So.

This was prom.

Regina couldn't help but think that Mary Margaret had gone a bit overboard considering these elaborate decorations were not going to last more than one night, her fairy tale obsessions playing out for the whole school to see.

Though she did have to admit that the gym was hardly even recognizable as a gym, which certainly wasn't a bad thing.

Victor stood by her, returning to her side with a smile after holding open the door. He had surprisingly been a perfect gentleman since the moment he came to pick her up, even outside of her parent's supervision, remaining appropriate in the car—even while maintaining conversation. She didn't know where all of it was coming from, but it somehow served both to settle her nerves and increase them as she waited for the other shoe to drop.

They remained for a moment just inside the doors, doing an initial survey of the room. No one had particularly appeared to notice their entrance at first with the party already in full swing, but as they moved into the space, it wasn't long before people started waving hello. Even to her.

It was, perhaps, a little overwhelming. With the music and the decorations and the gowns and the tuxes and the people who had either belittled or ignored her just weeks before suddenly fine with her joining in the celebration. More than fine if their smiles and hellos were anything to go by.

But that didn't matter anymore. She would own this.

"I hate to ask, Regina," Whale began apologetically, breaking her from her thoughts, "but would you mind if I left you for a moment? Just for the bathroom, and then I'll be back with drinks for the both of us, I promise."

Maybe Whale wasn't the most comforting presence, but he was still significantly better than being alone in this new world. Still, she knew better than to let him know that.

"Not at all. Go right ahead."

He smiled graciously. "I'll be right back," he promised. "Don't have too good a time without me."

Somehow she managed a smile that could maybe pass for sincere.

At that, Whale headed off with purpose, which Regina decided to interpret as good. Purpose meant he had a destination, which hopefully meant he wasn't just abandoning her for the rest of the evening.

Now alone, she stood simply observing her peers. She was in control, she was in command, and she would not be harassed.

Maybe she could find Kathryn.

That felt a little too desperate. She would just wait and survey, head held high.

They'd make the announcement for Queen, Emma would win—and if Whale had decided to ditch her, she could always walk home.

She would be fine. Like always.

Apparently Emma had gone on staring at Regina a little too long since Tink and Ruby noticed she was no longer responding to a conversation they were sure she'd have some sort of say in.

"Emma, you don't have anything to—oh! I see," Tink teased as she followed Emma's line of sight to the focus of her concentration.

Ruby looked right along with her and was entirely less subtle.

"Damn, she looks good!" She exclaimed. "Emma, go tell her!"

That turned Emma's attention instantly back to her friends.

"What? No!"

"Why not, Emma?" Tink asked, more gently but no less insistent. "She does look lovely, and Whale, the tool, has already left her alone! That's no way to spend prom."

"Guys, I can't," Emma insisted, firmly ignoring the desire to look back in Regina's direction.

"Of course you can, Emma."

"No, Tink. I really can't."

"Emma Swan, you get your ass over there, tell her you've been staring with your mouth open because she is absolutely rocking that dress, and then beg furiously for her forgiveness," Ruby commanded, not entirely managing to keep the exasperation out of her voice. She just wanted Emma to be happy. "It's about damn time."

"Ruby, don't you get it! She's been freezing me out for a reason, I don't want to—" Emma sputtered in her outcry, not knowing how to express everything or if she even wanted to. "Look, that's what the letters were for, and she clearly hasn't read them, so I'm not going to—I'm going to go to the bathroom."

With that, Emma strode off, her tense power walk out of sync with her delicate gown.

"Emma, it's not that bad—" Tink tried calling and trailing after her until Ruby stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"Give it up, Tink," She sighed, watching Emma head out the side doors. "She's got to get over it her own stubborn self. But," she shifted gears, energy building. "That shouldn't stop us from begging for ourselves. Or telling her she's hot."

"Ruby," Tink scoffed.

"What? She totally is."

Tink smirked back, bolstered by her friend's predictability. "Fine. But let's go tell her that instead just repeating it to me." Ruby wasn't the only one who could take control of a situation.

She grabbed Ruby's arm and started pulling her along, calling out "Regina!" as they approached.

