Crimson High – The Jane Story

A/N: I am so very sorry it's taken so long to update this story. Exams took over for a while, but now they are over. Updates should now be more frequent. Please accept this chapter as an apology and a peace offering. I will also try to get another chapter of 'Crimson High' out by this evening, because you have all been asking so nicely.

Chapter 6

I lay awake in bed early that Monday morning, trying to work out how I was going to get into the school and leave one thousand strips of paper in the hallways. As I rolled over, I noticed that the clock read 3:37. I sighed and sat up. I spotted my bottom drawer of my desk, and an idea occurred. I got up quickly and went over to it. Inside, I found what I was looking for. A blood red notebook and a lock picking kit.

The notebook belonged to Red John, and was the reason I had faint scars on my left shoulder. It was a stupid idea, but JJ and Craig had wanted to pull a prank on Principal Minelli during the last school year. They needed alarm codes. I was told to buy them off Red John. But I didn't want to pay his ridiculous prices. I actually insulted the man; something he didn't take lightly to. But I broke into his office to steal the codes, and he caught me. He held me down and pulled out his knife. He carved his signature into my skin; a grotesque smiley face. Nothing could be proven, because I refused to admit to stealing from him. I kept the notebook, but he got away with it.

I pulled out the notebook and flipped through it. I found the code to disarm the front door and hallway. I pulled on some dark clothing and went downstairs. I snuck out and drove to school.

The building was black in the night, and I stood staring up at it. I walked to the front door and proceeded to pick the lock. I knew the keypad to disarm the alarm in the front section of the school was just behind the first classroom door. I hurried over to it and typed in the code. The keypad stopped beeping. I picked up my package and opened it. I started at one end of the long hallway and worked my way to the door. I scattered the bits of paper from one wall to the other, coating the floor in them. I dumped what was left by the door and kicked the pile. They scattered across the room. Satisfied with my work, I reactivated the alarm and shut the door. It locked automatically. I returned home.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

I arrived at school at the normal time to find a crowd of people standing at the door. I pushed through to find JJ standing near the front. He was looking at the hallway in confusion. "Good morning," I greeted him.

He turned to me. "Did you have something to do with this, Patrick?"

I bent down and picked up a slip of paper. "No, this wasn't me."

JJ raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because there is only one Teresa in this school and I know you have your eye on her."

I turned and walked away. I stopped at Teresa's locker and slipped the pendant into it. I stood next to my locker and listened to people walking past me. They were speculating who could have left the papers in the hallway. I watched as a tiny figure with dark hair wound her way through the crowds towards me. Teresa gripped her bag with one hand as she stopped in front of me. "Patrick Jane," she said, stopping in front of where I stood.

"Teresa," I said with a bright smile. "How are you this morning?"

She ignored my question. "Really?" she asked sceptically, pulling out a piece of paper. "This is all you could come up with?"

I smiled and took the paper from her. "I thought that you would like the surprise."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "So you thought to litter the entire school in annoying bits of paper? It will take weeks for Red John to find all of them. You know how he hates a mess to start with."

I shrugged at the mention of Red John. "It was a reminder to everyone else that I'm going to prove myself, no matter what."

She sighed and turned away from me. "This is completely unnecessary."

I smiled at her statement. "I knew you would say that, but that's fine. What you deem to be necessary and what I deem to be necessary are two completely different things."

"I realise that," she countered, glancing up at me. "But you didn't need to be so extravagant."

I shrugged. "I'm a showman. It's what I do."

She turned away again. "Patrick, just be a little more subtle next time."

I put my hand on her shoulder in an attempt to convey how I felt. "Teresa, I will prove that this is real. I promise you that."

She walked away, leaving me standing there in the hallway. I knew that she knew this was just the beginning, and I smiled at the thought of leaving the pendant in her locker that morning.

I headed to Ms Hightower's Science lesson and went over to her desk. I had a favour to ask her. "Ms Hightower," I said softly, leaning over the desk.

"Yes, Mr Jane?"

"Please may I ask a favour of you."

She nodded expectantly, and I pulled an envelope from my bag. "Please give this to Teresa Lisbon when she comes into your class."

She took the envelope from me. "Should I tell her who it's from?"

I shook my head. "She'll know."

She nodded and dropped the envelope into her desk drawer. I sat down at my desk. The envelope contained a wad of cash, six hundred and fifty dollars, and a note.

"Teresa, I know you have probably spent the last lesson mulling over the cost of the pendant I gave you, and so I decided to ease your mind and give you the equivalent amount of money in cash. Just a small donation towards supporting your brothers back home. I hope you appreciate my efforts, Teresa. Patrick."

I knew that Teresa would be worried that I had spent too much money on her. I knew she worried a lot about her brothers. I guess she had reason to worry. From what I could figure out about her personality, she was worried that her father would hurt her brothers in some way. An idea was formulating itself, but I knew that it would need time to properly perfect. I pushed the thought away as the bell rang. I stood up and hurried from the room. I went to the empty bathroom and pulled out my cell phone. I dialled Teresa's work. "Chuck Charlie's," said a female voice on the other end. "How may I help you?"

