Long Overdue

7 - The Great Gatsby

"I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Y/N and Penelope had been eating lunch around noon when Officer Peters pushed open the door and motioned for Y/N to come over to him.

"Warden's asking for you," he said quietly. 

Y/N froze. "Is he angry?" she asked.

"It seems like it."

"Shit, alright, watch her for me?" Y/N said, motioning to Penelope.

Y/N walked out of the library and down the hall,  making her way to her dreaded boss's office. She stood for a moment before knocking, basking in the pleasantry that would soon leave her. After all, speaking to her boss tended to ruin Y/N's day, no matter the subject. 

Knocking swiftly on the door, Y/N stepped into the office and took the seat on one side of the big wooden desk.

"Hell, Miss Flowers," he said grimly, looking at her with a cold stare. 

"Warden," she said, shifting in her chair. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm sure you understand why I've called you here." He looked down at a paper in front of him before back at Y/N. "It's come to my attention that you had a companion here today, without properly clearing her with security. Then, you allowed her private, unmonitored time with a prisoner, who happens to be here on charges of murder and drug possession. Now, I understand this woman is an agent with the FBI, but if something were to happen to her here, every single person working in this facility would be at fault. Do you understand?"

Y/N grimaced. She hated being wrong, and especially if it gave Warden Howard the opportunity to hold something over her head. "Yes, Sir," she said. "I just thought-"

"No, you didn't think," Warden Howard interrupted. "That's the issue here. You're not thinking."

Y/N blushed scarlet and looked down at her hands. They tightened in her lap, fingernails digging into her palms.  

"Look, we're all happy you're here. There's been a big change in behavior since the library opened, and that's not going noticed. But if having Inmate Reid here is going to become a problem, I won't hesitate to suspend the program."

"Dr. Reid," she said under her breath.

The Warden stiffened. "What was that?"

Y/N stood up. "Nothing. Look, I'm sorry. I let a personal relationship cloud my judgment. I promise it won't happen again."

He nodded. "Now, I've still got to put this in your file, but I'll let this go if you can promise to watch yourself."

"I'll try," Y/N said with a strained smile. "Is there anything else you need me for?" Or may I-," she motioned to the door.

"You can go," he said. "Let's not make these talks a regular occurrence, alright?"

Y/N nodded and stepped out into the hallway. Her face went pink again as she tried to hold back the angry tears that usually followed confrontation. Her palms were sore, patterned with half-moons where her nails had dug in. 

"Fuck you," she whispered at the closed door. "Fuck you."

Before walking back to the library, she stood in the empty hall.