A/N: So while not one of my better thought out ideas, posting unedited fic in the early morning was apparently not the worst. Thank you for your reviews and favorites and follows, and I'm so glad I'm not the only one who sees a dorky teen Regina. For you, you wonderful readers, I am going to do my best to continue even though it is shaping up to be the longest thing I've ever written, and I had no plan or anything written as of a week ago. I don't like not finishing things I've started, but I warn you, it might take me a while. Know that guilt is an excellent motivator. :)

"Regina Mills?"

Emma had stood in silent shock for a good minute until the passing bell rang her out of it. As her group gathered their things and headed to class, still enjoying Emma's reaction, her voice returned. Vehemently.

"You can't pick Regina! She wasn't in the lunchroom the entire period!"

"As a many time sucker from Ruby's bets, I understand your pain, love, but they got you fair and square." Killian tossed a congratulatory arm around Ruby, and she allowed it with the mood she was in, strutting into the hallway.

Emma frantically gathered her things and kept pace, noticing how Mary Margaret, and therefore David, were considerably less pleased with the turn of events.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea, Ruby." Mary Margaret clutched her textbook to her chest, not feeling much soothed by David's protective arm.

"Aw don't worry, MM, this has nothing to do with you." Ruby tossed her head back to throw a comforting smile at her friend before eyeing the frazzled blonde behind her. "It's all up to Emma. Besides, she can always just accept defeat and let me and Tink make her prom queen!"

They had reached the main hall where they would all have to split off, and they paused a moment to look at Emma, giving her a chance to change her mind.

Emma considered the deal herself. This would be way harder than she expected. She could easily handle a band geek or even one of those art chicks who wouldn't dare stoop to society's expectations. But scary and inaccessible Regina Mills was a different story. Outside of maybe the faculty, she didn't have a single friend. Emma couldn't think of anyone who would vote for her just because, not even as a cruel Carrie-esque prank. Well, maybe Vic Whale would do that, but he was a tool. Emma should have just admitted she was wrong and tried her chances that someone else would come out of the woodwork to pull Ruby and Tink's attentions.

Emma should have, but Emma had never been very good at doing what she should.

Her competitive nature flared. She could do it. She wasn't wrong in her logic, and she really didn't want to be Queen. Maybe Regina could benefit from her friendship. She couldn't be that crazy. And it was just three weeks. She was going to do it. She'd show them all.

"No way, Rubes. I accept your challenge." She stood tall, looking her friend straight in the eye. "Regina Mills will be in the final two for Prom Queen. Get ready to campaign for her."

Ruby smiled open mouthed for a moment, looking around as if to confirm with the rest of the group that yes, Emma was currently this cocky.

"You talk a mighty big game, Emma Swan," Ruby drawled, nodding her head before flashing her signature killer smile. "But we'll see."

With that, she made her exit, loping down the hall. "See you 8th period!"

David and Killian also took it as their cue to leave, stepping around to stand in front of her, enjoying observing her at this height only because they knew it wouldn't stay that way for long.

"Good luck, kid." David patted her shoulder, deploying his big brotherly charm. "I'm pretty sure I've been sacked by defensive tackles sweeter than Regina."

"Swan, you've gotten yourself into a mess here, but I have to say—I cannot wait to see it," Killian joined in.

She shrugged them off her shoulders and shot them a look, but they just laughed and waved their goodbyes.

Tink, Mary Margaret, and Emma walked the last bit of hall together, their classrooms right next to each other. They were practically the only students left outside a room, everyone else already settled for the rapidly approaching class.

Tink pulled her to the side quickly, leaning in as she spoke low. "I'm going to go easier on you than Ruby, Emma. If you need any help, let me know."

Emma caught the sincerity in Tink's eyes, wondering where it was coming from, but nodding in acceptance. She wasn't fooled by her bluff of confidence much more than her friends were. She'd need all the help she could get. "Thanks, Tink."

With a glance at MM, Tink slipped through the door. Emma was about to head into her own room when a hand on her arm stopped her. She turned to find a very apprehensive Mary Margaret.

"Emma, you can't tell anyone this, but—just please don't hurt her, okay?"

