The third graders had lunch at eleven twenty-five in the morning. Mica, Erica, and Shane stuck together and surveyed the cafeteria. To ensure they got three seats together. Mica noticed that Kristen wasn't waiting in line. Instead she sat down at a table with four or five other kids who had brought their lunch. She took out a sandwich and juice-box. She had already finished her lunch before Mica and her friends even made it the front of the line. As soon as she finished eating she said something to the teacher's aide and then left the cafeteria and headed off towards the office area. Three minutes later Mica was sitting beside Erica and in front of Shane with the other kids in their class.
"What do you think is going on with the new girl?" Mica asked.
"What do you mean?" Erica asked.
"Why do you think she brought her lunch and just sat down with the other kids who brought their lunches?" Mica asked.
"That's the allergy table. She probably has allergies." Erica replied.
"OK but why did she just leave?" Mica asked.
"She may have to take medicine." Shane commented.
"We can't have medicine at school." Erica reminded.
"That's why she left though. She probably went to the nurse." Shane explained.
"I suppose you wonder what medicine she has to take." Erica observed.
"No I uh well does she seem familiar to you guys?" Mica asked.
"No" Shane replied.
"She had eyes like your dad but I don't know her she is new after all.' Erica added.
"Well she looks familiar to me and I can't figure out why." Mica replied.
"Like I said her eyes are just like your dad's. That's probably why you think you know her." Erica explained.
"Yeah but I feel like I have heard her name before." Mica replied.
"Kristen? That's a common name." Erica replied.
"Yeah I have three cousins named Kristen. Of course that was my grandma's name." Shane added.
"No her last name, Borin." Mica corrected.
"Well Ms. Caleb said that her mom worked for CGIS. Maybe she has worked with your dad before. I know that CGIS and NCIS work together." Shane suggested.
"My dad never talks about cases though." Mica replied.
"Well maybe her mom was talking about a case on ZNN." Shane replied.
"No I don't think that's it." Mica replied.
After lunch Mrs. Carden's and the two other third grade classes had recess. Mica, Erica, and Shane walked over basketball court. Shane picked up a worn out basketball and tossed it to Mica. Mica caught the ball and then passed it to Erica. After Erica caught the ball she tossed it back to Shane. They tossed the ball back and forth a couple of times. Before Shane finally tossed the ball towards the net. It bounced off the rim and then rolled off the court, towards the track. The ball continued to roll until it hit a girl who was sitting on the edge of the track.
"Oh I am sorry!" Mica apologized as she bent down to pick up the ball.
"It's OK." The girl replied turning around.
"Oh you are the new girl. Kristen right?" Mica observed.
"Yeah" Kristen replied.
"Well I am Mica and these are my friends Erica and Shane." Mica introduced.
"Good to meet you Mica." Kristen replied.
"What about us?" Erica asked.
"It is good to meet you to Erica." Kristen replied.
"How do you know I'm not Erica." Shane joked.
"You sit beside me Shane." Kristen replied.
"I know I was just joking." Shane replied.
"So Kristen did you just move here?" Erica asked.
"No I moved to Washington last winter but I went to a different school last year." Kristen explained.
"Well why did your transfer?" Mica asked.
"Yeah Ms. Caleb said you had trouble." Erica added.
"I...I just didn't like it. So are you guys playing basketball?" Kristen replied quickly changing the subject.
"No that's a giant orange in Shane's hand." Erica snarked.
"Okaay" Kristen replied confused.
"Don't worry about Erica. Her mom died over the summer and now she spends a lot of time with her big sister and she is a teenager." Mica explained.
"Oh I am sorry to hear that. My dad died earlier this year. Just after I moved here actually." Kristen explained.
"My dad's dead too. He died when Harper Dearing blew up NCIS." Shane commented.
"My mom died when I was four but I don't remember her." Mica repled.
"It's weird how all of us have dead parents." Shane commented.
"Yeah all of us but Gracie." Mica replied.
"Who's Gracie?" Kristen asked.
"She was our other friend but she died just after my mom did." Erica explained.
"Oh I am sorry. I never had anybody my age die before. Was she sick or something?" Kristen asked.
"No she was killed." Mica sighed.
"Oh that's sad I am so sorry." Kristen replied.
"Can we talk about something else?" Mica asked.
"Yeah" Kristen replied.
"Kayla is learning how to drive." Erica commented.
"Who's Kayla?" Kristen asked.
"My big sister." Erica replied.
"Oh cool so she can take you places?" Kristen asked.
"Only is she has to besides she only has her permit now. If I want rides when I want I will have to wait until my brother gets his license in a few years." Erica explained.
"That is so cool. I wish I had siblings but I am an only child." Kristen replied.
"I am an only child too well I have a sister but she died a long time ago. Before I was born even. She died with her mom." Mica explained.
"Your poor dad has lost two wives and a kid?" Kristen asked.
"Yeah" Mica replied.
"And he got married and divorced like a million times before he married Mica's mom." Erica added.
"Three times he got married and divorced three times between Shannon and my mom!" Mica snapped.
"Well my dad said it may as well have been a million." Erica replied.
"So Shane do you have any siblings?" Kristen asked.
"I have a big sister. I used to have step-siblings but my mom and step-dad are getting divorced. So now it's just me and my sister Tara again." Shane explained.
"Oh Shane I am sorry. Why didn't you tell me?" Mica asked.
"I just found out after camp." Shane replied.
"Are you sad?" Mica asked.
"No I didn't like my step family much." Shane explained.
*BRIIIIIINNNGGGGGGGG!*
"Aw man I don't wanna go back to class." Erica whined.
"Me either" Kristen sighed.
"I don't know it might be fun besides we only have two hours now." Shane replied.
"Oh yeah Kristen do you wanna be our friend?" Mica asked.
"Yeah you guys seems really nice and fun." Kristen replied.
A/N: This chapter takes place before the events of "Abby Borin's Daughter". In the next chapter Mica tells her dad about Kristen and inadvertently makes Gibbs remember a day he'd rather forget. New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.
