It was like the party had flipped some sort of switch. On Monday, Regina was immediately bombarded with people walking up to her and talking like they'd been friends forever. She sat with Emma, Lily, Ruby and Neal at lunch, and a few other people whose names she hadn't learned yet.

She questioned Emma about her sudden popularity as they walked home from school (Regina having watched Emma's softball practice once again), and Emma laughed. "Well," she said, "You made an attempt. The first week, you were so…well, stuck up."

Regina gaped, affronted. "I was not stuck up."

"You appeared to be, your highness," Emma teased. "I know you're not stuck up, you were sad and alone and shy and I mean, have you seen yourself? You're a little intimidating. Thanks to meeee, you pulled the stick out and had some fun, and let everyone know that you're really great."

Regina felt her ego inflate under Emma's praise, and acknowledged the information with a quiet hum.

That week, the amount of schoolwork they had to do picked up, so Regina found herself spending her free periods in the library doing research for essays and other assignments. Her first day there, she befriended the assistant librarian, whose name was Belle French. She had dark hair and a thick Australian accent. She was warm and friendly and a total bookworm, so she of course had a hundred questions about Henry Mills. Regina answered tentatively at first, figuring that was the only reason Belle was talking to her. To her surprise, Belle veered off the topic of her father fairly quickly, and started to talk about other things. Australia, the ocean, how she'd had to adjust to the climate as well, and how much she enjoyed classical music and had read hundreds of books.

Naturally, she and Regina had quite a lot in common, and they became fast friends. The library soon became a place that Regina began to frequent more often, even when she didn't need to do research.

There were no more parties as her peers buckled down to focus on school work, and that was fine with her. Regina had sworn last Sunday, while the loud hum of the vacuum seemed to be splitting her hungover head open, that she was never going to drink again.

People began to talk about getting their licenses, and more and more people began to drive to school in their new (or used) rides, Emma included.

"Hey, Regina!" Emma yelled down the hallway after she'd missed that morning's algebra class. Regina stopped in her tracks as she was headed to her second period English class and turned to see the excited blonde sprinting to catch up with her. She had a card in her hand, and when she got close enough, she started waving it around. "I got it! I passed my driving test!"

She shoved the license into Regina's hands and Regina laughed at the ear-to-ear grin on Emma's face in the photo. "Congratulations," she said before handing it back. Emma beamed at her and placed her license in her backpack before asking, "So, when are you getting yours?"

Regina blushed. "Uh, I…I haven't even gotten my permit yet. I've never driven a car." Emma's jaw dropped. "No way. I'll teach you!"

Regina tried to argue, but Emma wouldn't hear it. So after school that day, Regina found herself sitting in the most awful-looking yellow Volkswagen Beetle she'd ever seen, listening to Emma praise it over and over. "I saved up for her," Emma was saying. "It was the main reason I got a job at Granny's. It's just been sitting in this old guy's yard, and he didn't want much for it. Nothing was wrong with her, except she needed new brakes and a new throttle body, which my foster dad-he's a mechanic-fixed up for me. Isn't she beautiful?"

Regina thought it was an obnoxious metal rust bucket, but she found herself grinning at Emma and saying, "Y-yeah. It's not bad." Which, of course, Emma saw right through and laughed. "I know the color isn't for everyone, and she's old…but she's my first car! I'm a driver now! Now we can ride to school instead of walk."

And Regina had to admit, the idea of riding to and from school with Emma every day, even inside this atrocity, was a pleasing thought.

Regina and Emma didn't really get a lot of time together. Emma was in only one of her classes, and besides lunch, the only time Regina saw her was when they walked to and from school. She had been thinking of asking her parents if she could have Emma stay over one night, as she'd had sleepovers back in California, but she hesitated. Were they too old for sleepovers? Did Emma feel uncomfortable being in her house? She'd mentioned that she wasn't ready to meet Regina's parents, and Regina didn't want to put pressure on her, so she settled with what little time she could get.

The driving lesson went terribly. Regina stalled the car over and over, screeched when it started to roll forward in neutral, confused the clutch with the brake and the brake with the gas pedal so many times, Emma finally put a stop to it. "We'll work on it," she promised a red-faced and ashamed Regina. "Maybe you should, I don't know…sign up for a driving class and get your permit. That way an instructor could teach you too."

