didn't have an issue with Ruby not being straight, she did have an issue with 'bad influence' Emma Swan.
This didn't stop the two being as thick as thieves especially during college parties. They didn't often go to them, swapping them out for a night in, a bottle of wine and Netflix, but it didn't mean they didn't enjoy a good night out. In their first year they were at parties nearly every weekend and sometimes during the week. This year they decided that only going on occasion would mean they'd enjoy it more. So, when Ruby's birthday came around Emma knew that she would be dragged out in favour of the first party they found. It was Friday night which meant that Ruby could officially have a whole weekend of partying and acting like the hot mess that she had been in the first year.
Truth be told, she missed it. Although she did enjoy staying in, she wished it was more of an occasional thing. She also knew that Emma would understand her desire to go out partying as much as possible, and might even come out with her more often. However, Ruby knew that Emma was more of a homebody, wanting to get her work done on time, if not early, and having more of an easy life. Although the blonde tried to act like an extrovert, her roommate knew the introverted truth.
The night started early. As most nights out did. Parties were great but it was always better to turn up buzzing, to make it easier to talk to people and let go of your inhibitions. So, the girls often had friends round to get ready and begin drinking. Tonight was no different and the flats was buzzing with Ruby's friends. Emma was spending some time alone trying to decide what to wear. It wasn't as easy for her. She wasn't as adept to wearing dresses as Ruby was so it often took longer for her to make a decision. Tonight she had decided to wear her signature red leather jacket with black jeans and a white shirt to really allow it to pop. She often wore the same thing due to confidence issues. She felt herself in the simple outfits, no matter how much Ruby tried to make her wear more exciting outfits.
Once ready Emma joined a game of 'never have I ever' in the living space. She poured herself a drink to get started. She both loved and hated these games. They either ended up being fun or toxic. Depending on the questions that were being asked. Tonight seemed like it was going to be the fun kind of game. There seemed to be a lot of questions about crushes or about past mistakes, but none seemed to target anyone in particular. Emma drank generously every time there was a scenario she had experienced. She could feel herself becoming more drunk as the last few questions were being asked. "Never have I ever had a crush on a woman." Drink. "Never have I ever had a crush on someone more than two years older than me." Drink. "Never have I ever had a crush on someone my mom didn't like." Drink.
It was at this point that a rather drunk and excitable Ruby began to laugh. "All of that sounds like Regina. Emma, do you have a crush on Regina?" Ruby giggle to herself watching her friend's reaction which ended up being more relaxed than she assumed it would be. "Emma…?"
"Nah, my mother hates a lot of people that are two years older than me. As for crushing on women, I never said it was a current crush." Emma was relaxed, she couldn't honestly say that she did not have a crush on the mayor back in Storybrooke. Even she had to admit there was something about the older woman that demanded respect and made Emma's heart beat faster. She wasn't much older than Emma, and was highly accomplished. At twenty seven years old Regina had been mayor of the small town for as long as Emma had resided there. There was something about independent women that allowed Emma's imagination to run. However, she wasn't entirely sure whether she actually had a crush on the older woman.
It only took a small while before never have I ever turned to truth or dare, something Emma never understood, but always seemed to be a victim of. At some point during the 'game' Ruby managed to get her hands on Emma's phone. "Emma will take dare." She answered for the blonde. While people decided her punishment would be that Ruby could text anyone in Emma's phone. Of course the first person she thought of was Regina when quickly composing the text she thought would cause Emma the most grief. "Remember you're not allowed to explain until you've had a reply. Okay so I'm sending it to Regina, and it reads 'Hey Sexy, I'm back in town next weekend. Wanna meet up for coffee and see where we end up ;)'. Sent, good luck Em." Ruby laughed with her friends as she passed the phone back to an obviously mortified blonde.
The game was very quickly dropped as Ruby noticed the time, coincidently just as it got to her turn. However, it was eight o'clock and it was time to get going to the party. The two girls walked arm in arm the for the twenty five minute walk. Emma was always concerned that Ruby would trip over in her heels on the uneven concrete yet she knew as soon as they got to the party they'd go their separate ways for the night. She enjoyed being alone at these parties it meant she could slow down and only drink what she wanted to instead of having to keep up with Ruby.
Emma had managed to escape to the back yard where a small group of people from her course were gathered. She caught up with some of the girls while drinking a few beers. Time had begun to get away from her and the alcohol was starting to take effect. Although she only felt slightly tipsy she was still too drunk to answer the incoming call. Yet after the third call she excused herself from the group, finally swiping to answer. "Hi, Gina." She grimaced remembering the message. "How's it going?"
"Hello, dear. It's going well. I'm just wondering if you're okay. I received a rather strange message." Regina remained calm. She had to admit she had to laugh at the message. While she knew it wasn't sent by the blonde. She did want to check up on her. She had been at college once. She knew the type of games people played and had thought the message may had been the result of that.
"Uh, yeah I can explain that." Emma hadn't realised that the statement had sounded more like a question. She took a breath before continuing. She felt juvenile and embarrassed about the whole situation. "So, we were playing truth or dare while pre-gaming. Ruby sent the message. Sorry Regina, god it's so stupid."
"It's not stupid Emma, you're young have some fun. It made me laugh at least. And when you get home we'll go for coffee. You never know where it'll end up." Emma could swear she could hear the older woman smirk as she spoke.
"Why Ms. Mills are you flirting with me?" Emma had already finished the question before her brain could catch up. Slightly cursing herself she shook her head and groaned quietly to herself.
"That's for me to know and you to figure out. Have a good night Miss. Swan." With that Regina hung up leaving Emma to stare at the phone. She was now more confused than ever about her feelings for the older woman. Did she want Regina to be flirting with her? Shaking off the confusion she returned her phone to her pocket and headed inside to see who else was ready to party.
After a few hours the girls met back at the front of the house. It was suddenly three am and it was time for Emma to get a very drunk Ruby home to bed. The young woman had drank way more than Emma had realised. When they first met back up Ruby fell into Emma's arms. The blonde managed to catch her quickly before they both fell to the floor. Ruby began to laugh as Emma left her to stand. A hand was extended to pull ruby to her feet. "Come on, up ya get. Ruby, I'm not playing I have to get you home. You're fucked." Emma laughed as her friend pulled herself to her feet.
The short distance in which the girls had to walk was almost doubled by the brunettes inability to walk. Ruby had definitely had more than her share to drink and was making looking after her almost impossible. By time they reached their flat Emma was almost ready to kill her friend, or at least tempted to leave her in the hallway. However, she struggled with the lock before helping the brunette inside and leading her to her room. Once inside Emma finally let go and allowed Ruby to fall to the bed, where she kicked off her shoes and rolled over into a what could only be explained as a drunken burrito. The blonde sighed and left the room closing the door behind her. Although she hated looking after Ruby when she got this wasted she knew someone had to and she'd rather it be her.
Knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep for a while Emma took her place in front of the TV searching for anything at all worth watching. Despite the lack of quality entertainment she found a movie on one of the lesser known channels. She had no idea what it was called but she began to watch. It turned out to be a movie about a young woman who accompanied an older woman on a road trip. The couple was obviously well matched. The older woman even reminded her of someone. She smiled as she watched Cate Blanchett flirt with the younger woman, making both her and Emma feel butterflies.
That morning Emma fell asleep almost instantly, letting herself dream of a road trip, an older woman and a love affair.