Sorry, late update for 1 exams (that I completely screwed up to remain polite…back to college in September I guess…) 2 other fics (drafts and cie) 3…lack of inspiration. Not much to say, so just I'll just let you read this xD
Any warning? Yes. Grace's swearing and Jane's real age xD
Thanks to Jbon;Simonisthecuttestmentalist; Helvetica Bold; leelou09; MK; chocolateymenta; Famous4it for their reviews! xD
Guardian Angel
3.
One of the things Grace Van Pelt dreaded the most was social intercourse.
It wasn't in her character to create links or befriend people. Her only skills in communication, mainly in the domain of resolving whatsoever problems or disagreements, mostly ended up with using fists and eventually sending her opponent to the hospital. She wasn't stupid, just desperately lacking of practice in expressing herself in front of rational and practical adults. Thanks to that particular characteristic, she knew almost every cop in New York by their name; so when Patrick Jane asked her to infiltrate a class of young people around her age, she wrote down a new code of behaviour, determined to follow it. Nice, polite, shy…to summary the idea, goody-two-shoes. The complete opposite of what she had ever been. However the opportunity of taking a new start was too tempting, so when she reluctantly woke up at five am that Tuesday morning, in a brand new bed in Jane and hers temporary residence, she swore to herself she wouldn't screw up her protector's plans.
She ignored her dark, leather clothes –very useful when driving a bike- and forced herself to wear a plain scarlet top and blue jeans. Her heavy jewellery disappeared; only keeping a simple golden chain around her neck with the small angel Jane had offered her for her thirteenth birthday. Instead of heavy make up, she decided to go on a small touch of mascara on the eyes. As she observed the result in a large mirror, she grimaced. The reflection showed an everyday plain student, easily forgotten in the crowd. Grace winced at the idea. For the last three years, she got used to be noticed everywhere she went. Dark and gothic-like clothes, swearing like a sailor and freeing a threatening aura around her, so that people would leave her alone and fear her. It made her look older, wiser, and most of all protected. Dressed like this she felt she was just another stupid vulnerable and easily frightened chick. The very kind of chick she loved to freak out.
Not once though, the idea of refusing crossed her mind. In fact, his arrival was a blessing. Lately, she was having more and more troubles with authorities, pushing her boundaries by participating in underground tournaments of fists fights or illegal bike racing in the deserted streets of New York. No one would miss her there anyway; her step-parents never looked for her when she ran away, and the only friends she got…well they weren't friends, just tools she hanged out with out of boredom. She was what the blond man called a 'hit then talk' person, someone decent people would never speak to.
Pushing the thoughts away, she stumbled down the stairs and followed the nice scent of recently cooked pancakes. When she entered the kitchen, Jane was already there, dressed in his typical three piece suit, drinking some tea with a newspaper in his hands.
"Morning Glary" he cheerfully greeted her.
"'Morning" she replied, glancing around. They had settled just a day before, so she still wasn't used to the new environment. The faint yellow and green painted walls gave a cheerful touch to the room and she could easily predict the weather was promising to be nice outside. She turned back her attention to the man and noticed he was staring at her in great puzzlement.
"May I say you look…uh…different?" at her glare, he added: "let me reformulate; you look strangely like any pals your age."
"Will that Lisbon gal trust someone who doesn't look 'normal'?" the redhead growled. She sat down and started eating a pancake before noticing the blond man was still staring at her.
"What?" she asked, mouth full –so it rather sounded like a 'whah'. Jane shook his head, the slight smirk on his lips. The one telling she had forgotten a social rule again. Frowning at the thought, she replayed the morning scenery in her head, wondering where she got it wrong.
"Uh…you don't really sleep, so I basically can't ask you if you slept well."
"Good try, but no."
The redhead thought harder before looking at her food. Oh, yeah, she got it.
"They're fucking good, thanks for the pancakes Blondie."
"You are very welcome my dear. Don't forget to finish your food before speaking, take out the swearing and it will be perfect."
She hit him playfully on the arm and he chuckled before folding his journal and standing up.
"Once you're done, let's go meet your new headmaster and my new boss" he said, grinning. Grace frowned in annoyance, understanding why the man wanted her to wake up so early. "Oh don't do that face to me" he chided. "You are giving me a huge service by assisting me, and I am giving you a new life."
"Yeah, we're even" she shot back, smirking.
"But, I am still the adult here" Jane beamed as she frowned. "You're just eighteen and I am seventy-eight, so respect your elders will you?"
Grace shook her head in disbelief, yet couldn't restrain the smile on her lips. Yes, Jane was arrogant and too self-confident for his own good. But God how much she missed him!
"Okay old fag, let's go" she replied once she was done with the pancakes.
They both headed to the front door. She picked up the sober trendy new bag full of new notebooks and pens and every crap any normal student used nowadays, put her coat and walked up the front door. Before her hand touched the handle, she paused, dreading the answer of her next question.
"You're not still driving that old blue Citroen, are you?"
At his stupid grin, she knew she had to find a vehicle. No way she was going to show up in a car dating from the mid-twentieth century every morning.