Both girls saw Regina's reaction as she heard Tink—how she had been startled and now, even beneath her settled composure seemed still at least a little confused.

"Oh, Ruby," Tink whispered as they approached, "It's worse than I thought."

Ruby shook her head. A good deal of this mess was on her, and she wasn't going to give up trying to fix it.

"Don't worry, I've got this."

She strode the last couple of steps in front of Tink, wolf-whistling—the one Mary Margaret hadn't taken her up on, the one that did in fact get most people's attention even over the loud music.

"Regina Mills," she hollered. "You are the finest woman in here!"

The surprise was back on Regina's complexion along with a very healthy blush.

Ruby grinned heartily and Regina only turned pinker as some of the people nearby gave a smattering of applause in agreement.

Regina quickly regained her poise though, even if she couldn't fully control her smile.

"And you, Ruby Lucas, are the loudest and most inappropriately dressed."

Regina was testing her. Prodding, making sure that no one got close enough to harm, but this had always been the part of Regina Ruby liked best. The sass. It really was a shame that Mary Margaret had kept her from at least being friendly all these years. Not that all the blame lay with her. That didn't matter now. She would be friends with Regina, sassy or otherwise.

Ruby's grin grew impossibly larger. "Wouldn't want to ruin my reputation."

The smile Regina had been trying to suppress into a derisive sort of sneer escaped its confines. She rolled her eyes at the same time as Tink.

They both laughed a little at their similarity.

It was awkward, but it was a start. There was hope for them, all of them. Ruby just knew it.

Emma headed down the mostly empty hall towards the bathroom. She wouldn't actually go in, not with the sure to be throngs of girls adjusting their makeup or their boobs before heading back into the fun. She just needed a moment to gather herself.

She shouldn't be avoiding Regina. It was a big enough event that she shouldn't have to worry about it, but it was so painful, knowing she was right there and she couldn't do anything. Or maybe shouldn't do anything. She didn't even know anymore.

She paused in a dimly lit corner just around the way, the fluorescents entirely off in this hall. If anyone came by she could either act like she was headed into the dance or slink further into the hall, out of sight.

Leaning against the cool tile, she took a deep breath. Maybe she could go up to Regina just to say hi. Maybe that wouldn't cause drama? She didn't know. They hadn't spent any sort of time together, even in the same room, and she really didn't want to be responsible for ruining Regina's night. Not anymore than she already had. But maybe Regina had read the letters and was waiting for her? She should wait until Monday, but she couldn't just stand by—

As she ran through her thoughts, her attention was caught by a pack of boys headed out of the bathroom. A couple of dudes that always hung out together, Trevor and Taylor, then Jefferson—and Whale. He was talking, holding court almost as they gathered together, not noticing her standing close enough to hear through the echoing halls.

Whale was very confident, at the top of his cockiness as he continued whatever he had been saying behind closed doors.

"—Manor Inn in Thomaston," he seemed to brag.

"Not Granny's?" Jefferson asked.

"Hell no, do you think I'm an idiot?" Whale scoffed. "Away from her parents, away from the town—alone in that room when I've been nothing but the perfect date all night? I'll have her eating out of the palm of my hand—and then we'll move on to more enjoyable things with her mouth."

Ugh.

The boys laughed.

Taylor groaned, "Fuck, with those lips…"

"You wish, man." Trevor was skeptical. "I'm not taking this bet. She's like the smartest girl in school, no way she falls for that."

"Smartest, most insecure girl in school. Some complimenting, a little vodka in her drinks…I'm already halfway there. It's a sure thing. But if she asks, just tell her you'll be going to the after-party there, too."

Oh, no.

"Damn, can I? I'd like me some of that ass."

"You weren't smart enough to get in on this." Whale grinned. "I got to get back. Can't keep my date waiting."

Oh no, no, no, no, no.

Whale laughed and his crew chuckled with him as they made their way back down the hall.

Fuck.

That wasn't—he wasn't just being—he had a plan. A plan for Regina.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

She had to warn her.

The guys were ahead of her in the hall, so she couldn't pass them, but she could cut around to the other doors to get to Regina first.

