A/N: I want to thank everyone for being so patient for the next update. I hoped to post two updates but that wasn't possible today. Tomorrow however, I WILL make it two- maybe three- fingers crossed. I hope you all enjoy this next update either way. Happy reading and happy weekend! :)
Please read the third-person version of this story first or I promise you will be confused, but ultimately it is your choice. Also, for those of you wondering, NO you MAY NOT translate ANY of my stories or use them in other fandoms. Thank you.
Chapter 43: Emma
"I- I don't understand, Emma," Audrey's voice immediately broke, tears after tears slid down her cheeks. "Break up? Why- I-" She scoffs. "We just got back from spending the perfect summer together, and you want to break up over that?"
"It's not over that, Audrey." I shake my head.
"Well, explain it to me then. And it better be a damn good reason, because I sure as hell don't understand how someone can break up with you when things have been fine. Or were five seconds ago. Now I'm not so sure." She wipes away another fallen tear.
My heart is breaking for Audrey. Really, really breaking for Audrey. Ending a relationship was never a fun experience, and I've been on both ends of it. And I know this wasn't the first time for Audrey to experience a break up either. It probably wouldn't be the last. But that didn't take the pain she was feeling from it away.
I wanted to explain things to Audrey. I would tell her the truth. Regina and I would tell her the truth, but in due time.
I pull out a paper napkin from the dispenser that sits on the table, right between Audrey and myself, and hand her one. "Audrey… This sucks. Believe me, if there was any other way I could do this without hurting you, I would, in a second. But there's just no easy way."
"Oh, poor you." Audrey scoffs, her voice was shattering inside of her throat.
"Audrey-" I tried again, but as I suspected, Audrey wasn't having it.
"What did I do wrong, Emma?" She asks, ready and willing to repair whatever she thinks she fractured.
"Nothing." I said. "You did nothing wrong, Audrey-"
"Then, why?" Audrey's bottom lip trembles. "Please, shed some light here for me, and help me understand, why just out of the blue do you want to end what we have?"
I try reaching for Audrey's hands, but as I do, Audrey instantly pulls them away, hiding them underneath the table. I expected that, too, of course. I knew this would be hard. Not just for Audrey, but for myself as well.
"Audrey, you have been nothing but wonderful this entire year that we've been together, but I-"
Audrey scoffs out a breath along with a chuckle. "Please, Emma. Spare me the fucking morality lesson, and quit trying to play it safe with my feelings here, okay? I think they are beyond repair, don't you?"
As much as it shouldn't. It still surprised me just how much of Regina I could see in Audrey sometimes. Like right now. They shared the same glaring look.
"You're right." I nodded, dropping my gaze onto my cup of coffee that had been neglected, but cradled along my hands. I release a breathy sigh, "But I really want you to understand that what happened isn't in any way your fault." I said, as if anything I said would make this situation any better for Audrey or for me.
"And do I get to know the reason? I mean, don't I deserve that much from you?" Audrey asks.
Yes. "You do." I give another nod, and take a quick sip of my coffee. It is then I realize, as I pick up my cup that, and the steam of it touches my lips that my hand was shaking. I was more nervous than I had allowed myself to believe I was. "Audrey, something happened that will be a little hard for you to understand." My eyes never leave Audrey's after that part of my confession.
"Something?" Audrey's arms cross over her chest as she rests her back against her chair. She waits.
"I met someone." My reply couldn't be more direct if I tried. My heart beats inside of my chest like a tribal drum at the shocked look on Audrey's face.
"You met someone?" There's a long pause, as if it takes a moment for Audrey's brain and ears to register my confession, before she scoffs. "And you say it like that? So calm?"
"Audrey-"
"Who is she?" She waits, getting no response from me. "Or are you not going to tell me?" She asks.
I shake my head. "No, I'm not." Audrey rolls her eyes. "You don't need to know who she is, Audrey."
"Yes, I do!" Audrey leans into the table.
"No, you don't."
