NEW CHAPTER!
This chapter is a lot less SQ focused than the last, so I apologise to all the hardcore SQ lovers who are following this story. I want to explore the different sides to Emma's story before we get into the real SQ action, and don't worry, there will be plenty SQ to come! We will get there, please bear with me! :)
7.05pm
"I brought snacks." Belle grinned, holding up a bag of cheetos and a box of jolly ranchers.
"Awesome." Emma smiled, pulling the door open and stepping to the side to let Belle through.
"So, what are we watching?" She asked brightly, jumping onto Emma's bed.
"I don't mind." Emma replied, reaching for her sweatpants. "You pick." Emma unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off, pulling on her sweats. Belle averted her eyes, a slight blush creeping up her neck. Emma wasn't sure of Belle's feelings towards her after the incident a few weeks ago, but she had been seeing David ever since and the pair seemed overly happy together, so Emma just assumed those feelings were irrelevant now. She had barely seen Belle at all in that time, so tonight was their catch up.
"How about mean girls?" Belle suggested.
"Sure." Emma agreed, unbuttoning her blouse and searching for an old t-shirt. She glanced around the room and saw one lying next to Belle, who was staring at her with wide eyes. Her head snapped away once their gazes met, the blush now reaching her cheeks. Emma walked over to the bed and reached for her shirt. Belle stole a glance at Emma's torso before quickly averting her eyes down.
"Sorry." Emma murmured, grabbing her shirt and shoving it on.
"No. No problem." Belle muttered, clearing her throat. Emma walked across her room, pulled open a drawer in her white ikea storage unit and flicked through her DVD collection to find mean girls. She quickly found it, opened the case and placed the disc in the handy DVD compartment of her small TV. She grabbed the remote off her desk and plopped herself on the bed next to Belle, who still had an air of awkwardness about her. Emma nudged her shoulder and grinned.
"Pass me the cheetos, loser." She said playfully. Belle smiled and handed them over. Emma ripped them open and began shoving them into her mouth by the handful. Belle looked at her with slight disgust.
"You're gross, you know that?" She grimaced. Emma smiled through a mouthful of orange puffs.
"I know." She shrugged. Belle giggled and they settled in to watch the film, the tension between them quickly dissipating.
7.50pm
They were halfway through the film, cuddled up under a multitude of blankets, when a phone buzzed somewhere beside Belle. She felt around under the blankets and pulled out Emma's phone, frowning as she read the screen.
"Speaking of Regina." She glowered. Emma's heart fluttered in her chest. Regina had texted her? She thought hopefully.
"What does it say?" She asked coolly, trying to appear unfazed by the prospect of the Professor texting her.
"She says you left your socks at her place last night and do you want her to bring them to class next week." Belle replied blankly. Emma froze. Fuck. She thought. Realising that Belle was calling Ruby, Regina as in Regina George.
"Oh." She managed. Belle turned to her with a look of utter betrayal.
"You were at Ruby's last night?" She asked indignantly, her eyes narrowing.
"I. Um." Emma stuttered.
"So, last night, when you came home at 2am and wouldn't tell me where you'd been. You'd been with Ruby?" She continued sharply, her voice raising an octave. Emma didn't say anything, she just stared at Belle shamefully, like a puppy that's been told off for chewing furniture. Belle's face fell. "You had sex with her didn't you?" She asked quietly, in utter disbelief. Emma closed her eyes and held her breath.
"Belle, it's not-"
"It's not what Emma!?" She shouted, shoving herself away from the blonde, as if their close proximity were too much for her to bear. "You. Fucked. Ruby." She hissed. Emma winced. She had never heard Belle this angry before. Hell, she had barely ever seen Belle get annoyed, let alone angry. Emma noted the fire in Belle's eyes and knew that this wasn't going to end well.
"Belle, listen to me, please." She pleaded, reaching out a hand. Belle flinched away from her touch.
"Why? So you can make up some other bullshit lie? Or some fucking excuse so you don't have to face your problems? Jesus, Emma. You don't even like Ruby, you've always complained about how annoying she is, and you know. You know how much I can't stand her. But you still went over to her house and fucked her. Why?" She demanded, now on her feet, staring down at Emma, who felt backed into a corner.
