Hope for the Hopeless [Jemily]

Try Your Luck

July 5, 2007
— JJ's POV
It's been three days since that night with Emily and I've been thinking about a lot since then. I do deserve better, I just have to find the right person. Penelope's been trying to hook me up with some guys she knows but they're all a little too techy for my taste. Will's been calling me at least once a day since his blowup with Emily, but I haven't answered a single call. I'm trying to work with Garcia to figure out if we can block my number from his cellphone somehow, but she surprisingly hasn't been able to do that yet. I'm not too worried about him anymore though. I realized that I have a lot of support around me from the team— they'll always treat me like family.

"JJ, you ready to go!?" Penelope whined from the couch in my office. "Everyone's there already and we still have to go home and change!" Tonight the team was going out clubbing. It was a rare sight to see each other in such a casual setting, especially when talking about Hotch, but we tried to loosen up around one another a couple times a month.

"One more email, Pen! One more!" I typed as fast as I could, hurrying through the rest of today's work so Garcia and I could leave. A few minutes later, I logged off and got my stuff so we could head out. We got to my apartment around 6:30, changed into some "club clothes," and then got to the hangout around 8:00. I had to admit that it felt nice to immediately have eyes on me when I walked in, but I owe it all to the outfit I picked. Even I could admit it was hot.

Penelope tapped my shoulder and pointed to a table some distance away, "Found them." We navigated through the globs of people around the club and approached a high table against a wall. Derek, Emily, and Hotch were all there with their drinks. "Hello, my loves!" Penelope squealed and sat next to Derek.

I flung my purse over Emily's chair and asked, "Where's Spence?"

Hotch nodded to our left, "He found a swarm of fellow geniuses. I think they're talking about Star Trek together." The table laughed in unison at Reid's choice of company at the bar, but as long as he was comfortable we didn't really care what he did.

Emily leaned next to me and asked over the noise of the club, "Want anything to drink?" She motioned over to the bar.

I smiled at her, "Will you come with me?"

"After you, Mademoiselle." I giggled in delight and then stood up from my chair, making my way over to the bar with Emily. She ordered another rum and coke while I requested a cosmopolitan. I bit my lip once I looked down and finally took in her whole outfit. It was delicious and my thoughts about the extent of our relationship were starting to drift again. She was undeniably attractive. Especially to me.

Our drinks slid across the bar to us so we made our way back over to the group. Emily chivalrously put her hand on the small of my back as we migrated through the crowd, making me melt into the intimate contact. I wish I knew how she really felt about "us" but I keep getting mixed signals.

— Emily's POV
Okay so Jennifer looks really hot tonight. I'm having a hard time keeping my hands to myself, but I'm gonna have to since she unfortunately isn't my girlfriend. You should see how many guys have been looking at her tonight. And I can tell she likes it, too. It's making me insanely jealous and paranoid. Right now she's a few feet away from the table, playing darts with a couple guys. I'm keeping a close watch on their hands, making sure they don't drift anywhere that's off limits. As I was deep in thought, gazing at Jennifer of course, Penelope nudged me in the side, "Psst."

"Hmm?"

"Hotch and Derek just got up for another round."

"And?"

"And now's our chance to talk. It's been like two weeks since I told you to tell JJ how you feel, where are you with that?"

I scoffed, "I-I-I'm... I'm working on it."

"You said that last time and then she got a boyfriend. You're saying it now while we're in a club and two guys are practically drooling over her. You think neither of them are gonna give her their number? What happens when they do?"

"I don't know, she'll probably—"

"She'll call them back because she has no clue how you feel. Just tell her."

"Tell her what!? What am I supposed to say?"

"Say what you feel, Emily. I know you have some trouble with that sometimes but you're gonna have to shake that off this time. It's Jennifer." It's Jennifer. It is. It's her. I've wasted so much time already, and I just keep wasting more. I gotta get over this stupid fear and just tell her already.

I sighed and nodded, "You're right."

Garcia raised her brows, "I am?"

"Yeah. I have to do it. I've been such a dope so far and I gotta stop." Garcia gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder but quickly pulled away when Jennifer jogged over, making sure that she wouldn't think anything was up.

"Hey, guys!"

I chuckled, "Hey, you. How was the game?"

"Pretty good. I took all three rounds and one of the guys gave me his number."

Penelope suggestively looked at me before saying to JJ, "Are you gonna call him?"

"Meh, I don't know yet. I might, he was pretty nice. Either way I'm ready to pack it in. You okay for getting a ride home?" Penelope nodded and we said our goodbyes to Jennifer as she took her purse and headed out of the club.

As soon as she was out of sight, Garcia elbowed me, "What are you still doing here!? Go after her!"

"N-Now!?"

"Do you not understand standard club rules?! She's gonna call that guy! Go find her before she does, you goon!"

"W-Well she's probably in her car already by now!"

"Then go to her apartment! Duh! Vamanos, muchacha!" I nodded anxiously and then downed the rest of my drink before running out of the club. Sure enough, Jennifer's car was no where in sight. I mumbled a curse word to myself and then took off for my own ride, rushing to get to Jennifer's apartment as fast as I could. The wait is over.