A/N: UPDATE:

UPDATE: This story has been published. All Through The Night (BOOK 1) will be relaunched with a Special Cover Edition, as we had technical issues with printing the prior one. I hope this doesn't cause any confusion. For those who bought it, this is the same book, different cover, and minor editions. The book is currently available.

I will be reposting the original chapters as a promised thank you. Keep in mind that these are the original chapters and you may encounter a few typos, errors, etc. Also, the books are actually better. However, here you guys go. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Song Beneath The Song (Mating Ritual & Lizzy Land)

It was a typical September night in the vibrant and exclusive parts of Back Bay, home to Cora, Henry Mills, and their teenage children. Bold and misunderstood, Zelena, nineteen, offspring from Cora's first marriage, she had icy blue eyes and auburn hair like her birth father though just as her mother she was beautiful and straightforward, but far too witty for her own sake.

Warmhearted and handsome, Caleb, eighteen, was Henry's son, also the product of a failed first marriage. And lastly, their youngest by two months, Regina, eighteen, the gorgeous brunette was the only one to be born from their union. She had deep and heart-rending dark eyes; many would say Regina's eyes bore the intensity of her soul for the whole world to see, easily leaving anyone completely enamored with the kindness and mystery they exuded. Those eyes, so perfectly juxtaposed with the seamless and delicate scar above her evoking lips. Her olive skin was as flawless as the way she spoke.

Boston had been their home for generations preceding them, old money and well-known family names. However, both successful surgeons were keen on giving their offsprings the best life could offer, even if that meant sending them to boarding schools far from each other at a young age. Caleb had returned home from his all-boys boarding school in Switzerland two years prior and began attending Commonwealth Private School.

It was the closest he'd been to his parents for more than a month straight since he was ten. On the other hand, Zelena had recently arrived from an extended stay at the 'Boarding hell' as she called it, in England and Regina from the all-girls institution she had been attending in Germany since she was ten as well. Both girls would be joining Caleb, starting the 12th grade in only a few days.

The light sounds of expensive silverware and china colliding could be heard as the family sat and quietly ate dinner. Cora sipped on a delicious glass of red wine while eyeing her three children.

Regina and Caleb seemed to be having some sort of telepathic conversation while Zelena visibly annoyed played with her food. Caleb and Regina had borrowed greatly from Henry's beautiful and exotic Argentinian gene pool, making them look strikingly similar, they were also close despite the distance while growing up and that never sat well with Zelena.

"Zelena, dear, what is it?" Cora asked.

The girl rolled her eyes ignoring her mother and continued pushing her brussels sprouts around the plate.

Moved by her daughters challenging, silent attitude, Cora gently tried again. "Zelena, I am talking to you, please regard me as I do so, it is incredibly disrespectful to roll your eyes and play deaf."

"Insufferable," Zelena muttered to herself between teeth.

Regina and Caleb stopped chewing, awkwardly shifting in their seats. Zelena's English accent was thick and shining through even in whispers. It always made her feel like an outsider since none of her family members had one.

She'd tried to be quiet, but the comeback was clearly heard by everyone. Cora raised a brow and put down her fork exhaling deeply. Regina slowly began chewing again as she scratched the back of her head uncomfortably; the beautiful teen boy cleared his throat arching both brows and went back to his food.

"Excuse me?" Cora challenged collected.

Zelena shrugged and rolled her eyes once more. "This situation is… insufferable."

Nice save. Regina and Caleb looked at each other and continued eating.

"Whatever do you mean, love? We thought you'd be pleased to be returning home so we could finally spend some time together, the five of us." Cora tried.

"Right, I was not talking about that part mother," Zelena sassed, unamused.

"Then what are you referring to?"

"This…" She looked at her siblings and then back at her mother. "Going to the same school as them." She sneered as if it were the flu.

"And what on earth is wrong with going to the same school as your brother and sister? Commonwealth is an excellent institution, Zelena." Cora chided.

"I don't care if it's bloody Hogwarts, Mother!" she grunted.

It was Henry's turn to intervene serenely "Watch your tone with your mother, Zelena,"

Blue eyes barely acknowledged her adoptive father; Zelena loved him deeply as he never made her feel like the result of Cora's first marriage, but right now she was utterly pissed. She turned back to her mother.

