CHAPTER 28
YOU'RE NASTY WHEN YOU'RE SICK
The breakfast took them almost two hours and as soon as the sun was high up in the sky, Richard suggested a tour of the city. Emily was up for it, since she loved everything about France and, no matter how many times she had visited the country, she always found new things to experience and to fall in love with. Things and, occasionally, people.
They dressed up quickly, left the hotel and then started walking, without a specific direction in mind. It was something that Emily had always enjoyed – walking aimlessly, checking out houses, the windows of random people, the profiler inside of her wondering what those people were doing, or were they even at home. Emily always found herself walking down new streets, finding new little corners, cafes, arts shops and who knows what else that she might not have found if she had stuck to her usual daily routine. Maybe Emily Prentiss wasn't so dull and predictable after all. Maybe, like other people, she had a poker face and, in reality, there was so much more inside of her than just an alter ego named Lauren.
"Que penses-tu de Lyon?" He asked casually, with one hand in his pocket and his other hand on her shoulder, as they walked down a small street. He was curious to hear what she thought of Lyon so far.
She smiled, looking back at him. He had only been speaking English lately and she missed his French.
"Je pense que c'est une ville incroyable." She replied and Richard had the same thoughts in his head – how much he had missed her French. And that Lyon was an incredible city, too.
"Do you want to enter?" He asked when he noticed how her eyes lingered a little more on the window of one of the shops.
Emily had eyed at least three cute things on the mannequins and she was aching to do some shopping. However, since Richard didn't let her pay for anything so far, she didn't want him to one day update his 'worst experiences with a female' storyline, by telling another woman about this American gold-digger who used him for a free week in France, plus shopping.
Emily tried to keep on walking, but her eyes were glued and she could not move.
"Come on, I know you want to have a look." He nudged her lightly.
"Fine, but under one circumstance…" She smirked, already stepping foot inside the store. "I pay for my own purchases, is that clear?"
He nodded and walked right after her, busying himself in the men's section, looking at tailored suits and some blue shirts, while Emily brought seven pieces of clothing to the changing room.
He took that as a note to find the nearest place to sit, which, strategically, was placed right outside the women's changing room.
She walked out in the first dress and looked at him, as if to ask his opinion.
"It's a beautiful dress." He commented. "But it looks plain on you. It does not compliment your personality at all. There is no spice in it, no playfulness. It's just black and that is it."
Once again, she found herself appreciating his brutal honesty. His opinion was exactly the same as Emily's, however it differed from Lauren's. While Emily liked his honesty, Lauren have found it to be a bit annoying. Nobody had ever dared to question Lauren's taste in fashion before.
She took that dress off and came out of the dressing room with a different one on. This one was grey and black and it had a bow on her lower right thigh.
"Mmh." He said in appreciation, licking his lips as she walked towards him. It fit her so perfectly.
As if on cue, he stood up right when she turned around, pointing at the half-closed zipper. His right hand touched her bare skin for just a second, before he zipped her up, but it was enough to give her goosebumps.
"This is the one." He stated, unsure if his statement was in regards to the dress, or the woman in that dress.
"Wait, there are other things I want to try as well." Emily pouted, but she started twirling around and she could tell she already loved that dress.
"I know it's the one when I see her." He said, maybe confusing "her" with "it" as he translated from French. Or maybe he said it intentionally? Either way, his eyes were glued on Emily as he spoke.
"Okay…" She let herself enjoy the fabric for one more minute before she asked him to unzip it.
"But first, I'm trying the other stuff on." Once again, Emily would do as she pleased.
She ended up walking out of the shop with this dress, a pair of pants and a really cute shirt, all of which were more Emily's style than Lauren's.
What she liked the most about her new things was the fact that she had swiped her own card when she purchased them. She was more than sure that, somewhere in Quantico, Garcia had already received a notification about Lauren's credit card activity, if she was smart enough to be stalking Lauren as well. Garcia might now be freaking out to find out that Emily was no longer in Paris, but Emily did not let that bother her much, as she had no phone and no way of being contacted. She was completely FBI-free for a week. Well, except from the emotional baggage and deep psychological trauma that years on the job had caused her, of course. And several scars.
