Staring so intently

1- In a split second

Emma was sat in Granny's diner minding her own business with her hot chocolate when the ring of the door's bell, followed by the infuriating sound of high heels clicking on the floor promptly notified her of the mayor's presence.

She had had no intention of staying in Storybrooke, no intention of staying apart of Henry, her son's, life, yet somehow she seemed to be dragged into it.

She was quickly yanked out of her thoughts by the sound of Regina's voice asking how her walk with Henry had been that morning.

Emma just stared there speechless for a second before again being cut off by the Mayor.

"That's right, I know everything, but relax I don't mind."

"..you don't?"

"No" the brunette stated with an all too smug smile, "Because you no longer worry me, Miss Swan. You see I did a lot of digging into who you are"

Well if that didn't sound creepy...

"And what I found out was quite soothing"

Still creepy..

"It all comes down to the number seven" Regina said with a false smile.

Seven?

"Seven?" Emma repeated confusion etched into her face.

"It's the number of addresses you've had in the last decade"

Huh.. only seven, could've sworn it felt like more

Regina continued, "Your longest in anywhere was two years. Really what did you enjoy so much about Tallahassee"

Tallahassee

Emma's smile faltered, her eyes unfocusing and focusing again, looking away from the woman in front of her before down at her newspaper. All of which had happened in a split second before her self-assured smile returned to her face as if nothing had happened. If Regina hadn't been staring so intently at the blonde she would've missed it. She was sure of what had just happened yet couldn't bring herself to say anything.

There was only so long she could put it off, and being in an unfamiliar place made it all that much harder. Her panic attacks were not usually set off so easily but sometimes there is no reason behind why our bodies do things. All she knew was she had to get out of there now.

Regina had continued to ramble on about something or other.

"...you think of Henry and what's best for him- and- I- Miss Swan are you listening?"

Shit

"uhh, yeah, Henry, right. I have to go to do.. paperwork.."

Emma quickly pushed her chair back in an attempt to get up, in the process knocking her hot chocolate all over herself soaking her jumper and shirt.

Double shit

Regina's mastered poker face had meant she had been able to hide how humorous and slightly adorable she has found the flustered Swan. Ruby quickly ran over offering tea towel and a customer service smile, understandably covering the annoyance she felt as she was going to have to clean up said spilt drink.

"Do you have a laundry room I can use?" Emma asked

"mhhmm" Ruby replied before pointing her towards it.

Once alone in the room Emma stripped of her jumper and shirt muttering to herself.

"well done Swan, no one will think anything's wrong now. No, no of course not, because everyone zones out mid conversation, spills a drink over themselves in public. What are you a child?"

While her anxiety was beating her up she aggressively grabbed a shirt from the line above her head throwing it on unaware of the brown pair of eyes watching her from the doorway.

The memories building up and thoughts circling, her breathing became quick and laboured, clutching the side of the sink to stabilize herself she ducked her head down with no real purpose, as if it would shelter her from the shame she felt for herself. The thoughts no longer surrounding those of Tallahassee, but now to all the times she was made to feel this crappy for her emotions, made to feel like a waste of space. Her body filled with a pins and needles like feeling and her legs gave in below her. Now sitting curled up with her back to the door quietly sobbing and loudly breathing she was too distracted to hear footsteps come up to her until a hand landed on her back.

hope you like it so far <3

       ~Bee