"If out of the blue you're telling me that you want to end our relationship over someone else, I think I have every fucking right to know who that bitch is-"
"Don't call her that!" I shout, my eyes are wide over Audrey's choice of words. If it was anyone else I was leaving Audrey over, I probably would become this defensive over her as well, but this wasn't just anyone. This was Regina. And just like I was prepared to protect Regina from Chief Irons' injustice, I was prepared to defend her from anyone. Even if that person was Audrey.
"I have a right to know, Emma!" Audrey's voice raises that some people walking by look our way.
"No, you just need to know that I'm in love with someone else, and she isn't to blame for any of this-" I said.
"What?!" Audrey's voice is a little louder. Her body stands in such a powerful jolt that the chair tumbles over behind her.
My cheeks turn a little red due to more heads and eyes turning in our direction.
"How can you say that to me? How-" Audrey paces once, running her hands through her hair as I stand, and she's standing before me. "How could you spend an entire summer meeting my parents, and the minute you get back you spring this curve ball on me about loving someone else?" She bends over on the table until her elbows plop along it, hiding her face in her hands.
Seeing Audrey like this. This affected, as I knew she would be, I knew she wasn't prepared to know exactly who the other person that stole my heart was.
I stand and reach for Audrey's shoulder, "Audrey-"
"No, don't-!" Audrey jerked back from any contact with me, knocking the already tumbled over chair more toward the curve. "Don't you dare touch me or try to comfort me now. Just… Don't."
I fight back tears of my own as I swallow down the lump that forms behind my throat. "Audrey, please."
Audrey shakes her head. Her bottom lip trembles and she allows a sob to escape past her lips as she says, "Well, I guess now I know the real reason behind you rejecting my proposal that night. It's not that you didn't want to get married, you just didn't want to marry me."
I frown at that and my shoulders slump.
"God, what a fool I must have been to you." Audrey shakes her head and doesn't fight back more tears that spring free from her eyes. "Now I know why suddenly out of the blue you sometimes acted a little indifferent toward me. It was because of her, wasn't it?" Audrey waits, but not long enough for me to give her a response. Because somehow, I knew she knew that she didn't need one. "And to think my mother really liked you. Boy," She chuckles and places her hands right on her hips.
"I'm sorry, Audrey." I replied, wishing that could be more than enough. But it wasn't. It would never be enough.
"Yeah, I can see how sorry you are." She said.
"You have to believe me, I didn't mean for any of this to happen, it just-"
"It just happened?" Audrey finished my sentence for me, anger oozing right through her. She chuckles, "I suppose now comes the typical line of 'it's not you, it's me,' right?" She scoffs and wipes away another set of tears. "You are unbelievable. Did you even love me at all? Did you even mean it when you would say it to me, at all?"
"Of course I meant it, Audrey." I replied in all honesty.
Audrey's eyes filled with more tears, "Then, how could you allow someone else to change that? I- I- I just can't understand it, Emma, how can someone fall out of love with someone else just because a third person comes along?" Suddenly, Audrey's eyes are wide. Her lips spread apart just a little. "Wait a minute." My heart stops. "You slept with her, didn't you? This woman."
"No!" I shake my head.
"That's it, isn't it? She warmed the sheets for you so good that now you think you're in love and you'll live happily ever after-" Suddenly, Audrey shoved me. She tried shoving me again, but this time I caught her by her wrists.
"Audrey! Listen to me, okay?" I shout this time. My eyes pierce right through Audrey's. "I did not sleep with her. She's different."
Audrey snorts, "Different? So, now you're looking to be celibate?" I roll my eyes and run a hand through my hair in frustration to Audrey's question. I could understand Audrey's anger well, and I could understand how much this affected her. But one thing about Audrey was, when something really upset her, she could behave a little immature. "Well, isn't that just wonderful for you. So, where did you meet her? When did you meet her? How long have you known her for that you are so in love with this person?"
I don't answer that.
