Summary: In the midst of a lively evening at Granny’s Diner, Regina Mills becomes increasingly agitated by a misinterpreted situation between her secret lover (you) and Ruby, sparking a heated argument. The night brings a storm of emotions, keeping both you and Regina awake, haunted by the recent conflict.
A/N: Heyy, this is my first ever fanfiction and I honestly don’t know how to feel about it. I just wanted to try writing a jealousy fic of Regina because… why not? Also I’m not sure how to tag this because, again, I’m very new to writing fanfiction. Anyways feel free to leave any advice or criticism on how I could improve my writing (please be nice though, because I am sensitive af lmaoo). Oh, and the classic "english isn't my first language" applies to this
The atmosphere at Granny's Diner was as vibrant as ever, filled with its customary chatter and laughter. Regina Mills sat in the corner booth, seemingly focused on her drink. Yet, her gaze intermittently drifted towards you, engrossed in what seemed like an innocent conversation with Ruby Lucas, your laughters blending in with the diner’s ambiance.
Despite the celebration for a milestone achieved in Storybrooke, Regina's attention remained elsewhere. She noticed the way Ruby's gaze lingered on you, and a flicker of unease sparked within her. Though typically composed, Regina couldn’t help feeling a twinge of jealousy seeing Ruby direct playful banter at you.
Regina had always been protective, especially of you. The two of you had been friends for years, your bond growing stronger as time passed. Recently, however, your relationship had shifted, blossoming into something deeper and more intimate. You and Regina had been secretly dating for several months now, relishing the clandestine nature of your romance, keeping it hidden from the prying eyes of Storybrooke's inhabitants.
As the evening progressed, Regina found it increasingly challenging to ignore the growing jealousy that had taken root within her. Each playful exchange between you and Ruby fueled the flames of her simmering frustration, her jaw clenching with suppressed emotions.
Inwardly seething, Regina took a deliberate sip of her drink, a facade of composure masking the turmoil raging within her. The cool liquid did little to quell the storm of emotions churning beneath the surface as she maintained a poised exterior, concealing the inner conflict brewing within her.
As Ruby leaned closer to you—a gesture Regina interpreted as flirtatious—her jaw clenched further, the surge of jealousy nearly escalating. Her grip on her drink tightened, the glass threatening to shatter under the pressure of her clenched fingers. She had to look away, fearing that her emotions would betray her in front of everyone.
Ruby's laughter crescendoed, a sound that grated against Regina's frayed nerves. Each interaction between you and Ruby felt like a dagger twisting in her chest. Regina's mind raced with irrational thoughts and deep-buried fears. The ache in her chest had morphed into simmering anger, a blend of jealousy and frustration.
Eventually, the tension proved too much to bear. Regina abruptly rose from her seat, the sharp clicks of her stilettos echoing across the wooden floor of the diner, drawing your attention. Your eyes met hers, capturing a glimpse of something raw and untamed within Regina’s usually composed expression before she stormed out of the diner, her sole focus on escaping the suffocating atmosphere.
You watched her leave, a furrow forming on your brow, a mixture of confusion and concern evident. Sensing the tension that had soured the once cheerful atmosphere, you quickly excused yourself from Ruby's company.
Outside the diner, the cool night air failed to offer any relief as Regina briskly walked down the sidewalk, the echo of her heels punctuating the silent night with each determined step. The weight of unresolved emotions hung heavy in the air, evident in her gait and tense posture.
“Regina!” you called out, your voice cutting through the stillness of the night. Regina hesitated for a moment, the rhythmic click of her heels faltering before she continued walking, determined to distance herself from the scene that had stirred up a storm of emotions in her.
Desperate to bridge the growing distance between you, you quickened your pace, the echo of your own heels resonating as you tried to catch up to her. “Regina, please!” you called out again, the urgency evident in your voice.
Regina slowed down, hesitating for a fleeting moment before reluctantly turning to face you. Despite the distance, the streetlights illuminated the conflict etched on her features, a blend of hurt and frustration.
As you finally caught up to her, you were slightly taken aback by the look on her face. "What's wrong?" you questioned, worry lacing your voice.
"What's wrong?" Regina scoffed, her eyes flashing with suppressed frustration. "Can you not see it? How you entertain every flirtatious remark from Ruby as if it's some kind of game?"
Your brows furrowed into a puzzled expression. "Regina, Ruby and I are just friends." you defended, a hint of frustration creeping into your tone.
Regina's facade cracked, her voice rising with pent-up emotions. "Friends? Can't you see how she looks at you? How you laugh at her jokes and bask in her attention?
"I don't know what you're talking about," you retorted, a surge of defensiveness colouring your voice. "Ruby is just a friend, and you know that."
"Don't play ignorant!" Regina's words cut through the air like a knife. "I saw the way Ruby practically threw herself at you, and you seemed all too eager to indulge her!"
Confusion swept over you. "Indulge her? Ruby was just being friendly!"
"You don't see it, do you?" Regina's voice wavered between anger and hurt. "I've watched the way she looks at you, and it's not just harmless banter!"
Caught between Regina's piercing gaze and the unexpected accusation, you felt a surge of frustration rise within you. "Regina, it wasn't like that! Ruby and I were just having a conversation—"
"You can't be that naive!" Regina cut in, her frustration boiling over. "She was flirting with you right in front of me!"
You let out a scoff of disbelief. “Are you serious, Regina?” you questioned, eyebrows raising in astonishment. “Are you actually suggesting that? Or are you just fucking jealous?” you shot back, your disbelief now mixed with irritation.
Regina’s eyes widened, her initial frustration giving way to a mix of surprise and indignation. “Jealous?” she snapped back, letting out a breathless chuckle. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just pointing out the obvious.” Her words carried a sharp edge, her frustration still palpable.
“You’re overreacting!" you retorted, anger and hurt evident in your voice. "Sorry I didn't realise I needed your permission to talk to someone!"
The words hung heavily in the air, each sentence fueling the fiery argument. Regina's jaw clenched, her emotions unravelling with each passing second. "This isn't about me. It's about you and your constant need for attention from others!"
Her words cut deep, and you felt a surge of frustration mingled with hurt pride. "Is that what you really think?” you questioned, the words coming out with a mixture of hurt and astonishment.
Regina’s gaze hardened, the tension palpable in the charged air between you. “It’s not about what I think, it’s what I’ve seen.” she retorted sharply, her voice tinged with a mixture of exasperation and lingering hurt.
You stared at her, a lump forming in your throat. The air around you seemed to disappear, making you feel suffocated. “After everything—” you paused, struggling to contain the tumultuous emotions threatening to spill over. “Do you not trust me?” you whispered, tears threatening well up in your eyes as you swallowed the lump in your throat.
Before Regina could say anything, you turned away and stormed off, leaving her standing there in the chilly autumn night. Regina watched you disappear behind a corner before she let out a frustrated groan.
Regina got into her car, slamming the door shut with an echoing thud and driving away. Both of you retreated to your respective homes, leaving the echoes of the heated argument haunting the empty streets of Storybrooke.
As the night settled in Storybrooke, both you and Regina sequestered in your separate residents, enveloped in the lingering aftermath of the argument. The thunderstorm raging outside seemed to match the intensity of emotions both you and Regina were experiencing, leaving you both unable to sleep.
