Chapter 35
Benjamin Academy High School
Friday. Friday. Friday.
Daniela sure loves the feeling of getting out of school on a Friday afternoon. This means that she finally has the weekend to fully relax and decompress from her school week.
Sure, having plans for the weekend and going out can be great. Having fun is always something Daniela loves to do, especially if it's with friends.
But for this weekend, she has no particular plans. All she wants to do is stay in the comfort of her home and catch up on any pending shows she has.
A modest but comfortable weekend that she plans to soak up every minute of it. Especially if you add snacks to the mix.
The girl wasn't sure if Emily would be at home for the weekend, considering when she spoke to her earlier today, the agent herself wasn't sure how soon they would be able to wrap up the case.
Hopefully, it's soon. The house is eerily quiet with just herself in it.
Plus, Daniela needs someone she can annoy.
The teen is headed towards the football field located at the back of the school.
During her English class, Alexa asked Dani if she could borrow her notes for her to catch up with the class to which Dani agreed.
She is glad to have paid attention in her class to have notes. Would have been embarrassing if the new girl asked; all Dani would have is random doodles.
She hopes that the new girl doesn't ask for her Algebra notes.
That would be a different story.
She agreed to meet up with Alexandra over at the bleachers for her to get her notebook back though Dani offered that she could just return it until Monday.
After all, it was just a notebook but the new girl insisted on returning it after school, claiming she didn't want to lose or damage it.
They agreed to meet at the bleachers that are located behind the building. Daniela has not been out in the field as much but enough to know where she is going.
The girl makes her way to the end of the bleachers, noticing fewer people around the area.
It makes sense, most kids go to the front of the building to hang out or they go straight home. She assumes the field will have more people once fall sports tryouts start.
She notices that Alexandra still has yet to arrive which she finds a little odd considering that the girl is always on time.
She shakes off the thought and takes a seat. Pulling out her phone, she scrolls through her Instagram feed and mindlessly likes pictures to make time fly by.
That is when something catches her attention.
"Leave me alone."
"I don't want to talk to you right now."
She hears a female voice say nearby. Daniela looks around the benches but sees no one who could have said that.
Out of curiosity, she stands up and makes her way down the bleachers. She hears not one but two voices now.
A male and a female.
She cannot seem to figure out what they are saying but whatever it is, it isn't good. It sounds like some sort of argument.
She follows the voices to the back of the bleachers when she sees two people in the back of the bleachers.
Since it was a cloudy day, it was hard to make out who the two people were from the distance Daniela was seeing them.
But then she recognizes a voice.
"I think I should go. I'm not feeling comfortable right now and someone is waiting for me," the female voice says.
"C'mon now, girl. Relax a little. We are just getting to know each other a little more," the guy replies.
Daniela inches closely to them, making sure not to get their attention.
"I told you that I need to go," the girl stutters as she tries to walk past the guy in front of her.
The guy grabs her shoulder, forcing her to stay.
"Hold on now. What's the hurry? I just want to be friends with a cute chick."
"Let me go, please. I promise I won't tell anyone," the female quivers.
"No need to get all tense up. Just relax," the guy replies as he gets closer to her.
Daniela clenches her jaw when seeing this go on no longer wanting to just stand on the sidelines. She reaches for something in her pocket as she gets close to them.
Both people were distracted enough for them not to hear Daniela approaching.
"Hey! She said to let her go," Daniela erupted, making her presence known.
The guy turns around, revealing who he is.
It is Max. Amanda's boyfriend and one of the 'leaders' of the group of chaotics. But most importantly, the guy who planted her the bag of drugs when she got in the fight weeks ago.
That asshole, she thinks to herself.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Max asks, clearly annoyed.
"I should ask you the same thing but I honestly don't care enough to do so," Daniela answers.
"All I care about right now is that you let her go."
"I ain't doing anything wrong. I was talking with my friend over here," he defended himself.
"Oh yeah? From where I stand, it doesn't look like she wants to talk to you and just to confirm, let me ask her," Dani says.
