The first day of classes is usually nerve-wracking for anyone, especially at a school for dance during your senior year, but the confidence of Regina Mills washed any of that anxiety away as she entered her first class of the day, sitting down near the front of the enormous practice room. She was the first one there. A few moments later, other students poured into the room, including a young Emma Swan.

The blonde sat down beside the brunette but said nothing, instead simply facing the front of the room where the teacher would stand. When the teacher did enter the room, the students went silent.

"Good morning, class," she said loudly, projecting all the way to the back of the large room. "Given that this is not your first class at this school, I expect you all to know how to behave in here. You're all seniors here, so you've been through this before. I also expect you to perform at your very best, given that you will all have your senior recitals at the end of this semester. Is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," they all said in unison, the sound echoing through the room.

"Good," the teacher said. "Then let's begin."

Most of the class went as expected. The routines were challenging, but there was little the students hadn't seen before. Given that they were all practiced dancers, they were also adept at learning new moves and techniques, and most of them picked up on them quickly.

Emma Swan, on the other hand, had to work harder than the rest. In fact, almost every move was a challenge. Though she was skilled and talented, her form was far from perfect, and it had irritated every teacher she'd had since her freshman year. She was determined, though, and by the end of each semester, she mastered the techniques just like the other students. It simply took her longer.

That day, towards the end of the class, her clumsiness reared its ugly head as she slipped on the hardwood flood, crashing into the beautiful Regina Mills who was practicing on the bar beside her.

"Shit, I am so sorry!" Emma cried, reaching out to help the girl up.

But Regina had no intentions of accepting help from the klutz who had just knocked her onto her ass, so she slapped the blonde's hand away and snapped, "Don't touch me. And back the fuck off next time."

"Problem, ladies?" the teacher said, walking over to them from the other side of the room.

"Yeah," Regina started. "This clumsy buffoon just knocked me to the floor. Can you tell her to stay in her own space, please?"

"Really, Miss Swan?" the teacher sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

What the teacher wanted to say, however, was, How are you still attending this school? but she said nothing else. Instead, she walked away and continued instructing the class and critiquing the rest of the students, who were far better off than Emma. Regina included. In fact, Regina was the star student of the entire school. Dance came to her with ease, and her every move was nearly perfect.

But Emma wasn't jealous. No. She just forced herself to focus on her own skills in order to better them and pass her classes, even if her grades were dismal. For the remaining few minutes of the class, she made sure to steer clear of the star dancer, even if it meant focusing more on her proximity to the girl than the actual routine she was practicing. At the very end of the class, though, she approached the girl once more.

"Hey, Regina. I'm really sorry. I seriously didn't mean to do that. I'm just-"

"Save it, Swan. I don't want to hear it."

With that, the brunette left out of the classroom with the rest of the students. With a sigh, Emma filed out of the room as well, then made her way to her next class, which – thankfully – she didn't have with Regina.

The next day, Emma's luck continued to plummet. As she approached the doorway to the classroom, she turned her head, thinking she'd heard someone call her name, and ended up crashing right into Regina.

"Oh, shit-" she started, but was quickly cut off by Regina scoffing and shoving her to the side.

"Get out of my way, klutz."

Instead of protesting, Emma did as she was told and sat close to the corner of the classroom as the teacher gave them instructions for the day's practice lesson.

Later that night, Emma found that fate had not yet finished with her. In fact, it seemed that it was really just beginning to make every move backfire. In the hallway, she managed to crash into yet another student. To her surprise and horror, it was none other than the male star dancer, who was – not-so-coincidentally – Regina's current boyfriend.

"Hey, Robin, I'm really sorry. I am such an idiot. I just kinda tripped and-"

"You tripped on air?"

"I… Yeah. I… I guess so. Sorry."

"Just get out of the way, punk," he grumbled, pushing past her.

Just as Emma turned to walk the other way, she saw Regina coming down the hallway.

"What the hell was that?" she snapped, as Emma stepped backwards until her back was pressed against a locker.

"I… I accidentally…"

"You're un-fucking-believable, Swan. Really."

"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to. I'm just-"

"Challenged?"

"Yeah."

"Ugh. Just leave my boyfriend alone, okay? And stay the hell away from me."

"Yeah. Got it."

Unfortunately for Regina, the next day brought a horrifying surprise she never could have expected.

"Now, class, we're going to partner up. You're to create your own choreography with your partner in preparation for your senior recitals. I expect full cooperation and teamwork. To make sure it's fair, I will be the one choosing your partners." Regina was the first student she walked up to, then said, "Miss Mills, I'm pairing you with Miss Swan, because you are clearly the best dancer here, and she clearly… uh… needs the help."

"Are you kidding me?" Regina blurted out, jerking her head around to look at Emma. "That's ridiculously unfair!"

"Partner decisions are final, Miss Mills, and if you can't respect that, then you're welcome to go to the headmaster's office and relay your complaint to deaf ears."

Scowling, Regina crossed her arms and looked away, saying nothing else.

"Good!" the teacher said cheerfully. "Now, we can get started. I'll pair the rest of you up and you can start coming up with a routine. I'll touch base with you all tomorrow. And I do expect each and every one of you to spend time outside of class practicing. This is a very serious matter, and you should all be at your best. Especially you, Miss Swan."

As soon as they paired up, Regina glared at her partner.

"If you fuck this up for me, even in the slightest, I will fucking end you. Do you understand me?"

Emma swallowed hard and nodded her head.

"Absolutely."

"Good. Now, since we both know you're useless, I'll come up with the ideas, and you'll simply follow them. That's all there is to it."

"But she said we were both supposed to-"

"I really don't care what she said. I want an A in this class, and I fully intent to nail my senior recital. If you think you're going to get in the way of that, you're sadly mistaken."

"No, no. I won't. I promise."

Please don't kill me, Emma was thinking, fear written all over her face. Regina was not one to be trifled with, and Emma was all too aware of the other students who had received her wrath, so she remained quiet the rest of the class period, listening carefully to each one of the girl's instructions and following them as best she could, even though she failed every move the first time she tried it.

"How did you even get in to this school?!" Regina finally snapped, exasperated.

"I… Dumb luck?"

"You're damn right. Now get out of my sight. I'll meet you in the auditorium after dinner to practice. Seven o'clock. Don't you dare be late. My time is valuable."

"Okay. Sure thing. You got it."

Rolling her eyes, Regina left the classroom in a huff, trying her best to compose herself and hide her frustration.