Not alone anymore

Chapter 4

After I woke up the next morning I just laid in bed and was thinking about everything Granny said to me last night. No one has ever talked to me the way she did. She expressed so much love to me that I've never heard or felt before. It's almost like I had a loving mom or in this case a loving grandmother. I looked over at the alarm clock and it was just before 6am. I'm sure Ms. Mills is awake or at least just about to wake up to get ready for school. The card she gave me was on my nightstand. I picked it up and looked at it. Ms. Regina Mills. Head of the history and social studies department. Storybrooke High School. Storybrooke Maine.  Hmm. Her name is Regina. Kinda sexy, just like she is. I feel my dick twitch a bit. "Calm down fella. Those thoughts are a non starter".  I take my phone off the nightstand and put the number on the card into my phone under the name Mills. I send her a text.
E: "Hey it's Emma Swan. Did you really mean what you said yesterday?"
I was surprised she got back to me right away.
M: "Good morning and which part?" 
E: "When you said you would help me".
M: "Yes Emma, I meant every word. Somewhere along the way I forgot why I wanted to become a teacher, but after everything you said to me yesterday it really made me think. I want to help you, just tell me what you need".
E: "I would like to finish my education but I really don't want to go back to school. I always felt like I never belonged there. I have no friends, most of the teachers suck. Please don't take offense on that part. I do try really hard but, and this isn't an excuse maybe a reason, I just never had help with anything before, and I mean anything. No one has ever helped me with homework. Besides when the teachers taught their lessons I basically taught myself to read. That's probably why I'm a little slow on a lot of things. Like taking notes. Lol".
M: "Emma. I really am so sorry about that. I will never do that to you or another student again". 
E: "I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I actually texted you this morning because I was wondering if you knew anything about how to home school myself for the rest of the year".
M: "I do know a little about it but not much. I could talk to one of the school counselors and see if they can help. Emma I promise I will do anything I can to help you".
E: "Thank you I would really appreciate it. I know I don't deserve it".
M: "Yes you do Emma. I promise I'll help you in every way I can. I have to get ready for work now. I'll text you soon ok?"
E: "when you say anything, what do you mean 😉. Just kidding I'll be looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks again".
That ends our texting. I smile and put my phone down on the nightstand and lay back down. I fall asleep for a few hours till I hear my phone ring. It freaks me out a bit but I grab it and see it's Mills. "Hello?"  I say with a tired voice. "I'm sorry if I woke you Emma. Is everything ok?"   "Yeah, I'm good I guess. How are you, are you having a good day?"  There is silence on the line for a few moments till I speak. "Hello. Mills. You still there?"   "Oh yes I'm sorry. It's just no one ever asks about my day. I was just surprised that's all".  "Well I'm sorry if I was out of line. I was just hoping you are having a good day".   "Well I am and thank you for asking. Onto other subjects now. I talked to Dr Hopper today. He said he would help us get you into home schooling and I volunteered to be your tutor".  "Oh wow. Thank you Ms. Mills but I really can't pay you for your time to do this, plus I'll probably have to pay for all the supplies I'll need. Why did I think I could ever do this? I'm sorry I wasted your time. Thanks for trying to help me. Take care Mills".   I end the call call and toss it on my bed. "Why the fuck do I even try?  My life sucks. It always has and it always will. I guess I have to leave now". I sit for a few minutes as I cry then I stood up, grabbed my duffel bags that I had still packed and quickly went down and put them in my car. I ran back up to my room and tried to clean it up a bit then I grabbed the box with my cds and radio and brought that to my car. That was it. That's all I have. I walk into the dinner and all the way to the back where Granny's office is. I knock on the door as she's sitting behind her desk. "Hey Granny. Sorry to bother you but I really need to talk. Do you have a minute?"   "For you Emma of course. Have a seat. What can I do for you". Gosh I'm gonna miss her so much. "I'm sorry Granny this whole home schooling thing isn't going to work out. I don't have the money for the books and everything I need plus I definitely can't pay for the tutor. I just came here to thank you for all that you've done for me over the years. I don't know what I would have don't without you and Ruby. Here is the key to my room. I tried to clean it the best I could. I'll keep in touch I promise. I'll try to pay you back everything I owe you. Maybe I can pay in installments. I love you Granny. I have to leave now. All my stuff is in my car". I was speaking so fast and I stood up fast and hugged her and left before she could say anything. She tried her best for me but I'm just not worth it. Ruby is by the door taking an order at a table. When she's done I hug her tight. "I'm sorry Rubes I've gotta go now. Thanks for being my best friend. I'll love you forever". I hug her again and I leave quickly before anyone could stop me. I go over to the bank and clear out my account.  $ 3,477.42. All the money I have in the world. I point my car toward the town line. It's only about a 7 mile ride out of town. I'm not speeding. The speed limit is 45 on this road. I see the cops coming up behind me. Maybe they want someone ahead of me. I slow down and move to the side but they never move past me. "Pull over please". I suddenly hear from the car behind me. "Oh what the fuck. Do they think I robbed the bank?"  I've got my receipt. It's my money". I pull over and put the car in park. The Deputy walks up. "May I see your license please?" I pull out my wallet and hand him my license.  "Do you need my registration and insurance information also sir?"  "No. I'm just looking for you Emma Swan. Please step out of the vehicle". I step out and ask. "Did I do something wrong?  I was just leaving town".  "As far as I know you have done nothing wrong. We got a call from the mayors daughter asking us to take you back to Granny's diner. Please come with us. Sit in the back please and my partner will drive your car back".  "Am I under arrest?"  "No but we have to do as we are told, please just come with us".  "Fine. Whatever".  He drives me back to Granny's and escorts me inside. No one is inside except Granny, Ruby and Mills. The Deputy has me by the arm which is pissing me off more than being dragged back here. They are all standing together looking at me. "So I'm back. What do you all want?"  Ruby was the first to talk. "Emma we care about you. We are just worried about you".   "I'm fine. I just need to start a new life for myself somewhere".  "Emma I'm sorry I did what I did to get you back here". Ms. Mills says.  "Oh right. The mayor's daughter. What do you want Mills?"   "I just want to help you. You never let me talk. You assumed it would cost a lot of money but it doesn't Emma. There is no charge for the work you need and I meant it when I said I volunteered to help you. The tutoring doesn't cost anything either. I tried to tell you".  "So basically I'm just an asshole. Well thanks for pointing that all out to me. Can I leave now?"  No one says anything so I turn to leave. As I grab the door handle Granny speaks up with authority in her voice. "Emma Swan. You stop there right now. We are only doing what we think is best for you because, whether you believe it or not we care about you damn it. Now sit down and think about what you are doing. Stop being so quick to run".  "Granny I..".  "SIT DOWN NOW EMMA".  That scared the shit out of me. Granny can be very forceful but she has never spoken to me that way. I sit quickly. Granny turns and nods to Ms. Mills who walks closer to me and sits down across from me. "Please Emma. Let us help you. It doesn't cost anything and Granny said you can still keep you job and live here". I look at Granny and she nods with a smile. Mills takes one of my hands in her own and it's so soft and warm. It's a feeling I haven't felt from someone in a long time. She speaks again. "Will you let us help you Emma?"  I look right in Ms. Mills eyes and I think I see the truth. I nod and she squeezes my hand and smiles at me. "Thank you Emma. Thank you. I promise I will always help you with anything you need". She let's go of my hand and I try to burry my face in my hands but all 3 ladies gather around me to show me their love and support by hugging me.