A/N: Sorry for making everyone wait for this update! Tomorrow I shall try to squeeze in another update, if there aren't a lot of interruptions going about. :) Happy reading!
Chapter 22: Regina
To have Emma here in such a special place that was equally special to my father, was magical. I was still smiling from what she made me do in my Mercedes. I never imagined doing such a thing, nor with someone like Emma. I could tell, as I showed Emma around my father's honey crisp trees that she was fascinated. Her camera clicked again and again, taking notice of the little things that others would possibly take for granted.
It was like behind her camera lens, Emma could see another dimension that no one else could.
"So, your father planted these trees himself?" Emma asks me as we walk along the shade of the trees. I could recall myself running through these trees, my father searching for me.
I smile proudly and give a single nod.
"Wow. And why apples?" Emma's fingers strongly held onto her camera, a faint vein popping out of her forefinger that rested along the device.
"It was my father's favorite fruit, for one. And you can do a lot with apples. Plus the horses love them." I walk along and look up, spotting a particular apple that I welcome myself to pick.
Click! I hear the loud shutter of Emma's camera, seeing her holding it up to her face as she snaps a picture of me. "Hey- Emma!" I tried reaching for the camera but proved to be too slow as Emma pulled it back.
"What?" She smiles, glancing down at the screen behind her camera that provides her with a preview of the picture she just took. She turns it for me to see. "You look real good."
I groan, rolling my eyes but evidently move closer to Emma to inspect the picture for myself. She took it the exact moment I had reached up for the apple, moments before snapping it off its branch. I have an honest, content looking smile stretched out at the corners of my lips. Something I don't see myself doing often. Until Emma's arrival, that is. I almost feel sad looking at the picture, because I was staring at a woman that for the first time in her life felt a sting of happiness. If only for a brief moment.
But my moment of sadness is instantly replaced by a bundle of nerves that ties itself inside of my stomach, upon realizing just how close Emma and I were standing. Especially after Emma scooted closer to me, a little more to give me a good enough view of the picture she had taken. I could feel our shoulders brush and I didn't once jerk to the sensation. I should have been looking down at the picture of myself, but how could I want to stare at myself on the screen of a camera when Emma was so much more inviting and distracting?
"See?" Emma's eyes glance my way and I am forced to look down at the picture. The last thing I need is for her to notice my constant staring, let alone my newfound feelings toward her that grew stronger as her eyes met mine in that short instant.
I chuckle as I glance down at my picture, "It is a nice picture. You are very good." I look up to find Emma's eyes trained on me, and my eyes lock into her own.
"Or maybe you're just really photogenic." Emma's voice is so low, and I can't help but look down at her lips. How thin and pink they are. And I wonder if they are as soft as they look. I wonder… What it would be like to kiss them.
Neither of us is paying attention to the picture that Emma still held before us as I realized just how close our proximity to one another really was. Emma had been standing so close to me that I could pick up on her perfume and the leather off of her jacket. This wasn't good. I needed to say something. Anything. But I couldn't be this close to her. And most importantly, I couldn't be having these thoughts about kissing her.
"We should…" My voice caught in my throat. I took a step back, breaking our close proximity as I cleared my throat. "Shall we continue with our tour?" I ask, feeling my heart race inside my throat.
"Definitely." I smile as Emma smiles back at me, not wanting to be rude and just continue on our walk. She follows beside me to an open field, walking along. Her camera is hanging loosely around her neck. "So, all this land is now yours?" She asks. A question I am grateful for.
"Yes," I nod. My fingers twirl the stem of the apple that I still hold in my hands as we walk. "I couldn't wait to come out here again." I smile.
"You really love it out here, huh?" Emma asks. I can imagine it's obvious how much I love it out here. It was my father's most sacred place, therefore it was also mine.
My smile widens. "Probably because I had some of the best memories as a child here."
"Did you ride a lot as a kid?" Emma asks, and it still surprises me just how interested she is in getting to know me. But I also find the butterflies in my stomach feeling happy because of it.
