10 Years After
I told her that I needed to sit by the window.
I liked the view, the land below, the occasional city we'd pass over, sometimes the pilot would mention the name. Sometimes not, sometimes I even knew it myself.
We'd passed over Lincoln, Nebraska. I recognized that one, only because of the land and using my analytical skills of 'this was one of the cities he mentioned.' I appreciate Nebraska, corn and all. That was biased of me. I'm tired, this is not a fun time.
We're on a non-stop flight to Portland, Maine, it's grueling and amazing that it's taking so long. Emma had been trying to fall asleep for hours, using the neck pillow that I bought her. It was bright green with a frog face. She twitched and squirmed underneath it, letting out a sigh and going limp only a few hours into the ride. I looked over at her, she looked irritated, I leaned m head on the seat, covered in blue velveteen.
"You okay?" I asked, my voice low and gruff from hours of not using it. The last time being when I asked the attendant for a can of ginger ale.
She didn't look over at me, just peeked down the row. "Fine." She said, her answer short and annoyed, which pissed me off. I groaned internally and tried to move as far away from her as possible. I saw from the corner of my eye her peer over at me, look me up and down, then veer forward. I stared down to the ground, grass, the sky growing darker, soon it'd be as if the ground didn't exist. Of course, it did. I try not to believe in what I can't see.
You know what creates an awkward silence? Words. Words that are stuck in your throat, in your head, that you can't say or are too afraid to say.
I've found that not thinking about words is a pretty good way to avoid awkward silence. Emma hasn't learned that yet, I don't think she deserves to know the secret. I could feel the tension growing between us, making the space between us shrink.
"Say it." I sighed. She cracked her neck, I looked over at her, staring down at her hand, peeling off her purple polish. "Emma." I deadpanned.
The tension remained, she never said a word. That's how we stayed, for the whole flight.
The plane landed, Emma stood before anyone else. I rolled my eyes, who was she? Like, hey who are you? I don't know when she got the idea in her mind that being a snark was going to impact me or dampen me in an way. Honestly, she could take her ass back home, let me do this myself. I could care less.
I know she needs me, though, that's why she doesn't leave.
That's the problem. I don't know if she loves me, or just needs me. I can't tell, and her words are empty. I just want her to love me, the way I love her. I do everything in my power to show her that she is loved, loved too much. It doesn't mean anything to her.
Walking up the incline of that plane tube, I watched as her soapy hair cascaded down her back, swinging left and right with her. I loved her. Dammit.
"Emma," I called, she was about two yards ahead of me. "Stop!" I yelled when she didn't slow up. When I did, she stopped in her tracks and turned to face me, her face unamused and slightly bitter. Somewhat the resemblance of a crab apple.
I caught up to her and grabbed her hand, she relaxed into my touch and I smiled up at her wide like a child who was allowed to eat candy before dinner. "I win." I said, she glared down at me once before looking away, her face breaking into a grin as she did, I bounced up in my step and pressed into her.
The airport was crowded, but we found our way to the baggage claim in no time. Maybe we were too used to airports.
"Fucking hungry." She uttered her first words since we arrived, arms crossed. I looked up from the track and back down, tapping my foot impatiently. "Regina." She whined.
"I heard you-" I answered slowly, eyes widening in annoyance. "what?" I asked when she just looked my way with this dumb ass expression. "You want to just leave me to get the bags?" I asked. I swear, I almost slapped her when she nodded, luckily I am not a violent person. "Fine, go, I'm not getting your bag for you." I replied.
I internally smirked when she walked a couple of feet away and groaned. My bag was up first, I snatched up the blue and purple case, extended the handle and walked over to her, where she was stewing in her pent up rage.
I rest my chin on her shoulder as I saw her black duffle roll around, she ducked out of my reach and picked it up. "I'm sick of fucking airports."
"Are you done, oh my god?" I asked, a little louder than I would have liked, but she was really getting on my nerves.
"Excuse me?" She asked, turned around. I walked around her, I'll be damned if we we're going to put on a show for these people. Not to mention I could feel my hand burning, that was never a good sign. "Hey!" She called.
"Emma," I whipped around, whisper yelling. "this can wait."
