"Spencer...I need to tell you something"
Spencer Reid looked up from the packing which he was currently working on as the young brunette sat on his bed and watched him move things from his case and back into his wardrobe. Spencer didn't hold her gaze as she didn't hold his.
"You know sometimes it is more difficult for people to tell the ones there closest to something which is important because they worry that it will hurt them. Of course it is better that they tell them instead of keeping it bottled up" Spencer remained peering into his wardrobe, pretending to look for a shirt so that he could just avoid her gaze.
"Is that a fact?" she smiled down onto the dark brown duvet she was sat on and played with the corner of it. She had her legs crossed beneath her as Spence once again crouched down and began picking up the contents of clothing item.
"Well the first part was...the second part is debateable" he muttered and the girl allowed a low laugh to come out from her mouth and she closed her eyes.
"Right...Spencer...I'm moving" she looked at him and this time he did stare back at her and she couldn't handle the intensity of his gaze on her.
"Where are you moving to?" he asked hesitantly and awkwardly. He stood there, shifting from one foot to the other; unsure of what he should be doing in this situation. He knew if he began to unpack then he would make her feel as though she wasn't be taken seriously but if he just stayed there he was sure that the awkwardness would become too extreme for them.
"New York...there's a teaching job there which pays well" she told him and he moved his long hair from his eyes and then began to unpack from his case again.
"Well that's good then. There were only 4.5 million teaching jobs in 2008 and that was spread out over all the states and when you narrow that down then it's good you got a job doing what you want" Spencer continued to look into his wardrobe. He remembered he read a book about children who walked into their wardrobe and found another world...he wondered if he could find it at this moment.
"You think I should take it?" she asked him. She continued to stare into the back of his wardrobe and then he shut his eyes.
"I think you should take it...it's what you've always wanted Lauren...you said so at college...always wanting to go to the Big Apple" he told her
But that wasn't what she had always wanted. She had always wanted someone she couldn't have. Someone who never picked up on the fact she wanted more than friendship. He was just grateful that he had found a friend who he could speak to without feeling socially awkward like he did around other people.
"I know. You'll come visit me though Spencer...right?" she asked him and he groaned inwardly and moved over to the chest of drawers which were next to his double bed. He could feel Lauren's gaze on him as he moved around but he didn't look back at her.
"This job is going to be very demanding Lauren...but I'll write when I can" he gave her a smaller promise than the one she was after.
"Twenty one and you're already in the BAU. I'm happy for you Spence" she told him truthfully. Spencer Reid had just found an apartment in Quantico and he had begun to move in on the Friday so he was ready for work on the Monday.
"I'm apprehensive" he contradicted her and shut the drawers
"Well you should be. It's a big step" she told him and he nodded in agreement. Lauren took a look at her watch and she began to stand up.
"I'd best be off Spencer...I need to pack" she told him and this time Spencer did turn around and look at her.
"Pack? When do you go?" he asked her
"Tomorrow morning" she told him and he pinched the bridge of his nose to stop himself from exploding straight away.
"How long have you known about this Lauren? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked her
"Because I didn't know how to. You're my best friend Spencer...I wasn't sure if I was going to do it or not" she admitted. She knew she was going to do it now. Spencer didn't want her like she wanted him.
"Well you should have told me sooner" Spencer muttered
"It wouldn't have made a difference" she shrugged and picked up a cardboard bag which was sat on the floor near the bed and she placed it onto Spencer's bed.
"What is it?" he asked her as she stared into it
"I bought it for you...for your new job" Lauren said and she began to walk to the bedroom door and back out into the living and dining area. The rooms were covered in cardboard boxes and the walls were all painted a fresh cream colour which Lauren had helped Spencer to do. Spencer looked at the bag and then to her retreating figure and he followed her.
"I'll see you later Spence" she said and she pecked him on the cheek as she reached to open the door. Spencer immediately shut the door again and kept his hand on it making sure it wouldn't open. He continued to stare down into Lauren's eyes as she raised a brow at him in questioning.
"I...Lauren...I..."he garbled and Lauren just continued to stare at him "call me when you get there safely"
Lauren smiled once and tried not to look disappointed as Spencer opened the door for her. She stood in the doorway for a moment and then nodded at him.
"Bye Spencer" she said one last time
"Bye Lauren" he replied and then he shut the door when he saw her go down the stairs. He leant against the wood and took a deep sigh as he shut his eyes and rubbed his temple. He walked over to the window in his living room, tripping over boxes in his eagerness to watch her brown curly hair walk down the sidewalk. She didn't even look back. He knew he had missed his chance to tell her what he had wanted to say but then he reminded himself it wouldn't have made a difference. They were friends. That was as far as it went. Spencer was someone who wasn't worthy of a girl like her. He counted himself lucky that she hung around with him. Spencer finally peeled himself from the window and went back into his newly made up room and he stared into the bag which housed something made of leather. He pulled out the messenger bag and admired it. He opened it up and pulled out a note;
You'll be fine. Don't worry Spence. Lauren x