Chapter seven
Emma was... fidgeting.
She was still in a bit of a shock because her friends decided to show up unexpectedly at her house, but now that they were gone, she was alone with Regina on the line to buy tickets.
It was the first time in her life that she asked someone she actually liked on a date, and now the incredibly cool and flippant Emma Swan had no idea how to control her limbs and pay attention to what Regina was saying.
"Are you okay?"
She blinked, turning to look at the brunette, feeling her heart drop to her lower belly. God, that girl was fucking pretty… Even with that look of confusion she was pretty. She had one eyebrow inquisitively arched and Emma watched as her scar twitched, following her lips. And she was in love with those legs…
"Swan?"
Emma blinked again. "What?"
"I know it's difficult to concentrate while I'm around, but could you at least pretend you know what you're doing?"
The blonde smiled broadly. She was in love with bantering Regina. "Ha, in your dreams, Mills."
"So, popcorn or candy?"
"Both."
"Glutton."
"Did you swallow a French dictionary today?"
"Do you know what French sounds like?"
"Dweeb."
"Idiot."
"Awn, look at the lovebirds bickering on the food counter-"
Emma felt mortified when she recognized MM's voice. She had dropped her and Killian on the records store a few blocks away, and she had no idea why they were back on her neck. Killian was in fact eating popcorn already, which meant-
"We're going to watch Cujo, man! We're not stalking you," he said to Emma, and then lowered his voice. "You don't wanna ruin that by making out with Hot Pants, do you?"
"We are going to watch Cujo, moron," Emma hissed through gritted teeth.
"Jesus, Emma! That's so tactless, even for you!" Mary said with a pitiful frown.
"Okay, can I stop pretending I'm not listening to any of that?" Regina took a step closer. "There's a huge line behind you and I want to go find our seats-"
"They're not coming with us," Emma protested, holding their popcorn bucket and candy packs like grenades.
"Why not?" Regina dragged her to the side, and finally the line moved. "Let them come, Emma, it's okay."
"No, it's not okay," she muttered. "They can't just barge in! That's not what I planned-"
"You planned? Are you becoming responsible, thinking ahead?" Regina teased her.
"Hell, no," Emma chuckled. "Just…"
"It's okay, really."
"Are you sure?" Emma asked, looking at Killian and MM as if she could kill them with her eyes.
"I just call dibs on not sitting next to any of them. I'm pretty sure that 'Snow White with a Perm' won't stop talking through the movie and that the Fingerless Wonder will try to grope me."
"You have the gift of nicknaming people, Mills," Emma laughed. "Though I'm not sure the perm makes her look exactly like Snow… Anyway, I promise I'll chop off the rest of his fingers if he ever tries to do that."
Regina smiled, but deep down, her nerves were a mess.
So it was a real date.
So it involved making out.
So Emma liked her.
So it was happening.
Regina Mills, daughter of Cora and the next Mayor of Storybrooke, best of her class, broke up with Robin Locksley, Storybrooke High beloved quarterback, filthy rich, because she liked Emma Swan.
A girl.
A girl she was supposed to hate.
A poor, delinquent girl that her mother definitely hated.
Cora was going to kill her.
XXX
It took Emma a while to feel completely at ease inside a movie theater with Regina Mills.
When Killian and MM took seats on a distant row, she felt slightly relieved that there wouldn't be any teasing, but when she plopped down next to Regina and the lights went out, her heart accelerated again.
Yeah, now what?
She could smell Regina's shampoo, and feel her heart drop to her stomach every time their shoulders brushed by the armrest. With the corner of her eye, she could watch Regina distractedly eat popcorn and sip her soda, wondering if she was humming pleasurably as she ate.
She loved to pay attention to that when they had hotdogs after school, but it was getting harder and harder to pretend that the sound didn't affect her. She felt cold sweat on her hands.
Ironically, it was the tension of the movie what ended up by relaxing Emma. She was so focused on the damn savage dog that she almost missed the moment that changed everything. Startled and gasping like most of the audience, Regina jumped on her seat and instinctively grabbed Emma's hand.
Emma looked at their entwined fingers and then looked up at Regina, whose gorgeous eyes were glued to the screen, terrified. Emma smiled and gave her hand a soft squeeze, sensing the brunette sigh.
They remained stiff on their seats all through the movie, not even daring to look at each other, but they never let go of their hands until it was over and the lights went on again.
XXX
Emma's hand was warm and incredibly soft.
Regina was surprised how her arm acted on its own accord and reached out for the blonde.
She had no idea whether Emma was going to notice how shaky she was; if she noticed, she didn't let it show. Regina's heart fluttered when Emma gave her trembling hand a gentle squeeze.
It felt intimate.
It felt safe.
Regina could blame it all on the horrible dog on screen, but the square-jawed, solid blonde next to her was the reason why her heart was pounding so fast.
As they left the movie theater side by side, Regina was startled when Killian and MM joined them. They were loud and obnoxious as usual, but it was Emma's oddly quietness that got Regina's attention.
