chapter one — beginnings
"If you are lucky enough to find a weirdo, never let them go." — Matthew Gray Gubler

———

EDITED: December 1st, 2020
a/n: just an fyi, i wrote this when i was like thirteen or fourteen. it's awful, i know, i plan on editing it but i haven't had much time for it, so don't comment how cliche or dramatic it is pls!! just leave now if u want a masterpiece LOL.

"HERE WE GO..."

      MY BLACK two inch high heels made a click, clack sound as I reached for the glass door with a silver handle on it, which made a soft ringing noise in the background as I walked my way in, quite nervously. The whole building was huge, which seemed to only frighten me more, and my big city life was not miraculously well adjusted to the quietness of Quantico, Virginia.

      I glanced down at where my hands were tugging on my black pencil skirt—feeling as if it could possibly be too short. Dark blue sleeves covered my arms until my wrists, with a silver charm bracelet on my left hand, and then my heels. I was praying internally that the dark colours don't make my already pale complexion look like a ghost. My fawn brown hair is in a fishtail braid that reaches long past my shoulders. I only have a touch of make-up, a swig of lipgloss and some mascara with eye-liner, which contrast nicely with my dark green eyes.

      I took a quick gaze around the entire lobby area, and notice the ground is made of a green and white stone, and I can almost see my own reflection in the shininess of it. The inside walls are also made of the same stone that lays the ground, and a few chairs, benches, and tables are set out and about—having a warm and charismatic feeling to them. Some people are just getting to work, as well, so the lobby holds four men and three women including myself.

      The last thing I took in is the huge desk, it's made of stone too, but not the same green and white but rather a pure, pearl white. A woman was standing behind it, and she looked quite beautiful. Her hair was a nice strawberry blonde, with hazelnut brown eyes, and she was wearing a dark green velvet dress while sitting down in a chair. I took notice of how her eyes weren't settled on the arriving people, but rather steadily gazing at her left hand instead.

      I took a few steps forward, and walked towards the beautiful slated stone desk, and the woman looked up as she heard the small footsteps of mine approaching her. Her red lips, obviously tinted with a lipstick of some sort, spread out into an open smile, and I returned it politely.

      "Hi! I'm Claire, you look totally lost, can I help?" The woman cheerily asked, in a very exciting voice, almost too exciting for six o'clock in the morning. If you can't tell, I'm most definitely not a morning person.

      "Do you know where Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner is?" I questioned as politely as I could muster, my voice still sounding a bit hoarse, and I reminded myself to get a sip of my usual coffee when I have the opportunity.

      "Sure! He'll be on the sixth floor, are you the new girl he's expecting?"

      "Uh, yeah..." I nervously chuckled, am I so easily recognized for being utterly lost?

      "That's awesome! You're so much more prettier than what I thought you'd be!" Claire jumped up in her chair, and her back straightens out while doing so, I rose my eyebrows with shock at the fact she was so bubbly.

      "Um, thank you?" I almost laughed again, but it still seemed to put a nice smile on my face from the kindness she was showing for hardly knowing me.

      "It's a compliment, silly!" Claire's quite adorable laugh echoed throughout the hallway, waving her hand gently for exaggeration.

      I shifted a bit while looking down to my hands, feeling a bit awkward since I am completely tired and haven't had the chance to wake up quite yet; especially to be my usual, cheery self.

      "Well I should probably get going since Agent Hotchner is waiting," I stated, flashing another polite smile as the strawberry blonde nodded repeatedly. But before I started to walk away, I quietly whisper to her. "And congratulations on the engagement."

      Her mouth falls ajar, and she looks completely stunned. "H-how'd you know? I haven't told anyone..."

      "You do work with profilers," I smiled, almost feeling like I was to laugh but I didn't mean it in a harsh way, so I didn't. "You were smiling while looking at your hand in I walked in, and once I was close enough I saw you had a ring and it looks basically brand new. Plus, you keep playing with it which means you're probably not used to having one of your finger. But thank you for the directions, Claire."

      Before she could say anything else, I whipped my head around towards the set of elevators I spotted walking in, and I left her to be surprised by herself.

      I took a step into the elevator, and clicked the big button that had the number six written on it, and impatiently tapped my foot. But at the last second, someone stuck their lanky arm in between the closing doors before they had a chance to fully close, and they opened back up to allow a rather young man in.

      "Uh," he stared at me, and that was when I took in his beautiful giant puppy-like chocolate eyes and brown shaggy hair. For a few seconds, the man stood in between the doors while staring deeply into my emerald eyes as I gapped a little at his facial features. "Sorry, I-I didn't mean to stare."

      He swiftly stepped into the elevator and I moved over a few inches so he had more room. I closed my pink lips back shut, mentally scolding myself because truthfully I stared at him just as much as he stared at me.

      He wasn't wearing a suit, which was surprising because every other man in the building she had saw so far was, but rather a tan sweater that also went to about his wrists, with a dark brown vest over it. His pants were a dark brown that matched his sweater vest, and he looked to dress like a grandfather but he couldn't be over twenty-five.

      "Six please," he interrupted the awkward silence, just as soon as the elevator doors close softly.

      "Looks like we're going to the same place, um," I started, but I didn't know his name to finish the sentence, so I pathetically cringed up my face in hopes he'd finish it for me.

      "Dr., uh, Spencer Reid. You don't have to call me Dr., you can call or Spencer, or Reid, or whatever you want..." he stuttered a bit on his words, hardly forming one word without rushing to the next one.

      "I'm Theresa Carter," I smiled, flashing a bit of my white teeth, and hold out my hand for him to take it in. "You can call me Tessa, though."

      The man's eyes hover a bit as he switched from staring at me to my hand, and he slowly stretched his out to meet mine. His palms were slightly sweaty, but I didn't mind since mine were probably the exact same way with how anxious I was feeling.

      I wanted to start small talk, or get to know this rather cute man, but I don't say anything. Since either I was too nervous to form words or I didn't even know what we would talk about. We sat in an awkward silence for a minute or two before we reached the sixth floor, and I frown upon myself for not trying to make friends at this new potential job.

      Spencer allowed me to go first, and I breathed out a 'thanks' and took a few steps and searched the floor. I easily recognized it as a bullpen, that consisted of several cubicles, and a small set of stairs that lead up to offices, probably for the more official leaders. Everyone was busting around, and it was only six in the morning, and I wondered what it'd look like in the middle of the day.

      Spencer walked out of the elevator too, and headed over to a group of three people standing next to or sitting on their cubicles. Watching Spencer come towards them, eventually their eagle eyes fell on me, and they started whispering in hushed voices. My cheeks turned a little red because I knew they were so obviously talking about me, and I was a bit embarrassed.

      "Agent Carter?"

      I spun around fast on my heels from the unfamiliar voice, and spotted a tall, black with a tint of gray haired man with a very stern face on behind me. He looked more agitated than friendly, and the same anxiety rippled throughout my body, but straightened this time.

      "Dr.," I correct softly, a mouse could probably talk louder than me. "Dr. Carter, sir."

      "I'm Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner, but you can call me Hotch," he spoke quickly and firmly, not a split second of hesitation in his tone, his expression not shifting even in the slightest way. "Shall we go to my office?"

      "Of course, sir."

      I hated adding 'sir' to sentences, but with this scary man in front of me, I didn't want to disrespect him in any way possible.

———

a/n: thanks for choosing to read this story!!