"Caleb is... Well, he's him. With his stupid dimples and pretty face. Poindexter here has to be so genius, sweet and perfect." she ranted while Regina just smiled to herself in disbelief. Her eldest sister was such a brat.

"And then there's me at 19, stuck with them in the same school and the same grade! Forgive me for feeling a little apprehensive about becoming the laughingstock of the entire stinking place!" she nagged.

Zelena smirked sarcastically "I can see it now, the idiot Mills who was held back a grade standing out like a sore thumb! Why can't you send me to another school?! I swear I'd rather go to public school, I would gladly take it over this humiliation!" Zelena whined flushed and upset.

Regina furrowed her brows and interjected, "Caleb is only a year above the 'correct age' for the twelfth grade, and you are only a year older than he is Zelena, you speak as if you were fossils." She quipped.

Zelena rolled her eyes and ignored her sister's words.

Caleb took a bite and muttered with a stealthy smirk, "She's the fossil."

Zelena glared at him "Jerk." She sneered.

It was Cora's turn to speak up. "Caleb," she warned, and he went back to his salad with a shrug.

"Honey, Commonwealth is closer to home and more convenient, besides, Zelena, I want the three of you to spend more bonding time together now that..." Well, Cora didn't voice that last part. That one part that was the actual trigger for bringing her children back home.

"Now that what?" Blue eyes challenged.

Cora inhaled and smiled "Now that you are all finally home, darling," The doctor's eyes gleamed and regarded all her three spawns with genuine affection, eyes lingered a few seconds longer on Regina who smiled back at her softly.

"Caleb, sweetheart, now that Regina is here I want you to take her out for driving lessons the next couple of weeks before you all start school… The white Mercedes is all yours, my love," she regarded the brunette. "As soon as your brother thinks you are fit to drive it of course," Cora told Regina.

She nodded and smiled. "Ok, Mother, thank you."

"What?!" Zelena's eyes widened and drew back sorely. "She gets to drive the Mercedes?! Then what the hell am I supposed to drive to school?" she protested.

Cora's face frowned. "Language, Zelena," The auburn-haired girl had always been the mouthy one.

"Sweetheart, you will be driving the Prius," Cora informed.

"Oh boy…" Henry mumbled quietly and shifted in his seat while Regina looked around uncomfortably and Caleb grinned, perfect dimples forming on lightly tanned cheeks. Zelena was fuming.

"What?! Are you kidding me?!" She tightened her fists with frustration. "This is beyond unfair! This is bloody, blunt predilection towards them over me!" she protested.

"No, I told you last year, darling… If you were to graduate you'd get the Audi you wanted, however, if I recall correctly the complete opposite happened, Zelena. Not only did you fail but you were also incredibly misbehaved. Your school's headmaster practically begged us to go pick you up." Cora countered sternly.

"Oh, lies, Mother! That old hag… He is bald and miserable; I heard his wife left him because he had an erectile dysfunction problem," She nodded. "Obviously, he was not objective." she raved.

"Zelena!" Cora scolded while Henry shook his head and Caleb laughed in silence, Regina bit her lip trying to swallow her amusement and shook her head serenely.

"What?! This is incredibly horrid parenting, oh but of course! The perfect jock son drives his stupid perfect boy blue Porsche, and she, who's barely out of diapers gets a freaking Mercedes? While I get a Prius? A Prius?!" Zelena argued passionately growing flushed.

Regina spoke up, attempting to smooth the ridges of the uncomfortable argument. "I can drive the Prius," she regarded both her parents. "She can drive the Mercedes It makes no difference to me, Mother. Actually, I prefer the hybrid; it leaves a less intense carbon footprint, or I can ride with either one of them, I honestly don't care." She looked at her brother and then over at her oldest sister who rolled her eyes.

Zelena huffed. "The martyr, of course… Christ!" She crossed her arms and eyes rolled at the ceiling.

Regina shifted uncomfortably and looked at Cora. "It's alright, Mother, really… It's just a car, definitely not worth fighting over." she finished, feeling foreign to the group.

Cora looked at Regina softly; it was a silent plea. This wasn't about predilection; she had it under control.

"Zelena, raise your grades, and the arrangement will change… You have the power to shift things if you don't like them. Do it. I know you can." she encouraged.

The girl huffed, standing from her seat visibly upset and stormed off.

