it's doctor.

╰summary: Spencer has a terrible crush on you. In you, he finally found a person he doesn't have to explain himself to. So, naturally, he doesn't plan on ever telling you about his feelings.

╰pairing: Spencer x reader

╰Warnings: Spencer being the absolute cutie that he is, talks of never fitting in anywhere, some kind of spicy thought Spencer has about reader, cute confessions, they are so in love

╰word count: 1.6k

Somehow I feel like I have written this hundreds of times but again, I have a new hyper fixation. I'm sorry. Requests for Steve and Eddie are still open though !! I won't forget about my husband!!

જ⁀➴Masterlist

For all his life, Spencer had the feeling the people around him did not really understand him. Not in the literal sense of course. Spencer was more than willing and able to word what he was thinking. So, naturally, he explained himself. Over and over and over. In great detail.

The teenagers in school mocked him for it, his colleagues rolled their eyes at his seemingly never ending stream of thoughts. It was hard for him to clearly grasp why. They did not understand the essence of what he was saying, but when he tried to make himself clear, it was wrong, as well?

So he accepted his fate. That he would always seem kind of special to the outside world. That there was no one who would ever truly be able to 'finish his sentence' or as the saying goes. He had never really understood that saying, anyways. It wasn't neurobiologically possible to read another's person's thoughts.

Still, it was a lonely way of living sometimes, feeling as though he was constantly speaking in another tongue than the rest of there world.

That was, until you stepped into his life.

It did not take Spencer long to develop a crush on you. Well, that was an understatement. It took him merely a day to be completely and utterly smitten for you.

But Spencer, despite being somewhat awkward concerning the whole dating business, was not new to having crushes.

He knew they would pass. Knew that he would grow accustomed to having you around, to noticing every little detail about you and someday not being as endeared by them as he was right now.

The surrounding sounds on the plane were doing nothing to distract him from looking at you, sitting across from him, one arm tucked safely under your chin, eyes closed, having drifted off to a deep sleep.

His eyes trailed your face, the way your brows were slightly knitted together, no doubt still thinking about the case the team had just finished. Your eyelids were fluttering in the slightest way, and your lips were pressed together, jaw still tightly clenched from the stress of it all.

''Other people can notice you staring, you know?'', Morgan whispered into Spencer's ear, making him jump and finally tearing his gaze from you.

''I'm not,'', he mumbled, the lie leaving his lips effortlessly. He could feel the skin of his cheeks heating up as Derek chuckled beside him.

''Why don't you finally talk to her, huh?'', Morgan pressed.

Spencer was close to rolling his eyes at his colleague. Of course he had thought about it. But he had discarded the idea just as quickly. He was not going to risk loosing what he had found in you just because he had a crush on you.

Over the weeks and months he had gotten to know you, and likewise, he had slowly but surely noticed what was so different about you.

You didn't treat him like everybody else did. You didn't shake your head, roll your eyes, or sigh when he rambled and explained something. No. Instead, your eyes never left his while he talked, and you nodded along no matter how long it took him to get his point across properly.

At first, he thought it was out of mere politeness.

But then he noticed.

Whatever he was trying to demonstrate, you could somehow grasp before everyone else. You understood him so well it was almost like you could read his mind sometimes.

He was baffled at first, but then his heart swelled and his chest felt warm. Spencer had never known what it felt like to have someone understand him, to really get him without it being his effort.

So, no, his crush on you was anything but fleeting. It was beginning to look permanent, and was strengthened by every interaction the two of you have had ever since.

''I don't know what you're talking about,'', Spencer mumbled again, fiddling with the pages of the book in his hand.

''Look, kid. I'm being honest here when I tell you not to downplay yourself like you so often tend to do. I really think she's interested, too.''

The sentence hung heavily in the air, and should it follow the law of physics, Spence thought, it should sink to the ground of the plane and right through it.

He knew Morgan meant well, he really did. But how could he risk losing the one person he felt a real connection with for something as mundane as having a crush?

Of course, deep down, Spencer knew it had begun to flourish into much more than a crush, but he wasn't ready to admit that to himself yet.

The plane landed not much later and the team shuffled, stretched, and collected their belongings, while you were still fast asleep. Spencer hesitated, but then stood up and lightly touched your arm. Nothing.

