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BITTERSWEET
::  xxii. | summer days (part 2)

Once Cole got to Mia's house, the sun was now fully down. Mia's parents were once again out of town, so like mostly the usual they had the house all to themselves. Mia was curious as of why she wasn't at Daniel's when she mentioned that that's where she would be staying. But to respect her friend's privacy, she didn't ask. She just let Cole in and settle.

It was dark in Mia's house, Mia hates the lights on during the night. It was the last night of summer and Mia could tell that Cole was a bit upset. She didn't want her best friend's final day of freedom to suck. Mia walked to her living room from the door and plopped next to Cole who was sitting on the floor.

"7/11 is still open and my parents have a secret winery." Mia playfully rolled her eyes, "Like I didn't know where it was."

"Won't they know if someone went in there?" Cole softly spoke.

Mia shrugged her shoulders. She didn't care if she got in trouble. She's a teen, that's what she supposed to do.

Cole just looked at her as a smile slowly formed on her face. Mia smiled as well and the two got up. Cole already had her shoes on but Mia slid her's on once they got to the door. The two of then left out on their walk to 7/11 at around ten at night.

The street lights were on as they walked on along the asphalt concrete. Mia pulled out her ipod and started to play some music. It was loud too and Cole snatched it from her hands, protesting because she didn't want to wake anyone up. Mia shook her head at Cole's protesting but then another song was played. Mia chuckled lightly as she watched Cole began dancing to the music as they continued to walk.

Around another ten minutes, the two teens finally made it to 7/11. Cole turned the music off so the two could go in. They raided that place. They bought a bunch of soda, snacks, candy. The way they were acting, the cashier thought they were drunk or high — or something.

They split up the snacks. Cole payed for half and Mia payed for the other, along with their slurpees. After everything was paid for they both exited 7/11 and began back to Mia's house. The music blasted as they drank their slurpees. There was smiles, laughs, pictures. Cole scraped her knee because she wasn't paying attention but she was fine.

Eventually the two got back and they both crashed in Mia's room. Mia had went to the winery and brought up two glasses of wine for the both of them, along with the bottle.

Daniel called repeatedly but Cole's phone kept going straight to voicemail. He knew she was at Mia's because where else would she go when she's upset besides her room.

• • •

After Cole finished the last bit of her wine, she laid down next to Mia on the floor. They were both looking up at the ceiling and breathing slowly. Cole turned her head and looked at Mia.

"What are you thinking about?"

Mia's eyes blinked as she turned to Cole, "Nothing."

"That's a lie and you know it." She whispered, "I thought we told each other everything."

Mia looked back up at the ceiling, "I can't."

Cole sighed, "Why?"

Mia sat up and went on her bed. She sat on the edge and Cole followed her. The two were still silent. Cole was waiting for some response but deep down she knew she wasn't going to get one.

Mia just looked at her and Cole looked back. Mia's eyes glanced to Cole's lips then back to her eyes. Cole did the same thing. Cole leaned in and the two kissed. Daniel was not in her mind at all. The kiss quickly got heated but before it went any further, Cole pulled away.

"Is this ok?" Mia asked.

Cole didn't even think before answering, "Yeah."

Mia leaned back in and the two continued to make out. After all this time she was finally getting what she wanted — kissing Cole, showing her how she truly feels. Mia didn't give a damn about Daniel but she was worried how Cole would feel about all of this in the morning.

• • •

Vanessa was back at the house, six thirty in the morning. She was making coffee for her and Miguel. As she rubbed her eyes pouring the water in, the door was heard open and slammed shut. Cole came in walking passed her on the way in, heading to the stairs. Then up the stairs, she passed her dad going to her room. She didn't want to speak to anyone if it wasn't obvious.

Miguel finally made his way down to the kitchen, where fresh coffee was scented throughout the air.

"You saw that, right?" He referred to his daughter by pointing to the stairs.

"Yeah." Vanessa took two mugs out the cabinets, "And what I like to do is wait for her to come to me. Not pressure her." She set them on the counter and closed the cabinets, "So let her get ready for school."

"First day as a sophomore gots to be fun." He made his way to the counter and jumped up, sitting on it.

"You going job hunting today?" Vanessa asked as she began to pour the coffee.

He picked up his coffee, "Actually I'm going to see my mom. I kind of bought a ticket last night."

"With my money or yours? If i remember correctly, you're broke." She sipped her coffee.

"I have some spared away." He placed the coffee and hopped off the counter, "I'm gonna tell Cole, though."

As he made his way out the kitchen, Vanessa turned to him, "Let her know she has fifteen minutes."

Miguel gave her a thumbs up as he continued his way, leaving Vanessa in the kitchen sipping on her hot coffee.

• • •

"Where are we on the Reigns Family case?" Hotch walked into the conference room.

"Nothing big yet. The only thing we maybe have him on is drugs. Again. There's a picture of him on the table somewhere, he's exchanging something for money." Morgan updated the boss.

"Geological, victimology?" Hotch questioned.

Spencer turned to the screen, "As far as we know, all the victims have been lowlifes. Strippers, homeless. It's only occurred in Virginia and Maryland."

"The red and blue dots?"

Garcia chimed in, "Red, where the unsub's already been and blue, where the unsub might go next."

Hotch nodded and motioned for jj to meet him outside the room, so they could talk. The team needed more info and that meant jj scoping out the family, which she didn't want to do.

"You want to prove he's innocent. This is the only way." Hotch told Jennifer.

"Fine." Jj then headed to the elevator, going to the garage of the building to get in her car.

At first she stopped by the house and noticed there were no cars. That meant Vanessa could only be at her job then and that's where jj soon headed.

• • •

Jennifer walked into the hotel building and right at the front desk was Vanessa. The blonde approached the brown haired woman. She hadn't seen Vanessa in a couple of months, so it was going to be a bit awkward.

Vanessa gestured with her head for jj to follow her, so they could talk alone.

They both sat across from each other in a sitting area.

"You never visit me at work before so it must be serious." Vanessa spoke.

"Actually, no." Jj had to lie to get what she — the team needed, "I came to check on you and you've been avoiding me."

"No, I haven't. I just been really busy." She quickly shot back.

"So we're lying to each other now?" Jj had her reasons but Vanessa didn't.

"I have my reasons and please don't profile me. Ever." Vanessa crossed her leg over the other.

"Cole's been ok, though?"

"As of this morning, she's pissed about something and Miguel, he's ok I guess." Vanessa's tone calmed a bit.

"You guess?" Jj's brows rosed. She saw her opening to get information.

"He's been figuring things out. He's going to see his mom today though. Barcelona, I think?" Vanessa sighed, "Pretty sure that's where she moved."

"Oh. Ok." The conversation fell silent but only for a second, "I will never profile you but I do know something is bothering you."

"Like I said, I'm fine." Vanessa concluded, "I have to get back to work."

Vanessa walked jj out and once jj returned to her car, she immediately called Hotch. She filled Hotch in on that Miguel is going out of town and since they need to keeps tabs, he would need to find someone who can keep an eye out on him out there.

She really didn't like any of this and she really wanted to tell Vanessa but she loves her job. She had no plans on jeopardizing it or her relationship with the Reigns family which is why she decided it's best if she just kept her mouth shut about it.

a/n:
eeeeeee idk
how to feel abt
everything.