"I'm not lying or making up excuses." She began, sighing and running a hand through her hair. "It just happened, B. I don't know what else to tell you."
"It just happened. It just happened!?" She repeated incredulously. "It just happened that you couldn't keep your hands out of her pants?" She spat. Emma winced again.
"Belle, she invited me over, I stupidly accepted because I felt bad saying no. We were watching a film and she fucking pounced on me." She explained. Belle scoffed.
"What? And you couldn't have just pushed her off and said no?" She said spitefully. Emma stood up, staring at the brunette levelly.
"Why are you so upset? This is my life, Belle. I can have sex with whoever I want." She fired back. Belle looked at her like she'd just slapped her across the face.
"You know why I'm upset." She replied, her voice breaking. Emma closed her eyes, guilt creeping over her. There was a moment of silence before Emma started again.
"But… You're with David." She attempted. Belle looked up at her sadly, her eyes swimming with tears.
"He's not the one I really want." She whispered, tears falling down her cheeks, which she furiously wiped away. Emma stared after her in a stupor. "I'm such a fucking idiot." She continued miserably.
"Belle, please, don't say that. You're not. It's not." She paused. "It didn't mean anything." She mumbled sadly.
"Oh, good. That makes me feel better." She replied bitterly. Emma reached out a hand.
"Don't." Belle flinched, looking up at her dejectedly. "I told you how I felt about you. That was only a few weeks ago, Emma. Do you really think I'd just magically gotten over those feelings? I'm with David now, yes, and he makes me happy. But he's not you." She said regrettably. "You knew how I felt, you knew I would be upset if I found out about you and Ruby, which is why you tried to hide it from me… You rejected me, then fucked her." She finished bleakly. Emma had never felt more awful in her entire life, she could see how much Belle was hurting, she wanted desperately to fix it, it was killing her to see her best friend like this.
"Belle, Ruby means nothing to me. Nothing. You… You mean so, so much to me, please believe that. I had sex with Ruby, yes. But it was fleeting, meaningless. We're not going to skip off into the sunset together. But you. You're my best friend, B." She paused. "I'm sorry that I don't feel the same way as you, truly, I couldn't be more sorry about that, if I could change the way I feel, I would. But I can't give you something that doesn't exist, if I did, if I just went along with it, it wouldn't last and it would ruin our friendship, and then we wouldn't be in each other's lives at all, and that… That would break my heart. So, I can't, B. I just can't…" Emma choked, tears spilling from her eyes. Belle sniffed and looked up at her.
"Is… Is there something wrong with me?" She asked painfully.
"B, no. God no. You're beautiful. Jesus christ, you're so beautiful. And it's not like I haven't thought about it. Having sex with you, of course I have. How couldn't I? But then, that's all it would be. Just sex. And it's not worth it. Having sex with you, you wanting more and me not being able to give you more, it would kill me. That's why I've never… With you, but with Ruby, it didn't matter…" She trailed off, wiping at her cheeks and taking a deep breath. Belle was staring at her with a look of uncertainty.
"What if I was okay with just sex?" She asked quietly. Emma's head shot up.
"B, I've just explained why that's a terrible idea. Please…" She trailed off as Belle stepped towards her, reaching up a hand, wrapping it around her neck and pulling their lips together. "B" Emma whispered before their lips touched, she could taste the salt from her tears on her soft mouth. Her arms lifted to Belle's waist, grazing the fabric of her shirt softly.
"I want you." Belle breathed as she pulled away. "I don't need more from you, I just need to feel you… Please. You're all I think about." She pleaded quietly. Emma reached up to her cheek and ran her fingers through her soft brown hair, pulling her face close, their lips brushing over each other's once again. Emma couldn't think straight, her thoughts were jumbled as their lips pressed together, she knew this was a bad idea, but in the moment, she didn't care. She was fighting to keep Belle, giving into her want, she knew it was selfish, but she couldn't bear to lose her. Overcome by desire, she tugged at the hem of Belle's shirt, pulling it over her head. Her fingertips brushed over the smooth skin of Belle's abdomen, who whimpered into her mouth at the touch. The brunette grasped at Emma's shirt, bunching it in her fists, her tongue licking at her bottom lip, seeking entrance, which Emma quickly granted. Her hand gripped Belle's neck firmly as their tongues danced together. A low moan escaped Belle's throat. Emma reached up her back and unclasped her bra, pulling the straps down her arms and throwing it to the floor. The brunette's breath hitched as Emma grazed her thumb lightly over a stiffened nipple.
