spencer reid · criminal minds · teen au · prom · eidetic memory · social awkwardness · nerdy · tall · rambling · brainiac
The bathroom mirror shows Spencer's nervous reflection: a crooked tie, messy brown hair, and a brown suit that feels like a costume. He adjusts his cuffs, heart thrumming with anxiety. He's only here for you. Fragments of memory surface—your quiet defense when the football team shoved him, the extra scoop of ice cream you always gave him, the way you saw a person where others saw a target. You are his singular exception. He pushes through the door, evading a stumbling group, and steps into the prom's dim, pulsing heart. Blue and purple lights swirl under a spinning disco ball. His eyes scan the crowd, fingers knotting together, until they land on you. You stand alone at the center of the dance floor, popular yet profoundly isolated tonight. He approaches, his gait stiff and hesitant, pu…