So Regina had gone home and asked her parents if she could enroll in a driver's education class, and they'd granted her permission after some deliberating. Now, three times a week, Regina stayed after school for that class and saw Emma even less.

Finally, with cold October winds and the most amazing changes in foliage that Regina had ever seen, fall break rolled around.

Cora had bought a small shop in downtown Storybrooke in which to start her boutique, and Regina spent most of the break helping her mother set up shop. She put price tags on clothing and accessories, organized the shelves and racks, took inventory of every item, and showed her mother how to add the new shop to the Queen of Hearts website (she'd always had her assistants do it before) and helped put up "Now Hiring" signs outside the shop.

To her surprise, ten people put in applications on the first day, and she recognized quite a few of the applicants as her friends from school. So then, Cora grilled her about each person's capabilities, personalities and fashion sense. Eventually Regina had had enough and told her mother to just call in some interviews and pick people herself. Cora snapped back with "Well, whoever I choose will end up working here with you, so you'd best let me know who you get along with."

Yes, Regina had agreed to work part-time at the boutique for her mother after school and on weekends. Cora had insisted upon it because Regina needed "work experience", and what better way to get that than to work for a world-renowned brand? Regina couldn't disagree, and thanked her mother for the opportunity.

And that's also how Lily Drake and Belle French were hired to work for Queen of Hearts.

Toward the end of fall break, Regina felt more exhausted than she should be, considering there was no "break" for her at all between practicing her saxophone for the upcoming holiday concerts and state performances, and working at Queen of Hearts.

And then, on one rainy Saturday afternoon, Regina looked up from where she was unpacking new shipments of clothing as she heard the bell over the door ring, and saw Emma striding in. "Hey!" greeted the blonde. "Nice place you got here."

Regina smiled and stood, and Emma's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "That your mom's stuff?" She asked as she raked her eyes down Regina's form. Regina blushed and ran her palms nervously over her stomach. She was clothed in a stylish gray dress that hugged her developing curves, and on her feet were a pair of stilettos. "Yeah," she replied. "We have to wear the clothing and jewelry here, to uh, promote the brand."

Emma let out a low whistle. "I like it. You look like you belong in an executive office somewhere. CEO Regina Mills," she joked. Regina rolled her eyes and felt her face heating up.

"Regina Mills, it is completely unprofessional to roll our eyes at customers!"

The girls started as Cora breezed into the room with a handful of customized bracelets draped over her fingers, to be placed in the display case at the front of the store, a stern look upon her face as she shot a glare at her daughter. "Welcome to Queen of Hearts, dear, what can we help you with today?"

Emma turned beet red and stuttered, "Uh, I'm..uh, not here to shop, ma'am. I just dropped by to see Regina. Lily told me she was working today."

"Ah, yes," Cora nodded, "Lily. One of my more promising saleswomen." Regina had the decency to bow her head abashedly. It was true. Lily was proving her ability to sell ice to Eskimos. She had more sales under her belt in the week that the shop had been open than either Regina or Belle had. Of course, the clothing and accessories practically sold themselves, but Lily had a damn good eye and was able to help people find their most flattering colors and styles for themselves.

"And who are you?" Cora asked then. Emma remembered her manners and introduced herself. "I'm Emma Swan, ma'am. I, uh, am Regina's friend."

Cora smiled brilliantly then. "Oh, yes!" she exclaimed. "You're the darling girl who sent me a message that night at the bonfire, when my daughter displayed her irresponsibility. Nice to finally meet you." She laid the bracelets carefully down on a nearby table and reached for Emma's hand, clasping it between both of her own. "And aren't you simply marvelous? You have quite the bone structure. You'd look excellent in my clothing."

Emma was looking extremely uncomfortable, and Regina was desperately fighting back her laughter. "Thank you," Emma squeaked out. "Your clothes are…wow. I don't think I could really afford much of it, though."

Cora waved a hand dismissively. "I will have plenty of sales soon. Each season brings its own new look, so you'll be able to grab a discount before long. Of course, you could always come and apply for a job here. One outfit per season is complimentary to my employees."

"Uh, thank you," Emma repeated, even the tips of her ears reddening now. "I, uh, I work at Granny's diner, and I don't think I could work two jobs without interfering with my school work."