Regina sat by the window of her dimly lit bedroom, the occasional lightning illuminating the shadows that danced on the walls. Her mind was a chaotic whirlwind, replaying the argument with you over and over again. Frustration mingled with regret as she pondered her rash actions. She knew her emotions had gotten the better of her, unleashing a torrent of pent-up feelings she had desperately tried to conceal.
Regina continued watching raindrops race down the glass pane, mirroring the tears she had refused to shed. Her thoughts drifted back to the moment she had stormed out of Granny’s Diner, her heart aching with the realisation that she might have irreversibly damaged something precious with her outburst.
Meanwhile, you sat in your own dwelling, the distant thunder echoing the turmoil in your mind. The argument replayed in your thoughts like a broken record. Confusion and frustration gripped you as you pondered the misunderstanding that had spiralled out of control.
Despite your best efforts to push the heated exchange aside, you couldn’t shake off the unease that lingered. Regina’s words cut deep, leaving wounds of misunderstanding and hurt. You hadn't anticipated this level of conflict, especially with someone as close as Regina.
As the night wore on, the storm showed no signs of relenting, as if mirroring the unresolved tension between you and Regina. Each raindrop that splattered against the windowpanes seemed to echo the unspoken words and emotions that lingered between you.
In a sudden surge of determination, Regina couldn’t let things remain this way. She couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling of discord that had settled between you two. Despite the pouring rain outside, Regina made a decision.
Grabbing her coat, Regina dashed out into the storm, the raindrops pelting against her skin. She hurried through the deserted streets of Storybrooke, the only sounds being the rhythmic drumming of the rain and the occasional distant rumble of thunder. Each step towards your house felt heavier than the last, fueled by the urgency to clear the air and mend what felt irreparably broken.
Lost in your thoughts, you were startled by the sharp knock echoing through your home, interrupting the solitary brooding. You hesitated, puzzled by the unexpected visitor in the midst of such a storm. As you approached the door, the knock came again, more urgent this time.
Opening the door, you were taken aback by the sight before you—Regina stood there drenched, rainwater streaming down her face, making her usually impeccable appearance dishevelled.
"Regina, what—?" Your words were cut short as Regina closed the gap between you in an instant, her hands softly cupping your face and her lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss.
Your initial shock quickly gave way to a surge of warmth as you reciprocated the kiss. Despite the storm raging outside, this moment felt oddly serene—the only thing that mattered was the feeling of her lips against yours.
Regina pulled back slightly, her eyes searching yours, a mix of apology and vulnerability reflected in their depths. “I’m so sorry.” she murmured, the words tinged with sincerity. “I didn’t mean for things to escalate earlier. I just...”
Regina’s lips parted, but no words escaped. You reached out, gently brushing a rain-soaked strand of hair from her face. Your gaze held a silent understanding, an unspoken acknowledgment of the tangled emotions that had led to this moment.
“I overreacted.” Regina admitted softly. “I let my insecurities get the better of me. I never meant to hurt you.”
The sincerity in her gaze was undeniable. You could sense the walls she had meticulously built crumbling down, exposing her raw feelings beneath the surface.
You gave her a sympathetic smile before pulling her into a tender embrace. Regina’s arms wrapped around you and her breath hitched slightly as she buried her face in the crook of your neck, breathing in your familiar scent.
"I didn't mean to upset you either." you whispered into her hair. Regina’s embrace tightened slightly as a silent acknowledgment of your words.
You both lingered in the embrace, finding comfort in the closeness that transcended words. However, as if nature had its own timing, a sudden rumble of thunder echoed through the sky, reverberating around you. Regina instinctively pulled away, her eyes widening slightly in realisation.
You glanced towards the downpour outside, the intensity of the storm painting the world in shades of grey. The reminder brought a faint chuckle from both of you, a brief interjection in the midst of the emotional intensity.
"Come on, I don’t want you to catch a cold." you said softly, a playful smile tugging at your lips as you pulled her inside your home, away from the rain-soaked night. As Regina stepped over the threshold, you closed the door behind her, shutting out the storm and the chaos of the outside world.
summary: you’re hiding, you’re running. melissa finds you and your daughter and helps bring you both back to life.
warning: angst
word count: 1.1k
part 1 part 2
a/n: i'm sorry if there are any spelling errors or grammatical errors.
Melissa takes off running down the hallway and out the front door, and in an instant you were gone. No cars left in the parking lot but her own. Frustration hit with a slew of curse words flying out of her mouth. Why couldn’t she listen to Barbara? Why couldn’t she just leave things alone?
Melissa takes out her cell phone and dials a number that is engraved in her muscle memory.
“Hey, Barb. I think I really fucked up…”
You were fighting tears. You had to finally pull over on the side of the road before your vision got too blurry. Acey was sitting in the back of the car in her booster seat watching her mother break down before her very eyes. You usually kept this part of you hidden behind closed doors. Not wanting your daughter to see your vulnerability because you had to be strong for both of you. Carefully, your daughter unbuckled her seatbelt and crawled her way up into the front of the car. You tried to steady your breathing but found it hard as your daughter wrapped her arms around you.
“It’s gonna be okay, mommy.” she hugged you as tight as she possibly could.
You wrap your hands around you daughter, “I l-love you, little m-monster.”
She wiped your tears, “Mommy its time for you to make friends. My teacher likes you. How can she not? You’re the best mommy in the whole wide world!”
You chuckle to yourself wondering how you got so lucky to have a smart little girl who mirrored her mothers actions and pet talks knowing that you couldn’t argue against your own words.
“I wish it were that simple, baby. But I hear you.” you give her a kiss on her temple. “Now how about you crawl back into your seat and we go pick up some pizza for dinner?”
Two weeks had gone and passed with no contact between you both. You had Acey walk into the school herself and back out at the end of the day, because you were bound and determined to avoid Melissa at all costs. You could feel your walls breaking down and avoiding her had to be the glue that tried to hold them back together.
Melissa on the other hands was not having it anymore. Everyday when Acey walked into her classroom since your last meeting with no one behind her frustrated Melissa to no end.
Today was even worse because you kept Acey home from school for the last three days, and it was the straw that broke the camels back. Not being able to see you was one thing, but not being able to see Acey was another. Melissa knew she was going to have to break some rules to be able to see you again and she had the perfect idea to do just that.
“Pipsqueak!” Melissa yelled down the hallway and Janine came running to sound of her voice.
“Yes, Melissa?” Janine questioned.
“Can you take my class with yours down to art? I have some business I need to take care of.”
Janine nodded and looked at her coworker suspiciously, but knowing better than to question her actions.
“Come on kids! Who is excited for art?”
Melissa slips past Janine and makes her way to the front office. She slips past Ashley which isn’t hard because she is literally sleeping on the job. Ava is doing a tiktok dance in front of her ring light, “body ody ody ody” now forever engrained in Melissa’s head. “Ava, Jacob is in the breakroom saying that you would be the last to be eaten by a zombie because he is hotter than you.”
Ava snatches her phone as she makes her way out of her office, “Oh hell naw.”
