Hey guys. Sorry for the wait. It's midterm week and with 5 courses having exams, it was a pretty busy time. Thanks for the reviews. They really do make my day. Here's the next chapter. Also, just an FYI, I haven't really ever written any sort of "romantic scenes" so I doubt I'll actually put one in; most likely just hints and glances.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to let me know what you think!

Chapter Four

"Jennifer Erin Jareau!" Emily exclaimed, storming into the room the following afternoon.

JJ had just gotten back from her four house soccer practice and was currently standing in front of her bed, clad in a pair of athletic shorts and a sports bar. She turned to face her friend, eyes wide at the level of her voice and the fact that she used her full name. No one did that, except her parents. She didn't even think Emily knew her middle name.

"What's up?" JJ hesitantly asked.

"You. Derek. Spill!" she demanded. "I can't believe I had to hear about you guys through campus gossip!"

"We're not dating."

"Bullshit." Emily challenged.

"We aren't! We just… made out a bit. On my bed. Yesterday afternoon." She smiled sheepishly.

"JJ!" Emily exclaimed again.

"Em, stop yelling and I'll tell you everything." She said as she sat on her bed. "We were talking and he went to leave because we had homework to do and… I kissed him."

(Flashback)

"Don't apologize." He whispered against her lips, before continuing. He wrapped one arm around her waist and tugged her closer while he rested his other hand on her thigh.

"Derek…" JJ reluctantly tried to pull back. "I, I don't -."

"Shh…" Derek silenced her once again and wrapped his other arm around her waist, slipping his fingertips under the bottom hem of her shirt.

She had no idea what came over her, maybe it was everything Emily said or maybe it was everything that happened with Doug, she couldn't know for sure, but the next thing she did know, she was straddling Derek's lap, arms around his neck, tongues dueling for dominance.

They continued making out for a few minutes, lost in their own world, hands roaming freely. This world was interrupted, though, when someone cat-called from the hallway.

JJ quickly pulled back and practically jumped off Derek's lap. She glanced over to the open door before looking back to Derek, eyes wide in fear. "Oh, God, Derek. I'm sorry. I – I don't know what came over me."

Derek slowly got to his feet, not breaking eye contact, giving himself a minute to adjust before speaking. "JJ. Hey, JJ." He reached out to grasp her hands with his. "Calm down. It's alright. Talk to me."

"I, I don't know. I'm not…" JJ sighed, frustrated at her inability to form a coherent sentence. "I'm not that kind of girl. I can't, I mean, one night, I could, I guess… I've never…"

"Okay, okay." He squeezed her hands. "Just, take a deep breath and try again."

Following his instructions, JJ closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "I don't really know what I'm doing."

"That's fine. Let's talk about that." Derek encouraged.

"It's only our second week here. I just, doesn't that seem fast?" She opened her eyes and glanced back up at him. "I'm not a one night stand kind of girl. At least, I don't think I am. It's never really crossed my mind before."

"Wait… what are you talking about? I would never do that to you, JJ."

JJ cringed when she realized what she had just implied. "No, I don't… I don't think that, Derek, I just don't know what we're doing. I think, there's potential for me to have feelings for you, but… but I don't think I know you enough to actually, actually make that decision. Do, does that make sense?"

"Absolutely. JJ, in high school, I was… a player." He smirked briefly before becoming serious again. "When I got accepted to this school, I made a decision to leave that part of me behind. I'm not that person anymore. You're right, we don't know each other… and I won't lie. I feel something towards you; I'm not sure what it is just yet. Maybe we should, I don't want to say pretend this didn't happen, but maybe we should use it to our advantage?"

JJ frowned in confusion. "Advantage? How?"

"Let's continue getting to know each other. And next weekend, I want to take you out. On a date." He replied. "We can still do this the right way, just slightly different."

JJ nodded. "I, okay. I can do that. I'd like to do that." She dropped her eyes once more briefly before glancing towards the door. "It's probably already about the building but, do you think, can we maybe keep this to ourselves?" She paused before suddenly continuing. "I mean, not because I don't want everyone to know or because I'm ashamed or because I don't think it's going to work or -." She rambled, realizing that her request may have come off wrong.

Derek placed a finger to her lips. "JJ. It's fine. I think that it would be best to keep it to ourselves as well." He gently pulled her into his arms and embraced her tightly. "Are you okay now?"

JJ nodded into his chest. "Yes. Thank you."

"Anytime." He replied, pressing his lips to the top of her head.

(End Flashback)

"And then he went back to his room to do his homework." JJ finished recapping the previous day for Emily, who was practically jumping up and down with excitement.

"I told you! I knew he was interested!" She squealed.

"Yeah yeah yeah." JJ laughed. "But this doesn't mean that it's going to work. We might still decide that we just want to be friends after all."

"Yeah, right. And I'm the Queen of England." Emily remarked sarcastically.

"Shut up. I need to shower. Is that allowed now?"

"Yes, yes, go." She gestured towards the door.

JJ stood and gathered her belongings before heading towards the door. Pausing in the doorway, JJ turned back to her friend. "Hey, Em? I'm sorry I didn't tell you yesterday. I just… I didn't want to chance anything."

"It's okay, JJ, I understand." Emily smiled. "Now, go. You stink."

JJ just shook her head and walked away, laughing.