She takes a deep breath, controlling her emotions as she directs her attention to the girl.
"Are you okay, Alexa? Do you need to leave?" she asks, her voice softening compared to her angry demeanor just a few moments ago.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I just want to get out of here," the girl responds with a hoarse voice.
Daniela looks at her with reassurance and nods. She knows that Alexa doesn't want to be with Max. It's more than evident that she is uncomfortable. She was scared even.
She refuses to leave her with Max a second longer.
"You heard her. She doesn't want to be here. Now move out the way so she can go," Daniela orders.
Max frowns in annoyance when he hears the teen say this. He huffs and takes a few steps closer to Daniela with a defiant stance.
"What the hell is up with you and not minding your damn business? This has nothing to do with you. Screw off and let us be."
" This is my business because she is my friend and I'm not going to let you continue to harass her," Daniela states, her tone low and firm.
"Looks like you getting suspended because of me didn't teach you anything about respect," Max snarls.
"Too bad your plan wasn't bulletproof. I know you must be pissed because of that but it makes sense that your plan failed," Daniela taunts.
"I expected nothing from you and your squad, yet I'm still disappointed that you failed. That is what I get when I put hope on people who only have air inside their heads."
"Do I have to remind you who you are messing with? We still got your ass suspended," the boy spat.
"Not to mention we are an influential group in this school. You wouldn't stand a chance against all of us and you bet your ass we will make sure no one is there to defend you."
"Are you threatening me?" Daniela scoffs.
"Let's settle things right now. First off, do you think you and your crew of minions are some type of untouchable group? Just because you guys waltz around here with your chest puffed up causing chaos doesn't mean shit to me," the girl retorts.
"Your crew may have some type of influence here but once you step out of this building, you all ain't shit. No influence. No power. Just a bunch of wannabe gangsters."
"Hey! If you don't shut-"
"I'm not done so shut up!" Daniela snaps.
"I have met people with actual influence and authority. People who run whole neighborhoods with an iron fist. These guys, they have no mercy. They act first and ask later. All they need is an order to do so," she mutters, her face void of any bluff.
"I'm not sure where you are trying to get at," the boy stammers, unable to hide his nervousness.
"All you need to know is that I want you and your crew not to mess with any of my friends. If you have any problems with me, take it out on me directly. Not them," she orders, taking a step closer to him.
"If I even see you looking at her the wrong way, I will make sure you learn how to respect people, especially women," she continues as she eyes the boy in front of her. Her face reflected both anger and disgust.
"So let me be clear. I am not asking you. I am telling you, get the hell out of here and never bother her again."
Daniela stares down at the boy in front of her, her jaw clenched and her face stern. It doesn't matter to her whether Max has a physical advantage as he is taller than her.
She has fought before. Fights where she had a disadvantage. That has never stopped her from trying.
If anything. Having the disadvantage ignited her will to fight.
She stares down at the guy in front of her, unwilling to stand down from her position.
Max is resisting from backing off, hoping the girl will simply give up and get out. His hope quickly dies down as it is clear Daniela won't back down.
That ticked off his patience but that wasn't what he was worried about. What was bothering his mind was the things that the girl said to him.
Is it true? Does she know possible dangerous people who can cause harm? Some sort of gangsters that she is connected to? Daniela doesn't look like the type of person to be connected to gangs.
Maybe it was all talk. Just pure bluff.
These guys, they have no mercy. They act first and ask later. All they need is an order to do so.
But the way she said this. She said this with no hesitation. No second thought. It all came out natural to her. Either she is a good liar or it was no lie at all.
The boy looks at the girl for a few more moments and lets out a small chuckle, trying his best to not show his nervousness.
"You know what? She is so not worth it," He says, taking a few steps back.
"Don't worry about me bothering her. She is out of my league anyway. Worry about yourself though. Cuz shit ain't over yet," the boy adds as he turns around, walking away from the two girls.
"Damn straight," Daniela says as she watches the boy walk away.
