I do not own Criminal Minds nor any of the characters.
Sitting in the band room the next morning before school, Penelope was relaying the events of the previous day to JJ and Spencer.
"So, wait," JJ began. "Derek kissed you? And then ran away? And then was kissing Johannah? And then you went to Dave's? And did what?"
"We, um, we just, um-"
"Did you have sex with him?"
"No. If I have sex with him, I want it to not be because of Derek being a jerk. We just made out on his couch for a while. A long while."
"How far did you guys go?"
"JJ!" Spencer interjected. "You don't have to answer that, Penelope."
"No, it's fine. We went pretty far. Let's just say that I've never orgasmed like that before."
"Did he go down on you?" JJ asked.
"Yeah. A couple times…"
"How was it?"
"Incredible."
"Did you go down on him?"
"Yeah. He said it was good, but I'm pretty sure it was terrible."
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Actually, I really did. And he was really supportive and made sure that I was comfortable the whole time. Every time I'm with him, I feel like it should feel wrong and like I should be worried about him getting fired, but I can't bring myself to care. It feels so right. I mean, more right than a lot of things."
Penelope couldn't continue talking about Dave because Derek stormed into the band room at that moment looking very angry. "Did I hear you right? Did you really go down on him and let him go down on you?" Spencer and JJ quickly gathered their things and left the band room, leaving Derek and Penelope alone to talk.
"What does it matter to you, Derek?" Penelope responded, beginning to gather her things.
"Is. It. True?"
"Yes. Why would I lie about something like that?"
"Why would you let him do that to you?"
"I wanted him to. And I wanted to go down on him. He actually likes me and cares about me. He doesn't regret kissing me and then make out in public with the first girl he can find afterward."
"Wait. You saw that?"
"Really? That's your response. I thought that you'd at least try to defend your actions. Well, I'm glad that you can stand firm in your choices."
"Penelope, you have to know that I didn't mean-"
"What? That you didn't mean for me to see that? Well, too bad, Derek. I did see it. I don't know how you could go from that kiss to kissing someone else, but I'm glad that I saw it. At least I know where I stand with you now."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Obviously based on your reaction, kissing me meant nothing to you. And then you ran off and kissed someone else, so I must mean nothing to you. It's fine, Derek. I'll get over it. I'll get over you."
"Stop saying things like that! You've haven't let me tell my side of the story."
"That's because I don't want to hear it. It was bad enough seeing you kissing Johannah after what, for me, was a life-changing, game-ending kiss. I don't need to hear you tell me how little it meant to you on top of that."
"What if that's not what I have to say!"
"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm seeing someone."
"No you're not."
"Yes I am!"
"It's not a real relationship, Penelope! How can you think that it is? How much older than you is he?"
"I don't know. It doesn't matter to me."
"Have you guys ever even really talked?"
"Yes! We talk a lot."
"I have trouble believing that when you're spending most of your time making out and going down on each other."
"Well, you don't know anything about us."
"I know that it's wrong and that you shouldn't be with him."
"I'm 18. There's nothing illegal going on between us."
"Really, your defense is that it's legal?!"
"It's so wrong, Pen. You have to know that. You need to stop seeing him?"
"Why? So I can go back to pining over you, waiting for you to notice me? Not going to happen, Derek. I can't go back to that. Dave cares about me. That's how I know that I's right. No matter what society thinks."
"Wait, what do you mean that you were pining after me?"
"It doesn't matter, Derek. I need to get to class."
Penelope spent the rest of the day thinking about her confrontation with Derek. She debated ending things with Dave. Much as she wanted Derek to be wrong, he had been completely right. They didn't really talk and she didn't really know anything about him. But she did know how she felt about him. And she hadn't lied to Derek when she said how nice it was to be with someone who truly cared about her.
That's why, that night, she returned to Dave's apartment, and had made the decision that she wanted to prove to him how much she cared about him in return. This relationship had come at the time when she most needed it, and she wanted him to know how much he had helped her. A lot of thoughts were racing through her mind about tonight and what she wanted to have happen, but her thoughts halted once he opened the door. She knew instantly, just by looking into his eyes, that she was ready for this. She wanted to do this with him. She wanted to do everything with him. Derek be damned.