Chapter Two
Booth spent all of Tuesday morning in class, walking around from one building to the next. The previous day had been warm and sunny and he had expected more of the same. Instead, he was tugging down the sleeves of his shirt, wishing that he had thought to pull on a sweater that morning. He didn't see Temperance again until Wednesday morning, and for that he was more than a little excited. She's cute, he thought, grinning like a fool to himself. He was sitting alone in the library highlighting through his criminalistics textbook. The one good thing about going to college five years after everyone else was that he had the opportunity to grow up a little.
After his years in Iraq and then in Somalia, he had learned how to grow up the hard way. Booth no longer had the benefit of crashing on his parents' couch, drinking until dawn, or any of the frivolity of youth. Luckily, his time in the Army was paying the university fees and the books he needed. The rest he got from a part-time job as an auxiliary cop for Prince George's County.
He sat there reading about forensic procedure for law enforcement officers, surrounded by other students, some occupying the computers, others listening to Walkmans and taking notes. I should think about getting one of those, he considered. Though I have no idea where I'll find the music I'll actually like.
He flipped open his notebook and writing down some of the important points he had highlighted. He inwardly groaned at the amount of material he still had left to eat. Besides criminalistics, he had to do the reading for forensic medicine, social psychology, and law and society. If only Temperance could be in every class, I'd have a legitimate interest in going. Though, I don't know how much attention I'd actually pay.
He smiled wryly, enjoying the mental picture he had of her sparkling blue eyes. Her eyes were so clear and blue, and they reminded him of sea glass he had found as a kid. Leaning back against the chair, he gave himself another few minutes to daydream about the young woman who occupied his thoughts so much.
On Tuesday, Temperance was anxious and unable to pay attention to anything at all. During her morning class, she had fiddled with her hair, twirling a loose curl around and round her finger. She distractedly took some notes in her book, barely paying attention to the lecture. She was in her biomechanics of movement class, learning about the basics of kinesiology in relation to human physiology. Her professor had spent the first forty-five minutes talking about the syllabus and other miscellaneous details related to the day-to-day dealings of the class.
During those minutes, she had gazed off into the distance absently, lightly pursing her lips as her thoughts remained on Booth. He was more than physical attractive. She had immediately recognized the ideal breadth of his shoulders, slip hips and long legs when he had walked into the classroom. In a quiet moment during the forensic medicine class, she observed his face, noting how symmetrical his features, were. When they were talking in front of the South Campus Diner, she had noticed his warm, coffee-colored eyes which shone charmingly in the sunlight. His smile split his face open, wide and reassuring. He's very good looking, she thought appreciatively. Temperance tilted her head slightly, her thoughts wandering even further from the kinesiology class.
More than just his appearance, she had noticed the sincerity in his smiles. She wasn't the best judge of people or their intentions, but she felt immediately at ease with him. Not once in their hours-long interaction had she felt an instinctual response to avoid him. She never felt uncomfortable with him, even though they were several years apart in age. She smiled a little, remembering his warm smiles and gentle palm against her cheek.
Belatedly, Temperance realized that the people around her were getting up and preparing to leave the lecture hall. She quickly shoved her notebook and pen into her bag before swinging it onto her shoulder.
She made her way to her biochem class, where she again scarcely paid attention to the professor reviewing the material covered in the class.
I'm not missing much, I suppose, she reassured herself. They're only talking about syllabi, and other non-essential material that I don't need to worry about.
She didn't really understand or know why her thoughts were occupied so much by the man she had met the previous day. She had never had her thoughts so occupied by another person, let alone a man that much. This must be what it's like to have a teenage crush. I'm glad I'm finally experiencing what it feels like to be a teenager.
She was eagerly anticipating seeing him again. She would see him tomorrow morning, in the forensic medicine class. Unfortunately, she couldn't talk to him or interact with him very much in a class as small as that.
As soon as the class ended, she packed up her belonging and trekked back to her room. It was only 12:30. At 2:00, she had another class, but had no interest in sitting in the library taking notes on a subject to which she could barely pay attention. Temperance lay in her bed, feeling the cool sheets under her fingertips. Without bothering to change out of her clothes, she took a small nap, her mind filled with the pleasant thoughts of a man she had just met.
