My thoughts were like a teenager's closet; cluttered, overflowing and out of order, much like this elevator. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for...social interactions, but when you're wrapped up in a tin can with a bunch of freakish sardines, anything and everything becomes much more unacceptable.
One woman looked like she had a knife tucked into her pristine pencil skirt, ready to whip it out at any second and slit the one of the men's throats. Not that I could really blame her, the guy literally had not shut up since the rat trap shut us in. I mean who cares that polar bears have three eye lids? Not me... and I'm almost positive that the woman with the knife thinks the same. What's really going through my head is: I have never seen someone who looks this much like Shaggy, even act relatively intelligent. Though they do seem to have the whole pot-head vibe goin' on. Thanks to my 20 year old, Spongebob boxer wearing brother and his side kick I happen to be able to recite any, and every, tv episode of Scooby Doo ever played.
It was at that time, that the doors decided to let me out of my own personal hell... only to shove me into the one meant for the general public. The second I stepped into the bustling halls of the FBI, was the same time my confidence decided to crawl back into its little hole and fall asleep. It wasn't long before someone's attention was zoned in on me, I mean it's not everyday that an 18 year old walks into the FBI.
The woman was small in size, her blond hair falling around her shoulders, kind eyes staring into my blank ones. The tag on the left side of her chest reveled her as Jennifer Jareau.
"Is there anything I can help you find?" Her tone was soft, much like I was expecting. Just like my confidence, my voice decided to take a leave of absence as well. After several failed attempts, I managed to put out his name. The look on her face could be easily described as surprised, but she quickly jumped back from that. "Um.. He's very busy, can I take a message, maybe set up an appointment for a later date?" I shook my head vigorously.
"If I don't do this now, I don't think I ever will." Sincerity dripped from my words. She must have heard the truth in my voice, because her expression changed into one of understanding. I know for a fact that she wouldn't be able to guess my reason for being here but she could tell it was something important.
"Follow me." She nodded in the direction of a small flight of stairs that led up to a second level of offices. The pot-head from earlier sat at one of the many desks that were clustered around the large space, but instead of being focused on what I presumed to be his work his eyes were trained on the two of us, confusion taking over his features.
Jennifer gave a sharp knock before opening the door and popping her head inside. "Sorry to bother you, you've got a visitor." She told him respectfully, not opening the door to its full extent. I didn't hear what he said but it must have been something along the lines of 'let them in' because she pushed the door all the way open and gestured for me to make my way inside. After I was all the way inside, she shut the door behind her and left, most likely going back to what ever she had been doing before. Great, I thought to myself, tossed to the wolves... or in this case wolf.
His eyes followed me expectantly. Me, being the dumbass that I am, thought that just ripping the band-aid off was the best approach. "I'm your daughter." My voice came out in a fast breath but the look that took over his face told me that he heard every word that came from my mouth. His emotionless mask came crashing down, replacing it with shock.
"I don't have a daughter." Was his immediate reply.
"Yes you do, you just weren't told about me." My voice was weaker then I intended it to be, this would have been so much easier had I just handed him the paper and let him connect the dots on his own. I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity, pulling out the folded up paper from the back pocket of my jeans, setting it down on his desk directly in front of him.
His eyes never left me as he unfolded the paper, it was only when the paper was fully unfolded that he removed his questioning gaze from my almost shaking form. I could tell he was trying to keep his face neutral but not even God himself would have been able to keep the widening eyes and flustering look hidden behind any sort of mask.
"I don't have a daughter." He repeated, still looking at the paper, most likely trying to find something wrong inside the script.
"That's your name, isn't it?" I asked, making a slight hand gesture to the page. His eyes snapped back in my direction. I almost regretted coming here. I figured that this was going to be the way things went down, he would deny any relation, I would show him him the paper, then he would demand a paternity test.
"Does your mother know you're here?" His voice was controlled, unlike his face has been since I opened my mouth.
"I'm 18, It doesn't matter whether or not she knows anything concerning me." I found my voice taking on a snarky tone, much like any other teenager my age would use. He didn't seem to be affected by my tone.
"So I'll take that as a no."
"She's not in my life anymore and I really don't want to get into why. Listen, I'm not trying to cause you or your family any sort of trouble, all I want is a chance to get to know you and have some sort of relationship." His face softened slightly, but not much.
"Would you be willing to get a paternity test?" Called it. I nodded trying to keep the smile from taking over my face.
"Of course, just tell me when and where." I told him right as my phone started vibrating in my back pocket. "You probably need my number for that." I mumbled more to myself than to him. He pulled a pen and sticky note from somewhere on his desk and handed me the two items.
"I'll call you when I set up an appointment." He stuck his hand out for me to shake, after a second of hesitation I returned the gesture. It was then that I realized that my only way down was to be trapped in that elevator again.
*Edited*