-GA-
Teresa's clock rang at 7 am. The teenager opened an eye half-heartily and pushed herself up. Thanks to her drunken father, she had kept an attentive ear to the noises around while finishing her essay and turned the lights off at 4 am. With barely three hours of sleep in her system, she stepped out of her bed and toddled towards the door. The light of the day was promising a nice weather, and she had to blink a few times to let her eyes accommodate. Her younger brothers were sharing a room adjacent to hers. When she pushed their bedroom's door open, they all groaned at the sudden light. Chris, the youngest, yarned widely before hiding his head under the pillow. His second older brother, Ray, glared at her with sleepy eyes. The third one…Well apparently Tommy had sneaked out again.
"Time to get up boys!" she talked loudly. "I'll start breakfast and we'll be on our merry way!"
She received growled and left when they started to get up reluctantly. She dressed up quickly in the bathroom and ran to the kitchen to set the breakfast. When her two brothers arrived, they hurried eating their usual cereals and in no time, were ready to leave. Luckily, the two younger were less dissipated than Tommy, and she hoped the latter would soon come back to them. He was engaged in her boyfriend's shady business, and John was using it against her. Brushing away the depressing thought, she concentrated on accompanying her brothers and the day to come.
The primary school and junior high weren't far away from her own school, so she walked them to their respective place before hurrying to her building. Despite her short stature, she prided herself in being fast and even though she departed late, she always managed to arrive before the ringing bell. Her classmates were already in the room when she arrived. As soon as she stepped across the doorframe, they became silent and eyed her warily, observing her. When she sat at a table close to the window, the few students around made sure they left a desk in between her and them. No-one would bother come and talk to her. Dear boyfriend made sure she didn't have any friends. The teachers didn't say a thing either. John was alas, quite controlling throughout the school. A word against her, and the poor fellow was crushed for some time. And despite everything she tried, she couldn't stop or influence his decisions. Sometimes, to upset her, he ordered the beating to be worst. So she shut up and let go.
"Good morning class" the math teacher entered and set his things on the desk. Teresa took out a notebook and pen, getting ready to write down the course. Their current teacher, Mr Cho, was a strict and severe man. Even if he was pushing them harder than any teacher and wasn't very talkative outside his lessons, Teresa liked him. He was blunt, a hundred per cent honest with them and –more important for her- didn't fear them. For some reason, John wasn't keen on punishing him. she knew he had tried once, but they had ended beaten up.
"Good morning mister Cho" the class replied morosely.
"We have a new student today" he announced dryly. "Be nice with her."
He looked at the door directly and ordered to the newcomer to step in.
The girl was rather tall and good-looking, nicely dressed –perhaps a bit too goody-two-shoes but it fitted her. Her red hair was loose on her shoulder and she held nervously a bag in between twisting hands. No doubt, she was extremely anxious.
"Uh…hi everyone" she babbled. "My name is Grace Van Pelt."
Nobody really listened and the redhead seemed to blush even more. Teresa eyed her from top to bottom. If the girl didn't act tough, she was going to be eaten by the strong heads of the school in no time.
"Welcome Miss Van Pelt" Mr Cho said on the same tone. "Take a seat and we'll start class."
The new girl threw a look around before making up her mind. Either she was stupid and oblivious about the warnings in her new classmate's gazes, or she was daring and ignoring them, because she left the black board and put her bag on the desk next to hers. Teresa blinked at her, stunned. The girl turned to her and had a very, very awkward smile. Something like a hideous half-smirk half-grimace, as if she wasn't smiling naturally.
"Hi, I'm Grace" she said. Teresa blinked again, still caught off guard, before realizing she should answer something:
"I'm Teresa Lisbon. So, you're new?"
Very smooth smartass, she slapped herself. A thin line of puzzlement grew on the girl's forehead.
"I believe I am. I would know a few people around if I wasn't."
Stupid question, stupid answer. She just hoped the new girl wasn't going to think she was retarded. The teacher started his class and both didn't speak further. As soon as the bell rang though, Teresa jumped out of her chair and ran out the door. She felt Van Pelt wanted to talk to her, perhaps as being the new girl and everything, but she couldn't let anyone get too close. There were others in the class that would be glad to help her out and fill her with the situation.
Teresa didn't realize she was pacing through the corridors. Thoughts of the next course, what was she cooking for lunch, if Bill needed her for extra-hand at the store for the night, the essay she was due to give back in a few hours…The inevitable happened when, at a junction of corridors, she ran into someone. The unexpected contact startled her and she reflexively grabbed the other's shirt to keep balance. Sadly, the movement made them both fall on ground in a choral of protesting groans. She lifted her head. The unfortunate was a man in his mid twenties, blond curly hair and wearing a three piece suit. Very good looking she thought, but who wore a suit anymore? When he stared at her startled, she blushed, very embarrassed.
"I'm so sorry" she babbled. "I wasn't looking…"
"I gather that one" the man replied cheerfully. He stood up and held out his hand. Only then she realized she was still lying on the side on the ground.
"Oh, uh thanks" she accepted his hand and let him lift her upward. Man, the guy has some strength she thought when he hoisted her almost like a feather.
"No harm done?" he asked in a deep, damn seductive low voice. Teresa slightly blushed and shook her head. His blue eyes were deep and bright, and she was so into contemplating them she almost didn't hear his next question:
"You mind showing me the classroom numbered 305 please?"
To that, she replied absent-mindedly, distracted by the intensity of the pool of blue:
"Uh…who are you?"
The question brought a huge amused grin on his face:
"My name's Patrick Jane. I'm the new literature teacher."
Not too much to say, just thanks for reading so far xD!
Do you have any ideas about what I should put in this fic? Got a few, but for later on…thanks in advance!
