𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀

𝟏𝟏𝟗

"𝙸𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝙼𝚎 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚜 𝚈𝚘𝚞"
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ
𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘

A BREEZY JANUARY morning and a tired teenager on her way to school with her mother. Noah tried to make the weekend last as long as she could, but Monday came too quickly.

"I think there's a case," Emily says as they turn into the school. "You might have to stay with Garcia."

"That's fine," Noah mumbles. "I have to stay after school for SNHS."

"I'll tell her," Emily says.

Noah turns her head to look out the window as the school comes closer and closer. She wants to turn around and go home. She wishes that she could spend the day on the couch with Sergio. However, she thinks about seeing Jess and changes her mind.

"I'll call you later, okay?" Emily asks as she parks at the front of the school.

"Okay," Noah replies. "Can you text me when you leave?"

"Yeah," the mother says with a smile. "I love you."

"Love you too," the teen beams and hugs Emily over the middle console. "Be careful."

"I will," Emily replies and kisses Noah's cheek.

The teen grabs her bookbag and opens the car door. She waves to Emily before closing the door and walks into the school. She goes to her locker and plugs her headphones into her phone and puts them over her head. She grabs the books she needs and puts the rest away, giving her back a break from all the heavy textbooks.

Noah walks down the hallway and makes her way to her class, finding Jess sitting in her seat. The blonde doesn't see Noah walk in as she keeps her nose deep into her book. Noah smiles to herself as she admires Jess. She has always liked how Jess looks in their school uniform. She doesn't hide the collar of their blouses and wears her skirt higher up on her waist than it's supposed to be. She rolls the sleeves of her sweater up and wears her glasses on the neckline of it.

"Good morning," Noah chimes as she sits in her seat beside Jess.

"Hi," the blonde replies. "You're right on time."

Noah pulls her headphones off her ears and hangs them around her neck. "You'll never believe it, but I did my homework all on my own."

"The homework that was due on Friday?"

"Okay, look, JJ left and I was having a hard time."

"How's Emily?" Jess asks.

"She's alright," Noah answers and shrugs. "She's still upset, but JJ hasn't disappeared. And her new job should be really cool."

"That's good," Jess chimes and goes to say more, but the morning announcements come on.

"Good morning, Levine Prep! Today is January 18th. Next week is our annual "Let's Make a Difference" Week! This year, we have decided that our event at the end of the week will be our Father-Daughter Field Day on Thursday and our Family Bonfire Night on Friday. All ticket proceeds and donations throughout the week will go to our five charities of choice. Like always, please donate if you can and are able and participate in our various events throughout the week. More information will come next week. Have a great Monday and go Lions!"

Noah thinks to herself as she realizes that she won't have anyone to bring to the field day. She peers over at Jess and realizes that she won't have anyone either. She looks down at her desk, knowing that Jess won't want to talk about it just as much as she doesn't.

—
𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘶

Emily walks into the round table room with Reid right on her heels and sees Morgan already sitting down. She notices that Derek is staring at his phone as it beeps. She furrows her brow, knowing that there's only one person that he would stare at his phone for and, shockingly, it's not a woman.