He touched your arm again, lightly shaking you. ''Hey,'' he said softly, which made your eyes flutter open. You squinted against the sudden light and stretched your arms before meeting Spencer's gaze. Upon seeing him, a genuine, eye-reaching smile was spread on your face.

''Hi, Spence,'', you grinned, and if he could, he would have suppressed any physiological reaction your face was causing him. But he couldn't. So his heart rate sped up, and his fingers somehow seemed immediately clammy.

He blinked and cleared his throat, willing his eyes to look away from your frame, but losing the battle against his own body. ''Walk me to my car?'', you asked, faking a pout you didn't have to. He would do anything before you had even asked the question.

''Of course.''

You collected your bag and with the rest of the team having already departed, it was only Spencer and you on the plane. Spencer felt his arm being intertwined with yours and for a second the irrational (though very small) part of his brain took control and he thought his heart would stop beating.

It didn't, of course.

Spencer wasn't one for physical touches. Everyone knew that. But, as you seemed to know what he was thinking, you also seemed to know what kind of physicality would be okay for him.

This was. In fact, this was more than okay. For the first time in his life, this touch made him crave even more. He wanted to feel your touch everywhere-

He shook his head. What has gotten into him all of a sudden? This was not like the parts of his personality he knew so well, at all.

''Did you sleep at all?'', you asked as you departed the plane arm in arm, to which he shook his head. ''Did I sleep the whole time?'', you asked. ''Most of the time, yeah.''

''Oh god, I drooled again, didn't I?'

A smile crept onto Spencer's lips, and you groaned in reply. ''I don't know why this keeps happening to me, like is there something wrong with my jaw?''

Nothing in the world could stop Spencer from smiling at this point. The two of you had reached your car and you were leaning against the passenger's door, looking up at him with doe eyes.

''No, no,'', he began. ''You looked....beautiful,'', his eyebrows knit as he brought the word out, not being able to hold your gaze and looking away.

You fell silent, and he desperately waited for a witty joke in reply. Instead, he felt the soft touch of your hand on his chin, turning him so he was looking at you again. Your hand was cold and it took everything in him not to rub your hands in between his.

Spencer could not quite read your expression. You seemed troubled, but not mad at him. That was good, right? Oh, but maybe that's where the rejection would come in.

''Spencer,'', you began, but it was hard for him to keep his gaze locked on yours, hard for him to hear what he had feared for so long.

''Spence, look at me, please,'', with your voice this low, you almost sounded like you begged, and this was what got him to look at you. He would never let you beg. For anything.

''Don't you know me well enough to know you don't have to walk on eggshells around me?'', you asked, to which confusion crossed his features.

Your hand cupped around his cheek and for a touch so foreign, it somehow felt like home to him. For the first time since he complimented you, he exhaled and closed his eyes.

''I know you, Spence. And you know me. You don't have to be worried. Never with me, okay? Never with me,'', you whispered, calming him down.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at you. He saw the beautiful face he was slowly falling in love with, and he saw the soft, genuine smile still placed on your lips.

''What does that mean?'', he asked, somehow breathless in fear of the answer.

''It means that I know what you're feeling because I'm feeling the exact same way.'', you clarified, and Spencer's body reacted to this statement as it normally only should in answer to a gun held to his head.

And then, without thinking about it, which has never happened for Spencer, he pulled you in and captured your lips in a kiss. The kiss was hungry and all the while filled with to much appreciation and gratitude.

Your lips met again and again in heated kisses until a throaty moan escaped Spencer's mouth and he pulled back. He was about to apologize, but you stopped him.

cw : older bf x younger fem!reader (reader is in her twenties & ryland in his thirties), nsfw!! ⋆˚࿔ smau | would you guys be interested into some headcanons of older!bf ryland grace x reader?? 🤔🤔 question ❓ part i.

୨ৎ  masterlist. series masterlist.

୨ৎ summary: spencer reid is unlike any guy you've ever met, which might be why you find yourself falling for him a little bit every time you see him. he couldn't possibly feel that way about you though, right? or... part 2 of my spencer reid smau series!