Before they knew it, Thursday had gone by. They chose a cute little restaurant by the river, for dinner. The waiter brought them a candle, to set the atmosphere at the table.
"Congratulations." The waiter said as he put the candle in the middle of the table.
"What?" Emily asked, confused.
"I see a lot of newly wed couples and I can tell you are one of those, too." The man said in thick French accent, as he tried his best to speak good English.
Richard smiled and put his hand on Lauren's shoulder.
"Yes, just this Sunday. Thank you. We are actually leaving for our honeymoon soon." Richard said with ease and even Emily believed him.
There was something about the way he said it, the way he spoke, in general. He sounded so convincing, so calm, that nobody could tell that he was bluffing, not even Emily, who knew for a fact that none of those words were true.
"Yes, we are going to Costa Rica for a week." Emily joined in on the bluff, leaning towards him and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I still remember the first time we met. Our dear friend Lauren introduced us. She thought we'd hit it off and…well, here we are now." She smiled happily, because if Richard wanted to play, Hell, he better believe Emily would play along.
But he noticed one thing – she mentioned that Lauren had introduced them. Why was she now suddenly talking about herself in third person? It almost sounded to him as if she no longer wanted to be associated with Lauren.
And, subconsciously, Emily didn't.
"Wait up!" Bryan called out for Angie when he saw her pick up her things and make her way to the exit of the auditorium.
"I have to go to work." She said without even slowing down her pace.
She had picked up, or actually – begged for, an extra shift at Ballistics that morning, but it was her day to spend her lunch-break at the library.
"And I have to go to the library." Bryan caught up with her and he smiled.
Angie knew that he just wanted to spend time with her, she could tell that he had missed their little lunch dates when they would discuss other Trainees, their classes and just about everything. If she had to be honest with herself, she missed that too. But health and good alimentation came first and she knew she needed to keep those two jobs.
They chatted all the way to the library and then Angie introduced him to Barbara, the girl who worked there. While both girls started walking around, re-ordering books on the shelves and doing all the things they needed to get done, now that everyone was at lunch and nobody was in their way, or in need of a receptionist, Bryan found himself a nice book that he was interested in and he sat down on one of the couches that he had been eyeing each time he had been to the library. It was one of the few cool and comfortable ones and there had always been someone on it, so he was now more than happy to have it all for himself.
"He's really hot!" Barbara finally came out and said it.
"Yup." Angie already knew how Barbara felt. The girl basically had heart-shaped eyes when she checked him out, as soon as they had walked through the door.
Bryan was, indeed, an extremely good-looking guy and Angela knew that. Everybody knew that. Angie was the only girl who wasn't acting like a complete fool around him and that was one of the reasons why Bryan felt so connected to her. He could truly say he loved her with all his heart, the pure and deep kind of love, a strictly platonic one. And Angie was more than okay with that. Bryan was the kind of person Angela liked to be surrounded with. All her life, she had been searching for people like him, hanging out with them, learning from them, growing because of their strength, their advice and their wit. Bryan was a little bit older than her, so she considered him to be a big brother figure – a guy who would always tell her the harsh truth, who would keep her in check and who wouldn't hesitate to slap her across the face if she was being irrational.
Deep down, Angie hoped that one day she would be out on the field with him, too. She trusted him and if she had to put her life in anyone's hands, it would be Bryan's. Unfortunately, though, she knew that after the Academy they were taking two very different paths in their career, but that didn't mean that they would have to separate completely.
Angela had only ever connected with a very few people in her life. Each one of them had disappointed her in a way, or left her, so a few months ago she had made a promise to herself to never let her barriers down, never let someone in. She made that promise while filling in all the paper work, the FBI Academy application forms. This whole adventure had to be her journey of growth and she was initially convinced she would be doing it on her own. But then came Bryan and everything changed.
