Open Hearts Are Broken Hearts [ S.R ]

17. But What If She Is

The hour Spencer spent in the car became one big blur to him.

When he wasn't missing turns, he was rehearsing exactly what he would say to you. Exactly how he wanted to say it so he was certain you would understand.

He usually wasn't this bad with directions but because of the sheer speed he was going and his inability to focus on anything other then how much he wanted to tell you he loved you, he'd managed to miss quite a few turns. But because of just how fast he was going, he still made it there in under an hour.

As he was driving down the back roads between cornfields, the only sound in his car was his voice.

"I love you."

"I love you."

"I love you."

He was trying to decide how to say it that you would understand him best and believe him most.

But he didn't quite get to decide when his phone broke his concentration, "Turn right in .2 miles."

"Turn right here."

Spencer slammed on the breaks and looked for a turn. All he could see were trees but there was a small driveway in the break.

He spun the wheel and hit the gas, hearing the rocks being thrown up behind him.

He felt like he had been driving through the trees for forever when he finally pulled over. He picked up his phone and dialed Penelope's number.

"What did she say?" was the first thing Penelope said on the other side of the line.

"I haven't found her yet. I followed your directions and I'm in the middle of like... this forest. Can you track me? I can't be in the right place."

He could hear the keys smashing on the other side of the line, "Oh, you're there! Yay! Oh um... just keep driving, you're not even in a forest. I think the trees just line the driveway there., Spencer. But you're coming up to a huge opening soon so the house is just up there."

"Thanks," he started to lower the phone before he stopped himself.

"Penelope," he was quiet. She could hear the fear in his voice.

"Yeah Spencer?"

He could feel the tears in the back of his throat, "What if she isn't here?"

"Oh Spencer," Penelope was trying to comfort him.

"But what if she is."

From those words, Spencer hung up the phone and kept driving.

Penelope was right, it wasn't long til he was out of the trees. It really wasn't a forest, he was just over exaggerating as the fear that he wouldn't find you crept up.

When he finally made it out the trees, the first thing his eyes went to was the huge white house with blue shutters. It had a huge porch on it.

Just like The Notebook.

The next thing his eyes went to was the two cars parked out front. One was yours. You had to be here, your car was.

He parked his car right beside your and quickly glanced inside to see you weren't there. He ran to the front door and took a deep breath. You could be on the other side.

He lifted his hand to knock on the blue wooden door. It felt like time stood still as he waited for someone to answer.

But when the door opened, it wasn't you. But a small old man who had your same smile.

"Well hello sir, is everything all right?" he spoke quietly. "Is it car troubles?" he motioned towards Spencer's car parked in his driveway.

"No actually, is Y/N here?" Spencer was talking fast. It took a second for the old man to work out what he was saying.

"Oh uh, why yes she is. She uh... just went on a walk, she should be back soon." The man was trying to talk quickly as he understood how frantic Spencer was but he still had no clue why Spencer was here.

Spencer started running his hands through his hair and pacing the front porch, trying to decide what to do next. Then it hit him again.

The Oak Tree.

"Where's the tree?" Spencer spun around to face the old man again.

"Well... Uh, how do you know about that, son?" Spencer could see the confusion in the old mans eyes. "No one knows about that," he was really whispering to himself before he looked back up at Spencer, "Why don't you come inside?"

"No, I can't. I need to see her now." Spencer's breathing was growing frantic along with his body language.

When Spencer finally realized how insane he must look and sound to this poor man, he tried to calm himself. "Look, sir, I know you don't know me but I'm Spencer Reid. I know about the tree cause she told me. She told me everything, her mom, her dad, you!" he said motioning towards the old man in front out him, who's face was just trying to follow along. "and she told me that she loved me. And I was stupid enough to not tell her I loved her." Spencer let out a sigh. "The last time someone told me they loved me, I lost them before I got to tell them. I need to tell her before I lose her. Please, where is the tree?"

When everything Spencer said finally clicked in the old man's head, he stepped out onto the porch. The old man held up his hands to point to a path off the driveway. "It's just up there, about a mile. It's on the left. You can't miss it, it's the only tree on the property. There's a big tire swing connected to it."

Before the old man could even finish the directions, Spencer was already running for his car.

"But Spencer," the old man was waiting for Spencer to look at him. When Spencer reached his car, he opened the door and stopped to look at him. He continued, "Please don't hurt her."

Spencer took a deep breath and sat down in the driver's seat. He'd already managed to break you.

His tires were spinning as he turned the car towards where the man said the tree would be. He drove that mile faster then he'd ever drove before.

When he rounded over the hill, he finally saw the tree.

And the swing.

But no you.

He put the car in park and ran towards the tree calling out, "Y/N?"

When he didn't hear a response he called out again, "Y/N?"

"What the hell are you doing here, Spencer?"