Regina Mills
The days seemed to turn into weeks and the weeks quickly morphed into months. I've spent all my free time over the past two months learning everything there is to know about Emma Swan. I've never known a friendship like this besides my sister. If I were being honest with myself, Emma and I have become inseparable recently.
Professor Glass never returned to class, so I was asked to finish off the school year which I was more than happy to oblige. I was worried in the beginning about my friendship with Emma for no reason because she has proved that we can remain friends outside of class as we are professional in class. She's a very intelligent woman which I'm thankful for. There's no reason why I need to fight some inner morale about special treatment.
Emma and I are both lazily propped up in her bed with our backs against her headboard. I'm grading the final essays before we prepare for finals while Emma is working on an essay for another class. Our legs are both nestled under her blanket while we work in silence. Emma has her laptop resting upon her lap with her fingers furiously typing away. She's wearing her favorite baggy shirt, that belongs to Neal and her hair is piled high into a messy ponytail. She has those damn sexy glasses on and if I wasn't so straight she might be able to turn me. I was in my yoga pants and an extremely soft fleece that Emma kindly borrowed to me. Every so often the smell of vanilla mixed with cinnamon clouds my mind. It's a warming fragrance that I've learned to associate with the blonde now.
Ruby swung open Emma's bedroom door, pulling me from my wandering thoughts. Emma and I both grabbed our stuff securely hoping nothing would fall off the bed, knowing all too well that she is about to jump onto the bed.
"I thought by now you'd be in my bed! She's the straight one!" Ruby teased pointing to Emma.
"As am I dear," I firmly stated as I rolled my eyes at the flirtatious brunette.
After a few weeks of trying to hook up with me, Ruby final gave up. Which I am so thankful for, she's sweet but I don't find her or any woman for that matter attractive. Well that's not completely true...my eyes wandered to the blonde sitting next to me as a small smile forms without my permission.
"What's up Rubes? We are trying to work here," Emma mumble, not bothering to look up from her computer screen.
"Are you guys gonna be locked up in here all day? Let's go do something!"
"Where's Belle? Go bother her," Emma stated staring very intently at her screen, ignoring her friend. Her thumb was tucked securely between her teeth as she read something over. A cute little nervous habit that I have discovered over the last few months.
"She's out...on a date..." Ruby grinned from ear to ear as Emma slowly pushed her laptop aside.
"Get out!" Emma exclaimed.
"Am I missing something?" I questioned in confusion. I don't see why that would be a surprise, Belle is a very beautiful, intelligent girl.
"Belle, is painfully shy, you don't see it because she's comfortable around Ruby and I. She never goes out on dates." The corners of my mouth curled into a frown as I thought about this confession.
"Poor girl is still a virgin," Ruby confessed as Emma quickly whipped a pillow at her face.
"That's not for us to blab about!" Emma scolded.
"Oh, come on! It's Mills for crying out loud. You two tell each other everything," she groaned.
I tried desperately to force back my smile, but I was too ecstatic about having a true friend. Just then I noticed Neal leaning on the frame in the doorway.
"Man, you're lucky I'm so trusting, Emma. You're in bed with Ruby and Mills?" The dirty man laughed as he followed Ruby's previous action and jumped onto the bed.
I'm still not comfortable with this type of situation but I have to be sooner or later because this is how this group of friends are with one another. I'm fine when it's just Emma and I cuddling in bed but I'm still getting to know Ruby and Neal.
Emma leaned forward to place a quick peck to Neal's lips.
"Where's mine?" Ruby pouted as she pursed her lips forward.
Emma gripped her friend's chin and lightly pressed her lips to Ruby's. I fought really hard to mask my emotions as I watched the display of affection. I know it meant absolutely nothing and I couldn't explain the pang of jealously that surged through my body. Maybe I'm just feeling protective. I finally I have a friend and I don't want to lose her, but I have no reason to feel that way, she was friends with all of them way before I came into the picture.
"Mills..." I wonder if we will be that close one day, "Mills..." where we can kiss, and it will be seen as no big deal to everyone around us.
"Regina!" I jumped slightly turning my head toward Emma, immediately noticing how all eyes were on me.
"What?" I snapped coldly feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck.
"I asked if you were almost done grading those essays? I'm almost done with mine for now. Just need you to proof read it later." I nodded along and counted the papers in front of me.
"Three more," I confirmed.
"Alright you two run along, we will be out as soon as we finish," Emma ordered as she swatted at the two intruders to leave.
Ruby stood from the bed leaving her spot in front of Emma open. Neal crawled across the bed and up Emma's legs, planting one aggressive kiss to her delicate lips. I begged myself to look away, but my head was not cooperating.
"Hurry up," he whispered before he jumped off the bed, leaving the room and closing the door behind him. Emma's green eyes shifted so she could study me out of the corner of her eye.
"Why are you so red?" She finally turned her body to face me completely.
I shook my head while dropping my gaze to the papers in front of me. I stuck my pen between my teeth to bite on something to help keep my nerves at bay. Why am I feeling these mixed emotions about this woman? I've never looked at a woman before and thought what it would be like to feel their lips pressed against mine.
