Chapter One: For The First Time

It was a chilly, Monday afternoon in November. Jennifer Jareau, or more commonly known as JJ, was sitting at her desk in English class, counting down the minutes until lunch time would finally arrive. It wasn't just the turkey sandwich and Cheetos in her bag that made her desperate for lunch to roll around, nor was it the fact that she would be out of the classroom. No, JJ wanted lunch more than ever because it was during this time that Emily Prentiss, the mysterious new girl who started at East Allegheny High in the middle of September, would manage to sneak her way to the school's courtyard for reasons unknown. And today was the day that JJ would let her curiosity get the better of her and find out just what she was doing out there.

Ever since Emily came to the school, JJ had been so intrigued by her. East Allegheny was full of carbon copy, small town citizens and Emily was the exact opposite of everyone here. She always wore dark clothes, to match her dark hair. She never really spoke to anybody, she was always listening to music that nobody else had ever heard of, Emily Prentiss was not like most people in the small town.

JJ also found the dark-haired girl incredibly beautiful. She always found herself staring at her in the Psychology class that they shared. One day Emily noticed, normally JJ would have looked away but they just stared at each other for a minute. JJ swore she saw a ghost of a smile on Emily's face.

Just then, the bell rang signaling that it was finally time for lunch. JJ quickly gathered her things and made her way into the crowded hallway. Through the hundreds of students, JJ saw Emily walk out a side door to the courtyard. JJ quickly weaved through the crowd and took a deep breath before push the door open, allowing the cool, autumn air to hit her face. She quietly crept around the courtyard, looking for Emily.

"Damn it! Just light up, c'mon!" a clearly frustrated voice whispered.

JJ peaked around a corner of the brick wall school building, there was Emily, desperately trying to light a cigarette.

So this is what you do out here JJ thought to herself. She didn't know what to expect by coming out here but it wasn't this. Not many people in East Allegheny smoked, nobody wanted to ruin their image. Quietly, she reached into the side pocket of her backpack and took out her own lighter.

JJ didn't smoke, at least not anymore. Her sister used to smoke, before she died a few years back. After she died, JJ was never the same. She picked up her sister's habit of smoking, using her lighter to feel close to her. But, one day her parents caught her smoking in the bathroom and trying to blow the smoke out the window. It took her some time, but she quit. She kept the lighter wherever she went to feel close to her sister. JJ came out of hiding and walked out into the open.

"Need a light?" She said, causing Emily to jump and turn around. The cigarette was carefully dangling between her lips, her eyes wide as saucers.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." JJ admitted, looking at the concrete, obviously embarrassed.

Emily stepped closer to the blonde, "I'm just glad you're not a teacher." She said, her voice velvety smooth. She leaned towards the lighter, cigarette dangling out of her mouth. JJ watched as the flame danced around the end of the cigarette and glowed against Emily's pale skin.

"Thanks." Emily said, letting out a puff of smoke, "Is this when you'll tell me that these things will kill me if I don't quit now?" She chuckled as she sat on a concrete bench.

JJ allowed a small smile to spread across her face, "I'm not a teacher remember?" she said, taking a seat next to Emily, which shocked her a bit. Emily wasn't used to people wanting to be around her willingly, especially not blonde-haired, blue eyed captains of the soccer team.

"I mean, they will kill you but, who am I to tell you to live your life?" The blonde finished, reaching into her bag to pull out her lunch.

Emily chuckled before taking another drag from the cigarette, "I wish more people thought like you...Jennifer, right?"

JJ nodded her head as she took a bite of her sandwich, "You can call me JJ if you like." She said looking into Emily's deep brown eyes.

"Well, JJ, if we're doing proper introductions, I'm Emily." Emily said, smiling.

The two girls sat out there for the rest of lunch time, talking about whatever came into their heads. As they headed back inside, JJ decided that this was her chance.

"Give me your hand." JJ said to Emily, who was taken back but complied and stuck her hand out in front of the blonde. JJ reached in to her pocket and pulled out a pen. She scribbled her phone number on the girl's hand.

"In case you want to pick my brain some more." JJ said with a wink, as she walked to her next class. Emily was stunned, she stood in the hallway frozen watching JJ walk away. She looked down at her hand and allowed a smile to spread across her face. She immediately pulled out her phone and added the number, saving it under "Jennifer" rather than "JJ".

"A beautiful name, for a beautiful girl." Emily said quietly to herself as she walked to her next class. Both girls spend the rest of the school day thinking about the other, JJ had had crushes on girls like this before but nothing quite like this. Emily was shocked that someone had shown interest in her in general. She wasn't quite sure if JJ wanted what Emily wants, but even not she was glad to just have someone from this town not treat her like a freak of nature.

That night, JJ was sitting at her working on her algebra homework when her phone buzzed indicating that she had a text message. She picked up her phone and looked at the message, it read...

Still up for me picking your brain?

The blonde smiled and typed a reply,

Fire away, Prentiss. :)

The two girls spent all night texting each other back and forth, finding out so much about each other. JJ was impressed to find out that Emily could speak several languages fluently, since her mother was an Ambassador. She also found out that Emily never really stays anywhere for too long, this didn't scare Jennifer away however.

Emily had learned a lot about JJ too. JJ told her about how she's been playing soccer ever since she was in the first grade and how much she loved it. She also found out that Jennifer had a profound love for butterflies, she collected them when she was younger and could name the type of butterfly with just a quick look.

Jennifer: you probably think I'm a nerd now, I hope I didn't scare you away.

Emily: you didn't, I actually find that quite endearing. You're definitely not what I thought you would be, no offense.

Jennifer: none taken, I get it. This town is just one carbon copy after another, it's normal for one to make assumptions. Is me not fitting your assumptions a good or bad thing?

Emily: good, very good. Trust me.

Before they knew it, it was 1 in the morning. Even though the two could continue talking for hours, they knew they had to end the conversation, considering they had to be up for school in a mere five hours.

Jennifer: as much as I want to keep talking to you, we should try to get some sleep or we'll be taking naps in English class.

Emily: agreed. Sorry if I kept you up, Jennifer. I swear, I won't always blow up your phone like this.

Emily: unless, of course, you want me to.

Jennifer: I don't mind, trust me. Goodnight, sleep tight.

Emily: goodnight, Jennifer.

Reading her full name sent chills throughout the sleepy blonde. Nobody ever really called her by her full name other than her parents, it wasn't that she didn't like it it's just, sometimes it didn't feel right. But when Emily said it, it felt more than right.

"I think I could get used to this." JJ said, before falling asleep.

Not too far away, Emily was staring at her ceiling, unable to stop smiling. Because of her constant moving, she taught herself to not get attached to anyone knowing she'll just leave them sooner or later. But, Jennifer was different she wanted to get close to her even if it meant she could be leaving in a matter of months. Her mother had promised that this time, they would be here for awhile but she always said that, no matter where they were.

"I think I could get used to this." Emily said, before drifting off