Author's Note: I apologize for my long hiatus. Life is a crazy thing, but I'm feeling better and I re-read all of my current pending stories, so hopefully I can give you all new chapters on those. Enjoy!
Brennan got to the bus and Lance took his spot next to her.
"I know you don't think you should tell Booth about what's been going on, but I have to continue to protest that decision." Lance stated outright and Brennan looked down at her hands.
"I don't need him burdened, it's not as bad as it looks." She remarked as Lance shook his head. When Brennan had gotten back earlier in the week, Lance apologized for revealing that she was a foster kid. She was understanding and knew that the information would inevitably get out, but knowing that Lance was also a foster kid at one point helped her open up more about the trials and tribulations she had recently undergone. Throughout the week, Brennan and Lance would share stories, and Brennan even opened up about the most recent issues. "Jacob is simply displaying his alpha male tendencies." Brennan rationalized and Lance's mouth gaped open.
"He threw you against a wall last night!" He exclaimed and Brennan shrugged.
"He warned me that was the punishment for skipping out on mopping the bathrooms." She spoke robotically.
"You couldn't, you're still recovering." Lance crossed his arms and sat lower into his bench.
"Well, I'll do that and quickly finish up my other chores, then I'll head over to Jack's house and I'll be out of the dorm for the weekend." She nodded, almost giving herself a pep talk before getting off the bus. "I will see you later." She waved and watched as the younger boy gave her an earnest once over before nodding solemnly and waving back.
She walked cautiously into the dorm, but it was still quiet. Jacob and his group wouldn't be back until around 5pm due to their after school work programs. She quickly got to work on her chores and was able to finish within an hour and a half. She looked at her clock. 4:47pm. She had 13 minutes to pack and sign out with Dr. Goodman before Jacob got back.
"Dr. Goodman?" She knocked, the signed paper from Angela's dad in her hand.
"Ah, Temperance! Good to see you're all packed to go, do you have the form for my file?" He held out his hand and she gingerly placed the paper down. "Thank you. I hope you have fun this weekend. But I do want to let you know that Jacob is looking down the barrel for some disciplinary actions, given the recent violence towards you and I wanted to see if you were comfortable talking to the other social workers?"
"Uhm, could we just forget it happened? I think he's gotten much better." Temperance fidgeted with the hem of her shirt and Dr. Goodman sighed.
"Temperance, we have cameras in the kitchen and hallways. I saw what happened last night, I know you're running out before 5pm because he will be back, I understand you're scared, but nothing will change if we don't try to discipline him." Dr. Goodman watched her think.
"Let me think about it. I can give you an answer when I'm back." She pleaded and he nodded.
"Okay, let me walk you out so there's no issues." Dr. Goodman sighed and walked Temperance out of the building. Jacob and his friends were walking in, and before they could do anything to harass her, they saw Dr. Goodman and backed off.
Although he was a kind man, there were rumors about his days in the military. In a way, Goodman was happy for the rumors, it allowed him to protect those weaker than the boys, just by being present.
"Uhm, I'm going to call Angie to come pick me up. You don't have to wait around." Brennan said to him, nervously looking over her shoulder at the boys standing in the group, waiting like predators stalking their prey.
"That's okay. I have time." Goodman shrugged and watched as she clicked the contact for Angela Montenegro.
"SWEETIE! I'M ALMOST THERE!" Her friend screeched into the phone and Temperance winced.
"Why are you screaming?" She asked and Goodman could only chuckle.
"Oh, shit, sorry, I always forget I don't need to yell into the car speaker!" Angela responded with excitement. "OH I SEE YOU!" She screamed once more, but this time Temperance could only laugh.
He watched as Temperance put her bag in the trunk, as she reached for the lid above her head, her shirt rode up slightly, showing angry red marks and bruising. Dr. Goodman looked back at Jacob, who was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face. I'll get you soon enough. Goodman thought to himself before waving politely as the girls drove off. Walking back into the group home, Jacob sputtered with disgust.
"So our little maid gets the weekend off? What the fuck?"
"Language." Goodman's voice turned ice cold. "Temperance is another child living here, not your maid. I would learn how to clean up after yourself, if I were you."
Jacob stared at the social worker. "Oh yea? Why? Because it'll be good for me in the long run, or whatever other bullshit you guys are always spewing."
"The long run might be coming sooner than you think. You're a handful of months away from your 18th birthday." Goodman replied, then walked past the boy, whose scoffed. Jacob had a plan for his 18th birthday, he would enlist in the army, the Rangers to be more exact.