She laughed without humor. "What, don't want to make a scene?" She asked, I watched her drop her bag and throw her hands up. "Are you embarrassed of me, Regina?" She yelled, hands in the air.
I could feel my face as it turned beet red, I growled and turned around, walking fast.
"That's my girlfriend, Regina Mills, and she's having a tantrum!" She called. I turned around quickly to see her smiling, I could literally kill her. I bit my lip, dug my nails into my palm and walked slowly away, slowly. "Aw, baby!" She said, picked up her bag and ran after me.
I felt her hand around my arm, which I yanked away. "Don't fucking touch me!" I gritted out. I hate her, I hate her, I hate her.
I tried to out-walk her to the cab area, but her legs were longer than mine. Also, she had latched on to my hood. I was chewing a hole in my lip trying not to kill her. Once outside, we stood for a good ten minutes waiting for a taxi, as there was a massive line before us.
Once inside, I sat behind the driver, but she sat in the middle. "Will you please take us to IHop?" She asked the driver.
"No problem, hon." He said and sped off.
I sighed, glaring out the window. "Tomorrow we have to go to the rental place, pick up the car." I told.
"Why didn't we just do it here?" She asked.
"They close after 8." I replied.
"Okay." She nodded. "So, we stay here tonight?" She asked.
"No, we're staying in a hotel." I answered.
"Funny." She stated. "Let's stay at Motel 6."
I scrunched my face and turned to her, she was grinning all gummy. "Why?"
I saw her inhale then shake her head. "I really want to stay at Motel 6." She shrugged.
I smiled against my better judgement. "Okay." I nodded, let out a breath of a laugh. Motel 6. I watched as the clouds twisted angrily overhead, dark gray, light gray, not a star in sight.
Soon, we were pulling off the road and into the lot of an IHop. "Thanks, man." Emma said and hopped out.
I pulled out my wallet and slid my card through the slot. "Have a nice night, sir." I said, he nodded, and I slipped out. Emma had out bags in hand, walking towards the lit entrance if the building. I walked slowly behind her, by the time I caught up she was bouncing at the door.
"Hurry." She whined. "Hungry." I slipped past her and into the foyer. The man at the front desk grinned and pulled out a pair of menus from under the desk.
"Two?" He asked?
"Yep." I said breathlessly.
"Right this way." He said and moved towards the back, the place wasn't too crowded, maybe six tables were occupied. Thank god for that, I would have left had it been packed, or packed enough to be loud.
He led us to a table in the back room, it was completely empty. I took a seat on the booth side of he deal, Emma across from me. "Drinks?" He asked.
"Uh, strawberry lemonade and water." I said with a sigh, flicking my bangs out of my face. He nodded and looked to Emma.
"Yeah, sprite and coffee." She said.
I made a face at her choice, so did the kid, but he jotted it down and walked away. Emma immediately opened up her menu and began to run through the options. I buried my head in my hands. The worst part of this day, was falling asleep in IHop before I got to order pancakes.
When I woke up, it was in a car, a cab to be specific. I jumped, turned to see Emma beside me, looking down at me. I squinted and looked around, then I unbuckled myself and moved into her lap, she was warm and smelled familiar. Smelled like home. Also, pancakes.
"Did you order some to go?" I asked. I felt her hand run through my hair, I closed my eyes, nuzzled into her thigh.
"No." I heard her say.
"Aw." I sighed.
"I"m kidding." She answered.
"I figured." I replied. "Are we going to Motel 6?" I asked, voice muffled.
"Yes." She replied.
"'Kay." I said and let myself drift again. I was in that stage of almost sleep where it's like, stars. Also your body starts to numb.
"Baby." I was shook. "Regina." I was shook again. I opened my eyes and sat up quickly, looked out the window to see the classic sign; Motel 6. I rolled my eyes and hopped out the door, the night was cold and I could smell the salty spray of ocean water. I pinched my nose, the smell was overwhelming.
"I'll go check in, okay?" I asked, wiping my nose, then rubbing my eyes.
"Yeah, okay." Emma nodded, opening the trunk.
I walked towards the brightly lit office, drowning in my gray hoodie as I wrapped my arms around my waist. I walked past the pool, glowing blue with leaves decorating the top, fenced in with those broken looking chairs. The wind was picking up, hitting me in the face, pulling my hair, and it made me walk faster.