Emma ripped the paper out from under me as I fumbled to retrieve it back, clearing my mind from my conflicting thoughts.
"Swan..." I warned as she held the paper hostage behind her back.
"Awww are you jealous Mills? Everyone got a kiss today but you?" She teased in a pouty voice as her bottom lip poked out dramatically.
"Yeah right..." I rolled my eyes as I reached for the essay behind her.
"Or is it because I got to kiss Ruby and you didn't?"
"Don't start putting ideas into that girl's head!" I demanded forcefully.
I reached forward again but Emma fell back causing me to fall on directly on top of her. My body was pressed firmly against hers. The warmth that radiated off this woman was like my own personal blanket. I suddenly felt a rush of excitement flood my veins. Tiny little butterflies erupted in my stomach, so I instantly fumbled backward feeling completely confused by the situation.
There's no way I could feel something more for Emma. She is my friend, my only friend. Emma sat up but continued to move closer until she gently placed a kiss upon my cheek. Her arm stretched forward between us, silently offering my paper back.
"Now you aren't left out," she assured me happily with her infamous goofy grin. I rolled my eyes once more and resumed my work in an attempt to ignore my feelings.
I promised I would edit Emma's paper later because we were both feeling mentally drained and hungry. Ruby and Neal had already started drinking when we finally emerged from Emma's room. It was now eight in the evening, we spent all day in that tiny room working. My vision was actually blurry from staring at the small black words all day.
"Wow you two look terrible!" Ruby confessed through a laugh that quickly morphed into a snort.
"It's the end of the year, what do you expect?" Emma questioned as she sat on Neal's lap.
I chose the love seat across from the three of them to keep a safe distance from the blonde. As I began to sit down the intercom buzzed.
"Hey that should be August, I invited him over and he's bringing pizza," Neal informed us as he stood up forcing Emma to follow.
"Fine, don't cuddle with me!" She mocked as she stuck out her tongue dramatically. Neal just laughed at her playful banter as he went to buzz August up.
"What are you gonna do, leave me babe?" He joked as Emma made her way to my couch.
My heart stopped.
"I just might..." she continued teasingly while my body froze as I kept my eyes on her.
"You wouldn't dare! You love me too much..." Emma lifted one leg slowly keeping an eye on Neal.
Stay calm. You don't have feelings for her.
"Do I?" She questioned before she crawled very slowly into my lap.
An audible gulp ripped from my throat without my consent forcing me to send a silent prayer that she didn't just hear me. Emma tucked her messy hair into the crook of my neck. Her long legs were folded across my lap as her one arm wrapped around my waist and the other around my chest as she gripped my shoulder.
She's just a friend. She loves Neal. She acts the same way with Ruby.
I repeated this over and over again until Neal ran up and scooped the long limbs from my body into his arms. He spun her around the living room as she squealed and held on for dear life. I inhaled sharply feeling as though I could finally breathe again. He set her down gently just as the front door swung open.
"August!" They all shouted in unison as another scruffy man wrapped in black leather entered the apartment.
"Regina Mills, meet August Booth," Neal introduced us as Emma and Ruby ran for the pizza. We shook hands and both said nice to meet you, but again I didn't feel comfortable around him. I really wanted to leave but I know that would be rude, so I fought against my instincts. "Maybe you two will hit it off," Neal suggested taking a bite into his pizza.
"I doubt it, if I couldn't get her...he definitely doesn't have a chance," Ruby elbowed August in the ribs as she laughed.
Why are they all so flirtatious? Especially with me? This baffled my mind, I have never been the object to everyone's affection.
"She's too good for you Booth!" Emma taunted with a mouth full of pizza.
"Sorry Regina but I'm a wanderer anyway," he smiled considerately, and I returned the gesture. August slapped a hand on the back of Neal's shoulder, while both men grinned. "Come on man, if we want to make it there in time, we better leave now." Neal nodded along in return to his friend's suggestion.
August leaned forward and kissed Emma's cheek in a friendly manner. "Bye sweetie, take care," he said while pulling back from the blonde. Emma nodded before turning her attention to her boyfriend.
"Do you have to leave?"
"Yeah babe, this job is going to pay a lot! I can't pass this up," he kissed her passionately causing my stomach turn. "I'll be back before you know it."
Just like that, Neal was out the door, leaving the girls behind.
"Man, him and August have had a lot of jobs lately," Ruby acknowledged while cautiously glancing in Emma's direction.
"Yeah..." Emma trailed off appearing as though she didn't want to continue with this topic of conversation.
"Is this one of those odd jobs? Do you know what they are?" I asked trying not to sound too interested, knowing this is always a sore subject for Emma to discuss.
"I really don't want to talk about it."
"Fine. We don't have to, but if he's doing something illegal, you don't want that to come back and bite you in the ass. Not when you've worked this hard and come this far."
I know she will probably be angry with me for interfering in her relationship, but I had to say something. I picked up a piece of pizza and made my way to the living room, silently expressing that I wouldn't say anymore relating to this topic.
"She's right Em," Ruby agreed and followed my lead, sitting on the opposite couch.
Emma threw her pizza down like a scolded child and exhaled in an exaggerated manner, letting us know she's pissed at us. She stood up from the bar stool and stomped her way into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.