BAU High School
Chapter 34: It's A Start
"I have something to say," JJ said shakily. She had to do this right now or she would lose her nerve, though it seemed like as soon as everyone gave her their attention she lost it.
"JJ?" Aaron prompted when she said nothing else. He wanted to make her comfortable.
"We're waiting," Emily said icily. She was trying to be civil, but the girl had clearedher throat like some princess!
JJ took a deep breath and sat up straight. "First of all, thank you for letting me sit here. I know you don't like me, and I can be a bitch, but I really appreciate it." The group was taken aback by her sincerity. She seemed genuine.
"Second, and this is the most important part, I wanted to say I'm sorry." She watched Penelope's mouth drop, Derek's eyebrows rise, and Emily's eyes widen. Spencer cracked a small smile, and Aaron's face softened.
"I am incredibly sorry for everything I've done to you guys. None of you deserved any of it, and I'm sure you're all amazing people. I was a bitch and a terrible person. I never realized how much I hurt people until I was the one getting hurt. It sucks. And I know that just saying 'I'm sorry' doesn't change anything, but please know I really mean it. I will do everything I can to make it up to all of you."
She fell silent after her little speech, and dropped her eyes to the table. Everyone was quiet until Penelope spoke.
"You're right, it doesn't change anything." She smiled at JJ. "But I suppose it's a start."
JJ smiled gratefully at the other girl. "I'm sorry for every mean comment I directed to you. Your style is amazing, and I love all of your colorful outfits."
"There's no need to go crazy on the apologies, sweetie," Penelope said kindly.
"Yes, there is," Derek objected. "I like hearing the mighty Jennifer Jareau beg for forgiveness."
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen," Emily said sardonically. Penelope hit Derek on the arm.
"Be nice! You too, Emily!"
"Why is everyone telling me that?" Emily cried. "I'm trying!"
"Not a whole lot," Aaron said softly but firmly. "Please, Em?"
"Aaron, stop," said JJ. "She doesn't have to be nice to me. None of you do. I don't deserve your kindness."
Emily looked surprised. She would have thought JJ would be mean right back. She certainly didn't expect her to accept Emily's harsh behavior. With a quick glance at her boyfriend, Emily cleared her throat.
"No, you really don't. But," she took a deep breath, "Pen's right. It's a start."
Derek and JJ's mouths both fell open.
"You don't have to be so quick about it," JJ said in awe before she was cut off by Derek.
"There you go again, trusting someone who's hurt you before!" he hissed.
"Hold it!" Emily said holding her hands up. "One, I don't trust her. I'm just willing to give her a chance. Two, if I hadn't trusted the other person who hurt me, I wouldn't be with Aaron, and he wouldn't be here." She squeezed her boyfriend's hand and received a shy smile in return.
"She's right, you know," Spencer put in softly. "Hotch wouldn't be friends with us."
JJ was so not used to hearing "Hotch."
Derek sighed reluctantly. "Fine. You're right." He looked at JJ. "If you hurt any of us, you're gone."
"I understand," she said quickly.
"And you have to call Aaron Hotch," he added looking gleeful. He was eager to see how the former popular girl would take this condition.
She turned to Aaron, who was now grinning. The rest of the team began to smile as well.
"I guess there's one thing left to say," she said with a slight giggle. "Emily, congratulations on getting together with… Hotch." She outright laughed now, and the team joined her. "You're really cute together."
"Thanks," Emily laughed. She still felt a tad bit uneasy, but it was clear JJ was going to try to make an effort, so why shouldn't she?
"So, JJ," Penelope said leaning forward. She was ready to welcome the former mean girl into their group of misfits. "What do you like to do for fun?"
"Fun?" JJ said blankly. "What do you mean?"
"What do you do in your spare time?" Spencer supplied.
"Oh. Uh…" She frowned as she tried to think of her favorite activities. She liked soccer, but that was in the fall. Homework certainly did not count as fun…
Why is this so hard? She thought. All her spare time had been spent with either Will or Haley. They did a lot together, but now that JJ thought about it, they would always do what Haley wanted. JJ was never allowed to follow her own passions.
"Well, this is going to sound incredibly pathetic, but I don't know."
"How can you not know?" Derek asked quizzically.
"Everything I used to do was because Haley wanted to," she said nervously. She waited to see how the group reacted to the girl's name. The table fell silent for a moment before Aaron spoke.
"That's just how she is, right?"His voice was tight, and his jaw was clenched. Emily grasped his hand and kissed him on the cheek. He visibly relaxed, and JJ knew he was upset about Haley and Will being together.
"I'm sorry I brought it up," JJ said quietly.
"Don't be," Emily said, surprising JJ. "She's not worth an apology."
This was a test. Emily was curious to see how JJ would react to her comment. Just because she was going to be nice didn't mean she couldn't make sure the girl's intentions were pure.
JJ knew what Emily was trying to do. She sat up straight and said, "You're right. She's a complete bitch."
Everyone was surprised by how steadily JJ said it, though no one was more surprised than Emily.
Huh, she thought. I guess she really is serious about changing the person she is.
Emily nodded and said, "I'm sorry about what she did to you."
JJ blinked. "Uh, thanks, I guess."
The bell rang, and the team stood up to go to their respective classes. As it was, Penelope and JJ had Calculus together. The team began to make their way out the cafeteria doors, but JJ hung back a bit. It was clear the group wasn't completely comfortable with her yet, but they were willing to try, and she was grateful for that. However, that didn't mean she still didn't feel bad for hurting them all in the past.
Penelope saw JJ fall behind them and slowed down until they were walking next to each other.
"Hi," Penelope said tentatively.
"Hey."
"Why are you walking back here?"