Regina felt like shit and uncomfortable as she usually did when they were all together. She loved her sister, of course, she did. However, Zelena seemed to hate her for no reason she could remember. For breathing? Existing? She wished she could change it.

After dinner was over, Regina went upstairs to her room feeling inadequate. It was so strange to be back home after two years. Two years ago was the last time she had come home to spend a couple of weeks with her family over Christmas, while the most recent summer vacations, she had been pulled from school directly to Rome and then Oslo and then back to her all-girl institution. Back to her lonely life, the one she had grown incredibly accustomed to. —You see Regina was not a girl who made friends easily, she was gorgeous, impressively smart which made her sometimes awkward to others, and maybe difficult to understand, but Regina was kind and friendly; traits that she kept to herself and those who gave her the time. She kept to herself and her books, her family and a couple of acquaintances back in school.

She had never had a real friend even though the girl had much to offer. Life seemed unfair, but Regina didn't see it that way, to her, this was just the way things were, she knew no different, she had no other perspective to compare it to, but still, her young heart yearned for more. She knew there had to be more.

Even though she was used to being alone, she was not unhappy or bitter. Regina was strong-willed and very independent. The withering tests of life had not touched the kindness inside her.

The next morning both Regina and her brother sat in her sleek new car. They were parked by the side of an empty street on Raycliff Ter. She was in the driver seat, and he sat next to her on the passenger one.

Perfectly manicured hands gripped the wheel as brown eyes stared at the horizon, lost in thought.

"What is it, Reggie?" Caleb knew his sister, and something was obviously not sitting well with her.

She took a deep breath and turned to look at the boy. "I just… I don't want this to create an even worse rift between Zelena and me, Cai; I feel terrible!"

Caleb smiled coolly. "Look, I know where you're coming from and why you'd feel like shit after Zelena's little show at the dinner table last night, but, whatever it is that has made her so unhappy all these years has absolutely nothing to do with you. Do you understand?" he said softly and fixed deep brown eyes to even deeper ones.

"You can't let her ruin your time, Regina. I know she's not all bad, but she's a spoiled brat, and you did not deserve to be blamed for her discontent with mom's decision. You don't have to lower your head and take her bullshit, sis,"

"I know that, and I am not. I mean I'm not stupid, but I just… I wish things could be different between us; I wish she'd give me a chance."

Brown eyes reddened slightly. "She's my sister… I just," She shook her head slowly moving her gaze to an invisible oblivion. "There's so much I'd like to share with her if only she'd let me. We can't blame her attitude, Caleb... She had it far worse than us, she has practically lived away from Mother and Daddy since she was six."

Caleb smiled, he loved Regina. Regina was special; she was lovely and unique. She was his baby sister even if they were only two months apart. "She'll come around, Reggie… just give her some time to adjust, and you'll see," He nudged her shoulder gently.

Regina nodded and tried to lighten the mood. "So… tell me all about Commonwealth!" she asked with a bright smile and sparkling eyes.

Caleb grinned amused. "I think you should be a little more excited about learning how to drive than your new school."

"Caleb, I know how to drive a car, I didn't get my license from the cereal box," She smirked. "It is relatively easy and with the correct amount of common sense any idiot could," She winked. "Give me some credit, bro, please..." She faked a smug brow and turned on the engine. Caleb quickly buckled his seatbelt and tried not to show how nervous he suddenly was. Fuck does she really know how to drive?

Regina looked over at him and grinned as she put the gear on drive. "Breathe, Cai…"

And just like that, they were off.

Two weeks passed and the first day of school had finally arrived. Regina was excited; she could not wait to see the institution she'd be attending while in her last year of high school. She most definitely did not expect her luck with making new friends to change, but part of her was happy to finally have a different experience in a schooling environment. No stuffy uniforms, the co-ed system would be new. However, the best part of it all would be something she was far from expecting.

Regina sat opposite the headmaster Mr. Gold. Her eyes read from the shiny nameplate sitting on his expansive desk.

"Your records are impressive, Miss Mills. I sincerely hope you find your school year at Commonwealth to be most rewarding and fulfilling. It is a pleasure to have you join us," he said with a calmed and collected demeanor. A kind smile on his usually blank face.

