Runaway- CaptainSwan AU

• Chapter 5 •

In most people's childhoods, there is always that one fond memory that couldn't be traded for the world. The one that warms their hearts and brings a smile to their face. Perhaps that memory was a family trip or a warm summer day. Or maybe it was the day a pet was adopted or when the parents finally put their trust in their child.

Emma didn't have one of those memories. But she sure was making some happy memories the more time she spent with Killian. Since her first day, their friendship had grown immensely. While they might have begun on the wrong track, they'd found their way to a mutual bond that held them quite tightly together.

Since Emma wasn't exactly welcome at the Jones house and didn't want Killian coming anywhere near hers, the two of them had taken up studying and working on their project in the library after school. Emma had been allowed a grudging two hours after school from the Barkleys each day, and she cherished every moment of them with Killian.

Killian was still the only friend Emma had made, but she was okay with that. She didn't want or need anybody else. It was hard enough learning to trust Killian and let him into her life. He'd tried on multiple occasions to introduce her to some people who he assured her were trustworthy, good friends, but she had shied away every time. Eventually, Killian got to know her well enough that he knew she had walls. He grew to know and understand her insecurities, and one of those was opening up to others.

After that, he stopped pushing her to meet other people, and instead, did his best to be the best friend he could be to her since he was the only one she had.

That began with making lots of plans for them, and finding ways to get her out of the house. The less time she spent with those people, the better. And that included their after school time in the library.

"Can somebody please explain to me why I need to know how to find the some of the angle in the area between a pentagon and the circle inside it in order for me to become a social worker?!" Emma groaned, slumping back in her seat. "I hate math. I hate math, I hate math, I hate math."

Killian chuckled affectionately.

"Come on, Swan, it's not that bad," he laughed.

Emma quirked an eyebrow and crossed her arms, daring him to challenge her.

"Says the guy passing AP math with an easy A to the girl in the regular level with just barely a C."

"Point taken. However, this AP math student happens to know very well what you're studying. Care for some help?" Killian asked.

"Please," Emma groaned. She grabbed her notebook and textbook, then dragged her chair over to sit beside him.

"Right so..." Killian began, grabbing a pencil and drawing out the problem.

At first it was fine. She followed along with him, nodding every now and then and mumbling an "mhm."

But then her eyes started to wander. His voice faded into the background as her sole focus became admiring his handsome features.

His scruff that traced his face. His pointed ears that she loved so much. His-

"Does that make sense?" Killian asked, snapping Emma out of her daze.

"Hm?" Emma hummed, meeting his eyes. "Uh, yeah. Thanks," Emma mumbled in embarrassment. She took back her textbook and notebook and ended up skipping the problem he'd just explained.

Moments of silence and steady work passed until Emma found herself eyeing Killian once again. Watching him work was hypnotizing.

While Emma kept glancing up at him, she didn't realize that he was doing the same. He loved watching her get frustrated. She'd scowl, scrunching up her eyebrows, then scribble out an answer in her notebook. Or she'd bite her lip and rub her eyes from underneath her glasses.