Scully was able to go home the next day, though, as per the doctor's orders, only to bed rest. Mulder visited her that day and throughout the following week. By the end of the second day, Scully was able to stand up without any assistance. On the third day, she walked through the house. By the end of Christmas vacation, she was able to manage most daily activities by herself, though with extra caution.
The Monday morning started as a thousand others had. It was almost as if Christmas vacation had never even existed. School went on just as it had before Christmas, as it had the year before, and as it will for years to come. Christmas vacation was merely a fond memory of the students suddenly more claustrophobic in the walls of Fairfield High. Christmas's only fingerprint was the new sweaters and stiffer jeans the teenagers wore. All in all, nothing had changed. Then again, everything was different.
Mulder waited by Scully's locker before lunch, unable to see her anytime before that. Though he had offered to pick up both Scully and her sister and bring them to school, Mrs. Scully insisted that she drive them to school. She had wanted to make sure that Dana did not have any trouble, being the protective mother that she was.
Mulder smiled as he watched Scully maneuver through the halls. He had seen her before she spotted him, so he was able to watch her expression change as her eyes locked on his. Before saying anything, Mulder took Scully's books from her and put them in her locker, retrieving her lunch in the process.
"How are you feeling?" Mulder asked.
"I'm fine," she smiled, "Just a little sore. I'll survive."
"Are you sure? Do you need more medicine?"
Scully could not help but laugh, "No, I'm fine, I promise. But I could use some food."
Mulder smiled and slipped his arm gently around her waist as they walked toward the cafeteria. They sat at their usual table with their usual friends. Just as Mulder balled up his paper sack, a girlish squeal turned the cafeteria's attention to the entrance, where a crowd of girls had gathered.
"Casey!!!" another voice called from across the room.
The center of attention finally came into sight. A junior girl, probably five foot seven in height, with dark brown hair and a loud attitude, dramatically flipped her hair as she looked to her fans…err, friends.
"Miss me?"
The girls surrounded Casey once again, shouting like the girl's own cheerleaders.
"I can't believe you're back!" "Are you here for good?" "I've missed you so much!" et al, rang throughout the cafeteria, though it was only from a select group. Eventually, curiosity died down, and Casey took her seat at the center of a table, surrounded still by her friends. Scully turned back to those seated at her own table.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
"Oh, that's Acacia," one of the boys spoke up. "She went to Fairfield High until this year. Apparently, she's back."
"Acacia? That's a really pretty name," Scully continued.
"It's Greek," Mike chimed in. "Her father is from Greece."
Scully nodded and asked Mike how his Christmas vacation had been. She did not notice Mulder's silence through the rest of the meal, or even through the rest of the day.
As three o' clock rolled around, the classroom doors busted open like a weakened dam, spewing students into the halls. Scully carefully walked through the halls, not wanting to bump into anyone, lest she strain her back even more; of course, Mulder was on guard, assuming the role of the overprotective boyfriend. Too little, too late? Maybe not.
As she and Mulder turned down the hall, they almost bumped into Acacia and her group of friends, who had almost barricaded the hallway with their gathering. Just as Mulder had grabbed Scully's hand to lead her around them, Acacia turned around, slowly.
"Fox, dear, I haven't seen you in forever!" Acacia exclaimed.
"Hey, Casey," Mulder responded. "How was Vermont?"
The girl merely tossed her hand in response. By this time, Scully had moved from behind Mulder to his side. Casey not-so-discreetly sized Dana up, and let her lips curl into a condescending smile.
"And who is this?" Casey asked, pointedly turning her attention back to Mulder. Mulder dropped Scully's right hand, only to place his hand on her right shoulder.
"This is Dana Scully. She moved here from California."
Scully looked up at Mulder, confused. When Mulder refused to return her gaze and even dropped his hand to his side, Dana turned back to Casey. Casey was pretty, Scully decided. Relatively tall, olive-skinned, brunette. Almost like a tree nymph. Casey also pointedly ignored Dana, and Dana, not feeling comfortable in the situation, grabbed Mulder's hand.
Mulder looked back at her, slowly, almost as if he had forgotten she was there. Something in Dana shook, but she shrugged it off as petty jealousy. He can talk to other girls, she chided herself. Mulder said good-bye to Acacia and her friends, and Scully left without a word.
Scully finished gathering the necessary books and placing them in her book bag before Mulder, so she waited quietly until he had closed his locker and turned towards her.
"Who is she, Mulder?" Scully asked, praying that she did not sound as ridiculous and cliché as she thought she did.
Mulder slid Scully's book bag off her back and onto his own. "No one, Scully. Why do you ask?"
"Curious. Were you two ever, um, like boyfriend/girlfriend?" Scully asked, clenching her teeth out of nervousness. She watched his face to gauge his reaction.
Mulder laughed. "No way!" A beat. "Scully, are you jealous?" he asked, a smile creeping over both his face and tone.
Scully looked up at him, "No, it's just that there was a lot of tension between you two." Another beat. "Okay, a little."
Mulder laughed again. "You have no need to be jealous." Mulder kissed the tip of her nose. "Now how about that ride home?"
Scully smiled, chuckled even, at her own pettiness. She trusted him, because he had never given her a reason otherwise. She nodded and they drove to her house, kissed as he pulled into the driveway, and promised to call later that night.
Still, even as she hung the telephone up and lied back in bed, she could not help but feel that Acacia was a force to be reckoned with. Probably, one she has already 'reckoned with.'
Short chapter, but more tomorrow. Dedicated to Amy, thanks for the support. Oh, and special prize for whoever tells me what Acacia means. It adds to the story.
Reese