Emily

Emily Prentiss had never been more unsure of something in her life, and she grew more weary as more time passed. It was suddenly nearing the end of September, and time was flying as fast as leaves were falling. She also noticed the closer she grew with the new friends she had found, the more she felt a rift form between her and JJ, if that were even possible. You needed to have some type of connection or relationship with another to even split apart, but JJ had made sure this rivalry reached the roots.

This is why Emily worried. She had thought that she had done everything just right. By avoiding any type of association with Ian Doyle and Will LaMontagne Jr., a small part of her hoped her and JJ could be friends, and when the exact opposite happened, she wondered if she could have done anything different. She since questioned every decision she had made during her first day of school, wondering how things could be different.

Instead of continuing the hospitality that Emily briefly got to experience, JJ found joy in making Emily's life a living hell, especially on the field. It was an unspoken rule that Emily was required to run an extra lap, (two if she complained), assigned to be the goalie during shooting drills, and asked to chase stray balls all the way across the field, always being told to do so by JJ, her voice always sickly sweet.

Despite the blonde's mistreatment, Emily grew emotionally more within a month than she had in 16 years combined, finding a new sense of maturity. Her friends encouraged her to be herself, so she was. She openly advocated for Dr. Who with Spencer against Penelope, Derek and Aaron, no longer cared about what others thought of her appearance, and Emily finally came to terms with and accepted her sexuality.

"I think I'm a lesbian." She suddenly told Penelope one day after school, holding her breath in wait for her friend's reaction. Fear flickered in her eyes as she saw an upset expression appear on her face.

"Damn it Emily, you're serious?" She just nodded, her breath catching in the back of her throat. "And to think I wasted an entire month trying to set you up with guys when you're for playing for the other team!" Penelope laughed before grabbing a pen and paper. Emily sighed with relief.

"Okay, let's hear it. What's your type? I'll play Cupid and give you the 100% accurate, Penelope Garcia certified dream girl!" Emily giggled as she thought about it.

"I don't really think I have a type."

"Everyone has a type, you just don't know what it is." Emily rolled her eyes in disbelief. "You doubt me now, but I can't wait to see your awestruck face with your jaw on the floor when I pick you a hottie." She argued, eliciting a laugh from the brunette. Penelope pushed her glasses further up her nose. "We'll start simple. Taller or shorter than you?"

"Shorter, but not by much I think." Emily heard scribbles from her friend as she looked out Penelope's window, watching their peers from school walk home.

"What color hair?" Staring up at the ceiling with uncertainty, she pondered the question before sighing.

"Blondes probably." Emily's eyes caught JJ sauntering home on the sidewalk, and she subconsciously sat up straighter, and her eyes followed her as she walked. "Or light brown, I guess."

"What interests? You can pick a couple for this." Garcia permitted, before looking up and noticing her friend's gaze follow her bully outside of her house. Gears turned in her brain as she waited for the brunette's answer.

"Hmm..I'd say sporty like me, or the kind of person that does debate team or Model UN." By then, JJ was out of sight, and Emily was back to slouching. The more questions Penelope asked, the more Emily vaguely described Jennifer Jareau.

"Oh my God Emily, please don't tell me you're crushing on JJ. She's your literal bully? Who treats you oh so terribly for no reason?" Penelope interjected suddenly, nearly causing Emily to jump.

"Of course not. I've talked to her like once. And being a bitch, like especially to other girls, is a complete turn off." The technology enthusiast was far from convinced, and couldn't help but pry slightly.

"You didn't deny her being attractive though." She pointed out and her friend rolled her eyes and tore her gaze from the window.

"I never said I found her attractive." Emily insisted, although not fully convinced herself.

"Do you?"

"No. Just because alleged type is like JJ doesn't mean it is JJ." Emily affirmed, sighing before falling back onto the collection of stuffed animals and colorful pillows on Penelope's bed. Emily thought about it harder. Did she? Of course not, that girl was meaner than any TV show antagonist she had ever seen. All she thought about in terms of her teammate was the possibility of them being friends.

It scared Emily to be unsure. As Penelope listed girls in the school who matched her type, the brunette repeated affirmations of declaring her hate for JJ. She had to hate her, it only made sense for how she was treated.

"…And then there's Ashley Seaver." Penelope finished, somewhat out of breath. "God, I didn't know how many short, athletic blondes were in our grade until this."

"Pen, you do realize half of those girls are straight? Not even half, probably 90% at least." Emily interjected.

"JJ's probably straight, that's not stopping you." The blonde teased, before getting lobbed in the face by one of her own stuffed animals.

"I don't like her. I hate her, I want nothing to do with her." Emily repeated, simply staring at the wall ahead of her. As those words finally began to convince Penelope, they also convinced Emily the more she repeated it. She did hate her, and there was no point in making amends. She found herself comfortable in her current friend group. She had no interest in falling for a girl who wanted to see her fail.

"I'm done taking shit from her too." Emily added, causing Penelope's eyebrows to raise. "How so?"

"She can chase her own damn balls."