A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for coming back, please tell me anything you'd like to see in this story in your review. I want to make both myself and the readers happy. This chapter is for Sue1313 (though it ventured a little bit), I hope you, and everyone else, enjoys it!
Sorry if it has been too long (I believe this story will actually be one chapter a week, unlike AFS), I've been busy and incredibly tired.
Please read and review!
/
Chapter 4: The Teacher Is In
Spencer was anxious as he walked with Penelope and one of her roommates, Aisa, to their first period.
"Mrs. LaMontagne is really nice. I bet she'll love you!" Asia told the younger student, she was the TA for the class.
He gave her a smile, hoping she was right. "Thank you."
The abnormally tall, friendly, girl ducked into the doorway of the class, leaving them behind with a wave. Spencer halted his movements, suddenly even more nervous.
"Are..are you sure Mrs. LaMontagne is nice?" He asked innocently, wishing Derek, or even Rossi, was there to comfort him. "Teachers don't really like me often..I make them mad.."
Penelope smiled comfortingly at him, about to speak before being interrupted.
"I'd like to think I'm pretty nice." A woman voiced behind him, he turned to see a thin, kind looking, blonde woman. "But I suppose you'll have to be the judge of that."
What is with the staff randomly appearing at perfect parts of our conversations? Reid thought to himself as the woman spoke.
The teacher was young, wearing a dark navy blue pencil skirt with a white shirt and matching blue jacket.
Garcia grinned at the lady, "This is Spencer Reid." She looked towards her friend then, "Boy Wonder, this is Mrs. LaMontagne, but she lets us call her JJ."
"Nice to meet you, Spencer. I've heard a lot about you." She replied, "Why don't you two go on in, we'll have plenty of time to get to know one another."
He nodded briefly, smiling at his new teacher despite the urge to vomit from anxiety. "Thank you..it's nice to meet you as well."
Penelope gave him a look, one asking if he was ready to enter the classroom, he nodded.
Following behind her was meant to not draw attention to himself, but her 5'5 height compared to his 6'0 wasn't the greatest shield.
The students spared glances, though that seemed to be the extent of their interest in him. Hotchner was already seated in a desk littered with graffiti, a sight Reid wasn't expecting to see in such a 'dignified' school.
"Hey guys." He greeted tiredly, typing something on his phone. "Sorry I missed breakfast."
Spencer had wondered why the teen was already gone by the time he'd woken up at 5:45 AM, but Derek hadn't known the reason either.
"You didn't miss much." Garcia replied, sitting next to him and pointing to the seat in front of her for Reid. "Did you at least eat something?"
He nodded, sliding his phone in his jean pocket. "Yeah, a couple of protein bars..lunch can't come fast enough."
Spencer rifled through his bag, wishing he had something filling to give Aaron. "I..I have gum, it's no meal but it might curb your appetite for a while."
The bell rang as Aaron accepted the offering, "Thank you."
"Alright people, eyes up front." The petite voice sounded, clapping to gain attention. "We're starting on Edgar Allan Poe today."
Spencer smiled to himself, he liked Poe's work. Sure, he wouldn't learn anything new, but at least he would enjoy the class.
"How many of you have read any of his work?" She asked, "Perhaps The Raven?"
Spencer raised his hand automatically, 9 others (including Aaron and Penelope) joined him.
She smiled widely as she sat atop her desk, "That's great! Those of you who have read The Raven already, I'm sure a refresher wouldn't be a bad thing."
She began to read the first stanza from a paper, every pair of eyes in the room focusing on her, minus one. Spencer stared off, saying the words along with her semi-quietly, knowing it by heart (or rather, by memory).
He hadn't noticed that she'd stopped after the first stanza, nor did he realize that the eyes had shifted to him.
"Wow!" Mrs. LaMontagne said happily, "You really know your Poe, Spencer."
He blinked, words slowly coming to a halt as his cheeks turned a bright pink. "I'm sorry."
He few giggles sounded throughout the room, but JJ just smiled. "Don't be! Would you like to read the poem aloud?"
He started to shake his head, but felt a hand pat him on the shoulder. Aaron. The mature teen nodded to him, for whatever reason deciding that Spencer should speak up.
Reid looked back at the blonde, "Um..I guess so."
"Awesome, you can restart at the second stanza." She told him, holding the paper out to him.
Reid shook his head once more, "No thank you, I don't need it."
She looked moderately surprised, but didn't object. "Alrighty, go ahead."
He cleared his throat and began speaking, his voice only steady because he could recite it on autopilot. His classmates and teacher watched him with fascination, no one stopping him as he passed the second stanza.