Regina smiled and stood, she straightened the invisible wrinkles on her simple, mid-thigh length dress and extended her hand. "Thank you, sir. for your kind welcome and—" Her smile died down gently. "I am sure my mother has already discussed things over with you. I... I would greatly appreciate your discretion in the matter," she said politely.

He noticed a hint of sadness in her eyes. Maybe embarrassment.

"I have indeed spoken to Mrs. Mills, and you have nothing to worry about, only the necessary personnel has been advised in case anything sudden should arise. However, I assure you, your wish for privacy will be respected." He smiled politely, hands held together behind his back.

"Thank you," Regina said with an awkward smile. "I should get going… Chemistry awaits."

"Of course… please," He nodded and watched the girl exit his office.

Mr. Gold felt sorry for the beautiful girl.

After leaving the headmaster's office, Regina hooked her simple, designer bag on her shoulder and read directions on how to get to the classroom where her first subject of the day would be held. Juggling her newly acquired books while making sense of the confusing place was not necessarily ideal. She looked up and around. Where the hell is Caleb? She really didn't want to be late.

Just as the bell rang, Regina hurried her pace, and in the blink of an eye, she had collided with a warm body that smelled spellbindingly good. There was hair, long blonde hair, and books on the ground. Both girls instantly reached down.

"Shit!" The voice matched the perfume. Brown eyes looked up and saw a big, beautiful white smile, and a pair of deep dimples. Regina was smitten.

She then noticed two, no, no. Three tiny moles following each other like constellations on her clavicle. Green… definitely green eyes that looked like bright precious stones. The color of beryls, yes... The most beautiful person Regina had ever seen.

"I'm so sorry," Emma said genuinely. "I am such a clutz," She added as she picked up Regina's books from the floor. "Here…" She handed them to the gaping brunette.

Regina closed her eyes and smiled while scolding herself, realizing she must have looked like an idiot; she was sweating cold and well, suddenly her lungs needed more oxygen.

Emma blushed and continued to smile while observing Regina. She had class, the effortless kind of class. She's stunning. Emma thought. The gorgeous stranger looked like she'd just walked out of a Chanel ad. Green eyes instantly noticed every inch of her, including those beautiful hands and black fingernail polish. Class with a twist...

"Thank you… and it's not a problem... I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings I…" Regina said and took a deep breath, Emma could swear she was trembling.

Emma's smile died down. "Hey, are you alright?" The beautiful brunette seemed a little pale.

Regina smiled and composed herself. "I am… Thank you, I must go though or else I will be rudely late for my first class," she said with a small smile and quickly gathered everything to move forward.

Emma noticed every detail she could. The way she spoke was so proper but adorable; most would believe she was awkward but God… she had never seen anything so endearing and challenging at the same time. Emma could tell she was bright; it glowed out and through her.

"What classroom are you looking for? You seem lost." Emma asked.

Charming…

Regina looked at her again and noticed that now, standing up, the fair blonde was a few inches taller than herself. Red chucks, jeans hugging her female form perfectly. She was lanky and was that a soccer jacket? Yes… it definitely was, it had the school crest on the right side of her chest. Regina swallowed hard and questioned her symptoms. Are these symptoms or am I just… nervous?

She was girly and athletic all at once; she was definitely into sports, her lithe form said so. Her mannerism.

"Um… Are you sure you're ok?" Emma insisted.

"Yes, um..." Regina snapped out of her trance and shook her head. "Yes, I am… Thank you." she managed, feeling a little lame and smiled. "Uh… Right. Classroom 108," Regina read the paper and handed it to the blonde.

Emma took it in her hands and grinned. "Ah… well, you're in luck, we have the same class," Green eyed looked up and found the increasingly adorable girl.

Regina was nervous. Phew. She sighed in relief and smiled. She could deal with nervous. "That is most certainly convenient, though we are…" She looked at the costly watch on her wrist. "Four minutes tardy." She announced.

Emma furrowed her brows and smiled. Did she say tardy? Definitely adorable. "Right… Well, I'm always 'tardy'" She laughed at how weird that sounded coming out of her mouth "We can be late together, come on," Emma beckoned and began to walk, Regina nodded and followed.

Emma opened the classroom door for the brunette and motioned for her to go first. Regina smiled. She wasn't used to getting such attention from other people her age.

She walked in.

"New face…" The teacher said until she noticed the blonde "And of course… Miss Swan, late as always," The woman frowned.