Daniela's eyes follow Max as he leaves, ensuring he doesn't come back.
Part of her is disappointed at the fact that she didn't get the chance to teach Max a "lesson". His insistence on continuing to bother the girl lets Dani know that this wasn't his first time bothering someone.
But she remembers the promise she made to Emily not starting any trouble.
Technically, she didn't start it but felt Emily wouldn't let her slide off so easily. It's best to be on her good side.
Daniela just shakes her head and looks back at Alexa who looks rather shaken up. She feels bad for the new student. This was not a great start to her new school year.
"Are you okay?" Dani asks as she approaches the girl.
Alexandra doesn't respond. She simply stands frozen in place. It looked like she was trying to take in what happened fully.
"Alexa?" Daniela asks once more as she walks up in front of the girl, her face reflecting concern for her friend.
Alexa doesn't respond to Daniela's question. Instead, she practically throws herself at the girl, her arms wrapping around Daniela in a tight embrace.
Daniela was caught off guard by Alexa's quick action, making her stumble in place but she was able to maintain her balance.
Daniela thinks to herself that for someone with a petite build, Alexa is stronger than she appears to be.
Once Dani was sure that her feet were planted firmly on the ground, she slowly looked down at the girl who was clinging to her shirt. She wasn't exactly sure how she should react to this situation in which someone needed comfort.
For Daniela, it is hard to know how to console someone when she grew up not being comforted when needed.
All she knows is that her friend probably felt scared at the moment and went up to her to seek comfort. Daniela would try her best to make her feel better even if she wasn't sure how.
Dani slowly wraps her arms around Alexa, making sure she doesn't startle her. She then slowly moves one of her hands up and down on her back to ease some tension.
She continues her calming motions as she feels Alexandra slowly relax in her embrace. She waits for a few moments until she feels it is appropriate to speak up once more.
"It's okay. You're okay. You're safe now."
She continues to hold onto her friend until Alexa slowly lets go of her, taking a step back.
"I'm... sorry. I didn't mean to catch you off guard like that," Alexandra apologizes with a raspy voice.
"No, it's okay—no need to apologize. I just wanted to make sure you are alright," Dani responds her tone soft and understanding.
"I'm okay. Just- a little startled. That's all," the girl responds, as she adjusts her glasses.
"Okay. c'mon. We can go sit on the bleachers if you want. Just so you can rest a little better,"
Dani suggests and Alexandra nods in agreement.
The Latina offers a smile as she picks up her friend's book bag from the floor. She then guides her friend out of the area in which they are in and makes their way to the front of the bleachers. They get settled at the lower level of the bleachers and take a seat.
They have a clear view of the field, which is slowly filling with student-athletes warming up for their daily practice. Some of the students were running around the track while others were stretching on the field.
Both girls sit quietly on the bleachers as they look at the field. It isn't an uncomfortable silence but Daniela can sense a bit of tension from her friend.
Dani wasn't sure if she should say something to ease the tension. Even if she were to say something, she wasn't sure exactly what to say.
She could ask once more if Alexa was okay but she feels that would be a redundant question. She had already asked a few times before so it would be annoying to do it again.
She could just change the topic completely. Talk about something else to distract them from the fuss that happened beforehand.
Daniela sighs quietly as she leans her head back. She hates how incompetent she feels in not being able to comfort her friend. Unfortunately for her, there is no official class she can take to learn the art of consolation.
It's something that is learned naturally. Something she doesn't know how to express fully. At least in a traditional sense.
Her mind is clouded in thought when all of it is halted by a familiar voice.
"Thank you," she hears Alexa say in a timid voice.
Daniela perks her head up, genuinely surprised that Alexa was the one who broke the silence they had between them.
"No need to thank me. I did what needed to be done," she replies as she looks at the girl who is keeping her eyes on the field.
"But you didn't have to do all that. Your altercation with him could have ended so much worse. He was very defensive. You could have gotten hurt," the girl blurts out in a troubled tone.
