Breaking Barriers - S.R.

14

"What if they don't like me?" I asked, staring at my reflection in the mirror as I put my earrings on.

"They will love you." Spencer replied, coming up behind me and slipping his hands around my waist.

I forced a smile at his reflection and he smiled back. "I'm nervous."

"Don't be. They're just my team." He said nonchalantly.

"Sure, to you! To me, they're a group of highly trained FBI agents that will be analyzing my every move." I retorted.

Spencer chuckled lightly and spun me around to face him. "You're not a criminal being interrogated. It's just dinner with my friends."

The drive to Agent Rossi's house, or mansion I should say, is uneventful. I was a little surprised by the size of his place as we approached the front door, Spencer ringing the doorbell as I stood beside him nervously. The door opened to reveal almost exactly what I had expected from Spencer's description of him.

"Reid! Come in, come in!" He exclaimed, waving us inside. "And you must be Olivia." He smiled, grasping my hand sweetly.

I nodded, smiling as I accepted the gesture. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard so many good things about you."

He beamed, his eyes locking on Spencer. "You didn't tell me she was stunning and charming!"

Spencer shrugged awkwardly, a goofy grin on his face and a blush gracing his cheeks as I smiled at him as well.

"David Rossi, but please, call me Dave. It's so nice to finally meet you, Olivia. Come mingle!"

Spencer stepped ahead of me, wrapping his hand around my own and leading me to the rest of the party. All eyes were on us as we entered the room and I suddenly felt incredibly nervous being in the spotlight.

"We meet again!" The man I had noticed watching Spencer and I in the lobby of the FBI Headquarters was the first to speak up. Spencer had already told me his name. I could probably already name everyone in this room based on all the conversations we've had about them.

"Properly this time." I joked, laughing lightly. "I'm Liv."

"Oh, we know. I'm Derek. And this is Savannah." He smiled, gesturing to the beautiful woman beside him.

"I'm Penelope and you're stunning! It's so nice to finally meet Spencer's love." She shuffled forward in her tall heels and wrapped her arms around me, squeezing tightly. I couldn't help but laugh as I exchanged the gesture.

"Baby girl, give her some room to breathe." Derek laughed.

Penelope stepped back, clasping her hands together excitedly. "I'm just so happy!"

"I'm JJ and this is my husband, Will." A beautiful blonde woman stepped in, greeting me with a warm smile. "We're glad you made it tonight, if you can't tell."

Everyone laughed and the introductions continued as I was introduced to Aaron Hotchner next. He gave me a tight but friendly smile and shook my hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"And I'm Tara." She smiled politely at me, shaking my hand as well. "Reid's told us a lot of great things about you."

"It's nice to finally meet everyone. I've heard so much about all of you." I replied, glancing around the room at everyone. I was relieved that I had, in fact, heard so much about them because otherwise, I never would've been able to remember everyone's names.

After an incredible dinner, I was surprised when Penelope looped her arm through mine and whisked me off to the sitting room where JJ, Tara and Savannah were talking and sipping on glasses of wine. I only caught a glimpse of the amused look on Spencer's face as we disappeared around the corner.