"Hi," I said. "My name is Patrick. I'm a friend of Teresa Lisbon. I would like to request that she get the rest of today off."

"On what grounds?" the voice sounded sceptical.

I thought quickly. "She has a stomach bug. It seems to be a twenty-four hour type bug, but I don't think she should be working today."

The voice sighed. "We will book her off today."

I smiled. "Thank you so much."

The woman on the other end hung up the phone, and I pulled out a piece of paper. I scrawled a note and headed back out into the now emptying hallway. I strolled over to Teresa's locker and slid my note under the edge of the door.

"By the way, Teresa, don't bother going to work today. I called them and they gave you the day off. You need a rest from daily life."

I headed off to Geography, planning my next phase. I decided that Grace would probably be my best option, because I knew she was a hopeless romantic. At lunchtime, I hurried to catch up with Grace and Rigsby on their way into the cafeteria. "Grace," I said, catching up to her. "I need your help with something."

She looked at me like I was crazy. "You need my help?"

I nodded. Rigsby seemed upset that I was talking to his girlfriend, and so I smiled at him. "Don't worry, Wayne," I said. "She's crazy for you."

Grace blushed at my words, and I turned back to her. "Please do this for me."

We entered the room and walked over to their table in the corner. I sat across from them. "I need you to give something to Teresa for me."

Grace blinked. "Teresa?"

I nodded. "I have no time for you to ask questions."

Rigsby scowled at me. "If you're planning to hurt her in any way, I swear I'll…"

I took his unspoken threat to heart. "I would never dream of hurting her. I fear you and Cho far too much to do that to her." I glanced towards the door and spotted Teresa and Cho heading towards the table. "Please just give this to her."

I handed him the silver box with the bracelet in it. I then got up quickly and left the room. I stood in the hallway, knowing that Teresa would come out to find me. I wasn't disappointed, because she soon appeared and walked over to me. "Patrick," she said, gripping the silver box. "Giving me expensive gifts won't prove anything except that you have very little regard for money and spending."

I smiled at her. I knew that she found the gifts over the top. "I know that, but I'm proving myself, remember? This is just trial and error for me. I'll find something that proves to you what you mean to me."

She shrugged, and asked a question I expected. "Why do I have the day off?"

I grinned at her. She had obviously found my note. "So I can spend the rest of the day proving myself."

She shook her head in annoyance. "Patrick, I don't want you to spend money on me."

I tilted my head and studied her face. I could see the worry in her eyes and knew why. "You're worried because you're being spoilt while your brothers are suffering back home." An idea had occurred to me. "Don't worry, I'm sending them money as well. Whatever I spend on you, that same amount goes back to them. You can just relax and have fun."

I watched tears form in her eyes. She blinked rapidly and looked away. I reached out and gently touched her face. "You don't have to do this," she murmured.

"Don't cry, Teresa," I said gently, pulling her face up. "I'm doing it because you're worth it to me." She stepped back, and I dropped my arms. Teresa still clutched the box Rigsby had given her, and I smiled. "I take it you got your gift."

She nodded and looked down at the box. "So, what are we doing this afternoon?"

I raised an eyebrow. "That's a surprise. I'll pick you up from your house after school."

I touched her cheek gently before turning around and striding away. I left her alone in the hallway, still clutching tightly to the box.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

I rounded the corner on the way to Teresa's apartment to see her standing outside waiting. I left the engine running and got out to open her door for her. She smiled as she got in. I joined her inside and drove away from her house towards a nearby mall. I watched her put her purse onto the floor and sit back in her seat. She glanced self-consciously down at her jeans, and I observed that they were a little grimy. That seemed to bother her a little. I glanced across at her. "I don't care what they look like. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy."

She blushed, and I laughed. "I don't exactly have a huge amount of clothing," she said, gazing through the window. "What I do have barely lasts me a week. I can't help having to re-wear a lot of it. People don't really notice, so it's fine."

I shrugged. "I notice, and it's not fine. That's why we're going here first."

I turned off into a mall parking lot. I turned off the car and watched as she fidgeted nervously with the seatbelt. "Patrick," she said again, more insistent. "You don't have to. I'm surviving with what I have. Really."

"Teresa," I said, taking her hand. "I want to do this because I care about you. I worry that you're not eating, that your clothing isn't even lasting you a week, and that you're wearing yourself out with work. Please just humour me and let me do this for you. Please, Teresa."

She looked down at our joined hands, then back up into my face. I was caught off guard by the emerald eyes boring into mine, but she nodded. I grinning blindingly and got out of the car. She followed me into the mall, and I headed towards a big clothing store. At the door, I gently grabbed her arm. "Pick whatever you want." I told her.