Melissa smirks to herself ‘piece of cake’. She starts looking through Ava’s file cabinet, her fingers strumming through file by file until her pointer finger lands on a file labeled Hadley, Acey. Quickly snatching it out of it’s place, Melissa starts flipping throught the pages until she lands on the one she is looking for.
“Tsk, tsk,” Melissa all but jumps out her skin.
“Barb! You scared the hell out me. What are you doing?”
Barbara makes her way around the desk and looks at the file within her hands, “Melissa, what do you think you’re dong?”
“I have to. She won’t talk to me or even come in the school anymore. I need to talk to her.”
“Why are you doing all of this for a woman you barely know?” Barbara questions.
“I wish I had an answer that makes sense. There is something about Y/N that I am drawn too and I know she is drawn to me too,” she smiles to herself, “The way she crinkles her nose when I give her compliment. The way she always gets excited when listening to her daughter talk about literally anything. She is kind to every single person that I have seen her interact with at this school, even Janine’s annoying ass. I can tell her favorite color is yellow, because every pair of scrubs she wears has a yellow stitching as well as the laces of her tennis shoes. She has this birth mark on her wrist that is shaped kind of like a flower and when I bring it up she blushes and subconsciously rubs her thumb across.” Melissa looks up a Barbara and sighs, “She is the most beautiful person that I know nothing about yet I feel like I know everything about. I can’t explain it, but I don’t want to give up without a fight. I have to show her I care and I’m going to be here no matter what or how long it takes.” Melissa finished and Barbara - albeit doesnt understand - nods her head in reliance that she knows Melissa wouldn’t do all of this for just anybody.
Melissa grabs a sticky note off Ava’s desk and quickly jots down your address.
She doesn’t know how she made it throught the four grueling hours left of school. When the final bell rings, Melissa quickly packed her things before leaving the school and getting in her car. She pulled up her gps on her phone and typed in an unfamiliar address. Thirty minutes later she is pulling up to a row of homes until she finally parks in front of a little beige one.
Gathering her courage she picks herself up and out of her car and walks straight up to the door and knocks three times. She is twiddling with her fingers nervously which is unlike herself. Finally she hears footsteps on the other side of the door getting closer and the knob starts to turn. When she finally sees your face through the crack of the door, she lets out the breath she didn’t know she was holding.
summary: reader runs into an old frenemy at the bar and enlists melissa to play her date. hidden feelings are revealed. inspired by the movie just go with it.
word count: 3.8k
warnings: alcohol (beer), swearing, old bully.
a/n: this was so much fun to write! i hope you enjoy <3 i think i included all the warnings but as always pls let me know if i missed anything! if u wanna be added to my taglist just lmk or fill out my form on my masterlist!
The night hadn’t exactly gone to plan, not that you were complaining. The Abbot family were supposed to be celebrating reaching the end of another quarter, even going as far as to select a bar up to Ava’s standards with extravagant cocktails and comfortable booths (but still with a generic enough dart board that Melissa would turn up). Ava had shoot down your usual place saying, “Girl, I’ve got a reputation to uphold and even entering that place would lose me 1K on Instagram,”
However things had immediately started to splinter when Gregory and Janine failed to turn up, still very much in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. And then Barbara had ordered two cocktails which had immediately gone to her head and called Gerald to come and pick her up. Jacob got a text for Avi and ducked out apologetically, Mr Johnson disappeared somewhere, and then Ava declared she couldn’t be seen dead out in only a group of three so she ditched, which meant less than two hours into the night only you and Melissa remained at the bar.
You’d initially been irritated, having looked forward to a family night out all week. But when Melissa dragged you to the dart board saying “We don’t need ‘em.”, her hand warm in yours and her smile bright. You’d suddenly forgotten every thought you’d ever had.
“Another bullseye for me!” Melissa smirks victorious, dancing as she turns around to face you. “I think that means ya owe me a drink, hon.”
You roll your eyes, but can’t bring yourself to care that deeply at the sight of the redheads joy. She seems to be having a great time, despite everyone leaving. And you’re determined to soak up every moment of this additional out-of-school Melissa time until she decides to call it a night.
It feels like a blessing, and the sight of her in a strappy leopard print top with enough cleavage to cause your brain to short circuit when she‘d first arrived definitely didn’t hurt. She looked beautiful with her red curls down past her neck, and her brown leather jacket and red high heels on. Any day now you were gonna get this raging crush under control and not look at Melissa Schemmenti and see the sun, any day…
…just not today if your traitorous heart had any say.
“Another of the same?” You ask, nodding towards her beer with a grin on your lips.
“You betcha.” She shimmies closer to you, her teeth biting into her lip. “And when youse get back we’ll have another game. If you can take the heat.”
Your face heats up and you force out a laugh to cover up how wildly attractive you find her. You push yourself off the barstool and side step her. “Uh yeah, another game sounds good. I’ll be right back.” You step back, giving her a slightly too tight smile before you run away to the bar.
So chill Y/N. Wow, excellent game. If she didn’t want you before, I bet she does now.
You groan as you approach the bar, resisting every bone in your body that wants you to slam your head very hard against the bartop to hopefully knock some sense into yourself because that was just plain embarrassing. Instead, you settle on waving down the bartender and ordering two yuengling's.
They make quick work of your order and you pay and mutter a polite, “Thanks,” before turning away with your drinks, ready to head back to Melissa. Determined to not make a complete fool of yourself this evening.
“Y/N L/N!” A shrill voice calls and your blood runs cold, “Oh my god, is that really you?”
Your eyes fall close as you blow out a breath and send a hail mary that maybe, just maybe, that voice won’t be connected to the woman you believe it to be.
Of course, life doesn’t work like that and when you open your eyes you come face to face with your old college ‘friend’. If a friend meant someone who constantly put you down and had to be better than you at all times. Suddenly the last day of college doesn’t seem long enough ago, god you could’ve gone the rest of your life without seeing this woman and that still wouldn’t have made up for the torment of the three years of friendship with her.
“Alisha, Hi.” You grimace. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“I know!” She cackles, “I’d never expect you to be somewhere this close to classy. I remember the dives you loved in college.”
Your smile tightens and you force a humourless laugh. “Well, great to see you Alisha, but I really should be getting back to-”
“No, no, no, come on we must catch up!” She interrupts. She shakes her hair performatively and presents her hand, showing off an obnoxious diamond, “I, of course, got married. My husband is here actually and you must meet him.”
“Congrats, but I really should be getting back to my-”
“I’m sure your friend won’t mind.” Alisha waves a hand.
She grabs the hand not holding the two bottles of beer, her face etched with pity. “I noticed you don’t have a wedding band. It’s okay, your time will come.”
You try to shake your hand free, but Alisha’s grip tightens. “Seriously, Y/N, not everyone can be as lucky as-”
“Hey hon, everythin’ alright?” Melissa interrupts, an obvious edge to her voice. Her hand perches on the small of your back as she gives Alisha a once over, and despite the other woman being four inches taller than her, you know Melissa could take her effortlessly.
Alisha’s eyes widen before melting into a smirk as she extends her hand, “Alisha, Y/N’s closest friend from college.”
Melissa looks at you before looking back at Alisha and scoffing, “Right.”