I give another nod, happy to answer all of Emma's questions. "Constantly. My mother- as you can imagine- hated it out here. She was against me visiting, but my father always had his ways to bring me along. It was because of him that I learned how to ride a horse, and it was because of him that I know so much about apples and baking."
"He baked?" I tried not to take so much offense as Emma's brows skyrocketed in surprise.
I chuckled instead. Emma wasn't the only one surprised to know that about my father, "Yes. My mother hated to bake- let alone cook- she hated the kitchen in general."
"So you learned all your cooking from him?" Emma smiles.
"He was one in a million." I give a sad smile, missing my father terribly. There wasn't a day I didn't wish he was still among the living. I'd like to think that with him still alive, my life would have been incredibly different. He would have never allowed any harm to come to me.
"He must've been. If he had you."
My eyes lock with Emma's again as our stroll comes to an abrupt stop. I took a moment to blink and process her words, which sounded very much like a flirtatious comment, which instantly made my cheeks go crimson. All I could do was smirk and brush back a strand of hair to try and hide it to the best of my abilities. And as much as I try to fight it, I smirk.
"Was that a compliment?" My brow lifts.
"Uh…" Emma ponders on her answer for a moment, and I notice her own cheeks grow pink. She's blushing! "Yeah," she breathes. "Is that a bad thing to say?"
A bad thing to say? Nothing Emma could say would seem wrong to me. I smile, "Not at all." I brush back a strand of hair that tickles my cheek. "I'm just honestly not used to receiving so many compliments." This was true. Any compliment I would sometimes get from Daniel, or Audrey about how beautiful she thought I looked, would be welcomed. But any compliment from Emma? I didn't want to believe them. Because the more I believed them, the more I-
Click! Emma held up her camera again and snapped a quick picture.
"Hey!" I attempt to snatch the camera from her again as Emma laughs, and I fail. "That's not fair, Emma." I chuckle.
"It is totally fair." Emma smiles.
"How so?" I scoff.
"It's my camera." She says so smugly.
"Well, it's me you are taking pictures of." I place my hand along my hip. "Why don't you take pictures of everything else that's around you? Of the horses?" I motion to the horses that are out along the field, behind a fence.
"Oh, I've taken plenty of them. I'll show you." Said Emma.
The butterflies in my stomach decided then and there, that I would love to see anything Emma had to show me. In an attempt to hide my smile I glance down at the apple I had been nursing in my hands. "I'll have to bring you back here once the apples are fully ready for harvest. My father and I used to pick them when they were at their pique. They would make the best apple pies." My heart races at the thought of bringing Emma back here.
"I'd love that," Emma smiles, and her eyes look down at the apple I'm holding. "If that one isn't ready, why did you pick it?"
"Because it's good enough to eat." I toss Emma the apple and her hands don't fail to catch it in mid-air. I watch her inspect the apple before taking the biggest bite she can out of it. A smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I watch her green eyes become positively brighter with delight. "That's very sweet." She says.
"It is." I nod as I'm still grinning. "Imagine it inside an apple pie."
"I can't wait."
My grin doesn't leave me as my eyes drink in Emma's smile once more. It was a grin that reached her eyes and made them twinkle like the stars that lit the sky when nightfall took over. I could stare at her smile and the color green of her eyes all day. "Would you like to help me prepare lunch?" I ask, not at all ready to leave yet.
"I have a better idea." Said Emma. "Why don't I fix you lunch for once?"
Once again, Emma never fails to surprise me. "You can cook?" I feel my brow lift.
"Okay," Emma rolls her eyes playfully at me. "I'm going to pretend I'm not offended by that question."
"I'm sorry," I frown, because of course I take the eye roll seriously, and because I was really sorry. "I- I didn't mean to-"
"Hey- Regina," Emma smiles ever-so-sweetly, and with such reassurance. "You don't need to apologize."
I actually did need to apologize. There was a lot I needed to apologize for, but the one main thing that wouldn't leave my head and my heart would be the start of it all. "No. I do." I take a step forward toward Emma and find her eyes trained on mine, locked in. I draw in a slow breath, "I'm sorry for the way I acted before you left."