I yanked open the door, not intentionally violent but that was mainly the fault of the wind. I gave the old man at the desk a disheveled smile.
"Chilly, eh?" He asked, not looking up.
"Yeah, a bit." I said in a breath, loosening in the warm lobby. To the right were two vending machines, one containing off brand snacks, the other just had a picture of Sprite. I walked over closer to the desk. "Uh, I need a room." I said, leaning on the counter.
"Well, that's our specialty." He said sardonically.
"Okay, yeah." I looked to the door where Emma was struggling to come in.
"Fucking bitch!" She said, her hair in her face, arms tangled in her duffle, trying in vain to hold on to my case. The man glared with a raised brow.
"Two full beds?" He asked.
I shook my head. "Just one." He looked disapproving between the two of us, then typed something in, reached down into a drawer and handed me a key.
"Room 104." He stated. "Just there." He nodded to the right, his right, my left.
"Thanks." I snatched it up, the made my way out the door, Emma who had been staring at the vendors followed closely. I held open the door for her, staring out upon the highway, cars whooshed past, trucks too. I could smell gasoline, but still the salt of the water. "Room 104." I told her, moving to now my right.
Opening the door, the smell of detergent and mildew smacked me in the face. A bed in the center, coated with an orange cardboard sheet. A television, flat screen with cable stickers on the edges. A microwave, fridge, mirrors, hideous paintings. It was lovely.
"Fucking Motel 6, Em." I stated unceremoniously, taking my luggage from her finally and pulling it over to the bed where I collapsed in a heavy pile. She set her bag on the bed and began to rifle through it, pulling out a t-shirt that looked like it should be worn by an ape and not a person, and a pair of cotton panties. I watched her walk towards the connected bathroom, pushing the door open and closing it. I waited a moment before sitting up quickly with a grunt, too quickly.
I dug through my bad before I gripped the small paper box. I felt my body relax just having it in my grasp, and I pulled it out as I got to my feet, shoving them into a pair of slippers. I opened the lid, the nicotine trailed up into my nose, i inhaled it's path. Pulling out the purple Bic and a single roll, I opened the door.
The box was shoved back into the pocket of my jacket, I turned towards the wall and tried the lighter. Once, Twice. Sucking in, feeling the smoke overtake my lungs I raised my head once more, walked towards the pool. My hands were ejected from my pocket as I unlatched the gate, walked slowly over to the chair in the farthest corner, not visible to the lobby.
I puffed my smoke, my gaze set on the pool. I thought about the day, how I needed an escape. Up and down, side to side, that's how it was with us. Even before we were together. It's worse now that it runs deeper than just friendship. I felt mixed emotions, all the time towards her. I wanted to strangle her, lick her teeth all in one breath. I sighed, felt the familiar bubble in my chest, the glitter dancing over the tips of my fingers as I focused on the pool.
The center bubbled, a leaf floating quickly away. Just where the bubble popped, it began to swirl, small, getting bigger. The whirlpool I created collapsed into itself as smoke burned the hair of my nose. Deeper and deeper, picking up leaves and having the hang on it's walls. I wanted more, so I expelled more. Streams of water grew out of the edges, tiny, barely alive, they connected to one another in the center, then the spun up, towards the clouds.
I just stared. I felt the magic flowing out of me, into the water, but it never drained, or felt less than, it just escaped, upon that escape it would grow and strengthen. I peered over to the windows, dark, the curtains drawn. I looked to room 104, the same. I closed my eyes and brought my hand up to the shaft between my teeth, the whirlpool just dropped with a splash, the water rippled a moment, stilling. Only for a moment was it still before a gust of wind gave it a shiver.
I leaned back into the plastic of the chair, it groaned and creaked beneath me. I closed my eyes, threw the bud, and drew in the fresh air. I tasted the salt, the gasoline, the chill. I stayed that way for a long time, not wanting to move or think about anything, it was nice, to just empty it all aside for a moment. It took me back, to the water, when I first went with Ruby.