Emma didn't even have time to react before her friend quickly turned and headed into class. She felt like she had fallen down the rabbit hole. MM was worried about hurting Regina? Not that the gentle girl wouldn't worry about anyone getting hurt, but MM and Regina were known to have a bit of a history. Emma hadn't been around when it happened, but there were still whispers about how the normally unobtrusive girl had tore out Mary Margaret at the end of their first year, making MM cry and earning Regina permanent derision as a "psycho." Mary Margaret was pretty much universally acknowledged as the nicest girl in school, whether you were friends with her or not. When she didn't even report the incident to the school, and kept others from doing it on her behalf, everyone assumed it was because of her generous heart. But with this warning…Emma was starting to think her competitive streak had got her into something too deep to get out of.

The sound of the bell shocked her out of her thoughts once again, and she jolted to slip into her seat in class.

"Now, if you'll look at this scatter plot…"

It was a challenge on a normal day to pay attention to Mr. Chadwick as he droned on about linear regressions, the lights dimmed for the overhead projector. Today, Emma didn't even hear the words. She was much too focused on her new goal. It had been a while since she had really had to be crafty; she hadn't considered anyone a mark since those first few months in Storybrooke. She was still good at reading people, but there had been no need to really prepare for any interactions. Now the only time she played someone was when she discovered that it was much easier to play nice with teachers, particularly as her status grew in the school community. But she hadn't spent any time with Regina. Hardly knew anything about her except for the few things she could remember from the classes they had shared—and for the rumors that circulated. She flipped to the back of her notebook, ignoring the intricate wave pattern she had started among her half-hearted notes, and wrote a name along the top of the page.

Regina Mills.

She drew a line underneath, poising her pencil to start a list. She tapped the end along the line. She furrowed her brow and hunkered down. She scowled.

What could she write? Regina was smart? A nerd? Kept to herself? Might be crazy? None of that could help her win the girl over, and Emma didn't think that a cold approach be very successful. She couldn't really ask around without attracting attention, and now it seemed that her friend that knew the most also had a very complicated history she should probably try to stay out of. Emma let her teacher's words fade back in, hoping that allowing her concentration focus somewhere else would lead her to a flash of genius.

"…to start in a different year, the distribution will shift. You'll likely have a problem like this on the AP Exam. To that point, I'd like you to do the first three questions on this practice exam—" Emma looked up to see Mr. Chadwick passing out a stack of photocopies. "—Which was the real test from 1994, along with odd numbered problems 1 through 35 in your book for tomorrow."

The ringing bell just barely masked the students' groan, but Emma wasn't thinking about math as she hurriedly flipped her notebook back to its cover and gathered her bag. Seventh period was her free period, and for maybe one of the first times ever, Emma was going to spend it in the library. Not to study, not in the conventional sense. Mr. Chadwick's lecture had helped her, just not with math.

She was going to find the Storybrooke High 1994-1995 yearbook to start her background research on Regina Mills.

She moved out the door and through the hallway quickly. She had plenty of time to find the book and find Regina in it, but she found she was excited to have a first step towards her goal, a piece of the mystery to solve. She waved to the usual suspects as they passed but hurried to get to the second floor back hallway where Tink would be waiting for her.

She rounded the corner to just catch Tink shutting her locker and chatting to the girl, Ariel, Emma thought, that was getting books out of the locker right next to hers. Ariel said goodbye to Tink and offered Emma a little wave as she headed to her next class, and Tink slid to the floor to sit against her locker door now that the hall was beginning to clear out.

"You're here early!" Tink noted as she pulled out a workbook.

"Yeah, I just wanted to come by to tell you that I'm going to ditch you for the library today."

"The library?" Tink scoffed in mock disgust. "What could you possibly need to do in that sad place? First Ruby, and now you. Are they throwing moshes in there I just don't know about?"

"No, Tink, it's still as quiet as ever, I imagine."

"So what is it then? Don't tell me you've got a project."

"I do, just not for class." Emma teased. "Don't worry about it, it'll only be for today. I'll probably only be gone for 20 minutes tops anyway. I wouldn't leave you alone with Killian for any longer than that."

"You just can't get enough of me, can you, Swan?" The object of discussion sauntered towards them and plopped down next to Tink. "Aren't you joining us?"

"She's going to the library," Tink uttered as if Emma had just told her she preferred Brussels sprouts to ice cream.

"What's that nonsense about? Don't tell me the same thing that's got Ruby has got her!"

"You noticed too!" Tink exclaimed, eager to discuss their friend.

Emma couldn't help but be intrigued. "What is all of this about with Ruby and the library?"

"I don't know," Tink bubbled, "I've just caught her headed there a few times and she's always really sneaky about it."

"Maybe she's studying but she doesn't want to trash her image."

