Survivor, emily prentiss

𝟎𝟎𝟓, 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞

claire's pov

Emily's eyes.
I could lose myself in them all day.
Emily.

I shoved my head under my pillow and groaned. It was like everyday was becoming more and more difficult to be around her. If I'm being honest, I wasn't planning on drinking much last night. Penelope and I were talking about work, while Emily went to get our first round of shots. Out of the corner of my eye the bartender was flirting with her. I didn't think I was the type of person to get jealous, especially over someone I'm not even with. But my heart filled with instant anxiety when I watched as he was with her. I was scaring myself with these feelings. I knew I had a bit of a crush on her, but witnessing Emily give someone else that kind of attention filled me with rage.

But now all I felt was embarrassment. I told myself I was going to stay professional. I wanted to prove to the team that I'm not a little girl, and I am in fact a responsible, and capable adult. I squint my eyes and make my way to the bathroom, crossing my fingers that a hot shower would heal the ache in my head. I knew I should be stressing about more about last night, but my migraine was too intense to think straight. I sat on the floor of the bathtub, letting the warm water hit my skin.

After I turned the shower head off, I wrapped a towel around my torso and a separate one around my head. Too lazy to look for clothes, I walk to the kitchen and see three grocery bags and a yellow post-it note.

Eat up. ;)
– Em

I grin down at the note and lick my lip, letting out a soft chuckle. God, could she be more perfect. I take out my phone and dial the older woman's number. After three rings she picked up.

"Prentiss."

"You did not go grocery shopping for me." I shake my head, slightly dumbfounded.

"I hope it's enough. I had no clue what you like, so I just got a bit of everything." She replied on the other end, streetcars in the background.

"I can see that- Hey, where are you?"

"Oh, I'm just at the ATM."
I play with my fingers and chew on my cheek. I know I should just thank her and go about my day, but the woman inside me is saying otherwise. "Come over." I say it more forcefully than I mean to.

"Right now?"

"Please?" I pace around the kitchen, hoping for a positive answer. Emily snickers at the plea.

"I'll see you in ten." She says before hanging up. I bite my lip and squeal, realizing I'm still in a towel, I hurry to my bedroom and throw on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top.

~

"So you're feeling alright after last night?" Emily asks again, concern filling her voice.

I nod and take a seat on the sofa beside her. "I'm sorry you had to take care of me while I was drunk. Thank you though, for making sure I got home safe." I say, timidly.

She scoffs. "I wasn't going to leave you there! Plus, you're a cute drunk. Stubborn, but cute." I blush at her comment.

"I don't even know why I drank that much." I lie, sipping on some water.

"Oh you drank nothing compared to Garcia." Emily said as a matter of fact. I feel a smile form on my face and my eyes widen. "Really?! I can't believe I missed that." I laughed.

"Can I ask you something?" I question, my tone becoming more serious with a hint of nervousness.

Emily shifted her body so she was fully facing me. "Of course"

"Do you think I come off.. as just a clueless kid?" I exhale out of my nose to lighten to mood, but Emily's face stays straight. "Not at all."

I let out a sigh of relief and toss my hands in my lap. "Thank God. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm doing here. Am I even qualified to be working for the FBI? I don't even know how I'm supposed to react, because I'm clearly the youngest, but to act young isn't professional, but whenever I try to act like myself I think I'm trying too har–" I feel myself start to ramble. At this point I'm not even sure what I'm saying, all I know is I need to say it.

Emily holds my face in her hands, cutting me off. "Look, it's okay to not know everything. if you weren't qualified in some form or another Strauss wouldn't have hired you. And you don't have to try to prove yourself. We already know you and we love you. Don't let something this silly cause you unnecessary stress." She looks at each of my eyes, as if she's searching for something. "Okay?"

I look at her and she looks at me. My eyes drop to her lips, and suddenly back to her irises again. I hope to God she didn't notice. I spend hours thinking about her lips, but she doesn't need to know that. Then her eyes drop and for a moment I think she's looking at mine. I lick my lips softly and lean in.

Emily drops her hands back in her lap. I whimper at the loss of contact, but quickly cover it by clearing my throat. She does the same.

I can feel a pit start to grow in my stomach and I suddenly feel queasy. I start to regret asking her to come over. Why do I do this to myself?

I try to think of something to say, someway to end this dreadful silence.

"I should get going. I have some errands to run." She says, rubbing her legs and standing from the couch. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little relieved she was leaving. I feel like I'm about to blow chunks.

I walk Emily to the door and thank her again for the groceries and watch as she walks out. Once she's gone I mentally beat myself up. I totally misread the situation. I run to the bathroom and throw up everything I had to drink the night prior. Oh how I hate myself.