Winnie

Take one

Winnie was nervous as hell, and Spencer was just as bad, if not worse. Both had prepared and gone through what the night was supposed to be like in their heads. Each having unrealistic expectations. 

It's just dinner, between two friends, it's supposed to be fun and light-hearted. The night definitely did not end up being fun and light-hearted.

Ding dong

"Shit" Winnie was finishing up curling her hair and the doorbell made her jump. She was already nervous about looking good and now she had a burn on her neck. Good start to the night Winnie, pull yourself together. 

 Winne got up to answer the door, "Since when do you ring the doorbell?" She swung open the door to reveal Spencer in a suit, with roses in hand. He combed his hair and was all clean cut and almost sexy. Spencer doesn't do sexy, at least not usually. 

"Wow," They said in unison. 

Spencer looked at Winnie, in a dress. A tight red dress. Her hair was curled and makeup was done to near perfection. She replaced her glasses with contacts and her sneakers for heels, making her taller than her usual self. He could also see a bit of her cleavage, something neither of them were used to. 

He also noticed her recent burn on her neck. Then his gaze drifted to her eyes. He was making her uncomfortable. He could tell. 

"Um, it's what you do when you date, I think. At least that's what they do in movies and they also do flowers, so here's flowers, for you, roses actually, well roses are flowers, but " 

"Spence, " Winnie smiled, "Thanks"

At least her smile is the same,  He thought. Except for the red lipstick

"Um, shall we?" 

"We shall." She laughed and took his arm and the two went off on their evening. 

~~~

"So, how's tutoring?" Spencer asked. 

Winnie almost choked. What happened to us that we can't even be normal with each other? Maybe we aren't meant to date.

"Good. How's the team?" She asked hiding her thoughts behind a smile.

"Good, they're all excited about tonight and Morgan actually helped me get ready. He gave me the flowers idea" 

Of course, it was. 

"So how'd you hear about this place?" Winnie said referring to the fancy restaurant they were sitting in. 

"Oh, it was -" Just then a waiter cut in.

"Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame, on the house." Then he began to pour the red wine that must've cost more than Winnie's current paycheck. 

"Oh um thanks," Winnie said, taking a sip. Her nose scrunched up a bit, she's not really a fan of red wine or any wine for that matter. 

"Winnie, it's okay if you don't like it. I didn't order it." Spencer said after the waiter did. He placed his hand on her's to convey the message. 

"No, it's good." She pulled away and took another larger sip. She could use some alcohol in her system right about now. 

"Damn." They heard from a few tables away. 

"Shut up." Another voice whisper-yelled.

"This is hard to watch." The first voice replied. 

Spencer and Winnie exchanged a knowing glance, got up and walked over to the table. 

"Hey, guys! What a coincidence!" Penelope said with a wide smile. Derek chuckled. 

"Really? You're spying on us?" Spencer sounded a bit more amused than Winnie felt right now. 

"We are on our usual date, technically you're spying on us," Derek said.

Winnie saw the way Derek looked at them and Penelope too. Even if they didn't mean anything by it Winnie felt like this was all a joke to them. Like Winnie was some kind of social experiment to them. 

"I'm going home. I'll see ya later Spencer." She started to turn away. 

"Wait" Derek yelled after her. "Can Penelope and I have the wine? I paid a lot of money for it." He said jokingly, but that was Winnie's last straw.

"No!" She grabbed the bottle and stormed out the door. Leaving Derek speechless.

"I'm sorry man, we really didn't mean to ruin this for you," Derek said sincerely. 

"It's fine. I'm gonna go find her." Spencer walked out the door in pursuit of Winnie. 

Winnie was upset, more than upset but not quite mad. She was more upset with herself for allowing herself to be changed into this person. She's always wanted to be a normal person but this isn't her. She's not a girl who shows cleavage or wears lipstick. That's just not who she is. There's nothing wrong with dressing up or wearing makeup but she's just not the type of person to do those things to this extreme. 

She changed herself. For a date with a man she really liked. A man who changed himself for the same reason. 

Maybe we're too similar. 

She took a big sip of the wine.

Could two people who are identical in most ways be a couple? They say opposites attract. And Winnie and Spencer were definitely not opposites. 

The thoughts depressed her because she really like Spencer and this night was a disaster. She hoped this wouldn't ruin their friendship in any way because she really enjoyed spending time with him. 

She took another gulp of the bottle. 

"Winnie!" She heard Spencer's voice.

Oh god, I can't face him right now. 

She quickly crossed the street. 

Spencer spotted her bright red dress and followed suit. "Winnie please slow down." 

Winnie tried to walk quickly but then her heel stuck in a sidewalk crack and she fell. She tried to catch herself but ended up dropping the bottle of wine and it shattered everywhere. The broken bottle pieces stuck in her hand and she scrapped her knees. 

"Damnit" She muttered then tried to get up. Spencer rushed to her aid.

"Winnie, are you okay? " He helped her up. 

"It's these damn shoes" She spat. Winnie looked at her hands and muttered again, "Damnit." 

"It's okay, Let me help you." Spencer took the biggest pieces out then wrapped them in the hanky from his pocket. Another thing Morgan made him wear, a pocket hanky. "Winnie I'm really sorry tonight didn't turn out as well as I hoped. If it's okay, I'd like to make it up to you?"

"I'm sorry too, I haven't been myself. A second chance at a first date would be wonderful." 

"Great! I promise it'll be nothing like this one." Spencer said. "Tomorrow night?"

"Sounds good," Winnie said with a smile. 

"Now let's get you cleaned up."

"Yes, please." 

Winnie stepped out of her heels and onto the part of the sidewalk without the broken bottle glass.