"Huh." She whimpered, biting down on Emma's lip, pulling at her blonde curls. Emma pulled away, quickly tearing off her clothes and and throwing them to the floor before pushing Belle onto her bed. Belle gazed up at Emma's half naked form climbing over her, want overcoming every fibre of her being. She stroked her fingers down Emma's toned stomach before the blonde leant down and began biting and sucking at her neck. Belle moaned, her stomach tightening as blood rushed between her thighs. Emma trailed kisses down the brunettes neck, along her collarbone and the valley between her breasts, before slowly gliding her tongue over a hardened nipple. Belle gasped as Emma's teeth grazed over the sensitive flesh, her hands reaching up Emma's back and unclasping her bra. Emma sat up and let it fall to the floor. Belle's eyes widened at the sight of her perfect, round breasts.
"You're so beautiful, Em." She breathed, tracing her fingers over the blonde's smooth mounds. Emma leant down and enveloped her mouth into a passionate kiss, both women breathing heavily as their hips rocked together.
Emma's hand slid into the waistband of Belle's sweatpants, stopping to finger the hem of the lace panties she wore, then moving slowly beneath the fabric of her underwear. Her eyes never left the brunette's as her fingers slid through her slick folds. Belle gasped and clutched onto the blonde's forearm, Emma closed her eyes and bit her lip, becoming more and more turned on by how wet Belle was. She began sliding her fingers over Belle's clit, the brunette's fingernails dug deeply into Emma's arm in response.
"Fuck, Emma." She breathed, her breath hitching. Blue eyes met green, wide with darkened lust and a hint of something else, apprehension? Emma paused.
"Are you sure-" She began, staring to pull her hand out. Belle's grip tightened on her arm.
"Yes. Please. I want this." She breathed.
"Okay." Emma whispered, running her finger in circles around Belle's clit, who's hips gyrated against Emma's in response, whilst moaning and panting softly.
"Oh god, that feels so good." She whimpered. Emma placed delicate kisses along the brunette's neck, her fingers moving faster over the swollen bundle of nerves. Belle's legs were shaking, her head thrown back in pleasure, her mouth left hanging open, nothing but short breaths and heightened moans of desire escaping. Emma rubbed a finger over the entrance of Belle's sex, slowly pushing a finger in, she instantly felt the walls contract around her.
"UH." Belle groaned loudly, her hands clutching at the bed sheets beside her hips. Emma took that as a positive sign and began slowly pumping her finger in and out of Belle, pressing her palm against her clit. Belle reached one arm up and grabbed onto the back of Emma's hair, her fingers entangled in the blonde curls.
"More." She breathed. Emma pushed another finger into Belle and began pumping at a quickened pace, using her thumb to rub over Belle's clit, who was now moaning loud enough for the entire floor to hear.
"Oh GOD, fuck yes Emma!" She cried, her back arching off the bed as her body convulsed. Emma could feel Belle's walls contracting around her fingers as a warm liquid rushed down her wrist. Belle fell back onto the bed, panting heavily, a layer of sweat glistening on her forehead. Emma slowly slid her fingers out, wiping them on the sheets beneath her. Belle opened her eyes and looked up at Emma, who was staring down at her with a smile. Belle laughed softly.
"Wow." She breathed.
"That good, huh?" Emma mused, collapsing next to her.
"Asshole." Belle exhaled, still trying to get her breath back. Emma reached her arm up and placed it behind her head. Both women stared up at the ceiling in silence for a few moments.
"So, what does this mean?" Belle asked. Emma stiffened.
"What?"
"I mean, does this mean we're together now?" Emma sat up, peering over Belle, who only managed to keep a straight face for another few seconds before she burst out laughing.
