So I'm fairly confident about how each chapter is going to go from here on out, so I hope that means I will be able to get you updates more frequently. Really hope you'll enjoy where I'm going from here!
Thanks so much for reading! -J
Chapter 8
"We should do something tomorrow night," Alex suggested to her friends the first Friday night after her grounding was finally over, spending the night at Olivia's house. "I haven't been anywhere but school and home in two weeks. I need to do something."
Since the night Emily and JJ had confronted Alex about her nightmares things had been slightly tense. Her mothers had originally continued to push her on the issue, eventually deciding to give her some space, while constantly reminding her that they were there for her. The couple had been forced to leave on a case once more since then, again leaving the teen with Haley whom also reminded Alex that she could talk to her about anything she wanted. Yet despite all these people willing to listen to her problems, Alex was still refusing to talk, and although she wouldn't admit it, it was definitely taking it's toll on the 14-year-old. Alex was constantly tired, her school work was starting to suffer and though she had only gotten the part of Mrs. Banks in the school musical, she knew she was doing a poor job with that as well. But the worst part for Alex was the relationships that were suffering, as she found herself unsure how to talk to either Emily or JJ, and her friendship with Spencer became strained as the taller brunette was constantly trying to get her to open up.
"I've got a date with Chad tomorrow night," Zoey replied, referring to the boy she had met in her art class.
"I've got a mandatory night out with my mom and Melissa tomorrow," Spencer said, not looking the least bit excited. "I'm not allowed to miss it for anything according to my mother," she explained bitterly before grabbing an oreo and stuffing it into her mouth.
"Liv?" Alex asked hopefully.
"Well this girl Kaley asked me to go to a party at her friend Tyler's house," Olivia replied. "They're both juniors, but Kaley's a family friend. You should come with me."
"To a party?" Spencer asked worriedly, already hating the idea especially considering her friend's behaviour the last two weeks.
"Yeah, I've been to a couple," Olivia admitted with a shrug. "It's always fun. A lot of kids from school go. They're mostly 11th and 12th graders but sometimes there's people from our class."
"Alright I'm in," Alex smiled; glad to have something to look forward to the next day, and not having to go home.
"You really think your parents are going to let you go to a party?" Zoey asked skeptically.
"They don't have to know," Alex replied, knowing with absolute certainty that her mother would never allow her to go to a party. "I'll just tell them I'm staying here again."
"My mom just thinks I'm hanging out with Kaley," Olivia told her. "By the time we get home she won't even notice so we'll be good to go."
"Awesome," Alex nodded, unable to miss the anxious look on Spencer's face, knowing exactly what was coming.
"Lex do you really think that's a good idea?" Spencer asked nervously, knowing the question would only irritate her friend; something, which she'd been doing a lot lately. "I mean you just got ungrounded. Why don't you guys just stay in and hang out?" She suggested. "I just really don't think it's a good idea."
"Well it's a good thing you're not coming then," Alex replied harshly, Zoey and Olivia both looking away uncomfortably, neither wanting to get involved in their friends' constant bickering. "I think I can make my own decisions Spencer, but thanks for the concern."
"Fine, whatever," Spencer said rolling her eyes. "Do what you want, but nothing good can come of lying to your parents…again," she said. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Don't worry I won't," Alex replied stubbornly. "And trust me, we're not going to get caught. My moms won't even find out."
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"Em you need to relax," JJ sighed watching as the brunette lay on the opposite end of the couch, anxiously picking at her nails; nails, which were practically destroyed from the last week. "She's just at Olivia's. She's with the girls. Everything will be fine," she assured her, giving her a little nudge with her foot. "You can't keep her locked up forever."
"I know that," Emily replied biting her lip. "I just thought that she'd be talking to me by the time she was ungrounded, but that's still not happening," she sighed. "I feel like I have no idea what's going on with her and it was just so much easier when she was grounded because at least I knew where she was."
"I know, but you've got to trust her babe," JJ said, sitting up so she could see her girlfriend better. "I know that things have been a bit of a mess lately but you have to remember that she's a good kid Em," she continued. "Lex has made some mistakes lately, but she is still a good kid. It'll be okay."
"I want to believe that," Emily sighed. "Really I do, but…but she's just not herself," she explained. "She's pulling away and she's acting out and it scares me," the brunette admitted. "She's doing exactly what I did as a teen, and we all know how that ended."