She could never help the way she felt about people. If she disliked someone, that was it, she was done with them and she wouldn't even care. But if she liked someone, she could never keep those walls up and keep the person out of her life. It was just not her nature. She was tough, but she was made out of love, loyalty and bravery and she wouldn't deny anyone the chance to get to see those qualities of hers, whether she wanted to do so or not.
"Thank you, girl. You've honestly been of great help lately." Barbara said as they were done working and on their way to go get Bryan.
"You're welcome. I enjoy my time here. I found out some really cool books to add to my Wishlist." Angie smiled and grabbed her little bag from behind the reception counter.
"How is a hot girl like you so interested in books? I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm a nerd, I've always been one; I grew up locked in my room, reading until late and refusing to go out with the mean kids my age. I loved school and books were a way of escaping reality." Barbara said shyly. "But you…well, you look like those cool cheerleaders who wear nice things and always have amazing hair, the newest make-up and perfumes, you know, those girls who take a lot of selfies and have many followers on Instagram. How did you even get into books?"
Angie chuckled lightly. If only she had a dime for every time she had heard those words.
"Well, contrary to popular belief, I didn't grow up with money. If I wanted a perfume, it wouldn't be the newest and coolest one. It would be one that smelled good and that I had to work my ass out to buy for myself, from the local drug store, not a fancy shop. I've been doing little jobs for money, things or favors since I could remember. I got used to it and I really don't mind it, because I hate having nothing to do. I prefer learning new skills and meeting cool new people, like you." Angie smiled and it made Barbara smile, too.
Barbara didn't mention that, but girls who looked like Angie – cute and put together, had always bullied her in school. Barbara had started to hate this type of girls, but Angie was different. She had the looks, but she also had the brains. Most of all – she had a heart.
"So, I had to provide for myself and I guess that made me a little more sensitive to other people, you know, the ones who are also not as lucky. I never cared what someone looked like on the outside or how they dressed or spoke. I cared about the way they treated me and the other people around them. And yes, I was a cheerleader, but you better believe I've shut down every single bully attempt from my fellow cheer friends. They would try to knock girls like you down, just because they wouldn't hang out or dress like us, but I knew that girls like you are the future. I mean, look at you! I know you have a major background in physics – each time I've been here you were reading a different book on physics. You will do great things in life. I think you are hiding behind this desk here, because girls like me had knocked down your confidence and had left you unsure of yourself. But that shouldn't be the case. I believe you're super smart and capable and that, if you try something, you will succeed." Angie kept on talking with a little smile on her face.
"Now, to answer your other question. I've been given an amazing education in my early childhood. That basis shaped me into a good human being. A curious one, too. When I was a child, I started reading fairy tales, but I didn't like them. They never felt real or interesting to me. So, one day I decided to try a book of one of the grown-ups around me. And I really liked it. Everything was written in a different way, it wasn't so pompous as fairy tales, I didn't feel like the book was treating me like a child. I felt grown-up, too, like them, the people I admired in my life. So, I kept on reading it and then I started grabbing other books from the higher bookshelves at home, the ones that were definitely not meant for kids my age. And the higher I went, the better it felt. I acquired a very different vocabulary, compared to the other kids at school. My teachers started complimenting my writing skills and the way I could express myself. I was now suddenly asked to hold speeches and to participate in the Student Office organization. I've always been the youngest one to achieve things at school. That positive feedback made me confident and made me want to broaden my horizons. I started reading different topics, because I liked being able to be the kid that people could have any kind of conversation with. I've attended dozens of free lectures, in different universities. Imagine a twelve-year-old, sitting next to a PhD graduate, listening to the same class and taking notes. It was cool, I had a lot of friends who were older than me. And all of that gave me the ability to adapt to new situations and to never feel alone. I could go anywhere in the world and, as long as I find something I like doing, I would also surround myself with new friends that I would meet thanks to this activity." Angie shrugged at the end.
All of this was so natural for her. It was how she saw life. It was life as she knew it. She never knew anything different.