"Granny's, eh? I do adore that little diner. What's your position there?"

Regina went back to work as her mother interrogated Emma, until she overheard Cora say, "Well you are a delight, Miss Swan. I must insist that you come over for dinner tonight, I know my daughter adores you and my husband would be overjoyed to talk baseball with someone besides Regina. Seven o'clock?"

Regina scrambled back to where they were standing and stuttered. "M-mother, I'm sure Emma is…busy, tonight…"

Emma gave her a strange look and replied, "Noo, I'm free. I'd love to come over for dinner! I'll be there. Thank you for the invite."

Satisfied, Cora bade her goodbye and disappeared into the back room once more, leaving Emma and Regina standing in an awkward silence.

Finally, Emma spoke. "Did you…not want me to come over? Have I done something?" Regina shook her head quickly before speaking in a low tone, "My mother cannot cook, and I thought you uncomfortable with meeting my parents…I didn't want you to feel pressured."

Emma giggled. "I've had my share of horrible meals, Regina. And your mom is…kind of intense, but I like her. I'm sure your dad is awesome too. I've been waiting for you to invite me over."

Something akin to an electric shock jolted through Regina at those words. "You have?" she asked incredulously. Emma shrugged. "Well, yeah. We don't get to see each other a lot, and even August has been over to your place more than once." She said the last sentence almost hurtfully.

It was true. Regina had gotten August's number from Emma and given it to her father, explaining that he was an aspiring author who would love some tips and advice. Henry had called August immediately, and Regina had heard August's exuberant agreement to meet Henry for coffee. Since then, August had stopped by nearly every weekend to have brunch and bring examples of his work for Henry to look over.

"August is Daddy's friend more than mine, Emma," Regina assured her. "You've never invited me over either, I didn't know we had…that kind of friendship, yet."

Emma's face fell at that, and Regina wondered what it was she'd said wrong. Before she could ask, Emma's cell phone rang. "'Scuse me," she said before turning away to answer. Regina immediately heard a man's voice yelling on the line, and Emma quietly said, "No, I'm sorry. I'm at Regina's mom's new shop in town. I forgot. I'm sorry. I'll be right there. Sorry." She hung up the phone and turned back to Regina, her bright eyes unusually dull. "That was my foster dad. I was supposed to help him with something today, and I forgot. I'll see you at dinner?"

Regina nodded, still concerned. Emma hesitated, looking like she wanted to say more, before turning to leave. Before her courage failed her, Regina called after her, "Would you like to stay the night tonight?"

Emma whirled around as she reached the door, eyes bright and smile wide. "I'd love to." With that, the blonde disappeared out the door.

And Regina was all smiles for the rest of the day.

Emma lasted all but five minutes before jumping in to help Cora with dinner. It was adorable, really. She and Regina were sitting at the island, watching Cora attempt to make pizza dough. It was thick and crumbly and not at all what it was supposed to be, and Cora had taken to practically whacking at it with a rolling pin. Emma finally hopped up and offered, "Hey, I've made loads of homemade pizzas. Can I help?" Cora tried to wave her off at first, saying, "No, no, dear, you're our guest. I'll figure this out."

"It's not a problem. I love to cook," Emma insisted, and began to instruct Cora on how to make the dough properly. Regina watched from her place at the island, a grin on her face.

Emma had arrived at six, pretty much the second she saw Regina and Cora come home from the shop. She brought over a duffel bag and was looking beautiful in a pair of nice jeans and an off-shoulder top. Her hair, which had been damp from the rain when she came into Queen of Hearts, was dry and pulled back into a high ponytail. Regina quickly introduced her to Henry, who skipped the handshake and pulled the stunned blonde girl into a hug, welcoming her into their house.

"Henry Mills just hugged me," Emma whispered dazedly to Regina after he'd retreated back into his study. Regina just shook her head and laughed.

Thanks to Emma, Regina sat down to not only her first edible home meal since moving, but an amazingly flavorful one. She'd piled the pizza dough high with cheese and an assortment of vegetables, and the finished product practically melted in their mouths. The entire pizza was eaten in under twenty minutes, and the house was filled with laughter as Cora told stories of her youth, and how she met Henry and how he'd seduced her with his Spanish poetry. Henry then regaled them with the tales of his life before coming to America, and how he got his first novel published. He then let Emma in on a little secret: "I'm almost finished with my next novel, it's being edited now. I'll let you know the release date, maybe Regina can bring you to the party!"