"Okay first of all you turned out amazing so don't talk like that," JJ said, finally reaching out and taking the brunette's hand in order to stop the incessant picking. "And second of all Alex isn't you Em," she said carefully. "She isn't going to go out and do all the things you think she's going to do because her life is very different than yours was. You were basically on your own when you were a teenager," she said. "Your parents didn't pay you any attention and they didn't give you any indication that they were there for you. Alex knows we're here. She knows she can talk to us, even if she's choosing to ignore that fact right now."
"I know but…" Emily began to argue.
"But nothing," JJ interrupted. "She's a teenager, she's supposed to go through phases of hating us, but it's going to end, I really believe that," she continued. "She's going to come around and everything will go back to normal, so can you please just relax and be here with me?"
Realizing her girlfriend was right; Emily sat up too, sitting face to face with the blonde. "You're right, I'm sorry," she said giving JJ a kiss. "Is Garcia still coming over for girls' night tomorrow?"
"She wouldn't miss it for the world," JJ smiled. "I'm pretty sure if we get a case she'll go down there herself and hunt someone down. She's really looking forward to it."
"Well good," Emily laughed, knowing the blonde was telling the truth. "And what did you want to do tonight in this big, empty house, all on our own?" She asked suggestively.
"Oh well I had a few ideas," JJ replied with a grin.
"Oh yeah?" Emily said raising an eyebrow. "What kind of ideas?"
"Why don't you come upstairs and let me show you," JJ suggested, pulling the brunette in for a searing kiss.
"Lead the way beautiful," Emily said once JJ had pulled away; the blonde standing and pulling her up from the couch by the hand. "Lead the way."
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"You're absolutely sure you want to do this?" Olivia asked the next night as she and Alex walked towards her friend Kaley's house. "Because you know we could go back to my house and watch movies. Or we could go to your house and join your moms and Penelope for girls' night."
"No, no I want to do this," Alex replied, hoping her friend couldn't see her obvious nerves, knowing her mom would be furious if she found out the truth about where she was really spending her time that night.
"Really? Because you know Spencer had some pretty valid points yesterday," Olivia pointed out. "I mean you did just get ungrounded, and I really don't want you to get in trouble again."
"Liv you won't, it's fine," Alex insisted. "Spencer just worries too much," she said, flinching slightly at the bitterness in her voice.
Watching her friend closely Olivia considered her next question carefully, eventually deciding that she couldn't keep going on not knowing why her friends seemed to be fighting all the time lately. "What's going on with you two anyways?" She asked. "I mean things seem a little tense between you lately."
"I don't know," Alex shrugged. "She's just…she can be so irritating sometimes."
"She just cares about you," Olivia pointed out. "I mean she's worried. We're all a little worried to be honest."
"Well you don't need to be," Alex sighed. "Everything's fine. So I want to go to a party with you; we're teenagers we're supposed to do stuff like this. And sure I don't really want to be home right now either, but I'm pretty sure that's normal too."
"Okay you have a point," Olivia nodded as they turned a corner, getting closer to Kaley's house. "But why don't you want to be home right now? And be honest," she said, not wanting to hear her friend tell her she was fine for the millionth time, when she obviously wasn't.
"Honestly?" Alex asked, receiving a nod from the blonde in reply. "I guess I'm just…mad," she admitted, unable to find a better explanation.
"At your moms?"
"At a lot of things," Alex shrugged, still not willing to share everything yet; Olivia nodding in understanding. "Can I ask you something?" She then asked.
"Sure," Olivia replied, still nodding.
"You said you've been going to these parties lately whenever we're all busy, but why?" Alex asked curiously, having been thinking about this since the previous night when her blonde friend had confessed that she had attended quite a few parties and had been drinking without her friends.
"I don't know," Olivia shrugged. "I guess because no one really notices," she admitted quietly; Alex immediately understanding that the blonde was referring to her parents.
Feeling bad for her friend, and suddenly guilty about the fact that she had two parents who were constantly worried about her and she was currently ignoring, Alex placed an arm around her friend, offering Olivia the only comfort she could at the moment. "I notice you Liv."
"Thanks Lex," Olivia smiled. "And it's okay to be mad you know. I mean I don't really know what's going on but you're allowed to be mad," she said, pulling her friend tight for a brief moment. "Now let's go have some fun," she smiled, ready for a night that would help them both forget their problems.
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"Oh my goodness this wine is DEVINE!" Garcia exclaimed, plopping down on the sofa across from JJ and Emily, a smile on her face. "Emster I don't know how you could pass this up."
