Thank you for actually liking this...whatever it is I'm writing. So for the wait and it being so short. Finals are killing me!

The pair wordlessly starts down the quiet hallways, unsure of what to say. "So…" Emma starts, biting her lip, "Where are you from?"

Becoming distracted by the blondes' gesture Regina almost forgets her Mothers warning. "I-It's not a common place, you probably have ever heard of it." She says quickly, adverting her eyes.

Emma's eyebrows furrow. That was a bit strange…but she senses that Regina isn't the kind person who can be pushed into giving personal information. "Ok…" she stuffs her hands into her front jean pockets. "Then can you at least tell me which part of town you live in?" she hoped that wasn't being to pushy.

Apparently it wasn't. "The north side. Near where the forest starts." That had been the few pleasant accommodations out of the sudden move, the vast forest was one of the few places Regina felt safe. Free.

Emma nods. "That's a good part of town. It's pretty quite out there though." She tries to make small talk as they walk down the hall.

Regina nods. "It's peaceful. I can clear my mind there." She admits quietly. She feels Emma's eyes on her but keeps her own straight ahead. They reach the cafeteria and Regina pauses. "I-I don't think I should go in…" she bites her lip.

Emma doesn't ask the thousand questions swirling around her head. Instead she smiles reassuringly. "Don't worry; I'm sure only a few people will even look your way." She lies, knowing full well that the entire school is whispering about her.

Regina shakes her head, sensing the truth. "No. Thank you for trying but I think it's best if I eat somewhere else." She backs away from the door and starts a light run back to the isolation of the classroom.

"Regina!" Emma calls out, stretching out an arm to the retreating figure. She sighs, glances back at the cafeteria doors before running after her.

After minutes of searching she stumbles across the girl huddled in front of a row of lockers, knees pulled into her chest. She looked small…breakable.

"Hey." Emma speaks quietly.

Regina startles up at her. "Why didn't you go in the cafeteria?" Her voice rages in genuine confusion.

Emma slides down beside her. "They didn't have anything good for lunch." She shrugs and gives her a small smile.

Regina returns it, feeling she made an excellent choice in choosing her first friend.

##

When they walk into the gyms adjoining locker room the stares Regina had dodged earlier doubled in intensity. Especially since she had arrived with Emma Swan, StoryBrooke's known rebel.

Ruby looks up from her bag, eyes wide. She bounces over to them, smiling at Regina. "Hey, I missed you guys at lunch. Where were you?" her gaze shifts to Emma, eyes flashing.

"We were down by the lockers. Regina got a bit nervous." Emma glances to her, giving her a smile. Regina returns it gratefully.

Ruby watches the gesture with narrowed eyes. "I would've been more than happy to come with you. I got stuck sitting with Jefferson and his posse. I swear I got groped more times than I could count." She rolls her eyes. Regina's fingertips begin to tingle at the sound of his name. She rolls her fingers into fists by her side.

"Sorry. Next time we'll be sure to invite you, Rubes." Emma replies, not really planning on it.

"Yes. How rude of me not to think of you." Regina adds in though she didn't regret her forgetfulness in the slightest.

Ruby's eyes soften at the sound of Regina's voice. "Right. No yeah I totally get why you didn't want to come in." she waves a hand nonchalantly. "Kids here can be pretty judgmental." She places a hand on Regina's arm. "But I'm here if you need a friend." She smiles sweetly, batting her lashes.

Emma rolls her eyes; she really hoped Regina wouldn't fall for her friends' seductive ways. "Thanks for the speech, Joan of Arc, but we need to change for class." Emma steps pass Ruby towards her locker.

"Sure. I better get started myself." Ruby pulls the bottom of her shirt over her head, revealing a red push-up bra. Not that was rested inside needed much help. She pointedly glances at Regina, whose eyebrows lift at the sudden strip-tease. Turning away she grins at her blonde friend, who was doing her best not to thump her upside the head.

"I...I'm going to change in the bathroom." Regina says quietly, adjusting her bag onto her shoulder. Eyes cast down to avoid the stares still thrown her way; she scurries around the corner to the restroom.

As soon as she is out of sight Emma smacks her friends arm. "Ow! What the hell was that for!?" Ruby clutches her arm as she glares at the blonde.

"That was for making her uncomfortable." Emma replies, sliding out of her pants. "She's already been through a lot today and doesn't need you flashing her every chance you can get." She pulls her PE shorts over her hips, tugging at the string to tighten the fit.

Ruby rolls her eyes. "A little flashing never hurt anyone. Besides, I didn't hear her complaining." She smirks sliding her shirt over her head.

"That's because shes trying to fit it and be polite. God Ruby you probably traumatized her!"

