can't be friends

intro - 4

Emily's POV
The same day

I spent all of today with a massive headache and thinking about JJ.

Again I don't know how I could ever repay her for taking care of me. Some would say she did the bare minimum... but if she wasn't going out that night who would've taken care of me?  

"Whatcha thinking about?" Derek asks. "JJ." I say.

"Ooooo does Prentiss have a crush?" He says. "No derek it's not like that." "So why are you randomly thinking about JJ." "Because she took care of me last night and that's just really sweet to me. No one has ever taken care of me like that." I let out.

He pauses for a moment ... "I'm sorry I didn't help. I was just mad and trying to figure out what happened." He says. "It's okay. At least you weren't sucking face like Elle." "Yeah." He scoffs.

"So do you think she's pretty?" Derek says. "Who?" I ask. "JJ!" He exclaims. "What? No! I mean yeah, but not like I'm attracted to her, I mean in the sense that-" "in the sense that you think she's pretty. Awwww Emmy's got a crushhhh." He says and I slap him.

"I do not. Just because I think a girl is pretty does not mean I have a crush on them." "Emily in the year that I've known you, you have never called a girl pretty unless you wanted her. It's like you don't even acknowledge girls you don't think are pretty." "No it's not like that derek. At all. I'm not attracted to JJ." I say.

"Yeah. Who are you tryna convince? Me or yourself." He says.

Why does he always have to be like this.

"I'm going to take your face turning red as my answer. Buy something cute for her. Maybe she likes you back." "She definitely does not." I scoff. "So you admit?" He says. "I admit what?" "That you like her!" "Derek! Bye. I need to go to class." I grab my book bag and throw it over my shoulder as I leave the dining hall.

As I rush out of the dining hall I accidentally bump into someone and all of their food spills all over them and on the floor. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry." I say as I look up to JJ and Penelope. I spilled food all over JJ. After I apparently threw up all over JJ yesterday

"JJ... I am so sorry. You definitely hate me now." I say cleaning up the food on the floor and she starts laughing. "I do not hate you Prentiss. It's okay I didn't like this shirt that much anyway." She smiles.

"I have an extra shirt if you need? Again I'm so sorry." I say. "Don't worry I have a change of clothes in my soccer bag..." she trails off as I clean up the food and throw the plate in the dispensary. "Emily stop worrying so much. Have you had a chance to really talk to someone about what happened last night?" She holds my hand sympathetically.

"No. I'm fine I need to go to class." I say and rush off.

Wow did I fuck that up. 

My phone rings and derek texts me:
Nice one Em. I saw that 😂

I respond:
You're going to get blocked

As I enter my class I took my seat with my lab partner. It's for biology, I'm taking it as an extra class for credits.

"Hi emily Prentiss." I say. "Spencer Reid. Nice to meet you." "Ohhh you're Reid?" I ask. "Yeah ... why?" He says. "I've heard about you. You're the 17 year old right?" "Yeah. Why people are talking about me?" "Not really. Just a few professors. How are you liking it so far here?" "The school aspect is really fun. Social life on the other hand is a different story" he laughs.

"Come hang out with me and my friends. Here I'll add you to my contacts."

He smiles brightly and it makes me happy because I know how hard it can be to fit in. Me being the kid who moved around all the time.

"Thank you Emily." He smiles. "Anytime kid." I say as the professor starts his lesson.

-

After the lesson I asked Spencer to come with me to the campus store because I wanted to get a new hoodie.

"Woah brownies!" He shouts. "These look so good. Oh my gosh I should bring some for JJ." I say. "Who's JJ?" He asks. "My roommate. I accidentally threw up all over her yesterday and dropped food all over her today so I have to repay her somehow. My friend derek thinks I like her." I scoff. "Do you?" He asks.

"Not a chance." I giggle. "Your body language shifted when you said that you know? According to basic psychology that means you're lying. Maybe not intentionally maybe you don't want it to be true? I would get it though having attraction towards your roommate can lead to a series of different problems, according to psychologist-" I cut him off. "I don't like her Reid." I say.

"Okay." He says. I pick up the pan of brownies and then head to get my hoodie and I check out.

"I'll text you when we are all hanging out again." I say and he smiles. "Okay! Let me know how things go with your roommate." He says.

I walk back to my room after a long day of classes and a headache and as I open my room door, JJ was already in there cleaning her side of the room.

"Hey." She says. "Hey, cleaning?" I ask. "Yeah... I felt bad my side was so messy already." "I don't mind. I made a mess on all of your clothes for the past 24 hours anyway." I say and we both laugh.

"I got these for you." I pass her the brownies. She gasps. "I love brownies!!!" She grabs the pan and sets it down, opening it and taking a bite of one. "They're so good, why what's the occasion?" She asks. "I'm sorry for throwing up on you? And spilling food on you?" I blush and quickly try to hide my face.

She looks at me and sets her brownie down. "Do you want to talk about last night?" She asks. "Yeah... I really do." I sigh.