Emma's eyes went wide. "I would love to! I love your books, and I've never been to anything that fancy…I would love to go. If Regina wants me to." She cast a glance at Regina, who smiled and opened her mouth to speak, but was immediately interrupted by her mother.

"Of course Regina would love to bring you. She adores you, and it's plain to see why. You are not only a stunning beauty, but you're responsible and educated and obviously a good friend. You must come over more often. There hasn't been this much laughter in our house in months."

Which, for some reason, brought a flare of heat to Regina's cheeks.

After helping Cora clean up the kitchen, Emma and Regina retreated to Regina's bedroom. They stood their awkwardly for a second before Regina asked, "Well, what do you want to do now?"

"Well," Emma began, eyeing Regina's canopy bed. "I'll tell you what I've wanted to do ever since I saw your bedroom."

Without another word, Emma crossed the room and plopped down on Regina's bed, moaning almost instantly. "Oh, my God. I knew it!" she exclaimed, "This is the most comfortable bed I've ever laid on. How do you get up in the mornings?"

Chuckling and trying in vain to get the sound of Emma's moan out of her head, where it had apparently taken residence, Regina replied, "It is a chore, sometimes." She sat down at the foot of the bed by Emma's sock-clad feet and slowly laid back horizontally on her mattress.

"We need music," Emma declared, moving from the bed to her duffel bag, where she pulled out her laptop. Sitting back down on the bed, she opened it up and turned it on. "What music do you like?" she asked Regina, who was now leaning up with her head balanced on her hand. "I generally listen to classical," Regina admitted. "Some Aretha Franklin, a little bit of Frank Sinatra too."

Emma made a face. "I don't have anything like that in my iTunes. Ever heard of the band Garbage?" Regina's brow crinkled. "Why would anyone listen to a band with that name? It sounds like a warning," she deadpanned. Emma poked her hip with her toe and laughed, "It's my favorite band of all time. I discovered them back when I was about eleven, and I swear, Shirley Manson-that's the singer-is my spirit animal. You have to listen to some of their songs with me."

Music began to play, a deep, dirty bass and drums signaling the beginning of the song. "This one is my favorite," Emma said. "Listen."

And to Regina's shock and awe, Emma turned the music up and began to sing along with the song.

"She's not the kind of girl

Who likes to tell the world

About the way she feels about herself

She takes a little time

In making up her mind

She doesn't want to fight against the tide."

Emma's voice was as beautiful as she was, Regina realized. It was deep and rich and clear, and held an emotion she hadn't heard in Emma's tone before. She stared with wide eyes, unable to take her gaze away from her friend as the song went on.

"Always the one who has to drag her down

Maybe you'll get what you want this time around

Can't bear to face the truth

So sick, he cannot move

And when it hurts he takes it out on you."

Regina's brow furrowed. Emma had said this was her favorite band, and that the singer was her "spirit animal." That meant, to Regina, that Emma connected with these songs. Just how personal were they to her? She was such a happy girl, and this was such a…sad song. She finally looked away from Emma and closed her eyes, focusing on the song even more.

"She knows the human heart

And how to read the stars

Now everything's about to fall apart."

Emma sang until the very end, her voice fading away with the last few bars, repeating the same line over and over:

"The trick is to keep breathing."

When the song faded, Regina opened her eyes and watched Emma do the same, before the blonde started laughing. "I'm sorry, I wanted you to listen to the song, not me singing it. I just can't help but sing along when their songs play."

"No," Regina said, reaching out a hand to place on Emma's knee. "Your voice is beautiful. And that song wasn't garbage at all. Such a misleading name," she grouched. Emma giggled and pumped her fist in the air. "Yes! I knew you'd love them. Not all the songs are that sad, though. Here, this one's a good one."

An upbeat punk-esque song began to play, and Regina once more focused on Emma singing the lyrics. This time, however, she found herself growing warm as a blush crept into her cheeks. The lyrics were…wow.