୨ৎ pairing: spencer reid x film girl!reader

୨ৎ warnings/tags: smau, fluff, language, penelope (and derek) are chronically online bc I said so, jemily crumbs because canon said so,

୨ৎ a/n: this took crazy long to release MY BAD GANG <3 (school's nuts and I lwk got distracted with my peter parker series sorryyyy) this is also a TAD shorter than the other part just bc I finished this at like midnight on a crisp Tuesday night when I have school in the morning.

୨ৎ taglist: @spencerreidsproblem | @grandtheftpiper | @caterppillar

spence.reid ♫ This Night Has Opened My Eyes ➤ The Smiths

liked by: d_morgan, penelopee_garcia, j.jareau, emily_prentiss, lab.rat and 9 others

spence.reid: at the movies (again) :))

penelopee_garcia: SPENCER REID. WHO IS THAT NEXT TO YOU??? ⤷ spence.reid: a new friend :) ⤷ penelopee_garcia: is it a GIRLfriend ⤷ spence.reid: no?? she's just a friend i go to the movies with ⤷ d_morgan: okay i see you pretty boy ⤷ spence.reid: ???

You were finishing up grading a stack of spelling tests when Henry LaMontagne shuffled up to your desk with a shy smile and his usual boundless curiosity barely restrained.

"Miss [Y/L/N]," he said in that sweet, earnest way only a six-year-old can manage. "Can I tell you a secret?"

You leaned down to meet his serious little gaze. "Of course, Henry. Your secrets are safe with me."

He looked around like he was checking for spies, then leaned in and whispered loudly, "My Uncle Spencer thinks you're beautiful."

You blinked, momentarily stunned into silence. "Your... uncle Spencer?"

Henry nodded, beaming now that the secret was out. "He told my mommy when he picked me up last week. He said you were the 'epitome of beauty and grace.'" He frowned, struggling a bit. "I think that's what he said. He uses big words sometimes."

You bit your lip to keep from smiling too hard. Spencer Reid. You remembered him from last week's parent pick-up—tall, awkwardly charming, messy curls and mismatched socks peeking out under slacks. You'd felt his eyes on you, but he barely said more than "Hi." And now you knew why.

"Well," you said, cheeks warm. "That's a very sweet thing for your uncle to say."

"Are you gonna be my aunt now?" Henry asked hopefully.

You laughed, the kind of laugh that bubbles out unexpectedly, full of surprise and delight. "That might be a little fast, Henry. But maybe I'll say hello to your Uncle Spencer next time."

True to your word, the next Friday came and with it, Spencer Reid, walking up the path like he was approaching a final exam instead of a classroom. You were outside with Henry, saying goodbye.

"Dr. Reid," you greeted, your smile soft but knowing. "Henry and I had a very interesting talk this week."

Spencer looked confused, then slightly alarmed. "Oh?"

Henry gave him a not-so-subtle nudge. "Tell her, Uncle Spencer."

He cleared his throat, eyes darting between you and Henry. "Right. Uh. Hi. I may have said some things... flattering things. In confidence. That Henry... did not keep."

You laughed again, just like last time. "Well, I'm glad he didn't. Because I think you're kind of wonderful too."

Spencer blinked. "You do?"

"Mm-hmm. And if you're brave enough, maybe you'll ask me to coffee?"

His ears turned pink. "Would you like to get coffee sometime, Miss [Y/L/N]?"

You smiled wide. "I'd love to, Dr. Reid."

You’re used to this. Used to men liking you, but only over the phone, only in the dark, only in the bars five miles away from home. You know what it’s like to fuck someone for nothing, not a scrap of affection, no sweetness or softness involved, so when things start with Spencer and he’s kind to you afterwards, you’re a dog to a bone. You go crazy for a hint of love. 

Spencer’s pushing the hair back from your face. His eyes are on the TV and he’s got a hand curled around your thigh that speaks to what you’re expecting from him, but he’s not touching you like that. 

The hair falls in your eyes and he pushes it back. It falls into your eyes, again and again, jostled by his hand pushing it back and gravity letting it tip back down, tickling your face. It’s a motion. He’s not moving it aside to see you better, he’s not looking at you, but he’s stroking your forehead up to your hair as though it’s important to do. He fumbles with the remote, and he lets go of your thigh rather than your head. Soft touching. You’re basically numb.

