Chapter Text
2000 | Sacramento, California
September
The end of the summer steadily approaches, with August about to transition into September once more. A gentle breeze emanates from the open windows, cooling down the inhabitants of the warm car as they make the familiar drive back to campus. It’s quiet in the car, save for the soft crooning coming from the speakers. Lisbon’s head bobs along to the music, one hand on the wheel, the other pulled over onto Jane’s lap, his thumb stroking calmingly over her wrist. He stares out the window, watching the other cars drive past and wonders about the other driver's lives.
Are they going to the store? To work? Perhaps they’re parents, taking their children on one last outing before school starts again. Maybe they’re college kids, making a last minute run back to their parent‘s house for something they've forgotten.
As for them, well, they are college kids going back to campus. One of them anyways. He was just tagging along for the day.
His venture into teaching was due to start in a few day’s time when the middle schools open for the year. In-person observation— aptly called field experience— in a classroom every morning, paired with a set of classes in the early evening for the first sixteen weeks, followed by another fifteen odd weeks of student teaching and more classes, and he’d be all set for certification. This time next year, he hopes to see himself inside a classroom for real, attaining his hours to become a fully fledged English teacher to a pack of feral fourteen year-olds. Or wherever they so choose for him.
Lisbon's glad to still have her parking spot despite not residing on campus this year, even though she and Jane were still essentially full time students at CSU. But to be honest, their apartment was just so much homier and, well, no one had died there— that they were aware of, that is. The tall dormitory buildings, though familiar, still leave a hint of disgust on her tongue.
The off-white cinder block walls and grey carpeted floors greet them as they traverse the familiar route to Van Pelt’s room, where they go to meet up with the rest of their ragtag crime-solving crew.
“Lisbon!” Van Pelt exclaims when she opens the door to two smiling faces. She pulls the shorter woman into a hug.
Jane scoffs from somewhere behind his girlfriend, and Grace releases her with an exasperated huff.
“Jane,” she says, rolling her eyes in mock annoyance. She reaches out to give him a brief hug anyway, though the playful smile on her lips gives her ruse away.
“Boss,” Cho greets, stoic as ever— though a hint of a smile plays on his lips. He nods to Jane, addressing Lisbon still. “How much trouble did that one get you into this summer?”
Lisbon hums conspirationally, and Jane joins her in the room after being released by Van Pelt. His hand settles on her lower back, fingers pressing warningly into the soft skin there. He wears a look of pure innocence.
“He was very well behaved,” she says, and Jane’s hand slides a little lower, thankfully out of view of their friends. Her ears warm at his mischievousness, and she amends; “Well, reasonably well behaved.”
Rigsby clicks his tongue disbelievingly from across the double room. He pulls Van Pelt halfway onto his lap from where he sits on her bed. “Yeah, right.”
“You wound me, Rigsby,” Jane laments dramatically, and the other man cracks a smile.
“How about we just say no trouble this year,” Grace interjects. “I mean, it was an exciting first year for me and all, but I’ll be okay without any serial killers this year, I think.”
A round of murmurs in agreement fill the room.
“So,” Rigsby says. “Lunch?”
***
After a thrilling meal of cafeteria slop to reign in the new school year, they travel in a pack towards the library. Jane and Rigsby dutifully carry their own textbooks as well as those of their significant others. The blond thinks he might hear the word whipped uttered under Cho’s breath, but he can’t be certain.
They fall back into their easy rapport, slinging easy banter and light teasing.
They find a spot on the quad to call their own, ditching their book bags and textbooks on a nearby picnic table, before falling into a loose semi-circle on the soft grass. Rigsby pops open a bag of chips, and Grace scowls, tongue clicking in exasperation.
The chastened man's sheepish look pulls another round of laughs from the group as he pulls out a baggie of carrot sticks from somewhere within his pockets instead. Jane snags the discarded chips, popping one into his mouth with a satisfying crunch before handing it to Lisbon, who then hands it to Cho.
Rigsby looks on longingly, ignorant of his girlfriend's unamused expression.
"Letting her call the shots already, Rigsby?" Jane teases, eating another chip. "Grace, that's quite the power you possess."
"Oh, please," Cho mumbles. "As if you aren't the same as Rigs. I know Lisbon calls all the shots between you two."
Jane frowns as the women grin, completely aware of their influence over their respective partners.
"Whatever man," Rigsby grumbles around a carrot.
"So," Jane continues, after a minute, changing the topic. "What are you guys gonna do next year when Lisbon and I are out in the real world?"
"Be happy that the trouble is following you elsewhere," Cho deadpans.
Lisbon smacks him on the shoulder. "You're full of zingers today."
Cho's eyes glint with amusement, and this time he doesn't hold back the rare smile.
"I'm with him," Rigsby teases, stealing the almost empty chip bag back. He dumps the crumbs into his mouth before he can be stopped.
Grace nods in response to the accusers, but shrugs apologetically at Jane and Lisbon's twin expressions of mock-betrayal.
"We're still gonna miss you, of course," Grace offers.
Jane pouts. "You'd better."