"Jesus, Emma, chill. I'm kidding." She giggled. Emma sighed and flopped back down.
"Sorry, you just… I'm still trying to comprehend what just happened." She said, rubbing her forehead. Belle swallowed.
"I know what this is Em, I'm not completely naive. You don't owe me anything." She said, sitting up. Emma sat up too and reached out a hand to her cheek, stroking the soft skin. Belle smiled and kissed the palm of her hand. "Can this ever happen again?" She asked quietly, staring up at Emma.
"I don't think it's a good idea, B. If we carry on, things will end up messy. They always do." Emma said softly. Belle nodded.
"I get it." She sighed. "It just sucks because that was definitely the best orgasm I've ever had." She sighed, collapsing back onto the bed. Emma chuckled. There was a moment of silence before Emma spoke.
"Are you… Uh. Are you going to tell Nolan?" She asked. Belle exhaled, her arm flopping over her eyes.
"I don't know." She said quietly. "I feel awful lying to him, but the thought of telling him… He'd be so upset." She trailed off. Emma nodded.
"It's up to you, B. You do whatever you need to do." Belle traced a finger over Emma's back, who shivered in response.
"I wish things were less complicated." She sighed. Emma turned to face her with a sad smile.
"Me too, B."
8.40am
Emma was sat outside one of the many lecture halls in the humanities building, clutching a latte, waiting for her English literature Professor to arrive and unlock the door. She was 20 minutes early. She'd been lying awake since 5am, her mind racing with thoughts of what was going to happen with Belle as well as the pressing amount of school work she had to do. But at the forefront of her mind recently was always… Regina. She couldn't get the woman out of her head, which was infuriating as Emma had much more pressing things to worry about. But their encounter at the coffee house had just encouraged Emma's ever growing interest of and attraction to the woman. She was mesmerising, every spare thought was consumed by Regina, and it bothered Emma that she couldn't have her. Well, maybe she could. But it certainly wasn't going to be easy. But then, I never shy away from a challenge, she thought hungrily, imagining what it would be like to have Regina, to feel her, taste her...
Emma heard something clatter to the ground, followed by a loud curse, pulling the blonde out of her daydream. She got up and walked round the corner, pausing when she noticed a flustered looking Regina. Around her feet lay a cluster of haphazardly strewn books.
"Need some help?" Emma asked with a small smirk. Regina looked up with a glare, her face softening when she realised who the offer of help was coming from.
"It would appear so, Ms. Swan." She replied with a small smile. Emma threw the rest of her latte in the trash and reached down beside her, gathering up a few of the books she'd dropped. "What are you doing here so early?" Regina asked, brushing her hair out of her face.
"Couldn't sleep, had to get out of my room, so grabbed a coffee and headed here." She explained.
"Lots on your mind?" Regina asked, the corners of her lips tugging up into a small smirk.
"It would appear so, Professor Mills." Emma replied, returning her smirk. Regina cocked an eyebrow. "What's with all the books?" She asked, glancing at the covers, they were all Art History related.
"A feeble attempt at finding some last minute inspiration for the book. I seem to be clutching at straws." She sighed. Emma looked at her as they both stood up with their respective pile of books.
"Come on, I'll walk you back to your office." Emma smiled.
8.45am
"So what's up?" Emma asked, her and Regina walking side by side up the stairs to her office.
"Oh, I don't know, really. I'm just frustrated. This book… It's becoming more of a challenge with each passing day." She resigned.
"Seriously? 'Cause from where I'm standing it's really coming together." Emma replied. Regina peered at her over the top of the books she was carrying.
"Yourself and the other students have been wonderful, really, I'm incredibly grateful, the work you're coming up with has been great. I just feel like I'm not contributing enough… and it is my book, after all." Regina stated. Emma looked at her incredulously.
"Regina, you're being way too hard on yourself. You asked for our help for a reason, you knew it was too much work for one person, and it's okay to share the load, ask for help. We're all so grateful to you for this amazing opportunity." Emma replied sincerely.
"I know I'm asking a lot of you all. I don't want you to feel like I'm not pulling my weight." Regina sighed, opening the door to her office and walking inside. Emma followed her to her desk and placed the books down, turning to look at her seriously.
