When We First Met

Chapter 3

Carmen spotted Derek heading towards them and called out "good morning Derek" Derek smiled as he made his way over to where Carmen and Penelope were standing when he reached them he said "good morning Mrs. Wilson how are you today" Carmen smiled and said "Derek how many times have I told you not to call me Mrs. Wilson it makes me feel old and I am great thank you for asking, ohhhh Derek I would like you to meet my niece Penelope Garcia she has just moved here from California" Derek turned to Penelope and gave her his mega watt smile as he said "hey Penelope, I am Derek Morgan" Penelope's heart began to race as she saw him reach out and offer her his hand she reached out her hand and shook his.

The moment that their hands touched it was like an electric shock that travelled up their fingertips and right through their whole bodies Derek couldn't believe the feeling that was taking over his body as he shook her hand he noticed her skin was silky soft, just then the Principal called Penelope into her office Penelope let go of Derek's hand and said "it was nice to meet you Derek" before turning to head towards the Principal's office.

Once Penelope was out of ear shot Carmen looked at Derek and said "Derek can yo do me a favor and watch out for Penelope, maybe show her around and help her to make some friends" Derek smiled and said "can I ask why she moved from California" Carmen looked around to make sure that Penelope was still in the office before she said "Penelope had to move in with me as I am her only family after her mother and step-father were killed in a car accident a week ago" Derek gasped when he heard that he knew what it was like to lose 1 parent but to lose 2 that would be the hardest thing to have live with, the door to the Principal's office opened and Penelope exited and made her way over to her aunt and Derek as she got closer she heard Derek say "I would love to help Penelope to get settled in here."

Penelope smiled when she heard Derek say that he would help her to get settled in at school, she was hoping that it would help her adjust to her new surroundings, when she reached her aunt and Derek her aunt asked "are you all set sweetheart" Penelope nodded her head and said "yeah I just need help to navigate my way around here until I get used to where I have to go" Derek immediately said "I can help you find you way around Penelope" Penelope looked at her class schedule and said "I have English class first up in room 118" Derek could help but smile before he said "I have that class too, so I can take you there, what other classes have you got" Penelope looked at her schedule again and said "I have Science, Maths, History and Drama today" Derek looked at Penelope and said "you and I have almost the same schedule today except for one, so when you have drama I have sport, so I can show you to all your classes" Penelope smiled and said "thank you Derek that would be awesome" Carmen watched as the two interacted with each other and felt a slight relief that Penelope's first day at her new school was going better than first expected.

Soon enough the bell rang and Carmen said "goodbye" to Penelope and Derek she watched as they turned and headed towards the lockers so that Derek could show Penelope where hers was but also so that he could get his books before heading off to their English class, Carmen left the school and headed home a few minutes later Carmen drove in her driveway and just as she was putting the car in park she saw Fran exiting her house dressed for work, Fran saw Carmen and waved as she made her way to her car as Carmen got out of her car she said "good morning Fran, how are you today" Fran smiled and replied "I am good thank you Carmen, how are you" Carmen let out a small sigh and said "I am ok" Fran noticed that Carmen looked a little nervous and said "are you sure your ok Carmen" Carmen shook her head and said "no not really, I just had my 16 year old niece Penelope move in with me as I am the only family she has left."

Fran narrowed her eyebrows and said "oh my goodness what happened to her family" Carmen replied her parents were killed in a car accident last week but the Police seem to think that it wasn't just any car accident they think that it was deliberate, so I had to get my niece out of California before anything happened to her and I am just worried how she is going to handle being in a new city and starting a new school all in just a few days" Fran couldn't believe her ears as Carmen told her all this but to make her feel a little bit better she said "we have known each other a long time and I know that you will do everything to keep Penelope safe, also you don't have to do this alone because you have myself and my kids to help you out."

Carmen smiled and said "thank you Fran, I know that Derek is willing to help Penelope out at school as when I took Penelope in this morning we saw him and when I introduced the two of them and after they spoke to each other it was like everything around disappeared and just the two of them were only ones there" Fran laughed and said "yeah I know, yesterday afternoon I saw you arrive home with Penelope and then a little while later Derek came home and we were talking in the kitchen and he noticed Penelope staring down into the kitchen from her window and as soon as her saw her he was completely and utterly smitten with her" it was Carmen's turn to laugh this time before she said "I think we will have to watch those two like hawks."