Alexandra finally turns to face the girl and her facial expression is one that Daniela didn't expect.
The girl looked genuinely worried for her but Daniela couldn't understand why that was the case.
"I've heard what Max and the others like him are capable of. They can be dangerous if need to be and that's not adding the fact that they already hold a grudge against you."
"This situation just added another target to your back. All of this is because of me. It's all my fault. If only I-"
"Wait. Hold up. Press pause for a sec," Daniela speaks up, cutting off the girl mid-sentence.
"None of this was your fault. You never asked for Max to come up to you like that. You told him that you didn't feel comfortable and wanted to leave."
"That fool didn't listen. He ignored you and kept bothering you. I wasn't just gonna stand by and let him do that to you," Daniela starts, her tone calm but stern.
"The way that asshole treated you is something that no girl deserves. Especialy one like you. I know we don't know each other for long but I know what it's like to be a new kid at a new school. It can be too much."
"You don't need people like Max to make your school life miserable. Plus, in the short time we know each other, I can tell you are a good person."
Alexandra looks at Dani as she says this, listening attentively to every word. She is in awe of what the girl is saying to the point that she cannot find the words to respond.
"Please don't blame yourself for what that guy was doing. It was all him, not you. People like him deserve to be put in their place."
"He deserved to know that you may be the new kid but you are not alone. You have people who have your back," Daniela reassures her.
"People like you," Alexandra responds sheepishly as she looks up at the girl.
"See. You are starting to get it," Daniela says with a wide smile.
"What about Max though? He looked very angry when he left," Alexa asks.
"Fuck that guy. He knows damn well that he can't touch me. He and the others are all bark no bite," Daniela answers with ease.
"But if they do plan on doing something, I will be waiting for them, no biggie. I've handled people much worse than those clowns so don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"Thank you. I mean it. I owe you so much. I don't know what I would do without your help," Alexa expresses.
"Don't sweat it. Like I said, I have your back. As cliche as it may sound, that is what friends are for you know. We help each other out."
"Yeah... that is what friends are for," Alexa says in a soft voice as she looks at the field once more, a genuine smile plastered on her face.
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Prentiss Household
8:20 pm
It's a calm evening in the Prentiss residence. No major movement is happening inside the household other than the TV playing in the living room where Daniela is.
The girl is sprawled out on the living room couch, mindlessly watching a soccer game on the TV. She doesn't care about the score as she isn't a fan of either team but there was nothing else to watch on cable TV that was entertaining for her.
She could easily put on a movie or show from Netflix but it would be pointless as she doesn't have the energy to pay attention to the plot. She is simply too tired.
She isn't sure why this is the case. It could be that it was simply the whole school week finally catching up to her. It could also be that she is tired from what happened earlier today.
Daniela is genuinely surprised about the way she reacted to the situation. She feels that she reacted in a calm manner considering what was going on.
Yes, she was mad. She hated what was happening to her friend and it hit a certain nerve once she saw the person that was bothering her.
Max should consider himself lucky that he left without a scratch. The only reason why Daniela didn't knock him out is because she is on thin ice with her social worker.
Dani knows well that she has to be on her best behavior to not jeopardize her current placement with Emily.
She cannot afford to screw up. She can't let her impulsiveness get the best of her. If she does, it's all over.
She refuses to let that happen. She doesn't want to be moved again. She doesn't want to go to another home.
She is too tired to have another abrupt change. The girl has been in too many houses. Out of all of them, there is only one house she feels comfortable enough to consider her home.
That was the Prentiss household.
A home where she feels comfortable. A home where she feels safe. A home where she feels... loved.
Feelings that she hasn't experienced in a long time.
She is careful in having these feelings. She can never be too sure that this will be a long-term placement.
Nothing is permanent. Not for her. When things are going well for her, there is a cruel tendency for all the good to be snatched from her in an instant.
No heads up. No warning. Just all taken away.
She shouldn't feel completely at ease. To not let her guard completely down. Always be ready for the unknown.
This mentality takes a toll on her. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.
