Okay I just have to share this. My brother was hanging out with me when I was watching Bones on TNT. He was getting into it and during a commercial break he turns to me and says "it's like Scooby Doo! You have to figure out who did it." I thought it was so funny coming from a 21 year old.

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Chapter 21

"Here we go sweetie. The beginning of our last semester in high school!" Angela bounces in her seat as she parks her car, Brennan chuckling at her from the passenger seat.

Together the two friends walk into the building, Angela occasionally stopping to say hi to fellow classmates. Brennan walks silently next to her, lost in her thoughts. She finds herself with conflict emotions about returning to school. While she enjoys school and is excited that her high school career is almost over, she finds that she is sad that her morning meetings with Booth are over. She is frustrated and slightly angry with herself for becoming so dependent on him so quickly.

She leans against the wall by her theatre class as Angela talks to some friends from her math class. There is still a few minutes until school starts and the teacher opens the door, so Brennan glances at the bulletin board to the right of the door. She sees announcements for various school activities, such as sports tryouts, music performances and such. One announcement for auditions catches her attention, and she bites her lip as she considers it.

"You don't seriously think you have a chance with that do you?" comes a mocking voice from over her shoulder.

Brennan turns around and sees the cruel eyes of Hannah and the smirking faces of Tessa and Rebecca. She stands up straighter, tired of backing down from girls like them. However, before either girl can say anything more, the door behind Brennan opens and the teacher steps out.

"Everything okay here, girls?" he asks, looking between Hannah and Brennan who are still glaring at each other.

"Later, Morticia," Hannah says softly, turning away with a smirk.

"Temperance-" the teacher begins to question.

"It's nothing, Mr. Miskulin," she shakes her head and walks into the room.

"Finally!" Booth says in angry exasperation.

He pulls his car in the first empty parking spot he finds, which happens to be in the farthest from the college campus. He quickly grabs his backpack and exits the car, locking it behind him as he sprints to the campus.

"Excuse me," he says absently, brushing by other students as he looks from his folded schedule to the buildings around him. His brow scrunched in frustration he, he doesn't pay attention to where he is stepping. His feet slip on a patch of icy cement and he falls heavily onto his back with a groan.

"Whoa, dude are you ok?" says a familiar voice from above him. Booth looks up into the concerned face of Hodgins.

"Yeah," he accepts the offered hand and rises, grimacing at the slight pain. "Ahh damn it, I'm going to be late and I have no fucking idea where I'm going."

"Why didn't you get here early?" Hodgins asks, the two men starting to slowly walk forward. Booth sends the other man a glare.

"I did," he says through gritted teeth. "Have you seen the parking lot?"

"Sorry, man," Hodgins bends down to pick up the dropped paper, hiding his smirk. He looks at the schedule and smiles at Booth. "Hey, I know where this is, it's right next to my class. Come on."

"Jack, I owe you one buddy," Booth gratefully slaps Hodgins on the back as he follows him towards his class.

"So what's your major?" Jack asks him.

"Uh, criminal justice," he answers absently, his back still throbbing from the fall. "Yours is science right?"

"Well, it's actually a double major in entomology and mineralogy. Also a double minor in palynology and forensic chemistry," Hodgins answers his hands in his pockets.

"Four degrees?" Booth looks at him incredulously. "Why?"

"Because I love figuring stuff out in amusing ways," Hodgins smiles at him as they reach their destination.

"Right," Booth folds his schedule and places it back into his pocket. "Thanks for the help, Hodgins."

"Hey, no problem," Hodgins nods his head and starts to walk towards his class.

Booth takes a deep breath and enters the room. It is a large, theatre style classroom and Booth has to squeeze past a row of fifteen people to reach an empty seat. Unknown to him, every female eye is trained on him, many of them whispering excitedly to each other. He takes his seat and pulls out a notebook just as the professor walks in and starts the first day speech.

"I love when they serve pudding," Angela says happily, adding the chocolate snack to her lunch tray.

She glances over to her right and sees the Barbies talking with some of the football team, the whole group looking over towards Brennan and laughing. She sends them a narrow eyed scowl, placing more food onto her tray before starting to walk towards the table where Brennan is sitting.