You doze some in the corner of the couch, your legs dead weight in his lap. He just keeps on stroking your face, arm wrapped skewiff behind your head to cross frontwards, a tented novel crinkling in his lap. 

It’s an unsure amount of time later when you wake up and find him in the exact same position. His hand is still going, though slower, and the room is dark. The TV is off. Your eyes ache when they open but Spencer’s only sat there scrolling through his phone. You shift your head, must shift in your sleep, because Spencer doesn’t look up. He clicks on to an article and hums under his breath. 

You try to read the lines through blurry eyes. He reads so quickly you can’t keep up, until he pauses. 

… your girlfriend falling asleep on you doesn’t necessarily mean anything at all. She might be tired, or stressed, or sick. Or, she might just trust you enough to sleep where she is. Try not to worry, but always contact your physician should you deem it necessary. 

He scrolls onto the comments. 

You stare at the side of his face. He looks concerned, now you know what he’s reading. His eyebrows are pulled together tightly. He isn’t angry you fell asleep here, how many times have you apologised for overstaying your welcome and been met with outright confusion? No, he’s worrying about you. 

The article got things right, you realise. You do feel safe with him. You trust Spencer to let you rest. 

You close your eyes and make a light little sigh that’s fake and not half as guttural as your usual waking grunts. “Spence,” you whine under your breath. 

“What?” he asks, quiet but worried, obviously so. 

“Keep rubbing my head?” 

He turns into you —onto you, pulling your head toward his face. He presses a touch of a kiss to your temple, murmuring, “Oh, sorry, angel,” as he continues his ministrations. 

“This is nice.”

He nods against your head. “It’s perfect.”

“Can I stay?”

“You don’t… don’t ever have to leave, I always tell you that.”

“Sorry, I…” didn’t realise, you think, puffing out a breath too close to his face, wrapping your arms around him in a cuddle he didn’t sign up for but apparently wants from you dearly. “I wanna stay.”

“Then stay,” he stresses. “Please, you don’t have to go home tonight. Stay, and sleep. I’ll make breakfast in the morning and we can go and get you, like, everything you need. Just stay.”

Prof!Spencer Reid x Prof!reader

Identify problem -> brainstorm solution -> execute. This process has never failed you before. So what if the solution for this particular issue involves getting into a fake relationship with the new professor? It’s a means to an end. Nothing more. But Professor Reid—far too tender, and all too eager for scraps of affection—seems intent to make this harder than it should be.

contents: post-series, fake dating, one sided rivalry to lovers, professor!Spencer Reid, legal age gap (reader 29 and Spencer is 38), prof!reader, she wears glasses and it WILL be referenced a lot, fluff and other romcom-y shenanigans, no use of y/n. Not a series, merely a universe of semi-connected one shots featuring prof!reader <3

MASTERLIST coming soon...

synopsis: in which your secret date night with spencer is crashed by your meddling coworkers when penelope overhears your plans

pairing: spencer x bau! reader

genre: fluff !!

wc: 2.8k

notes/tags: secret relationship, non descriptive horror movie, the last of my halloween fics yippee!!, lowkey nothing to do with halloween but its okay, penelope and morgan are everyones favourite nosy duo

halloween masterlist // main masterlist // if you enjoy pls reblog it helps promote the fic so much !!

————————————🍿———————————

Yawning, you stretched your arms above your head, craning your neck as you did so to catch a glimpse of your boyfriend over the glass partition of your desks. His head was bowed, hair falling gracefully in front of his face as he worked- much like you should be doing now, but you were too distracted. Like a kid on Christmas Eve you were restless, too excited and too busy daydreaming to possibly focus on anything else.

It had only been a couple of months since you and Spencer had started dating and it was your first Halloween together. You had a whole night of cheesiness planned- a Halloween movie night at the theatres strategically picked so you could live out every date night cliché: pretending to be scared so you could cuddle into him, not-so-accidentally brushing hands on the shared armrest, maybe even letting his arm fall around you totally purely as a solution to a problem when you complain about being cold (despite the fact you would already be wearing his cardigan by this point). It was perfect. Almost.

You had strolled into the kitchenette, grabbing two mugs and setting them down when you heard a familiar voice from behind you.