"Wow, okay. So, now I get nothing from you? Well, I hope you two will be very happy. Goodbye, Emma." Audrey shakes her head before she turns on the heels of her feet to walk away.
"Audrey, hold on a second-" I reach over to grab hold of Audrey's wrist.
"No," As expected, Audrey yanks away from me. "I said don't touch me."
"Alright," I hold up my hands. "Just hold on, okay? Please." I should have just left things alone, but I really did feel bad and I wanted to make as much peace as possible with Audrey in the moment. "I know it's hard, it's hard for me, too." Audrey scoffs and I continue, "I really did love you, Audrey. You have to believe that."
"Apparently not enough." Audrey said dryly.
"It's complicated." I run my hand through my hair. "I guess I just never realized how I loved you. I mean, look, we had a lot of fun, and you were always so amazing. I still…" I take a pause as I look into Audrey's eyes. "I still want us to be friends. I understand if you don't want to talk to me, let alone see me right now, but somewhere along the road, I hope we can move past this and be the adults I know we are."
I didn't mean for us to be friends right away. Because it totally sucked when someone broke your heart and then wanted to be friends after. But I guess in my own way, I wanted Audrey to know that I would always be there for her to count on. After all, considering who I'd be dating after today, it was kind of inevitable for Audrey and I to continue and be a part of each other's lives.
"You really think I'd be your friend after this?" Audrey motions between us, between what we once had. "You know what? For once, I don't want to be the adult-" Before I have time to react or protect myself, Audrey's hot coffee is dumped all over my shirt. Some of it splashes along my jacket, and my hair.
"Audrey! Seriously?!" I jerk back, and look down to the dark brown spot along my shirt before I stare wide-eyed at Audrey. "What the hell's the matter with you? You could have burned me!" I reach for a napkin from the dispenser and wipe any drops of coffee I feel along my face and neck.
Honestly, over being slapped in the face or having hot coffee dumped all over you. I would have chosen to have Audrey slap me over this. Luckily, I wouldn't be suffering any burns. The last thing I needed was to have Regina make me pay another visit to Doctor Whale.
"Yeah, I really hope it did. Goodbye, Emma. Have a nice life." Audrey storms off, slams her car door shut and slams on the gas pedal so hard, her tires screech along the pavement, leaving black marks where it was once parked.
I can't say I could argue with how things unfolded, or that I had coffee dumped on me. After all, I know that in part, I deserved it. But at least now, what needed to be done was done, which meant that there was now something positive about all this. I was once again single and could finally be with the woman I loved. So if having hot coffee dumped on me needed to happen so that the day where Regina and I could finally be together arrived… It was fucking worth it.
But I couldn't see Regina like this. I needed to shower and change first.
Mom and David are working on one of their many thousand piece puzzles, half of it done along the breakfast table with only a few scattered pieces left to be placed. They are engraved in laughter and conversation when I finally enter the house. Their eyes fall on me, but don't take long to land on the brown spot that now is branded into my shirt. The color had gone lighter, given that it had long but dried up.
"Emma, wha- what happened?" Mom's eyes grew wide. Her jaw practically hit the floor.
"Just spilled some coffee on myself." Was my reply. No reason to let them in on the storm of my break-up with Audrey, followed by my revelation of my heart belonging to another. Although David knew about it, I didn't have time to sit around and talk about it. I needed to see Regina.
"Sweetheart, that is unlike you-" My mom started saying.
"I'll be fine, mom. I'm going to shower and head on out. I have someone I have to meet." I rush along the familiar path that takes me to my bedroom before my mom can integrate me any further.
"Emma?" I could hear my mom call out to me, followed by an exchanged conversation with David as I shut my bedroom door. I lock it, just in case my mom wants to storm in here, determined to get to the bottom of things. However, I am hopeful David would have the words good enough to make her drop the topic.
I would explain everything to my mom in time. But right now, seeing Regina was more important.
