Chapter 11: The Proposition
"I can't believe you did that." Aliyah stated, pulling the cover back on her bed.
"It's not like I knew he was there." Emma responded. She was sitting on the chair by the table, Aliyah's makeshift office, watching her sister prepare for bed.
"You were with Regina. I know we haven't been here that long, but you should have known she was up to something. Especially after what she had already done. How long do you think the two of you can keep this up without both of you pushing Henry away?"
Emma sighed and glanced at the laptop screen. "Maybe I should leave."
Aliyah rolled her eyes. "You know that won't happen. You care too much. Who is going to protect him?"
Emma looked back at her, "Well, I would think you would." Aliyah smiled at her gesture. "Well, I did go back and talk to him."
"You mean you lied to him." Aliyah grabbed her pajamas and started changing.
"No, I bent the truth."
"Right, I do that too." Aliyah gave a wink.
"Don't tell me you believe in what Henry is saying."
"That the town is cursed, Mary Margaret is Snow White, aka your mother, and Regina is the Evil Queen?" Aliyah shrugged, "Why not? Remember, I'm crazy too." She stated, heading towards the bathroom.
Emma rubbed her eyes, stood up, and stretched, watching Aliyah come out of the bathroom, check the door, then walk past her to claim the other seat.
"You're working tonight?" Emma grabbed her stuff to change.
"Yeah, for a little bit." Aliyah nodded towards the bed. "I've already picked my side."
"Are you sure this is okay?"
Aliyah looked back at Emma, "Yeah, why wouldn't it?"
"Because Regina had Granny kick me out of my room. What if you get caught?"
Aliyah shrugged. "It can be like old times when I had to sneak you back in the house."
"I can always sleep in the car."
"You can, but you'll be missing out on a nice bed."
Emma looked at the bed, then back. "Alright but stay on your side. No spooning."
Aliyah let out a laugh. "No promises."
Aliyah was startled awake by the sound of her phone. She glanced beside her; Emma never woke. 'Figures' she thought to herself.
Aliyah reached for her phone as it continued to ring. "Selene Hunter." Aliyah answered groggily.
"Which is it? Aliyah or Selene?"
Aliyah blinked her sleep away. She knew that voice. "Regina?" she asked, confused.
"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about an idea that came to me last night."
Aliyah looked blankly in her dark room. "Okay."
"May we talk this over at breakfast in, let's say, five minutes?"
Aliyah looked at the clock, it was 7:30. She let out a yawn before going back to the phone. "Okay, I'll meet you."
"Good, see you at Granny's."
Aliyah placed her phone back on the nightstand. What did she just agree to? She rubbed her face awake, slowly got out of bed, stretching. She didn't have a lot of time, so Aliyah grabbed some clothes and headed towards the bathroom.
After she was done, Aliyah took a peek at the bed. Emma was still sound asleep. She stepped back and took a quick look in the mirror. Hoping she looked presentable, she left, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Yawning and still half asleep, Aliyah made her way downstairs. She didn't have to look long as she spotted Regina in a booth, coffee in hand. Aliyah quickly slid into the booth, eyeing Regina with both curiosity and caution. Ruby came by with hot tea and two menus. The two ordered quickly, Regina a fruit salad and Aliyah blueberry French toast with sausage and eggs.
Once Ruby left with the order, Aliyah leaned back on the seat, crossing her arms, "You said you had a proposition for me?"
Regina sat her coffee back down and smiled, more like smirked, at Aliyah. "Henry was going on about you being an artist and photographer." Aliyah looked at her, perplexed. "He glanced through your sketchbook and was…. fascinated with your work."
Aliyah tilted her head a bit. 'Henry must have gone through it when I went after Emma.' She took a sip of her tea and watched as Ruby placed their orders in front of them. Ruby gave Aliyah a smile and refilled Regina's coffee before leaving.
"Anyway, it got me to thinking. There might be others who would be interested."
Aliyah placed the syrup down in confusion before looking up at Regina. "Interested in my work?"
Regina placed her fork down. "No, not exactly. In art. I am wondering if you would be interested in teaching."
Aliyah was shocked, cautious, and intrigued all at once. She slowly chewed her food, going over what Regina just told her. "Teaching what and whom exactly?"
"I was thinking both photography and drawing to the kids. We don't currently have an art teacher. Or do you have a different idea?" Regina asked, shocked that Aliyah was considering it.
Aliyah took a sip of her tea. "Yes actually. I don't do well in school settings. I have taught in the past. What I do is a community setting for all ages and in smaller groups. Depending on the response, I split them into multiple classes. I like to pair up a younger and an older person together. My classes have been well received. I would also need an indoor facility even though the classes might take place mostly outside."
Regina was quiet. Ruby came back to refill her coffee, give Aliyah a glass of cold water, and left. She smiled. Aliyah could tell it was genuine. "I like it. You are exactly who I thought you would be when I researched you."