“Hey.” Spencer said gently, a soft smile on his face as you turned to face him. His hands twitched at his side as if he was holding himself back from reaching out for you. “What are you doing?”

“Getting us coffee.” You smiled back as you slid his mug towards him on the counter. “Might make the day go faster.”

“You know there’s actually studies to back that up,” he began as you poured, “because of how caffeine affects your brain it can actually alter your perception of time and how quickly it passes.”

“Well then,” you laughed as you clinked your matching mugs together, the little pictures of Snoopy and Woodstock joining for just a moment before you pulled away, “we better get drinking.”

Spencer’s cheeks flushed as he held in a shy grin, bringing his still too-hot mug to his mouth like he could blame the steam for their sudden pinkness. “I’m uh, I’m looking forward to tonight.”

You ducked your head like a school girl with a crush, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear as butterflies danced in your stomach. “Yeah.” You nodded, giddy. “Me too.”

“What’s happening tonight?” A voice suddenly chirped, almost sending splashes of coffee flying as you and Spencer jumped. You turned, wide eyed and mouth gaping, to see Penelope standing innocently in the doorway wearing what was apparently the world’s sneakiest pair of high heels.

“Nothing!” Spencer squeaked, scrambling to set his mug down before he dropped it. “Just… just nothing.” You had to resist the urge to throw your hands up as you shot him a glare that said ‘really?’. You would think a genius studying behaviour at the FBI would have a little more finesse in being inconspicuous.

“Huh.” Penelope arched a perfectly drawn brow as she rapped her colourful nails against her own mug. “You know, I’m no behavioural analyst but from my experience people don’t act like teenagers who just got caught flirting in the back of class over ‘just nothing.’”

“We’re just seeing a movie, Pen.” You admitted casually, hoping your openness might get her off your back.

“Just the two of you?” She quipped, and you could practically see Spencer’s heart beating through the fabric of his cardigan. “You didn’t invite anybody else?”

“Well, it’s a horror movie.” You shrugged. Your body fought the urge to buckle beneath the weight of her hawk eyes. “We didn’t think you’d want to come- you don’t like anything scary and gory.”

“Yeah, it’s real scary.” Spencer added -quite unhelpfully- as he rocked himself back and forth on the balls of his feet and ignored the ‘please stop talking’ glare you were pointing at him.

“But it’s Halloween! I’ve gotta get in the spirit, face my fears, exposure therapy- all that crap!” Penelope babbled, flailing her free hand around in excitement. “Ooh, I know! Morgan and I will come with you guys!”

A pained sigh left your lips as you tried to protest, “Pen-“

“I mean, it’s not a date or anything right?” She pushed, something in her voice keeping you on edge as she leaned in with an expectant grin.

“No.” Spencer choked out a little too fast, voice higher than you’d ever heard it. “No. Not a date.”

Penelope practically tossed her mug to the counter, clasping her hands together with a squeal. “Then that settles it. I will see you two not-lovebirds tonight.” With that, she spun gracefully on her heels and strutted back into the bullpen with all the confidence of a woman who knew exactly what she was doing, meanwhile you and Spencer watched on frozen in disbelief and mouths open in matching gapes.

Spencer gulped, turning his head to face you as he tried to blink the shock out of his wide eyes. “What are the odds of them believing we’re both sick tonight?”

-

A chilled breeze swept past you as you shifted on your feet outside of the movie theatre. Shivering, you wrapped (unfortunately your own) cardigan tighter around yourself. A sad little bubble of jealousy suddenly emerged within you as a couple passed by, arms linked and wearing such sappy grins they would’ve had you fake gagging had you not been waiting for your own date. Your date who wasn’t really your date anymore, thanks to the nosiness of your coworkers. A sad sigh escaped without your permission as you saw one of them hold the door open, their hand lovingly on the small of their partner’s back as they guided them inside before following.

You were so transfixed, eyes glued to the couple as they headed into the theatre hand in hand, that you somehow failed to register the presence that had appeared beside you. Pouting slightly, you turned your head only for your vision to be blocked by a rather tall cardigan wearing figure, the faint smell of coffee and books mixing with the air around you.