"Hey, Angela," calls Trevor, the captain of the basketball team. "Ian got his car fixed up over Christmas. A bunch of us are going to that pizza place around the corner, wanna come with?"

"Is there room for my friend Bren?" she asks, pointing over her shoulder.

"That freak Morticia?" says a girl from beside Trevor. The entire group looks over at Brennan with disgusted looks.

"I thought you were hanging out with her cause she was tutoring you or something," Trevor chuckling.

"I'm surprised you know how to think with anything other than your tiny dick, Trev," Angela says with a fake smile.

"Hey!" he says, his face turning red.

"You don't know her, none of you do. She's an amazing person and my best friend so I suggest you keep your mouths shut, got it?" Sending each person a death glare, Angela turns away and walks over to Brennan.

"What's wrong?" Brennan asks her, concern on her face at her friend's angry expression.

"Nothing. It's just…high school kids are such assholes," Angela stabs at her food violently.

"You are going to break the plastic fork if you continue using such force," Zack informs her, standing just behind her with his own tray.

"Zack!" she and Brennan smile at him.

"Hello," he smiles back at them.

"Zack, sit down," Angela urges him, still smiling widely at him. "How was your Christmas break?"

"Um, is it ok if Sally sits with us?" he says hesitantly, blushing.

"Aww," the girls say, tilting their heads and smiling at him. He blushes even deeper.

"Hi," Sally says shyly, stepping to their table.

"Hi, Sally," Angela smiles at her. "Come on, sit down you two."

With almost embarrassed smiles and red cheeks, the young couple sits next to each other. The group eats together and catches up on how their first day of school has been, the older girls smiling at each other at the sweet awkwardness of Zack and Sally.

"You can get that drunk from one drink?" Sally asks with wide eyes after Angela shared what had happened on New Years Eve.

"Well, not everybody," Brennan explains. "It depends on how your body metabolizes the alcohol."

Brennan's cell phone vibrates in her pocket and she sets down her fork to take it out. She smiles slightly when she sees she has a text from Booth.

Hey babe, what ya doin?

Brennan rolls her eyes and texts back to him, zoning out of the conversation around her. I'm having lunch BABY. What are you doing? You're not texting during class are you?

Booth looks up from his book at his vibrating cell and opens the text from Brennan. He chuckles quietly. No, Bones I'm not in class. I have a small break until my next class so I'm in the library, getting a head start on my reading. What are you eating? French fries?

No I'm having a sandwich and a salad. French fries are only good when they're yours.

Haha. So how's school going?

As the bell rings to return to class, Brennan looks at the students around her, particularly the Barbies' table where they are laughing and looking at her. She has heard the whispers of Morticia as she walks down the halls throughout the day and knows that Hannah has shared the story of Jared's cruel nickname for her.

It's ok. I have to go now. I'll talk to you later?

Booth frowns slightly at her text, expecting a more detailed response, but lets it go. Ok, bye.

"Who were you texting?" Angela asks Brennan as they walk out of the cafeteria, saying goodbye to Zack and Sally.

"Booth. He had a break between his classes," Brennan tells her, trying to ignore the whispers that Angela apparently doesn't hear.

"I don't think I ever asked what he was going to school for," Angela says, stopping near her class. "What is tall, dark and studly going to be when he grows up?"

"Booth is 23, he is technically grown up," Brennan begins but catches Angela's look. "Oh you meant what career. He wants to be an FBI agent."

"Talk about FB Eye candy," Angela smirks. "So…when are you going to try out his sexy hot rod?

"Angela!" Brennan blushes, unable to control herself from sending her friend a slap in on the arm.

"Later Bren," Angela laughs as she walks away.

Brennan's face burns with a bright blush but for the first time that day it has nothing to do with the whispers and taunting faces. For the first time that day, a small smile graces her lips as she tentatively lets her mind wander.

Angela giggles quietly, pressing the earphones into her head. She twirls her chair from side to side slightly, eyes locked onto the computer in front of her. She feels a presence behind her and glances in the reflection of one of the other screens. Spotting who it is, she smiles and tilts her head ever so slightly to the side, allowing the visitor to remove one ear phone and place a kiss to her neck.