"Pen I told you I'm not drinking until Jen can," Emily replied. "But feel free to enjoy as much of that as you like, we've got plenty of room for you to stay the night if you indulge a little too much," she said, laughing as Garcia immediately held out her glass for the brunette to top up.
"Em you know you really don't have to not drink just because I'm can't," JJ said, stretching out her legs and resting them on the table in front of her; a bag of cheetos balanced on her belly.
"I know that, but I want to," Emily smiled, placing the bottle of wine back on the table. "Plus if I don't have any that leaves more for Pen, and I'm pretty sure she's happy about that."
"Thrilled actually," Garcia smiled, taking a long sip of her drink. "So are you two getting excited about little baby Jareau or what? Because I cannot wait to spoil the little man rotten."
"I guess you could say I'm a little excited," Emily replied, barely able to keep her face straight.
"A little?" JJ repeated with an eyebrow raised. "Emily has taken to have long conversations with my stomach every morning, telling the baby all about our family and how he will have everything he could ever need," she laughed. "Plus she has a countdown to my due date in her planner."
"Okay so maybe I'm a lot excited," Emily shrugged, not the least bit embarrassed.
"Aww Emster I knew you were a big old softy!" Garcia practically squealed. "Wait till I tell Derek!"
"Don't even think about it," Emily replied warningly. "You are not allowed to give that man anymore ammo, he already teases me enough as it is."
"I make no promises," Garcia replied, a giddy smile on her face, before suddenly jumping up from her seat, practically running over to the bookcase where the couple kept their DVDs. "Alright girlies time to pick a movie, and since girls' night was my idea I get to choose."
"Of course you do," JJ laughed, sharing a look with Emily who knew better than to argue with the technical analyst.
"Just nothing too cheesy Pen," Emily said.
"And nothing too sci-fi," JJ added with a grin; Emily sticking her tongue out in reply.
"So we'll just rule out all of Emily's movies then," Garcia said, browsing through the titles, looking like she was looking for something specific. "Oh here it is!" She said, finding the DVD she was looking for and holding it up with a big smile.
"Perfect choice!" JJ smiled, when she saw that the other blonde had chosen Sixteen Candles.
"I agree," Emily said. "And just so you know that one's mine," she added just as her cell phone began to ring.
"Hey no phones during girls' night," Garcia called as she placed the DVD into the player.
"Sorry Pen," Emily replied, checking her caller I.D and seeing her daughter's name on the screen. "It's Lex. I need to take it," she said, accepting the call and placing the phone to her ear. "Lex?"
"Uh…um no actually it's Logan," came the reply from the other end of the phone, Emily immediately sitting up in worry since she thought her daughter was currently at Olivia's house.
"Logan?" Emily repeated getting the attention of both the blondes in the room with her. "What's going on? Why do you have Alex's phone?"
"Well um…we're…" Logan stuttered nervously, before letting out a long sigh. "Look we're at a party and I think that maybe you should pick Alex up," he finally said.
"A par…what's the address?" Emily asked, biting her lip as she tried her best to remain calm.
"82 Willow Lane," Logan replied.
"I'll be there in five minutes, just wait out front," Emily said before hanging up, immediately getting up from the couch and heading for the door.
"Em what's going on?" JJ asked as both she and Garcia followed the brunette towards the entryway.
"Alex is at a party with Logan," Emily replied, pulling on her shoes. "All he said was that I should pick Alex up. He didn't say why, but I have a pretty good guess," she said, her irritation clear in her voice.
"Well I'll go with you," JJ quickly suggested.
"No Jayje, you stay here and put your feet up," Garcia intervened. "You need rest. I'll go with Em."
"Okay but call me as soon as you know something," JJ agreed reluctantly as Garcia grabbed her coat and shoes.
"We will," Emily nodded before leading Garcia out the door. "We'll be back as soon as we can," she called as they both headed for the brunette's car as fast as they could.
Knowing how upset her friend was at this time, Garcia remained quiet during the drive, simply sitting back as the brunette navigated quickly through the streets, seeming to know her way. With Emily's perfect navigation and panicked speeding they made the drive in just under 5 minutes, Emily slowing down and searching for her daughter.
"There," Garcia said, pointing out a couple of teenagers standing at the end of a driveway, one holding the other up. "Oh God."
