Melanie sighed as she walked into the staff room at the library. "Good morning Melanie," Stella said as she poured coffee into her cup. She held the pot up for her coworker but Melanie just shook her head. Stella smirked at her friend's choice of clothes, not that she didn't look good; Melanie always dressed well but today she had a royal blue cap sleeve sweater over an apricot blouse with grey slacks. She somehow reminded Stella of Dr. Reid and his sweater vests. "So, how did the date go on Saturday?" She asked eagerly.

"Don't ask," Melanie responded as she put a mug of water into the microwave.

"Oh dear, really," Stella took a sip of her coffee. She had been sure that Dr. Reid would be an excellent date for her young friend. "What happened, Dr. Reid wasn't the guy we think he is?"

Melanie pulled her water out of the oven and reached into a box of tea bags, extracting one, opening it and dunking it in her water before she came to sit with Stella. Stella couldn't help but notice the circles under Melanie's eyes and that she did not look at all happy. She hadn't slept well, that was for sure. What had Dr. Reid done to make the usually vivacious young woman like this?

"No, Spencer is exactly the man I thought he was. He was sweet, kind, good to talk to about the movie, very knowledgeable and a perfect gentleman." She could see Stella's eyes squint in confusion. "It was all my fault Stel. He asked if I wanted to get something to eat and the next thing I knew I was telling him I had to go. He offered to see me home, like the gentleman that he is, but I turned him down. I'll never forget the look on his face. It's seared into my heart," her voice broke as she punched her fist into her chest. "He looked confused but, at the same time, he didn't you know. It was like he was used to being rejected and just accepted it."

"Oh Melanie," Stella reached across and took the younger woman's hand. "I'm so sorry."

Melanie's eyes watered. "I don't know why I thought… I even asked him to be part of the children's program. I thought he'd be great. Now he likely won't even come to the library anymore."

"I wouldn't go that far." Stella smirked. "I don't think anything could overtake that man's love for the written word." She squeezed her friend's hand. "Have you thought of trying to talk to him?"

"I'm sure talking to me is the last thing he wants to do."

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Reid stepped off the elevator on Monday morning, looking much as he usually did; sweater vest and tie in place with his favorite brew in his hand. None of them would know what had happened to him on Saturday; that he'd sent a woman he thought might have liked him running for the hills.

"Hey hot stuff," he heard from his right. "How was Saturday night?"

Reid closed his eyes trying to block the familiar voice he usually loved from his mind. This was the last thing he needed. "Garcia," he grabbed her arm gently and began moving her down the hallway. We have to talk."

Reid closed the door of Garcia's office. "Garcia, I don't want you to mention anything about Saturday, please."

"Why sweetcheeks, did something happen?"

"No, nothing happened, like I told you. Melanie doesn't want anything to do with me. She wanted someone to go to the movie with, that's all. You had to go getting all excited and getting these ideas that it was some kind of date. It wasn't. She said she was glad I didn't have a case and she was afraid she'd get a call that I had to cancel. I told her I didn't have her number anyway and instead of giving it to me she said I could call her at the library. After the movie was over, she couldn't get away from me fast enough. I offered to see her home but she took off like I had the plague. She obviously didn't want me to get any ideas that she liked me that way."

"Reid, I'm so sorry that happened to you." She ran her hand up his arm.

"It's okay; just quit getting these crazy ideas. Women don't like me in that way. You were right; you and every other woman could not possibly be attracted to me." With that he abruptly opened the door and left.

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Melanie piled the books from the afterhours return bin onto her cart and headed for the desk to prepare them for their return to the stacks where they'd wait for their chance to enthrall yet another reader. She scanned the books and began placing them in piles for the different sections they'd be returned to. The sixth book she picked up and scanned indicated that it had been checked out by Dr. Spencer Reid. Melanie gasped. Spencer usually returned his books in person. Very seldom had he ever deposited them in the afterhours slot.

He is upset with me. He's obviously trying to avoid me.

Stella saw Melanie's shoulders suddenly sag. "What is it love?" she asked.

Melanie pointed to the screen. "I've ruined everything. He doesn't even want to see me now."

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"JJ I need your advice." Garcia said as JJ got out of the elevator.

"What now?" JJ asked as Garcia pulled her friend toward her office. "Garcia, I've got to get in there, we'll be meeting shortly.

"Yeah, well they're not likely to start without me are they?" Garcia replied.

JJ sighed as she closed the door to Garcia's office, "Okay Garcia, what's Kevin done now?"

"Jaje, this doesn't have anything to do with Kevin." She waved the thought away as if it were nothing. "This is about Reid."

"Aargh Garcia, not Reid again."

"You have to listen to me." Garcia paced back and forth in her office. "I kind of did something the other day after we talked. I looked up this Melanie person."

JJ's mouth dropped open. "Oh Garcia, you didn't!"

"I had to see if she was good enough for our boy and… and … I have something I have to tell you."