-BB-
"Oh my god, sweetie, Booth was soooo annoying. Who wants to go to a football game anyway?" Angela swerved through traffic, while Brennan focused on the road.
"I think he's simply trying to show off his skills, plus isn't it normal for high school students to go to football games?" Brennan asked. She hadn't developed close friendships in the past year, so she could only conclude based off observation what kids her age enjoyed.
"Bleh, football games are just a lot of people screaming, the band going crazy, and then sweaty guys crashing into one another. Movie nights, talking, all of those things are really what our group enjoys." Brennan nodded in understanding, she didn't like crowded place or loud noises, so this was a better solution. The girls continued chatting before pulling up to a large home with a gated driveway.
Angela pushed the buzzer at the entrance. "Hello?" Jack's voice crackled through the speaker.
"It's us, lovely." Angela smiled at the speaker and the gate began opening. Temperance was able to see the full extent of the house without the gate blocking her view. The house looked more like an estate. A large fountain was in the front driveway, a five car garage was butted against the house, the multi story home seemed to have different wings to it, and a large balcony protruded out of the brick exterior over the garage. As the girls walked into the house, Temperance looked up at the high ceilings in awe and then looked through the house to the backyard, which had an in-ground pool.
"Isn't this place insane?" Angela asked and Temperance gave a small nod.
"Hi, Jack." Temperance said, giving her friend a small hug. He was surprised she didn't make more of a fuss about his house or money. Temperance was very different than all the other people at school, who only seemed to care about the cash or cars. Angela's father was a successful musician, so she didn't need the money, she was more impressed with the architecture of the building and the interior design.
"We're all in the movie theater downstairs, we have snacks and everything set, we're just trying to pick a movie." Jack began leading the girls through the hallway and into the theater. A group of 15 recliners sat in rows of 5 in front of a large screen. It was a dark, but warm and comfortable room, with a pile of snacks and candy strewn about the chairs and side tables.
Temperance recognized their entire lunch table was here, except for Wendall. Clark and Colin were debating over a sci-fi or horror movie to watch, Daisy was listening intently as Lance talked about his classes, and Zack was reading in the corner. Jack clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"I think because we have a new friend in our presence, it's only fair that she pick the movie." Jack proclaimed and everyone nodded in agreement.
"May I suggest, the new Halloween movie is incredible." Colin piped up, only for Clark to respond.
"We've already watched it like 5 times, I think we should look at something different!"
"I usually watch documentaries when I'm allowed to watch television." Brennan spoke quietly. "I doubt you guys would want to watch anything like that." However, this caused Zack to perk up and enter the conversation.
"We all love documentaries, the issue is just the topic. I tend to look into ancient civilizations, Jack likes conspiracy theories, we watched one about Monet because Angela thought it was interesting, Colin likes the serial killer docuseries, and Clark found one about ancient aliens." Zack rattled off.
Temperance was surprised and felt a tingling in her toes. As the group began debating different documentaries in front of her, she couldn't stop the smile from coming forward. She felt like she had found her people at long last.
-BB-
Booth stood on the field listening to the crowd cheer as he threw the ball. He smirked under his helmet as Wendall caught the throw and began running. The game was a slaughter, he almost felt bad for the other team. Halftime rolled around and he made his way to the younger teammate.
"Hey, man, good catch." He smiled and the blonde-haired sophomore grinned.
"Is this where I say good throw?" Wendall laughed and Booth shoved his shoulder.
"It was a good throw, but nah, I was genuinely impressed." He retorted. "So going to the party after?" He asked, hoping that Wendall would give some insight into what the geek squad was doing after this.
"Oh, nah, I'm heading to Hodgins' place. They are going to roast me for being on the team, but maybe I can catch a couple of movies or something. It's Tempe's first movie night, so I gotta save her from the madness." He grinned and Booth felt that familiar knot of jealousy. Wendall was treating Brennan like a best friend.
"What do you mean madness?" Booth asked, the intrigue lacing his voice.
"Well, when it's your first movie night, you gotta kinda earn your keep." He smirked and Booth furrowed his brow. He trusted the geek squad, but he didn't like how cryptic Wendall was being.
"Keep? Bray, spit it out!" He was getting agitated, which only made Wendall laugh.
"Dude, chill, they just are going to pull a couple pranks." He shrugged and Booth shook his head.
"I don't like where this is going." Booth muttered before their coach walked into the locker room for a pep talk.