Jennifer let him continue through the entire poem, too appreciative of his knowledge for the subject to interrupt.
"And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor...Shall be lifted- nevermore." Spencer finished, looking up sheepishly from his daze.
The teacher clapped proudly, "That was fantastic!" Spencer blushed again, his damned pale skin betraying him once more. "Now, can anyone tell me what this means? What does the Raven symbolize, what's the theme, anything?"
"Um, don't ravens represent death?" A kid on the left side of the room asked.
Spencer unintentionally cut off JJ's reply, his own teaching mode switching on. "Well, some people believe that they do, though their symbolism tends to actually lean towards wisdom and somewhat of a harbinger."
Everyone stared at him as he once again blurted out. "Crows are generally the symbol of death...in fact, a group of crowd is called a 'murder.' Another interesting fac-"
He stopped when someone coughed out 'nerd', making some of the class snicker.
He put his head down, feeling dejected, "I..I'm sorry...I didn't..I didn't me-"
"It's okay, just raise your hand next time, huh?" JJ replied nicely, throwing a stern look in the name caller's direction.
He nodded, resting his chin on his hand. Mrs. LaMontagne pulled another paper off of her desk, focusing on it for a moment. "Alright, next question..do you think the main character was mentally unstable, or just tired and in mourning?"
A few faces shifted towards him, wondering if he'd speak up again, but he didn't. Spencer kept quiet, not wanting to embarrass himself again.
Penelope and Aaron shared a concerned look for the teen, not liking, not one bit, how upset he seemed.
Garcia leaned in, whispering as to not draw attention. "You okay, Sweetie?"
Reid flinched at the nickname, it was one that his mother used to call him after her episodes. Are you okay, Sweetie? Mommy didn't mean to hurt you...
"Okay guys, you can pack up a little early today, don't talk too loud though." The teacher told them as another adult poked his head through the door and motioned for her.
Reid glanced at her as he put away the paper she'd handed out earlier. Garcia tapped him on the shoulder.
"You have second period with Aaron, Derek, David, and Emily...sadly, not me." She informed him with a pout. He nodded even though she'd already told him that.
The three sat in silence until the bell rang out, the elder teens getting more and more curious about their new, young, friend.
.
.
While Spencer was stopped by his math teacher, Aaron continued to his group of friends.
"Hey Hotch." Prentiss greeted, nodding upwards to the black haired teen.
"Howdy." He replied, slapping Rossi's hand.
"Did everything go okay first period?" Derek questioned, hoping no one picked on the brunette at the front of the room.
Hotchner pursed his lips, shrugging slightly. "He knew a lot about the subject and kind of started rambling..a few kids laughed at him and he wouldn't speak for the rest of class."
Emily sighed and David nodded slowly. Derek frowned, "Hopefully he's over it now."
Aaron shook his head, "I don't know, this kid is so innocent..he just shrugged it off as 'nothing new' when I tried to comfort him."
Morgan blew air through his nose. This kid is going to be the death of me.
Reid walked up then, another student had given up their seat for Aaron (after he'd given up his spot for Spencer) at the gentle request of his friends- much to Spencer's guilt.
Spencer smiled shyly at Derek, before it dropped entirely off of his face.
"Hi Pretty Boy."
"Hey, Der." He responded automatically, ignoring the curious looks from the rest of the group.
"Sup, kid." Rossi smiled.
Reid gave him a small wave, taking his bag off. "Hello, David."
Rossi chuckled, Everything he says sounds so formal.
Hotch spoke quietly to his elbow partner as Emily and David dropped off into their own conversation.
Morgan knocked his foot against Reid's slyly. "How did first period go?" He asked, feigning ignorance.
"It was normal." Spencer shrugged, "The teacher was nice." Mr. Foster began to pass back notes.
Derek looked skeptically at him, but didn't push. "Good, I'm sure the rest of the day will get even better.."
.
.
"I don't understand this crap." Derek complained as he stared at his untouched physics homework.
Spencer stared amusedly at him from his bed. The teen was laying on his stomach, the contents of his binder scattered across the carpet. "This is bullshit." The teen mumbled again.
Reid couldn't help but laugh that time, and Derek shot him a scowl. "It's not funny, I'm not smart like you are."
Spencer climbed off of his bed and sat next to him, "I'm sorry, let me help you...and I'm sure you're smarter than you give yourself credit for."
Derek rested his head on one hand and stared at the wavy brunette in appreciation. "Thank you."
Spencer smiled at the floor, "No problem."