AN:/ So this one's written a bit differently from my usual 'Reid thoughts', this one is written 'in the moment' instead of after the fact. Set in the episode where Reid and Prentiss are at the table in the café and Reid tells her they forgot his birthday. (Dare I say it?) More to come soon, so enjoy.
YR
Birthday
Yeah. So you forgot my birthday. It's not really that big of a deal. It was usually a bad day for mom after dad left, but once I turned 18 I was alone anyway. I mean, I guess it's a milestone…the big Three-Oh, but really it's just like any other day to me. I did get in the habit of calling Bennington every day the week of, hoping to catch mom on just one good day, or even an okay day, really. I don't waste work time for it so you wouldn't know to notice it. Besides, everyone forgot. I wouldn't want to put you guys in that position. I can see it now…so I walk into the bullpen. No one says anything, or even looks up for more then a cursory glance. I cough and say something like "I'm 30 today." Talk about being a dick. I couldn't put you guys on the spot like that. Besides, it would probably have hurt me more for you guys to know you forgot and listen to your excuses all day. Although to be honest I was almost disappointed when I got home. I spent all day waiting for someone to pop out and yell 'surprise' while everyone else pulled out gifts and things. Talk about paranoid, yeah? But when I got home and the day had passed I was also relieve that I didn't get any attention. Being in the spotlight is really nerve wracking… I suppose it must have been Gideon who remembered in the beginning. And nowadays something comes up to remind everyone and this year nothing happened. No paperwork recently that required a DOB, or no one looking hard enough at it for it to click. I know everyone's birthday, but I can't expect everyone to have an eidetic memory…right?