Anthophile (Spencer Reid)

Chapter 3

It had been another three days since she had seen Spencer. He had been on a case in Utah. Of course she didn't ask details, from what she had learned about his job she wasn't sure if he wanted to talk about it outside of work.

But tonight he was getting back and they were going somewhere, he hadn't told her where.

Iris: you sure? You don't want time to rest?
Spencer: no! I'm looking forward to it!
Iris: still not telling me what you have planned?
Spencer: Nope.

She had put on a pair of black skinny jeans, nice boots and a dark green sweater. She had put on some soft makeup and her hair was down and curled with a yellow satin headband. Her apartment above the shop had a door to a staircase outside, which came in handy when she needed to go somewhere and she didn't want to go through the shop. Just as she was putting on her go to coral burts and bees chapstick, she heard a knock at the door. Walking over she opened and smiled seeing Spencer standing there. He was wearing a pair of grey slacks, black converse, and a white collared shirt with a sweater vest on top. "Hey!" She said with a smile.

Spencer waved, "You look...uh you look nice..." he said running his hand nervously through his hair.

"Thanks, you do too. I like your shoes." She stood there for a moment before realizing he probably was ready to go. "If you wanna step inside for a moment I just need to grab my purse..." she walked away and left the door open for him to enter through. The door from the outside led to her small kitchen. The counter tops were butchers block and the cabinets a dark green-her favorite color. There were plants scattered everywhere.

Emerging from her room with her cross body bag she nodded, "Alright, let's see what you've got planned."

Spencer went from looking around the plant covered apartment to looking at the girl in front of him.
"I think you are an anthophile..." he said, brows furrowed

She laughed, "what on earth is that?" She asked now standing in front of him.

"Someone who loves plants, more specifically flowers. Which is ironic since your name is also the name of a flower." He said looking down at her. Iris was five foot three and he seemed to tower over her. She liked it.

"That tracks...so, ready?" She opened the door and Spencer exited her apartment. She locked it behind her and put the keys in her bag.

"I hope it's okay if we take the metro?" He asked as they descended the staircase.

"Yea! I usually take it when I go somewhere, unless I'm delivering an order." They walked down the street past some of the shops, she waved to the people she knew.

"You seem to know a lot of people."

"Most every one on this street gets plants and flowers from me for their shops. So we talk a lot." She said as they entered the metro.

Spencer was a perfect gentlemen as they traveled, insisting she take the seats that were open and letting her exit and enter before him.

"Okay, this is our stop!" He said with some excitement.

"Finally I get to find out!" She excited the metro and walked up the stairs, excited. Glancing behind her, she saw Spencer catching up.

"You walk fast."

"When you're short you have to walk faster to keep up." Glancing around she saw they were at the Smithsonian. "A museum?" She looked up at him with a smile.

"Yea...I hope this is okay. They have a special exhibit on plants right now and I thought you might enjoy it..." he said rubbing his neck.

It was sweet the thought he had obviously put behind their outing, it hadn't been clarified whether it was a date or not, "I'm excited. I actually like galleries and museums. It's easy to get lost and take your mind off the outside world." Iris now walked in sync with him up the stairs of the large building.

"The exhibit it this way." He motioned, and she followed. They entered a large room covered with plants, herbs, flowers, everything that could grow seemed to be inside.

"Extraordinary." Iris walked to the first display, inside was the cutting from a large sequoia. "Did you know these are the largest trees? Some of the oldest? Kind of makes me sad to see one in here. Knowing it's been cut down..." she said glancing from Spencer to the exhibit.

"So how did you get to be so interested in plants?" He asked as they walked to the next exhibit.

She thought of how to answer for a moment, not sure how much she wanted to give away about her past just yet. "My grandmother loved plants. She always kept them in her house and had an astounding garden." Iris actually grew up with her grandmother, her mother was so strung out she lost custody and her father was no where to be found, "I studied biology in college and was one class shy of graduating. Then life happened and I decided to open the plant shop. I took a few classes and became a florist and here we are." She didn't mention that she didn't finish college because her grandmother had passed away and she had to plan her funeral and sell her house. Which she used the money to purchase the shop.

"Would you ever wanna go back and get your degree?" He asked, she looked up at him. It seemed he was listening so intently to her.

"I don't know, I don't see much use in it now...I mean I have the shop and don't plan on changing career paths any time soon." Iris wanted to change the subject, she wanted to learn about him. "What about you? How did you get to the FBI?" She asked moving on to another display.

"Well, I actually have a few degrees...I have my bachelors in Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy. And then three Ph.D.s in Chemistry, Engineering, and Mathematics..." he said, avoiding eye contact.

"Wow..." she said looking at him, amazed. "You truly are a genius..." Iris stopped and thought for a moment, "wait, how old are you?"

"Twenty Nine...I had all my degrees by twenties one and started at the FBI at twenty two..." he said softly.

"Well, if I ever go back to school you must tutor me." She said smiling at him, "but seriously, that's amazing."

He chuckled, " I can do that." He looked down at her, "we are almost to the end of the exhibit. There is a cafe here, or I know a good Indian place." He said as they looked at the last display.

"Hmmm...I do love a good curry." There was a grin on her face, "lead the way Doctor Reid." Her tone was more flirty, Iris was starting to feel more comfortable around him.

"You got it"

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Second part of the date coming up soon! Hope you are enjoying it so far!