005


I spent my day in and out of classes and making progress on a research assignment. I have a friend who is a senior this year, and although it's a solo project, the information she finds can get overwhelming. I shift through literature and illustrations and sort them into piles to help her narrow down the necessary information. After about an hour of that, I went over to the Brodie Center and worked out for two hours—Derek checked out the facility, so I escaped the general gym and sneaked my way into a Zumba dance class. I was surprised on how intense it was, but I completely expected Morgan's irritation when I walked out.

"Why did you run off?"

"I'm not in real danger," I gulped down some water, "and I needed to work out my stress."

He sighed and walked with me out of the building. "Stress over what? You seem to have your academic life here balanced."

I shrugged, stopped walking and gulped down the rest of my water. The sweat on my body started to make me cold from the contact with the cool evening air, so I started to jog back to my dorm building. Derek easily matched my pace regardless of his slacks—and tight black tee, really? I won't complain. Derek texted Spencer that we were safe in my dorm after I grabbed some pajamas, slipped on my crocs and went down the hall to take my shower; I came back with my towel wrapped around my hair and sitting straight up on the top of my head. My oversized grey tee-shirt and my old and worn out Duke sweat pants, coupled with my crocs, was a real hit in my dorm. Hailey and Tessa immediately started to laugh at me, but I tossed my towel and clothing in my laundry bin and tucked my crocs behind the bin. I tip-toed carefully around their project on the ground and asked, "What are you guys working on?"

"I'm making a map."

I sat down on the bottom bunk, "Are you using the map as an outline for those wooden pieces?"

"Yeah," Tessa replied, "Franklin has a friend who'll cut the pieces out. After that I'm going to upholster the continents and glue them up on the wallpaper we already have."

"Just scattered around the room?"

Tessa nodded.

"I like it," I sighed from sudden physical exhaustion. I leaned back against the wall, but I didn't get to get comfortable. I jumped up and off the bed when I heard my phone ringing the chorus of "I'm Into You." Tessa rolled her eyes while Hailey giggled and smirked,

"Spencer, huh?"

I hushed her right before I picked up his call. "Spencer?"

"Yeah," I could hear his exasperated smile, "Derek said you guys just got back a few minutes ago?"

"Yeah, I went to the gym—"

Franklin let himself in, saw me and then asked Tessa, "Is that Spencey-boy on the phone?"

She nodded.

I hushed him.

Derek laughed.

"Who's that? Are you okay?"

I laughed, "Calm down, it's just Franklin."

"Oh," he sighed, as if he was relieved.

Franklin plopped down on the seat cushion next to Derek and said, "My date was a success, thank you very much."

Spencer went to talk to me, but I cut him off and said, "If you're off work, just come over."

"I can't," He swallowed his spit, "I have to stay with Hotch in his hotel. One of our unsubs was in my lobby again today."

"Oh," I sighed, my dejection apparent. "When will I see you again?"

"Soon—soon!"

Hailey and Tessa sat on the bottom bunk, so I plopped down on Franklin's lap and continued my conversation over his quiet protests, "Are you closing to catching them?"

Franklin cut him off and yelled into the phone, "She wants to know when you're gonna fuck again—"

"Shut up!" I elbowed him in his right bicep and said, "Ignore him, Spencer. I want to know when we can go out and grab some dinner."

"Well," He quietly breathed out, "You can come join Hotch and Gideon for dinner. We're going to go to a Thai place that's painted a bright red—"

"That's ten minutes away from my dorm. I'll be there in fifteen."

I could practically hear his grin, "If it's ten minutes away, why is it going to take you fifteen minutes?"

"Well," I suppressed a giggled, "I have to dry my hair and change—unless you want me to show up in my grandma pajamas and my hair up in a soaked towel."

Franklin grinned, "I'm pretty sure that's not what he wants to see wet—"

I elbowed him again; Derek laughed then coughed to cover it up.

"I'm going to get ready, ok? I'll see you soon."

"Ok," his breath ruffled the sound in the phone, "I'll see you soon—but don't walk. Have Derek get you two a cab."

"Okay," I replied, "we'll get a cab."

We hung up and I jumped up. I quickly got dressed in the closet—I'm used to Franklin being around, but it feels too awkward to do anything with Derek there, even though he'd leave the room. I slipped a pair of red suede boots over my tight black jeans and put on a red leather jacket over my black, long sleeve, knit, swoop neck shirt. Tesla braided my hair while I carefully put on brown eyeliner and a coral lipstick. I popped in a pair of gold studs before Derek and I left for the restaurant.

Once we sat in the cab, Derek asked, "So, are you and Reid dating yet or what?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "he asked to be 'official' or anything similar."

"He likes you a lot, you know."

I nodded.

Derek laughed awkwardly for a few seconds, "When we're in D.C., he tags along with me to the gym. He doesn't really do a lot—he's too busy checking out the elements of the weights instead of lifting them."

I laughed and added, "J.J. said that he tries to get tips from you." I looked to the left and at Derek, "Can't he just ask me?"

Derek sighed and shrugged, "He's a complicated kid. He's probably the most nervous person I know." He looked into my eyes, "He sees that you're very beautiful and that intimidates him."

I smiled, "Thanks, I guess… That doesn't make sense for such a logical guy."

Derek laughed out loud and then said, "Even geniuses have their nervous ticks."

I nodded and remained quiet for the last few minutes to the restaurant. Morgan and I walked in together and quickly found Hotch, Gideon and Spencer. I shook Hotch's and Gideon's hands and introduced myself before sitting down next to Spencer.


A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short. I'm back to school and I wanted to get this up before I forget the things I wanted to put in it. The next sex scene will probably be in 007 if 006 is another short chapter. Anyway, comment please! Feedback is appreciated! Also, thanks to NoSkilz for the first comment!