"I have to admit, this wasn't the place I thought we'd meet at." Regina remarked as she walked through the old dusty library.

One of Emma's favorite places outside of the bar was the town library. The librarian, Belle, often needed help restocking books on shelves after hours. So, on evenings when Emma wasn't found at the bar she was here volunteering. It was a quiet escape for Emma where she found comfort in the absence of noise. Some nights, she'd wake up at two in the morning asleep on a book that she'd lost herself in.

There was something so serene about the old library full of books. The place remained empty most of the time. It was kind of her little secret spot. Not even Ruby knew she went there.

"It's the only private public place that I could think of." Emma defended. "I come here a lot to help the librarian. She leaves at four everyday when the library closes, after I restock shelves, so I have my own key." Emma dangled her keychain for the other woman to see.

"So, you work here?" Regina asked as she walked between the different shelves of books, dragging her fingers across their multi-colored spines.

"Not exactly, I volunteer. It's…" Emma bit her lip. She didn't want to jump into telling someone that she was on probation. But then again, Regina did read her records, which meant she most likely knew everything.

"It's what?" The brunette turned and studied the blonde.

"It's… Uhm, so how much did you read in my school records?" Emma wasted no time cutting right to the chase.

Regina looked down at her feet and then brought her hand to her forehand and her other perched on her hip. She looked guilty. Emma knew at that moment, from her body language alone, that she read it all.

"I read enough to stop reading." Brown eyes met those of the blonde.

Emma turned away from the other woman. Trying, desperately, not to become angry she asked, "So then you know I'm on probation already? Well, this is where I volunteer." She dramatically threw her arms out.

Turning around Emma asked, "What else do you know?"

This wasn't how Regina had hoped this conversation would go. She took a step back, "I read enough to know that you were nineteen and that you were new to the school. I know you live with a foster family, but I didn't know you were on probation. I'm sorry if you feel like I violated you in any way, Emma, but I didn't read anything else. I knew what was in that folder was personal and when you feel like talking to me about it, I'll listen."

Emma put her hands on her hips and looked at the other woman. She knew she wasn't lying.

"Fine."

She wasn't sure if she should explain herself, but she was the one that word vomited on the woman.

"I guess I have a tendency to jump to conclusions." Emma eased her way into conversation carefully. "I have been with my foster family now for five months. Before I was living on the streets because I ran away from my previous home. It was a really bad home and I thought since I was almost eighteen that I could make it. I was wrong."

Emma looked up and caught brown eyes hanging on her every word. "I was always hungry, and I always felt sick. I remember seeing my reflection once. I was so frail, thin, and I still to this day can't forget how ghostly pale I was. It was heartbreaking to see myself like that."

Emma paused and watched as the other woman listened to her so intently. She wasn't used to having someone give all of their attention to her, as if she mattered for once.

"Anyways, I lived like that for almost half a year and then one day I got arrested for stealing. I wasn't eighteen yet, so they sent me to juvie. As time passed, I was on good standing and I got to leave early on probation with the anticipation that I would stay in one last foster home and finish high school. I also was to volunteer a few days a week somewhere educationally beneficial. So, I picked this place. I turned nineteen a month after living with my current foster family. I could leave. I'm old enough, but there's nowhere else for me to go."

Regina stopped the blonde, "But how are your grades so good? I mean you missed a year of school."

Emma nodded in understanding how that could be confusing, "I did really well in my classes. I also changed schools so much that I ended up taking a lot of classes over. When I was in foster homes, I didn't have anything else to do besides homework and taking care of the other kids. Homework was fun to me. I loved to read too. Even when I lived on the streets, I would go into a library and read. It gave me something to do to pass time when it was cold or rainy outside. There are so many books on math and science that I would work math problems and teach myself things from the moment the doors open till they closed."

Regina's eyes glassed over as she listened to the blonde tell her bits and pieces of herself. Regina had no idea how hard of a life the blonde had. It was inspirational to see her now. She was someone to look up to. Every single negative in her life she transformed into something positive, which was something Regina struggled with.