"You have nothing to-" Emma shakes her head, already ready to protest against my apology.
"Emma. Please." I look deep into Emma's eyes and if it hadn't been for my ability to still speak, I would have lost myself in those green eyes of hers. "I may be a woman trapped in a life I didn't ask to live. I may be a woman who hasn't experienced much of the world- not like you have- but, I am a woman who can admit when I am wrong. And me hitting you… That was…" I feel my eyes water and my throat close at the same time. Don't cry. Whatever you do, don't cry. "I'm really sorry. I- I give you my word- it will never happen again. Because I'm not him." My voice cracks, threatening to break. Don't cry! "I'm not-"
"Hey," I gasp as Emma not only encloses the space that's already minuscule between us, but I feel the warm familiar touch of the skin along the palm of her hand along my cheek. My eyes can't look away from Emma's. No one has ever touched me, let alone like this. It was strange to me how Emma's touch alone made me want to actually lean into it further more. But, I don't. Although, as Emma's eyes stare right into mine, baring my soul, I feel my heart ready to burst, my stomach turns upside down, and a burning sensation takes over my lips that has never been there before.
I wanted to kiss Emma. With all my heart's honesty, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to actually kiss someone. That realization was even more frightening than the one of my attraction toward her. Of course, let the world be cruel enough to have that person be the one person that was forbidden for me. The one person I could and should never allow myself to have any kind of feelings for. But it turns out, my feelings were being mutually cruel as they were already developing a mind of their own. As was my heart.
"It's okay. It's okay, Regina." My eyes focus on everything as Emma keeps me rooted to the ground, unwilling to move away from this hold she has on me. I focus on the look of understanding and gentleness that alights her eyes, in the way her brow creases right down the middle in concern for me. Imagine that. I focus on the gentle and low sound of her voice, which makes me learn how just with the sound of my name being uttered, it can take me away from everything that threatens to hurt me. Just like the feel of her thumb brushing along my cheek, almost coming in contact with my scar along one of those strokes. "Let's get one thing clear. I know you're not him. You could never be him or anything like him. You are you. And that makes you perfect."
Perfect? Did Emma Swan just refer to me as perfect?
"Perfect?" I scoff and I am able to move away from her touch, which my skin instantly feels the withdrawal of, but I fight the urge. "I am not perfect, Emma. No one is. Not even you."
"Well, you are to me." Once again, I am taken by surprise. I see the sincerity in her eyes, but I can't help to feel so confused by how I could possibly be perfect to Emma. "Look, I know we don't know each other that much, but from what I do know about you- I know that you-"
"Emma-" I interject, shaking my head as I feel my eyes sting. I can't allow Emma to continue. Because if she does, there is a chance I will not only believe it, but I would have lost the battle against my urges and do something I would instantly regret. "I am nothing like you see me. Nothing. There is absolutely nothing left of the adolescent girl I once was before I met the man I was forced to marry."
"You're wrong." Emma breathes out, and I am surprised once again as she takes a step forward, enclosing the space that I had slightly increased between us. "Regina, everything you once were is still in there. That fear you feel whenever he is near you- that's the same fear you felt when you were sixteen years old- so everything you were then, is in you now." I scoff at how slightly ridiculous that sounded. Yet it was as if Emma could see right through me. And as much as I want to be angry at her for doing so, I can't. "You just need to see that for yourself. I saw it when we were in your car, driving up here."
"Well, I am not sixteen years old anymore." I retorted.
"You're right. You are a grown, beautiful, but broken woman. And I love that about you."
I can't fathom what I've just heard. Emma loved something about me? Loved? Surely not as if she were in love with me. Why, that would be absurd. Emma's heart and mind belonged to Audrey- as it should be. I try to shake the thought that lingers there.
Besides, who could love anything about me? What was there to love?
"We should have our lunch now." I blinked, pulling away once more and this time for good.
"Okay." Emma nods. "But, only if I can cook for you for once."
Seeing as this was a debate I wouldn't possibly win against Emma, I chuckled and nodded. "Very well. What may I ask, will I have the pleasure of eating for lunch today?"
