Well the kids have been here now for two weeks and they have nearly settled in, Morgan is a football scholar but he also has a macho appearance about him, a tough guy. Which has made him somewhat popular within a very short period of time. Although he doesn't seem to notice, either that or her just doesn't care, he teases Reid slightly but not in any way to upset him. It is as though he has taken the kid under his wing. I do think it amazes him that a 15 year old kid coaches basketball.
David or as he likes to be called Dave he is somewhat closed off but not enough to worry about him, he wants to get into the marine core and will maybe here for only a year, it is always nice to meet someone who is willing to fight for our country.
Aaron Hotchner or Hotch as he asked us to call him, is studying to become a lawyer and he has already started to apply himself to it.
Penelope is studying computers, which seems to be her passion, well other than her and Morgan flirting with each other it is very cute.
And then there is JJ, she is studying communications and is also a soccer scholar she is dedicated and focused on her sports, but there is a lingering feel around her, yes I find her attractive and I would love nothing more than to get to know her better, but she is closed off, guarded in a sense. I watch her run laps most days trying to figure why someone so young could seem to be in so much pain. When I first laid eyes on her aside from the attraction, she reminded me so much of AJ, which is a little comforting but also as though some days it is as though I am looking at a ghost of my best friend, which is haunting.
"You know instead of staring at the poor girl maybe you should talk to her?" Morgan said as he sat on the steps next to her.
"Really? I never thought of that" Emily replied sarcastically.
"Well it is rude to stare let alone you seem to be trying to undress her" he snickered causing Emily to give him a sly dig. "How can you talk to someone, who hasn't even spoken to anyone?"
Emily said rising her eyebrow at him. "New school lack of friends though everyone seems to want to know her. But it is as though she doesn't care, yep let her come to you" Morgan said as her patted her shoulder.
"You think the blonde bombshell might join us at lunch this time?" Garcia asked as she sat down.
"I think we can all hold our breath on that one" Morgan said softly "I have to go to practice ladies I will catch you later" and with that Morgan sprinted down the steps towards the locker rooms.
"Isn't he a hunk" Garcia gushed causing Emily to laugh.
"If you're into all that," she said with a wink.
JJ knew she was being watched she could feel her eyes burning into her skin as she ran around the field, but she was in too much pain no one could understand her and she was happy enough with that because training, her studies, and soccer where the only things she had left in life, her older sister had killed herself earlier in the year leaving her 2 year old daughter and JJ alone.
And this was why JJ was closed off she missed her big sister, she couldn't understand why she had done it, what had caused her so much pain? She had come into her bedroom a month prior and given her a necklace, the one she always admired and she would beg her parents for one just like it, but now wrapped around her neck as a reminder that her beloved sister who was once in her life, that she once cared enough about her to live. Was her necklace.
Each day she missed her, the wound not fully healed. Still raw and it was bleeding like a knife that had cut through her skin. AJ had died in January two weeks after Christmas, they buried her a few weeks later and JJ's heart was broken.
She would spend most her time alone just contemplating things in her life praying that the gaping hole in her heart would heal but it was too soon it was still fresh, she had been the one to find her walking into her bedroom finding her hanging from the rack in the closet, her screams could be heard at the end of the street. It had taken five officers to bring her out of the room and a sedative just to calm her down she was in complete shock and that one memory haunted her.
Her parents had become ghosts not long after that, not paying her a moment of attention and JJ could understand that, because no parent wants to bury their child, no parent wants to think that they couldn't heal, their own flesh and blood, a child in so much pain that they could only think of one way to escape the blackness that they had been born into, and that was what it was for AJ blackness the abyss of the unknown, the feeling of not being wanted or needed here, she had explained it once to JJ, but she was too young to understand.
There were a few years that she could hold on to, where her sister was happy as though some hope had been restored in her spirit, as though someone was fixing her soul. However, even the letters that arrived twice a month could not stop her.
"Emily?" Reid said softly from behind her, she turned round and smiled softly at him
"What's up Reid?" she could always tell when there was something playing on his mind and normally it was about his mother.
"They want us to bring the study group forward"
Emily nodded "When do they want it?"
He sighed "Tonight, they have a test on Friday" he gave a soft smile.
"Oh that's just great" she sighed.
"I could always hold it alone" Tuesday was one day Emily always spent away from campus and away from Reid, she would never tell anyone where she went or what she was doing because Emily would never did allow anyone that close to her.
"I will sort it out Reid and I will be there okay" he nodded.
