Before the third girl was able to make her hit on Maura. Emma flew in the air tackling the boy that was holding her girlfriend. Causing the girls that were holding Maura to look back, giving Jane the opportunity to punch the main girl right in her nose, making her fall to the ground. "Jane!" Maura gasped, and was able to set herself free from the two girls by stomping on their feet with her heels. Emma on the other hand was still pounding the boy's face on the tile floor. Maura ran to Regina trying to help her friend up from the ground.
Jane looked back and got pushed by the second girl. Jane swung, hitting her in the jaw before ducking from the third girl's swing causing her to stumble forward. Regina looked up frantically, regaining her focus. Realizing that they were in the very public crowded mall. Where she was just about to watch her best friend get beaten. But her girlfriend was always coming at the right time to save her. Regina tried to pull Emma off the older teenager. But Emma was in full tunnel vision. Regina looked back and saw the mall security running down the escalators.
"Emma Swan get off that boy now!" Regina yelled frantically. Emma couldn't afford to get in trouble again. Especially since she finally just got into a home that she loved. Maura and her tried to pull her off but Emma was stuck in a trance.
Overall when it came to Emma and Regina's relationship the blonde was more of the laid back partner. But once anyone lays a hand on Regina all hell will break loose. Jane saw how scared Regina seemed while she tried her best to pull her girlfriend off. So monkey see monkey do, it was Jane's turn to tackle. But this time to her friend. Doing this did the trick, Emma yelped while her back hit the floor. Regina and Maura did not give the girls a chance to catch their breath before pulling them both up and running to the Mall's parking lot entrance. It was the nearest way to escape from the mall security, and from the group that just tried to jump them.
They ran as fast as they could, before hiding behind a car. Deciding best if they were followed to make it seemed as if they made it out the lot. Emma sat on the ground breathing heavily, while Regina squatted and hugged her girlfriend.
"Maur, did they hurt you?" Jane gently touched the honey blonde's hair, not wanting to startle her.
"Huh? I? Oh, I'm fine. Just some scratches on my arms that I'll make sure to disinfect." Maura responded and sounded still pretty frantic.
"Hey, hey it's okay. We're good now. We're safe for now." Jane pulled her into her arms, and instantly Maura relaxed.
"Um guys…" Jane scratched the back of her head.
"We really should get out of here." Regina nodded, agreeing. She stood up, pulled Emma with her. They walked out of the mall, and started to make their way towards the park.
"Baby who were they?" Emma asked, the first words she spoke since she had originally walked into the mall.
"I, um. I don't know who they were." Regina seemed hesitant to talk and looked over to Maura as if she was seeking permission.
"They were there for me. All of this happened because of me. I'm so so sorry girls." Maura stopped walking and covered her face. Jane didn't hesitate to turn around and wrap the short girl into her arms. "Maur what do you mean?" Jane spoke so softly that the other two almost didn't hear her.
Maura and Regina were doing their typical mall shopping routine. Going through all of the stores mostly just talking and catching up on eachothers day. They were just making their way out of Nordstrom when someone had called out Maura's name. She turned around and before she had time to react she was being separated from her best friend and being pinned up against the hard glass of the cold vending machine. At first she thought she was going to be robbed, but the girls made no efforts to rip off her crossover purse. Maura looked behind the girl that was currently eyeing her down to see Regina running towards her before she was swept off her feet by an older boy she did not recognize either.
"What, what do you want! Who are you!" Maura asked frantically, all of her words coming out. Her thoughts raced a mile a minute, trying to understand what was happening to her. She tried to get out of the grasp of the two other girls but their grips only got tighter.
"How about you ask your father who I am?" The girl in front of her finally spoke.
"My what, my- my father?"
"Yeah, and what he did to my old man." The girl started to roll up her dark hoodie, and Maura tried to make out the lettering. It seemed to have a school's name on it.
"Stop this, you're hurting my friend." Maura tried to leave again but they slammed her head against the glass. Causing a sharp pain to go down her spine and she lost the little strength she already did have.
"I'll just stop after I get my message across to Paddy."
"And before I knew it, you came and punched her before she was able to do anything to me." The four of them were now on the bench as Maura retold the events of what just happened. Jane was rubbing her back, and shook her head.
"Maur, this wasn't because of you. You did nothing wrong." Jane said her voice was more confident and louder. Emma nodded in agreement. They sat there in silence, most just in disbelief over everything that just happened. How fast everything went. It only had to be a max of five minutes; everything had gone down Maura thought.