Pulling the car over and quickly putting it in park, both women got out of the car, making their way over to the young pair as fast as they could, Emily immediately moving to grab Alex since Logan looked like he was struggling to hold up the stumbling girl. "She's drunk," Emily pointed out unnecessarily, as she wrapped her arm around her daughter in order to hold her up.
"Mommy?" Alex practically slurred.
"Actually I'd say she's completely wasted," Logan said as he handed his ex off to her mother, not realizing how angry these words would make the older brunette.
"What the hell were you two thinking?" Emily asked, glaring at the teenage boy. "Alex is supposed to be at Olivia's. Why is she here with you? And what were you guys thinking drinking?"
"Woah, woah, woah, wait a minute," Logan said, putting up his hands in defense. "I'm not here with Alex. I got here 10 minutes ago and found her wandering around like this," he explained, nodding his head towards the young brunette. "Alex and I broke up two weeks ago," he said, not missing the look of surprise on Emily's face. "As far as I know she came here with Olivia."
"Where's Olivia?" Emily asked, doing her best to control her anger.
"Still inside I guess," Logan shrugged.
"Can you take me to her?" Emily then asked, refusing to leave the young blonde behind, Logan nodding his reply. "Alright, Pen can you get her in the car," she said passing Alex off to her friend. "Text Jen and let her know what's going on. I'll be as fast as I can."
"You got it," Garcia nodded. "Come on Lexi let's get you in the car," she said, practically dragging the young brunette towards the car; Alex simply groaning in response.
Knowing Alex was in good hands, Emily followed Logan up the long driveway towards the house that she didn't recognize, anxious to find her daughter's friend, feeling both worried and mad.
"She didn't tell you we broke up did she?" Logan asked, turning towards Emily when they were standing in front of the front door.
"No she didn't," Emily said shaking her head.
"I'm worried about her," Logan admitted.
"Yeah," Emily nodded. "Me too," she said as Logan turned around and opened the door, leading the older woman through the large group of teens scattered throughout the house, both searching for Alex's blonde friend.
"There she is," Logan finally said, Emily following the direction he was pointing to find Olivia sitting atop some boy's lap, a red cup in her hand.
Easily able to tell that the teen was drunk, although much less so then her daughter, Emily felt an immediately sense of anger rush through her; practically stomping her feet as she made her way over to the blonde and tapping her on the shoulder. Expecting one of her friends, Olivia turned her head with a smile on her face, a smile, which fell as soon as she saw who stood there waiting for her.
"We're leaving," Emily said sternly. "Now."
"Yes ma'am," Olivia replied straight away, placing her cup on the nearby table before walking past Emily, dropping her head in shame as she walked through the house with Emily following close behind her.
Knowing she was too angry to speak still, Emily simply followed the blonde all the way outside and down the driveway, Olivia stopping beside Emily's car, the brunette simply walking past her and opening the front passenger door since Garcia was sitting in the back with Alex.
"Get in," Emily said, waiting until the blonde was inside before closing the door and making her way around the vehicle; taking a deep breath before getting in herself. "How is she?" She asked, turning towards Garcia who was stroking through Alex's hair; the teen's head resting on her shoulder.
"She's passed out," Garcia replied. "She basically just mumbled a few things that made no sense and then fell asleep," she explained, Emily nodding as she turned back around, breathing deeply as she started the car back up.
"Miss Prentiss, I'm really sorry," Olivia said, sounding scared as she looked down at her lap, not wanting to meet the older woman's eyes.
"How much did she drink?" Emily asked.
"I don't really know," Olivia replied, looking up carefully. "I know she had a beer when we first got here, and I think she may have done a shot, but we kind of lost track of each other after that," she explained. "She was hanging out with some kids from the drama club. I told her not to drink too much though."
"And what about you? How much were you drinking?"
"I had a couple beers," Olivia said, sounding ashamed. "Are you going to take me home?" She then asked. "Because uh…I uh don't really think my mom will be in the best shape to deal with me," she said, knowing her mother tended to indulge in her own drinking most weekends.
Understanding what the blonde meant, Emily bit her lip. "You can stay with us tonight," Emily said, wanting to be able to talk to Olivia's mother. "But tomorrow I'm taking you home and we're going to talk to your mom. Understand?"
"I understand," Olivia nodded, looking serious.
"And tomorrow we're all going to have a nice, big talk about all of this," Emily added, looking in the review mirror at Alex even though the brunette was still passed out. "A very big talk."