A/N: Yay, I'm back! Starting this story right now could be a mistake, because I've just started my Junior Certificate year at school, which means a lot of studying and a lot of stress, all leading up to really important exams at the end of the year... But oh well! I'm still going to try and post a chapter of this every Thursday.
This story gets off to a bit of a slow start, so apologies for the first few chapters. Also, for some reason, I have always stuggled with how to end chapters, so I apologise in advance for that too. I also just realised how short this chapter is... I wasn't sure about posting this story as a result, but my best friend offered me some encouragement, with the most cliché words "quality over quantity". So take it easy on me, please.
Now, enough chit-chat! On with the show!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Mentalist or any of it's characters, I'm just borrowing them for a while.
Warnings: Probably lots of OOC, some mild language later on.
Teresa sat in her grey SUV and rested her head against the steering wheel. Being back in Chicago had her a bit tense, but she quickly shook her head and focused. She was here for her brother Jimmy's wedding, and hoped the fact that she ahd been away for so long wouldn't effect things too much.
She opened the door and got out of the car, locking it after her. She looked around for a moment, allowing a small smile to appear on her lips. She hadn't been in her home town of Friarsville for nearly fifteen years, but it still hadn't changed a bit. She jumped the steps of her aunt's home, suddenly excited, and knocked on the door. She hadn't seen any of her brothers in over a year, and secretly loved a good family wedding. She had gotten the week off work for this, and was planning to spend it all in Chicago. The door opened and her brother Stan smiled down at her.
"Reese!" he exclaimed, enveloping her in a hug. She returned it and then he pulled away and showed her into the house. There, she was ambushed by three of Stan's kids, all launching themselves at her. She hugged and spun them around in turn, and they shrieked joyfully. She met with the rest of the family and then Jimmy introduced her to his future wife Carly. It was the first time they had met face to face, but Teresa liked Carly. She really loved her brother, and as long as he was happy, Teresa didn't mind who he married.
"Teresa, dear, you couldn't run to the shop for me, could you? I know you just arrived, but we're clean out of coffee, and I know how much you need your coffee, especially in the mornings." Teresa's aunt Ann asked her after she finally released her from her clutches.
"Of course," Teresa replied, grabbing her purse. "Do you need anything else?"
Ann shook her head, already busy making sandwiches for lunch.
Teresa quickly exited the chaotic house and walked to the shop at the end of the town. Friarsville was a small town, and nearly everything was within walking distance.
She went straight to the isle with the coffee, remembering from her childhood where everything was. Then, on second thought, she went to the back of the shop and picked up some headache tablets, knowing how busy this week was going to be (and how much alcohol would be drank).
Placing the two items on the counter, she grabbed a pack of gum from the stand beside the checkout and waited for whoever was working to serve her. It was a small shop, and there was usually only one person working at a time, maybe two.
"Teresa?"
She swung around at the familiar voice. She stared at the employee as he came around to the other side of the counter and started scanning her items.
$6.25, please." he said. She fumbled with her purse and gave him the money.
"Still drinking your coffee, I see." he joked as he handed her her change.
Teresa finally found her voice.
"Patrick?"
He smiled his most charming smile. "The one and only."
She gave him a look of utter contempt, before grabbing her coffee, gum and tablets and stalking out of the shop without a backwards glance.