There are many ways to the same path. Somebody told her that years ago and though she brushed it off, now it seemed to scream at her. It also helped that though she was assigned to the 12th, as she had hoped it was this or vice. With scuttlebutt that there was another uniform who was getting railroaded and would most likely transfer out or retire, this is where she was. Better walking the halls of a elementary school checking out for students who were missing from their classes. Thankfully that was what her job for the most part, though she did have to deal with the occasional truancy. It helped that this was Whittaker Academy that she had been assigned to, a school for the progeny of the rich and famous. She had seen occasional resemblances here and there.
"Officer Beckett, I hope things are in order?" the Vice Principal addresses her. He's not a rude man, but he definitely thinks a tad too highly of himself.
"They are. I'm just going to check in my office, then I'll make my rounds."
He bids her a curt good bye. It's not quite a dismissal. Kate's seen that in her time, most notably a parent who though her daughter should have gotten an A rather than the B minus she had been given. Thankfully after a stern talking to, the situation had been diffused.
She made her way into the bathroom. It was an unremarkable thing really, but it was a part of her job. Her musings were as she heard sobs coming from behind a stall.
"Everything okay in there?"
"Go away." A small voice answers back. Kate shouldn't be surprised at how young it sounds, but it takes her a moment to collect herself.
"I'm sure if you talk about it, you'd feel better."
"Fine." The little girl huffs. The door creeps open and once the person behind the voice is revealed, Kate reflexively cringes.
"Hi."
Seeing the shocked look on the little girl snaps Kate out of whatever funk she was in. But in the here and now, this was what was important. "Why are you hiding when you're supposed to be in class?"
The student made a face. "Claire and Marisa are mean."
Kate kneeled down to the little girl. "What did they say?"
"They said I was ugly and that only bad girls have mommies who hate them."
Kate's stomach dropped. Getting called ugly was bad enough, but the comment about her mother? That was completely unnecessary.
"Honey, I know it's hard but sometimes you just need to ignore what some people say. And well, I know I'm old, but I'd like to be your friend."
The smaller girl stared at her with wide eyes. "You do?"
"Of course." Kate smiled. "But for now, you really do need to get back to class. I'm sure your teacher must be wondering where you ran off to. Speaking of which, what's your name?
"I'm Alexis Castle."
Shit. She was right. This was the school for the children of the rich and famous. She just spent the last ten minutes or so with te daughter of her favorite author. This could not end well.
"I'm Kate, but outside you need to call me Officer Beckett, okay?"
"They're right you know? Mommy just has time for her stupid movies. Daddy and I wanted to surprise her for Mother's Day, but she said she was too busy."
Famous Authr's kid or not, Kate felt for the girl. No matter what may happen in the future, she would make it her goal for the year to see her never feel this way again.