Author's note: thank you everyone for all the reviews, they are always appreciated.

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Chapter eight

"So you didn't tell me, Maura. Which one was your boyfriend? Or which ones, should I say."

Hands in the pockets of her jeans, Jane smiled at her friend as they walked up towards a small building for a fencing practice. One more time, the scientist hadn't said much after the evening at the pub but as the hours were passing by, a dark veil spread on her face and got Jane worried. They needed to talk but how to bring up a subject the Italian ignored everything about in the end?

The blonde's cheeks turned into a bright pink. Timidly, she looked down at her feet and shrugged at the question as she bit her lower lip.

"Charles..."

Jane stopped and widened her eyes in surprise at Maura who barely repressed a laugh. The brunette – taken aback – let a few seconds fly away before daring to speak.

"Leonore's husband? Small wonder why she doesn't seem to be fond of you."

Maura resumed her walk but rolled her eyes and shook her head as they turned on a second path on the left. The brick building was at the end of it, hidden by large trees. Further from The Field and the main school area, the place almost looked abandoned.

"We were twelve years old. If it lasted two weeks and if we kissed five times all in all..."

Perhaps it wasn't as much of a revelation as whatever bothered her friend but Jane nonetheless enjoyed the lightness of their conversation. Maura looked fine – happy – and serene. Not uncomfortable as she had been until then.

"Preteen crushes don't count! I was talking about... Serious boyfriends. You know, the real deal."

Maura frowned and plunged her hands in the pockets of her linen pants in a subconscious attempt to hide her nervousness. Her tongue slid on her lips, she swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"There was no other boyfriend, here."

Jane was about to laugh away the statement when she remembered that Maura's school years had never been easy. The medical examiner had told her on multiple occasions that she had had no friend by then and had spent most of her time on her own with her books. It hadn't only been a matter of popularity, it was just how Maura was. Her social inabilities still took people aback, after all. The situation must have been worse by then.

Discomfort began to float loudly above their heads and with a quiet relief both women passed the door of the small sport building, leaving the conversation behind. After a brief introduction to the outfit and how to put it on properly, Maura let Jane change in the locker room and went to wait in the main room. The delicate sound of a sword cutting with precision the air welcomed her. She hadn't heard it for such a long time that for a few seconds, she lost herself in an ambiguous reminiscence where nostalgia kept on fighting against sorrow.

"Twenty years in America and you forget to put on your breeches and jacket?"

Taking off her mask and placing her épée under her arm, Violet smiled at Maura; her hair falling in an hypnotizing cascade on her shoulders. The scientist shook her head, crossed her arms against her chest.

"I don't practice fencing anymore."

Violet's smile faded away in a semblance of regret. As a loud sigh passed her lips, the artist looked up at the ceiling and nodded. She replaced her épée by a foil then locked her eyes with Maura's hazel ones.

"You know she would have liked you to continue..."

The locker room got slammed. Both women turned around only to see Jane walk in, a fencing white outfit on; mask in her hand.

"Do I really need to wear all this? It takes forever to get dressed, I'll never have the patience for this sport!"

The medical examiner stepped into the fencing area and walked towards the different swords. Without the slightest hesitation, she picked one of them and handed it to Jane.

"Put your mask on first. Fencing requires you to be careful. Even if your jacket is made of Kevlar, you still can get injured. Then I will give you this foil. It is a light sword but you will only aim at the chest."

The detective grabbed the weapon. Immediately, Maura positioned herself behind her friend; her hands standing firmly on Jane's hips. Quietly enough – amused – Violet witnessed the scene for a while then put back her mask on before returning to her own practice.

"It is a matter of balance and position. Your arms and legs have to be spread enough..."

Accompanying her words, the honey blonde grabbed Jane's arms while she slid her right leg between the detective's and pushed sightly to spread them.

""Hold your back straight but relax... Focus on your breathing..."

Realizing that she had forgotten to grab a glove to properly show the movements to Jane, Maura made a step backwards and excused herself before leaving to the house to take one. Silence spread but soon enough, Violet turned on her heels and positioned herself in front of Jane; ready to fence.

"Just follow my movements. I will go slow to show you."

Jane nodded and for the next minutes abandoned herself to an odd ballet of metal. As both swords hit each other – winning in pace – Violet made a step backwards in a signal to stop. She took her mask off.

"You aren't bad at all for a novice. Maura will appreciate it. It is such a pity she put an end to fencing... She was one of the best, here, along with Elizabeth."

Mask under her arm, Jane frowned and shook her head to vaguely get her hair back into place.

"Who?"

Surprise embraced Violet's features. The question had obviously taken her aback. Slowly, she went to put back her sword on the rack and shrugged as her gaze focused on an invisible point on the floor by her feet.

"Elizabeth, my sister. Maura's ex-roommate. I'm sorry. I had assumed that considering your... Closeness, Maura had told you about her; not necessarily in detail but still."

A tad confused, Jane bit her lower lip and looked for something to add that would make sense if only a little. Why did people keep on making strange allusions without ever being precise?

"Maura is rather quiet about her school years, actually. I have to say that I'm quite happy to be here if only to put faces and such on her past. Sure if I hadn't decided to come at the last minute – to tell you the truth, Maura didn't invite me in the first place – the stay would be more comfortable and prepared. I mean, have you tried to share a single bed with someone? But it's an insignificant detail, of course!"

Jane's laugh resounded loud but forced. Was she now babbling just like Maura, in the hope to fill time and silence? She swallowed hard, nodded at Violet's smile.

The artist made three steps towards the brunette and shrugged.

"You know, Jane... This school might be prestigious and whatever you want to name it, most of us are actually open minded. We are just fine with it. No need to abuse of periphrasis."

Without adding a word nor caring much about Jane's now stronger confusion, Violet nodded at her and left by the main door.