Alisha drops her hand, but doesn’t look disturbed, in fact she looks more excited than you’ve ever seen her, if you exclude that one house party she threw where she got the entire football team to attend and ended up sleeping with the quarterback.
More than slightly disturbed, you push the beer in Melissa’s direction, “Here, sorry.”
“Thanks, hon.” She accepts the drink, her fingers brushing yours as she does.
You watch Alisha hungrily eat up the action, and you know what’s gonna happen next before she even opens her mouth. “So, you’re Y/N’s girlfriend?”
The redhead’s eyes widen, her drink pausing on its way to her mouth. And before she can reject it, and Alisha’s face grows even more victorious in your pathetic aloneness, you jump in and answer.
“Fiancée, actually.”
You should be awarded an Emmy for the way you keep your face straight and don’t cringe as both Melissa and Alisha swing around to face you.
“I left my ring at home,” You roll your eyes. “She only popped the question recently. Haven’t quite got used to wearing it yet.”
“Really?” Alisha questions, eyes narrowing. “Well now you must join my husband and I for drinks. We can toast to the newlyweds and newly-engaged.”
She grabs your hand, pulling you away before you can protest again. You look back at Melissa, silently begging for help, but she just watches you with an arched brow and smirk before she takes a long sip from her beer and saunters after you.
Alisha doesn’t release her grip until you reach the booth in the corner of the bar. Her husband, an even taller man, presumably quite handsome if you’re into that sort of thing - but in your opinion quite boring looking - sits scrolling on his phone and nursing what looks like a whiskey sour.
“Honey, I found some friends.” She says, sitting down beside her husband. “This is my best friend from college Y/N, and her fiancée…oh,” Alisha tips her head, smiling widely “In all that excitement I didn’t get your name.”
Melissa doesn’t respond, instead signalling you to slide in the booth first so she can be on the end.
“It’s Melissa,” You respond, ignoring the redhead’s dark look for sharing her personal information.
“Traitor,” She mumbles quietly into your ear, her breath hot.
You roll your eyes, even as you struggle to breath properly. If she’d saved you when she had the chance you wouldn’t be in this situation.
“What a lovely name,” Alisha gushes, and you don’t need to turn to see Melissa’s glare.
Alisha drops her head to her husband's shoulder, who wraps his arm around her back with a boy-ish grin, “And this is my husband, Victor.”
“Ladies, nice to meet you.”
You force a smile and take a long sip from your beer.
“I was just saying to Y/N how funny it is running into her.” Alisha laughs, “We’re only in Philadelphia because the jet needed to refuel. It was not part of our plan,” She rolls her eyes, “Honestly, can you imagine living here?”
“What’s wrong with Philly?” Melissa challenges, eyes narrowing
“I’m just saying it wouldn’t be my first choice.” She waves her hand, like she hasn’t said anything offensive. “Victor and I live in California, but we’re heading to Paris because this one’s talking at a convention for dentists.”
“Wow, impressive.” You nod politely.
“You ended up here?” She asks, pity evident in her tone.
“I chose here. I love Philly. I’ve got an amazing teaching job and an amazing group of friends. It’s a really good community.” You say seriously. There were some things Alisha could make you feel insecure about, but Philly was never going to be one of them. You were happy with your life.
“And your fiancée, right?” She challenges, “How long have you been together?”
Melissa’s arm wraps around your waist and she tugs you tightly into her side. You try not to let the surprise at the action show on your face.
“Two years. Known each other for three through. She swooped in and saved me when the kids were drivin’ me mad and kinda hasn’t stopped since.”
Your heart flutters as you stare at Melissa from beneath your lashes, warmth settling in your chest. You know the exact moment she’s talking about, it’s the first time you properly met, about a month into teaching at Abbott. You’d heard the commotion coming from her classroom while your first-graders were in music class, and had popped your head next door - just to check - and found a clearly stressed out redhead trying to control a large class of second and third graders.
You’d made your way in, with a calm “How can I help?”. Melissa had just thrusted worksheets at you and pointed towards the third-graders. From then on you popped in to help whenever you had a free lesson, and if it meant staying later to catch up on lesson planning you decided it was worth it, especially as it led to one of your favourite friendships.
“You have kids?” Victor asks. “I love kids.”
“No, teacher. We work together.”
“Oh, that makes sense. Y/N was never one to have much of a social life outside of her work.” Alisha rolls her eyes, “Of course she’d have to meet her partner at her place of work too. She never had much luck when it came to dating, always so alone.” She juts out her bottom lip patronisingly.
“I dated.” You defend, “I just happened to put my studies first, which was the whole point of being at college.”
Alisha nods and takes a sip from her drink. Your eyes narrow at her. You don’t realise your hand has tightened into a fist until Melissa pulls it into her lap and begins gently caressing your knuckles, slowly coaxing it open again.
Victor’s phone rings, an obnoxious beeping sound that shocks you enough that your hand pulls away from Melissa’s. You miss the touch instantly, wanting to reach back but knowing you shouldn’t.
“Oh sorry girls, I should take this.”
“He gets lots of important calls.” Alisha supplies proudly, as she slides out of the booth to let her husband out. Melissa lifts her brows, shooting you a look of disbelief and you struggle not to laugh.
They stand together beside the table. Victor drops his forehead to Alisha’s and inhales deeply. “Your beauty, your drive, your wit.” He breathes dramatically.
Alisha hums, “Your intelligence, your thirst, your strength.”
Their nose’s rub together, and you swear your soul leaves your body as you watch them open mouthed in disbelief. You turn to Melissa whose face is screwed up in outright disgust.
Alisha sits back down, a content smile on her face. “It’s something we do whenever the other person leaves. Say what we love most about each other.”
“You really ain’t from Philly, huh?” Melissa laughs, taking a long sip from her beer.
“You guys should try it.”
“I ain’t doing-”
“I don’t think-” Melissa and you both start to say at the same time.
“Not everyone can do it.” Alisha waves.
Your eyes narrow and Melissa puts down her beer.
“You know what, we’ll do it now.” You say, determined.
Melissa smirks, eyes bright with challenge as she looks between you and Alisha. “Sure thing, hon.”
“Okay, just look into each other’s eyes and say three things you love most about each other.”
You turn to face Melissa, knee’s brushing against hers. You blow out a breath, suddenly nervous looking at her this closely. Her green eyes hold your gaze, a reassuring smile on her face and it helps you steel yourself.
“Okay. Uh, I love how much you care about the kids.” You start, easy, honest, tame. “You do so much for them, more than anyone even realises. But they love you so much. You’re a phenomenal teacher. You’ve got such a beautiful heart, even if you do try to keep it hidden.”
Melissa listens to you with soft eyes, a wet chuckle breaking from her lips.
“It’s not even just the kids. The things you do for Barbara, Janine, Me. You are extraordinary. I see how much you care, I see your kindness.” The words flow from your lips, the truth that you should probably keep hidden.
She scoffs, shaking her head, “I ain’t that soft.”
“I love how safe you make me feel.” Your breath shakes as Melissa’s eyes widen. God too much, too honest, but maybe she’ll just think you’re selling the lie and won’t know just how true every word coming from your lips is.