When she woke up, she dropped her head back to the pillow with a moan. Temperance had missed the first day of her lab for biochemistry, and she would have to hurry just to be on time for work. She pulled on a sweater and grabbed an umbrella from the hook. She picked up her bag and headed to the Diner behind her building. She rushed down the stairs and towards the building.
The Diner was the main dining hall for north campus and it served most of the residential students. She grabbed a tray off the stack and a fork and knife. She went to the salad bar and filled a bowl with vegetables. Finding the bottle of Italian dressing, she poured some into the bowl. Temperance headed over to the pizza and pasta line, picking up a piece of garlic bread. She grabbed an apple from the coolers and filled a glass with water before heading over to the checkout. As she waited in line with her tray, she hoped that her date with Booth tomorrow would go well.
Unknown to Booth, this would be her first serious relationship. Besides a few date requests to high school dances, she had never had boyfriends or real dates.
Glancing at her watch, she told herself that she would end her tutoring session early today to make time to finish her preparations for the discussion section she was teaching later tomorrow. I should also make time to set aside an outfit with what I can find.
That night, Booth came home from work and began unbuttoning his uniform shirt. In the entryway, he toed off his shoes and dropped his backpack right next to the coat closet. He tugged open the buttons, pulling the gray, slightly damp shirt off his frame. As he had walked from the station back to his car, Booth had been caught in a slight drizzle and the chilly mist had soon turned his crisp shirt and pants into sodden garments. He sighed. Sometime soon, he'd have to do laundry. He padded into his bedroom, picking up a pair of boxers and a stray undershirt before picking up the laundry hamper.
He carried the basket into the small closet housing the washer and dryer. He emptied the basket into the washer, and dumped the remnants of the laundry detergent bottle into the washer. Another thing I need to remember to buy, he noted. As the water began flowing into the washer, Booth noted that his favorite shirt was still draped over the back of a chair in his bedroom.
"It'd be nice to look good tomorrow," he murmured.
Quickly, he stepped into his bedroom and grabbed the shirt and tossed it into the washer. He closed the lid again, and listened to the rhythmic swirling of the water and clothes in the washer. In another thirty minutes, the clothes would be ready for the drier.
He walked into the kitchen, feeling the chilly linoleum under his feet even through his socks. He tugged open the fridge door, noting with a frown how little groceries there were inside. I can't keep getting takeout. I barely have time to hit the gym, not to mention easy cash in my wallet.
Booth grabbed a carton of milk, happy that it was still fresh, and swigged it straight out of the container. He pulled two slices of bread out of the bag and pulled out the fixings for a sandwich. He piled on some deli turkey and cheese before slathering mayo on one of the slices and pressing the two halves of the sandwich together. He took the knife and wiped it clean on a paper towel before slicing the sandwich in half. Glancing at the oven timer, he noted that it was nearing 9:30. Better put some coffee on if I want to finish my homework. He flicked on the coffee maker his grandfather had given him when he had moved in, letting the water still in the tank percolate into the carafe.
He took his sandwich and the carton of milk into the small living space where there was a small table where he could eat or do work. He placed the plate holding his sandwich down before going to pick up his backpack from the entrance. He pulled open the zipper and fished out the notebook and textbook for his forensic medicine course.
He sat down for the night, and he pulled off the cap of a blue pen before beginning his work for the night.
Temperance rifled through her closet, huffing in frustration at the lack of girly clothes in her closet. Years in foster care had reduced her wardrobe to bare necessities. I don't even have the time to go to the mall and find something nice to wear.
With great reluctance, Temperance opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. There were few girls on her floor of similar size and height. She was slim and long-limbed, unlike most of the petite girls on her floor. Of the forty-odd girls on the floor, she knew only one who was about the same size as her. Angela was a pretty brunette, studying art or something like that. She was trendy and fashionable with an eclectic sense of style.
She hesitantly tapped on the door, hoping that Angela would respond. Angela's roommate was strange, even in comparison to Temperance.
Angela whipped the door open, smiling widely. "Hey sweetie! You're Temperance right? It's so nice that you finally came to say 'hi!' I'm glad to meet you. I'm Angela Montenegro. What's up?"
Temperance began hesitantly, "It's very nice to meet you too. I have a favor to ask of you."
"Sure, honey, whatever I can do."
"I have a date tomorrow evening. And it's my first date."
"First date with this guy? That's so nice."
"No…" Temperance responded, "It's more like my first, first date. Ever."