Regina froze and bit her lip, she soon found her smile and extended a hand to the teacher. "I sincerely apologize Mrs. Spencer. On both my peer's and my behalf," Regina looked over her shoulder at the girl behind her, completely unfazed by the teacher. "I assure you, it will not happen again."

The woman arched a brow and shook Regina's hand. Charming and awkward.

"My name is Regina Mills, it is a pleasure to meet you," she added.

Emma bit her lip and burned that name to her brain.

"Alright… Miss Mills," She then looked at Emma and frowned. "And Miss Swan… Please find a seat." The teacher motioned to the chemistry tables, only one of them in the back was empty. "Since you are both late, you get to claim alienated table and of course be each other's partner for the year" She smirked sarcastically as if it were a punishment.

Regina smiled and nodded. Emma rolled her eyes at the teacher's idiocy and focused on that beautiful sound, Regina… I love her name. She thought while Regina walked to the back of the classroom.

Emma quietly followed and sat next to her, unable to tear those green eyes away.

"Please open your books on page seven," Mrs. Spencer walked to the whiteboard and began to write. "Reaction kinetics," she said, and Regina found the requested page. She dug through her bag and pulled out a mechanical pencil and a spotless notebook —placing every single item in perfect symmetry to each other.

Emma smiled faintly and continued to find the beautiful, geeky girl just so captivating. She opened her book on the same page and instantly noticed the all too familiar highlighted portions of paragraphs, 'Neal Swan' sloppily written with blue pen on free spaces. 'This class sucks' and 'I'm so bored' but to Emma, his was nothing new. She was the youngest one of three… hand downs were keywords in her world. She suddenly found Jefferson's signature dicks drawn all over the bottom of the book. She blushed and cursed her brothers in her head as she shifted in her seat, trying to cover others from seeing the worrying amount of penises tightly drawn on the page of her 'new' old chemistry book.

Assholes. Emma loved her brothers, but yes, they were real assholes. They were now both out of Commonwealth and attending college. They knew Emma would be using these. Ugh! Royal Assholes. She mentally cursed them.

The class finished, and Emma didn't get to see Regina in her next few ones, which sucked. It seemed Chemistry would become her new favorite addiction if she got to see the girl and all her cute geekiness in full force. In an hour she learned that those sweet, darkly manicured hands loved to color code everything, that Regina was indeed sinfully smart and nice; Regina was kind and polite… She was definitely unreal… Stop it, Swan, she's so out of your league. Emma thought.

Lunch was the same when that time of the day came around, she was, of course, ready to eat the entire cafeteria's display. While she sat at the empty table with her beautiful cheeseburger, green eyes searched the room for her face, but the place was filled with the usual and a few new ones.

Emma was like Regina; Emma didn't have many friends in school. She was well known for entirely different reasons than popularity. She was a sports goddess just like her preceding brothers had been to the school.

She was Mrs. Blanchard's daughter, and she was different in a way that had always made her feel like an outsider, not like she wanted to be part of a crowd that was so incredibly dense and narrow —Not that the whole crowd was the same, but whatever.

People talked… they talked a lot, they assumed, and they judged, but that was they way things had always been for her. She didn't give a fuck about what everyone else thought. She counted herself incredibly lucky to have the family she had; Emma was somewhat happy with herself still fighting to stay afloat within a sea of self-loathing, but really who isn't?

She had a lot of worthwhile things, including her childhood friend who was approaching the table they usually shared. Big blue eyes and blonde hair, familiar warm smile. Elsa was as sweet as her honey-kissed skin.

"Hey, Em,"

"Hey, Elsa," Emma smiled at her BFF Elsa Andersen, who placed her salad and bottle of water on the table.

Elsa smiled and pushed her bag of cookies next to Emma's cheeseburger, much like she had done since they were in kindergarten. Emma's eyes widened at the sight. Words were not needed between these two, but something was off.

Elsa studied her unaware friend; who continued to ignore her prized burger only to scan the entire place "Em…?"

Green eyes found familiar blue ones nonchalantly.

Elsa looked over her shoulder and scanned the place herself, she turned with furrowed brows "Have you lost something?"

Distracted green eyes were caught again. "Um, what?"

Elsa chuckled. "Ok, what's up?" she inquired.