The blonde animatedly talked with her hands as she explained, "Ms. Nolan seems to think that I can get into an ivy league school. She keeps telling me that I'm the next Liz Murray. I don't know if I want the world to know my story. Why can't I just be Emma Swan, Valedictorian, who gets into an ivy league school because of her superior grades? I just want my past to stay in the past."

"Emma." Regina stopped the blonde who looked up and noticed her rant.

"Jesus Christ, I'm sorry. I'm nervous and I just can't stop word vomiting on you."

"Must be my face." Regina laughed. "It's really okay. I just wish you didn't get yourself so worked up. I want to know things about you." She soothed. "Can we talk about that night?" Regina motioned to the old couch that sat in the corner for people to read.

Emma narrowed her eyes and internally cursed herself. Keeping her hands to herself was going to be the death of her.

Sitting facing one another, Emma began to explain, "So now that you know I'm a foster kid, I didn't have anywhere to be that night on Christmas Eve. Ruby wanted to keep the bar open just in case she could make some extra tips. I, as you probably remember, was playing pool. Before you came into the bar I scored, of course against myself, and I asked Ruby for another round of drinks. Prior I was drinking just hot cider, but when she gave me my next drink, she spiked it. She never does that, so please don't get upset with her and get her into trouble. She could lose her bartending license."

Regina held her hands up in surrender shaking her head no.

"When you asked for what I was having, instead of making a non-alcoholic beverage, she made the one she just made me. I think that gave you the impression that I was of age to be drinking."

"Well, it did, but you're nineteen and that doesn't bother me as much as you may have thought initially. I'm just a few years older than you. Next month I'll be twenty-three."

"How do you have that penthouse apartment?" Emma questioned.

"That's a good question. My family has a lot of money to say the least." Regina said, "This is my first job, I didn't want to be a teacher, but my mother forced it upon me. That's a long story for later. She knows the school principal, Mr. Gold, so that's how I got my job here. My mother purchased the apartment for me as a gift. It really doesn't feel like that though. It's so big and empty."

"You're lucky you have a family."

Regina tightly smiled and nodded her head. While many may think that she's lucky, she didn't think so. Behind that beautiful facade she hid many secrets.

Emma segwayed, "So, are you like mad that I left that night?"

"No, not really. I mean I thought of you more than just a one-night stand. I had no expectations though. Did I think you were beautiful, yes. Did I want your number, more than anything. But that didn't work out. I really have thought about you a lot since that day. There was something different about you that I'm very attracted to."

"What's different about me?" Emma steered the conversation forward.

"I don't know if I can put it into words. After that night, I would dream about you and how soft your porcelain skin felt against mine. Your eyes were so wide and soulful. The way your hands gently held on to me just made me want more of you." Regina started to lean forward, "I missed everything, the touch of your lips against mine." Slowly, Regina cupped Emma's jaw and brought their mouths closer. A breath apart the two locked eyes. "I missed this." Regina said. Emma wrapped her arms around the petite woman's frame, closing the distance. The pair were going to embrace one another, but in that split second before lips felt lips a voice echoed through the rows of books, "Emma?"

Pulling apart, the two straightened their clothes and Emma stood and greeted the librarian.

"Belle? What are you doing here so late?"

"Sorry, I left something behind. Oh look, you brought a friend. Hi, I'm Belle!"

The sweet woman reached out her hand to the newcomer.

"Regina." The sexually frustrated brunette responded not so cheerfully.

"Nice to meet you, Regina. I should be going now, hope you two find some great books! Emma, I left a to-do list for you at my desk." Emma nodded and watched as the young woman's figure slowly faded off in the distance as she left the library. Once she was gone, Emma turned to Regina and argued, "And that's exactly why I can't do this." She pointed in the direction of the now gone woman. Her face felt on fire. They were almost caught. Had they been making out and Belle came in without her noticing she could lose her volunteer position and mess up her probation.

"Emma calm down. It's going to be fine."

