Looking up at the clock, they could all swear that time was ticking backwards. How was it that it wasn't even 8:00 yet and they were already this spent? Around the room, they were all trying to find things to occupy their time, but it wasn't making time go by any faster. Emily lit up one of her cigarettes, leaning back in her seat and inhaling. After that argument with Rossi, she needed something to take the edge off, and she figured this was a much better alternative than getting into a physical altercation with the principal. JJ sat at her table, her head rested against her hand, fighting to keep her eyes open. She stared off at something in the distance and tried to find something to keep herself awake, but it wasn't working. Spencer fidgeted with his pen, still drawing a blank on how he was going to start this essay. He was already pissed off enough at himself for ending up in here – he wasn't going to fail himself and not get this done. Then there was Derek, idly picking out the loose threads in his letterman jacket, and when that was done, he'd reach in and play with the strings in the hood of his sweatshirt. Last but not least, there was Garcia, working on one of her sketches. She was extremely glad that she remembered to grab her sketchbook on the way out of the house that morning, because she'd be bored out of her skull otherwise. Slowly but surely, they were all fading, and they'd all dozed off at their tables.

Principal Rossi stood at the front of the library, shaking his head. They were all asleep at their tables, Emily taking up the back two tables to make herself comfortable. "Wake up!" he shouted, but received no answer. Frustrated, he had to come up with a way to get them all alert. He paused before finally having his answer. "Who has to use the bathroom?"

They all raised their hands and quickly woke up, getting out of their seats. He escorted them down the hallway and stood outside the bathrooms, leaning against the wall.

Spencer took the opportunity to splash some water on his face, hoping to keep himself awake. He'd failed himself ending up here, and he'd done it again by falling asleep in detention, which would probably get him in more trouble. That was the last thing he needed right now, so he needed to find a way to stay alert.

Derek walked over, washing his hands and drying them off, bunching up the paper towel and throwing it away.

"He shoots, he scores," Derek said to himself, smirking. Spencer smiled awkwardly, following him out.

Meanwhile, in the girls' room, Garcia was at the mirror, fixing her bright colored clip-in extensions and fixing her lipstick. Curious, JJ looked at her, almost studying her. Her platinum blonde hair was accentuated with pink, purple, and orange highlights, and all of the jewelry she wore was plastic and fake. It was all bright and loud, much like she guessed her personality was.

"You're Garcia, right? That artist chick everyone's always talking about. You spend lunch in the library on the computers hacking or something."

She closed her lipstick, smacking her lips together.

"Is that what got you in here?"

"It's Penelope, but my friends call me Penny," she started, before lowering her voice, "or at least they would if they existed in this universe."

It was the first time that JJ had ever heard her speak, and she was surprised by how sad she sounded. Was this really how the rest of the student population felt – did they all feel like lonely outsiders because they weren't in cliques and didn't have friends?

All thoughts were erased when Rossi knocked on the door. "Ladies, two minute warning."

Garcia stowed her things back into her bag, wiping off her glasses before putting them back on.

JJ knocked on the stall Emily had holed herself up in. "Rossi wants us out of here."

"Give me a minute!" Emily snapped.

Garcia walked out, JJ close behind her, leaving Emily alone. She stepped out of the stall, taking a deep breath and sighing. There were some days that she hated herself, and with the argument she had just had with a grown man who sees her as worthless, this was one of those days. She could've cut again, but she decided against it, and opted to do something she hadn't in a while: cry. Stepping up to the mirror, she splashed some water on her face and exhaled, before reaching for a paper towel and dabbing her face clean. She wasn't going to show him that he got to her, because then he would win. No, she wasn't having any of that. Instead, she composed herself, walking out and back to the library, taking her seat.

Emily sat on the librarian's desk, a Russian book in her hand. The one thing she appreciated her mother for was the year she was overseas, because she'd been able to stay in Italy and Russia. She did some regrettable things that she'd never forgive herself for, but at the same time, she learned two new languages and was exposed to new cultures. She remembered the first time she really cried in front of her mother was when she said they were moving back to the states and, once again, she'd have to pick up and leave.

At the same time, Derek was using the railings to stretch out his legs, probably to warm himself up for practice later that day. He eyed Emily and smirked to himself.

"Didn't know you could even read, Prentiss."

She rolled her eyes. "I could say the same about you. Reading is pretty hard. It has nothing to with touching other guys in the junk or sleeping with cheerleaders on the weekends."

"Real nice," he muttered, reaching down and stretching his back.

"You're right, I shouldn't just assume it's the cheerleaders. It's probably student council too, right? Actually, it's probably anything with a vagina willing to put out, and I'm sure considering your social status, that's an awful lot for you."

Derek shook his head, going back to ignoring her. He turned to JJ, leaning against the railing. "Are you still grounded tonight?"

She shrugged. "My dad says yes, but my mom says not to listen to him, so I'm going with no?"

He eyed Emily before turning back to JJ. "There's this huge party at Anderson's house tonight. His parents are out of town and you know how he's always trying to prove himself and show that he can throw a killer bash. It's supposed to be pretty crazy."

She raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah, you going?"

She shook her head. "I really doubt it."

"Why not?"