She imagined Emma passing one arm around her waist, bragging about Cujo being just a big stupid dog, and that she wasn't scared of it, and that Regina jumped like a silly girl numerous times. After that, she'd kiss her temple and tell her she was going to keep her safe from any rabid dogs.
Oh but wait.
That sounded like Robin.
Emma was not bragging about anything. Emma was not holding Regina like an object that belonged to her. Emma was not mocking her for jumping numerous times.
Emma was ogling her in silence, wiggling her long fingers as if their hands were still touching…
Emma Swan was normally loud and idiotic; it was strange to see her so pensive. Maybe she regretted coming with Regina?
Mary Margaret was probably going to inquire her blonde friend about that silent façade, when David Nolan showed up and sort of startled everyone. He wasn't Robin's best friend, but he played on the team with him, and was just as popular.
He had just parted ways with a group of friends that had probably been to Cujo's premier as well. He was looking at Mary as though he was seeing her for the first time in his life.
"Hi," he said.
MM looked around; many were the times she waved and said 'Hi' back to people when the intended interlocutor was standing just behind her.
David chuckled. "I meant you."
"This is David Nolan," Regina hurried to introduce them as her mother had taught her, even though she knew MM probably had a secret fan base for him on her pink fluffy bedroom and knew everything about him. "David, this is Mary Margaret."
"I know," he said, with his light eyes still glued on the shorter girl. Then he shook his head and turned to Regina. "How are you holding up? I heard about that… thing with Robin, but I never got a chance to say anything to you…"
"Oh, it's okay," Regina said. She was sure Robin would tell his alternate poor little thing version of the break up on the locker room, and she wasn't surprised when many boys started to harass her in school. But David had always been different. "Thanks anyway, David."
He shoved his hands on his jeans pockets awkwardly. He was blond and tall, and could've fooled anyone as Emma's brother – except for the hairstyle. David was particularly famous in school for his MacGyver looks – from the mullets to his physical.
"So…" he turned to MM. "You're the girl who kicked Robin in the balls and made him cry like a baby, right?"
Her lips cracked open into a huge smile and she chuckled. Regina didn't know what was funnier, Emma actually spreading the rumor or Mary's reaction.
"Do you wanna have ice cream?" she blurted out, the smile vanishing from her face and becoming an expression of horror as soon as she realized that she had just asked David Nolan out.
"Sure," he nodded, offering his hand for her.
Mary mouthed What as she spun on her heels and took his hand. When they were gone, Killian and Emma were laughing.
"She sucks at that," he said to Regina. "I'm surprised he wasn't freaked out."
"Well," Regina shrugged. "I don't see you dating much, so I guess lameness runs in the group."
"BURN!" Emma yelled to his face.
"How's it going for you, Miss Let's Only Hold Hands?" he spat back at her, making Regina laugh even more.
"I'm gonna kill you-"
"You're embarrassing yourself in front of the lady," Killian muttered through gritted teeth as she held him by the collar of his t-shirt. He was grinning. "I'm walking home, Swan. Have fun, but not too much."
Emma adjusted her t-shirt and took a deep breath before she turned to Regina. She was probably rolling her eyes at their immaturity…
Emma felt her heart fall and melt inside her stomach at the sight. Regina was looking… expectant.
Should she call it a night and drive Regina home?
Was she supposed to ask her to grab anything to eat?
"I promised my mother I'd be back before eleven," the brunette said with a frustrated sigh.
"Oh." Emma nodded, and made a polite gesture for Regina to go first.
They remained silent as they headed towards Emma's car, and then all the way to Regina's house. It was not uncomfortable, in Emma's lame opinion. Just charged, full of expectations and nerve-wrecking anticipation.
Not uncomfortable at all.
When she parked in front of 108, she felt her heart stop as the car's engine died.
Regina was looking down, watching her hands on her lap for a moment, and then she hesitatingly looked up at the blonde.
Emma took a deep breath.
"Come to prom with me?"
Regina smiled softly, and the movement of her lip, and the scar, and the light in her eyes… It was all too much. Emma leaned forward and kissed her.
She had half expected a smack on the head, but instead she felt Regina's hand softly land on the back of her neck.
Regina let out a shaky sigh against her lips that made Emma want to rip off her clothes right then and there, but for once, Ingrid's voice spoke louder than her own stupid brain. She stopped her eager hands just in time.
The front door flared open the second Regina pulled back. Both girls saw Cora on the doorstep, looking displeased that they were on time and she had no excuse to chastise her daughter and the delinquent.
Regina was smiling as she climbed out of the GTI; halfway through the front walk, she spun on her heels and returned to the car skipping, stopping briefly next to Emma's window.
"Yes, I'll go to prom with you," she whispered, almost giggling.
Emma grinned broadly. "Sleep well, Mills," she whispered back with a small nod of her head.
In case you're wondering, the hand grabbing and stiff posture was based on the very first date I had - about two years ago – with my future wife, Mrs. Follow That Convoy. I wish love to all of you :)
