Surviving High School

Chapter 18

Emma woke up groggily to the sound of voices from across the room.

The blonde stared down at her phone to check the time and saw Regina's contact; the call was still going. She couldn't help but smile.

Ruby and Belle were the only two of the group awake. Belle sat on the taller brunette's lap with Ruby's arms wrapped protectively around her waist holding the petite woman in place.

Emma let out a soft sigh and couldn't help but frown at the sight. The girl checked her phone and saw that it was nearing 8 am.

The blonde looked up a few moments later and saw the couple staring at her intently, "hey, you okay, Em?" Ruby asked.

Emma quickly nodded, "yeah, I'm fine" she mumbled.

The girl watched as Regina's name disappeared from the screen and the call ended.

The eighteen-year-old stared down at the phone in her hands as it soon lit up again. She smiled as she saw a text from Regina, "you can make your way over now, if you want. My mother has already left for work" It read.

Emma gently cleared her throat softly, breaking the silence that had begun to linger through the room, "I actually have to go, Rubes" she said quickly.

Ruby raised an eyebrow but soon nodded, "okay. See you later, Em" she told her friend, not bothering to ask for an explanation.

The blonde quickly shoved on her shoes and an oversized hoodie before getting to her feet. The girl threw her bag over her shoulder and gave the two girls a quick hug each before swiftly leaving.

Emma didn't bother changing out of her pyjamas. Besides, they consisted of a thin, white tank top and pair of grey, baggy sweats so there wasn't much point.

I stepped out into the cool morning air and took in a deep breath. I started my quick walk to the Mayoral Mansion. It wasn't too far from Granny's place, so it would take me about 5 minutes to get there.

Emma stared down the gravel path of the white house nervously.

She felt her phone vibrate in the front pocket of her hoodie. The girl quickly pulled it out and checked it. It was a text from Regina "just come on up when you get here" It read.

The blonde smiled as she approached the door. The young girl stared at it for a moment as she stood on the doorstep. She hesitantly opened the door and slowly stepped into the house.

Emma slowly climbed the stairs and stopped outside Regina's room.

She hesitated. The girl stopped for a moment and stood there nervously. The blonde gulped as she reached out and opened the door.

Emma pushed it open and her eyes were met with the familiar, loving cocoa eyes.

Regina smiled, "come on, Em. There's no need to be shy, I don't bite" she joked shooting me a playful wink.

The blonde giggled as she made her way into the room and closed the door behind her.

The older woman was sitting upright in her bed in a dark navy nightdress.

Emma placed her phone on the nightstand before walking around and putting her bag at the end of the bed.

The blonde quickly took off her hoodie. She looked up and saw the brunette biting her bottom lip. The girl gulped slightly when she remembered that she wasn't wearing a bra under her tank top.

Emma kicked off her shoes and climbed under the covers next to the older woman. Regina instantly had the girl wrapped securely in her arms. The blonde watched as the brunette turned on her side to face her.

Regina pressed her body tightly against Emma's, "hi" the blonde whispered through the silence.

The older woman giggled causing the girl to smile, it was a rare sound reserved for only her, "hi, Baby" she responded sweetly.

Emma threw her arm across the smaller woman's waist and slipped her leg between hers, trying to get as close to the older woman as humanly possible.

Regina smiled as she trailed her fingers through her girlfriend's thick blonde hair, "are you gonna talk to me about what's going on?" she asked the girl gently.

The blonde bit her bottom lip, "nightmares" she mumbled, repeating exactly what she had told her the previous day in class.

Regina shifted slightly, "about what, Baby?" She asked her softly.

Emma stared at the woman for a moment before dropping her gaze, "I didn't have a very stable childhood" the blonde muttered. The girl cleared her throat nervously before continuing, "I was juggled around a lot and I always felt like nobody really cared about me, or even wanted me for that matter. I never had any friends, I was juggled about so much that I didn't want to get attached to anyone. It would just make leaving so much harder" she rambled quickly.

Emma could feel a soft layer of tears begin to form on her eyelids. Regina wrapped her arms firmly around the girl and gave her a small, reassuring squeeze.

The eighteen-year-old gulped, "recently things have been amazing" she continued on, "Mary Margaret and David treat me like I'm their own, I've never had that kind of affection before. I have friends, real, true friends. And you..." the blonde trailed off as she looked up to meet her gaze once again.

Regina's cocoa eyes stared into her own sea-green ones with so much love and kindness.

Emma squeezed her eyes shut and a tear went flying down her cheek, "I'm terrified that I'm going to lose all that" she choked out.

The brunette's grip on the blonde only tightened as the tears began to flow down her face.

The girl sighed, "that's what they're about, losing the people I love most. It's my biggest fear" she told the older woman honestly.

Emma hid her face into the crook of the brunette's neck, not wanting to look at her.

The blonde sighed, "I'm scared of losing you the most" she mumbled against the soft flesh of her girlfriend's neck.

The brunette's breathing hitched slightly for a second at her words.

Regina gently trailed her fingers through the girl's hair as she gently pulled the girl out to look at her, "you'll never lose me, Emma. I've told you before and I'll continue to say it, I'm always going to be here for you. I'll never leave you" she told her girlfriend confidently.

Emma frowned, "but what if something happened? What if..." Regina cut her off as she trailed her thumb across the girl's plump lower lip, "I'll still be here" she whispered, her face only inches away from Emma's.

The blonde leaned forward and captured her lips in her own. Regina grasped her blonde mane as she kissed her back softly. Emma clung to the navy nightdress as she held her as close as she could.

Regina pulled away causing the blonde to pout.

The brunette chuckled as she tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, "you need to get some sleep, Baby" she said softly. Emma nodded slowly in agreement.

The brunette shifted slightly and pulled the girl over so that she was practically lying on top of her. She placed a sweet, gentle kiss on the blonde's forehead. Emma let of a soft, content sigh as she melted into the brunette's touch.

The older woman trailed her fingers through her blonde hair, "get some sleep, Baby" she told the girl gently.

Emma settled against her chest. Being wrapped in Regina's arms made the girl feel cared about; it made her feel wanted.