Mismatch Lovers

Chapter 21

*Emma's POV*

"Emma, love," Killian's hushed voice woke me Monday morning. "Sweetheart, wake up. we have to get to school."

"Mmm no," I mumbled against the crook of his neck without opening my eyes, unwilling to move from the warm cocoon of his arms. He went to get up and I whined, sliding my arms around him to hold him to me. "No, stay with me."

"Oh, Swan," he chuckled, running his fingers through my hair and along my still bare back. "You're horribly adorable, but you know we have to go. It's just a few more months and we'll be done."

"About that," I sighed, rolling onto my back to look up at his ridiculously handsome face. "I guess I've been putting off talking to you about that."

"About what, love?" he asked that cute little crease forming between his eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, I just," I took a breath, finally forcing myself to tell him. "I got scholarships to a few different colleges... and we were broken up... I honestly just wanted to get as far from here as I could and-"

"Swan," he stopped me, cupping my cheek and making me look at him. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"I'm supposed to go to Yale in the fall," I said quietly and he totally froze. "I know it's not ideal, and if we had been together or at least not thinking the other hated us I never would have picked there. Maybe I can still switch or-"

"Swan," he stopped me again, swallowing hard before saying anything else. "I-I just n-n-need to p-process this. C-c-can we m-m-maybe talk after school?"

"Please don't be mad at me," I begged him, tears welling in my eyes. "I thought you hated me, I can't lose you again."

He sighed, pressing a light kiss to my lips before hugging me to him tightly. I clung to him, squeezing my eyes shut against the tears and taking a bit of comfort in the fact that we were both still bare from last night so our skin was pressed together. We sat like that for a while until the alarm went off, signaling we had run out of time.

"Let's get to school, love," he sighed, kissing my shoulder then my cheek as he pulled away and got up. I followed suit, getting dressed and grabbing my bag before following him out to his motorcycle. He slipped his jacket on me and kissed my cheek as he helped me get on behind him. "Hey," he stopped me after we got off at school, grabbing my hips and bringing me closer to him. "Look at me."

"What?" I answered, trying not to let my hurt into my voice as I looked up at him through my eyelashes.

"I love you," he said simply, tugging me even closer to meet my lips. I sighed, sliding my arms up around his neck as he slowly deepened it. We were in the middle of the parking lot with god knew how many people around, but I was so afraid of losing him again over this I just needed to know he was here with me. "We'll talk, I promise. Let's just try to forget about it for now, yeah?"

"Kay," I agreed, glad he kept his arm around my waist to hold me close to him as we went inside. He pressed a kiss to my hair and I smiled a bit, letting it grow as we settled back into routine. "Why is it that people still stare? Don't they have anything else to focus on?"

"Apparently not," he chuckled as we sat in homeroom together, taking my hand to hold in both his on his desk. "Though in their defense, I often find myself staring at your beauty myself."

"Shut up," I giggled and twined my fingers with his, my cheeks going pink. "You're such an idiot sometimes, you know that?"

"Aye, that I do," he smirked at me in that way he always did when he teased me. "But I'm afraid you've somehow gotten roped into having me as your idiot once again."

"I can probably live with that," I bit my lip as I smiled, seeing his eyes darken when he saw the look in mine and his hold on my hand tightened.

"Emma!" I heard just before I was mauled by my foster sisters, their arms squeezing the breath out of me. "We haven't seen you in forever! Kris said he saw you at the grocery store, but we thought he'd kidnapped you or something!"

"Not quite," I laughed lightly as they sat down, Anna's inability to filter her thoughts always making me smile. "After prom we just... spent some much needed time together."

"Well stop being so secluded now!" Anna insisted. "We only have a few weeks left and we want to spend time with you before you go off to Yale!"

"I..." I started awkwardly. "Actually might not be going to Yale."

"What? Why?" Elsa asked, suddenly concerned. "You were so excited about it last time we talked."

"But it's so far from here," I pointed out, squeezing Killian's hand. "This weird little town has become home, and I don't know if I want to be that far from home."

"What are you going to do then?" Anna asked. "Almost every admissions deadline is passed."

"I don't know," I sighed, glancing at Killian when he started rubbing circles into the back of my hand. "I'm going to try to switch to Harvard or something, but if it comes down to it I guess I can take a year off."

"No, Swan," Killian cut me off sternly and I looked over at him. "I know how important your education is to you, I'm not going to let you do that."

"Emma Swan?" I heard a teacher call before I could answer and I looked over to the door. "The counselor would like to see you in her office right away. Come with me, please."

A tad short, yes, but I've had most of it written forever and haven't finished. I'm trying to update everything since I'm on bedrest for the baby, so hopefully I'm not lacking on my writing. Either way, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please share. I'm stuck af.