This was not based on a prompt, rather it was just an idea I had. I write based on what I know and see, and being in college has shown me many coffee dependant students trying to making it until Fall Break. I just finished a paper on Foster Care's physological effects on children and am still in that frame of mind. Hence, this one shot.

I got caried away with it though, so I had to split it into two parts because it was too long.

Anyway, if you have a request, leave it in the comments. Please review, favorite and follow! Enjoy

Hello

Coffee. Coffee made things better. Or at least more bearable. Emma was a few weeks into the semester, but was so ready for a break. She was used to the long hours of studying, spending weekends in doing homework instead of going out with her roommate, Ruby, who was quite the party girl. She sacrificed herself to her grades-she had to. She got one shot, and she was not going to blow it.

One more week. She reminded herself. One more week until the extended weekend for fall break. One more weekend until she could go home to Storybrooke and see her adoptive mother, and her brother David and his wife, Mary Margaret. She missed them terribly while she was off at college in Boston, but she knew it was for the best.

Emma took another sip of her coffee as she refocused on her screen. Just four more paragraphs. Almost there. She had been working on this paper for a while, still not quite content with how it was turning out. It had to be perfect. She needed the good grade she rationalized.

She finally let out a huff and removed her laptop from her lap and put in on the table that she was sitting at. She groaned slightly and pushed her coffee away, resting her head in her hands. Her frustration must have caught the attention of the guy at the table next to her because he came over and sat down with her, clearly not having the idea to leave the annoyed college girl alone.

"Hello, alright?" His voice was filled with concern. She was not used to that from most people. It was strange.

"Yeah, fine." She said looking at him. He had dark hair and bright blue eyes. His face was decorated with a bit of scruff, but it suited him. He had an accent that she could not quite place. Ireland, maybe? Either way, it intrigued her. "Just trying to finish a paper for school."

"Where do you go?" He asked her. He did not just listen to her answer when she said she was fine and leave. He was genuinely interested in her.

"Boston University. I am a sophomore."

"Really?" He asked,almost shocked. "I have never seen you around before."

"Wait, you go there?" She questioned him.

He nodded. "Senior."

"That must be it. Most seniors don't socialize with the lower classmen." She pointed out, reaching for her coffee to take another drink of it.

"Well, that is quite a shame." He told her. She had no clue why, but his comment made her blush. She, Emma Swan, did not blush. She was sure it was biologically impossible for her to do anything remotely close to blushing, and yet this complete stranger with bright blue eyes had her blushing.

"So, lass. "He said, bringing her back to reality. "What class is the paper for, might I ask?"

"Um, it's a child development class. Its for my major." She explained.

"Which is?"

"Social work."

"Interesting. So, what is the paper on?"

"We are analyze how the foster system affects a child's psychiatric development."

"Heady." He commented. "How did you chose that major?"

"Why are you interested?" She said, trying not to sound mean, but instead maybe-flirty? What was this guy doing to her?

"You interest me, love. You are like a book that I want to read more of."

"A book." Emma laughed. "You are comparing me to a book."

"You see, love. You are something of an open book to me. But I can not figure out all. I am no mind reader."

"Really? An open book?" She challenged him. "Well, what do you see if you can read me so well?"

"A second chance." That was not the answer she was expecting.

"What do you mean by that?" She pushed the subject.

"Well, love, you were hurt when you were younger, that much is clear by the look you have in your eyes. The look of someone who has been abandoned. But you are healing, moving on. Making a life and a future for yourself. Am I right?"

"Yeah." She stated. "How would you know that?"

"Maybe we are not to different after all. Know, why did you chose the major?"

"Not until you give me your name." She somewhat demanded him.

"Killian." He told her. "Killian Jones." Killian. It was an interesting name, one she had never heard before. She liked it though and felt that it suited him well. Mysterious, with layers to be discovered.

"Emma Swan."

"Emma." He repeated. "I like it. Now-"

Emma was not sure why she was doing this-opening herself up to a complete stranger. She never did this, even with people she was close with. But he was easy to talk to, and he enjoyed listening, something else she was unused to. She liked that about him. "I grew up in the system. Spent sixteen years there until I was finally adopted. I want to make sure kids never experience the things I did."

"That is lovely, Swan. How did you chose this college?"

"My brother, David, came here a few years ago for criminal justice and loved it. Met his wife here and everything. I decided to follow in his footsteps.

"David, you say? How old is your brother?" He asked, suddenly very interested about her family.

"Twenty-three. He graduated last year."

"I do not remember a David Swan." Killian told her, sighing.

Emma shook her head. "Swan is my last name from a previous home. His name was David Nolan."

"No way!" Killian exclaimed. "He was in my suite! I knew the fellow well."

"Really? That is cool. Now we have a connection." Emma joked.

"As if we did not have one before." He smirked at her. She liked this. The playful banter felt like she was talking to an old friend. It was refreshing and new.

"So, what are you doing for fall break?" She said, changing the subject. Emma finally decided that no more work was getting done so she closed her laptop and put in back into her bag. She placed both hands on her cup of coffee, which was no almost empty.

"Staying on campus, most likely doing homework." He revealed.

"Too far to go home?" Emma assumed.

"No home to go to."

Emma felt bad for bring up what she assumed would be a sore subject. She had not expected him to be that much like her. "I am sorry, I didn-"

"It is alright, lass. It has been a while since I have had a family. Mother died when I was young, my father left when I was fourteen, and my brother passed two years ago. But time has healed the wounds."

"I am so sorry. So, you are just stuck here for breaks? What do you do for Christmas and long breaks like that?"

"Hope I have a buddy who will let me crash at their place." He joked.

"You could come home with me for Christmas if you'd like." He raised his eyebrow suggestively, somewhat to suggestively. She tried to redeem herself. "I mean, you said you knew David. I am sure he would love to see you again."

"I thank you for the offer, lass, but I could not impose." He said, ever the gentlemen.

"It would be nice. Come on."

"You do realize you just invited a stranger home for the holidays, love? Not exactly the brightest move."

"Then I guess we'll just have to get to know each other before Christmas." Emma said, feeling bold.

"I guess we shall."

Up next: Part 2 of Hello

Thanks for Reading!