“Jesus, Spencer!” You jumped, clutching a hand over your chest as you caught your breath. “I didn’t hear you walk up.”

“I’m sorry.” He smiled, a trace of laughter in it as the corners of his lips twitched before being replaced by a prompt frown. “Although you should really be paying more attention to your surroundings. It’s dark out- I could’ve been anyone.”

You rolled your eyes at him, a soft smile on your own face as you took him in. Standing there in the evening glow with his hands in his pockets, the breeze ruffled his hair just so, making you want to reach up and smooth it down for him. A slight flush sat on his cheeks, both as a natural reaction to seeing you and as a reaction to the bite of the cold. It was almost hard to meet his eyes with how sweetly he stared down at you, all love and tenderness as they darted over your features like it was their first time seeing them, like he was drinking you in. And God, was it hard to resist him when he looked like he just walked out of a romantic period piece.

“You’re lucky you’re cute, doctor.” You muttered with a soft jab of your fingers to his ribs. You felt your arms restless at your side, desperate to defy rationality and pull him into a hug, your eyes scanning the parking lot before you as the hourglass of your privacy continued to run out somewhere just out of view.

“Garcia and Morgan are coming together.” Spencer said, practically hearing your thoughts. “I’d estimate we have another ten minutes until they get here.”

“Good.” You nodded, grinning up at him and finally letting your hand find its place behind his ear as it pushed his hair back. “That’s good. ‘Cause I’m pretty cold.”

Without needing to be told, he stepped towards you and wrapped you up in his arms. His hands armoured protectively around you, gently pulling you flush against his chest as your own arms instinctively snaked around his waist. With a breathy giggle, you tucked your face into the crook of his neck and let yourself melt into the warmth of him just as he angled his head down to press a kiss into your hair. Knowing he was already counting down the minutes you felt your mind go empty, lost to a Spencer-filled haze as you soaked him up as much as you possibly could until you had to pretend again.

-

Penelope and Morgan arrived right on queue, the sound of tires on asphalt like an alarm in your ears as you both jolted apart. They stepped out of the car with smirks on their faces that said something you couldn’t quite make out yet before the four of you made your way inside.

At the concessions stand Spencer bought snacks for the two of you, picking up your favourites without even asking and telling Morgan that you’d talked about it beforehand in the parking lot when he raised a skeptical brow at him. In the lobby you frantically fished a mirror out of your bag, attempting to liven up the side of your hair that had fallen flat against your boyfriend’s shoulder and telling Penelope you’d just been leaning against a wall while you waited for her.

As you all made your way down the long corridor to your screen, you and Spencer quietly plotted to make sure you were sat together, with your guests paired up on the other side of the row. You were hoping that with some kind of distance and with Penelope distracted by Morgan’s presence that at least one of you would be able to sneak in a hand hold or two, or perhaps a light kiss to the cheek disguised as a whisper to the ear. Yet, as you walked side by side into the dark room, screen illuminating the seats like a shameful spotlight, you felt in the foreboding slam of the heavy doors behind you that you wouldn’t be so lucky.

To your horror, as you approached the aisle, your guests split apart with a grace that almost seemed practiced, Morgan walking ahead of you and Penelope lingering behind. You turned to Spencer with a flash of panic in your eyes that he mirrored, realising you were about to become trapped between possibly the two nosiest people in your lives for the worst part of two hours. What you didn’t notice was the devilish grin they gave each other as you slipped into your seats.

-

The screen was all motion- scared civilians running for their lives screaming and yelling throughout the theatre, monsters lunging through woods and through rubble as they groaned and shrieked. Around you, silhouettes of other movie goers gasped in their chairs and popcorn bounced from their laps as they jumped. But next to you, Spencer sat rigid. Stiff and unmoving.

You felt it in you too, the need to control your limbs before they made their way to him, the fight against your urges to tuck yourself into his side when your heart started racing. In fact you were barely watching the movie at all, too focused on the hawk eyes of your friends caging you in either side like bodyguards.

At one point as one of the monsters lurched towards the screen you jumped, letting your body curl towards Spencer as it settled- a cheeky test of fate, really, that immediately pulled you back like a hook from behind a curtain as you felt Penelope’s long nails curl around your wrist from your other side. You were just a moment away from sneakily leaning against his shoulder, from secretly looping your arm through his in the privacy of the darkness, when she grabbed you, nails leaving little crescent moons that stayed taunting you even after she let go.