“Whenever something happens you’re the person I want to find. And you just know how to make it better. Before you, I never needed someone else, but now I literally…I just, I don’t know, I gravitate towards you. When I’m with you I just know everything is going to be okay. I feel safe, like together we could take on anything.”
“I wouldn’t let anythin’ happen to you.” She smiles gently.
Your heart stutters, “And your smile, god that smile.” It makes you soar, you can’t breath as words spill from your lips, “I love it. I look forward to lunch everyday because I know I get to see that smile. Your smile starts my day, and everytime I get to see it I feel like I’m doing something right.”
She stares at you and you clear your throat, breaking your gaze. “And that's three.”
Melissa grabs your hands, her fingers stroking your knuckles, prompting your eyes to return back to hers. “My turn.”
You nod silently, unable to speak as you watch the women in front of you. Heart pounding.
“I love your company. No matter my mood, it’s good. You’re just nice to have around. Whether I’m cookin’ for you, we’re drinkin’, or we’re stressin’ out over work. It’s fun with you.” She shrugs with a shy smile.
You grin. God your heart can’t take this. It still pounds and you can’t differentiate between truth and lie. She sounds so honest, eyes so gentle and you desperately want to fall in and believe every single word leaving her lips.
“You’re stupidly generous too and I love you for it, even if it makes me wanna hit ya sometimes.”
She rolls her eyes and you both chuckle.
“You say I have a good heart, but I watch the way you keep giving to everyone around you without expecting anythin’ in return. You’re always offering to cover a lesson or lunch shift, even though I know it means you’re staying at school later to catch up on lesson plans.”
You shift, you really hadn’t thought she’d noticed. “It’s nothing really.”
“It’s somethin’. You’re good. Like, actual good, and you don’t find that often.”
Your eyes soften, tears threatening to pool as you itch to reach out and pull her in, kiss her.
“And you know what else I love? Your eyes.” She nods, with a shining smile. “When they catch the light? Stunnin’. They are so expressive, always shining, sayin’ things even if you don’t.”
You draw in a sharp breath, eyes locked with hers. Wondering maybe if-
“I won a competition for the most beautiful eyes.” Alisha’s piercing voice interrupts. You jolt away from Melissa, having entirely forgotten about the other women’s presence.
“I’m pretty sure I’d still win if you entered. No offence, Y/N.” She laughs shrilly.
You drain the last of your beer, your chest still tight and your bearings off.
Melissa snaps. “Alright, I’m done. I dunno if your parents were too nice to you as a kid or didn’t tell you they loved you enough but either way I don’t care. You ain’t speaking to my girl like that anymore, especially if you think your ugly ass fake contacts in any way compare to her stunnin’ fuckin’ eyes.”
Alisha’s face finally falls.
“So goodbye, we’re leavin’. And you and your guy can get the hell out of Philly fast before I find someone to jack your dang car.” She grabs your hand, fingers entwined with yours and tugs you from the booth with her.
You laugh, feeling lighter the further away you get from the gobsmacked women you left behind. Melissa weaves you between people and out the bar, not letting go of your hand until you're safely outside and the door has shut behind you.
“That was…” You look at the redhead, shaking your head and grinning, your entire body buzzing. “God, I just…”
She chuckles, her hand landing on your waist. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” Her other hand digs into her back pocket pulling out her phone, “I’ll call a cab.”
Your heart thunders. Your hand reaching for her chin bringing her face back to yours. She’s so close…. “You are extraordinary.”
Her cheeks pink as she tries to shrug off your touch, “Y/N,”
“No.” You breathe, bringing her back to look at you. Your gaze falls to her red painted lips, your chest tightens. And you know you could let go, step back and you’d both pretend this moment had never happened, but you don’t want to.
You want to lean in and kiss those pretty lips. Finally say fuck the point of no return. Because all the fears and risks that were keeping you from plunging in all seemed irrelevant when your body felt this alive.
It’s like you’d finally woken you and you knew you didn’t want to go another day without kissing Melissa Schemmenti.
You lean in. Melissa’s shaky breath expelling against your lips before she meets yours. Tentative at first, once, twice, three times, before her hand fists into your shirt and yours moves to her hair, and then a moan is pulled from her lips and your gone. Frantic and heated you devour each other. Her phone is roughly shoved into your back pocket so she can paw at your ass and then she’s walking you back into the wall. Her body is finally flush against yours and you gasp in delight as you drown in the sensation, unable to think clearly as you passionately kiss her.
When you finally separate, you’re both breathing heavily, foreheads resting against each other. Melissa’s lipstick is a mess, her lips swollen, and you think she’s never looked more beautiful.
“Ya mess.” She tuts affectionately, breathing still broken as she reaches out to wipe her lipstick from your lips.
“And who’s fault is that?” You chuckle, grinning like a fool.
She rolls her eyes and you want to kiss the expression off her face. You lean in to do just that, but she steps back, her eyes shifting away from you.
“Hon,” She shakes her head, finally wiping the lipstick off from around her own mouth.
A pit lands in your stomach, panic coursing through your body. No. You’ve come this close. You weren’t losing her now.
“You can’t tell me you don’t feel this too.”
She looks at you, eyes soft and pained, “‘Nd you can’t want this.”
“Did you not hear a word I said in there?” You ask incredulously. “God, Mel, all of that. Every single word. I meant that.”
“You meant it?” She questions, unsure.
You shrug, vulnerable, exposed. “Of course. How could I not? You’re the best person I've ever met.”
She scoffs, wet, stumbling forward back into your arms. “Fuck you.” She murmurs and captures your lip. You expect it to be harsh and heated, but she’s so gentle and slow, her lips tenderly moving against yours like you’re something to be treasured and if she pushes too hard you might break.
You tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, caressing her cheek lovingly when you separate. She watches you in awe, eyes so gentle and you’ve never felt so content in your life.
“I meant everythin’ too.” She confesses.
You grin and press a quick peck to her lips. “I had my suspicions.”
She rolls her eyes, “Whatever. You wanna actually get out of ‘ere?”
You laugh, “Yes, please.”
“Leftovers and beers at mine?”
You hum in delight, not missing the way Melissa’s eyes darken, her eyes dropping to your lips. “That sounds perfect. And watch something on Netflix?”
“Whatever you want, hon.” She responds, dragging her gaze away. “I’ll call a cab now.”
She takes a couple steps away, to make the call and you unashamedly watch her the entire time. Your eyes taking in her figure and lingering on her ass. Because, hey, who can blame a girl.
It was Melissa goddamn Schemmenti.
Your teeth pulling at your bottom lip, do nothing to suppress your grin.
I guess you really might have to thank everyone in Abbott for leaving tonight if this was the result.
You weren’t quite a big enough person to thank Alisha.
Summary: You, Melissa Schemmenti's loving girlfriend, are a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, and she has the urge to change that.
Content: NSFW
WC: ~2.7k
Everyone knew you and Melissa complimented each other. She was your more direct and confident half, while you were her balanced and honest half. You both got along all the time, surprisingly.
Well, almost all the time. You were born and raised in Texas, planting that seed for the love for the Dallas Cowboys. And what was that one thing that every Philly can agree on? Their hate for the Dallas Cowboys.