But she has to do this. To protect herself.
To shield her heart.
She continues to watch TV, her mind slowly drifting to sleep. She didn't mind falling asleep on the couch. She could practically sleep anywhere if she wanted to. The house was all to herself.
Again.
Daniela closes her eyes as she lets her drowsiness get the best of her.
The sleeping girl didn't notice that the doorknob from the front entrance was being unlocked.
Emily walks into the home, one arm carrying her travel bag while using her other spare hand to close the door.
The agent and her team were able to solve their case in a typical BAU fashion.
That means long hours and little rest. Emily's highlight of her whole day was finally arriving back home.
That means one night without a case. One night in the comfort of her home.
The greatest reward above all is her being able to see Daniela again. It doesn't matter if she is away for a day, a week or more. The agent hates being away from her daughter.
Emily takes off her shoes and places them in the shoe rack, wondering what the girl was up to at this hour. Once she hears the TV on in the living room, she assumes that Dani is in there watching a show.
She makes her way inside the living room, the soccer game playing on the screen catching her attention. She quickly scans the area until her eyes land on the sleeping girl, resting on the couch.
Her head is resting on the arm of the couch while her arm is clenching a small pillow, almost as if it were some sort of stuffed animal. Emily smiles fondly as she watches the girl in her slumber.
Emily knows it's late. well, not too late at night. It's about 8:40 p.m. Typically the teenager would sleep around ten or eleven at night. Her sleeping early at this hour is unusual but nothing alarming.
It's most likely that she dozed off while watching the game. The agent prefers for the girl to sleep in her room in an actual bed as it would be more comfortable.
It would also take away her worry of the teenager accidentally rolling over and falling to the floor. That wouldn't be an ideal way to wake up.
Emily placed her bag on the side and made her way to where Dani was resting. She kneels next to the girl and gently places her head on her shoulder.
"Dani," she says with a gentle voice in order to not startle her.
Daniela slowly opens her eyes when she hears a familiar voice. She squints her eyes as she looks up at the woman next to her.
"Emily?" she asks in confusion.
"Hey, love. I am back from the case," the woman said with a smile on her face.
Daniela offers a sleepy smile as she sits up, taking a few moments to adjust her vision before looking up at the agent.
"I didn't know you were arriving today," Dani tells the agent.
"Well, luckily we were able to wrap up the case at a decent hour. The flight from West Virginia isn't a long one," Emily explains as she sits down next to the teen.
"I did send you a text letting you know when I got on the jet."
"My bad. My phone is charging over there so I didn't see it," Dani lets the woman know as she points towards where her phone was charging.
"You okay? You normally don't sleep on the couch," Emily asks the girl.
"I'm alright. I was watching the game and I guess I zoned out for a bit," Dani explains.
"Plus, I do sleep on the couch more than you think. I normally do so when you're not here."
"Is that so?" Emily asks with a brow raised.
"Yep. I don't sleep here when you're around because I risk being awakened from my slumber," Dani adds as she glances at the agent.
"I woke you up out of good faith. I didn't want to risk you rolling over and falling on the floor," Emily defends herself as she leans back onto the couch.
"I wasn't going to fall... I think," Dani says.
They both rest on the couch, enjoying each other's company.
"I'm glad that I made it home before you were completely asleep. I missed you," Emily admits as she drapes her arm on Dani's shoulder.
"Me too. But hey, you're here now." Daniela says as she leans on the woman's touch.
Emily smiles and gives the girl a light squeeze.
"That's true. I'm here now. I promise I'll make it up to you," Emily says as she pulls in the teenager for a hug.
They stay close to each other, enjoying their company. There was once a time when both of them had separate lives. A time when they didn't know about each other. When they were complete strangers.
The main component that they had in common before they met was the way they both managed to navigate through life and its struggles.
They always navigated alone.
Either by choice or because they felt that no one was able to understand them. Both of them felt that they would always have to handle things on their own.
Now all has changed. They have each other now and that is something they never want to change.