Regal Arts

Three months

A month later and the interior of the art school is finished. But to me, it doesn't feel finished, it doesn't look finished. I love the look the concrete gives the space but it's still feels plain. So I decide to do what I always do, call Emma.

She picks up on the first ring and before she can say hello I immediately begin explaining my predicament. She stays quiet for a moment before telling me her plan, "How about we have a fundraiser?" It's now my turn to stay quiet and I think about her suggestion. "I'm confused how does that help the floor?"

"Well I figure–" she starts to explain, but is interrupted by a large clash and bang in the background. "Hey are you okay?" I ask concerned for her well-being.

"Ya one sec." She states and I hear her put the phone down. I hear a muffled but still clear, "Henry, Killian! What the hell are you doing?" I let out a laugh listening to their conversation. I just find 'mad Emma' hilarious because she tries to be scary but her general vibe is just too nice and dorky.

She comes back to the phone and let's out a huff of frustration. "Killian and Henry thought it would be a brilliant idea to play football in the house." I can hear the anger boiling in her voice and I know there's more to the story. "Oh ya? What'd they break?"

I hear a muffled response but I'm unable to decrypt what she said. "What?" I ask and I pull the phone away from my ear due to the loud shout that I think broke my eardrum. I'm pretty sure that she screamed, "THE WINDOW!" But I don't push the issue further.

"Awe I'm sorry Ems. So anyway, what were you saying about the school?" I ask trying to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Oh ya. So I was thinking what if we had a fundraiser right before the big opening. Because I think we can both agree that we need more money if we want this place to open, and a fundraiser is the perfect way. So now how does this fix the floors? Well, how about if someone donates five dollars or more they get to put their handprint on the floor. Then we'll paint their names on top. And lastly we'll put a top coat on the floor, and polish it and that's it!"

I stay silent biting my bottom lip considering her idea, "Okay sounds like a plan but, how do we get people to come? Like there needs to be an incentive for them to attend." 

"Okay good point. How about we sell ice cream?"

"In January?" It's towards the end of winter but that's not to say it isn't freezing outside. I'm not sure how people will react to a sign that says 'I know it's snowing, but come get ice cream!'

"Okay...ooh! I hear Ruby's grandma makes some of the most amazing hot chocolate. So how about we have hot chocolate and some of your delicious chocolate chip cookies?"

"Alright sounds good! You are a brilliant, as always, and I will talk to Ruby and see if her grandma is up for it." Emma returns the goodbye and hangs up the phone. I get to calling Ruby and her grandma and thankfully, her grandma agrees to do it. Ruby also offers to make the ads/flyers as practice, since she wants to be a graphic designer. I agree to her offer, we discuss payment, and in the end everything is taken care of.

I check my calendar and mark the last Saturday of January as fundraiser day.

*****
The big fundraiser is today and I'm beyond nervous. What of no one shows? What if it turns out be bad and all the food is gross. I pace the floors of the art school unsure what will happen. Im broken from my thoughts by robins hand coming of behind me and gripping my biceps. "Whats the matter?" He slides his hands long my sides and down to my hip. I turn in his arms and clasp my hands around his neck. "I don't know, I guess i'm just worried." He looks at me and smiles. He moves one hand from waist and brings it up to cradle my chin. He lifts it up so I'm looking at him directly in his eyes. 'What could you possibly be worried about?"

I have out a sigh and let my eyes roam around the room in wonder. "I mean what if no one shows up? Or what if no one donates what-" he cuts off my babbling by pressing a kiss to my lips. He pulls away quickly and looks down sympathetically. "Nothing is going to happen. You worry too much" He leans his forehead against mine and for a moment we stand there. I feel my problems and worries leave me almost as if there being transferred to him.

We have a little less then 15 minutes till opening so I hesitantly leave his safe embrace and begin setting up. I pour exactly one cup of hot chocolate in to each styrofoam cup and add a dollop of whipped cream as well as a few pinches of cinnamon just as Ruby's grandma had ordered. I also place the cookies in a tray leaning them again each other in multiple layers. By now people have started to arrive and I greet them by the door with a smile and handshake. Many of the people that come in have kids and that raises my hopes. About halfway through Emma and Mary-Margaret arrive. They relieve me of door duty so I walk over to the food table to check on how things are going. Most of the food is gone which is also a good sign. After five minutes Roland walks to the front of the space where we've set up a microphone and small speaker. The room goes quiet as he removes the microphone from its stand. Robin and I walk to the front to join him. He takes the mic and begins to tell the speech he had been practicing all week.

"The first time I come here I was 5 years old. Now I am six and I still love it. This is where my mommy and daddy met. Well they achually met at the odder one but my mommy says that we cant go back there now. I loved the old place cause I met lots of cool friends and got to do lots of cool things." I smile at his innocence and mispronunciation of words. "I want odder kids to Lear art tings like me and be friends with me!" He smiles and everyone claps at his speech. I give him a hug before taking the mic.

"Well as you've heard from my son Roland, we pride ourselves in giving kids a wonderful environment where they can have fun, meet new people from around town, all while learning basic art skills. He also mentioned that we had another art school. Many of you here may remember it. It was unfortunately taken away from me so we had to start from scratch here. We worked really hard saving up money for the place but there's still much more to be done. We would appreciate any donations you have to give us a jumpstart! If your interested in donating there is a box by the door you can place your donations. Thanks once again for coming and we hope you consider signing up your kids for a few classes. Please feel free to some more snacks and thanks again for coming!"

I turn off the mic and there are some claps before the buzzing chatter starts again.

•••••

Overall the fundraiser was a major success. We made over $2000 dollars and the crew couldn't be more thrilled. I finish running my brush through my curly hair before slipping on a silk nightgown. I walk out of the bathroom and join my fiancé in bed. The moment he sees me he closed his computer and places it on the nightstand. He lifts the covers and I slip underneath their warmth.

He opens his arms to me, very accustomed to our nighttime routine. I place my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around me. I take a deep breath before completely relaxing to his touch. He cards his fingers through my hair. "Goodnight Regina" he says placing a kiss to the top of my head. I hum in response before responding, "good night Robin." He takes his other hand and cups my cheek. He tilts my head up and places a gentle kiss on my lips. "I love you" he whispers, his words coasting across my skin. "I love you too."

Three months till I become mrs. Locksley. Three months till Robin is forever mine. Three months till I experience what most women call the best day of their lives. Just three more months.