5 Years After.
It was all a blur, the past week. Pearly white smiles, dark trees, shot stars, late nights. We'd drove away from home, to the coast, with a few stops along the way. It wasn't a far drive, but we took the scenic route. Spent our nights in the woods, our days on the road.
Now, we were face first into icy water. I screamed a little when it first touched me, then she came running up behind me and pulled me under with her, the frozen waves stole my breath. I came up, the air feeling warmer than the sea. I couldn't touch the bottom, I felt warmth in the form of her, dug my nails into the soft skin of her arms and pulled her into me. I pillowed into her chest, wrapped myself around her, breathing hard into her wet skin.
I smelled her, but nothing came to mind. I tasted her, salt. I pulled back and stared into her eyes, they were dark, almost black, but they sparkled with bits of joy, lust, excitement in every form. Her jaw shook, chittering from the frozen wasteland that felt empty, I turned to see black ripples, mountain tops that rose and fell. As if time were being manipulated. Then, over to the rocky cliffs, black sand of the shore.
I felt a hand on my cheek, pull me over. I was ghosting over her lips, her breath on my teeth, cold but hot. Ironic. It felt like ages before her lips were moving against mine, soft. I ran my tongue of the top row of teeth, she gasped as I raked my nails over her back.
I chuckled low in my throat as I bit and sucked and pulled on her lips, teeth, tongue. I felt her hand move from my back, down. My body was numb, her hand was losing it's warmth. I felt it on my thigh, my navel, before slipping under the bright blue of my suit. I pulled back from her, her eyes averted from mine a moment, then back up. Her pupils dilated, eyes determined as they fluttered closed, I captured her lips once more.
I felt her nail, clip and pinch against my entrance, I twitched against the pain. Then she slipped inside of me, one then two digits. I let loose over them, letting her hand between my legs be my anchor. I threw my head back as she curled and pulled, tickled the embankment.
Gasping and groaning, I tipped forward and took her breast in the palm of my hand, I her tit was like a small diamond against the soft skin of my palm. I squeezed and rubbed as she moved in and out of me. I could feel myself building, as I began to moan into her mouth, I felt her smile into me.
Almost on cue as I came with a strangled cry, a horn honked from the shore, I jumped off her hand as she hit me in the face with her own to look over.
"Fuck." She said upon seeing the patrol car.
"Swimming is restricted in these waters, ladies." Came the megaphoned voice of a gruff man. "Come on out." He said. We were about twenty feet from the shore, Ruby, about eight inches taller than my 5'3 could still touch the sandy bottom, she carried me for ten feet until we were on the shore, shivering without a towel.
"We didn't know that-" I began.
He held up his hand. "Can't you read?" He asked.
I opened my mouth, furrowed my brows, then he thumbed backwards to a sign up on the cliff. "Area restricted September- April." He stated clearly.
"Oh, well-" I began.
"Get out of here." He said, I could feel Ruby about to go off on the guy, I gripped her hand and pulled her up the rocky stairwell we had not long ago descended.
"What an asshole." She said, ringing out her hair beside the passengers side of her truck.
"Just doing his job, I guess." I replied, pulling out a blanket, laying it across the seats. I watched as she wiggled into a hoodie, taking off her bottoms before untying her top.
"Well, he didn't have to be a dick about it." She huffed.
"We had fun." I answered, licking over my lips, they still tasted like salt. Ruby grinned up and me, pulling her hair into a tight braid that dripped and stuck at the bottom.
"Yeah, we did." She smiled, pearly and wide, reminding me of every moment we'd spent together, every one I cherished. "I guess it's for the best, your lips were turning blue."
I reached up and ran my finger over them. "Really?" I asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah," She chuckled. "No worries, you're looking pink as ever now." She said, hopping into the cab. "You drive." She called through the glass, propping her feet up on the dash. I just grinned and swung open the door, jumping in beside her as she started the car for me.
"Where to?" I asked.
"You still need to ask that question?" She asked and laughed. "Anywhere!" She screamed out the window and I backed out in a haste, gravel went flying up, a pebble landed on my thigh. Ruby waved her hand out the window as her hair began to dry and stray on the edges.
My window was closed, my hair hung damp over my shoulders, down to the top of my rib cage. I had been meaning to get it cut, I hadn't had short hair since I was young, maybe it was time for a change.