But to Barbara, this all sounded like Angela was not a real human being. She thought those existed only in the movies. And even then, they were never as nice and chill, as Angie.
"But yes, she was a cheerleader, too. So, there it is, she's not perfect!" Bryan smirked, coming from behind the girls and startling them, while pointing out her sports background as a negative.
Barbara laughed. She hated cheerleaders so much.
"First of all, it is rude to eavesdrop!" Angie slapped Bryan's shoulder. It was their thing, although she was the one who did it more often. "Secondly, I'm an athlete. I went into cheerleading because, well, the outfits are cute. And I wanted to learn the flips and things. It taught me discipline, hard work and above all – team work and impeccable coordination skills. So yeah, I was a cheerleader. Proud to have been one." She smirked.
"Hey, hey, easy." Bryan threw his hands in the air in mock surrender. "I was just pointing it out. Plus, you know I love me a sexy cheerleader."
"Eww, gross." Angie made a disgusted face, wondering how many phone numbers must have been written down in Bryan's high-school black book.
"Hey, before you go…" Barbara walked to the back office and came back with something in her hand. "Someone left this here with a note, with your name on it. I guess it was my boss. He knows we still haven't paid you for your work all week, so consider this a pre-payment."
Angie nearly flipped with joy. It was a brand new, 50-piece booklet with food coupons. The good ones, too – the ones that would allow her to have a full meal, a drink and also a dessert. And Angie loved her desserts!
"Wow, that's so cool! Lunch is on me then." She smiled, waving the thing in the air as she invited both Bryan and Barbara to lunch.
"I can't. I'm finishing work in an hour and then I have to run do something. And I brought my lunch for today, so don't tell the boss, but I will be eating that while working on the computer now." Barbara said shyly.
"Don't look at me for an answer." Bryan shrugged when Angie gave him a look, as if to see if he'd accept. "I'm always hungry!" He added with a smile.
The two of them went to a restaurant nearby and got their food to go. They walked to the pond, the same one they had gone to their first week of the Academy, and sat down by the water.
The weather was nice, there was a breeze, but it wasn't too cold and it wasn't too warm either. It was just perfect.
She felt really good for being able to offer Bryan food and he had let her do so, as he felt so guilty for yelling at her a few days ago and dragging her to go eat, completely disregarding her wish to provide for herself, on her own.
They only had about half an hour to eat before they had to run for their afternoon class.
So far, Angie was feeling so much better. The morning had been really rough, but three coffees and one amazing lunch later she was feeling like herself again.
They walked in the auditorium and Dan was there. Angie put her water bottle on her desk, preventing any other confused Trainee to sit there, and she made her way to the back of the hall, as she wanted to greet one of the new people she had met lately. She walked by Jack and she pretended like he didn't even exist, even after a stupid remark that he threw her way. She simply walked by.
When the teacher walked in, everyone took their seats and Angie noticed how Dan was fiddling with something in his pocket and how awkwardly he left the room. Why did he even come? He didn't say a word to anyone. That looked suspicious and she kept in mind the new piece of information: she did not trust him. She liked him, but she did not trust him.
Through the class, she took some notes and she listened intently. It was about something that she wasn't really good at and she gave it her best, trying to learn as much as she could.
Halfway through the class, she suddenly felt like she was sweating. Looking around, she saw people who had thrown a little jacket or sweater on top of their uniform, so clearly it was not that hot in the room. And yet, she felt like she was on fire.
"Touch me." She leaned over and whispered to Bryan.
"My God, Angela. This is inappropriate. We're in class!" Bryan teased her.
Angie loved making inappropriate comments and so did Bryan. But all the other girls he had ever joked with, had taken offence. So now that he had finally found his match, he wasn't holding his tongue back with Angela.
"You idiot!" She hissed. "Check out my forehead!"
Bryan put his hand on her forehead and he gasped. "Dude, you're burning."
Angela sighed.
"Here we go again!" She thought to herself.