JJ bit her lip. "I've already invaded your lunch table. I'm not about to ruin your last few moments together before class."
"Don't be silly," Penelope admonished. "You need friends right now, and we are going to fill that gap."
"Why? Why are you so ready to help me? I've been nothing but awful to you the entire time we've known each other, but now that I have no friends I come running. You should be turning me away and letting me see what it's like."
"No," Penelope said softly. "That would make me just like Haley and those other girls. No one should be without someone to lean on when things get tough. If I turned you away, you would have nobody." She paused briefly. "Well, maybe Aaron."
JJ laughed quietly. "Yeah. He's like a big brother now."
"Then I could be a big sister. Look, I know you may not want to accept help from someone like me, but you need it. And I just want to let you know that I'm here for you if you want to talk or something."
JJ was taken aback by Penelope's kindness, and she could feel tears spring up in her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered. "You have no idea how wonderful that sounds."
Penelope smiled. "I can guess."
"I just have to talk to Rossi before we leave," Aaron told Emily as they left the Psychology room at the end of the day. Derek and Spencer already walked off.
"That's fine. What do you have to talk to him about?" she asked curiously.
"He wants me to help with some plays for next year, but we haven't found time yet, so I need to go tell him when I'm free," he replied with a modest shrug.
"Huh," Emily chuckled. "You haven't even left the school, and they already want you back."
Aaron blushed slightly. "Rossi just says I'm the best strategic planner. Besides, it's only him that wants me back. Strauss hates me now."
"True," Emily sighed. "She hates our whole group."
Aaron slid his hand into hers and smiled faintly. "It's kinda fun. Being against the principal, I mean."
"Wow, someone's turning into a rebel. Maybe I am a bad influence."
He kissed her on the cheek. "Never. If anything, you've made me a better person." Emily blushed madly at his confession, and he smiled when he saw the red tint creep up her face.
They walked down to Rossi's office by the locker rooms only to discover he wasn't there. A coffee cup sat on his desk, and it was still steaming, which meant he would be back.
"Maybe he went to the teacher's lounge," Emily suggested.
"Maybe. I'll go check. Stay here in case he comes back." She nodded, and he walked back the way they came.
Now alone, Emily began to walk around the small office. The desk was covered in papers and folders, though she could see a picture frame sitting in one corner. Aaron told her it was of Rossi's wife Carolyn.
Behind the desk was a bookcase filled with books and plaques. Most of them were awards for coaching and teaching.
Emily ran her hands along the spines of several books and jumped back when she heard a voice behind her.
"Not all of those are about football, you know," Rossi teased as he stepped into the office. Emily quickly ran around the desk.
"Sorry," she said quickly.
"Don't be," the older man said good-naturedly. "Is there a reason for your visit?"
"Uh, Aaron was looking for you. He told me to wait here if you were to come back."
"Then I guess we will have to wait for him, won't we?" Rossi settled into his desk chair before gesturing to the chair in front of the desk. "You can sit down if you want."
Blushing slightly, she took a seat while picking at her nails. Her mind began to travel elsewhere, and Rossi knew it.
"What's bothering you?" he asked quietly. Emily looked up in surprise.
"What?" she asked blankly. Rossi smiled.
"You seem distracted."
She sighed before answering. "Do you know Jennifer Jareau?"
"JJ?" he asked in confusion. "Yeah, I know her. Why?"
"Well," Emily said slowly, "She's had a falling out with her best friend, so she has no one to hang out with."
"She and Haley had a fight?" the coach mused. "What about?"
"Nothing important. What's important is now Aaron has invited her to sit with us so she won't feel alone."
"And you don't like that," said Rossi, now understanding why the girl was upset.
"It's not that. Okay, maybe it is." She put her elbow on the arm rest and sat her forehead against her hand. "Normally I would be all for welcoming someone new to the group, but this is JJ. She's hurt me before, and I know she hates us."
"And you're afraid of you or your friends getting hurt."
Emily bit her lip. "Yeah. She seems genuine, but how can I know for sure?"
Rossi smiled sadly. "I'm afraid the only thing you can do is try to be there for her. If it turns out she's still mean, you won't know for sure if you alienate her."
Emily sighed. "I guess you're right."
"When you said she seemed genuine, what did she do?" asked Rossi.
"She apologized and said she would try to earn our trust," she answered softly.
"Then I think you should give her a chance. Plus, your boyfriend likes her, right?"
"They're basically best friends," Emily muttered.
"And you trust him, right?"
"Of course I do."
"Then I think you have your answer about this whole situation." Rossi sat back in his chair and smiled at Emily. "It really comes down to what you actually do about it."
Emily licked her lips before nodding. "I'll give her a chance, and I'll try to be nicer to her." She smiled gratefully at the coach. "Thank you."
"Anytime, Emily. My door is always open." He really did like her.
"Oh, hey, Coach," a voice said behind them. Aaron was standing in the doorway with a small grin on his face. "Guess I finally found you."
"That you did, Aaron," Rossi replied with a smile. "I know you're not free now, so how about tomorrow for those plays?"
"Sounds great. See you then." Emily stood up and joined her boyfriend in the doorway.
"Bye, Rossi," she said. "And thanks again."
"You're welcome, kiddo."
She smiled again before leaving the office. Aaron turned and looked at his former coach.
"Thank you," he said softly. He overheard the last part of their conversation, and he was immensely grateful that Emily was going to give JJ a chance.
"Of course. You know that applies to you too."
"What does?"
Rossi smiled broadly. "My door is always open."
Aaron's dimples appeared as he grinned back. "I know."
A/N: Thank you for all your feedback so far, and please keep it coming! I love hearing from you! =)