Emma was 16 and starting year 9 in a small town called Storybrooke she had just moved there that summer leaving her friends behind back in Boston because her father had gotten a new job in this one horse town as Emma called it what with her being raised in the city since the Swan's adopted her. When Emma was 3 she was just a foster kid and she found out through listening to her parents talk that they were going to have their own baby.

They were discussing how they were going to afford to keep Emma and look after a new baby, then one day the answer came when Emma was 6 and they had moved to Boston because Derek Swan had gotten a new job that paid triple what he was getting paid before and that had allowed them to keep Emma and look after the new baby which actually turned out to be twins and boy and girl but they had stacks of money left over after all the expenses were paid then they adopted Emma because they couldn't bear the thought of Emma going back into the system.

"Why couldn't we stay in Boston mom?"

"Because your dad got a new job here and it pays even more than the job in Boston, honey we've explained this to you 100's of times."

"I know but the job dad had in Boston was good.

"Oh Emma you're only 16 you have so much to learn about life and money."

Rachel Swan laughed at her daughter's naive way of looking at things.

Emma got out of the car and started to head to the front of the school.

"Hey aren't you forgetting something?"

"Lunch money?"

"I know for a fact that your dad gave you lunch money you little thief get inside."

"See ya."

Emma went into the main school building she looked around not sure where to go.

"Can I help you dear?"

"My name's Emma Swan I just started today and I'm already lost."

"I'm Cora Mills I'm the English teacher and the principal come with me to my office and I'll give you your class schedule and a map."

"Thank you."

"I saw from your school records that you've always gotten straight A's."

"Well I never had a boyfriend to distract me."

"You had a girlfriend then?"

"I did. For a while the only time a pretty girl would talk to me was to try and pay me into doing their homework I refused but then a rumour spread saying that I had slept with the entire football team then out of the blue this cheerleader came up to me and said she could get the rumour to stop if I did one thing for her I was surprised when it wasn't a homework assignment."

"What was it she wanted dear?"

"She wanted to know what it was like to date a girl and she liked it so much that we dated for 3 years she even got me on the cheerleading squad I was a sophomore and she was a senior so when she graduated she turned captaincy over to me even being cheer captain didn't stop me from getting straight A's"

"I'm impressed. So here's your class schedule and a map. I hope you enjoy Storybrooke High."

"Thank you."

Emma left the principal's office and bumped into a tall blonde.

"Watch where you're going."

"I'm sorry."

"So you should be you loser nerd."

"Kathryn what have I said about picking on people?"

"But Regina she bumped into me."

"That's no excuse now apologies to her."

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have called you a loser nerd and I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"Now go to class I don't want to have to kick you off the cheerleading squad because you're failing classes."

Kathryn scampered off, Emma turned to look at the girl who had come to her defence and she saw a stunning brunette with brown eyes.

"Thank you."

"It's alright dear."

Emma started to giggle.

"What's so funny?"

"Well when you said dear you sounded like the principal."

"That's because she's my mother I picked up her frequent use of the word 'dear'."

"Honestly it sounds far less creepy when you say it."

"Don't get offended but how bad is your eyesight?"

"I'm long sighted so I have to wear these ugly things for most of the things that I do unless I'm reading something far away."

"Come with me after school."

"Where?"

"Just meet me out the front of the school."

Before Emma knew it, it was lunch time when she entered the cafeteria she saw one spot empty next to Regina and one empty table in the corner deciding that it was best not to assume that just because Regina was nice to her that it would be alright for her to sit next to her at the cheerleading/footballer table sat down at the empty table looking at her packed lunch while everyone else was eating fried foods or hamburgers then there was a shadow cast across the table, Emma looked up and saw Regina standing there then the brunette bent down and grabbed Emma's school bag and took Emma's wrist and brought her over to sit with her and everyone else on the popular table, then she grabbed Emma's lunch and threw it in the bin.

"Why'd you do that?"

Regina then handed Emma some money.

"Here take this and get whatever you want from the cook."

Emma being too shocked just got up and walked to the back of the lunch line then Regina came up took her arm and took her to the front of the line.

"Now that you're on the in with me you get to go straight to the front of the line."

Once Emma got her food and then followed Regina back to the table a jock sat down next to Emma considering they had all moved along so this particular jock could sit next to the new girl.

"Hi I'm Neal."

"Emma."

Neal took off Emma's glasses.

"You know without those awful glasses you're quite pretty."

"Unfortunately everything close up is very blurry."

"Neal leave Emma alone and give back her glasses."

"Fine. Hey Killian make room for me man."

"Thanks again."

"I could see he didn't interest you so I'm guessing he's either not your type or you're not into guys at all."

"The second one is correct."

"I'm not into guys either."

Soon school needed and Emma was waiting for Regina just like the girl had told her to.

"Hey."

"You scared me."

"Sorry, come on let's go."

After about an hour later Regina and Emma came to an eye specialist and went inside.

"Ah Regina my girl how was school?"

"It was alright daddy, this is Emma I brought her here to get laser treatment on her eyes to make them 20/20 so she doesn't have to wear her glasses anymore."

"What happened at school today that made you decide on this?"

"I caught Kathryn bullying her she called her a loser nerd."

"Alright Emma if you'll follow me."

Emma looked at Regina with a worried look on her face.

"Go on it's ok."

Emma followed Regina's dad into a back room.

30 minutes later Emma came out and had to put her sunglasses on to cut the glare from the lights.

"Your eyes will be sensitive for the first couple of days so just wear you sunglasses until you can be in the light without it irritating you."

"Thank you Mr. Mills."

"Please call me Henry."

"Bye daddy."

Both the girls left and Emma invited Regina over to her house.

"Hi mom."

"I'm in the kitchen Emma."

Regina followed Emma into the kitchen.

"Hey mom."

Emma said leaning up to give her mom a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi sweetie how was school?"

"It was good."

"And who is your new friend?"

"This is Regina she came to my defence when a girl called Katherine was picking on me."

"Emma why are you wearing your sunglasses inside?"

"My eyes are sensitive to light at the moment and will be for the next couple of days."

"Why?"

"After school today Regina took me to see her dad to have laser treatment on my eyes so I didn't have to wear my glasses anymore."

"And how exactly did you pay for this Emma?"

"I... I... I..."

"My father did it probono so it didn't cost a thing he often does that sort of thing."

"Well in that case please thank your father for us."

"You're not mad mom?"

"No sweetie of course not, the only thing your father and I want is for you to be happy. I have to go to the store will you be ok here for a couple of hours?"

"Yeah."

Once Emma's mom had left with her brother and sister Emma and Regina went up to Emma's room.

"Now it's time."

"Time for what exactly?"

"Time to turn you into a cheerleading force not to be reckoned with."

Regina handed Emma a cheerleading outfit.

"Here put this on."

Emma knowing it was better not to argue with Regina changed into the outfit normally Emma would be shy about anyone seeing her half naked considering the cheerleading top couldn't be worn with a bra because it had a built in one, but with Regina for some reason Emma had no nerves at all.

Once Emma was dressed in her new outfit Regina pulled the blondes hair into a high ponytail complete with a blue ribbon to match the color on the uniform.

"There now your ready to kick some cheer wannabe ass in three days."

"That's a Saturday."

"That's when we're having our tryouts."

"I'll be there."

"Good now make sure you get a good few nights rest and don't worry about the toss I'll make sure I pair you up with our best male cheerleader."

"Do all the female tryout applicants get a male cheerleader?"

"No only you."

"What makes me so special?"

"Because there is an uneven amount of tryout applicants that are male so you will get a male who knows what the heck he's doing."

"Thank you."