Emma's lips spread into a massive grin. "Only my specialty that's to die for."
"Grilled cheese? That's your specialty?" I didn't know what I was expecting Emma would cook up for lunch, but it certainly wasn't a sandwich. Not that there was anything wrong with it. It did smell divine. Still, as I couldn't hold back on my surprise, my eyebrow lifted as I stood beside Emma while she flipped the grilled cheese along the pan.
"Don't knock 'em, 'till you try 'em." Emma grinned and winked my way. A wink that, dare I admit, stopped my heart and revived it on the spot.
Someone named Otis Redding sang the words to his song Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay along the radio that was plugged along one of the kitchen counters. It was Emma's request to sooth the room and environment with a little music, and I had to admit to being once again, impressed. It not only filled the room with a relaxing ambiance that I had never felt before in my life, but the scent of the grilled cheese sandwiches and watching how carefree Emma was at preparing them provided me with a sense of relaxation.
I mostly listened to classical when I did listen to music, but this wasn't bad at all. Emma had said as she played the song, that it was thanks to David that she discovered this type of music. I wondered then, if David was as loving and gallant as Emma said he was. Though, I couldn't imagine she would lie about something like that. After what her and her mother went through with her real father, I doubted Emma would allow just anyone to come into their lives.
"Do you have any idea what that thing could do to your arteries?" I see how buttery the pan becomes as Emma serves the golden crisp sandwich onto a plate. I grew a little concerned.
Emma chuckles as she holds the plate before me. "Well, if I am cursed with this being my last meal before a heart attack- I am not ashamed to say- I shall die with a smile on my face."
I scoff out a chuckle. How on earth did Emma find humor even in such a thing as death?
"Now, come on. I want to watch you take the first bite." Emma whistled along to the song as she moved toward the table, but not before shutting off the stove.
"May God have mercy on me," I muttered, reaching for my glass of wine and Emma's as I moved to the table.
"Allow me," just when I don't think Emma could possibly make me like her more, she meets me halfway, takes both wine glasses from me, sets them down and pulls out a chair for me to sit in. Audrey was lucky if this is how Emma was with her.
"Thank you." I felt my brow rise, but I allowed myself to smile a smile that reached my eyes. I welcome myself to the seat that Emma pulled out for me and glance down at the grilled cheese sitting before me. I proceed to pick it up with the tip of my nails.
"Alright," Emma welcomes herself to a seat, scooting up in place along the table with a smile to her. "Dig in." Her eyes are trained on me as she waits. It makes me feel a little pressured, but the good kind.
I chuckle, "Grilled cheese sandwiches and wine. Interesting combination." I feel free to tease, feeling it has become the seal of our friendship. Or rather, Emma's idea of friendship, and my… newfound feelings.
"I'm nothing if not interesting." Emma grins.
"Alright," I breathe out a puff of air as I reach for the sandwich and lift it up to my lips. I am careful to avoid looking into Emma's eyes as I take the first bite. And as I take the first bite, my taste buds wreck havoc inside of my mouth as the cheese melts right along my tongue.
"So?" I watch as Emma's teeth catch her bottom lip, biting down.
I'm chewing my way through the melted cheese and buttery bread, to keep myself from trying to voice what I think of Emma's lip biting out loud. It wasn't like me to have these thoughts! So I try to concentrate on how heavenly delicious this unexpected lunch tastes. I could feel my tongue dance inside my mouth as this was my very first grilled cheese to ever have the privilege of enjoying.
I think Emma could tell from the delighted look in my eyes, because I catch her grinning as she says, "Good, right?"
"I'm afraid good is not enough word to describe this. This is… Amazing!" I finally say, being rewarded by another breathtaking smile from Emma.
"Coming from you, that means a lot." Emma's hand is placed along her heart as if saying 'I'm touched,' before she reaches for her own grilled cheese and takes a happy bite. "But, don't let my mastery cooking skills on a grilled cheese fool you. I can make other things, too. You name it, I can do it."