"Ahhhh!" Angela squealed excitedly. "Oh my gosh, that is fantastic. I'm guessing you'd like a little help with getting ready, make up and all that."
"Yes," Temperance replied, perceptibly relieved that she had made her point across with so little difficulty. "I could really use your help."
"Yes, I'd love to help you. Growing up, I always wanted a sister, and you can be like my sister! I'm so glad you asked me for help!"
Temperance was relaxing in the gregarious, energetic presence of Angela, smiling sweetly at her unabashed enthusiasm.
Angela ushered her into the room, pulling open the closet door as she closed the hall door. She revealed a closet full of dresses and trendy tops all with bright colors, tribal prints, or elaborate detailing. "Honey, do you need a dress?"
"Yes, if it's not an inconvenience."
"Oh please. I sometimes end up buying things and then I realize I haven't worn it more than once or twice. Take your pick. There's tons of things in there. The only thing I don't have is pencil skirts. I'm not so big into the whole Stepford-wife style thing."
Temperance slightly envied Angela for being able to spend money without analyzing the costs, other responsibilities. Though the National Merit Scholarship and the school-awarded funding covered most of her living expenses, Temperance had to work as a teaching assistant and tutor in the evening to afford clothes and toiletries not sold in the campus shops. Without reacting to Angela's closet and revelation, Temperance replied in her usual confused tone, "I don't know what that means."
"There's this movie about 1950s America, which is all about the perfect wives and homemakers. They wear these horribly sucky dresses and skirts all the time."
"I see. I have seen pictures of women from that age, and I agree that their lifestyle wasn't the most liberating."
Angela gasped and pulled out a red dress. "Oh, sweetie, this will be perfect. Here, try it on."
Temperance nervously gestured. "Should I go to my room?"
Angela shrugged, "Bren, if you're comfortable go ahead. After all, there's nothing you have that I don't have. Well, in terms of women-parts anyways."
Temperance gave a small smile before shucking her shorts and tank top. She pulled on the red dress. She tugged down the fabric, and went to the mirror to view her reflection. The red tank dress was made of a stretchy, slightly shiny material. The back was half bare, made up of crisscrossing straps, which left half her back bare. While it was suitably alluring, she couldn't imagine wearing a sultry dress after those lovely, innocent moments she had shared with Booth.
"Angela, this is really nice, but I think it's a little too revealing for my taste. When I met him, it was like a fairy tale. This is too sultry for what he and I have shared."
"I get it. Maybe something in blue to match your eyes. Angela pushed aside another set of tops and dresses to fish out a light sun-dress. It was light aqua blue with thin white and navy stripes along the bottom edge. The dress was sleeveless and had a sweet bateau neckline. The dressed nipped in at the waist with a navy blue band, and an a-line skirt flowed out and reached her knees.
Temperance pulled it off the hanger and unzipped it on the side. She slipped it over her head and slid her arms in. Angela quickly reached over and zipped it up. The blue of the dress perfectly complimented her eyes and highlighted her tiny waist.
Angela gasped. "Oh wow! You look gorgeous honey! I barely even remember this dress. Why don't you keep it?"
Temperance demurred, "No, I couldn't possibly do that."
"Oh, please, Bren. You look better in this than I ever would. You have fantastic boobs and a teeny tiny waist. You make this dress look fabulous. I couldn't possibly do it justice. Keep it. Please. You'll be dong me a favor. Do you have shoes to match? Hang on…"
Temperance protested, feeling awkward as a girl, practically a stranger, was going out of her way to get her ready for her date.
Angela continued rambling about shoes and jewelry while digging through her closet. She finally pulled her head out after retrieving a pair of wedges. "I sure hope you're a size eight. "
"Angela!" Temperance's exclamation startled Angela out of her rambling, and she paused. "Angela," she continued, "I'm a size nine. I have a pair of white flats which should do match fine."
"All right. But me and you honey? We have to go shopping sometime soon."
Temperance smiled at the warm enthusiasm Angela radiated. Angela replied with her own grin.
"So tell me all about this boy of yours."
"Well, he's not really a boy."
"Honey, please tell me he's not a skeevy old guy or anything. I understand that you're an adult and we all like different sorts of people, but whoo, tell me he's close to your age."
Temperance laughed, "Angela, he's only twenty-three. Not someone old enough to be my father!"
