Smile | Aaron Hotchner

Chapter Two - Skye Freeman

I woke up early, and for the first time in a long time, I felt ready for the day ahead of me.

Today is the day I leave everything behind. Today is the day I start over.
Today is the day I'll finally be free.

As I sat up in bed, I saw my bags in the corner, and was reminded of just how real all of this is. I was finally doing it.

I got out of bed and threw on the clothes that I'd left out last night. Everything else was already packed, so there was literally nothing for me to do before I left.

Only five minutes later, I was loading my bags into my car, a silver Volvo. After I'd done that, I stood in the middle of my apartment, letting myself breathe for a few moments.

There was only one person I wanted to say goodbye to before I left, nobody else. In fact, the people here were one of the many reasons I wanted to get away from this place. The people and the memories.

I got in my car and drove the few minutes to where I could see her. Then, I walked over, and crouched down.

"I'll miss you sis. You're the only person, in fact the only thing in general, that I'll miss about this place. I promise I'll visit, even if it's not as much as I would like. I love you so, so, so much. See you soon," I said, a tear falling down my cheek.

I kept it short, knowing that if I stayed any longer I wouldn't be able to keep myself together. Instead, I got in my car, and started the long journey ahead of me.

It would take me hours to get to Quantico, Virginia, but I still decided to drive instead of going on a plane. I'd have more time to think about everything, and that was exactly what I needed.

I was still lost in my thoughts hours later, so much so that I didn't notice that I had arrived at my new home until the gps built in to my car ended the route.

I peered out the window, looking at the apartment block that I would be living in, hopefully for the rest of my life.

Grabbing my few bags from the trunk, I started to walk up the stairs, struggling to get out the key that had been mailed to me a few days ago.

When I finally reached my apartment, I unlocked my door, and stepped inside.

As I looked around my apartment, a feeling of disappointment washed over me. It was empty, small and cold, with cracking paint and mouldy taps.

I'd have to do a lot of work on it to make it a home, and I wasn't going to have much time to do that with my new job.

I decided to get started now, so I could try and get as much done as I could before tomorrow, which is when I start at the BAU.

Leaving my bags in the corner of one of the rooms, I grabbed my purse and headed back out again. I needed to get some paint, and some furniture.

I went to the furniture store first, knowing that I would at least need a bed to sleep in, even if I wasn't home much.

It didn't take me too long to pick out some simple furniture and arrange to get it delivered later in the day.

As I was at the checkout paying, I heard the familiar sounds of nearby sirens. I looked out the window to see three black SUVs speeding past, and I couldn't help but think about how soon, that would be me.

"Your order will arrive at your address this afternoon," the cashier told me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Thank you," I said, before walking out the store.

I was already tired, and I knew I would have an early start the next day, so I headed back to my apartment - my empty apartment.

It was a couple of hours before the furniture arrived, but when it did the moving people helped me set it up where I wanted it.

There was a bed, a closet and a dressing table in my bedroom, a bed and a closet in the guest room, a couch, a coffee table and a tv in the living room and a table with chairs in the kitchen. Buying all of it pretty much cleared out my bank account, but my new job paid a lot more than my old one, so I was hoping that wouldn't be too much of a problem.

I thanked the people before they left, and then I went and sat down on the couch. Grabbing the remote, I put on a random channel that happened to be showing Law and Order: SVU and started to watch it.

After a while, I fell asleep on the couch, the tv still playing in the background.

A/n: hi, hope ur all enjoying the fanfic so far. these two chapters were kind of just an introduction, the actual story will be starting in the next chapter. thank you for reading :)