I lift my brow in mockery, "And here I thought I would have to teach you how to cook before you adventured off living with my daughter." I tease, though that tease ached deep inside the pit of my stomach. I couldn't even blame the grilled cheese sandwich for that ache, because it was my heart's doing.
Emma chuckles and takes another bite, remaining silent.
"How is that going, by the way?" I ask as reality sinks into me like an anchor in water that Audrey and Emma would be living together soon.
Emma shrugged, "Okay, I guess."
"Just okay?" I can't help but take notice of Emma's surprising frown.
She takes a sip of her wine before she says, "Well… To be honest… The apartments Audrey has had her eye on are a little too…" Her eyes narrow in thought.
"Extravagant?" I take a wild guess, somehow knowing exactly what Emma wanted to say. I thought they were a little too extravagant as well after Audrey showed me a couple of them.
"That's it!" Emma's eyes light up as I guessed right. She snaps her fingers and a pink blush settles along her cheeks.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about that, dear." I assure her.
Emma welcomed herself to another sip of wine as if choosing her next choice of words carefully, "I mean, the first few she saw were great, they were tiny little apartments- big enough for two- which was awesome, but now, I don't know… She says her father wants her to have the best." She shrugs. Obviously she isn't happy with the idea, and I can't say I blame her. Of course Leopold would want to stick his nose in their own personal business like this.
"And you want something small but simple?" I nod in understanding. Concurring with that idea.
Emma looks relieved that I understand her thoughts in that moment as she takes the last bite of her sandwich. "Yeah. That's not awful, is it?" She scrunches up her nose, which I can't help but smile at.
"Not at all, dear." I take a moment to visualize the type of apartment Emma would like to have. It's the same I would like to have- if such a thing were possible for me. I had to admit to envying her freedom to think of such pleasures of life. "Any place to live in is good. I would go for something small, too."
"Right?" Emma leans into the table in excitement, plopping her elbows on top. "I mean, obviously big enough to have my own little black room, and all. But, nothing too big."
I smile and I don't realize just how big I am smiling until I notice Emma's eyes stare at me for a moment. Somehow, the idea of Emma and I agreeing on the same space of living spaces filled me with something that just made me want to smile.
"Have you ever thought about leaving?" Emma asked, and my smile instantly turned into a frown.
I wait a while before I give my answer with a sad tone to my voice, "Many times."
Yes, I have thought about leaving. Once, I recall, I came close to it. I had packed a bag while Leopold was away at work for the entire night and wouldn't be back until morning. I could have left. My hand was already reaching for the doorknob, my car keys were already pressed along the palm of my hand, I was frightened but determined to step a foot outside the home that had turned into my prison when Sidney convinced me of the opposite. In the end, I had realized that Sidney was right. Even if I had left, Leopold would have found me. I had nowhere to go and I didn't want to bring trouble to Belle's peaceful married life.
"But?" Emma waits, patient as ever.
I reach for my glass of wine and twirl it. I want to chuckle at how incredibly stupid I felt for not leaving then, and at my cowardliness for never leaving now, but instead I drown it with taking a sip of my wine. "It's not so easy, Emma. It never is." I answer truthfully.
"There are always ways-" Emma is getting ready to give yet another speech of hope, but it wasn't easy. Not for everyone.
"Emma," this time I do chuckle and allow myself to look into Emma's eyes. "The only one who can leave that house without a care in the world is Audrey." I look down to my wedding ring, and I see a deep frown form along Emma's lips as I look back up. "As long as I wear this ring, I am bound to him."
I wondered at that moment, but didn't dare to ask, what Emma could possibly be thinking about as she remained quiet. Instead, she attempted to reach across the table to pick up my empty plate, along with her own.
"I'll clean up." I hold out a hand to halt Emma's attempt. I didn't need another reason to like her more than I already did.
Emma quickly stood up as I did, "I'll do that-"
"No, I'll do it. You cooked so it's air." I give her a small and pleading smile.
Emma's eyes remain on me for a moment, and I can't help but become nervous. The butterflies in my stomach start flapping around, having a mind of their own every time Emma is near. What was she thinking?
