the days you were leaving • s.r

one

"thank you"

iola smiled as she pocketed her receipt, the man working the front desk nodding towards the entry of the museum.

she walked through, admiring the artistry displayed on the walls. sure, she could tell you what they were or what emotion they were trying to convey. but they sure were pretty to look at.

she drifted through the museum, it was weird to think this was the last one she'd go to in a while. she'd made a bet with her roommate jess, that she wouldn't be able to visit every museum in virginia, a bet that they had both argued to jess's girlfriend was not 'sad' it was motivational. safe to say, sukhada had taken the alcohol off the two after the bet was finalised.

iola didn't find it boring, she needed motivation in her life. otherwise she'd never do anything. and the museum's were a fun pastime, serving as inspiration for some poetry she'd been writing on the side.

as she came to focus on the exhibit around her, one particular piece caught her eye.

"woah"

iola stood in front of the painting, admiring it for all its beauty. never would she have thought she'd be seeing it up this close. it was amazing.

"you know that's just a reprint right?"

she swivelled on her feet to take a look at who was speaking to her. surprised when she was met with hazel eyes, dark circles, and a mop of waved brown hair.

"will you think i'm dumb if i said i really thought i was looking at the mona lisa right now?"

"nope, naive maybe, but not dumb"

the tall man gave her a slight smile as he walked next to her, both heads turned to look at the print.

"did you know that the real painting has its own letter box because of all the love letters she receives?"

"i didn't even know this wasn't the real thing — of course i didn't know that"

they both shared a laugh, spencer taking a moment to look over her. she was by far the prettiest girl in the building, although that wasn't hard amongst the day-tripping pensioners in the corner.

"brain research actually shows that creativity, social development and self-worth, are promoted through art. painting her lips took da vinci 12 years"

"i think that takes being a perfectionist to a new level"

she smiled, before turning to her companion again.

"you some kind of art intellect?"

"eh, i prefer the term genius"

"how very humble of you"

iola smiled, seeing her companion do the same she reached her hand out.

"i'm iola davies it's lovely to meet you"

he smiled as he shook iola's hand, eyes crinkling at the corner as he spoke.

"iola, that's derived from the greek word for violet"

"it is, but i wasn't named from that"

"no?"

"no, it's welsh for valued by god" she paused "i think"

"it's a very nice name"

"so is yours"

"thank you"

iola laughed, a glittering giggle, as spencer looked on in confusion.

"you didn't tell me your name"

spencer immediately spluttered an apology, cheeks blushing furiously.

"it's spencer, spencer reid"

"i was right anyway, it is a nice name"

"thank you" he smiled "again"

"no problem, what brings you here at this time of night"

spencer checked his watch.

"it's only six"

"just go with it"

"well-" he coughed slightly, his words jumbling slightly "i had a day off work and i haven't been here in a while"

the two were walking around as they talked, spencer following as she looked around the exhibits.

"you've been here before?"

he nodded "twelve times"

not giving her a chance to answer, his brain starting reeling off information; the way it usually did around a pretty girl.

"the first was when i was twenty-two, i'd just moved here from las vegas and wanted to see the museums, since then i've memorised the information on the exhibits"

he fully expected her to walk away, either walk away or reply something so incredibly awkward, that he was forced to remove himself from the conversation.

instead she smiled at him?

she walked behind his back, standing on her tip-toes and placing her hands over his eyes. spencer bent slightly to help her out, confused but intrigued.

"walk forward until i say stop"

he did as she said stopping when she halted him, hands still wrapped around his eyes, he could technically still see through the gaps but he wasn't going to ruin whatever she was planning.

"there's a big rock next to us, a mirror to our right, where are we?"

"the russian decorative arts exhibit"

iola removed her hands walking in front of him once more, an impressed smirk etched on her lips.

"wow, you sure are a genius"

"technically you don't have to be genius to have eidetic memory, just lucky"

"like photographic memory?"

he nodded, watching as she mulled over his words.

"okay so remember this moment"

she smiled and put her thumbs up to him, he fought the urge to laugh.

"it's not a camera"

"don't ruin my fun"

she scowled playfully, causing spencer to let out a small laugh.

"fine, i promise i'll remember it"

"good, remember that in case you see me again"

spencer's smile fell ever so slightly, he enjoyed their conversation.

"i sure will"

"see you around, genius"

he watched as she began to walk backwards away from him, her enthusiastic little wave making him laugh again.

"goodbye, violet"