Emma blushed and stalled feign bravado. "Nothing's up, what are you talking about?" She took a sip of her water.

Elsa arched an inquisitive brow, not feeling satisfied with her friend's answer. "You look like a dog in labor, something is definitely up"

Taken off guard Emma coughed and immediately dodged the liquid spilling from her mouth, she laughed. "What?! How the fuck is that?"

Elsa rolled her eyes and smirked. "Like you're in distress,"

Emma cleared her throat and looked down at her clothes. "Elsa, I know your love for animals and veterinary is hardcore, but why not just say that from the beginning?" She chuckled and brushed off the droplets from her black soccer jacket.

Elsa gave her friend a conceited shrug and smiled "Because… Where's the fun in that?"

Emma scoffed amused, knowing her friend all too well. Loving Elsa was easy.

"Okay, so spill," Elsa pressed.

Emma blushed and sighed. "Nothing's up, okay?"

Elsa raised both hands in mid-air. "Okay, okay… Nothing's up," She retreated from the subject knowing something was nagging at her friend. Whatever it was, Emma would come to her when ready.

The last class of the day had arrived, and Emma was more than ready to go home. She was tapping her foot on the hardwood floor of the well-equipped school stage. Commonwealth was a fantastic school, and the facilities were worthy of the prestigious, private institution's name.

"I have to go to practice, Miss Silverstein! The coach is gonna kill me," Emma urged passionately to her drama teacher.

The woman knew her blonde student well and cared for her deeply. The eloquent woman was an avid lover of the performing arts, but she was also a kind and caring teacher. However, Emma had been neglecting drama in previous years and was far behind.

"No Emma… I refuse to watch you fail this subject. You may return to your soccer practices only if you accept my offer." she chimed in.

Emma whined slouching her shoulders with furrowed brows. "Miss Silverstein, I'm begging you; I don't beg… please don't make me do this, I'm not an actress!"

"Emma it's a very small part, I am not asking you to be Juliet! God know's you'd faint if I made you spend that much time on stage, dear," The woman's face fell momentarily, and she sighed longingly. "I have yet to find my perfect Juliet."

Emma shrugged and exhaled, that kind gleam visible in her green eyes, she gave up. "Alright so… this Rosaline, I never heard of her."

Miss Silverstein clapped excitedly. "Oh, darling fantastic!" The woman was beyond thrilled Emma had accepted her offer. The experience would be good for her… she could not wait to watch Emma shine as Rosaline.

Both the teacher and Emma, turned around to the sound of a voice that approached them from behind.

The blonde male playing Romeo and a few other key characters turned as well.

"Excuse me… I am looking for Miss Silverstein's class, is this perhaps it?" Regina asked, aware of the fact that all eyes were on her.

The teacher smiled and drew in an inspired batch of magical air, while Emma's heart began to pound fast and hard against her chest. Regina's brown eyes meet with green ones. The gleam in them, undeniable. Her voice was so perfect to Emma's ears, slightly low and enticing yet sweet and beautiful.

"Regina… Hey," Emma managed with a shy tight-lipped smile.

Regina saw dimples, those perfectly symmetrical dimples once again.

"Hello," She smiled feeling an incredibly odd sensation in her stomach. What is that? She thought.

The enthralled teacher beamed. "Oh, you sweet, beautiful girl, you are in the right place… You have indeed found Miss Silverstein's class, and I have just found my Juliet…" she said, enamored with Regina's face and everything surrounding her aura. The teacher cupped her cheeks, and the brunette girl tensed, awkwardly looking around.

Regina smiled kindly. "Oh, um..." Brows knitted softly. "All right." she said.

The hour passed quickly, and Emma completely forgot about how upset she was for not being allowed to go to soccer practice. She spent the entire time just staring at Regina. The words, those weird Shakespeare words and the way they made everything seem complicated in a beautiful way. Regina spoke them as if she understood them, somehow they made sense to Emma's heart, even though her brain was confused, her heart understood. What kind of language was that?

All Emma could see was Regina, until her trance was disrupted by obnoxious blonde hair approaching the girl's face slowly. Emma's brows crashed and something shifted inside her. What the hell is that loser doing? She sat up in a rush.

"Stop!" She blurted out, startling Regina, the blonde Romeo and every single head that turned to look at her. What the fuck did I just do? Emma thought with awkwardly wondering wide eyes.