"No, it's really not fine. I'm risking too much. As I told you, I'm on probation. I have a lot to lose, especially if I get into Harvard. I can't risk my future and escaping a life I never wanted. We don't even know whatever this is." She motioned between them, "It would be foolish, Regina, can't you see. We don't know if we have chemistry. All we know is that we had a damn good one-night stand."

"We have good chemistry, Emma, you know this. Your mind may be telling you one thing, but I know your body is telling you something else. So what? She walked in, she didn't see anything. We just need to be careful and respectful of each other while at school."

Bringing her hands to her head, Emma laughed, "You're not listening to me." She exasperatedly exclaimed.

Closing the distance between the two, Regina rested her hands on the blonde's shoulders. "We can do this; you just have to trust me."

"I don't know you. How can I trust a person I don't know. All my life I've been proven to trust only myself. If you're so keen on trust, how about you trust me and know that I can't do this. I think you're amazing. You're so beautiful, obviously smart, and witty. You're literally everything I would want if I could have you. It's just not going to work out. You're my teacher and that's who I need you to be." She felt like a king cobra as her words shot from her mouth like poisonous venom.

"Please don't hate me. I really can't stress enough how I can't screw up again. I'm walking on very thin ice and everyone, except a small handful of people, are waiting for me to fail. I'll cherish everything we had that night together and more than anything I would want to be your friend."

Emma knew nothing she was going to say could fix this situation. It was obvious the two did have chemistry. She was there on the couch when Regina was telling her all the things she missed, and she felt that fire ignite inside of her. Her self-control and voice of reason, however, told her to set her feelings aside and fixate on her priorities.

"Stay after class tomorrow and make up your test. This is the only second chance you'll get in my class." Instantly, Emma watched as the older woman's body language changed. Her face became free of expression. It felt cold and it stung like a thousand daggers to the heart.

"Regina, please don't be like that."

"No, this is what you want, so this is what you're going to get, a teacher. I need to head home. Don't forget to study, Ms. Swan."

Emma's mouth fell open as she watched the woman of her dreams, quite literally, leave.

Sitting back down on the couch, Emma internally cursed herself. She always seemed to ruin everything.

Emma had little time after school to head to the bar recently. The past month she was consumed with schoolwork. All her tests happened on the same days and that meant her social life was essentially non-existent.

"Hey chica, long time no see!" Ruby greeted her friend.

"I'm literally counting down the days till May. I can't wait to be done with everything. Whoever thought it was a good idea to take four AP credits at once was dumb, oh wait, that's me." Emma exasperatedly huffed as she pointed to herself.

"Well, it's Friday! You at least have the weekend to relax and hang out, right?"

"I have a test in World History on Tuesday, other than that, I'm free."

"Sweet! So, how's that going by the way?"

"Fine, we've ignored each other. She's just like any other teacher I have, except one that's exceptionally sexy and who I've slept with."

"She's not flirting at all?"

"She barely even looks at me."

"That really bites, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, it's what I wanted." Emma pointed out.

"True, but I know you liked her."

"Can we please just not talk about her." Annoyed at the topic, Emma stood and walked over to the juke box and started sifting through the music and played, Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede.

Ruby's eyebrows rose at the song choice. She knew her friend was denying how much she missed the brunette.

The song echoed through the bar walls as Emma walked over to the dartboard.

I'm hooked on a feeling.

Ruby watched as her friend missed the target. Visibly annoyed, she continued to try to aim and throw the dart at the target.

I'm high on believing, that you're in love with me. Lips as sweet as candy. Its taste is on my mind.

What Ruby didn't expect was Emma being approached by someone. She watched from behind the bar as a guy walked up to Emma. The pair talked for a few minutes and Ruby squinted as she tried to read their lips. Before she knew it, she watched as the guy stood behind her friend.

His hands raked her form as he spread her legs a shoulder length apart and positioned her feet in the right spots. Straightening her shoulders, he pulled her arm back and she threw the dart.

It hit the bull's eye.

