A/N: This chapter title translates to high school. Thanks to my general beta, Axellia, my Spanish beta, MayMarie, and to IluvmyTV-ugottaproblem and Axellia, who reviewed the last chapter. This chapter takes place during the episode Cool Hunter, but I changed one or two things for the story's purposes. Enjoy!

"I was not!" Penelope argued as she and Don walked through the halls of the New York Crime Lab.

"Oh yes you were! You just don't want to admit it!" Don rebutted. They continued arguing in the format of "No I wasn't!" Yes you were!" until they reached the break room. Lindsay, Sheldon and Danny were all talking about a case when Penelope and Don walked in, bickering.

"You so were!" Don disputed, pouring him and Penelope coffee.

"Thanks." She took the cup, added cream and took a sip. "No I wasn't! You maybe, but definitely not me." He just rolled his eyes as Danny checked his watch, looked at Lindsay and Sheldon. He put the folder away and folded his hands.

"What are you guys arguing about now?" Danny asked, clearly interested.

"Ah, it's nothing." Penelope brushed off gently. She thought about it for a minute before deciding to ask them in a nonchalant way. "Do you think that just because someone takes a specific stereotype in high school, let's say a cheerleader, that they were popular or unpopular?"

"I think it depends on what you mean by 'popular'." Sheldon replied, adjusting his glasses and sitting up a little.

Penelope sighed quietly. "She had lots of friends, very pretty, came off as sort of perfect. That kind of popular, the very superficial kind."

"Then sure. She sounds like she filled out the typical cheerleader stereotype to a T. Would this hypothetical 'she' be you, by any chance?" Sheldon sat back and waited for his answered.

"Yes!" Don stole the words right out of Penelope's mouth. "She was very much a typical, popular cheerleader in high school and she refuses to admit it."

"That because I wasn't!" Penelope tried to argue, but she knew it was a lost cause.

"You sure sound it. Popular, I mean." Lindsay commented.

"She hates to talk about it." Don whispered in a playful tone. "She says it's too superficial."

"That's because it is. Was. Whatever!" Penelope scoffed and poured another cup of coffee, while Danny munched on an apple and Lindsay sipped on a Diet Coke.

"Sounds like someone didn't want to let go of high school." Danny raised an eyebrow and took a bite of his apple.

"I moved on!" Penelope started. She took a breath and continued. "But you're right, I liked high school. A lot. Everything was so simple back then, you know? No responsibilities, not a care in the world. Just you and the little confined universe you grew up in."

Don sensed the depressing tone behind the statement and commented. "It doesn't matter if you like high school or not, 'cause you were still popular!"

"Shut up! And anyways, you were a big nerd in high school." Penelope playfully jested.

"I was not!"

"Yes you were! You were as tall as you are now, so you towered over everyone else. Thank god you played basketball because it turned the team around completely. But you had the slicked back Elvis hair and the Members Only jacket and your weird tube socks..."

"The tube socks were a gift from my grandmother, I'll have you know." Don interrupted.

"That doesn't mean you had to wear them!" Penelope teased. "You were too sweet for your own good. That's another thing! You used to hit on all the girls, even the ones far out of your league."

"You mean you?" Lindsay asked, making Penelope and Don realize there were three other people in the room, listening intensely to their conversation right now.

"I guess." Penelope whispered.

"But hey, it worked didn't it?" Don smirked and raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it did. But I also grew up with you, Don. It was different."

There was an awkward pause before Sheldon made an excuse and left, leaving Danny and Lindsay.

"Are you gonna tell us what went down between you guys or not?" Danny abruptly asked.

Don looked to Penelope. "Should we?"

Penelope shrugged her shoulders. "Why not? I'll start." She cleared her throat and straightened up a little. "Don and I dated most of high school and some after that. She shot him a quick glance. "You continue."

"All right. On our high school graduation day, I proposed to Penny and she said yes." Don paused for a reaction from his coworkers. Anything, just to make sure they were still listening.

"You guys were engaged?" Lindsay asked. Danny had a shocked look on his face for about a second, the puzzlement overcame him.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Well..." Penelope started to continue, but Mac abruptly walked in with two slips of paper in his hands.

"Danny, you're with Stella. 419 over in Washington Heights." He paused for a moment and glanced at Penelope. "You wanna tag along, Diaz?"

"Really?" Penelope asked, flattered by the offer.

"Sure. You put in for fieldwork, you know the area. Go with Danny, Stella will meet you guys there." He patted Danny on the back and Danny and Penelope took off down the hall, chattering away.

"Lindsay, you're with me and Sheldon. Potential 422. Apparently there's blood leaking from the faucets at this place." Lindsay raised her eyebrows at Mac as he continued. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Let's just go and see what's there. You too, Flack." The three of them left for the crime scene, Mac completely unaware of what he interrupted.