"Yeah, right, Killian." Emma couldn't decide whether it would be more bizarre to have Ruby fully dedicated to schoolwork or to have her care about an image. She shook her head. She was going to get drawn into conversation and then she wouldn't have a good chance to look until tomorrow. She had sophomore and junior years at home (Archie had thought they were important to reaffirming her rightful place in town), but freshman was the most important since she hadn't been around to see for herself.

"I'll take a look around while I'm there and see if anything just screams Ruby, okay? We'll find a way to tease the truth out of her after practice," she added to appease Tink's demand for gossip and help her getaway.

Tink nodded in confirmation. "Okay, deal. Go do whatever it is you need to do and then get back here so we can discuss. Especially since I want details on Operation Emma Save the Queen!"

"I truly approve of that title, Tink. Well done." Killian doffed his imaginary cap, smirking at Emma's look of exasperation.

"Yes, you're just on top of your game today, Tink. I'll see you guys later." Emma threw them a wave as she turned, catching the sound of her friends' low laughter at her situation. But she was hopeful. And this extra puzzle to solve with Ruby made her even more set on spending the rest of the period in the far corner of the school.

It wasn't that Emma didn't like libraries—some of the ones in Boston had been her only sanctuary—but Storybrook High's, well, it was depressing. The glaring fluorescent overheads and the painted brown metal shelving and the crinkly plastic book covers from the seventies made it so you'd go in for what you needed and got out. The only real draw was the attached computer lab where they had finally gotten new iMacs. Emma walked through the door scanners and glanced at the brightly colored domes through the glass wall. There were a few kids there, mostly playing games. One huddled over the screen made Emma wonder if Ruby were here to do something on the internet that she wouldn't want Granny to find, but she dismissed that immediately. For one, it wasn't really Ruby's style, and two, the computers at the town library would be a much better choice without the stringent restrictions and the student log ins. In fact, it wouldn't be suspicious for Ruby to go the town library at all. It was a much more welcoming space and generally approved of group work place with its long oak tables. Besides, they also had a fresh stock of magazines and decent movies to rent. Emma had spent quite a few afternoons there studying herself, and if she had any hope that they kept Storybrooke High records, she would've found a way to go there instead.

Maybe they didn't keep school records, but they would probably have back issues of the Mirror. As Emma approached the front desk, she made a mental note to remember that option. She really didn't care enough about this to want to spend an afternoon looking through microfiche, but if the Yearbook didn't turn anything up, Regina was guaranteed to at least be in some article about academic achievement.

She tapped the bell at the front and leant against the desk waiting for help from the old, stereotype of a librarian, Mrs. Grimwold. Normally she would've wanted to limit her interaction with the gruff woman, but she didn't want to spend the remainder of the period wandering through without any sense of where to look. She crossed her arms and slumped even further over the counter. Hearing movement, she looked up to see a very young, very pretty face.

"Hi, there."

"You're—you're not—"

"No," the girl chuckled a little at Emma's surprise. "I'm Belle. Ms. French if you really want to."

Emma took Belle in. She really was as her name implied, and despite her youth, had a confidence about her that didn't seem to suit a high schooler at least, and definitely not one that would work at the library.

"Are you a student helper or something?"

Belle laughed again, apparently finding joy in the interaction, even when Emma imagined she had to have had many previous ones like it. "Technically, yes. I took my final semester off from Bates so I could graduate with the rest of my class, and I am helping out here, since Mrs. Grimwold could use a little break for her disposition, don't you think?"

That, Emma definitely agreed with. She smiled. "So you've been here for the whole semester?"

"Yes, and I haven't seen you before," Belle teased.

"Would you believe me if I said I was just very sneaky?"

"No."

"Good call." Emma grinned. "Sorry I didn't meet you before, Belle. I'm Emma."

Belle perked up at her name. "Emma Swan? You're one of Ruby's friends, aren't you?"

And with that, one mystery completely unraveled. But as much as Emma wanted to enjoy it, it just reminded her of the higher stakes one she had originally come here for. Still, she thought as she saw the brunette's cheer grow at the thought of her friend, a few more moments wouldn't hurt.

"Yeah, I am! Sorry, Ruby's a terrible friend—she's never mentioned you."

Emma did not miss the faint blush that passed over Belle's cheeks. Not at all.

"We're not—particularly close. I've seen her at Granny's, and she's been coming in for some help on a project she's working on. She mentions you a bit, the name just stuck."