She sighed. "Well, if I do what dad says not to do just because mom says to do it, it's going to just blow up into another argument and I really don't want to deal with that again tonight. I wish they'd just divorce and get this over with."

Emily looked at her. "Who do you prefer?"

"Excuse me?"

"Do you prefer your mom or your dad?" she asked, setting down the book.

"They're both pretty fucked up if you ask me, ever since-" she stopped, clearing her throat. "Neither. If I had to make the choice between them? I'd go live with my aunt. They don't give a shit and they just use me in their twisted little game to get back at each other. I'm not their daughter, I'm their bargaining chip."

Garcia scoffed, the first anyone else in the library had heard her talk all day. She fidgeted with her fingers before exhaling, avoiding eye contact with everyone.

"Shut up," JJ snapped.

Derek smirked. "You're just having a pity party over here."

"If I didn't, nobody else would."

He rolled his eyes. "How heartbreaking."

Emily hopped off of the counter. "What about you, pighead? Do you get along with your parents?"

"I would if I had parents, as in plural." He zipped up his hoodie. "But it's just my mom."

"So, daddy couldn't take it anymore and took off on you, is that it?" she asked, walking to the other side of the library.

Derek's face immediately changed to pure anger.

"Someone's touchy," she observed, leaning against one of the tables.

Derek took a few deep breaths, digging his nails into his hands and trying not to let the anger get the best of him.

Spencer walked over, resting a hand on each of their shoulders, trying to be a peacemaker. "Listen, guys," he ignored when they both swatted his arm away, "we all have issues with our parents, okay? I mean, it sucks for everyone, doesn't it?"

Emily gave him a look. "Please, you're every parent's wet dream." She patted his arm. "Nice try though."

He paused, biting his cheek. He wanted to spit out 'would you mind telling that to my asshole of a father who lives ten minutes down the road and hasn't called in seven years', but held back. He just saw JJ pour her heart out and get stomped on, and didn't want the same treatment.

"Poindexter, parents wish their kids were you, so other than the funny way your mother dresses you, what problem do you have?" she asked, motioning toward him.

Spencer sat down on the table, looking down at the floor.

Derek glared at him. "Why do you feel a need to insult everyone?"

"It's called honesty, and it's out there in the real world."

"You could at least call him by his name," he argued, nodding his head toward Spencer. "What's your name, kid?"

"Spencer," he said softly, chancing a look up at him.

"See? He's human and he has a name."

Emily patted his arm. "My condolences, you poor thing."

"What about you?" JJ asked.

"What about me?" Emily responded, turning to face her.

"What's your full name, if we're getting on a first name basis around here?"

"That depends on yours, because I know your parents are morons, but I'd like to think they could do better than double letters."

She gave her a look before giving her name. "Jennifer."

Emily leaned over, patting the desk. "I wish you luck in life, because that is definitely the name of a bitch. You seem to hold the title well though."

JJ shook her head, glaring and flipping her off.

"Such an obscene gesture from a petite, perfect little princess."

"I'm not perfect," she spat out.

Emily braced her hands on the table. "Do we still have our v-card over here?"

She kept her eyes in a glare, giving no reaction as Emily kept going into detail about the things she may or may not have done with guys.

"Leave her alone," Derek said before standing up. "Don't talk to her, don't look at her, and don't even think about her. Understand?"

Emily clicked her tongue. "I'm trying to help her."

"She doesn't need your help, so leave her alone." At that, Derek sat back down, resting a hand on JJ's back and gesturing her to turn around, facing away from Emily.

The library stayed quiet until one of the doors opened a while later. One of the janitors walked in, blasting The Beatles' White Album on his iPod speakers, walking into the office and dumping the trash. When he walked out, he turned to Spencer.

"Reid, how you doing?"

He gave him an awkward smile before looking back at the table.

Emily smirked. "Your dad works here?"

He made a face at her, shaking his head. No, he's down the street with his new family being a prick.

"Hey, Hotch?" Emily asked, leaning back in the seat. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask me another one," he said, shrugging.

"How does somebody become a janitor?"

"Why, are you looking into it? Bright future for you." By the way there was a smile on his face, everyone in the room could tell they interacted quite often, probably on the Saturdays Emily spent here.

"I just want to know how it happens, because Derek over here doesn't have a very promising future, and I think the custodial arts would be a fantastic career move."

"Really?" Hotch asked, turning to Derek, who immediately turned away. "You all just think I'm a peasant, a common folk, or even a peon in society? Think it all you want, but following you little jerks around for the past eight years of my life, I've learned a few things. I have the keys to every locker. I read the notes you throw in the garbage when you're done. I listen in to your little conversations that you think are private. You may not think it, but I'm the eyes and ears of this building. Rossi may have the name and the title, but he doesn't know shit about what goes on in his hallways, so long as they're pristine and to his liking." He saw the shocked looks on their faces and smiled to himself, checking his watch and looking at the clock in the room. "More fun for you. The clock in here is twenty minutes fast. Enjoy."

Derek couldn't help but chuckle, and Garcia was enjoying a gigglefit of her own. In the conversations she'd had with Hotch when she was spending her lunches in the library, she knew all of this, and watching their reactions was priceless.

Spencer checked his wristwatch then looked up at the clock, groaning. "Shit."