To be fair, it was shocking that the older woman even wanted to pursue you after this news, yet she dealt with it. Though that didn’t stop the snarky comments or quick-wit remarks when you wore your favourite jersey. The friendly competition was fun, getting to tease her or push her buttons just to see the rise you could get out of her. It was your favourite when she would push her glasses to the bridge of her nose, so her green eyes could pierce through you. This would drive you wild, in all the right ways.
///
Today, you sat in your shared apartment and placed yourself in front of the TV as there was a game on; of course your team was playing. You sported your jersey, throwing on a comfy pair of shorts, and bought your favourite bag of chips.
Stuffing your face, content, watching your team play—it was perfect. Of course until the apartment door opened, causing you to crane your neck to see Melissa kicking off her shoes. A flutter flashed through your chest, a common occurrence when seeing her.
“Hi, amore.” She greets you before her eyes flicker to you, her smile dropping as you watch something cross her eyes.
She groans, rolling her eyes. You smirk.
“Good to see you too, baby.” Sarcasm laced in your tone, a playful expression on your face.
“If I would’ve known you’d be puttin’ this crap on, I would’ve gone out with Barb.” She pinches the bridge of her nose, walking over to you nonetheless.
She puts her arms around you from behind the couch, placing a kiss on the top of your head, softly inhaling the scent of your shampoo. Her eyes flicker over your body in the jersey, and she looks away dramatically.
“I can’t. Taintin' such a perfect thing with absolute garbage.” She sighs dramatically as she walks onto the kitchen.
You chuckle, shaking your head, your attention going back to the screen.
“You probably wanna watch; it’s Cowboys against Eagles.” You say through a mouthful of chips.
Melissa’s auburn hair pokes out from the kitchen doorway, a brow arched. “Really? I forgot that was today.”
The older woman sits down on the couch, briefly looking at you in feigned disgust, then to the screen. You scoot closer, sitting so you could lay your legs across her lap.
Melissa tried to not touch you, not wanting any “Cowboys cooties,” as she’d call it. Though it wasn’t long until her manicured hands glide mindlessly up and down your bare legs.
Every point you cheer, which makes Melissa roll her eyes. She’d spew insults and vulgar language at the screen; you were thankful the walls were pretty soundproof. She would immaturely rub it on your face when her team scored.
“Y'know what? I wanna bet.” You begin, narrowing your eyes, a challenge on your face.
“A bet?” She tilted her head; her green eyes flashed with mischief. “You know how I love my bets: high risk, high reward.” She chuckled.
“Yeah—Listen, if the Cowboys win, you have to hang a Cowboys flag in your class for a week.”
The redhead looks almost offended at the near thought of that. “Fine,” she bites, “but if the Eagles win, which they will, you have to wear my jersey.” Confidence is heavy in her tone.
“Deal.” You grin, nodding your head.
“You’re going to look great in my jersey, Amore." She says as her attention goes back to the game, shouting as if the players could hear her. Thank God they can’t.
The living room is tense when the last bit of the game is coming to an end, with a nail-biting score. The score was 33 to 29, with the Eagles in the lead. You knew all your team needed was a proper touchdown, finding yourself just as worked up at the screen as your girlfriend.
Melissa tongued the side of her cheek as a smug grin spread on her lips, glancing at you, knowing she was about to win. Her grinwidened when her team ran across the field, earning a touchdown just as the buzzer went off, and the Eagles' fans cheered.
Your jaw went slack as you whined, throwing your head back. Melissa snorted. "Tough luck for the Cowboys, the usual." She added, making your groan louder.
Melissa was not going to let you live this down for at least two weeks. The cheering and celebration on the screen went black as the redhead flicked off the TV whilst you were too busy mourning the loss of your dignity. She stood up, occasional smug chuckles falling from her, coming back soon after with her jersey.
Without warning and a smirk, she places herself in your lap, pulling you from your defeat. Heat immediately rushes to your face, spreading across your cheeks, hands distinctively going to her waist. Her green eyes glistened with mischief and ego. With swift and talented hands, she hooks her fingers under your Cowboys jersey, slipping it off you and discarding it without regard. Her eyes darkened as she spoke.
"Time to hold your side of the bet, hon." She grins, placing soft kisses on your collarbone, then the soft skin of your breasts.
You gasp softly, and suddenly losing wasn't so bad. She pulls away too early, earning a soft whine from you. Soon enough, her jersey is being slipped onto your body. This makes Melissa lean back, her bottom lip under her teeth, her eyes darkening.
"So so much better," she husks.
Her hands cup your cheeks as she pulls you into a heated kiss, dominance in her kisses. A soft moan falls from your lips into hers, your hands tightening around her waist.
She hooks her hands into your hair, tugging it slightly, causing you to groan softly. She takes advantage of this and slips her tongue into your mouth, causing that familiar need to spread across your body. A harsh tug on your hair parts your lips, your neck slightly craned back. Melissa quickly attaches her lips to your neck, leaving possessive kisses and sucking on all your weak points.
"You look so good in my jersey." She mutters against your skin, her breath hot, her mouth rough, kissing the now bruising marks on your skin.
Her lips travel back up your neck, finding spots near your ear. "I wanna get rid of that awful Cowboy's mindset you're plagued with." She mutters into your ear, her voice low. Her fingers suddenly tighten their grip on your hair. "I'm going to fuck it outta you, princess." She adds, tone laced with promise.
You swallow at her words, finding yourself breathless and utterly helpless in her grip. The only thing you can reply with is a small whimper as she stands from the couch, picking you up, legs wrapped around her waist. She continues to kiss you deeply, all while walking into the bedroom. Your girlfriend drops you onto the plush bed, bouncing for a moment from the drop. Your hair sprawled around you, still breathless, her jersey laying loosely on your body.
She quickly climbs back on top of you, her knees on either side of you. The older woman stares down at you, hunger swirling in her green eyes.
Your hands cup her cheeks, finding yourself just as needy. "Mel." You hush, her gaze intense.
Her lips crash back onto yours, her hands snaking up the loose fabric of your top. Her cold fingertips make you shudder, a stark difference against your heated skin. Her hands trailed hungrily down your body, stopping to lightly run over your clothed need. Without even realizing it, your hips are already chasing her hands, a soft whimper leaving you.
“Pathetic.” Melissa grumbles lowly with a smirk, sending more heat to your core.
“Please— Mel—”
“Already begging me? I don’t think you deserve it, watching you cheer for the wrong team.” She interrupts, leaning into your ear, her breath hot.
“I’m sorry.” You plead, your voice whine, making Melissa’s eyes darken all the more.
Her skilled fingers hook the fabric of your shorts, pulling them off and tossing them aside. Once again, your hips follow her hands. She runs a hand over your, now soaked, panties; a low hum leaves her.
“And already so soaked, so desperate.” Her lips crash back onto yours, messy and hot.
Her manicured hand pushes the fabric of your panties out of the way, making you gasp as she runs a finger through your wet folds.
The grasp you had in her red locks tightens as her finger finds your clit, making slow and gentle circles on it. Your head is numb with sudden pleasure, causing you to moan against her lips. It’s not long until she plunges two fingers into you, deep and curling at every right angle.
Your head falls back, mouth opened, and overflowing with moans and gasps. She moves her mouth to your neck, her teeth grazing against your burning skin. Her fingers continued to fuck you, her palm expertly rubbing against your clit.