"Sure, of course. Ruby's really great. Thanks for helping her, I'm sure she really appreciates it. She's not much for the library herself."

The blush returned with a knowing smile. "She may have mentioned that once or twice." Then, Belle cleared her head and her throat and returned to business. "Anyway, you're the one who rang for help this time, so how can I help you, Emma Swan?"

"I was wondering if you had old yearbooks?"

Belle pondered for a moment, then answered, "We do. Most of the older copies are in storage, but there are a few we keep out. Is there one you're looking for in particular?"

"'94/'95?"

"That one should definitely be out. Let's go have a look!"

Belle came out from behind the counter and led Emma further into the library. They wove through the stacks to come out in a small study space hidden from the main path. Emma couldn't help but wonder if it had ever been used for its intended purpose.

Belle crouched down to look at the spines on a lower shelf against the wall, reading aloud as she searched.

"'90, '91, misplaced encyclopedia, '92, '93…that's odd." She scanned the whole row quickly then looked at neighboring shelves. "It doesn't appear to be here." She did one more quick look before grabbing the encyclopedia and standing fully.

"Don't worry, I will find it for you," Belle pronounced. "Wait right here, and I'll check where it might be hiding. And return this to its proper home," she added, motioning with the book in her arms. "It won't be more than a few minutes."

Emma considered. She might as well wait. "All right, thanks."

"My pleasure, Emma. Be right back."

Emma smiled and sank into the battered chair as she watched Belle hurry off. Her cheery enthusiasm certainly improved the environment, and as mismatched a pair she and Ruby seemed, Emma could see why her friend had been sneaking off to the library. She wondered whether she should ask Belle about Ruby's "project" to get some extra teasing in.

Pulling out her Spanish textbook, she looked over the vocab she had to know for tomorrow's quiz. It was too easy. Forcing herself to run through the words twice, she shut the book. The silence of this back corner had her feeling restless, and aside from the math she was just assigned and a chapter of reading for geoscience, she didn't have much else to do before class tomorrow. She had already read ahead for English. She didn't like to stop chapter by chapter unless she had to, and The Picture of Dorian Gray had been compelling enough that she read most of it over the first weekend it had been assigned. It was an easy read after the horror that was Heart of Darkness. Dorian was their last real novel before the AP Exam. They would do a few poems, which Emma was less pleased with, and then a final project, something about plays, she vaguely remembered.

Emma got up, dropping her things on the chair in her stead, and scanned the reference numbers on the shelves closest to her. The closest stacks had the tail end of arts and a little further down, the beginning of literature. She slipped past the reference books, making sure she could still see if Belle came back, and sought out American dramas. Maybe she could pick a play or two to impress Ms. Sanders before she assigned the paper. Mostly, she just wasn't good with waiting. And she was beginning to doubt that the yearbook would help much anyway at all. She couldn't remember Regina doing much of anything. Granted, she hadn't really been paying attention. She just wished Belle would get back so she could join Killian and Tink in the hall where they could make fun of their Spanish work together.

She had almost reached the other end of the row, trailing her fingers absentmindedly over the books when she heard soft steps from where she had came. Thinking Belle might be back, she ran back towards the study space, only to stop about a foot in front of the person who had rounded the corner into her row. The person who also happened to be the focus of her mission to the library in the first place.

Regina Mills was standing directly in front of her, a load of books in her arms, her surprise only registering in the slight widening of her eyes before her scowl fell back into place and she started to move around Emma into the aisle.

Emma froze just a moment before turning to follow after her. This was as good a time as any, right? She might as well attempt to make a connection. She was going to need all the attempts she could get.

"Excuse me—" Emma almost reached out to touch the arm in front of her before thinking that may not go over well.

"Am I in your way?" Regina looked up briefly from the shelf she had been searching through to maintain eye contact with Emma.

That had not been what Emma meant to imply at all, and Regina's stare was almost unnerving, a game of chicken. "No," she quickly answered.

All that did was return Regina's attention directly to the books. This was already going worse than the deep-sea-low expectations she had. She decided to try again.

"Hi." She gave a little wave before offering her hand to shake. "Emma Swan."

Regina just stared at Emma's outstretched hand, but at least her focus had been torn entirely from the books. Emma decided to take that as a good sign.

"I know we haven't, like, interacted much—"

"At all."

"What?" Emma could already be a little jumpy when it came to new introductions, and Regina wasn't helping in the least.

"We haven't interacted at all. Unless you count being in the same class."

