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Planning a first date for the first time with your almost-but-not-really girlfriend is really hard, Spencer discovered.
He was hunched over a notepad at his desk, scribbling furiously. His brow was furrowed, and every now and then he'd cross something out with such force the page tore slightly. To anyone who didn't know him, he might've looked like he was strategizing for a case, but Garcia wasn't fooled.
She leaned over his desk, peering at his notes. "Hey, genius. What's with all the intense scribbling?"
Spencer jumped, slamming his notebook closed. "Nothing. Just thinking."
"Thinking? About a case?" she asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Or is this a Harper thing?"
Spencer shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Well... Sort of." He glanced over at Derek, who was watching the interaction with growing interest.
"Oh, this is definitely a Harper thing," Derek said, crossing his arms and grinning. "C'mon, Reid. What's got you so worked up?"
Spencer sighed, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "I'm planning a date."
"A date!" Garcia's eyes sparkled. "Oh, honey, that's amazing! So what's the problem?"
"The problem," Spencer began, frowning, "is that I want it to be perfect. Harper's smart, and she appreciates unique experiences, so a typical dinner feels...underwhelming. But then, I thought maybe something adventurous - but not too adventurous because that might be presumptuous-"
Derek smirked, holding up a hand to stop him. "Whoa, whoa. You're overthinking, man. You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Just take her somewhere you know she'll like."
"But that's the thing," Spencer said, frustrated. "I can't decide! A bookstore could be nice, but it's not interactive enough, and she works with words all day, so maybe that wouldn't feel special. A gallery could work, but I don't know if she'd find that too formal..." He paused, biting his lip. "She deserves something unique, something that actually means something."
Garcia and Derek exchanged glances. Garcia leaned in, hands on her hips. "Okay, you beautiful nerd. When you think of Harper, what's the first thing that comes to mind?"
Spencer looked down, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "She's curious. She loves learning and experiencing new things. And she has this way of seeing the world that makes everything feel exciting."
"A-ha!" Garcia said, snapping her fingers. "Then why don't you take her somewhere where you can show her that side of you? Somewhere that blends excitement with knowledge, and that would make her think, 'Wow, he really gets my cute nerd in a chick-flick vibe.'"
