Temperance was sitting on a bench outside near the front of the school. She had her books laid out next to her and was immersing herself in her latest history assignment. It fascinated her to no end, and she found herself consumed in it, just like every other time she cracked open her text books.
She wore a pair of jeans that went out of style years before and a battered t-shirt. Her auburn hair hung in two braids down her shoulders and she tapped her pencil against her chin as she read.
School had been out for an hour already but this was her favorite spot. It was far away from the foster home she lived in. Far away from her troubles. Well, most of them.
"Why are you still here?" A male voice called behind her. She tensed, but chose to ignore him.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" He said again, and moved to stand in front of her.
"I'm reading." She stated simply.
"Right…Like you always do. Don't you ever have fun?" He said, crossing his arms over his skin tight white tank top and resting against a tree.
"You might want to leave before your 'friends' see you talking to the nerd." She said, looking up at him. Her glasses hung low on her nose but she made no move to fix them.
His eyes narrowed and he looked at her for a few seconds. "I'm just as bored as you are, Brennan." He said, smirking.
"So you choose to pick on people who like to focus on their education? Oh, I forgot…That's what you bullies do."
"Hey, you don't give enough credit where credit's due!" He said smugly. "You're a little freshman. I'm a senior. We pick on freshmen's regardless of how smart they are. And besides…" He said, shifting his weight to one foot. "I have to be smart to play sports."
"Like what…Keeping a 'C' average?" She said pointedly. "You might as well not even try."
"Wow! You're sassy today, Brennan! I like it!"
"Don't call me that."
"Why? I call everyone by their last names. I could call you 'Nerd' or 'Freak'." He smirked.
She fell silent and pushed her glasses back up her nose. "Can't you just leave me alone?" She said with defeat.
He laughed and shook his head. "Later, Nerd."
He walked across the perfect lawn to his bike, and rode away.
She looked down at her paper and sighed. "Seeley Booth is such a jerk."