When Belle moved to stand up, she felt something hold her still as she looked Emma up and down. A look of pity filled her eyes as she watched Emma's eyebrows furrow in her sleep. Emma's hands clenched into fists as she bit down hard on her lip. Belle wanted to wake her, but she could tell the girl needed her rest. She looked like she hadn't slept in days.

Belle watched for a while as Emma's chest rose and fell, her face still twisted in agony. I just want to help her, Belle was thinking, not knowing what to do. After some time, she laid down and rested her head on the other pillow, still watching the blonde as she slept. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep beside the blonde.

In the morning, Belle woke first, jumping up as soon as she saw the sleeping girl beside her. Emma woke next, and as soon as she saw Belle, she jumped too.

"What the fuck?" she asked, staring at the brunette with wide eyes. "What happened? I fell asleep?"

"What do you mean?"

"I fell asleep on the bed?" she repeated.

"Yeah, but it's not a big deal... I... It's really okay. I fell asleep, too. It's no big deal."

"I am so sorry. I didn't realize I was that tired. I really didn't mean to do that. I swear I meant to sleep on the couch."

Belle paused, then said, "I'm glad you didn't. It's not very comfortable."

"I would have been fine," the blonde said stubbornly.

"Stop it, Emma. Can't you just let someone care about you?"

The girl didn't know what to say.

"Belle," she whispered. "Please don't."

"Don't what? Don't care? You're being ridiculous. We're friends. Besides, I'd rather you be here getting fed than there getting beaten up."

Emma walked down the stairs with her new friend in silence and sat down at the table. Belle fixed them breakfast, and Emma ate it in quietly after humbly thanking her.

"I don't want to go to school," she sighed, leaning over and resting her head on the table in front of her plate.

"We have to, though. You've got to pass this test."

"I know."

"Don't worry, Em. It's almost over."

"Don't call me Em. It makes me sound like I'm five."

"Aww, c'mon, Em!" Belle giggled. "It's cute!"

"All right, all right! You can call me Em. But I swear to God, if you pick any other stupid nicknames, I will kill you."

But Emma was laughing through her words, so Belle kept smiling.

After school, Regina pulled up to the curb and waited for Emma to appear once the bell had rung.

"Hey, baby!" she said with a smile, getting out of the car and opening the passenger's door for the blonde.

Emma climbed into the car slowly and sat down quietly, not greeting her lover. When Regina got in, she looked at Emma with confusion.

"Is something wrong?" the doctor asked, looking at Emma before starting the car.

"Yeah," Emma mumbled. "Belle thinks we're friends."

"Aren't you?"

"No, we're not, but I don't know how to tell her that. I don't do 'friends.'"

"Emma, you don't have to shut people out like that. Obviously, she cares about you. Can't you just let her? Let me?"

"No."

"You're acting like a child."

"You say that a lot."

"Because you do it a lot!"

Crossing her arms, Emma looked out the window until they were almost at the apartment.

"Take me back to the house," Emma said suddenly. "I'm not doing this."

"What the Hell, Emma! Are you serious? What the fuck did I do to you?"

"Nothing. I just can't deal with all this 'caring' bullshit. You guys are full of it."

"We're not full of it. You're just too blind to see the truth." Regina sighed, then looked over at her and said, "I'll take you back to the house if that's what you want."

Regina drove a few more blocks, but when Emma didn't say anything, she turned the car around. At the house, Regina started to get out of the car to open Emma's door, but the girl was already walking up the driveway.

"Emma!" Regina yelled, looking over the car. "I-"

But Emma's foster mother appeared in the doorway as Emma reached the steps, glancing over and watching as the girl's former therapist got back in the car.

"Where have you been?"

"I spent the night at Belle's and then I had therapy," Emma half-lied as she walked through the door. "I'm really tired though. I think I'm just gonna go upstairs and sleep, if that's okay."

The foster mother shook her head slowly and looked Emma up and down.

"I'm worried about you, Emma. You've been acting strange lately. And what's wrong with your eye?"

The woman looked genuinely concerned, which surprised Emma.

"Nothing," she answered, staring intently at the ground.

"You can tell me, honey. What's the matter?"

"I'm fine."

No more words were exchanged before Emma ascended the stairs and entered her bedroom, locking the door behind her. When she checked her phone, there was already a text message from Regina.

'That was bullshit.'

Part of her wanted to say 'I'm sorry,' but the other part refused to swallow her pride. Instead of texting back, she rolled over onto her side on the bed and shut her eyes, thinking about all the people in her life who'd let her down. When she woke up screaming, tears were streaming down her cheeks. Emma grabbed her phone and dialed the first number she could think of. When the receiver clicked, she sobbed the woman's name.

"'Gina."

"Baby? What's the matter?"

"I had bad dreams. Will you come get me?"

"Of course, honey. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Get your stuff ready."

Emma hung up, grabbed clothes for the night, and ran down the stairs, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Going out," she called to the family, rushing out the door with her bag over her shoulder.

She waited, sitting in the driveway, until Regina pulled up.

"Come on," Regina said, leaning out the car window. "Let's get you home."