"Hey baby," Hodgins says softly.

"Hi Hodgie." She turns her head to give him a full kiss on the mouth.

He pulls back and turns his attention to what she was watching.

"Roger Rabbit?" he chuckles. Angela pauses the movie and removes the other earphone.

"It's a good movie," she defends, turning in her chair to face him. "What are you doing here? Your work station is out there, in the main library."

"In case you haven't noticed, it's the first day of school. No one needs tutoring yet."

Angela looks between him and the paused movie. "Want to watch roger rabbit with me?"

"I thought you would never ask," he smiles, pulling out a pair of candy bars.

In the main library, Brennan sits at her table, reading a textbook having finished what little homework she had earlier. She turns the page, absorbed and fascinated in the descriptions of various genetic bone anomalies.

"Why does this seem so familiar?" says a deep voice from behind her. She turns around and can't stop her smile at the sight of her smirking boyfriend.

"Hi BABE," she tells him as he sits down next to her. He chuckles and shakes his head.

"Why is that bothering you now? I've called you that before."

"Yes but it's the first time you've text it to me-"

"I haven't had to before," he interrupts, leaning forward and smiling at her the same way he did the first time they met.

"Before, I just assumed it was an unconscious endearment," she continues, unable to stop smiling him. "But the text required thought, so you did it on purpose."

Instead of responding, Booth leans forward and captures her lips in a sweet and chaste kiss.

"Don't change the subject," she says, narrowing her eyes.

He gives her his charm smile and she chuckles, shaking her head.

"Do you like Chinese?" he asks.

"The people?" she says confused. Booth ducks his head and shakes it.

"No," he chuckles. "The food."

"Oh. Yes I do. Why?"

"Come on, lets get something to eat," he says, closing her book.

"No I cant," she protests. "I'm working."

"Bones, there's no one here," he gestures to the empty library around them. "You get off in ten minutes anyway."

"Booth, I can't just-" she begins but is cut off by his lips. He glides his tongue over her lips, asking for entry, which she instantly gives. He dives in, kissing her slowly, savoring the taste and feel of her. He pulls back, staying close and waiting for her eyes to open to speak.

"Come have dinner with me Bones," he whispers to her, his mouth lifted in a faint smirk. Her eyes close on a slow blink as she sighs resignedly.

"Are you ever going to use my name?" she asks him as she places her bags into her backpack.

"Yep," he answers, smiling at her when she rolls her eyes playfully.

"Where are you two going?" Angela asks them, her and Hodgins now standing by their table as the other couple rises from their seats.

"To-to get some Chinese. The food, not the people," Brennan says nervously, knowing what she said sounds stupid.

"Right," Angela says smiling, the two men giving her a strange look.

"I've never done anything bad," Brennan explains, looking at Booth.

"I believe you," Booth says, smiling. But underneath her embarrassment and nervousness is fear and he wonders what it stems from.

"I mean, I've made mistakes, of course," she continues, having not heard him. "But I've never purposely done anything bad."

"And I believe you," he says a little stronger, ducking his head to catch her gaze. "But you know what?"

"What?" she whispers. Beside them, Angela is frowning with concern at what must have happened to Brennan to make her fear being bad.

"We're going to do something bad right now," Booth smirks at her mischievously before leaning in and giving her a quick kiss. He picks up her bag and nods to the other couple. "Later guys."

"I like Chinese food," Hodgins complains, earning a whack from Angela.

"Next time Bug Man," Booth says to him, grabbing Brennan's hand.

"Booth," Brennan scolds him in a whisper, holding back laughter as he exaggerates sneaking out of the library.

"He is so good for her," Angela sighs. She glances over and rolls her eyes at her pouting boyfriend. "Jack, you and Booth can go have a manly Chinese dinner another time. But if you're really hungry now, we can go out to eat."

"Yeah?" he says hopefully, smiling. "Alright. Just let me get Zack."

"Okay," Angela smiles as he walks away. She shakes her head, knowing that although he won't admit it Hodgins had missed the young man during the holidays.

"So your theory is: you've got be bad to be good or your frontal lobe will remain the size of a raisin?" Brennan clarifies as they exit the car at Wong Foo's.