I watched her as she walked slowly through the aisles. She looked almost shell-shocked, like she was overwhelmed by so much clothing. She picked up a shirt from the rack and held it out at arm's length. It was purple, and the style was something she seemed to like. She glanced up at me, as though for my approval. "If you want it, take it."

She nodded, and clung tightly to the shirt. I laughed as she moved uncertainly through the aisles. "What's so funny?" she asked, looking around nervously.

I grinned. "You look so lost, like the shelves are going to jump out and bite you. Here," I pulled several items from some of the shelves. "Try these on and see what you like or don't like. We can put back what you don't like, and I'll get you what you do like."

She nodded as I handed the clothing to her. I gave her several more items as we walked through the store. We walked together in the direction of the dressing room, and she seemed a little more relaxed. "Patrick," she said. "Thank you."

I smiled. "Show me when you've tried something on."

The next two hours I sat outside the dressing room, admiring and observing the different clothing Teresa tried on. She settled on a surprisingly large amount of clothing, and I grinned, happy that she had decided to go along with this. "See?" I said as we left the store. "I said you would enjoy yourself."

I watched her smile. "This was fun."

She carried the bags as we went out to my car. I opened the trunk and she put them in. "Now," I said, ready to go on to our next destination. "You need food in your house. Real food, not the crap you keep buying for yourself."

She blushed again. "Grocery shopping?"

I nodded, pulling into another parking lot. Half an hour later, we returned with several bags of food. I turned the car in the direction of her house, and she relaxed back against the seat. "Patrick," she said, staring off into the twilight sky. "Thank you for today."

I reached over and took her hand. "You never asked me how I knew about your brothers."

She shrugged. "The thought never crossed my mind."

I sighed. I had to tell her the truth. "I was in the coffee shop that day. I heard you telling Grace your story."

She stiffened. "So you know why I'm in California."

I squeezed her hand. A question niggled at me though. "There is one thing, though," I said, glancing at her. "I got the impression that you didn't tell Grace the whole story. That some details were omitted."

She nodded, confirming my suspicions. "I kept some of it to myself. To protect her."

I sighed. I decided to work up to telling her what I suspected. My story would be a good place to start, so she could understand me for a change. "My story is different. I was born and raised in the carnival. My dad used me as a sideshow, and taught me cold-reading, hypnosis. He called me the Boy Wonder. Basically, I was a fake psychic. My mother left the carnival when I was ten, and took me with her. I've been living with her ever since. I haven't seen my father since we left. But I still have the skills I was taught. I could probably guess what you omitted."

I felt her heart racing, and she pulled her hand away. "I don't think you can," she said sceptically.

I stared straight ahead. "You left out some details to protect Grace and the others from your past. It was something horrific, and very recent. You wouldn't have left your brothers if it weren't absolutely necessary, so it must still be happening. It has something to do with your father, which is why you don't trust me."

I was working on my previous observations; how she ducked if I moved my hand too quickly, her mistrust of me. I seemed to be right on the mark, because it was as though she were a statue, not moving or saying a word.

I continued with my hypothesis. "I know he was prone to drinking, and so I can only deduce that he abused you physically. Probably beat you quite violently on occasion. You took most of the beatings to protect your brothers."

I heard her breathing hitch, and I nodded grimly. This was one instance that I hated being right. "My dad's back in rehab again," she murmured, confirming what I had guessed. "The boys are with friends up the road from the house, being cared for until he comes back out again."

I watched as she absentmindedly brushed her fingers lightly over her lips. I guessed that she had suffered severe damage to her bottom lip as a result of a recent beating. I reached over and grabbed her hand. I brought it to my lips and kissed it softly. Her skin was soft and warm. "I promise to do everything in my power I can to protect them. I promise, Teresa."

My lips tingled at the contact, and we pulled up to her apartment. She turned to me. "Thank you for the day, Patrick. I really enjoyed it."

I laughed and turned off the car. "You really think you're going to get rid of me that easily?"

She shook her head. "No. You're quite persistent. Would you like to come in?"

I nodded, and helped her carry everything into the tiny house. I packed away the groceries into the kitchen cupboards as she went through to the bedroom. I began cooking her a real meal. My mother had taught me how to cook, and it was something I enjoyed doing. Teresa came through to see what I was cooking. "Pasta, Teresa," I said. "I'm treating you to a real meal."

She smiled at the thought. "I'm almost done here. Call me when it's ready."

I nodded, knowing that she was packing away her new clothes. Ten minutes later, I called her for dinner. She grinned as she walked through to the lounge. She seemed to really enjoy the meal. Soon, I stood up to leave. I had to get home to my mother. "See you tomorrow, Teresa," I said at the door.

She nodded. "Thank you, Patrick."

I smiled as I shut the door behind me. Back at home, I stretched out on my couch. That day had been eventful, but I knew that I was not ready to celebrate yet. She did sort of trust me, but I hadn't won her over yet. That would take a lot of work. I relished the challenge.

A/N2: I hope you are happy with this chapter, and that 'Crimson High' can now progress. Please review and tell me what you think. Thanks.