Ruby pulls out a perfume bottle and sprits the air. "I doubt that. Why are you so protective of her innocence all of a sudden?" her eyes narrow.

Emma shrugs, pulling her hair into a ponytail. "I don't know really. She just seemed so… lost and with what happened to Jefferson-"

"What happened to him?"

Emma pauses, unsure of how to explain. "Well uh she kind of-"

"The bell is about to ring." Regina turns the corner, tugging her shirt down. Both Emma and Ruby pause and stare at her momentarily, utterly lost for words at how adorably out of place she looked in the baggy shirt and shorts that were a size to large for her waist.

She walks over to the door pausing to look back at the pair gazing at her. "Well, are you coming?" she smirks.

Emma recovers first, shaking her head clear. "Uh yeah. Come on Rubes." She follows out, paying no mind to her friend still tying her shoelace glaring at the closing door.

Gym class was as horrible as Regina had feared. Not only were people staring and whispering but she had to participant in physical activities as said stares continued. Regina adverts her eyes as she finishes up her stretches keeping her eyes locked on the bleachers in front of them.

Coach Phil blows his whistle loudly near Regina's ear. "Alright. Head over to the stations and find something to do. I don't wanna see any of you sitting down!" he yells.

Regina flinches and starts looking around for Emma, she spots her talking to a shorter blonde girl accompanied by a wild looking girl with red hair. Tentatively she makes her way over.

Emma turns. "Hey Regina! I want you to meet Tink and Merida." She gestures over to the girls. One looks her over appreciatively while the other just stares.

Regina meets her gaze steadily. "Nice to meet you." She smiles, extending her hand. Only the shorter blonde takes it.

"Hi, I'm Tinkerbelle." She smiles, admitting an accent.

"Your parents named you Tinkerbelle? Why?"

She shrugs. "Not my real name. But I hate it so I used my middle name."

Regina nods, smiling lightly. She then turns to the red-head. "And you must be Merida." She extends her hand out again.

Merida doesn't take it. She lifts her eyes up from her hand. "I heard what you did to Jefferson." Her accent thickens her speech.

"I-" Regina didn't know what to say. Dumbfounded, she looks to Emma helplessly.

"What exactly did you hear, Merida?" Emma pipes up, instinctively stepping in front of the brunette.

Merida's eyes narrow. "When did Emma Swan become such a softie?" she tilts her head to the side, wild curls looking like flames. "And for someone so…different..?" she peeks around her to look at Regina.

Emma's hands clench into fists. "That's none of your damn business whether I got soft or not." She crosses her arms firmly across her chest. "Now answer the question, what did you hear?"

Merida smirks. "Just that Jefferson got has ass burnt after messing with newbie." She nods her head over to Regina, who shrinks back.

"I don't know who told you that but their wrong." Emma replies. Regina's eyes widen. She was protecting her. "Jefferson was messing with Regina, yeah but he ran away after Regina put him in his place. He wasn't burned anywhere though." Emma lies.

Tink's eyes widen. "So if you didn't burn him what made him run from you?"

Regina opens her mouth but Emma beats her to it. "She basically just intimidated him. We all know he's a wuss." She shrugs again.

Tink nods but Merida steps around Emma to stand directly in front of Regina. "Why are you letting you say everything? I want to hear you talk." She pokes her chest hard making the brunette stumble back.

Regina manages to reposition her stance. "I don't have to answer to you for any reason." She quips, eyes flashing.

Emma holds her breath but doesn't move. She hopes Merida would just let it go and move on. But of course the hot-tempered girl bared her teeth and stepped further into Regina personal space. "Now I see what Jefferson meant. You are an arrogant bitch." She sneers, shoving her backwards.

Emma closes her eyes briefly and sighs. When she re-opens she is greeted with the sight of Merida propelling backwards into the gym mats. Her scream echo's off the gym walls. Her back hits the mats and she drops to the floor with a thud. Coach Phil and a few other students race over to help her back on her feet.

She grips Coach Phil's' arm tightly as she tries to stand but falls back to the floor from the dead weight of her broken leg. Her eyes flash murderously at Regina standing alone in the middle of the gym. "You bitch! You are so dead, you psycho freak!" she spits.

Coach lifts her into his arms and walks toward the door. He pauses in front of Regina. "I'll come back for you." He looks at her sternly before exiting.

The room is draped in dead silence as they all gap at Regina. Even Ruby is staring at her in shock and fear. Everyone takes a few paces away from her, except Emma. She watches her with sorrowful eyes, feeling that this whole ordeal is her fault. They lock eyes and Regina's widen with tears.

"Regina…" Emma starts but she shakes her head and runs for the second time today.