Ruby raised an eyebrow at the sight of Regina leading Emma across to their usual spot.

"She's a quick worker," smirked Katheryn, following the brunette's line of sight.

"She'd like to be," corrected Ruby. "But I think we both know what once what she's doing catches up with her she'll push her away."

"Then we're just going to have to make sure that doesn't happen. It's about time she finally found someone." decided Katheryn, both of them sharing a look. They knew exactly how difficult that was going to be.

"Hey Regina!" smiled Ruby as she approached.

"Hi," the brunette smiled back. "Emma, this is Ruby, whose grandmother owns the diner and Katheryn." Both girls smiled back at the blonde.

"Come, sit," said Ruby, gesturing towards the so far empty side of the picnic table that sat alongside the apple tree on the school property. She rustled in the bags she had picked up from Grannies for lunch. "Regina I got your usual," she said, handing over a grilled chicken salad. "Katheryn, your mystery filling panini – and no, I have no idea what she put on it for you today. And Emma, burger and fries?"

The blonde blinked, not quite understanding the box of food being handed towards her. Why would these girls buy her lunch? They didn't even know her.

Seeing her hesitancy, Regina found herself compelled to speak. "Katheryn's boyfriend, Frederick sometimes sits with us. He's not coming today, so someone may as well eat it."

"Really?" asked Ruby, glaring at Regina as Emma finally relieved her of the box.

"Yes, really," hissed Regina, kicking the girl under the table, leaving no doubt that her lie was to be left unquestioned for now.

"Thanks, you guys," said Emma. "It's nice of you to let me sit with you."

"No problem," smiled Ruby as she tucked into her own burger. "Besides you're better off hanging with the cool kids."

"She should be hanging with me then," came the all too familiar drawl of one Killian Jones.

"Get lost Killian," growled Ruby.

Emma turned to find a leather clad boy behind her, his smile almost a sneer. He looked like trouble, exactly the kind of person Emma had hung around with in her previous homes. The kind of person she was trying to steer well clear of this time around.

"Pretty girl like you is wasted on this lot," he grinned, eyes on Emma. "If you want to be a bit more appreciated you should come and sit with me and my boys." The way he said it made her skin crawl

"Killian, please fuck off," said Regina sweetly, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. Still grinning, he stepped around the table, coming far too close to Emma for her liking. As she saw the blonde shift uncomfortably away from him, something in her snapped. "Killian, take your lecherous self back to your little band of misfits before I remove the brain you keep between your legs."

"Regina, Regina," he sighed, acting as though he couldn't care less, even although he knew to be wary from the dangerous glint in the brunette's eyes. He had been on the receiving end of her fists and kicks, quickly learning she wasn't a girl who pulled her punches, and when they didn't work, she wasn't above teeth and claws. "One day that icy façade will melt away and you'll pour yourself into my arms."

"I'd rather drink acid and eat needles," replied the brunette without missing a beat, shifting her attention back to her salad, watching out of the corner of her eye as Killian retreated with a sigh and a shake of his head.

"Who was he?" asked Emma, watching him go.

"Killian Jones," provided Katheryn. "The local STD on legs."

Ruby nodded, swallowing her bite of burger. "Flirts with everyone, sleeps with anyone who'll let him within six feet of them."

Katheryn nodded. "Offers to take people back to his boat, like it's some big romantic gesture." Seeing the confusion on Emma's face, she continued. "He lives on some big boat in the docks."

"He should do us all a favour and sail away in it," growled Regina. "Or it could sink…and him with it."

"Don't worry, she's not always this grumpy," grinned Ruby as Emma looked rather concerned at the change in demeanor of the brunette who so far had been nothing but nice to her, if a little formal. "Killian just has a knack for getting on her nerves."

"That's an understatement," snorted Katheryn, earning a glare from Regina. "So, Emma, what kind of stuff do you like to do when you're not stuck in school?" she asked, quickly redirecting their conversation before sharp heels could find her shin.

Emma shrugged, picking at the fries that remained. "I don't know. I just got here, so I don't really know what there is to do." She didn't want to give admit to her previous pastimes including running away, petty theft, heavy underage drinking, dabbling with drugs and generally avoiding the police.

"If you enjoy doing nothing, plenty of that," smirked Regina.

"Regina, not everyone is as bored of this town as you," said Ruby. "And besides, you have fun with us, don't deny it."

"Fine," chuckled the other brunette. "You guys make it somewhat bearable."

"She acts like she's above it all," laughed Ruby. "But she does love letting her hair down sometimes."

"Speaking of letting our hair down, are we still on for next weekend?" asked Katheryn.

"As long as Granny is still happy covering for me, I'm in," said Regina.

Ruby grinned. "She is." She looked over at Emma, who's gaze had dropped back to the table, clearly feeling she wasn't included. "How about you Emma?"

"What?" the blonde looked up.

Ignoring Regina's odd expression, Ruby continued. "Next weekend we were going to camp up beside the waterfall in the woods. A few drinks around the fire, have a laugh. You should come."

Emma smiled, looking around at the three girls. "Are you sure? I mean, you guys hardly know me. I wouldn't want to crash your party." She hated sounding so unsure of herself. But she had tried the cocky, brash approach before, and it had gotten her nowhere. No, scrap that, it had got her worse than nowhere; backwards. Now, with Mary Margaret, she wanted to make it work. She was sick of being moved pillar to post, and at almost eighteen, she didn't want to be out of the system with no one to turn to. This was her last chance, and she knew it. She noticed the way both Katheryn and Ruby turned to look at Regina, waiting for her to answer.

"I don't know why you're all looking at me," she said, feigning disinterest. "I brought her to lunch, clearly I have no objections to her coming."

Grinning, Ruby winked at Emma. "You in?"

"I'll need to ask, but sure, I'd love to!" Was this what making proper friends felt like, wondered Emma.

"Are you going to tell me why the lunch you ordered for Emma suddenly became Frederick's cast offs?" asked Ruby as she caught up with Regina, who had just dropped Emma off outside her first class after lunch.

"Nope."

"Regina, come on!" whined Ruby. With a sigh, she fell into step next to the infuriating girl. "You know it's all right to like her?"

"I barely even know her, Ruby!" snapped Regina. Truth was, however, that she wanted to get to know her.

"So get to know her," shrugged Ruby. "See if you're still smiling like an idiot at her after that."

"I was not smiling like an idiot!" snapped Regina, coming to a halt outside of the art rooms.

"Try telling your face that!" called Ruby as she continued on to her own class.

Regina walked with Emma to the school's exit, having picked her up after her final class. "I can meet you just before school tomorrow, save you getting lost on the way to registration."

"Are you sure you don't mind?" asked Emma, still slightly overwhelmed as to why the image of perfection next to her seemed to like her.

Regina smirked. "If I did, I wouldn't offer. Ask anyone in this school, I don't waste my time with people I don't want to be around." She took in the way the blonde blushed at her words. "Anyway, my car is round back, so I'll see you tomorrow."

Emma nodded, watching as the girl began to walk away. "Regina!" she called, smiling when the brunette whipped around. "Thanks for today, for everything you done. I was really nervous about coming here, and you made it a lot less of a nightmare than I thought it would be."

Smiling, Regina nodded. "Despite what many will tell you Miss Swan, I'm not always Evil."