“Oh my God.” She half whispered beside you. “Talk about a heart attack!”

You sighed under your breath, sinking back into your seat like a deflated balloon. Spencer wasn’t much luckier. The smell of popcorn danced under your nose as he reached over your lap, offering the bucket to you and holding back a grin, you leaned in. Your hand was hovering over his where it rested on the edge of the bucket, preparing to ‘accidentally’ brush against it as you took your pick of popcorn, when a third hand- belonging to Morgan- hastily pulled it back.

“Hey they’ve got their own popcorn, man.” He muttered, taking a handful for himself as if to punctuate his point. “That stuff was expensive.”

Spencer fell into a slump beside you, matching slouches with you as a disgruntled exhale left his lips. You weren’t any better off for the rest of the movie, every attempt you made to get closer to one another thwarted with perfectly imperfect timing until you found yourself disinterested in the movie entirely, simply counting down the seconds until the credits would roll.

-

Outside, the coldness of the night air hit you like a breath of relief as the four of you stepped out into the parking lot. There was a newfound optimism in the glances you threw at your boyfriend, a hopefulness in the smiles he flashed at you. Your movie date had been crashed, sure, but with it came the promise of a cosy night together, of steaming coffee mugs and blankets strewn across couches. Just the two of you at last.

“Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you guys then.” You shrugged as nonchalantly as you could, gesturing to Penelope’s car across the lot.

“What are you talking about?” She answered just a tad too eagerly. “It’s pitch black out, let me drive you guys to your apartments!”

You faltered, quite nearly dropping to your knees in agony like you were in some dramatic forlorn romantic novel. Against your will, your eyes squeezed shut for just a moment, picturing your night together at home in the brief freedom of the darkness they granted you before you were confronted with the very real sight of Penelope and Morgan still stood in front of you.

“You really don’t need to do that.” Spencer spoke up, his worried eyebrows giving away his panic.

“Oh, nuh uh.” Penelope wagged her finger at you both, earrings jangling as she shook her head. “Were you guys not watching the movie? I am not waking up in the morning to a phone call that you were mauled by monsters because I didn’t drive you home.”

“Unless of course,” Morgan turned to you, lips curling upwards like the Cheshire Cat, “you’re relying on pretty boy here to protect you?”

You felt heat rushing to your cheeks pathetically fast as Spencer practically choked beside you, not daring to look your way lest he give you both away entirely.

“Right.” You nodded, swallowing thickly as you mentally kissed your night goodbye. “Right. Then I guess-“

“Oh my God!” Penelope laughed suddenly before grabbing your hands in hers and pulling you closer, “I’m totally kidding! Go enjoy the rest of your date, you crazy kids.”

Spencer’s mouth flew open, brows pinched as he glanced between the two of them. “What- You guys knew?”

“Of course we knew, man.” Morgan chuckled, playfully slapping his hand down on his shoulder as he tried to shake the soul that had left his body back into him. “You guys aren’t exactly subtle.”

“So you guys were just messing with us the whole night?” You blinked dumbly at the giggling blonde in front of you, hands still sitting limply in hers like your body had detached itself from your brain in all the commotion. You couldn’t bring yourself to pull away, all you could do was stare.

“We were getting bored waiting for you guys to admit it. We had to do something.” She shrugged, finally letting go of you and fumbling in her bag for her car keys. Pulling them out, as well as an assortment of fluffy keychains attached to them, she shooed the two of you away as she began ushering Morgan towards her car. “Now go- have fun!”

“But not too much fun, you hear me?” He called over her shoulder, pointing an accusatory finger before grinning and walking away, leaving you and Spencer stood dumbfounded outside the theatre.

Eventually, you turned to look at him and a smile broke out on your face as a breathy laugh of disbelief escaped. Soon enough the two of you were giggling back and forth like a couple of teenagers, Spencer dragging a hand down his face in embarrassment while you leaned into his side to steady yourself. Without a word, he laced his hand in yours, leading you home and leaving the chaos of the movie theatre behind you.

You’d catch another movie at home.