The two girls laughed and spent the next hour discussing Temperance's upcoming date. At close to midnight, Brennan walked out of the room and down the hall back to her own room with a smile on her face. In a span of two days, she'd made two friends who were different from most other people she had known over the past few years.
The next day, the weather had remained a cool drizzle, lightly soaking Booth as he briskly walked from the parking lot to Woods Hall. He had forgotten to buy an umbrella when he moved into his apartment, and hadn't remembered to wear a jacket with a hood. He pulled his jacket tighter around his torso, zipping it up to keep more of the driving wind off his body.
Booth shoved a hand through his hair, mussing the strands he had carefully arranged thirty minutes earlier. His efforts t look good for Temperance this morning had not progressed well: his hair was melting and plastered to his head due to the rain, he had nicked his chin twice while shaving, and spilled half a bottle of aftershave on himself. By the time he left the door, he was nearly infuriated. An entire morning with little going right was no improvement to his mood.
Though he was frustrated, he schooled his features and took a deep breath before entering Woods Hall. As he briskly walked up the stairs, he ran into one of the other students in the forensic medicine class. With a slight head nod and a raised hand, Booth greeted the other young man. Without much conversation, they walked down the hallway to the classroom. When he walked into the room, he noted that the chairs had been pushed against the wall, forming a half circle with a desk with a lectern at one end.
He noted the empty seat next to Brennan and quickly claimed it, though it was uncomfortably close to the professor's desk. He pushed his backpack off his shoulders and shrugged off his jacket before draping it over the back of the chair. "Hey," he murmured, smiling slightly.
"Hello," she whispered back, gently smiling back to him. He noted how her eyes were shining brightly back at him, the clear blue morphing into a warmer shade.
This morning, she seemed a little different, but in definitely a good way. She seemed, prettier, if anything. Her Unbeknownst to him, she had gone to the convenience store close to her dorm, picking up blush, mascara and eyeliner. With a little help from Angela, she learned how to make up her face naturally. With a little brown eyeliner and some mascara, she had made her eyes brighter. The blush created a natural flush on her face, attractively bringing a glow to her naturally pale skin. Her hair had a slight curl at the ends, something which Angela had insisted on doing, even though it meant Angela had had to wake up much before her first class.
As she left her room, she had regarded her face with admiration for Angela's advice and handiwork.
Still five minutes before class starts. Other students had started filing in and Booth mentally filed away images of their faces for future purposes. He turned and whispered to Temperance, "Hey. I'm looking forward to tonight."
She flushed prettily, replying, "Me too." She met his eyes shyly, feeling his tiny, but warm smile create nervous tension in her abdomen.
When Dr. Warner walked in, Booth reluctantly tore his eyes away from Temperance, trying to pay attention to what the professor had begun to say.
Through the class, Booth took notes sporadically, adding little memos to the sides of the notes he had taken last night. As Warner scribbled down key terms on the chalkboard, Booth surreptitiously glanced at Temperance, and noted that she was giving him the same sidelong glance. Over the hour-long period that Dr. Warner was lecturing, Booth paid only the minimal amount of attention to remain active in the class. He noted other students raising their hands, participating in discussion. He found that he could barely pay attention to the issues other students raised. I don't think that this is a good start to the semester.
When Dr. Warner ended the class, a few minutes before the designated end of the class, he passed out a few sheets which Booth inferred to be the homework mentioned on the syllabus. He noted, dismayed, that the homework was stapled together, a thick packet of readings and associated questions.
As he walked out the door, in tandem with Temperance, he quickly grasped her hand and pulled her off to the side. As they stepped into an alcove watching the stream of students pass by, Booth finally spoke.
"Hey. I'll pick you up tonight. I can't meet you after Crim, but I'll see you at 6:30?"
She quickly squeezed his hand, "Yeah. I'll see you then. I have to rush though. My next class is a little far away."
As she walked away with a little smile, Booth watched her long legs, today in khaki shorts, walk away into the sunlight.
Temperance was speaking to a class of twenty or so students, most of them disinterestedly picking at papers, clicking pens, or distracting themselves through the two-hour long class. With great impatience, she concluded the class in advance of the regular schedule.
"We only have thirteen minutes left. Please read your lab manuals. When Dr. Wallace is lecturing, he would prefer that students have notes beforehand and then add notes during class, rather than focus mainly on their notebooks. Please take notes of chapter one and chapter two, sections one and two. That will be the material for next Monday's class. If you have any questions, please let me know."