You felt yourself drawing closer to your orgasm, your vision becoming more cloudy as your moans grew more desperate. The older woman quickly took notice and withdrew her hand, earning a loud whine from the loss of contact.
"What the hell?" You look up at her, brows furrowed, jaw slack.
She brings her wet digits to her mouth, letting out a low hum as she tastes you. "So sweet, amore."
She looks at you as if she knows she has full control over you. You throw your head back in the pillow, letting out a groan, not even noticing your girlfriend leaving the bed. It's only until she's crawling back on the bed that you bring your eyes back to her, your heart thudding at the sight.
She now wore a pink strap, one she'd used to fuck you before. You felt a familiar throb in your core.
"I told you I was going to fuck it outta you, hon." She mutters with that damn grin, looking at you as if you were food. You were to her.
She presses her lips back onto yours, gentle and sweet, until she nips at your bottom lip. Her tongue quickly slipped back into your mouth, making you moan. She ran the tip of the strap against your wetness, teasing you.
Without warning, she sank the entirety of the strap inside you, making you shout her name, your whole body arching. She began to thrust into you with wanton lust, your hands gripping her back, your nails adding to her own pleasure.
Each relentless and hard thrust had you moaning louder, your mouth open, eyes closed. Her hand grips your chin, pulling it to look at her.
"Open your eyes; I want to see you." She demands, making you open your eyes to meet her green ones, full of desire and dominance.
It's not long until you're moving closer to your orgasm again, your gasps and moans more frequent, clenching around her strap. Your pleasure is cut short when she pulls out of you, leaving you empty.
Before you can even protest, her hands grip your waist as she manhandles you to lay on your stomach. You let out a gasp, your head falling into the sheets, attempting to hold yourself up by your elbows. Your eyes prick with tears as she plunges deep into you, the angle allowing her to reach all the perfect spots.
Your hands grip the sheets, her grip on your hips guiding you down on her, her pace never slowing. She snakes a hand around, running tight circles around your clit as she continues her relentless thrusts.
"Please." A Whimper tumbles from you through moans. "Please, Mel, I need you." Your words are interrupted by your loud moans.
Melissa doesn't dare stop, not this time. She leans in, her chest pressed to your back, trailing kisses from the back of your neck to your ear. "Come for me; I know you've been waiting like such a good girl."
Her words throw you over the edge, your knuckles whiten with the grip you had on the sheets, your vision hazing as you feel an intense wave of pleasure wash through you. You cry out her name, your legs trembling as you come, your girlfriend helping you ride it out with slower thrusts.
"So good." She coos, placing a firm kiss on the back of your neck.
You feel your body grow weaker as you come down from your high, gravity-taking effect as you go to lay flat. That's until Melissa's hands move to grip your waist again. "Nuh-uh, I still don't think we're done yet. I'm not fully convinced you learned your lesson." She says as she begins to thrust back into you, making you cry out, already being overly sensitive from your first orgasm.
"You can take it right, hon?" She husks.
You swallow and nod, letting out a weak "Mhm."
She continues to fuck you, harder than before, the overstimulation falling into a deep pleasure. Tears finally spilled over, running down your cheeks. Your face falls into the pillow, muffling your moans and cries as you fall closer to another orgasm.
Your head is suddenly tugged back, Melissa grabbing a fistful of hair, holding it up. "No, I want to hear you." She adds, You could hear the satisfied grin on her face.
Her chest is pressed against your back again as she whispers in her ear. "Now tell me, what team do you belong to?" There's mischief hinted in her tone.
You stay quiet; amongst your haze of pleasure, you still didn't want to betray your team or cave so quickly. Your lack of response makes the redhead tug your hair back harder.
"I asked you a question, hon." She uttered into your ear, making it clear she wasn't going to give you the satisfaction you were seeking until you answered.
Through moans and whimpers, you struggled to answer. "God, your team. Eagles, I belong to your team." You finally gasp out, choking on your own moans.
"Thats my girl." She bites down on your neck, her fingers going back to your clit.
She lets your hair go as your second, overwhelming orgasm shakes your body, crying her name in please against the bed. She helps you ride it out before slowly pulling it out of you, leaving you empty and letting you collapse onto the bed. The room is quiet now, aside from your heavy breathing and the soft shuffle as Melissa discards the toy and lays beside you.
She holds you so you roll into her side, your body jello and limp. She cups your cheek, her eyes now full of compassion and a hint of victory. She wipes the tears on your cheeks, placing a kiss on your temple. "You did so good, amore." She says softly, a stark difference from herself a few moments ago.
You hold yourself closer to her, gazing into your girlfriend's face. "You're evil." You finally manage to utter through your brain fog.
This earns you a soft chuckle from the older woman, “But you love it.” She quips.
“I do.” You huff, your chest still raising underneath her jersey as you catch a breath.
She places a soft and gentle kiss to your lips, pulling back so she could speak. “You look perfect, all ruined in my jersey. A true Philly girl now.” Her eyes glint.
“Mmm, I don’t know—” You mumble.
She playfully pinches your waist, making you squeak.
“Watch your words, hon.”
She pulls you in again, kissing you hard yet safe within her grasp. Loved, no matter what.
normalize sexualizing that old woman without having mommy issues. maybe i don't want to be her pet because i'm traumatized. maybe i want to be her pet because she's hot. you ever think of that.
summary: you’re hiding, you’re running. melissa finds you and your daughter and helps bring you both back to life.
warning: angst
word count: 1.9k
part 1 part 3
a/n: this is my first time writing in probably over a year so i hope it’s decent! also i'm sorry if there are any spelling errors or grammatical errors.
“hi…” your voice is barely there. Melissa pulls her hand back and clears her throat.
“Well, pick up is at 3:30. Please try to be on time,” she grabs a paper from her room, “this is a list of supplies she’ll need for the school year. Principal Coleman probably forgot to give it to you. It’s okay to not have them today, but please try to have them by Friday.”
You nod your head along in agreeance, your hand by your side waving your fingers back and forth reeling from her touch. Knowing yourself retreating from feeling anything for anyone. Melissa on the other hand is looking at you feeling a push to want to talk to you more but knowing she can’t let herself overstep being a teacher and you a parent. Then you realize suddenly, “Oh, shi-crap! I’m going to be late for work. I will get all those supplies for you by Friday, promise!” you peek your head in, “Bye baby, I’ll see you later today.”
Melissa is watching you take off down the hallway, shaking her head at you thinking, ‘she’s gonna be a pain, a smoking hot pain but she’s got spunk.’ She chuckles as she closes her class room, words spilling out from the crack of the door, “Good morning, my little eagles…”
A couple of uninterrupted months fly by, and everything is going according to your plan. Your parents haven’t alerted you of any problems brewing from your past, and you finally feel at home. It felt nice having settled into your home and Acey was coming along nicely trying her best to feel at peace here. There was one person that was now taking up space in your mind day and night, a fiery redheaded teacher haunted your dreams. As much as you tried to shake the thought, you found yourself attracted to her. You would pick up Acey every day and sneak peaks at Melissa, but not allowing yourself to indulge in your crush. Melissa on the other hand loved to indulge just enough to make it hard for you to stay away.
