Chapter Eight - Emma

I really thought I had her. She gave so much away early on. Henry being very supportive of her business and there's anonymous investor. Henry taking her out for fancy restaurants that wouldn't even be on the radar. She owns business, so Henry couldn't have been financing everything in her life, by the sounds of it.

She shut up after that. My fault for stopping with the questions. I didn't want to push so hard that she'd realize I was prying. I kind of figured that she might keep bragging on her own accord, incriminating herself without being prompted. She didn't say any other words for ages. Just kept gazing out of the window. I couldn't even fill the dead silence by putting the radio on, since I'd lie about it being broken so that she'd have to talk to me.

I cracked first and got the conversation going again.

"You mentioned that you and Henry watch a lot of comedy together?"

"Yes! We can't get enough."

"Sweet. What shows do you usually go to?"

"We go all kinds of shows together, comedy, book tours, small cubs, small concert, operas sometimes. We usually like smaller venues, to be honest. I like watching new acts finding their voices, and comedians testing out works in progress. I saw a new Scottish guy recently, he was brilliant.

"Did you see Rose Matafeo?"

"Yes, I loved it."

"She was awesome," I stopped the car at a junction. Refocused on the task at hand, "do you like theatre? Musicals?"

"Yes, if they are really good ones. I prefer plays. I am not biggest fan of dance numbers or bursting into song about weather, love or cats…"

I couldn't help but smile, "so, no cheesiness for you?"

"None. Not unless it's on cracker or a toast."

"Pizza?"

"How about quesadilla?" she offered.

"Yum. Exactly. Any edible cheese is fine by me. I tried Colombian hot chocolate with mozzarella in it before. It was surprisingly all right."

"Would you have it again?" she asks.

"No, never." I laughs and she laughs too. I wondered more about Regina's life, her business and her family. There were no indications of villainy. IN fact, she almost came across … I don't know. It's so cool that she's entrepreneur, sharing her tips and tricks with me, and even recommending a bunch of underrated clubs and spots. After all of that, she remains chatty, and friendly and sweet for the rest of the drive to Storybrooke. Somewhere along the way, I realized I was enjoying talking to her.

Even though, I keep trying to peel off for Regina's true colors. She keeps talking about how she volunteers at local library and orphanage. She would teach small classes how to use computer, online banking and several things. It's amazing, she stood tall with confidence as we walk, flashing bright smile at everyone we pass. For moment there, I stare at her, started to be drawn at her, so sweet and harmless … and …

No, I stopped myself immediately. I am not getting swept away. I am not falling in love with her. It's not going to happen. I know people would call my cynicism "trust issues." I call it common sense. I've met plenty of people in my life who seem lovely at first but are really anything but. Worst offender was the girlfriend who stole money from under my pillow as I slept with my head on her chest. My best friend who badmouthed me to one of the bosses at resort. It was a mess. I will not fall for that sort of crap anymore. So there's no fucking way I will let Regina fool me. I will not be fallin—

I trip.

It's like the pavement just disappears. My foot plunges down into nothingness and the rest of my body is following at speed.

Then someone grabs me.

I am still.

I smell vanilla.

"You're okay," Regina says softly, right into my ear.

She's above me, I think. Still on the pavement. Her arms around me. Breath tickling my neck. I feel her pulling me closer, and then I'm standing fully upright again. One foot on the pavement and one foot in the road. She lets me go.

"You're okay," she says again.

I am still facing away from her, out into the road. It's empty. No cars. It's lucky that we live in small town with free parking and amazing community together. I step back up on to the pavement and turns towards Regina, catching my breath. "Thank you. I … thank you."

"It's fine," Regina's arm is hovering in front of her body as if reassuring me they can catch me again at a moment's notice. "I guess we are even now."

I blink at her.

"I fell over yesterday, out on the driveway, and you caught me. Now I've caught you. So, we're even. No more falling necessary. We can both remain vertical for the rest of the year."

I am so dazed that I laughs, "I never fall over like that."

"Me neither," she says. "I always thought that kind of thing only happened in cheesy romcoms. And maybe Charlie Chaplin films that Henry likes. To be honest, I've always found women who are clumsy in real life, really irritating."

"Same! I was so annoyed when you tripped yesterday!"

I stand there smiling dumbly for a second before I realize what I've said. Then my hands fly up to cover my mouth. Another slapstick move. What has come over me. I slide my hands back down my face and get ready to apologize, but Regina is laughing. A proper throaty chuckle.

"I must have looked so ridiculous," she laughs. "I mean, seriously spatial awareness is not that hard. Never have I ever been that clumsy in my life before." Her laughter peters out, "I am really sorry for crashing into you like that." She winces at me, "are you sure you're okay?"

"Oh, I'm fine." Regina almost sags with relief then she of course, recovers her perfect posture.

"Thank goodness, but I do not think I'll make a habit of bungling around like that. My days of being clumsy are officially over."

"Mine, too."

"Perfect," she starts striding down the pavement, her surprisingly strong arms swinging again. "Come on then. Let's get a couple of cheeseless hot chocolates."

The market looks exactly how it looks every year. I have forgotten about the festival tonight and there are several market stalls. Everyone seems to be carrying something edible, and the warm smells of cinnamon and ginger fill the air. The effects of the twinkling lights is a bit lost. Regina doesn't seem to mind the crowd and the lights. She's gazing around at it all as if she's entered her own personal heaven.

I lead her towards the drinks stall, weaving us through the crowd. It mingles nicely with Regina's sweet perfume, strange. That thought came out of nowhere. I put my head down and keep pushing through the throng.

We reach the stall selling hot chocolates, mulled wine, cask ales, and we join the queen. We're stationed right under the fairy lights. The day has gone darker as it gone on, and the golden lights add a welcome glow. Soon enough, we're being handed a couple of hot chocolates, each topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. Regina reaches for her wallet.

"Put that away," she says, glancing at the wallet in my hand and extracting her debit card. "I am getting these."

I'm slightly surprised, but do as I'm told. I say my thanks and we touch our brown paper cups together in silent toast. Neither of us takes a sip yet, knowing we'd burn our tongues. As Regina lowers her cup, she grimaces, "what is it?"

She looks at me in surprise, as if she hadn't realized I could see her face. She rearranges her features into a look of sheepish apology. Waves her hand towards a nearby speaker. Fairy tale music is being pumped out of it. Your standard festive fare; heavily auto tuned with added jingle bells and vocal runs.

We got into discussing about her dad, traveling and how she went to underwater museum. She talks about culture from all over with such passion. We would talk and walk through the market. She would make few purchases: some candles, bottle of red for mulling, a nice bottle of red for drinking. She pays her own way at every stall. We got into passion for cooking, I was honesty shocked to hear that she loves cooking and out of nowhere, I suggested we can cook together. She said that we should go to store this week and we can cook together. I don't know what's happening to me tonight. She promises to cook for me for my Christmas dinner, that she'll think of something for me. She beams at me the entire night. She's amazing. I feel like my suspicious of her being villain are more less and less.

Henry, is her dad's name, that's strange. She talks about him with pride but misses him so much. He passed away with cancer and the only person she's close with in her family. I fell silent, I couldn't ask more questions. I know this time, she is completely genuine with me. I believed her, as simple as that. She took a deep breath in a moment and her hands clasping together on her lap. Her eyes were filled with sadness, no one can fake that. I reach up slowly when I see she was getting cold, I pull the beanie down over her ears for her.