The next thing she felt was overwhelming nausea. She pushed people aside, as she stood up and made a run to the bathroom, not giving a crap that it looked like a scene out of a comic book. Everyone was being quiet and concentrated and then one crazy girl darted out of the room. The teacher looked at her empty seat and Bryan made a hand gesture to the man, as if he was telling him they would explain to him later.
Angie re-joined the class fifteen minutes later, once again as pale as chalk. It was making Bryan worried. She would either look and feel extremely good or extremely bad. There was no silver middle, for the past few days, and that was doubtfully a very healthy way to live.
The class finished and Angela walked to the teacher, excusing her sudden behavior and letting him know that she was sick. The man looked her up and down and let her know, in a very rude manner, that this was not kindergarten and she wasn't allowed to do as she pleased and that she should have asked permission first.
"Alright then, next time I'm about to throw up, I would raise my hand and wait patiently for you to notice me and give me the Go, so I can inform you that I have just thrown up on myself and the classmates that are near me. Because, if I was able to hold it, I wouldn't have ran out. So, now that this is clear, have a good day, Sir." She rolled her eyes and left the room, followed by Bryan.
Once again, a darker side of Angela Hunter came out to play - a little less nice, a little more direct, in a different way than the cute way she usually got away with things.
"Wow, you're nasty when you're sick." Bryan commented. "I love it!"
That made her laugh.
"I'm nasty when I'm sane, too. You just haven't seen all of me yet." She said devilishly. "And before you point it out, No, I did not mean this in a sexual way. Eww."
"Damn, you shot down a good comment!" He frowned, as he was about to say something extremely inappropriate in regards to her previous statement.
"Something is going on…" Angie whispered.
Everyone was now walking around and, somewhere in the crowd, she spotted Dan again. This time he spoke to a different Trainee and they walked out together, followed by no one else but Jack.
Angela raised her eyebrows.
"Come on, you're just reading too much into everything. Didn't you tell me Dan came up to you the other night while you were reading? What if someone saw you two and thought something fishy was going on? See? He's human, he's our group mentor through this, so it's normal he'd talk to everyone."
"Oh, no. Trust me. I know a scheme when I see one. Something is definitely going on and I'd love to tell you all about it, but I'm about to be very busy right now…" With her last words, she put her hand to her mouth and ran to the bathroom again.
This time the girls' bathroom was full, as class had just finished, so Bryan was forced to wait for her outside.
"You need to see a doctor." He commented, the second she walked out.
"I don't trust anyone around here. So, if I see a doctor, it would be when we are allowed to go outside of the barricades." She said stubbornly.
"It's weird we're not allowed to go out. It's like we're prisoners here. I get that we can't travel to go home or visit friends, but not being able to even leave the FBI land, it's just weird." Bryan commented. He knew the rules and he was following them, but that didn't mean that he agreed with them.
"I find it pretty cool. Less distractions. More ground-time." She smirked. "Plus, nobody bans us from leaving for an hour or so. Or for a drink, in the evening. We just literally don't have the time, nor the strength to do so."
"I was going to offer drinks tonight, but since you're not feeling well, how about we go to your room and go through some notes and catch up with some reading?" He suggested.
"Aww, you know me so well, Bry-Bry!" She exclaimed, suddenly giving him a tight hug of appreciation.
"Bry-Bry? Okay, no. This nickname must be dropped. Now!"
"I like Bry-Bry!" She said stubbornly and he knew that he had to just shut up and embrace it, because she would obviously never let it go, now that she knew he disliked it so much.
"Fine then, GiGi." The least he could do was to come up with a nickname for her, as well.
"Oh, I quite like the sound of that!" Angela said cheerfully and it took all the power she had in her to start moving towards the dorm rooms.
They spent their Saturday evening studying and eating some sweet treats that he had bought for them from that cute pastry shop on campus, on their way to the dorms.
Angela was clearly feeling really sick and drained out of energy, but she pushed hard and she was determined to do all of her course work for the next day.
None of them could pinpoint the moment when they had dozed off – Angie on the sofa and Bryan sitting on the floor, with his back against the sofa, both surrounded by books, papers, highlighters and colored pens.