“Go out with me.” the redhead asked as she watched you packing up your daughter's backpack.
“No.”
“Is it because of our age difference?” she asked curiously.
“No.”
“Is it because ya not inta women?” delving deeper.
“Oh, I’m as gay as they come.” you turned around finally meeting her eye to eye. It was getting harder and harder for you to push past her advances.
“No strings attached? I just want to get to know you Y/N.”
You sigh, wanting nothing more than just that but also knowing that just isn’t in the cards for you. You had to protect your family. Shrugging your shoulders, “It’s not that simple.” Acey is standing in the corner watching this all unfold wondering why her mother never let anyone in. You always encouraged her to make new friends but you never allowed yourself to do the same.
“Then what is it? I swear I don’t get ya. I see the way you look at me,” you blush, “what gives?”
A question you wish you knew how to answer, “Now’s just not a good time, Ms. Schemmenti.”
“Call me Melissa.”
On the other side of town, Melissa is sitting on the couch talking to her best friend and work wife Barbara Howard about how smitten she is with you.
“Barb, I know nothing about her yet I can’t shake her from my mind. I try to talk with her but she keeps me at arms length,” she grumbles sipping from her glass of Chardonnay.
Barbara having noticed all of your interaction with her friend from afar mentions, “Y/N seems to be extremely guarded. She never asked for help. Never accepts parent volunteer offers. She must have a lot going on. Just give her space, and if there is something between you both it will happen naturally. Don’t go making a fool of yourself for a woman you don’t even know!”
Thinking back, Melissa already knows she’s made a fool of herself trying to gain your attention. Countlessly asking you out to dinner trying to get to know you more.
Standing right beside the front desk waiting for Principal Coleman to take your field trip money, “Principal Coleman, I don’t have all day I have to be at work in an hour.”
“Hold on, tasty. I wanna show you my new line of iPhone cases. They all have bikini pics of me on them and I know you wanna see them,” she wiggles her eyebrows at you as you roll your eyes at her ridiculousness.
“Plus, Melissa has been begging me to get you to be a chaperone for the zoo field trip. She’s really starting to get on my nerves, so will you say yes already?”
“Ava, I told you I don’t have the time to take off work,” yeah that seemed like a good enough excuse. You didn’t notice Janine and Melissa sneaking up behind you. They really did need more chaperones for the second grade field trip, but Melissa definitely had ulterior motives.
Janine speaks up first, “Please, we could really use your help. Plus being a nurse we know we could trust you with our kids, because between you and me some of these parents kind of scare me.” she whispers the last part.
“Come on kid, just take one day off. You can even sit next to me on the bus,” Melissa smirks at you. And as tempting as that sounds and as much as you would like to spend time with the older woman…
Acey having watched this scene unfold spoke up, "Mom, It would be so fun if you came! We can see all the animals and I can show you what Ms. Schemmenti hold me about EAGLES! PLEASEEEEEEE!" she all but screams. You want nothing more than to be there for her and her - not to mention Melissa as well,- but alsas you reply. “No baby, I can’t.”
‘Don’t go making a fool of yourself’ Melissa scoffs knowing that she can’t do that while simultaneously thinking, ‘why is she so guarded? what is she hiding?’
On your side of town, “Mom, I really wish you could visit. Acey is doing so well and she’s made so many friends,” you gush to your mom over how proud you are of your daughter.
“I know, sweetie. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to hug you both, but we have to remember you’d still be in Florida if we hadn’t slipped up and
visited last time,” Nina whispers on the other end of the phone. “Tom, is going to plan on figuring out a way to keep a visit under the radar, but until then we can video chat every night.” Thankful for your dad trying to make sure that even though your life has been completely and totally uprooted, and you don’t know how you would be able to do any of this without their help and support.
Days later you’re caught up in the emergency room, patient after patient. You check your wristwatch and see it’s 3:18 p.m., there is no way you’re going to be able to get your daughter. Frantically, you call the school hoping someone other than Principal Coleman will pick up.
“Hello! This is Abbot Elementary and you're on with Ashley,” the young woman giggled in the phone as you rolled your eyes forgetting how Ms. Schemmenti’s aide meddled into becoming Ava’s secretary.
“Ashley, I need you to listen to me very carefully. I’m stuck at work and I don’t have anyone who can pick up Acey for me. Once I finish up my last patient, I will rush right over. Please tell me if someone can keep an eye on her until I do.” inside you're hoping it won’t be Ashley. “Yes, I’m sure Miss Teague would do it. Okay, bye!!”
‘It’s going to be okay, it’s going to be okay’ you think to yourself as you finish up your patient. As soon as you're done, you clock out and rush over to the school.
Panicking you pull up to an almost empty parking, but you notice one car in particular. You make your way inside the school and make a bee line for your daughter’s classroom. There is a soft glowing light creeping through a certain second grade classroom door and you make your way over to peek inside.
The sight unfolding in front of you is the most precious you’ve probably ever seen. Your daughter is a strong willed little girl who owns a room with her presence, and she definitely is the center of attention with her sassy little attitude. You see her sitting on the carpet learning against her gorgeous teacher - you blush every time you look or think about Melissa- while listening to her teacher reciting a story of a lion, a witch, and a wardrobe.
“Once a king or a queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia…”
You clear your throat, “mmmm, hey baby girl! Did you have a good day today?”
Acey looks up with a bright smile and screams, “Momma! Ms. Schemmenti was reading me the COOLEST story!” Melissa stands up behind Acey and smirks at you with her signature look. A look that makes you want to melt into a puddle right in front of her.
“I know it’s a little advanced for her, but you have one smart girl on your hands Y/N,” Melissa grins at you both. Glowing, almost.
“I am so sorry, Ms. Schemmenti. I promise to try and make sure this never happens again. I’m not usually…” you ramble before she cuts you off. “Hon, it’s okay. And as I've told you before Y/N, please call me Melissa,” she winks at you, “I had a wonderful time here with Miss Acey and if you ever need any help don’t be afraid to ask.”
But you couldn’t let yourself let that happen, “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary Ms. Sch- Melissa.”
Acey is looking between you both, “but mom!”
You shake your head, “Acey go grab your things we need to go pick up dinner.”
Melissa, whom has been trying to break you out of your shell since first meeting you, asks abruptly, “Will you have dinner with me Saturday?” She shocks herself a bit with her question already knowing what the answer will be. Knowing she’s asked you many times before. She omits the fact she asked to stay late with Acey to have a moment more of your time.
“I can’t, I’m sorry,” you reply trying to hurry your daughter along to avoid furthering this conversation.
“Why not?” she counters.
“Melissa, I… I-I just can’t. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me.”
“It doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it to, Y/N. Just one dinner, please,” she uncharacteristically begs.
In the doorway ushering your daughter out into the hall, you take a deep breath before whispering, “That’s the problem, it will mean everything… I can’t.”
Melissa swears she sees your eyes glistening before you make your exit from her classroom. She really tried to let her feelings go for the ghost of a person you were, but she couldn’t. She needed to know more of you, she had the pull telling her she needed to know you. Needed to help you. She kicked her desk and ran out towards the parking lot.
