"Hey, Emma," Belle greeted her happily, giving her shoulder a nudge. "What's up?"
"Nothing. Just dreading reading The Scarlet Letter."
"That one's not so bad."
"It's boring me to tears. I can't get past the first two chapters."
"Why don't you come over and I'll help you with it?"
"Tonight?"
"Yeah, why not? You busy?"
"No, actually. Tonight I'm not. Can I catch a ride with you?"
"Unless you land yourself in detention again," Belle teased with a grin.
"Oh, shut up," Emma laughed, shoving the girl's shoulder lightly.
"Can I carry your books to your next class?"
Emma wanted to protest, to pull away, but she found herself handing the books over to her friend, who took them gratefully and walked beside Emma as they made their way to the girl's next class.
By the time the bell rang at the end of the day, Emma was exhausted. Her eyes drooped, and she was barely able to hold her head up. She nearly tripped as she climbed into Belle's car.
"You okay, Em?" Belle asked cautiously, putting her hand on the girl's arm.
"Yeah. Fine."
But Emma couldn't keep her eyes open. Though Belle's house was only a few minutes from the school, Emma was asleep before they reached their destination, only waking when Belle opened the car door for her.
"Give me your bag," she ordered, holding her hands out.
Emma was too tired to protest, and handed her backpack to the brunette.
"Come on. You need a nap."
"Nuh-uh," Emma protested, wobbling out of the car and following the girl inside.
Once they were upstairs, Emma nearly fell over as she sat down on the bed.
"What's got you so tired? Didn't you sleep last night?"
"No, not really. I was up really late and I had to get up early for school, so..."
"Oh. That sucks. I'm sorry. Seriously, though, it's okay if you want to nap before we get going. We don't even have to study if you don't feel up to it. I'm cool with just hanging out with you. I've got a little homework anyway, so if you sleep, it's fine."
Emma shook her head, but sighed and collapsed backwards until her head was on the pillow.
"Dude, just kill me," she groaned. "I'm so ready for this year to be over."
"I bet," Belle said with a smile, laying down beside the blonde without thinking, "but I'm not killing you. I enjoy your company too much."
Emma's eyes shot open.
"You do?"
"Of course I do. You're a sweetheart."
"Me? What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You're so sweet. It's unreal. I don't get how you can be so nice all the time."
"I like you, Emma," Belle said softly.
When the girl reached out to brush a bit of hair away from Emma's face, Emma flinched, not used to the gentle touch. Before she could pull away, Belle was leaning in, pressing their lips together and moving hers slowly.
"Belle, wait," Emma gasped, holding the girl at arm's length. "I... I have a girlfriend."
"What? Who?"
"She doesn't go to our school."
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Regina."
"I... I'm really sorry. I just thought... I thought you might... I don't know. I'm sorry."
The rejected girl looked away, her eyes filling with tears.
"Hey," Emma said, leaning in. "Don't cry, okay? I just... Look, if things were different... If I didn't have a girl..."
Belle groaned.
"Oh, don't. Just don't. Don't patronize me."
"I'm not patronizing you, Belle. You're a wonderful girl. I'm just... I'm taken." After a sigh, Emma continued, "I should go."
She started to gather her things quickly, sweat forming on her brow, but Belle grabbed her arm.
"Don't go, okay? I was serious about helping you. I don't want this to change things. Please don't leave."
Raising an eyebrow, Emma sat back down on the bed and looked at her friend. When Belle bit her lip, Emma wrapped her arms around her.
"I'm sorry, Belle," she whispered. "I had no idea you felt that way."
"It's fine," the girl said coldly, pulling away.
"Hey, come here. Just hug me, dammit."
Emma cracked a smile, trying to make Belle smile too. It worked, and Belle wrapped her arms around Emma in return.
"You're a good friend, Emma."
"You deserve a good friend. I just wish I could be a better one."
"You're perfect."
"No, I'm not, but thanks for saying that. It means a lot that you'd lie to make me feel better."
"Oh, shut up," Belle laughed, shoving Emma's shoulder. "Are you taking a nap, or are we studying?"
"Fuck studying," Emma finally said with a grin. "Take a nap with me."
She pulled the girl down onto the bed and shut her eyes as Belle laid down beside her. Emma fell asleep first, but after a few pained tears that Emma didn't see, Belle fell asleep too. When they woke up, around seven o'clock, their foreheads were gently pressed together.
Noticing this, Emma pulled away, trying to keep an appropriate distance between them.
"Sorry," she mumbled, blushing a little, but Belle just smiled at her and shook her head.
"It's okay." When Emma didn't sit up, Belle finally looked into her eyes and asked, "So, what's she like?"
"She has brown hair and chocolate eyes. She's smart. She's beautiful. She gets me, though. She gets what I've gone through, in a way no one else does."
This made Belle's stomach sink, but she said nothing.
"I wish I could say that I understood you that way. I'm sorry I don't."
"You just haven't been there, Belle. That's all."
"I wish you'd just explain it to me."
"I can't. I just can't. It's not something I can talk about."
"Do you talk about it with her?"
"That's different. She was my-" Emma tried to answer.
Belle tilted her head, waiting for the rest of the sentence.
"It's just different."
Belle sighed and shook her head, saying, "If you say so."
Emma kissed the girl's cheek and sighed too.
"I'm sorry. You're still a great friend."
"It means a lot that you think that," the brunette said sincerely. "Are things going to change between us now?"
The blonde shook her head.
"They don't have to."
"Good, because I'd hate to lose you."
"You won't," Emma promised.
So Belle and Emma spent the rest of the night enjoying each other's company.