Hi again! Firstly, thanks to those who are following this story! Im really having fun writing it so far.

As you´ve undoubtably noticed I dont have a beta and english isnt my first language, so please bear with any mistakes you come across. Thanks!

So, Im not sure yet where to take this story; this chapter I´m introducing Morgan and then I have some plans for the next two or three chapters but if there is anything you´d like to see in this fic please feel free to offer suggestions :-)

Chapter 4: Day 2

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The cafeteria was swarming like a bee hive, hundreds of students walking, running, laughing and yelling, sitting at tables or on the floor with their trays, enjoying their first break after two long periods.

Spencer Reid tried his best not to accidently bump into the wrong person as he made his way over to the table area, a full tray in his hands. He had tried to relax but spending one whole period being stared down by the members of Kyle's gang that were in his Spanish class and a second period being completely ignored wasn't doing much for his spirits.

In addition, crowds like these made him nervous in general, there was just too much going on –it was too hard to keep a good overview which, for someone like him, was crucial. No one liked getting their face shoved into mashed potatoes just because of one small moment of negligence.

He gulped nervously as he took in all the closed-off groups sitting at the tables, about to make a bee line for the restrooms when a cheery, loud voice all but yelled his name from across the room.

He turned to find Penelope standing in front of him, just as bright and colorful as the day before, a blinding smile on her face. "Hey there, boy genius. How´ve you been?"

She looked so cheery that he decided not to mention his troubles to her.

"I've been trying to find somewhere to sit," he told her instead, shrugging helplessly, "but no luck so far."

"Well, lucky you," Garcia beamed, grabbing his arm and pulling him along, "you can sit with the most awesome person to ever set foot in this school: ME!"

Spencer didn't even think about protesting; too busy keeping his tray balanced as she dragged him towards the back of the room. There was a table by the windows which was a little isolated, with just two people sitting at it.

Spencer recognized Emily immediately, all in black as she picked at her food, big headphones blocking out the seemingly endless chatter of the boy sitting next to her. He was a little on the chubby side, with brown hair and glasses, sporting one of the ugliest shirts Spencer had ever seen. Both looked up when Penelope sat down at the table, pulling Spencer into a seat next to her.

"Spencer Reid, meet my delicious boyfriend slash future hubby Kevin Lynch."

Spencer waved a little awkwardly as Kevin smiled at him, greeting him not very attractively with a mouth full of mashed potatoes.

"And this," Penelope beamed, pointing at Emily, "is the second most awesome person you'll ever meet, namely-"

"Hey, Emily." Spencer smiled, and Penny's jaw dropped when Emily smiled back, asking him how he was.

"You've met?" she asked, surprised but not displeased.

Emily shrugged, completely nonchalant as she said, "We clicked immediately. I think Spencer and I are meant to be."

She snorted when Penny grinned and Kevin gawked while Spencer blushed deeply in embarrassment. He really liked Emily and her quick wit, but it seemed he had underestimated her yesterday. Plus, she did seem to have friends after all.

He was about to come up with a reply when Emily added, "Unless my brother gets to him first, that is."

She made a sour face and Spencer coughed, sure he would choke on a piece of carrot at that - but instead of flabbergasted stares Emily just got more laughs. She seemed to be doing those sorts of jokes quite a lot and no one looked surprised at the way she talked about her older brother.

Spencer couldn't help but remember meeting Aaron the day before, and couldn't help but blush further, Emily was joking of course; she couldn't have any idea that he really did like guys. And her brother was every girl´s dream boyfriend, perfect in appearance and behavior –the only reason he had even noticed Spencer the other day was because of his hero-complex that was for sure.

Not that Spencer had come to this school with expectations as high as finding himself a boyfriend, much less someone that clearly above his level…

"So you've met white knight Aaron? Isn't he the perfect gentleman?" Garcia interrupted his thoughts, waving a hand in front of her face like she was hot, "And he liked you? Oh, la la. I'm crushed of course, but I can understand his choice, you're so pretty!"

"That's not what happened!" Spencer protested, now terribly flustered, "he was just helping us out when we got into trouble with, eh—"

"Kyle." Emily helped out, and both Kevin and Penny frowned, their teasing thankfully forgotten for the moment.

"Oh, darn," Penny sighed. Her smile faltered a bit as she looked at Spencer. "Well, as you may have realized, we aren't the most popular kids around here. If you sit with us, they might bother you too so…"

"Oh, it´s fine," Spencer waved her off, "I'm used to it. And I like sitting with you guys…if you'll let me."

"Oh, of course, sweetie! We'd love to have you!", Penny chimed, causing Emily to roll her dark eyes.

"Really, Pen, where else is he gonna sit?" she interjected. "I mean, look at him."

She caught first Penelope's accusing, then Spencer's crestfallen expression, quickly correcting herself as she realized what shed said.

"Oh, no, I don't mean it like that. You're a great guy. You're just not-"

She broke off, helplessly gesturing around them until Penelope took pity on her and helped her out.

"What she means is you won't fit into any of the social groups around here."

Seeing Spencer´s questioning face, she pointed at the tables surrounding them, "See, there is a strict seating order around here. There's the jocks, varsity jocks, cheerleaders…"

Spencer followed her eyes as she pointed out the different tables, seeing what she meant.