"We should get you two home." Emma said standing up.
"We'll take the bus with you to Beacon hill." she put her hand out to Regina.
"Yeah, it's starting to get too cold." Jane said, looking at the girls' uniforms. Why must private schools insist on skirts? She wondered. The group made their way to the bus stop. Maura looked up at Jane, and noticed there was a cut on her cheek. The blood was already drying on her face.
"Oh, Jane, your face." she began to worry, reaching into her purse for some tissue. She gently pressed it against her face and Jane winced a little.
"Thank you for what you did Jane. Truly." Maura spoke softly, the look in her eyes was so genuine. Jane blushed and looked down.
"What, that whole fiasco? It's a regular Monday afternoon for me."
"it is?" Maura said in disbelief causing the girls to laugh.
"No, c'mon Maur. I was being sarcastic." Jane couldn't help but to giggle.
"an ironic or satirical remark tempered by humor?" Maura questioned and Jane couldn't help but to shake her head.
"Yeah Maur, exactly that." she put her arm over her shoulder and pulled her in closer.
Jane would justify this action because it was cold and that the harsh wind was getting stronger. But she knew that was simply an excuse. Maura leaned in without any hesitation, herself trying to justify the sudden intimate gesture. But she didn't have enough time to think much further into it. The bus came and all four girls piled on.
"Are your feet not hurting those heels Maura?" Emma asked and they stood on the bus.
"Well usually they don't . But with all the extra cardio that was done today my toes are beginning to hurt." Maura said sheepishly, Regina laughed at her bestfriend's choice of words. But her smile quickly went away, rational thoughts finally filling her head.
"Maura, we have to report this." All three of them looked at Regina, the same thoughts finally coming to mind. Now that they were finally calm they realized how major this was.
"Maura you're being hunted." Regina said seriously.
"Regina, please. I'm not being hunted." Maura tried to brush off the comment, but her chest started to itch. The long hair brunette raised her eyebrow.
"Maura this is serious."
"No, we can't. Mother will lock me away. You know she will. I don't want to lose you girls." Her and Jane made eye contact.
"Okay, but Maur if anything else happens we have to report it, we just have to." Jane pleaded and Maura agreed.
Maura was always very reasonable and logical. She always understood her responsibilities and knew what was expected of her. But right now she didn't want to make the responsible choice, she knew the consequences but she didn't want to think about them. All she knew right now was that she was safe again, and didn't want to fear losing this new feeling she discovered with her new group.
The rest of the bus ride went well. The four of them conversed lightly but mostly just stood very closely together mainly keeping an eye out on their surroundings. Once they got off the bus the sun had finally set. Emma felt secure enough that Regina and Maura would be safe in their own neighborhood. Plus their homes weren't that far. Emma kissed Regina softly, promising she'd see her soon. Jane took this time to pull Maura aside. "Listen Maur, I just want to remind you that what happened today was not your fault okay?" Maura breathed out heavily, seeming as if she was holding her breath. "Thank you again Jane. I truly don't know what would've happened if you two didn't show up when you did." Maura said, looking down her well manicured nails.
Jane looked down as well and touched Maura's arm. "You're safe now Maur, I'm glad that you're okay." Before thinking twice Maura awkwardly went in for a hug and Jane wrapped her arms around her. Both are not used to the constant affection but still wanting to display it with one another.
"Goodbye." Maura said before letting go.
"Goodbye Emma." Caught up with Regina.
"Goodbye Jane." Regina said quickly before linking arms with her best friend as they walked up the street.
Jane and Emma crossed the street and waited for the bus that'd take them back home.
They stood there in comfortable silence going through everything that had happened this afternoon. "Hey Jane, thanks for what you did back there." Emma said, breaking the silence.
"If you didn't go all quarter back on me, I have no idea what would've happened." Jane laughed.
"Just next time, let's not do it on tile. My shoulders are killing me."
"Your shoulders?! My spine definitely snapped in half." They both started to crack up
The bus had finally come after ten minutes of waiting. Their bus ride was quiet, the day had officially tired them out. Once they got off they went their separate ways and walked home. Angela had opened the door for Jane and instantly noticed the cut on her cheek. Jane had lamely blamed it on a game of basketball. Angela shook her head and ridiculed her for not being more cautious. Jane just listened to her mother's rant before making her way to the shower. It's been a long day, It was time for her to just be alone.