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BITTERSWEET
:: xii. | too many new people

Cole had just been dropped off to school by her mom. Yesterday, she was asked by the principal to tutor one of the students in history. Usually she doesn't get asked to do things like this because she's not good at any of school except history. So when an opportunity popped up, the principal thought of her first. She agreed and then was told to find him in the theatre room some time in the day because apparently he's always there.

So, that was her mission for the day. She decided she would go at lunch and avoid her infamous bullies on the way but that was going to be a long wait because it was early in the morning and her first class was about to start.

She hurries through the door and found a seat all the way in the back. She sunk into her seat as the teacher began speaking. She usually tunes out her teacher during the first class and surfs her phone or just sits there quietly while engaging in a fantasy world she created in her mind.

She would take her notes, doodle, and surf her phone. You'd be surprised of how fast the time goes when you're barley paying attention. The next thing she knew, the bell was going off and class was over. Next was study hall and she usually sees Mia during that time but she thought she would pay her tutoring student a visit instead, screw lunch.

• • •

She didn't know much about theatre or anything of the arts. She only knew his name and she's heard of him but never seen him. Around school he's known as someone popular but only in the theatre aspect, he's not involved with the jocks or anything. She knew this walking into the theatre or auditorium, same thing really.

It was dark inside, so she turned her flashlight on and looked around. She wanted to be as quiet as possible just in case if there was a serial killer or something. She walked up the steps to the stage and noticed there was light on behind the curtains. She walked towards the light and then peeked her head behind the curtains.

"Hello?" Cole called out as she walked backstage, "Is anyone here!"

"Yeah. Who are you?" Someone walked out of the shadows.

Cole crossed her arms over her chest, "Someone who's looking for Daniel. Is that you?"

Once the guy came into the light, she saw he was wearing a fireman costume but only with the hat, bottoms, and suspenders. He didn't look half bad at least to Cole. Her eyes quickly diverted up towards his after she noticed she'd been staring at his chest a little longer than she hoped.

"Yes, that's me." He lightly nodded, "Who am I speaking with?"

"Cole." She stuck out her hand, "You're history tutor."

He took her hand and shook it, "Ah, so you're the history buff."

Cole quickly blinked twice, "Yeah, I guess." She noticed their hands were still held onto one another's, "Sorry." She pulled her hand away. She didn't know how but this whole conversation slowly turned awkward.

"Anyway—" He pulled out a pen and grabbed cole's arm, "This is my number and just text me. Cool?" He pulled the cap off with his teeth then soon wrote his number down on her arm.

Cole once again blinked rapidly, "Sure."

With that, he lightly smiled at her and she returned it before turning on her heels and heading out of the auditorium. She then went to study hall to finish out the remaining hour until her next class.

• • •

While Cole was at school, Vanessa was just finishing the last thirty minutes of her shift at the hotel she works at. Oddly today was a very slow day, that was until a familiar face walked in and she knows he's a profiler but how exactly did he find where she worked?

Derek approached her at the front desk with coffee and a donut. He had a smile across his lips, he was so happy to see her and she was happy to see him. Things aren't official yet, they've just been hanging out and quite enjoying themselves.

"You did not have too." Vanessa spoke with a smile as she took the condiments out his hands.

He shrugged, "The hotel is on the way to work and you just happen to cross my mind." His tone sounded a bit silly, like in a sarcastic way.

"Oh, I happen?" She playfully rolled her eyes, "Like you weren't already thinking of me."

Morgan let out a light chuckle as did she. His phone buzzed and he quickly pulled it out and read the text that was sent from Garcia, apparently there was a case.

"Um—" He slid his phone back in his pocket, "I got to go but I'll call you later." He gave her one last smile before exiting out the building and then getting lost in the crowd out on the sidewalk.

That smile never left her face even after he left and Vanessa's coworkers definitely noticed. She wasn't just smitten, she was hot for him and if you couldn't see that, you are obviously blind.

"Wondering who got you smiling like that?" He approached Vanessa from behind, one of her coworkers.

She quickly turned to him before the guest approached them, "Shut up."

Vanessa went back to her job and she helped out the guest of whatever they needed. Then she went to go check room 312 on the third floor because apparently there was a massive of bodily fluid everywhere. She told one of the maids as she went to the room herself.

After approaching the door, she opened it with the card key and stepped inside. She walked into the bathroom and it was disgusting. Puke everywhere. That was until she looked at the sink and saw a little baggy of white powder. She knew exactly what that was because in her early years, she dabbled in it a bit.

When she got pregnant with Cole, she got sober. She knows she will always be an addict or a druggie but she made sure Cole never knew anything about that or future relationships because she was not proud of it. She wasn't herself or maybe she was —just a different version while on drugs.

She hasn't seen it in person in a little over fifteen years and in that moment it felt all surreal for her. She contemplated taking it or leaving it there. She thought she had enough time but as soon as she heard the door open and the maid announcing herself, she quickly took the small bag off the counter and put it in her pocket.

As she exited the bathroom, she passed the maid, "Good luck. You might want a mask."

"It's that bad?"

"Yeah." Vanessa breathed out before leaving the room and heading to her locker to get ready to leave.

