Spencer let out a small squeak as he hit the floor. Chris stood over him.
"Don't you ever correct me again," he said," you think you're better than everyone because you have a photographic memory?"
"Eidetic," Spencer corrected.
"What'd you just say?!"
Spencer got a little bit brave, and he did something really stupid.
"Eidetic," he repeated," can you spell it?"
Chris punched Spencer in the face before he was slammed against the locker. Penelope pulled Spencer aside to take care of him.
"Are you okay?"
"I think so," Spencer said.
"Back off," Derek said," he's just a kid, and you're way bigger than he is!"
"Whatever," Chris said," I guess I'll just have to wait until you aren't around to babysit him."
Chris stormed off, leaving Derek to worry about Spencer.
"What did you say to him?"
"I asked him if he could spell eidetic," Spencer said quietly.
Derek smiled and gave him an affectionate noogie.
"After school, Penelope and I will take you home," he offered.
"Okay," Spencer sighed," we'd better get to class."
The AP psychology class was taught by David Rossi, a former FBI agent. The class was small, with only six students, but the plus side to this was that over the past year, they had all gotten to know each other, and care for each other.
"Spence," JJ said," what happened to you?"
Spencer moved the ice pack from his face so that she could see it. Emily cursed under her breath.
"I'm proud of him," Derek said," he's finally standing up to that son of a bitch."
"Maybe so," Aaron said," but this can't continue. We need to tell someone. can help us."
"It's fine," Spencer said," it's nothing I haven't gotten used to."
"No," JJ said," he doesn't get to get away with this. This isn't something that you should be used to."
walked in, with a man none of the students had ever seen before.
"Everyone," he said," this is agent Gideon. We worked together at the BAU. I thought I'd have him give a talk."
The kids were ready to hear whatever he had to say, but they were almost instantly interrupted. A boy in a dark hoodie and a pale face ran into the room. He had a gun. Spencer looked to the adults in the room for guidance. He noticed that they both instinctively reached for their belts, but neither of them had weapons. Gideon put his hands up.
"Alright, alright," he said," let's calm down. Their's no need to harm anyone. We can talk this out."
"No," the boy said," all of you get against the wall, now!"
The group ran into a corner. Spencer was in the very back. Since he was the youngest, all the older kids felt the need to protect him. They all formed a barrier between him and the gunman. Penelope offered her hand to him, and he held it tightly. Derek held her other hand but kept his eyes on the boy with the gun. Aaron and Emily did the best at appearing to be calm. JJ was making eye contact with him, but unlike Derek, who was trying to intimidate him, she was trying to calm him down. She knew this boy. If she had to, maybe she could talk him down. Jason and Rossi stood in front of the kids. Jason was watching the boy, while Rossi was taking care of his students.
"We're going to be okay," he said, quietly," We're going to keep you all safe, and get you out of here."
The kids all nodded, and their teacher turned around.
"I said against the wall," the boy said," that means single file, backs against the wall, hands where I can see them!"
The group scrambled to get against the wall. Reid was in between Aaron and Penelope. Penelope kept a hand on his shoulder. Rossi was on one end next to Derek, and Gideon was on the other, next to JJ.
"Let the kids go," Jason said," and I'll stay with you."
"Stop trying to negotiate!"
The boy moved his wrist, aimed the gun at Spencer, and pulled the trigger.