somewhere only we know ══════emily prentiss

01. timing

01.𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠
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olivia was simple, from her home decor to her routine, she was a simple girl. since the day she had finally gotten settled in london 6 years ago, she followed the same routine almost every day.

  monday through friday was painfully ordinary. she woke up at 8:30, making herself a breakfast consisting of a plain bagel with cream cheese and cuban coffee, getting ready for work, and making it to the elevator by 9:20. around 2 she came home for lunch, taking her 2:10 elevator ride up to her apartment to eat whatever left overs she could find and taking the 2:50 elevator ride out the doors back to work, usually greeting sarah from the 4th floor on her way out as the other made her way in. at 5:15 she got on the elevator for last time, finishing off her night with work she had brought home, a good show, and a glass of white wine. she loved her routine, don't get her wrong, she had thrived on it at one point— but sometimes it was almost numbing. day in, day out. the same elevator, the same times, the same mostly lonely rides other than the few times a guest or random complex resident would catch the door right in time, resulting in awkward silence until one of them got to their respective floors. it got old after a while.

saturday's were a bit different.she slept in later, had a proper brunch, even sometimes made plans with her friends when everything aligned just right. every other saturday she'd wake up at 9 to get ready for her yoga class, leaving by 9:36 to get there by 10. saturday's were also grocery day so she wouldn't get back until 1:20, almost always bringing back lunch from Nandos for herself and mrs.lucy smith, the sweet weekend receptionist with a cheery voice and rosy cheeks she had grown to see as a mother— typically spending an hour chatting about their mundane lives and any office drama olivia had encountered that week over their food. mrs.smith always had a funny story to tell about something her husband had done that week, usually involving him forgetting something in a unimaginable place or simply being the goofy man he was. lucy always said that was what she loved most about him. it warmed olivia's heart every time that no matter how ridiculous harry was, she was completely head over heels for him and from the moment she had met him, olivia could tell he was just as much infatuated with his wife as she was him.

as much as she loved hearing mrs.smiths love stories,  they always left her feeling a small, subtle pang in her heart. olivia loved love in every aspect. she loved the idea of looking over at someone and her chest filling with a sense of pride and warmth, a smile creeping on her face and that very smile widening when said person looked back, a smile plastered on their face as well. she wondered what it was like to think of someone and feel a rush of excitement knowing you would see them soon, hold them. the mere idea of spending forever with someone scary but extremely enticing.

until then, however, she had one thing, one day that brought her what she believed to be the closing to that feeling she could get without actually being in love.

sundays.

sunday's were here favorite day of them all, the last sunday of every month to be exact, as it was on these days she would have her beloved "me day". the day she would clear her entire schedule, wake up at 12 and get to the theater by 1pm sharp for their "movie maniac marathon", the day the movie theater let their club members spend the whole day from 1-8 watching all the movies they wanted for only 7 pound. If there was only one thing olivia loved about London, it was it's movie theaters. they always had the best snacks with reasonable prices and her particular theater was never as packed so she never had to fight for her favorite seat.

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sadly , today was only Saturday and olivia was  currently stuck in traffic on her way home from Nandos. "oh my fuck" she mumbled to herself, impatiently fiddling with the radio to pass the time. it wasn't until 20 minutes after her normal time when she made her way through the complex's door, bee lining to behind the front desk and pulling up her chair next to lucy. "i am so sorry i'm late, traffic was crazy but luckily our food is still hot" she spoke, offering the elderly women a warm smile and hug. lucy hugged her back, chuckling softly "it's alright honey, you know i'd be here regardless".

"how's harry?"

"oh he's well, still as forgetful as always" she replied, offering olivia a napkin "although i have been wondering, what about you? what happened with you and that nice girl you mentioned, i haven't seen her in a while".

  olivia laughed, covering her mouth "lucy that was 2 years ago!"she shook her head, swallowing her food properly before continuing on "she ended up being confused about her sexuality and i don't have time to be someone's play toy. i'm getting old babe, i need someone i can rely on"

  lucy's eyes bulged out, looking at her like she had just said the most offensive slur she could muster "old?! you do realize that i am 44 years older than, right? you are young oli, i want you to experience fun and adventure and love an-"

"i do!" she interjected, already knowing where this was going. "i have fun all the time. i go to bars with alice and i have fun on my "me days"! i go on adventures with ava's son when i'm visiting.... just because i have a schedule doesn't mean i don't live"

"and what about love?" lucy questioned, setting her food down and turning to face her "how you ever loved someone olivia? because as much as you ask about harry and i, i've never heard you tell a story of your own"

she sat there for a moment. starring down at now cold fries "i've had girlfriends, i've had like 4"

"that's not what i asked oli"

"i really cared about them, okay?". olivia didn't want to talk about this anymore, in fact, she didn't even want to sit there anymore. "i think i'm gonna head up, i have to clean"

"olivia...."

"no it's okay! really mrs.smith, i promise" she insisted, sending her a small smile, reaching over and giving her a side hug "i'll see you tomorrow" and with that she got up, packed up her food and made her way to the elevator and up her apartment. was she being a bit dramatic? yes absolutely, but that wasn't very out of character for her. see, the issue is that as much as she loved love, love didn't love her, and so now she was here. soggy fries in hand as she made her way to her empty apartment, again.

the same, empty apartment.

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AN:/
this story is not going to be very canon as we don't exactly know what happened to emily while she was in london!!

give me any constructive criticism you feel necessary :)

drink water and sleep well<3