Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Rizzoli & Isles.

A Summer Friend

-By MegannRosemary

One

Jane pounded her fists on his back, "Put me down!" The boys had finally caught up to her in height and took advantage every chance they could.

"Frankie, put her down. She's never going to be a lady if you treat her like that." Angela yelled from the kitchen.

"Maaaa, I was just..."

Angela poked her head around the doorway, a spatula in her hand, "I don't want to hear it."

Frankie stopped in his tracks, just long enough that Jane could scramble out of his grasp.

"Jeez, Frankie, now I'm going to be late for work." Jane glared at him, straightening her white t-shirt. "Bye." She stomped out the door, letting it slam behind her.

This summer was supposed to be a present for the family, but it was torture to her. Sure, it was sweet that her parents had saved enough to rent the small cottage at the beach. She should be more grateful. But it was their way of keeping an eye on her, influence her future. They wanted her to get cultured, hang with the so-called rich kids and find a more suitable career than joining the force. It wasn't just that they didn't want her to be a cop. If she became a cop, chances were that her brothers would follow in her footsteps. Her ma would kill them before they had even the slightest chance of getting killed on the job. Her worst nightmare, Angela claimed. Pop would never forgive Jane. Not the boys, but Jane, if they didn't follow him into the business.

She had three months in a tiny cottage with her bickering family.

Fantastic.

So she'd taken a job as a waitress down by the boardwalk, just to get out of the house.

And, to earn some money in the likely case that her parents disowned her by the end of the summer. It wasn't that much of a stretch, in all honesty.

She passed by laughing twenty something's, tanned and rich, hanging in groups on the beach. Teenagers surrounded the lifeguard stands, giggling and flirting. Bored parents watched their kids and honeymooning couples ignored the world around them.

It was all so normal.

Jane didn't know what normal was. She had no close friends in college and her few high school friends had lost touch.

Ma wanted her to meet a boy this summer, have a summer romance. Probably so that she would follow him to some ivy league school and get a degree in law or business.

Gross.

She let a crack form in the brick wall she had built around her fragile heart; a friend would be nice though. It would be nice to have someone to share horror stories with, complain, laugh, and just talk.

She'd barely spoken to anyone during her first year of college, and that had been difficult enough.

She shook her head as she reached the door of the restaurant - she didn't need anyone, she was used to being alone.

The manager handed her an apron, "Here, put this on. We'll show you how handle the bills after. First, you'll learn how to set the tables, the bar. Make sure you have a full pitcher of limes and one of lemons. A pint glass of oranges too. Got that."

Jane nodded.

"You'll work lunches for now, but show me you're capable and I'll give you a few evenings. Good?"

Jane nodded again.

"Maddie is over there, she'll show you how to set everything up." He pointed to a bleach blonde and headed into the back office.

"Hi, I'm Jane."

The blonde stuck up her nose at her and spoke in a bored tone, "Here, this is what it looks like. Just do it ok."

Ok, so this wouldn't be a friend. But maybe she would find someone.

Maybe.

Maura unlocked heavy door and slowly pushed it open. The large beach house smelt... clean, like cleaning products and polish. Despite the summers spent here, it never felt like home. It was just a house, a big empty house.

The housekeeper must have opened the place for her. She didn't need it or want it, but her mother confused it with caring for her.

She supposed she should be grateful, but the scent was almost overpowering and she wandered throughout the big house opening windows.

"Hello room." Maura dropped her suitcase on the pale hardwood floor of her bedroom. Everything was stark and fresh as it always was.

A splash of colour stood out on the vanity, a bouquet in magenta and fuchsia.

She bent to smell the flowers, to chase away the artificial scent of lemons.

Maura unpacked slowly and carefully. Each precisely folded garment was put into the pretty white draws or hung in the large walk in closet. She arranged her notebooks on the desk and stood back to survey the room.

It looked no different than when she'd arrived. It was just a room, not her room.

The phone rang, shattering the silence and startling her.

"Hello Mother."

"Maura, you made it all right?"

"Yes, thank you for opening the house."

"How is the studying coming along?"

"I'll start tomorrow." Maura sighed.

"Don't forget to contact the Dixons and the Clarkes."

"I won't mother."

"It's important to represent the family and that you make connections for yourself. You'll need those to get into medical school."

"I know."

"You'll have a good time this summer. Meet some new people, make some friends."

There was a hint or worry, of genuine concern for her daughter. But Maura ignored it, her mother wanted only to feel better about spending her summer in France. "Yes, mother."

"Well, it's late here. Good night, Maura. Study well tomorrow."

"Goodnight, I will."

Silence reclaimed the house and it echoed around her.

She padded down the hall to the kitchen and opened the fridge. It was well stocked and Maura made a mental note to thank the housekeeper. She pulled a casserole out and moved to heat it up.

After setting the table for one, she sat by the light of a warm candle, staring out at the beach as she ate her meal.

There was nothing else to do but go to bed, the vast house creaking around her.

Maybe her mother was right and she'd meet new people, make new friends.

Maybe.

A/N: This story is writing itself, though I've definitely never written an AU fic and I'm not too sure about it. If you have any criticisms please tell me and feel free to throw suggestions at me too if there is any situation you want them to be in. Thanks for reading and I hope you'll join me!