𝐄𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂─𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐝

one.

✧✧✧

[ADELINE]

-THEN-

2008

ep. 03. 20.

✧✧✧

ADELINE HARPER hated first days.

To her, it felt like jumping into freezing cold water. The initial shock makes everything unfamiliar. You forget where you are, what you're supposed to be doing. All you can do is try to catch your breath...to resurface.

But then you realize where you are. First you feel numb, overwhelmed. And then ever-so-slightly, you feel yourself begin to adjust. That's how the first day at a new job felt. Everything was new, it all came in a whirlwind. And by the time the day was over, exhaustion was inevitable.

Addie had had many first days. First day of elementary school, first day of middle school, high school and university. First day of new jobs and first day at the FBI Academy.

But this first day seemed the most important of all. Today was her first day as a member of the Behavioural Analysis Unit.

It wasn't that she felt under-qualified, in fact Addie felt perfectly confident in her skills. After all, she had been hand selected to join the team.

Rather she was more concerned with doing everything right, playing by the rules, and fitting in.

Addie Harper hated standing out too much. Her entire life had been spent trying to fly under the radar. She always made sure her hair wasn't too done up, her clothes not too bright or too flashy. She was beyond intelligent, but rarely ever showed it unless required. Adeline Harper almost wanted to be invisible.

But somehow, despite all that, Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner had hand-picked Adeline out of all the other eligible agents. He'd seen her file and he knew that she would fit right in, despite the fact that she had only been out of the academy for less than a year. It was rather unheard of and Adeline knew she had to do everything to prove herself.

So, as she stood in the elevator that was currently taking her up to the sixth floor, Adeline ensured that everything was perfect, down to the expression on her face.

The elevator dinged, causing her to grip onto the strap of her bag just a bit tighter. She could do this...she had to.

"Adeline Harper?"

She had barely stepped out of the elevator when the voice reached her. A man stood in front of her, a folder in his hands and a bright smile on his face.

Addie glanced around for a quick moment before giving him a small nod. "That's me."

"Great." The man smiled, already turning and motioning for her to follow. "I'm Agent Grant Anderson. Follow me and I'll show you around."

Adjusting her blouse once more for surety, Addie followed after Anderson who was leading her through a set of glass doors.

"Over there is the kitchen." He explained, quickly pointing to a door. "Washrooms, classified files, and tech rooms."