DISTRACTION | Spencer Reid Fanfic

15

When we land back in Quantico, later than I had anticipated, the sun was beginning to set.

"Do you want a ride?" Derek asked as he pulled up beside me.

I looked at my watch, debating whether it's too late to turn up at Y/n's.

"Sure." I climbed into his car, tucking my go bag on the floor between my feet. I leaned my head against the head rest watching the world outside the window.

"I'm not ready for the paperwork for this case tomorrow." Derek tapped the steering wheel. The car was still at traffic signal. He didn't mind that I didn't respond. He continued chatting as he usually would. "You and JJ are close right?"

"I guess." I rolled my head over so that I was facing Derek.

"Do you think that she seriously thinks that none of us know about her and the detective from New Orleans?" The car was finally moving again.

"I think she is under that impression." I sighed. To be honest I'm not surprised that's he hasn't told me. We both haven't been open with each other.

Derek laughed. "She knows we are profilers, right?"

"Yeah..." I leaned forward noting our location. "Um... can you turn here."

"That's not the way to your apartment." He stated as if I didn't know.

"I know. I just need to do something first. You can just drop me off here. I'll make my own way home after I'm done."

"You're acting weird." He was suspicious but slowed the car, pulling up on one side.

"Thanks," I mumbled. I collected my bag in my hand and trudged onto the sidewalk.

"Play your cards right this time pretty boy." Derek rolled up his window and drove off.

I watched as the brake lights of his car shrunk into the distance, until they were nothing but specks.

I had deliberately asked Derek to drop me two blocks from Y/n apartment. I didn't think that he would, but you never know when curiosity gets the better of you.

At first my feet pounded the footpath quickly, but nearing her apartment building I slowed. I had run the scenario over and over in my head, but my mind was blank now.

My feet slipped on the checked tile floor of her building lobby, my soles squeaking in the silence. The building had an uncharacteristic charm to it. Like something you would see at a prestigious hotel that has been managed by the same family for generations. Somehow it made me... nervous.

Get yourself together, Spencer. She is just some girl.

I muttered the words over and over to myself, stomping up the four flights of stairs. I swiped my hair off my forehead. It always found a way to flop forward.

I'm sure that it took me 2 minute and 36 seconds to walk from the stairs to her door. A whole 2 minutes more than it needed to. I balled my fist and brought it to the black lacquered wood door, rapping on it three times. Was three too many? Was my knock too aggressive?

I waited but I couldn't hear any movement. Last time I was sure that had heard shuffling inside the apartment before she answered the door. I knocked again with a little extra force. I dropped my bag at my feet and pressed my ear to the door.

"Are you alright there?" A middle-aged man holding the hand of a child no older than eight years old, caught his keys, jingling them and approaching a door a little further up the hallway. He suspiciously looked at my position.