"I don't feel guilty

No matter what they're telling me

I won't feel dirty and buy into their misery

I won't be shamed 'cause I believe that love is free

It fuels the heart, and sex is not the enemy."

About halfway through the song, Emma noticed that her brunette friend was practically the shade of an overripe tomato. "I'm impressed," she said over the music. "I didn't know Latinas could blush that much."

Regina buried her face in her arm and her body began to quake with suppressed laughter. "I'm sorry," she mumbled into her comforter.

"Does this make you uncomfortable?"

Regina didn't know how to answer. The words in the forefront of her mind were, hearing your gorgeous voice singing about sex and love and being free with your body, make me uncomfortable? Maybe slightly.

But what she finally said was, "There you go again, thinking I'm uncomfortable all the time." And then she felt the force of a pillow hitting the back of her head. Sitting up in shock, she stared at Emma. "Did you just throw a pillow at me?" she exclaimed. Emma stuck her tongue out. "Sure did. Maybe you should have sex with someone, Mills, you'd be less uptight for awhile at least."

Regina flung the pillow back at Emma's face, laughing victoriously as it connected with her face. "Oh, that's it," Emma growled, setting her laptop down as it went on to the next sad-sounding song and arming herself with the offending pillow. Regina squeaked and dove for the other pillow she kept on her bed, holding it in front of her face like a shield. "Don't you dare, Emma Swan, these pillows aren't cheap!"

Emma apparently took that as a challenge, and Regina found herself in a furious pillow fight.

She forgot about her embarrassment as she and Emma bashed each other over and over again. Finally exhausted, they collapsed back down on the bed, breathing heavily. "I have never been in a pillow fight before," Regina confessed, giggling.

"I've not been in one in years, but I'm so glad I started that, I get to see prim and proper CEO-wannabe Mills with her braid all messed up and her face all sweaty. You don't look so uptight anymore." Emma whopped her one more time in the face, making her splutter in protest, before standing up and stretching. "Do you mind if I take a shower, Regina?" she asked then, reaching into her bag for her pajamas.

Regina's brain was still reeling. Some things that Emma said, in the way she said them, sent Regina off-kilter and made her feel things, unfamiliar things, that disconcerted her.

"Yo, Mills. You home?"

Regina snapped to reality and nodded. "Sure, yeah, sorry. Towels are in the cabinet by the shower." Emma disappeared into the en-suite bathroom, carrying her clothes, soaps and lotions with her. "Be back in a bit," she said. "Listen to a few more songs. I can tell you like my style." She winked and closed the bathroom door behind her.

Regina continued to lay there as she heard the shower turn on, her mind in a muddle. How did Emma always manage to trip her up? The things she said, the way she sometimes looked at Regina, gave her that weird fluttering sensation in her stomach and fogged up her brain. If Regina didn't know any better, she'd think she was developing a crush on Emma Swan.

Whoa. Was she developing a crush on Emma?

No, it's not possible. I'm not gay, am I? Regina wondered. It's true, the blonde girl was beautiful, smart, funny, and talented. She brightened Regina's days just by existing. It was also true that sometimes she did things that took Regina's breath away, like twirling a bit of her golden hair around her finger when she was deep in thought, or biting her lip when she was trying to suppress a smile. When she smiled in general…when those intense green eyes locked with Regina's and Regina felt like she could drown in their depths…

I have a crush on Emma Swan.

The truth hit Regina like a pile of bricks.

Desperate to get out of her head, she tries to focus on the lyrics of the song that's playing now:

"You come on like a drug

I just can't get enough

I'm like an addict coming at you for a little more

And there's so much at stake

I can't afford to waste

I've never needed anybody like this before."

"That's quite enough, I think," Regina declared, leaning over to pause the music that wasn't helping her mental state at all. "Oh, God," she moaned and buried her face in her hands.

It was too much. Regina had moved completely across the country, had her entire life uprooted, had met this infuriatingly charismatic blonde beauty, had gotten drunk for the first time, was buried up to her eyebrows in school work and music to learn, and working a part-time job selling her mother's clothes. And now, not only was she thinking about romance for the first time, but she was thinking about romance with a girl. A girl with eyes like the sea and hair like the sun and the voice of an angel…

"Why'd you stop the music? Are you okay?" came Emma's voice as the bathroom door opened. The smell of warm vanilla and cinnamon wafted out into the room and invaded Regina's nostrils. And she smells heavenly, isn't that just the icing on the cake, thought Regina before replying, "Everything is fine, Emma." And before she thought about exactly what she was saying, she continued, "The song hit just a little close to home, is all. They're a very…relatable band."