Ruby gawked at the pair, trying to not be too obvious she busied herself behind the bar, and was elated to see Emma laughing with the guy.

At the end of the night, Emma hugged the mystery boy bye and walked to the bar to a very excited Ruby.

"So, who is that?"

"Oh, that's Graham. He's in a few of my classes. He's really nice."

"Yeah, he's cute. Seems like a nice guy."

"He is. I think we are getting together to study later for our test in World History."

"Like there will be much studying happening!" Ruby winked.

"Oh, come on Rubes."

"Emma, he's a hunk. Maybe that's what you need to get over Regina."

"I'm over Regina."

"You may think that you can lie to me, but don't lie to yourself Emma."

"It's not that simple, you know that, Ruby. The mind always wants what it can't have."

"Exactly. Take this as a new opportunity. It seemed like you and this Graham really hit off."

"I'll think about it."

"Good." Ruby smirked. She secretly hoped that the two hit it off in class right in front of Regina. Assuming they shared Regina's class together. Maybe then that would be enough fire to make Regina jealous of Emma.

"I have to head to the library after school. You're welcome to come there and we can study together." Emma told Graham as they were sitting at their desks in World History.

"Yeah, that sounds great. I made a bunch of notecards and a fake test of questions I found online that she could ask."

"That's what I do too!" Emma, a little too excited, said a little too loudly.

"Here's my number in case anything changes." Graham started to reach out a piece of paper to Emma, but before she could grab it from him Regina snatched it up.

"No note passing in class. Whatever it is can wait till later." Regina said. "You both know my policy is to read your notes out loud when caught."

Emma blushed. She knew what was coming.

Regina unfolded the notebook paper and read out loud for the class to hear, "Call me later, 207-315-6633."

Emma watched as the color drained from Regina's face. She balled up the paper and threw it in the trash can.

Emma slumped down in her desk and tried desperately to not look up. It really wasn't what it seemed.

"Today we are working on basic memorization of terminology commonly tested during the AP final exam from the chapters you'll be tested on tomorrow." Regina passed the handouts to each person in the front row to pass back. "I'll be walking around to see how each of you are doing giving you a chance to ask me questions on the content, as well as other questions you may have for tomorrow. This is to be handed back into me before class ends to be graded, so don't waste anytime. All grades count in this class."

Emma looked at the paper that was handed to her. There were 160 terms. Her eyebrows nearly crawled off her forehead.

Switching from pen to pencil, Emma started jotting down simple, but accurate definitions for each term.

Looking up at the clock, she noticed there was only twenty minutes left in class with forty more terms to go. Trying to skim the page, Emma started targeting the easier terms that she could quickly knock out when a hand touched her back. Trying to not jump out of her seat from the contact, a familiar sweet scent surrounded her.

Not moving a muscle, Emma kept writing. She thought maybe not acknowledging the other woman would mean she'd leave.

That wasn't the case.

Instead, Emma felt the hand slowly move in circles on her back, "Emma, do you have any questions for me?"

"No, I think I'm good." Emma turned. Dark brown eyes met green. Regina licked her lips and Emma felt her pulse beat harder. A month had passed since she felt the woman against her skin. A month that as too long.

"I'd like to think that if you had any questions you'd ask me, Ms. Swan."

Emma tried to advert her eyes, but she couldn't. Her eyes raked down Regina's form and to the open buttons of her white collared shirt. Her green orbs caught enough of a glimpse of her teacher's cleavage that she nearly couldn't look away, but she did.

"I'm fine, I'm almost done with the assignment. Thanks for asking, Ms. Mills"

Regina walked away to the next student with a very seductive sway of her hips.

In Emma's mind, she knew she was screwed. She sat there forcing her mind on filling in the rest of the blanks trying not to think about the other woman. It was so hard to ignore everything. Her skin still burned from the other woman's touch that she longed for, for weeks. The area around her still smelled like her, so sweet like candy apples.

At the conclusion of class, a very sexually frustrated Emma left. It was evident that a jealous Regina was playing games with her.