Glamorous Geek
Nothing about Jessica Parkers job was glamorous. Far from it in fact. Sure her job entitled sitting in front of a computer all day and sometimes nights. She worked for an egotistical stick in the mud who tried to hide the fact that he might care about his employees. She coordinated a team of highly trained soldiers-who somehow always seemed to do something wrong despite her directions-and several people who somehow managed to get into this line of work. Line of work being, chasing down dinosaurs of people that pass through anomalies in time. As adventurous as it sounded, if anyone could believe it, the job was more work than anyone could believe. Especially if you weren’t a field agent. On a good day, Jess would go home near nine o’clock, wash off what makeup remained on her face, slip out of her heels and into her slippers, and go to sleep. A bad day…Jess was lucky if she didn’t sleep in her car just to save time. Luckily for herself, and everyone else, it had been a good day.
Jess tossed the paper towel into the bathroom rubbish bin. She picked up the pink terry cloth and lightly tabbed the wet rag over her face. She set the cloth down and looked at her reflection. Not a spot of makeup remained on her face. Jess reached out and opened the mirror. She grabbed a small container and bottle from the cabinet and set them on the sink. All part of Jess’ nightly tradition. Jess brought her finger up to her eye and carefully removed her contact lens. She slipped it into her container and fished the other lens out. The sink and remaining bathroom features immediately blurred around her, but at least her eyes were finally starting to feel better. Jess snapped the container closed and felt around for her glasses. She picked them up and put them on. The room quickly returned into focus. Only now her reflection resembled that of a high school geek rather than a government worker. It was amazing how much difference someone can appear simply by wearing a pair of square framed rainbow glasses.
A soft nock caught Jess’ attention. She closed the mirror and walked out into the living room. Another several knocks told her that someone was at the door. It was rather odd, ever since Connor and Abby moved out there had been a dramatic less number of takeout delivery men at her door. She had no friends that would stop by, save for her coworkers. It was actually rather sad when Jess realized just how much time she spent outside of the ARC. So there was really no reason why someone should be knocking at her door.
Jess unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. To say the least, the last person Jess ever expected to be at her doorstep ever, much less at this hour, was Captains Becker. Jess’ brows rose in surprise. “Becker.”
Becker seemed to be just as surprised to see Jess as well, which seemed odd to her considering he’d knocked on her door. But he couldn’t deny the fact that seeing Jess answer her door wearing a pick tank top and pink plaid pants was unexpected. Add to the fact that she was wearing glasses that seemed to match her outfit, when he’d never seen her in glasses before, it was just… astonishing. “Hey Jess.”
“Is something wrong?” Jess asked.
Becker quickly shook his head, “No uh…actually I came to return this.” He held out her phone.
“My phone?” Jess asked.
“Found it sitting at the computer after you’d left.” Becker explained.
Jess snorted to herself. “I knew I was going to forget that blasted thing. Thank you Becker.” She picked her phone up out of Becker’s hand. “Just couldn’t wait till tomorrow to return it?”
Becker snorted. “Well I figured if there was an anomaly, we would be at a loss without you at the ADD.”
That comment made Jess blush. “What about my landline?”
“Name one person that knows that number.” Becker challenged. “Because I didn’t know you even had a landline.”
Jess nodded. “Mobiles only for work. Landlines for friends and family. And Abby and Connor both know it.”
“Do you know how hard it is just to try and get a hold of those two?” Becker asked.
“Fairly difficult.” Jess answered. She shrugged lightly. “Guess you guys would have just had to deal without me. You’ve done it before.”
“And it took twice as long in doing so.” Becker replied.
“Oh, so you’re only returning it on the off chance there is an anomaly and having me there will lessen the hours you spend out of bed.” Jess said, arching a questioning brow.
Becker looked like he was about to panic. “That is not what I said.”
Jess resisted her urge to laugh at his uneasiness. “It certainly sounds like it Becker.”
“Well then maybe I should’ve left it at the ARC.” Becker said. He started to turn away but stopped. “By the way, how long have you been wearing glasses?”
Jess’ hand immediately shot up to her face and touched the frames of her glasses. Oh god, she’d completely forgotten about her glasses. Her square framed rainbow glasses. Jess felt her cheeks warm quickly. Jess lowered her head, averting Becker’s gaze.
Becker frowned. Had he said something wrong? “Jess there’s nothing wrong with glasses, I was just curious.”
Jess nodded. “I’ve been wearing glasses since I was ten. I only started wearing contacts when I was hired at the ARC.”
“Why?”
Jess snorted. “For starters, contacts don’t fog up when you’re under stress, nor do they fall out as easily as glasses.”
Becker stared at Jess carefully. There was more than what she was saying, with Jess there often was. He folded his arms in front of his chest and titled his head.
Jess sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to let this go. “After I got my glasses, my parents realized that I wasn’t being challenged in my classes. So they placed me in higher classes.”
“How much higher?” Becker asked.
“Four years higher.” Jess answered. “And every day after that until graduation was made a living hell.”
“You were teased?”
“Relentlessly.” Jess explained. “My age, my clothes, my glasses.”
“I’m sorry Jess.”
Jess shrugged. “It’s a part of life, right?”
“It’s the unfortunate part of life.” Becker said. “But it happens to everyone.”
“Before you go any further, try to without every ounce of temptation in using Connor in your defense.”
Becker laughed lightly. “I wasn’t going to Jess. Connor’s too easy.”
Jess rolled her eyes.
“It happens to everyone Jess. Even me.” Becker said.
Jess was stunned. “You? But Connor said that you enjoyed school.”
Becker nodded. “And I did. The classes, not the people.”
“I’m sorry, but I…I can’t see that happening Becker.” Jess said.
“Not many people do, Jess. Here’s why; I was a lot smaller in school. Smaller than you and even scrawnier than Connor, if you can believe it.” Becker explained, leaning against the doorframe.
“What happened?”
Becker shrugged. “What normally happens, I was bullied a lot, even shoved into my locker on a number of days. But I didn’t let it bother me.”
“Why?”
“What good will it do to hold grudges against people I’m not going to see again? What good will it do me?” Becker asked. “Frankly what happened back then doesn’t bother me.”
“Only because you could put them in the hospital if they tried it again.” Jess said.
“And you could financially destroy them for the rest of their lives.” Becker replied. “Because you are absolutely brilliant Jess.”
“You’re just saying that.” Jess said.
“It’s true. Who helped set up the system after the ARC was restarted? Who manages to keep every team member on tract while simultaneously watching an anomaly? And who by the gift of god managed to turn Lester into a semi-human?” Becker asked. He reached his hand up and gently tapped the tip of her nose. “You.”
Jess felt her cheek warm at the light touch.
Becker smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow Jess.”
Jess nodded slowly. “Right.”
Becker turned to leave. He had only gone a few paces when he stopped and turned back to Jess’ door. “And Jess, they suit you.”