With that in mind, eager than ever before, I quickly peel my shirt off of my body and toss it into my hamper. I search through my drawers for a new set of clothes before heading into my bathroom, where I shower thoroughly from head to toe. My mind, even though swimming with thoughts of Audrey's hurt expression, also lingered with thoughts of Regina. Would she be happy to see me once I arrived at her house? Would Audrey have already called her to tell her what happened, seeking her mother's comforting words regarding our break up, before I even have a chance to arrive?
Somewhere along my many thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe Regina would change her mind about being with me, simply because Audrey sounded too heartbroken over what took place. I can't say I would blame Regina if she no longer wanted to be with me after. She was above and beyond, Audrey's mother.
Stop it! I shake my head, allowing the water from the shower head to cascade over it, to cleanse me of the negative result this outcome could suddenly have, feeling the warmth of the water drip along my arms and back as I stand underneath it. I can't think like that. Not when today would mark a new chapter in mine and Regina's lives. Not when today was meant to be special for both of us.
Not when today Regina would finally be known as my girlfriend.
Girlfriend. A smile stretches out along the corners of my lips as the word engraves itself in my brain, replacing any negative thought that threatened to cross it. Regina and I would finally have a chance. I mean, sure we'd still have to sneak around for her peace of mind, but I didn't care. If that's what we needed to do to be together, I would gladly do it.
I reach for my bottle of shampoo and squirt some in the palm of my hand before I run it along my hair and begin to massage my scalp with all of my fingers. It takes me about ten minutes to finish up my shower before I am ready and dressed in a new pair of washed jeans, a shirt and my jacket. My blue jacket. Regina's favorite. I blow dry my hair and comb it over. Lastly, I reach for my bottle of perfume and spray some along my neck and wrists. Followed by one last spray along the inside of my jacket.
I look in the mirror at myself and I'm smiling.
David and my mom are still sitting at the breakfast table, working on their puzzle when I make my way into the living room again. "I'll be back later." I announce, trying to reach the front door as fast as I can.
"Where are you going, sweetheart?" My mom has sprung to her feet, still eager for an answer.
As rushed as I am to get out of here, I stop to face my mom, not wanting to be rude. My keys clutched in my hand. "I'm meeting someone. August." I lie as my eyes look over my mom's shoulder, directly to David, who is sitting calmly along his chair.
"August?" Mom asks, a hand placed directly at her hip.
"Yeah, who else would I see?" I try to smile before looking down at my watch. "I'll be back by dinner." I reach for the door knob.
"But, I thought August was going out with his father today to pick up some motorcycles?" My eyes close as I freeze before the door, my hand on the knob. Shit. I forgot that I had mentioned to my mom that August and his dad were driving out of town together today. But it's fine. I could work my way around that. "They did." I turn to face mom again, thinking quickly on my feet. "But he texted me and it turns out he needs my help. Some of the bikes need repairing, and you know how it is, mom- Marco and August can't work together. Besides, he likes having me around. He wants to catch up. And I'm already late, so-" I look down at my watch again. The earlier I left, the more I could be with Regina.
Whether my mom really bought that or not, I will never know. But I was relieved when after exchanging a quick look with David, who innocently shrugged, she turned back my way and said, "Well, alright. But be careful, please. And be back for dinner."
I smile, "I will. Bye!" I wave as I am out the door. And for the first time in a long time, I walk toward my car with a pep to my step, and a huge grin that I can't seem to get rid of anymore.
Emma: Is the coast clear? I can't wait to see you.
I didn't text Regina until I had finally arrived back in Boston. I felt my phone vibrate with a reply, and as I read through it quickly, I smiled, and my heart danced inside of my chest at the thought of seeing Regina real soon. In just a matter of minutes in fact.
I always prided myself on having a very photogenic memory. I could learn roads and remember where everything was very quickly. A trait that never left me as a kid, and I couldn't embrace even more now than I had before as I remembered exactly the roads I had to drive on that would take me to Regina's house. It was amazing how being back in Boston so quickly made me feel like I had never left in the first place.