"Right. Well, I was wondering…if you'd like to hang out sometime? There's a game on Wednesday—"

"No."

Regina had turned to walk away with her dismissal, but Emma hopped around to stay in her line of sight. She wasn't going to give up so easily. And she had been said to be occasionally charming. She put on her best smile.

"Okay, not Wednesday. Thursday? Granny's? The new pizza place?"

"No." Regina tried moving to get around Emma, increasingly frustrated.

But by now Emma had found the cockiness of her persona and shifted to block Regina's path again. Regina couldn't do anything to her, and she would be the first to break that icy exterior, she knew it. "I get it, school nights. Friday then. Anywhere you'd like."

Instead of trying to edge her way around, Regina stood up straight, maintaining the little distance between them but filling it with an icy energy.

"No, I'm not in the least interested in hanging out with you. And if you're trying to mess with me, you ought to try being a little less transparently cliché."

With that she turned around completely and swiftly made her way through the books until she vanished from Emma's line of vision.

Emma slumped. So, that had gone well.

"Emma?"

Belle's inquisitive voice broke her out of however long she had been wallowing in her failure. She rounded the corner to come out into the area where Belle was waiting, yearbook in hand.

"I'm so sorry it took me this long. Apparently someone on the graduation committee had been using it to make some sort of retrospective? I hope I haven't kept you from anything."

"No, not at all Belle, don't worry about it. Thanks for finding it for me."

If Belle noticed the poor job Emma did of hiding her shift in mood, she didn't mention it.

"Of course. Since I cut down your time with it, I'll make an exception to let you check it out for the night, if you'd like. You'll have to have it back before school tomorrow."

Emma brightened a little. She could still grab a couple of minutes with Tink and Killian and loop Tink in. She'd hunker down with all three yearbooks once she got home and had time to really look.

"I can do that! Thanks, Belle." Emma gathered her books and bag and started walking back to the front with the new librarian.

"Not a problem, Emma. I hope it helps with whatever you need it for."

Emma tried to keep her rebounding spirits to herself. "I'm sure it will. Speaking of, I've been wondering if the project you're helping Ruby with is for our shared class…"

"Really, Rubes? A report on the pack instincts of wolves?"

Emma used the ball in her hand to knock the one headed for her legs to the other side of the gym. Usually she and Ruby had plenty of time to talk on dodgeball days as long as they were on the same team, but their side had been weeded out faster than usual. And that meant no standing in the back.

"What? It's interesting!" Ruby shot back, throwing a wicked line drive that bounced off of Eric's shoulder and mercifully hit the floor before one of his remaining team caught it.

"I guess I'll give you credit for actually working on something, even if it is just to hang out with the cool new lady librarian," Emma teased, wiggling her eyebrows at her friend, before soundly catching the throw of someone who thought they'd had her off-guard.

"Thank you." Ruby dipped to the side to pick up one of the rubber balls and dodge another coming straight for her before she sidled up to Emma. "Em, I know this is stupid, but could you—"

"I'm not saying a word, Rubes. Belle's your thing to share." She whipped one at Anton, tripping him over his own feet in a scramble to get away. "But I gotta say I'd bet you'll be introducing her pretty soon. Girl is into you."

The red in Ruby's face was not entirely from exertion. "Yeah?"

Emma hustled to pick up one dribbling by before dropping it to catch one thrown directly at her middle. "What can I say? I'm good at reading people." She smirked in Ruby's direction before firing a quick one-two, getting two more kids out.

"Thanks, Ems." Ruby's shy smile was one of the rarest, but it was also one of Emma's favorites. It was sometimes good to know her usually unflappable friend could feel just as unsure as she did. "You know," Ruby exhaled as she caught the elbow of one of the remaining girls, leaving her and Emma against Fred, "if you needed some help with Regina, I wouldn't be opposed."

"Thank you, Ruby," Emma chuckled as she tossed her friend a ball. "That's very big of you."

They looked at each other before scoping Fred out. "Yeah, well." They took aim. "I still want you to lose." They fired simultaneously.

Fred just missed dodging Ruby's as it clipped him on his wrist.

Wrapping an arm around each other as their team celebrated, Emma bumped into the brunette's shoulder. "What do you say, you want to hear about Operation Emma Save the Queen?"

Ruby laughed. "That was Tink's idea, wasn't it." Emma nodded.

"Yes, I definitely want in."

"Good." Emma smiled, accepting the high fives of her teammates. "We're meeting Tink after practice today, and I'll update you both."