"Emily, class is starting soon"
Emily chuckled "Then I guess I best get moving then" she smirked.
"You know I think she feels she is better than us" one kid said.
"No she is just a freak of nature" the other laughed
"All looks and no brain, do you think she could be a retard?" another kid said.
They were talking loud enough for the small group that sat a few tables away to hear every nasty word they were saying. Morgan could see the tension that was coming off Emily as her eyes bore into the kids back.
"Emily" he said softly pulling her from giving death glares at them.
"Yes?" she cast a quick glance before listening to the kids on the other table.
"She doesn't even change in the changing rooms I haven't seen her take a shower yet she is dirty unclean" one of the kids said with a shudder.
"She just thinks she is better than us, I mean come on, she is gifted at soccer, but I agree with the freak part."
"You know if your eyes were deadly those kids wouldn't stand a chance" he said with a smirk.
"I hate it when kids pick on others Morgan and I think there is nothing more disgusting then when they all get together to called them and"
Reid placed his hand on hers as he spoke "Didn't you tell me when I first started that it was normal for kids to pick on them who are different?"
Emily couldn't help but smile at him "That I did Reid but it still makes me sick because I know what it can turn into" she gave him a sad smile to which he nodded.
"What do you mean by that Emily?" Aaron asked as he watched her, she glanced at Reid who in turn nodded.
"When Reid first started here no one could quite understand him, and I will say I don't sometimes" she said with a soft laugh "They would call him and tease him and even go as far as to beat him" she sighed.
"They tied me to the football post naked" he whispered causing them all to gasp
"Yeah and left you there all-day" she growled.
"Emily found me and I don't think I saw you for a while after that,"
She nodded "I saw you though, and thank god I did, two weeks after they did that to him one of the older kids went to kick the crap out of him all because he refused to help them cheat on a test"
Reid smiled "That was the day that a great friendship started"
Emily laughed "Only because people think they may catch something off me" Emily smiled "I'll catch you guys later" she said with a smile cleaning away her food tray.
JJ had yet again had been missing at lunchtime; she had found a peaceful spot under a big oak tree, where she spent most of her free time reading under it, and just watching the other kids, getting lost in her own thoughts and memories. Emily stood on the path for a moment just watching her before walking over to her.
"We missed you at lunch today" she said softly. JJ could only nod, she knew if she spoke, she may break down slightly and that was the last thing she wanted.
"May I sit?" Emily asked to which she got a slight nod. "You know you can talk to me if you need to don't you?" JJ again, nodded "JJ look at me please" Emily's voice almost begged her to look at her.
JJ lifted her head and for the first time since starting at this school she looked at Emily, soft chocolate eyes seemed to swirl and glint at her. Emily looked into sad dull blue eyes as she tried to work out what could have made such a beautiful girl seem or be in so much pain. Their eyes seemed to lock with one another before JJ swallowed averting her eyes
"I need to get to class" the soft voice said causing Emily to sigh
"We have study group tonight, it would be nice if you could join us"
JJ nodded "I'll think about it" she said before hurrying away towards the entrance of the school.
Emily's apartment was slightly off campus, but due to the size of it, it was the most practical place to have a study group without being asked to keep the noise down or only having a short amount of time.
"Should we wait for her?" Garcia asked.
"No I doubt she is coming" Emily said sadly.
Garcia was in the same dorm room as JJ, but she too could not get close enough to the small blonde they spoke but it was just the pleasantries that had been ingrained in them since childhood. Garcia had found her a few nights curled in her bed and soft sobs coming from her, but she daren't ask her because she seemed so private. She was nearly as private and closed off as Emily.
Though Emily always seemed kind and open, they know she held part of herself back from everyone, the group would all admit though when Emily's eyes fell on to JJ they softened even more as though she was looking at her with so much love and compassion that you only saw your mother or father give you when you were hurting. There was also a deep pain and sadness in Emily's eyes but Reid had told them all she had lost a close friend and was still dealing with the shock of it.
JJ sat in the shower allowing the hot water to wash away the day removing all the sweat and dirty that had gathered on her skin away she sighed as she looked down at the down red lines on her skin, and the water washing the blood away.
And in that moment the pain and darkness lifted and she could feel happy even if it was only for one moment, before the pain set in, causing the sting to travel her body, she closed her eyes slightly, as the pain washed over her grounding her to be able to carry on another day. Another day without her big sister in a strange state, in a new school, she just need a moment to remind herself that she could cope and that she was and is in control of her life, even if it only lasted for a moment.
