She walked in, the class hadn't started yet. She took a seat in the back. It wasn't long until Jeff walked in and took his spot in front of the big group.

"Good morning everybody." It was silent. "Hope you all had a good weekend, because I'm afraid I've got a little bad news. The perfect murder paper, it was a mess. There was only 1 good paper, and that paper was plagiarized." He held it up. "The program we use to spot such papers was out of use, luckily for me I know this paper already. I've read it with one of my students, 10 years ago."

"How can you remember a paper that was written 10 years ago." One of his students asked.

"Because it was one out of 5 'Perfect Murder' papers that actually were perfect, in the 10 years I've been teaching."

Veronica smiled knowing it must've been hers. "I'm new to this class," She leaned in and said to the person next to her. "is it any good?"

"Yeah, normally.. but for the past couple of weeks he's been talking about this former student of his a lot. Comparing all of us.. it's getting a little annoying."

Veronica smiled. "I can imagine."

The student next to her started speaking so that Jeff could hear him. "This former student you've been talking about so much lately, what does he do now?"

Jeff looked up and made eye contact with Veronica before answering the boy. "She is a chef, actually."

"But if she was so good.."

"She graduated when she was 16, no one wanted her."

Veronica spoke up. "Maybe she didn't want to work a boring job for the rest of her life?"

"Catching murderers isn't boring." A girl up front said.

Another student spoke up. "16 is young to finish college, how did she do that?"

"I bet she was super smart or something, right?"

Jeff nodded. "Yes, you could call her a genius. I believe her IQ is around 160, but I'm not completely sure."

"Poor girl."

Jeff turned towards the boy saying this. "Why that? She can do anything she wants."

Veronica spoke up again. "She's not normal."

"That's a little harsh."

She shrugged. "Everyone just wants to be normal, don't they?"

Jeff shook his head. "She was happy not being normal."

"Was she?" Veronica looked at him. "Are you sure of that, being her teacher maybe she just put up a front?"

"I don't think so, we were pretty close. I mentored her."

Veronica smiled at him. 'Pretty close' was a bit of an understatement.

Another boy in the front spoke up. "So she became a chef? That's a waste.."

Jeff nodded. "I agree. She has an amazing mind, could catch many criminals." He smiled at Veronica. "Let's get back on track, today we're going to discuss psychological profiling again.."

…

"Miss Mancini, do you mind staying for a while?" Veronica nodded and smiled before walking to the front.

"Wazzup?" She smiled at him.

"Wazzup, really?" He smiled. "I remember the first time you said that. Come to think of it, the only time."

She looked surprised at him. "Do you?"

"Yes, it was the day after we first slept together." He smiled. "I mean, after I took your virginity."

"Wow, you really get a kick out of that don't you?"

"Me being the first guy you ever slept with? Owyeah.." He smiled. "Remember you were afraid to tell me?"

"Yeah, I do."

He shook his head. "Thinking I wouldn't want you.' He put a hand on her cheek. "I really love you."

She took a step back, making him remove his hand. "Loved, you mean."

"Of course. What did I say?"

"Love."

He smiled. "Now that's crazy. How are you and that cop doing?"

"Good, he started work again."

"How about I treat you to lunch? It's nothing near as good as what you cook.."

"Sounds good."

…

"Do you have a kid yet?"

Jeff almost choked in his food.

"Take that as a 'No'."

"No, Betty.. she doesn't want one."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

He looked up at her."Why?"

"Because I know how much you want one."

"What about you, do you still want a kid?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Me and Ed.. we're not really anywhere near that conversation."

"We had that conversation."

She huffed. "I wasn't even 19 when we did. I was foolish."

"You were never foolish."

"When we had that conversation I thought we would be together forever. Foolish."

He took her hand. "We still can.."

She took her hand back. "You really are flirting with me."

"Can you blame me?"

"Yes, you're married and I'm in a relationship. With a man, I love." She got up. "A real man, one who hasn't lied to me for years."

"Ronnie.."

"Thank you for lunch."

He took her arm. "Please, sit down. Finish lunch with me. I won't flirt."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

She nodded and sat down, hating herself for not being able to say 'no'.

"How did you like my class?"

She smiled and shrugged. "It was okay."

"Were you happy, with me?"

"At the time, but when I look back on it.."

"I really thought you were happy."

"When I was actually with you, yes.. but as soon as I left your house. It was just all gone. I felt dirty, and.. wrong."

He nodded. "Do you really prefer being normal over being smart?"

"I didn't say that."

"Subtext."

"Sometimes, yes. I wonder what my life would've been like."

"You belong to the 0,001% of the smartest people in the world."

"I'm aware. Though I didn't take all the IQ tests, I stopped after a while. Not caring if my IQ is 160 or 180. It doesn't change who I am."

"I still think it's a shame you don't use that criminology degree."

"I don't care what you think, Jeff."

"Sure you do."

Her phone started ringing, she checked caller ID, 'Ed'. She smiled at Jeff before picking up. "Hey, honey."

"We need you."

"We?"

"The team, Greg. He wants your opinion."

"About what?"

"A subject, he wants a second opinion on the profile."

"Sure, do you need me to come over?"

"That'd be good."

"Just text me the address. See you in a little bit."

She got up and smiled at Jeff. "Gotta go."

"Your tough, brave cop needs you?"

She nodded and smiled. "You forgot strong. Maybe I'll see you around."

…

"So, where's this subject?" She asked as she walked towards Ed, the rest were standing a few feet away.

"There wasn't one." Ed said, pulling her close.

"Then why.."

He kissed her cheek. "I missed you.."

She kissed him and smiled at him. "I missed you too."

"You were with Jeff pretty long."

She pushed him away and took a step back. "You called me away from lunch because you were jealous?"

"I.. he's.." He was a little confused at the shift in her mood, she was smiling at him just a second ago.

She slapped him. "Don't you ever manipulate me like that again."

"But.."

"No, I was having lunch with an old friend. You had absolutely no right whatsoever."

His eyes hardened. "Yes, I do. He's a slime ball and I'm your boyfriend."

"If you keep this going you won't be for long." She turned around and got back into her car.

Ed turned around to see everyone looking at him. He felt his cheek, it was still warm. "It was supposed to be romantic.." He mumbled.

"So.." Jules started.

Ed nodded. "That didn't go as I wanted it."

"We figured."

"You know what she's going to do now, don't you?" Greg asked, Ed shook his head. "She's either going to Angela's to complain or back to lunch with Jeff and complain."

Ed groaned. "He's.. I just want to keep her safe."

"I know, but she's smart enough to walk away."

"Is she?" Ed said. "Because I don't think she's thinking with her head."

"And what would she be thinking with?"

"I don't want to think about it.."

…