TEMPERANCE'S POV:
"Morning, sweetheart." Mom greeted me as I walked into the kitchen that morning "Are you excited for your first day back?"
"Actually I am." I replied
"That's because you're a geek." Russ interjected as I was about to continue
"Russ," Mom sighed "do you have to?"
"What?" he questioned "She is."
"She wants to work hard and make something of herself." Mom replied "Maybe you could take a leaf out of your sister's book and do the same…"
"Nah, I'm just happy for Tempe to keep writing my assignments for me." he informed her
"What?" she inquired "You don't do that, do you, Temperance?"
"No, Mom." I replied "Russ is just winding you up. I'm going to go."
"Without breakfast?" she asked
"I promised I'd meet Jack and Angela." I informed her "I'll get something from the canteen when I get to school, I promise."
"Okay." she replied, pressing her lips to my cheek "Have a good day."
SEELEY'S POV:
"Thank you so much for this, Jack." Mom sighed as Jack and I were about to leave for school
"Not a problem, Auntie Marianne." he replied
"Are we ready?" I asked
"Just one more thing; a quick word before you go, please, Seeley." she informed me
"What is it, Mom?" I questioned as Jack made his way out of the house "I'm gonna be late…"
"We're gonna make this work." she replied "Okay?"
I nodded my head… "Okay."
"I know it's gonna be hard but I don't want anything to mess this up." she admitted "We're starting afresh, so I want you to knuckle down in school and do the best you can. You've got your dreams and your goals and I don't want your father to have taken them away from you. You can do anything if you put your mind to it, Seeley. I know you can."
I smiled at her warmly… "Thanks, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too." she informed me, pressing her lips to my cheek "Now go, and have a good day."
TEMPERANCE'S POV:
"Hey," I greeted Angela as I pulled up outside her house "where's Jack?"
"He called this morning and said he'd meet us at school." she informed me "Something about showing his cousin who's just moved here around."
"Right." I replied "You ready?"
She nodded her head… "I still can't believe you've got a car."
I smiled at her warmly and started the engine, driving us off both off to school…
"So, what's the plan for this year then?" Angela questioned as she flicked between radio stations as we drove
"What do you mean?" I inquired
"You're not just going to be all about studying and good grades this year, are you?" she asked
"What's wrong with that?" I questioned
"Nothing." she replied "But don't you want some excitement and adventure? Some romance, maybe?"
"No thank you!" I proclaimed
SEELEY'S POV:
"I'll be 5 minutes." Jack informed me "I've just got to take some books back to the library."
"Okay." I replied
Turning as he disappeared into the library, I saw a group of lads playing catch and made my way over, catching it as it flew past one of the players…
"Nice catch." one of them proclaimed
"Thanks." I replied as I threw the ball up and down in the air "This school has a soccer team, right?"
He nodded his head… "I'm a quarterback. You're new, I take it? Wanting to try out?"
"Yep." I informed him
"How about you give us a trial now then?" he suggested "Show us what you've got?"
I shrugged my shoulders and nodded my head and put the ball on the ground, kicking and passing it between some of the other guys…
TEMPERANCE'S POV:
"I'll meet you in homeroom," I informed Angela "I'm just going to get some breakfast."
"Okay, sweetie." she replied as she turned a corner
I continued down to the canteen, adjusting my books in my arms as I did, sighing and rolling my eyes as I heard a group of boys cheering and yelling as I was about to reach the canteen, being sent flying to the ground, a weight on top of me as I came to…
"Seriously?" I questioned as I pushed the boy who'd fallen on top of me off of me and rose to my feet "What sort of Neanderthals play football inside?"
"Are you okay?" the boy asked as he rose to his feet too
"No thanks to you." I replied "What would you have done if I'd have been seriously hurt?"
"Just chill, yeah?" he questioned "You weren't hurt, so no harm done."
"Just chill?" I inquired "Typical jock response…"
"Jock?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me
I nodded my head… "Are you insulted by my observation?"
"Yeah, actually," he replied "I am."
"Should look where you're going next time then, shouldn't you?" I questioned
Dusting myself off, I picked up my books and made my way into the canteen, inhaling and exhaling a breath as I did…
SEELEY'S POV:
"Everything go okay?" Jack inquired as he made his way out of the library
I nodded my head… "Yep, all good."