"…wannabe gangsters…"

Kyle's gang, slouching around the other end of the room. They seemed to be occupying more than one table, separated into smaller groups among themselves. He quickly looked away.

"…preps…"

Spencer briefly caught sight of Aaron Hotchner sitting at that table, looking like he was giving a speech to his well-dressed peers, the fork like a microphone in his hand.

"…athletes…" He recognized JJ, with some other guys and girls next to Aaron's table. She caught his eye and smiled briefly, without waving though.

"…and the nerds aka us," Penelope finished her explanation. "Kev and I are geniuses when it comes to technology, and Emily is the most literate person I've ever met. She writes everybody's essays."

"For pay," Emily informed him immediately, a small, derisive smile tugging at the corners of her purple lips.

"And you, my tiny friend," Penelope added with a huge grin, "you can be our expert on everything. We´ll be a great team!"

"Yeah, like The Incredibles!" Kevin piped up, only to receive some annoyed looks in return.

"You must know, we are outsiders by choice," Emily told Spencer casually, not bothering to even try and whisper, "But Kevin here really belongs at this table."

Spencer couldn't help but smile, an unfamiliar but nice feeling setting in as he watched the three of them bicker and laugh. By the time they were finished eating he already felt like part of their group.

When the first bell rang they got up, getting in line to put their trays away.

Spencer hesitated, stopping in mid-step when he saw that the line they were about to get into was made up of some gangster guys at the very end. The others caught his look and Emily swiftly pulled him toward the other line.

"You know," Penelope told him, "you really need to beware of some of those guys, especially those around Kyle. They're not all bad though."

"Ah, come on, Pen," Emily scoffed, "you're just saying that because of your freakish, completely unhealthy infatuation with one Derek Morgan."

She might have gotten a cheeky answer but it didn't come to that because in that moment a voice from right behind them cut in, "Talking about me behind my back again, Prentiss? I thought you were a lady?"

They all jumped in surprise, and spun around.

Behind them in line stood a tall, black guy in jeans and a leather jacket over a white muscle shirt. At first sight, he looked very similar to Kyle in his get-up, and Spencer instinctively tensed, but the guy –Derek Morgan- merely smirked at them, an amused sparkle to his eyes.

Emily was the first to regain her wit, "I have no problem being a lady as long as I'm treated as one, Morgan."

She glared at him, her frown matching Kevin's and adding to Spencer's nervousness. Penelope seemed the only one not bothered by his sudden appearance.

"Don't mind her," she winked at him, "she got up on the wrong foot this morning."

Morgan returned her smirk, the small crease lines around his eyes making his smile one that spoke of warmth and fun.

Spencer kept quiet anyway as he watched their exchange, not trusting these mixed signals, making himself as small as possible without moving.

The guy seemed like he was nice enough and Penny seemed to trust him but he looked just like those guys with Kyle and he was in a group like them, too. Guys who looked like that generally saw him as an easy victim and he didn't need yet another tormenter.

"You should probably find yourself another line, Mr. Big Bad, before Em kills you with her looks." Penelope´s mood remained light and joking, but it was clear that she also meant what she´d said. The others obviously didn't care much for this Morgan guy.

"Ah, you wound me, baby girl," he pulled a grimace, clutching the part of his shirt over his heart, "and here I was thinking we were friends."

Spencer watched their exchange in wonder, asking himself how Pen had managed to become friends with this guy –they seemed to be on good terms despite their differences, flirting even. Kevin next to him seemed to know though, and he didn't seem to like it much.

"She's not friends with her friend´s bully's buddy." he snapped suddenly, earning himself a surprised look from both Penelope and Morgan.

A shadow passed over Morgan's face briefly and Spencer felt Kevin tensing up next to him, clearly not as brave as he pretended to be faced with someone who was at least twice his weight.

"Huh?" was all Morgan replied though, shaking his head, "I don't run with Kyle anymore, everyone knows that. I have my own gang now."

"Tomato, tomato.", Emily scoffed, clearly not believing him.

Morgan ignored her this time, his eyes wandering only to end up meeting Spencer's.

Spencer felt his breath catch as he was suddenly being fixated, seized up. Just what he´d tried to avoid. He barely kept himself from taking a step back and showing his apprehension, telling himself that nothing could happen to him in a filled cafeteria.

Surprisingly though, Morgan still didn't seem particularly aggressive, brown eyes watching him fidget curiously, slightly amused if anything. A spark of interest flashed over his face, and he stepped closer, invading his space.

"And who´s your new friend?" he asked Penelope –only to get a prompt answer from Emily instead.

"None of your business, that´s who he is." she snapped, stepping in front of Spencer protectively, "Fuck off, Morgan, go bother someone else."

For a moment nobody moved, Morgan and Emily glaring at each other silently, while Penny just looked exasperated. Then though, Morgan gave in, taking a step back.

"Fine," he shrugged, "See you later, Pen."

He reached out and picked an uneaten apple off of Kevin's tray provocatively, seemingly not noticing how the other boy jumped when he reached out.

"You mind?" he asked, not waiting for an answer before he took a large bite and walked away without another word, joining his friends by the exit.

Exit Morgan :-)

So... what do you think? Please let me know!