Emma grinned. She was dressed in a pair of black pajama pants and a tight tank top, and her damp hair hung in loose curls over her shoulders. Regina noticed that she'd forgone her bra and quickly averted her eyes as Emma crossed over to examine her laptop. "Oh, 'Temptation Waits', huh? That's the song that hits too close to home?"

If Regina could kick herself in the ass without raising questions, she would. "Uh…"

"You crushing on someone, Regina? All right, dish."

"Excuse me?"

Emma quirked an eyebrow as she hit play again. "The song," she explained slowly. "It's about being addicted to someone. So, who is it? This is a sleepover, we're supposed to talk about this sort of thing." She hopped on to the bed and crossed her legs. "Girl talk, you know?"

Over my dead body.

"Just because society says we're supposed to do something doesn't mean we have to," she supplied lamely. Emma made a raspberry noise and rolled her eyes. "Didn't take you for a societal deviant. Come on. Tell me who you have a crush on. I'll tell you mine."

Regina's heart sank to her toes. "Oh, you like someone?" she asked. Emma shrugged. "A little, I guess. So you tell me first."

"It's no one. I must have misheard the lyrics."

Emma leaned back against headboard and crossed her arms. "You're full of shit, Regina. Those lyrics are clear as day. Is it August?"

Regina gaped at her. "What? No! Why?" Emma saw the look of horror on her face and laughed. "I was just curious. He's over here all the time, you know."

"And like I said, he's more Daddy's friend than mine. We've talked maybe twice. And it was to say 'hi' and 'bye' both times. Who do you like?"

Emma's clear green eyes met hers and seemed to bore right into her. She squirmed under the scrutiny. "Are we good enough friends for that information, Mills?" she questioned dryly.

Regina couldn't help but feel like they were about to fight, over something so trivial as who they had crushes on. "Emma, I don't have a crush on anyone."

Emma leaned forward and stared harder into Regina's eyes. They were inches apart, and Regina was bombarded with her delicious scent again. "Let me tell you a secret about myself, Gina," Emma said, "I have this…well, I call it my superpower. I can tell when someone's lying to me. And you are lying. So why won't you tell me?"

Regina was backed into a corner. "I am not comfortable talking about it Emma," she admitted. Emma stared at her a moment longer, then sat back.

"Neal wants me to go on a date with him," she sighed then. Regina's jaw dropped before she could stop it. Neal was Emma's crush? "What? I thought you guys were…best friends."

"We are, that's why it feels weird. I mean, we do everything together, I hang out with him a lot and we don't have secrets from each other"-she looked pointedly at Regina when she said this- "But I've never really thought about dating him. I guess it would make sense, though. He says people even have a bet going on as to how long it will take for us to get together."

Regina frowned. "That's pretty presumptuous. You surely aren't okay with that."

Emma ran her fingers through her hair and huffed. "No, and I mean…I've always been 'one of the guys', I didn't even think Neal liked me that way."

Regina tilted her head as a thought sprang to the front of her mind. "You said you had a crush on someone. It's not Neal, then, is it? Why date Neal when you like someone else?"

Emma smiled grimly and mumbled, "The person I'm interested in…is out of my league. And probably not…it doesn't matter. You won't tell me yours, so you don't get to hear mine."

She jumped up from the bed then and said, "This is getting depressing. Wanna do something else? It's only like, nine-thirty." Regina nodded and said, "Why don't you look through my movies and find something to watch? I need to shower and then we can go down and find something to snack on. Sound good?"

"Movie and snack time? Hell yes."

While Emma was going through Regina's movie collection, Regina grabbed some clean clothes and made her way to the bathroom. Her heart was pounding in her ears. Neal. Of course, it made sense. Star baseball player, dating the star softball player, two beautiful, athletic people. The thought sickened Regina.