"Good." he replied "Right, let's take a look at your timetable and see where you need to be."
"You know, Jack," I began "I think it'd be a good idea if I found my own way around. How about we meet up for lunch though?"
"Are you sure?" he questioned
I nodded my head… "Gotta do it sometime, haven't I?"
"Yeah, I suppose so." he replied "Okay, I'll see you at lunch."
TEMPERANCE'S POV:
"There you are!" I proclaimed as Jack made his way into Science "Where've you been?"
"Sorry," he replied "I had to take some books back to the library."
I smiled at him warmly… "How's it going with your cousin?"
"Okay, actually. He wants to find his own way around." he informed me "I think you'd like him if you met him, actually."
"Why?" I questioned "Does he share our love of Science?"
He shook his head… "I just think you'd both get on though, and Angie mentioned something about wanting to find you a boyfriend this year."
I sighed and shook my head… "All I care about is my grades and getting into a good college."
"Me too," he replied "but I'm able to focus on that and on me and Angie. You could do the same and get her off your back."
"I'm not interested in any of the boys this school has to offer." I admitted "Can we just work?"
Jack and I made our way out of Science class, finding Angela waiting outside for us…
"Will you please tell your best friend that she needs to meet my cousin?" Jack asked as we reached her
"You know what I'm going to say, sweetie." she informed me as she turned her head to me
"Why do you want me to meet him?" I questioned
"Do I have to have a reason?" he inquired "C'mon, Brennan. You know you're intrigued."
I sighed heavily and threw my books on top of his… "Fine. Lead the way."
SEELEY'S POV:
"Bug boy!" I proclaimed as I rose to my feet as Jack, flanked by two girls on either side of him walked into the canteen
"Booth, good to see you." he greeted me as I made my way over to them
"This is your cousin?" one of the girls questioned
"Yeah." he replied
"Seeley Booth." I informed her, holding my hand out to her "Nice to meet you."
"What's going on?" Jack inquired "Is there a problem?"
"You know Bug Boy?" I asked the girl
"Yes, there's a problem. We met this morning. And yes, I know Jack." she admitted
"You can't stay moody at me forever." I informed her
"What happened this morning?" Jack questioned
"Your cousin knocked me over when he was playing catch with a gaggle of his friends in the corridor," she explained "that's what happened."
"C'mon, Jack," I proclaimed "who're you gonna believe? Me, your cousin? Or this beautiful young lady. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."
"Knowing my name has to be earned." she informed me as she took some books from Jack "I'll see you in class, Jack."
"Who is that?" I asked as the girl left the canteen
"Temperance Brennan." Jack informed me
"She's a firecracker, isn't she?" I questioned "You don't mind if I…?"
"You can try your luck." the other girl admitted
"And you are?" I inquired
"Angela Montenegro," she informed me "Jack's girlfriend. But we can do proper introductions once you've worked your charm on my best friend. Go on, I know you want to go after her."
TEMPERANCE'S POV:
"Temperance!" a voice called as I made my way down the corridor
"You asked them for my name?" I questioned as I turned to face Jack's cousin
"I asked who you were, and Jack told me." he informed me "How long are you going to stay mad at me?"
"That depends." I replied
"On?" he asked
"On how you plan on proving you're sorry for knocking me to the ground." I informed him "Think of something, and then we'll talk."
"I'm going to knock your socks off." he admitted
"Only my socks?" I inquired "When you've already knocked me off my feet? I'm disappointed…"
"Are you flirting with me?" he questioned
"You don't know when a girl's flirting with you?" I asked
"Normally I do, but I can't tell with you." he admitted "You're a mystery."
"And there's nothing wrong with a little bit of mystery." I replied "I look forward to finding out how you're going to make it up to me, now if you don't mind, I have a class to be getting to."
"Seeley…" he called after me as I continued down the corridor
"Excuse me?" I questioned
"My name's Seeley," he informed me "Seeley Booth."
"Well I guess I'll be seeing you around, Seeley." I replied, smiling at him warmly before turning and continuing down the corridor
Thoughts so far? What's next?