"You just help yourself to look around, if you want." I extended the invitation for her to look around the house as I gave her no choice, taking hold of the two empty plates and empty wine glasses before heading toward the kitchen.
I begin washing the plates, first one, then the next, keeping my eyes focused on the soap spuds that quickly form up. The music is still playing at a decent level of volume, and I can hear Emma's footsteps walk along the living room a few feet from the kitchen, but I don't dare to look at her.
"You have a piano?" I hear Emma ask out loud.
I quickly look over my shoulder, seeing Emma standing along the piano. "It was my father's. He never knew how to play it, but he loved keeping one here. He said it gave this place a musical charm." A small smile tugged at my lips as I concentrated back on washing the second plate.
"Sounds like something my mom would say," I hear Emma chuckle and I smile at that.
I reach for one of the glasses of wine and begin washing it. Suddenly, I hear music begin to play, something soft and melodic that it took me a moment to realize it wasn't coming from the stereo that was still on and playing music, but it was coming from behind me. Somewhere in the living room. I allow the dishes to sit inside the sink, clattering along as I enter the living room and am ever surprised to find Emma not only playing the piano, but she is singing. Because of course, Emma could sing. That was the last thing I needed to have my heart strings pulled and ripped out of me.
Was there anything Emma couldn't do? I secretly hoped not. Because seeing her play with a smile to her lips, her hands and fingers dancing skillfully along the keys of the piano, was like a work of art come to life. How sweet her voice sounded as she sang, was a sound I would not soon forget, if not ever. I didn't recognize this song, but whatever it was, it instantly became my favorite.
I was awestruck to say the least. I just hoped Emma was too busy, engraving herself in her music to even notice. She certainly did notice me joining her along the bench of the piano, as her smile only grew. My eyes not only looked down at how easy her hands danced along the keys, but at the crease of concentration settled between her brow. My heart fluttered inside my chest to a rhythm of its own that didn't follow this melancholic melody that Emma played along the piano at all.
It frightened me to feel what I was feeling for Emma right now as she played and sang until the song reached its end. I felt my eyes tear up as I had never heard anything more beautiful in my entire life. And I had never seen anyone more beautiful in my entire life. Apart from Audrey, of course, but Emma… She was a different kind of beautiful.
That's when I knew I had been wrong.
Emma was indeed perfect.
"What was that?" I ask, feeling a little out of breath.
"I wanted to see if your father was right." Emma shrugs. A small blush settled along her cheeks as she looked at me.
"Audrey never mentioned you could sing." I want to smile but I fight against it as I shake my head.
"Um…" Emma's shade of pink along her cheeks turns redder. "That's because she doesn't know." She chuckles, and I am surprised to be let in on this realization. Audrey didn't know? How could Audrey not know? My eyes grow wide. "I don't go around singing in public or anything. That was just for my mom mostly, when I didn't practice on my own."
"But you sang it here, for me?" Suddenly I realized how ridiculous my question sounded. Of course it wasn't for me! Why on earth would Emma sing for me? She was probably thinking about Audrey while she began playing or like she said, she was testing out my father's theory. Which, he would be happy to know he was right. "I'm sorry," I shake my head as I chuckle at my own ridiculous assumption. "You must think I'm ridiculous."
"Why?" Emma's head tilted.
"Well, because… Why would you sing for me?" I chuckled once more, brushing back a strand of hair behind my ear.
Suddenly, as I look into Emma's eyes, I am surprised to find her staring right back. With such intensity and such gentleness that it makes my heart start to beat faster and faster. Emma could do that with just looking at me. It's then I realize just how close we are to one another again as we are sharing the bench. Our shoulders are brushing and our faces are about two, maybe three inches apart from one another. I can pick up on the scent of her perfume, and I can see the green color of her eyes become lighter. There was something behind the way I suddenly caught Emma looking at me that made me question everything.
"It's not ridiculous." Emma said in the softest voice possible. I froze. My breathing threatened to turn rapid but I had to fight to keep it under control, especially since at that moment, I noticed Emma's hand start to come up, her thumb ready to stroke along my lips this time.