-BB-
The only pranks being pulled were on Zack and Hodgins. The duo were so focused on getting one up on each other that they couldn't care less about initiating Brennan into the movie night. Instead, she and Angela were continuing to watch movies with Colin, Daisy, Sweets, and Clark.
"I think they might actually hurt each other." Brennan whispered to Angela, who snickered in response.
"Happens at least once a movie night." Clark responded while rolling his eyes.
"Oh, tell her about the time Zack lit Hodgins on fire!" Colin replied with excitement.
"He hates that story." Daisy retorted.
"Who hates what story?" Hodgins asked, as the group looked up and burst out into laughter. His entire face was covered in soot.
"What the hell happened to you?" Angela asked while grabbing a washcloth.
"Oh if you think this is bad, you should see Zack." Hodgins smirked. Zack then shirked in. His shirt was ripped and his hair was on end.
"Did you electrocute him?" Lance asked, with his eyes bulging out of his head.
"Well if you must know -" But before Hodgins could continue his story, a loud engine pulled into the driveway. The group of teens got up and looked out the window. "Wendall is getting out, but it also looks like he's with a couple people." Brennan looked and saw Cam and Booth getting out of the car. "Guys, we should scare them!" Hodgins exclaimed.
"You want to scare Seeley fucking Booth?! He'll have our heads on pikes!" Colin whisper-screamed as Wendall made his way to the front door and knocked. Cam was staring up at the huge mahogany door in awe, while Booth shoved his hands in his pockets.
-BB-
"Are you sure anyone is home?" Cam asked as she looked at the almost dark mansion.
"The in-house movie theater is in the back of the house." Wendall stated as he began walking around the pathway toward the back of the house.
"I'm sorry, where the hell are you going?" Booth asked as he looked at his younger teammate. When they had won the game, Wendall had invited Booth and Cam to Hodgins' telling them it wouldn't be a big deal for them to join. Booth ran at the offer to hang out with Brennan and pushed Cam into coming with, and she simply rolled her eyes and told him that he owed her.
"Oh, I've been to his house a million times, I know the way into the movie theater." He shrugged and continued walking. Cam shrugged and followed the blonde kid, leaving Booth alone.
-BB-
"Oh my god, Wendall just left Booth alone in front. This might actually work!" Clark giggled and ran to the back of the house where the rest of the group was planning to scare Wendall. Brennan stayed in the front, she was supposed to wait for her signal and then bang on the door and scare Booth, but really she just felt foolish and a little scared standing here all alone.
"Bones, you know I can see you through the window right?" Booth's voice whispered and caused her to jump. He snickered and she sent him a glare.
"I'm supposed to scare you, not the other way around." She replied, her eyes illuminated by the moonlight. Booth walked closer to the glass side paneling of the door so he could get a better look at her.
"Well I guess we both don't get what we want." He muttered and she tilted her head. "I wanted you to come to the game tonight and you wanted to scare me. So I guess we are even." He explained and she shook her head with a small smile.
"How did you guys do?" She asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know." He replied and she chuckled.
"That is why I asked." She retorted. "But I guess I could just ask Wendall." She continued and watched as Booth's eyes narrowed.
"You really know how to push my buttons. We won."
"Congratulations." She responded with a smile and he chuckled.
"Will you go to the next game?" He asked hopefully.
"I really don't understand football." She leaned against the window paneling and he huffed.
"I'll explain it to you."
"You'll be playing, remember?"
"Then we can sit at lunch this week, and I'll go over the game with you. That will be even better because then not only are you at the game, but I also get you all to myself during lunch." He murmured and she shook her head.
"I wouldn't want you to not sit with your friends. Plus I like sitting with my friends." Brennan's cheeks flushed and Booth laughed.
"Bones-" But before he could continue, a loud bang came from the back of the house, Cam screamed and Wendall ran through the middle of the house toward the foyer.
"Tempe!" Wendall screamed before tackling her to the ground in a fit of laughter taking her completely by surprise. Booth pulled on the door, fearful that Wendall would hurt Brennan's still healing ribs. Cam ran to the door and opened it, laughing as she tried to catch her breath.
"Jesus, these guys are fucking insane." She muttered as Booth rushed over to Brennan and Wendall. Wendall pulled himself up and Brennan had curled up into a ball.
"Bones? Babe, you good?" Booth called out, crouching down to see if she was okay. He brushed her hair out of her face, and then saw the biggest smile as she threw her head back in laughter.
"Did I scare you?" She whispered and Booth could only chuckle in response.