"Um… I uh…" she tried as she pushed a hand into the pocket of her soccer jacket.

All eyes glued to her, Regina cocked her head to the side and quietly studied her.

"Yes, dear?" the teacher asked.

"I uh… well, Rosaline wouldn't want Romeo to um," She looked down to the script and cleared her throat. "You know, to do that with other girls, right? I mean..." She flipped through the pages mocking interest in them.

"Darling, Rosaline is a silent character, and she does not return Romeo's affections…" Miss Silverstein explained.

"Oh…" Emma faked. "Wait…" She drawled, genuinely confused. "Why would you give me a character with no lines?" she asked.

"Because, Rosaline is a vital part of the story, your presence and what you convey with it will be your performance, sweetheart,"

Emma scratched the back of her head "Okay…"

Regina was carefully observing everything with a slightly heaving chest; she ghostly placed two fingers on her beautiful lips and smiled. Brown eyes shone, they glowed yearningly. They were like open windows to her soul and how deeply it ran.

While the class progressed, Regina heard the teacher call the blonde girl, Emma. What a beautiful name she has… Emma. Regina thought.

Both teenage girls walked out of the school and to the parking lot. The stroll had been a breeze and most certainly not long enough. How did they end up invested in conversation and now, here? They could not recall.

They stood next to Regina's white Mercedes; she motioned as if she were ready to say goodbye. Brown eyes scanned the ground shyly and then moved up to green ones. She blushed and smiled.

"Well, I should get going," Regina said while holding onto the bag on her shoulder.

Emma smiled as the wind gently blew her hair. Regina looks just so pretty in her dress... Regina looks so pretty period. Emma suddenly realized what she had been doing all day.

Her smile died slowly. She had been obsessing over a girl who would definitely not want her if she knew. Emma knew there was something between them; she knew Regina was feeling her, that much was obvious, but Regina thought something that wasn't necessarily true, at least not completely.

"Are you alright?" Regina asked, genuinely searching her eyes, noticing the change. Emma suddenly looked defeated and sad.

"Yeah… yeah," she lied and pushed a smile. "I'm fine, it's nothing, Um…" She pointed at the Benz. "Is this your car?"

Regina tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Yes, would you… like me to take you...? I could take you home if you'd like." she offered kindly and smiled.

"Where are you headed?"

"Back Bay… You?" Regina said as the last rays of sunshine hit her brown eyes. The sun was sinking, and the girl narrowed them, shielding her sight from the intrusive flares.

Of course, she lives in Back Bay. Emma thought, suddenly remembering she studied with a bunch of rich kids "Um… Charlestown, completely passed your way, but hey don't worry I… I have a ride with my friend Elsa."

"Oh…" Regina couldn't help but feel slightly bothered but smiled. "It really would be no trouble to drive you there, your friend also if you'd like." she offered.

Emma's smile was suddenly so big and honest it made her face feel tight. She blushed. Regina was showing sincere interest and even though she didn't know better, it felt good. Emma would enjoy those seconds and cherish them. "Thank you… but it's okay, I promise," she said, and looked at Regina longingly

Regina felt something twist in the axis of her body and blushed. "Well… at least let me thank you for… you know,"

"What for?" Emma asked curiously.

"For stopping the kiss Nick was going to give me." Regina said.

"Oh… Gag" Emma winced. "That wimp," She shrugged. "Sure… no problem, I would have totally freaked if he were to stick his tongue in my mouth."

Regina furrowed her brows and let out a small laugh. "Well, I would have absolutely hated for my first kiss to be with someone I don't even know or feel attraction towards." she explained.

Green eyes looked into brown ones and widened. "Oh, You've never…"

Regina took a deep breath and shook her head. "I have not," she confessed, smiling.

Emma felt dizzy, and all of a sudden found the girl even more irresistible. Did that make her a perv? Jeez… she hoped not. She swallowed and found some words again. "You should talk to Miss Silverstein, then, that wouldn't be right."

Regina shrugged. "Well, it is Romeo and Juliet, I think I will have to bite the bullet and go through with it. I'd hate to be one spoiling the play," She looked down at her ankle length designer boots and then up to Emma. "It's just a kiss anyway… not a big deal."

"Oh, it is… a big deal Regina, that's a huge deal," Emma pressed passionately, and Regina felt her feet starting to float off the ground.