I felt secure enough to drive back here without even asking Regina if I could first, because I knew Chief Irons would be stuck at work. Suddenly it dawned on me how much I felt like the other woman in this relationship that Regina and I would begin to build. It brought a chuckle out of me and I shook my head to myself. What Chief Irons doesn't know, won't hurt him. I thought to myself the same thing I told Regina when I was over here for the summer.
Who was kidding, anyway? A man like Leopold White deserved to be betrayed behind his back by his wife. And if he wasn't man enough to make a wonderful woman like Regina happy. Make her feel appreciated and loved, well then I was more than happy and willing to fill those shoes for him. It was wrong, yes, and as much as I hated cheating, it wasn't something that was inevitable either.
In case you haven't figured it out yet, I was so fucking in love with Regina that I would change my way of life just for her. If she asked me to. My heart beat on a different rhythm every single time I was near her. That's how in love I was. I have heard from my mom and David that once you're in love, you look like a fool to the rest of the world. Well, I was a fool, a fool in love who would soon be with the woman she loved. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that seemed to work out way better for me than anyone who dared to judge me right now.
Finally, after I turn on the correct street, I enter the familiar neighborhood and drive all along the road, house after house, until I reach the one at the very end, secluded from any of the other houses. I park along the driveway, right next to Regina's Mercedes and smile when I see the top is down. I reach for my phone and shoot a quick text to Regina.
Emma: Look out your window.
Unbuckling my seat belt, I quickly step out of the car and begin making my way toward the familiar graveled walkway, when suddenly, I see one of the double doors open, followed by Regina's angelic smile, her beautiful features, that special glow that bloomed in her eyes every single time she stood before me that made my heart so weak and swell up like a balloon ready to pop at any given moment.
A smile of my own stretched from ear to ear, so wide, it hurt my cheeks. There she was. Even more beautiful than the day before. My gorgeous girl, capturing my heart just with her smile alone.
"Emma," Regina breathed out my name like a prayer, and I couldn't be happier to hear it.
"Hi." My smile turns shy. "I made you a promise that when it was done, you would have me standing outside as you looked out your window, didn't I? Here I am." I stretch out my arms, ready, eager than ever, and willing to begin this new chapter in our lives.
My eyes were delighted as Regina's smile grew, far more than I could ever imagine. It reached her eyes, which are on the verge of tears. "And you would ask me a question." She reminded me, even though I didn't need reminding. I remembered everything I ever said to Regina.
"Oh, yeah…" I walked my way up to Regina, climbing the first step out of three. "The question…" I climbed the second step, stopping there as Regina and I were only an inch apart. As we would be from now on. Just an inch apart. My eyes locked into Regina's sparkling chocolate orbs. "Will you?" I say in almost a whisper.
Not even a minute passed before I was blessed with the sweetest response from Regina. "Yes." She breathes out and I can't help but reach out, allowing the back of my fingers to stroke along her jawline, ever so softly. "I will."
I feel my smile grow, my heart swell two sizes bigger than it felt a minute ago, my lungs constrict but breathe all at the same time. I reach over, cupping my hand along Regina's jaw until my fingers reach the back of her neck. I pull her in, leaning in myself until our lips meet in a passionate kiss that was long overdue for the both of us. It wasn't until I felt Regina lean in more into me, her lips pressing more onto mine, deepening our kiss that my heart literally exploded inside of my chest, unable to hold back anymore from erupting of happiness. I dared to close the very itty bitty space that could possibly exist between us as Regina's hands reached for me, one landing along my shoulder, and the other along my cheek. My other hand found its home along Regina's waist and I made sure it remained there. Never moving it forward or giving it a reason to feel spurred on to explore anywhere else that might make Regina feel uncomfortable.
Now that we were officially a couple, I wanted absolutely nothing to ruin this heavenly moment.
Once Regina finally began to part as well as I did, we were both breathless, but enjoying the feel of one another. I always allowed Regina to decide when she wanted our kissing to come to a temporary end. She held all the cards in this relationship, and I was more than fine to give her that.