She showered quickly, shaved her legs, and then stepped out to dry off. As she was applying her favorite lotion, she stared at herself in the mirror. She was pretty enough, she supposed. Her olive skin was still tanned from the California sun, and she had started to exit that awkward in-between phase that came from puberty. Her breasts, while small, were firm and round, her stomach was flat despite not having much muscle tone. Her hips had begun to flare out and give her a more curvy look. She turned slightly to the side and grimaced. Her butt was big. That was a down side, but she supposed it came with her heritage. Sighing in defeat, she leaned forward and studied her face. Her eyes were large and a deep chocolate brown, so different from the bright pools of green that belonged to the girl currently waiting for her in her bedroom. Her nose was straight and her lips full. No, she wasn't ugly. The only thing that marred her face was the deep scar on her upper lip, which she'd gotten from an unfortunate accident involving her clarinet, her mother's high heels and a stupid Roomba when she was ten. Regina rolled her eyes at the and stepped back from the mirror, dressing quickly in the clothes she'd brought with her: a pair of plaid pajama pants and a spaghetti-strap top. It didn't matter what she looked like, Emma wasn't interested in her like that. She felt ridiculous now for studying herself in the mirror. Quickly, she moisturized her face and combed out her hip-length hair before exiting the bathroom.

Emma was fiddling with the television that sat on Regina's dresser, setting up the movie. "What did you pick?" Regina asked conversationally. Emma turned around to reply, and froze for a moment before blurting, "Wow."

Regina crossed her arms in front of her chest self-consciously and raised her eyebrows. "What?" she asked. Emma shook her head. "It's nothing. You just…don't wear your hair down, ever. Usually in a bun or a braid. The only time I've seen it down was the night at the bonfire, and it was dark then. It's beautiful."

Regina felt a blush creeping up her neck to her cheeks, and she turned her head and forced out a cough. "Thanks," she said, then changed the subject. "Want to go see what we have to eat?"

"Absolutely," Emma said, clapping her hands together. Together, they made their way downstairs, past Regina's parents who were watching a movie of their own in the sitting room, and into the kitchen.

Ten minutes later, they were back upstairs, sitting Indian-style on Regina's bed with a large bowl of popcorn and two bottles of water in front of them. Emma pressed play, and Regina frowned when the title screen came on. "This isn't one of mine," she stated, confused. Emma nudged her with her shoulder and winked. "You have nothing but classic romances and chick flicks. I guessed as much, so I brought a few of my own. Have you ever even watched 'Kill Bill'?"

"Um, certainly not. What even is this?"

"Oh, you're going to love it," Emma declared as the movie began. She grabbed the bowl of popcorn and leaned back against the headboard, motioning for Regina to do the same. Once they were settled shoulder-to-shoulder, they dug into the popcorn and began to watch.

Fifteen minutes later, Regina stated, "Emma, this is ridiculous."

"Shhhhhh."

Regina lost her appetite not long after that, and watched as Emma continued to eat almost mindlessly. How she could even eat while watching this…gore-fest was beyond Regina's comprehension.

Finally, the credits rolled and Regina heaved a sigh of relief, which had Emma laughing at her immediately. "Oh come on, that's a classic," she whined. Regina shot her an incredulous look. "Whatever you say."

Emma sobered up and said, "Damn, Regina…I'm sorry. I thought you'd like it. Do you want to pick something to watch now or do you want to go to bed?"

Regina looked at her bedside clock. It was after midnight, but that…movie…had Regina antsy and disgusted. "I think I could stay up in order to wipe those images from my mind," she said. She walked over to her closet and pulled out "Casablanca."

"Here, she said, putting it in the DVD player. "Have you ever watched Casablanca?" At Emma's head shake, Regina smiled wide. "Good. Then we both get to experience something new to us tonight." She sat back down and pressed play.

And she watched with warm amusement as Emma was lost in the movie. She slowly worked her way to the foot of the bed until she was lying on her stomach, staring intently and focused entirely on what was happening on screen…and providing Regina with a pleasing view of her toned back and slightly rounded behind. Immediately feeling like a complete pervert, Regina moved to where she was laying on her stomach beside Emma, and together they watched the movie, until Regina's eyes began to droop and she drifted off, the sounds of "Casablanca" in her ears and Emma's now-familiar scent of vanilla and cinnamon in her nose.