"Your first kiss should be with someone you choose to share it with, someone who appreciates what it means." Emma offered honestly.

Regina blushed and bit her bottom lip. She lowered her eyes briefly and found Emma when looking up, taking in the very last fainting glow of the almost completely sunken sun. "Thank you," She meant that.

"I've done nothing," Emma shrugged. "It's the truth, and I hope you see the value in it, your first kiss should mean something to you, Regina, don't just throw it or give it away lightly… even less because of peer pressure, it's just a stupid play." she insisted.

"I won't." Regina smiled and stared deeply into those beautiful, light green eyes. Emma lost her breath and could almost taste what she knew she never would.

"Well…" Regina broke the trance. She needed to collect herself and rest; the day had taken too much from her. "I should really go," She chuckled shyly.

"Yeah, me too…" Emma pointed back to the school. "Elsa must be looking for me," She pulled out her phone and scanned it for missed calls or texts from her friend.

Regina quickly eyed the device and wanted so badly to have the exact numerical combination that would connect her to the dreamy girl. Think quickly Regina… Think! And so she did, as it was the very thing she did best.

"I um… could help you study for the Rosaline part if you'd like," Regina offered in a blur and Emma suddenly looked up from her phone to the girl.

She smiled feeling that tickle in the pit of her stomach. "But my character has no lines…" Emma mentioned, feeling a little stupid for the ridiculous part she had been given, but so flattered by Regina's interest.

"Well… Rosaline is a very significant part of this story, though she is originally unseen, I believe I know why Miss Silverstein chose for her to make a silent appearance... Since she is Romeo's first deeply felt love, or at least he thinks so at the time, she aids to his distress; I believe it drives him to the state he finds himself in when he meets Juliet." Regina explained thoroughly, and Emma felt the blush creep up her cheeks, forming a smile on her pretty lips.

She's incredibly perfect. Emma thought and took the time to scan Regina's face with detail; noticing how beautiful the shape of her lips was, how she had a tiny mole on her right cheek, her light olive skin… She has a faint scar on the top, right side of her lip; I wonder what happened… Though it looks so perfect, it seems to be part of her. Emma bit her lip yearningly.

Regina blushed unknowing of the sensations rushing through the other girl. "It's just a thought," She smiled. "You don't have to accept my offer, of course."

"Well, I'd hate to make a bad Rosaline so, I think I would be a fool to reject your offer," Emma replied blushing too. She knew this was territory she shouldn't be getting herself into, but found it hard to resist Regina; she found it impossible for her to deny her a reason to smile.

This girl's breaking Emma's heart could potentially doom her for a good while, but, even if she did, she was so worth trying.

"Okay," Regina said with gleaming eyes that spoke of the things she wanted from Emma. She wanted to touch her skin; she wanted to know her more… she wondered what her lips tasted like. Regina shook her head. What am I doing?

"Do you have a cell phone?" Emma asked, and Regina nodded, pulling out the sleek device from her bag.

Emma extended her hand to take it. She typed her number in it, giving Regina complete power. She had definitely earned her respect. Regina was special, the way she carried herself, the kindness in her eyes, that brain... Regina was a once in a lifetime opportunity. She was more.

"Call me anytime. Bye, Regina," Emma said and returned the phone, turning on her heels and walked away.

Regina was left standing there to notice the Emma glance over her shoulder and smile.

Regina smiled back and gripped her phone tightly; she could not believe it.

"Goodbye… Emma," She whispered.

A/N: Please remember that many chapters were removed due to the publication of the story. The next chapters will confuse you if you didn't read the following 42 chapters that are missing. I left those since many others had already been reading the story and I plan to finish it for them and for you, of course :) The books are being heavily edited, however, I have given my hardest work to make sure the magic is still there. The complete first book is available; if you enjoyed this first chapter and wish to continue the magical journey! There are free previews available for both the e-book and also the paperback versions on the website. I will be doing a giveaway in a few days, so stay tuned for the details! Just follow the story and I will post them on the author's note of the next chapter I upload. Thank you!

UPDATE: All Through The Night (BOOK 1) will be relaunched with a Special Cover Edition, as we had technical issues with printing the prior one. I hope this doesn't cause any confusion. For those who bought it, this is the same book, different cover, and minor editions. The book is currently available.