Monsters & Men • A Spencer Reid Fanfiction •

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Female friendships that work are relationships in which women help each other belong to themselves."
Louise Berkinow

Phoebe had three days to find the right outfit for their date.

Date.

She wanted to slap herself whenever she thought of the word. Spencer didn't say it was a date. It could just be two colleagues hanging out.

At broadway.

Even as she thought about it, she found she couldn't convincer herself. Phoebe groaned, not knowing what to do.

Three days. That's how long it was before they drove to New York. A four-hour drive. And then a couple more hours in the city to watch the play and eat out. For some, three days might've seemed like a long time. But Phoebe's wardrobe was strewn all over her room, and she didn't find anything suitable to wear.

Of course she wanted to look nice. It wasn't every night that she got to see a Broadway production or drive over to New York.

I can't do this on my own.

Reaching for her phone, she dialled a number and prayed to all the gods she knew that the woman on the other end didn't have any plans.

"Who calls upon the Goddess of All Knowledge? Speak and be known," Garcia's voice piped up from the other end and Phoebe sighed in relief.

"Penelope! Thank goodness you answer your phone on our days off," Phoebe exclaimed. "I'm in need of some help."

"What kind of help?" Penelope asked, her eyebrows furrowing. She wasn't exactly expecting Phoebe to call. Much less to ask for help when she did.

Phoebe closed her eyes, thankful Penelope wasn't there to see her. "Help in the fashion department," the young woman grumbled. "Reid is taking me to see Broadway, and I have nothing to wear."

Static.

For a moment, she thought Penelope had hung up on her. Then, the screaming started, and Phoebe had to pull her phone away if she didn't want to go deaf. "He asked you out?" This was still said in a shouting manner.

"He didn't say it was a date," Phoebe pointed out meekly.

To which Penelope gave a funny laugh. "Ohh but it is. Our boy wonder just isn't in the habit of saying those things out loud, but this is definitely a date."

The confirmation that it was, indeed, a date, did nothing for Phoebe's nerves, and she plopped onto her bed. "So will you help me?"

"Of course! You have come to the right person! I will meet you tomorrow at the CityCenter for lunch, then we will find you the best dress for Broadway!" Penelope said in excitement. She always loved a chance for some bonding, and she'd never say no to some shopping, too.

"Thank you so much, Penelope," Phoebe sighed in relief. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye!" Garcia bid, ending the call.

Phoebe sat up and looked around her messy room. Willow was lying on top of a discarded, red dress and looked up at her owner. "Alright, girl, time to put all this back. Looks like we're going shopping tomorrow with Auntie Penelope instead."