"Regina. No one thinks that. Are you crazy? You've done more work on this book than all of us combined. You're the one giving us all the information, pushing us in the direction. This whole book is coming from you. Only you, no one else." Emma stated. Regina met her gaze with a small smile.
"Thank you for saying so." She said quietly.
"You don't need to thank me, it's the truth." Emma shrugged. "This book is yours and yours alone, sure we helped, and we'll continue to help, but don't think for a second that you're not doing enough, that's insane." Emma finished, shaking her head.
"Well, you've been helping an awful lot, I don't think I could have gotten this far without you, Emma." Regina smiled.
"Sure you would have. But I'm happy to help." Emma smiled back. The two women stared at each other for a long moment.
"You're going to be late for class." Regina quipped. Emma glanced down at her watch, it was nearing 9.
"Shit." Emma cursed, grabbing her bag.
"I'll see you tonight, Ms. Swan?" Regina mused.
"Looking forward to it." Emma grinned, rushing out of her office.
6.45pm
"What are you wearing?" Ruby's voice breathed down the phone. Emma was scrambling around her room in her underwear and a towel turban, trying to find her black dress to wear to the gala that started in less than an hour. She still needed to get dressed and do her hair and make up. She'd been distracted by work, panicking when she looked at her watch and saw it was already 6.30pm.
"Ruby, I don't have time for this shit right now, I'm running seriously late." She snapped.
"Jeez crabby pants, I just want to know what you're wearing tonight." Ruby said defensively. Emma paused.
"Oh. Sorry. I thought you meant.."
"Oh, no. I meant that too." Emma could basically hear Ruby grinning down the phone.
"Asshole." She sighed. "Well, I was planning on wearing a black dress, but I currently can't find it." She replied irritably, pulling her closet apart.
"Okay, well you sound pretty stressed out so I'm gonna go. What time shall I meet you?" She asked.
"Um… Can we say, 8.30?"
"Fine with me, fashionably late is always more my style anyway. Laters, Em." She clicked off. Emma took a second to breathe, relaxing now that she knew she had a bit more time.
8.15pm
Emma took a step back and surveyed herself in the mirror. She looked good. Really good. She was wearing a tight fitting black dress that cut off above her wrist and stopped just above her knees. The plunging v-shaped neckline exposed an appropriate amount of cleavage, and the black pointed stilettos she wore made her long, toned legs appear even longer and smoother. Her usual tangle of curls were now swept to one side, styled with an elegant, soft, natural wave, and her make up was applied to perfection, her classic smoky eye highlighting the green of her eyes. She grabbed a pair of gold, hoop earrings from her dresser and put them on, along with a matching, elegant, gold Larsson and Jennings watch. She applied the finishing touches of red lipstick and gathered a few bits of make up and money, popping them into her black clutch and spraying herself with Marc Jacobs perfume before giving herself another once over and hurrying out of her room. She was locking her door when she heard a voice down the hall.
"Wow, Emma. You look smoking." David whistled. Emma froze then quickly straightened, turning to face the handsome blonde heading towards her, his arm wrapped around Belle. Emma glanced at Belle, who was gazing over her figure, her mouth hanging open slightly, she bit her lip and looked at Emma longingly, who gave her a small smile in response.
"Thanks, Nolan." Emma murmured, her eyes never leaving Belle, who she was worried might start drooling at any moment.
"I'm running late, so can't stay and chat." She said quickly, walking towards them and shoving her keys in her clutch.
"No worries, Em. Where you off to?" David asked. Emma stopped in front of them, glancing between the blonde and brunette. Belle's eyes were burning into her skin. Emma cleared her throat.
"Art History gala thing."
"Sounds cool, well, have fun." David smiled, walking him and Belle towards her room. Emma raised an eyebrow at Belle, who gave her a small smile before disappearing into her room.
"Bye, Em." She said quietly. Emma sighed and headed towards the St. Clair Hall across campus.
I was debating for ages whether or not to include this chapter and am dying to know what you guys think! The next chapter is the gala, and it's gonna be a good one for sure. Stay tuned! :)