Impossible (Swanqueen)

Chapter 2

The very next day was exactly the same. Emma had no customers up until the end of the day, when Regina walked in.

It was a repeat of the day before. Regina's excuse was that she was on her way home from work and stopping inside to warm up. She ordered a coffee and sat at the counter. Only this time, she never asked for it to go. She sat there quietly, sipping the coffee.

And Emma did not say a word. She busied herself behind the counter, cleaning. Regina made her so nervous. Finally she had nothing left to distract her and turned around to look at Regina. The two stared at each other in silence neither saying a word, until Regina stood up, slid her empty mug towards Emma, murmured a thanks, and left the shop.

This happened for three consecutive days. Finally, on the fourth day, Regina was beyond exasperated.

"Have you lost your voice, dear?" She inquired in the midst of their "silent game."

Emma sucked in a breath. Regina had finally spoken.

"No. I just thought you didn't want to talk, since you were being so quiet." Emma shrugged.

"For four days?" Regina asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know you." Emma said. God, she wished she did though.

"However, I wasn't speaking for the same reason as you." Regina said. Emma blushed. The two had each been waiting for the other to make conversation.

"And now it's time for you to close the shop, is it not?" Regina asked, glancing at her watch. It was already seven. "I'm sure your parents will wonder where you are."

"I'm in college, remember? I'm not living with my parents... If I even had any." Emma muttered.

"Oh. My apologies, I didn't mean to be insensitive." Regina said, her deep brown eyes searching Emma's face. She noticed the slight sadness that washed over the blonde's green eyes. Emma was an orphan.

"We're open on weekends." Emma blurted, inwardly slapping herself. Regina wasn't going to go to the coffee shop on her own weekend just to give Emma some company.

"Oh really?" Regina asked, a twinkle in her eyes. Emma tucked a piece of blonde hair behind her ear and muttered an embarrassed yes.

"Perhaps I'll stop by then. Have a nice evening, Emma." Regina said, walking towards the door.

"You too Miss Mills." Emma called out. Regina paused, considering her words. As a professional business woman, she was always called Miss Mills, but she found herself wanting the blonde to address her differently.

"Please, Regina is fine." Regina said.

"Okay. Have a nice night, Regina." Emma said eagerly, savoring the way the brunette's name sounded on her tongue.

Regina smiled, ignoring the fluttering in her stomach, and exited the coffee shop.

Emma sighed dramatically and leaned against the counter, her heart still pounding. She'd known the woman for five days, yet her attraction for her had sky rocketed instantly.

Regina was too good for her, though, and Emma knew that. She was a wealthy, successful, powerful, and mature woman. Emma was a clumsy teenager in college, just trying to pay her monthly rent.

Yet she had never been so attracted to someone.

"Nice going, Emma. The ONE woman you're really attracted to is way out of your league. She probably isn't even a lesbian for gods sake." She groaned.

Emma finished cleaning up the coffee shop, before closing it. She walked to the subway and waited for the F train.

She stuffed her hands in her coat pocket, trying to stay warm. When the subway arrived, Emma stepped inside. It was empty; she had missed the Friday afternoon rush.

She considered asking Regina out the next time she came to the coffee shop, and took advantage of the empty subway.

"Regina... Do you wanna grab a bite to eat or something?" Emma asked aloud. She groaned, kicking the floor beneath her.

"I sound like an idiot." She said through gritted teeth.

"That you do." A voice responded to her right. An elderly woman was sitting in the corner of the subway. Emma hadn't seen her.

"Sorry ma'am." Emma mumbled. "Thought I was alone."

"Trying to ask a lady on a date, honey?" The woman asked. Emma nodded.

"So do it. What's stopping you?"

"She's 17 years older than me and has her whole life together. She's gorgeous and can get anyone she wants. She's wealthy, mature, and successful. And intimidating, damn is she intimidating. Yet I have a feeling she's sensitive. But she's so put together, and I'm just a wreck. My childhood was destroyed, and I work at a coffee shop 7 days a week just trying to pay my rent. PLUS I'm trying to pay for NYU, and taking a shitload of loans." Emma sighed. She looked up at the older woman to find her fast asleep. Yep, she definitely wasn't asking Regina out. She looked up just in time to find that she was at her stop.

"Thanks for the help, lady." Emma said sarcastically, exiting the train.

When she climbed up the stairs to exit the station, she was immediately hit with a gust of snow.

"Fuck." She breathed, pulling her scarf up around her face. She walked briskly through the sidewalks, finally reaching her brownstone. She was in a crappy four floor walkup, but her rent was only 600 a month, which was all she could afford.

She climbed up the stairs and pushed the key into the lock, wiggling it until her door swung open.

Emma closed the door behind her, freeing herself of her winter garments. She took off her boots and put them by the door.

"I'm home." She called out weakly. Of course, there was no answer. She was utterly alone.