"Emma," Regina breathed my name, and I couldn't hold back in placing a quick chaste kiss along her lips one last time.
"What?" I breathed, my breathing matching every bit of Regina's.
"Let's-" Regina chuckled as my smile widened. "Let's slow down for a minute, okay? We have a lot to talk about." She said.
"I couldn't agree more. We do have a lot to talk about. Mainly about us." I grin, feeling my heart swell up again and ready to explode. That's what I mostly wanted to talk about. Us. The word that brought Regina and I together as a whole. We were an us now. That thought alone made me so happy, I dared to place a quick kiss, followed by another, and then another along Regina's lips again.
I never wanted to stop kissing this woman.
And judging from the feel and smile that stretched along Regina's lips, I could tell that she didn't want to stop kissing me either.
"You're right." I placed another kiss along Regina's lips, eager for another. But by the following one, Regina leaned back to prevent me from giving it to her. Her hand came up until her fingers placed themselves along my lips. "We do have a lot to discuss. But not here."
"Okay," I nod, keeping our closeness not an inch apart, holding her so close to me, I never wanted to let go. "Let's go somewhere else then, anywhere you want. Name it." I replied, eager to leave and go to the ends of the Earth with Regina. Where we could exist more together.
I am blessed once again with Regina's smile appearing wide and happily before me. "Hold on a minute, Emma, I can't just leave." She said.
"Why not? Is Chief Irons due back soon?" My eyes scanned as much of the perimeter of the house, looking for any signs of the asshole anywhere.
"No, no," Regina quickly shakes her head. "Sidney informed me that he has been swamped with work. He won't be back until possibly late hours."
Hearing that had my body overcome by this wave of rush. With more reason, I wanted to take Regina out of here.
As my smile grows, I grab Regina by the hand, bring her knuckles up to my lips where I press a loving kiss upon them before I pull her off the three steps. "Then name the place, and we'll go there. Right now." I said.
Hearing Regina chuckle, seeing her happy with her bright white smile, and that never ending sparkle in her eyes was everything to me. That's how she would always be with me. She would never shed any tears of pain because I was never loving enough, or un-attending to her and whatever needs she faced.
"Come on, Gina. I drove all this way. I fought an hour of traffic, not to mention had a cup of hot coffee dumped all over me. You won't leave me like this, will you?" I give her my best pleading look.
"Who on earth dumped coffee all over you?" Regina's eyes grow with concern.
I frown a bit, but my hand never releases Regina's. "Courtesy of Audrey." I said.
Regina's smile was replaced by a frown and her shoulders slumped before me. I would have none of that. Before Regina had a chance to change her mind, I made sure to lace my fingers along with hers, locking them in pace as I dragged her over to my car. "Come on. I promise to tell you all about it, let's just go somewhere." I pleaded, leaning toward landing on my knees on the graveled ground.
Our smiles match as soon as Regina nods, and I am quick to pull open the passenger side door, allowing Regina to settle herself in her seat before shutting the door in place. Quickly and just in case Regina changes her mind, I race over to the driver's side and hop in, buckling up.
I turn to Regina as I turn on my ignition, "Where to?" I ask and happily wait for her instructions.
"The Orchard." Said Regina, and she must have picked up on my surprised look because right after she said, "Don't worry about Daniel. I'll call him on our way over there to make sure he isn't around by the time we arrive."
With Regina's wishes being my commands, I shifted my car into gear, backing out of the driveway and driving along to the road that would take us to her favorite place. Regina and I had shared some good talks while we always found ourselves in the Orchard house. It made sense to me that she picked for us to go there.
Honestly, I didn't care if Daniel found out about us or not. Better for me if he did. That way any possible idea of him and Regina ever coming close to a chance would erase from his mind. But, I didn't wish for him to find out if Regina wasn't ready to face that yet. And if she was, well then I was more than happy to stand by her, and face it with her. Although stable boy was the least of my worries right now. I knew that if Regina would tell him to leave, he would.