• • •

Everyone was now at home, Cole and Vanessa. Jj had recently sent a message to their groupchat that she can't wait to see them tonight for their little dinner gather. So of course right after picking up Cole, Vanessa went to the store and immediately began cooking as soon as they got home.

As Vanessa cooked, Cole went up to do homework. She did text Daniel and asked him if tomorrow after school would work. He replied back with a smiley face, leaving Cole all smiley herself. She didn't even know the boy and yet he had her smiling like that, the way Vanessa smiles when she's around jj but nobody thinks anything of it.

Time and time went on, it's seven at night. Jj was supposed to be coming around eight-thirty. Luckily dinner just finished being cooked, so Vanessa put everything in the oven to keep it warm while they waited.

Cole was still upstairs and that gave Vanessa an opportunity to think about what to do about the drug that was in her pocket still. It didn't make any sense why she was debating with herself about this when she's been sober for so long, she didn't understand it. It should've been a no brainer, flush it but she didn't want to do that and she didn't know why.

She knows it wasn't a good time in her life but being high got her through the tough times and she doesn't remember what that euphoric feeling felt like anymore. All her problems would just wash away and she felt anew, she barley remembers anything that Miguel did back then or the first time she got wrapped up in his shit. She then shoved the baggy back in her pocket as soon she heard footsteps coming down.

Cole walked into the kitchen, "Dinner smells amazing. So, what time is jj coming again?"

Vanessa took in a deep breath and then exhaled out.

"Mom?"

"Eight-thirty." Vanessa abruptly tuned around, "It's all in the oven."

Vanessa quickly left the kitchen afterwards, leaving her slightly unhinged teenager to collect the pieces herself — not that she really knows or understands what's going on with her mom because Vanessa has gone out her way ever since Cole was born to hide the truth. She talks about her not wanting her to be like her dad, when she doesn't want Cole to be like her either.

She use to hear it all the time when Cole was growing up, mommy I want to be just like you and everyday she hopes that doesn't come true. Little does she know though, Cole may already be heading down that path.

• • •

Eight-thirty passed and jj was still not there. It was now close to eleven at night. Cole was getting tired and she was very hungry. Vanessa said not to eat anything until jj gets there because they were going to eat together but Cole couldn't wait up anymore. Besides, she has school the next morning.

"Mom?" She tiredly rose her head up, "Could I go upstairs now? I'm tired and I have school in the morning."

"Yeah." Vanessa nodded.

Cole stood up, then pushed in her chair. She took her plate off the table then began to make her way out the kitchen and soon to her bedroom.

Vanessa was left alone in the kitchen while another hour went by. She glanced at the digital clock on the stove, 12:03am. 45 minutes later, there was finally a knock on the door. Vanessa immediately got up and headed towards it. She opened the door and there stood agent jareau.

"I'm sorry, I'm late and that I didn't text."

"Why didn't you go home?" Vanessa let her in.

Jj walked in, "I would've been more late if I did." Jj followed Vanessa to the kitchen, "Where's Cole?"

"She has school in the morning, jj."

"You ok? You seem a little off." Jennifer grew concerned for her friend. Vanessa pulled out the baggy and placed it on the table in front of Jennifer. Jj glanced at it then back up at Vanessa, "Is Cole —?" Vanessa shook her head no so jj asked again, "Are you —?" Once again, Vanessa shook her head.

"I never told anyone this before. Miguel is the only one who knows about it besides my parents." Vanessa sighed, "I froze when I saw it. Nearly sixteen years sober and I get spooked by white powder." Jj didn't know what to say so Vanessa continued, "I'm sorry to ambush this on you. I just needed to tell somebody."

The room soon fell quiet.

Jj reached for Vanessa's hand, "Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me. Does Cole know?"

"I'd appreciate it if you kept it between us." Vanessa told her softly. Vanessa stood up as she gave jj a light smile, "I'm tired. And you can stay the night. It's late and my door's open."

Vanessa went up stairs, she left her door open. She changed in her bathroom and wondered why Morgan didn't call, why something in a bag has so much power over her still.

As she got ready, Cole was texting Daniel back. She sent him the place and time of where they should meet up to study soon as a reminder of earlier. She smiled ear to ear after he texted a smiley face back once again. She couldn't believe that this guy she only just met was causing her to smile this big already.

Jj still sat downstairs eating her food, thinking about Vanessa and and figuring out the next steps to take in her left. During her case, she met a guy. He was the head detective of the case and she wouldn't admit it, but they kind of hit it off.

Soon jj finished and she cleaned her plate, then headed upstairs. As she walked to Vanessa's room, she passed Cole's. She stopped in her tracks and then slowly opened the door. She peeked her head in and saw she was sound asleep. She opened the door more and walked in. Jj approached Cole's sleeping body, then leaned down and placed a peck on her forehead.

Jj took one more look at her before exiting her room and heading to Vanessa's. She closed the door and Vanessa turned to look at her as her head rested on the pillow.

"Night." Vanessa mumbled.

Jj lightly chuckled, "Night."

a/n:
soooo jj met someone
&& morgan and Vanessa
are hitting it off.