Temperance patiently waited until the students shuffled out, some mumbling farewells as they passed out of the door. She impatiently pulled on her backpack, rushing out of the classroom, barely remembering to lock it before hurriedly making her way out of H.J. Patterson Hall. She crossed the street and made her way back to her room. With a quick look at her watch, she had another forty-five minutes until Booth came to pick her up. It would take another ten minutes to walk back to her room, and then would have a little time before meeting Booth outside her room.
She swiped into the residence building, impatiently tapping her foot against the tile floor as she waited for the elevator. When it arrived, some students shuffled out, likely making her way out to the Diner for dinner. She walked in with a few other students, requesting that the student closest to the controls push the button for the sixth floor. She quickly left the elevator, walking briskly to her room. 6:00 pm. She pulled out the hanger holding her dress.
Pulling off her tee-shirt, she deposited it quickly into her hamper. She unbuttoned and pulled off her khaki shorts and folded them before placing it back into her dresser. Temperance quickly snapped off her bra, switching from a utilitarian, cotton bra to a satiny, push-up. I wish I had more alluring lingerie. I should probably get some before…
Her mind trailed off, and she shook her head, clearing her thoughts. Pulling the blush-bronzer combination and mascara she had bought last night, she pulled out the puff and quickly dusted on some of the bronzer across of the apples of her cheeks. She highlighted the center of her forehead and her chin, dusting the loose, shimmery powder lightly over her dewy skin. Closing up the compact, she placed it back on her dresser and quickly unscrewed the top off the mascara tube. She took the wand and wiggled it over her eye lashes the way Angela had taught her last night.
Satisfied with her appearance, she put away the few cosmetics she owned and spritzed her skin with the perfume her social worker had given her after her graduation. She loved the citrusy and vanilla scent of the perfume, loved the way it made her feel more feminine and sensual.
She unzipped the blue dress Angela had given her last night, pulling it off the wood hanger. She slipped it over her head, feeling the smooth fabric of the lining over her bare skin. She zipped up the zipper under her arm and smoothed out the bodice and the skirt of the dress. She loved the way the dress accentuated her waist and made her feel more womanly. With the addition of the bra, she appeared to have an ideal, hourglass figure.
With a gasp of dismay, she noted that in ten more minutes, Booth was supposed to pick her up. Quickly, she pulled on a pair of white flats she had gotten from her last foster family, a kindly couple with no children of their own. She found a white cardigan in her closet and walked out to the hallway. After locking her door and checking that she had her room key, student ID, and her wallet in a small purse, she walked down the hallway towards the elevator. She pressed the call button and rode the elevator down to the main lobby. Temperance slid her arms into the sweater, allowing it to drape over her torso. She pulled on the strap of the purse over her shoulder and walked out into the damp, cool evening.
She saw a dark blue sedan pull up in front of her building, seeing Booth inside. As he clicked on his flashers, allowing other vehicles to move around him, he smiled through the vehicle glass of his window at her. She stepped over to the other side of the car, pulling the door open.
"Hey. You look… Wow. You look great, Temperance."
She blushed in the waning light, her hair catching the sunlight and taking on a reddish glow. "You too. You look very handsome tonight. Well, you look very handsome all the time, but I'm…"
"Thanks. You look beautiful all the time, too. I just meant you look amazing tonight. Not that you don't always look good. Here," Booth reached into the backseat, pulling out a single white daisy wrapped in green tissue paper.
"Thank you. This… Daisies are my favorite flower. Thank you." She smiled at him, touched at his gesture.
"Shall we go?" Booth placed his hand on the gear box, intending to pull forward. Temperance hesitantly placed her hand over his. He flicked his eyes up to her face, surprised that she had initiated contact. He regarded her smiling visage curiously. Her smile spread, showing her teeth in a happy grin.
"Yes."
A/N: I know Brennan seems out of character, day-dreaming about Booth, but I'd like to think that she's just as much of a girl as anyone else. After all, her high school years were plagued with social tensions and her family problems. College may have been her first opportunity to act as a normal girl would. I think she has the same desires as any other girl her age, but her experiences in the TV narrative have impacted her character. This is not a situation where the exact characteristics of Brennan in the TV series are transplanted into a different scenario. It's more like hitting a psychological rewind of both characters. Booth, similarly, doesn't carry the emotional burdens of Kosovo, separating from Rebecca during her pregnancy, etc.
