February Night

Chapter 23

"No, no, no, Spence, that's not how you use chopsticks!" JJ shook her head at the genius agent while she watched him fight with the chopsticks at the Chinese restaurant they all had decided to go to. Lucy, who was sitting on Spencer's right side, couldn't hold back a laugh. It had been amusing to watch him trying to eat his rice and noodles with chopsticks. He had barely eaten while the others were almost finished with their dishes. Although everyone had told him to just use the fork and knife that were lying next to his plate, he had refused. He didn't want to be the only one eating with cutlery while the others used chopsticks. He was stubborn. And Lucy couldn't help but being amused by him. He was just so adorable.

"Come on, let me help you", she eventually said and put down her own chopsticks to show him how to use his. A hair ribbon that Lucy had been wearing around her wrist was the biggest help. She put it around the ends of the chopsticks and then handed them back to Spencer. Frowning, he looked at them. Chuckling, Lucy took Spencer's hand and showed him how to hold the sticks. Slowly, Spencer seemed to finally figure out how to eat properly with them. And the smile on his lips told Lucy, that he totally enjoyed it.

"Will you drive me home?", Lucy asked her brother as they left the restaurant hours later.

"Oh, uhm, I...I can't, actually", Luke stammered and Lucy frowned at him. Why was he acting so strange suddenly? He rubbed over his beard and glanced at Spencer, who was walking in front of them.

"Hey, Reid!", he then called. Spencer turned around.

"Yeah?"

"Would you mind driving my sister home? I...have something else to do." Spencer was as surprised as Lucy; she could tell from the look on his face. But he slowly nodded.

"Sure." His eyes wandered to Lucy and he gave her a little smile. Although Lucy would have loved to ask Luke what was going on in his brain, she remained quiet. Maybe he really had something else going on tonight and didn't have time. So, she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks, big brother", she said with a smile. He smiled back.

"You're welcome, sis. You can finally have your new start now", he said with a little wink, what made Lucy question again what was going on. He's plotting something, Lucy thought to herself while she said goodbye to the others and then followed Spencer to the car.

"Is it really alright with you to bring me home? You know, I could still call a cab or something", Lucy said. But Spencer shook his head.

"Of course, it's alright! That's your evening today and you shouldn't have to go home alone", Spencer said and then just realized what he had said. His cheeks turned a bright red and Lucy smirked. His words had sounded as if he would like to spend the evening with her and didn't want her to be alone. She thought that was cute. She enjoyed being with Spencer anyway.

The ride home was quiet – both, Spencer and Lucy were lost in their own thoughts and they didn't feel uncomfortable being quiet together. It was actually a nice atmosphere, Lucy thought. "Okay, here we are", Spencer eventually said and broke the silence between them. Lucy nodded and opened the door to climb out of the car. Spencer did the same and without her asking, he brought Lucy up the stairs and to her apartment door. She turned around to thank him for being so kind when her eyes met his and suddenly, it took her breath away. It was like a lightning stroke her and Lucy felt her heart skip a beat or two. Spencer's warm eyes looked into hers and Lucy couldn't deny anymore that she had fallen in love with the man in front of her. Although she had told herself that she just liked him as a friend, deep inside she had always known that she had much stronger feelings for him. She wanted to make a new start, with him. But...did he feel the same? She didn't even have to ask that question; suddenly she felt a soft hand on her cheek, gently stroking it. And before she knew it, she had pulled herself closer to Spencer and pressed her lips on his. First, Spencer hesitated slightly, but then he wrapped his arms around Lucy's waist and deepened the kiss. His lips were soft and warm and Lucy wrapped her arms around Spencer's neck.

Butterflies were chasing each other in Lucy's stomach and her heart jumped in her chest. She had dreamed about kissing Spencer and imagined how it would feel like and now it was happening. Only when they both had to get some air into their lungs again, they pulled away from each other. A smile appeared on Lucy's face when she looked up at Spencer. His cheeks were a slight red but his eyes were sparkling. After he had let go of Lucy for some seconds, he took her hand in one of his while he let the other one run over her cheek once more.

Lucy's smile grew wider. "I...I never thought I'd fall in love with you", she eventually said; her voice just a whisper. Lucy had to let it out right now. She couldn't deny or hold in her feelings for the genius agent any longer. She needed to know if he felt the same. And the thought that he might not, scared her more than she had thought in the first place.

"And I was in love almost from the moment I saw you for the first time", Spencer replied with a chuckle.

"Really?" Lucy's eyes widened at those words.

Spencer nodded. A sigh escaped his mouth. "All this time I thought you liked me just as a friend. I was afraid to tell or show you. I've never felt like this and...it confused me at some point. And I didn't want to risk our friendship", Spencer explained and Lucy couldn't resist to press a little kiss on his lips before she laughed. "Why you're laughing?", Spencer asked narrowing his eyes.

Lucy leaned against her door as she answered: "I was afraid to destroy our friendship too. I wasn't sure how you'd react and didn't want to risk anything. I'd rather keep you as a friend than lose you because of my feelings." A little smile formed on her lips and Spencer smiled back. He came closer again and wrapped his arms around Lucy.

"I'm glad we finally figured this out", he quietly said as he brushed a strand of hair out of Lucy's face. She nodded.

"Thanks for supporting me through...all of this. It really means a lot", she said. She felt as if she needed to thank him and didn't even know how, except for just telling him. Spencer's smile grew wider.

"I hated to see you so down and scared. It made me furious", he confessed and Lucy couldn't help but throw her arms around him and pull him into a long, tight hug. She buried her face in his shoulder and inhaled the scent of coffee and aftershave – and some Chinese food right now.

"Okay", Spencer cleared his throat, "I guess I should go now."

Lucy nodded and pulled away again. For a moment, they just looked at each other, before Spencer leaned in and stole another kiss from Lucy's lips. They both smiled before Spencer turned around and walked down the stairs.

"Will you call me?", Lucy exclaimed; suddenly afraid that those kisses and those confessions tonight might have been just a dream. Spencer stopped and looked up to her. The smile seemed to have never left his face so far.

"Of course, I will", he promised.