I am wanting to lean in, to meet Emma's hand along the way, feeling lost again, when-
Knock, knock.
Two light knocks followed by Daniel abruptly entering the house startled me that I quickly stood up, and patted a hand along my cheeks that I felt were burning in that instant. Emma remained seated along the piano with her back turned toward Daniel.
"Hey-" Daniel's brow slightly lifts as I know he catches sight of my flustered cheeks. "Are you alright?" He asks.
"I'm fine," I stand elsewhere, away from the piano and from Emma as Emma closes the lid to the piano before her eyes turn to Daniel. I can see something in them that I had caught then. She glared at Daniel, and I couldn't help but think- was she-?
"Well, um…" Daniel's voice startles my thoughts that I'm sure are as absurd as I feel right now. "I just wanted to come by and see if you needed anything else, and if you were planning on riding today-"
"No." I breathe out, startling Daniel this time. I flash him a smile. "Thank you, Daniel," I say, a little more collected, and feeling the lush in my cheeks has settled. "But there will be no riding today. We, um, actually should get going." I turn to Emma, who smiles up at me and nods in agreement.
Being here alone with Emma proved to be dangerous. Going back was the best option.
Neither of us mentioned what had happened back at the Orchard while driving back into Boston. Because absolutely nothing had happened. Emma had played a melody and I had been stupid to believe that maybe, there had been a shared moment between us as if Audrey didn't exist in this picture at all. When she did. I had stupidly almost given in to my feelings, and possibly would have done something I would have regretted had it not been for Daniel's interruption.
In a way I was thankful for him interrupting us. But, in a way, I wish he hadn't.
Eventually Emma and I found ourselves engraved in a more suitable and pleasant conversation about music. I let her in on my liking for romantic melodies, while she confessed to me her interest in some rock music and a band called Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'll be honest, I didn't quite care for it, but seeing the smile and excitement light up Emma's face as she listened to one of their songs made me smile.
I wasn't hungry once we arrived, and surprisingly neither was Emma. Sidney was surprised when we both agreed to skip dinner and went our separate ways for the night. We parted along the hallway, Emma entering Audrey's bedroom while I entered mine.
Eventually I had managed to lose myself in the book that Belle had allowed me to borrow. I sigh while reading it, I can't help but imagine Emma and I in the two protagonists' situations. Living their life, feeling their love for one another. I then begin to imagine what it would be like if Emma would like me. Maybe even love me. I shake my head and scoff at the ridiculous thought. It was ridiculous. My life wasn't a story waiting to be turned into a fairy tale.
Suddenly, my phone vibrates along my nightstand and I settle my book along my bed as I reach for my phone. I am surprised to see the same yet now familiar unknown number flash across my screen, followed by a written message.
Unknown Number: So, out of nowhere, my stomach decided- It's starving!
A smile spreads instantly along my lips, making me forget my nerves of whatever could have taken place earlier back at the Orchard. I watch the three dots along the screen dance along before another message comes through.
Unknown Number: How about yours?
In that moment, as if Emma had some sort of power over my stomach, I heard it rumble, speaking up that it was in fact hungry. I type out my reply and wait.
Regina: It would appear so. However, it is about to be midnight, and I really shouldn't.
Three dots dance along the screen…
Unknown Number: Sounds like pancake hour to me!
I scoff loudly as I shake my head. How was she such a child at twenty-four years of age? And whoever thought breakfast at this hour of the night was a great idea?
Regina: You do realize that's breakfast?
I type back and wait.
Unknown Number: To my notion, and my mother's, you can have breakfast any damn time you want!
I chuckle and shake my head as I type back-
Regina: Language, Ms. Swan…
Unknown Number: Sorry!
Unknown Number: So, what do you say, Gina? Meet you in the kitchen in five minutes?
I shouldn't do this. I shouldn't accept to enjoy a late night breakfast with Emma after today. But the part of me that really wants to accept wins over as my fingers are already typing and sending out my reply.
Regina: See you in five minutes.