"Yep. Facts of life, babe," he smiles at her, opening the door to the restaurant.

"Makes no scientific sense," she declares. Booth just slings his arm around her shoulders and gives her cheek a big kiss.

"Hey Booth," Sid greets them, walking over. He looks Brennan up and down quickly before smiling at his friend. "Hey, I'll say this…she's tall."

"Temperance Brennan, meet Sid, the owner," Booth introduces them, shaking hands with the man.

"Hey, the bone lady," Sid says in recognition, shaking her hand.

"The sign says Wong Foo's," Brennan says in confusion as Sid leads them to a booth.

The two men share a smile and a small chuckle as Sid tilts his head down. "I'll get your meal."

"But we didn't order," she says with some frustration entering her voice.

"No, don't worry. Sid knows what most people want better than they do," Booth soothes, sliding close to her, happy to be sitting with her.

"How does the guy know what you want?"

"The guy's name is Sid, Bones," Booth chuckles. "And I don't know, he just has a knack. Just trust me, ok?"

"Ok," she says doubtfully.

"So was how school?" He notices her tense at the question before forcing herself to relax.

"It was fine," she says simply. "Did you enjoy your classes?"

"Bones," he says soberly, locking gazes with her. "What happened?"

"This group of girls don't like me and…have spread it around that I was in foster care and a nickname," she whispers the last, looking away.

"What nickname?" Booth says, clenching his fist under the table. He wishes that the girls were men so that he could find them and kick their asses.

"Morticia," she tells him. She sees the way his head snaps back and his eyes widen before he looks away, his jaw tight in anger. "Jared told you, didn't he?"

Booth takes a deep breath and turns his head to look at her, not sure what to say. She smiles softly at him, flattered that he is anger for her, something that she isn't quite used to.

"It's not a big deal Booth," she says. Booth shakes his head angrily so she sets her hand on his arm, which somehow calms him down. "It's not the first time and I've…learned to deal with it."

"Bones," he says softly, his heart aching that she has had to endure taunting before.

"It just caught me off guard. I don't care what other people think about me," she states firmly. "I don't. I won't see most of them after graduation. Their opinions about me don't matter."

They stare at each other for a few moments. Booth is amazed at her strength, falling even deeper in love with her. He nods his head, letting the anger slide away, although he makes a reminder to himself to talk to Jared. Well, more like beat the crap out of Jared, if he gets the chance.

"You're right. You've got your people that care about you, fuck the rest."

"I have people?" she asks, her brow furrowed.

"Well, yeah," he smiles at her slightly, wondering if she is playing. When she just tilts her head, he knows she has no idea what a wonderful person she truly is. "Pops and Grams love you, and there's the squints. And me. I'm one of your people, right?"

"Yeah," she says softly, a smile crossing her face. She straightens her shoulders and speaks almost in wonderment. "Hey, I have people."

He smiles widely at her, gazing into her beautiful eyes. To his surprise she leans in and kisses him passionately. He brings his hand up to comb through her hair as he deepens the kiss.

"Hey, this is a restaurant, people come here to eat," Sid scolds playfully. The couple breaks apart and chuckles. "What's the matter with you?"

"Sorry Sid," Booth chuckles as food is set in front of them.

"This is exactly what I want," Brennan says in astonishment, using chopsticks to pick up some food. "This is amazing! The guy definitely has a knack."

"Hey I told you. Thanks Sid."

"Enjoy," Sid says with a smile, leaving the two to their meal.

"This is so good. Here, have some," Brennan picks up some noodles and holds it out to Booth.

"Nah, I'm fine with my beef," he stabs some with his fork.

"It's really good, come on."

"Bones," Booth laughs, turning his head away.

Sid looks on at the two from the bar, shaking his head with a chuckle as he turns around to clean some glasses.

okay, ive been so busy being a second mommy to my nieces (which is hard cause i HATE thier mother) that i wrote this in five minute increaments, which is probably obvious when you read it. to make it harder, i dont have my notebook anymore, and i cant really remember exactly where i was going. but dont worry, some ideas are still in my head, i just got to remember them lol. please review!