She could go up to them, but she couldn't trust herself to keep what she knew under wraps without sucker punching Whale, and doing that wouldn't help anything. If he knew she was warning Regina, he might change plans or prey on someone else—he'd fuck things up no matter what for sure. .

So she rushed through the halls, taking a short cut through the locker rooms to get through to the gym.

Entering, she saw that Regina wasn't where she had been and that Whale was already there, looking for her. But he was also being distracted for a moment by one of his past flings. Emma knew she had to act now. Regina wouldn't be dancing by herself or likely anyone else—not since Emma, she thought with a cringe. And she hadn't left or gone to the bathroom since Emma would've seen her in the hall. That left by the refreshments or the wall with the chaperones and wallflowers. By the refreshments it was, since Regina wouldn't stoop to feel ashamed. Not at this point. She hurried over, making sure Whale was thoroughly taken with his current conversation, or at least her boobs in that dress.

She could save her.

Talking with Tink and Ruby hadn't been awful. It hadn't. But still she had found the need to excuse herself shortly after it had registered that Victor had been gone rather long for just a trip to the bathroom. And being with Emma's friends as her situation grew even less stable, well, it was too much, despite their seeming best intentions. She was angry with them and herself all at once as seemed to be the usual these days. It was best to remove herself before she did something she wouldn't be proud of one way or another. Maybe get the drink Whale had offered and consider how best to wait out for the announcement on her own if he had in fact, left her. Just another set up for failure and embarrassment, courtesy of Emma.

"Regina!"

Emma.

She had been wondering where the blonde had been, especially when her friends had made their way over without her. She thought she had caught a glimpse of her making her way out of the gym, and now she knew she had. The same glittering gold dress and effortless curls. Had she been avoiding her? But now she was barreling straight towards her, breathless.

"Don't go to the hotel with Whale."

Of all the things Regina might have expected her to say, what came out of Emma's mouth didn't even come close.

"What?"

"The hotel. It's not an after-party. He just—he just wants to have sex with you, Regina. Anything he does, or is doing, it's just to get you in that room alone."

Something in Regina just flipped. They hadn't talked face to face since Regina had found out their friendship was a sham, and now Emma just barged in to her evening not to apologize, not to ask to speak to her for a moment alone, but to tell her her date had only invited her, was only being kind to her because he wanted an easy score. No. She didn't get to do that.

"So the only reason someone would be nice to me is to fuck me? Is that what you wanted to make clear?"

The pure vitriol that came out in Regina's tone only matched her now entirely harsh face, any trace of surprise or openness gone. Emma had fucked it up. Again.

"No, Regina, I didn't mean—"

"No, of course not. They could also want to be nice to me for the sake of a bet, isn't that right?"

"No," Emma gasped. How had she so massively bungled this? "Regina, please, I didn't—you know I'm an idiot, just he—"

"Regina, is Swan bothering you?"

Whale had sidled up to Regina, just barely offering her personal space, staring at Emma with a playful sort of intimidation. She glared back at him, but it didn't matter. The smug bastard knew he had the upper hand, no matter what Emma knew or said.

"It's fine, Victor. She was just about to leave," Regina replied, her eyes not once leaving Emma's.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long," he apologized. "People kept stopping me when all I wanted to do was to get back to dance with you."

Every word out of his mouth had Emma's anger growing. How could Regina not see how slimy he was? How had Emma not been able to convince her?

"You're back now," Regina offered.

"That I am," he confirmed, smiling. "Regina?" He offered his hand, the other indicating the dance floor.

Regina took it.

"See you around, Emma," Whale threw over his shoulder as he led the way into the crowd.

"Regina," Emma tried one last time as Regina followed after Whale. "Please be careful."

Regina dropped Whale's hand to turn and look Emma straight in the eye.

"I can take care of myself, Swan."

She turned back to Victor who had been waiting for her, and they found an open spot on the floor. As she moved she could only just catch Emma staring still, through the throng, looking straight at her in that puppy way she had.

They danced, but her heart wasn't in it. They danced, but she kept catching glimpses of blonde and gold, Emma unmoving. Until suddenly, she turned, and Emma was no longer there.