"What do you think about me cutting my hair?" I asked, loudly against the wind.
Ruby glanced over, down as if to feel it out. "How much?" She asked.
I brought my hand up to my collar bone and jabbed at it. "Here." I said, peeked over at her, then back to the road as it unfolded before me, black, yellow, white, green.
"Can I cut it for you?" She asked.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah." I said quietly and focused solely on the road as she hummed to the tune of some 80's rock song.
We arrived in a small town called Coos Bay, which was apparently the largest coastal town in Oregon, though Ruby was a little pissed that we were even in Oregon to begin with.
"I hate Oregon." She stated as we crossed the town line.
I laughed. "Hey, I used to live in Portland, it was nice." She just crossed her arms. "Why do you hate Oregon?" I asked.
"Boring." She stated.
"Great reasoning."
She scoffed. "Boring-er than anywhere else." She went on. "And I've been a lot of places."
"Mhm." I hummed.
"It is!" Then we argued a bit, myself on the pro-Oregon side, she on the con. We pulled up along the bay to a diner that hung over the edge, connected to a hotel. We skipped out, slamming the door and rushing into the log building. We were seated by a plump lady, probably in her forties, with dark hair and eyes.
We sat in a booth with green leather seats, a wooden lacquer table. I stared over at her, stars in my eyes, as she said.
"What?" She asked, not looking up.
"Nothing." I popped my lips and opened the menu. Pancakes, they had lots.
1o Years After
When I finally stepped back in the room, Emma was already asleep, lights off except for the one in the bathroom. I saw my way to the fridge, glancing over at her sleeping from, she snored softly. I opened the fridge, the light poured from it and illuminated the wall. I grabbed the box from inside and took it with me to the seat by the window.
That was where I very much enjoyed a stack of pancakes.
I awoke in the chair when the sun was just beginning to rise. I peeked over through heavy eyes to the lump of Emma still asleep on the bed as I stretched out. I pulled back the curtain to see the soppy sidewalk. Letting the curtain fall back to rest, I moved to the bed and lazily fell over Emma. I turned my head to look into her eyes as they shot open, glared at me, then shut just as quickly.
"Morning." I muttered. I watched her nose pinch and hide under her.
"You need to brush your teeth." Came a muffled insult.
"Mm." I hummed, putting my entire weight on her as I lifted myself out of the bed, off her. "Get up, we need to get out of here."
Emma flopped onto her back, grabbing her phone of the counter, clicking in the code. 7043. "Checkout isn't till 11." She stated.
"Yeah, but I want to be there before sunset." I stripped off my shirt, tossed it on my case. All I heard was a throaty groan and ruffling of sheets before I was overtaken by the rush of hot water.
We'd rented a white Toyota Camry, it smelled brand new, but that was just the little tree of a freshener. I made Emma drive, she always liked the rental cars. We were heading out of Portland when it started to rain again.
The wipers trailed back and forth, leaving that small fin of drops dead center. I would watch it, just in case some how some way, it was caught and wiped away.
"When we get home, we should think about a new car." Emma began, eyes on the road.
I sat up from my slouch. "What, why?" I asked, a bit more fretful than intended.
"I mean, you've had that truck for what, 7 years? And it was ancient then." She said.
"Still runs." I muttered. "What do you mean? If I'm correct, your car is the one with a drag bumper."
"Baby is a classic!" She laughed. "All you have is spare parts."
I scoffed, blubbered. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." She said. "Spare. Parts."
"You know, I'm not having this argument, you want a new car, get it, but count me out." I said, she rolled her eyes. "Butt head." I uttered and turned on the stereo to some pop station.
Emma squeezed my knee and I kicked out reflexively, stubbing my toe on the dash.
"Stop!" I whined, curling it into my palm.
She just laughed ad kept her eyes on the road ahead.
It was around 3 when we turned onto the road that would lead us where we were headed. It was long, untravelled by. Take the road less travelled by, as Robert Frost instructs.
First, the trees closed in on us, then there was the sigh. Stone columns and block letters; Welcome to Storybrooke.
I took a deep breath, right when we passed over the town line, I could feel it, the magic. This time would be different.