Their pace wasn't quick and Reid wondered where about this "Great Place" was, George walked next to him occasionally glancing back smiling lightly, and all Spencer could muster was an awkward tight lipped smile.
It still seemed weird trailing after a stranger and leaving his friends behind, though he felt that it wasn't as if he would have been missed much. As George had stated before Reid had been sitting alone at the table doing nothing for quite sometime. at least this was interesting.. a bit cold but still interesting.
"How far is it?" Reid asked pulling his shoulders up shrugged around his neck with his hands deep in his pockets, George was staring ahead as if scanning the street
"Not far " he said, Reid nodded inwardly to himself 'What am I doing.' He kept thinking silently, wondering if he should have just gone home and buried his face in a book or something for the five hundredth night in a row.
"Its just up here." George said picking up the pace a bit, Reid shuffled along after him, his hands were cold and still sticky and his pant leg was sticking to his knee which was starting to really irritate him. They rounded a corner and came to a brick building with a large wooden door. There was a large window with a tall curly iron gate in front, perhaps to keep people from breaking the window Reid figured, he could see a few tables through the window and chairs placed under paper lights.
"Come on, I promise you this alone is worth walking out in the cold." George walked ahead and pulled open the large door and waited for Spencer, who smiled still with a closed mouth as he nearly scurried inside the building. George smirked to himself.
"You act like a scared rabbit on the run or something." Spencer turned to meet Georges gaze as he walked past him, George let the door close behind him shaking his head slightly still smiling.
Reid wasn't quite sure what to say to the comment, and didn't want to say sorry anymore since that had been all he had been saying, so he just shrugged and laughed nervously.
George scratched the back of his head and ruffled his hand through his hair as he approached the counter, it was a small shop and the woman at the till didn't seem to speak fluent English quite well, but George ordered two drinks and proceed to pay.
Reid was a bit confused since he expected it would be his job to pay but… it's not like this was a date… ? or something, the thought flittered in his mind briefly and he could feel his palms getting hot and he quickly shook off the feeling as George came over to him with drinks in hand.
"Shall we sit? I'm pretty sure these seats are free." He said with a twinge of sarcasm. Reid finally cracked a smile, which didn't feel awkward this time, it was nice to feel a bit more settled. He could tell George was trying to make small talk as best he could since Reid hadn't contributed much so far in the way of conversation.
George took a seat at a table near the corner, away from the door but still able to have a nice view out the window of the street. As Reid sat down opposite George he noticed all the bustling outside.
Cabs driving, street lights shining, strangers walking hand in hand, a food cart parked on the corner.
"It's quiet here." Reid looked back at George who was looking out the window, "I'm not from around here but when I get to… I like to come here to think you know."
Spencer smiled, George met his gaze then and handed him his drink. "Try it, it's my favorite." He said
Reid took the cup in his hands, the heat felt nice in his palms, and the steam that rose filled his head with a wonderful fragrance. He lifted the rim to his lips and sipped slowly, it wasn't too hot or too sweet, it was an interesting mix of flavours… he liked it.
"I'm kind of a sugar junky." George said taking a drink from his own cup, "They put some kind of tea spice or something in it with Vanilla and sugar, I dunno the recipe or anything, I just know what I like.."
Reid smiled back at George from behind his cup, as he took another large sip.
"Its good thank you." He said, his chest felt warm, and he finally felt like he could let go a bit. The entire walk had been tense and Reid felt his muscles tingle with a numb kind of itch as he breathed in finally letting himself relax a bit.
They sat for a bit just looking into their cups then, Reid started to open his mouth to say something and George instantly looked up at him which made Reid feel weird again.. Which he couldn't comprehend why… he'd never really been shy but maybe that's not what this was.
"Sorry I interrupted a thought there hey?" George said looking back into his cup. Reid cleared his throat sitting back a bit further in the chair and putting the cup down on the table.
"So…" he began, "Your not from here then?" George didn't look up from his cup.
"No I'm just.. just visiting I suppose." Reid knit his brows for a moment trying to figure what the change in Georges tone meant.
"Your girlfriend?" Reid asked then breaking the silence.
George looked up at him with a quizzical look, then he laughed.
"No… I don't have a girlfriend." He shook his head seemingly amused by the comment which made Reid feel a bit stupid once again.
"Sorry, so uh… where are you staying then?" Reid asked, George's eyes raised from his cup to meet Spencer's. And he once again looked down into his cup his face hardening slightly, if Reid hadn't been trained to see subtle changes like that in people he may have missed it.
"I'm sorry that's really none of my business." Reid said then, George looked up with an apologetic expression
"Oh no… no its ok… I'm just…well I'm kind of without a place here." He drank back the rest of his coffee.
"I have my own place back in Boston, just staying wherever for now, traveling I guess you could say."
Reid nodded, he knew how that felt, sometimes he didn't feel like going home and spent time just riding the subway around or even sitting in his apartment hallway to avoid being alone he could listen to his neighbors and feel less by himself.
"How long are you here for?" Reid asked finishing the last bit of his coffee as well. George pursed his lips and shrugged one shoulder as he slung back his arm on the chair resting his head on his hand.
"For awhile.. why do you ask?" Reid felt his palms get sweaty again and his cheeks flush which didn't go unnoticed by George who nicely enough said nothing, just smiled softly back at Reid as he cleared his throat trying to pick anything out of his brain to say.
"Maybe we can get together another time? Maybe…" Reid said in a cracked voice as he pulled his hands under the table and started fidgeting again. George leaned forward clasping his hands together on the table as he looked at Reid.
"I'd like that." He said, his eyes were so intense. Like shining amber staring into him. And out of impulse Reid suddenly blurted out
"You can come by my place right now if you like." He clenched his fists under the table pressing his nails into his palms 'You can do what? What did I just say?' came echoing through his head, his words were usually so compartmentalized in a very safe and sane bunch of organized boxes up there in his memory. Right now it felt like a wind storm had come through his thoughts with a massive blow to his rational thought.
"Yeah?" George said a bit surprised by the sudden invitation, "It's not too late or anything for you is it? I don't want to be putting you out or anything."
Reid shook his head, he felt awkward for suggesting it but the drive to go through with this random gesture of welcome in was quite strong, he wasn't sure why either, but now he wanted to do it.
It felt almost… powerful and that made him think of Prentiss, JJ and Morgan… and he wondered if this was the same…
"Well ok then." George said rising from his seat, he offered his hand to Reid then "Shall we?"
This time Reid took his hand, no apprehension, and it felt cool to the touch since he had been clenching his fists so tightly, his fingers tingled from the stress of flexing them in his palm.
George gave a bit of a tug and pulled Reid to his feet and then let go of him, they were almost face to face now, though George was slightly taller. He smelled intoxicating and Reid felt flush for a moment standing so near to him, it was a rich smell of sandal wood and an airy hint of lavender.
George's eyes flew over Spencer's face for all but a moment he looked as though he had been lost in a moment himself but he shrugged it away and cleared his throat smiling.
"Lead the way." He said extending his arm to the doorway, and they made their way out into the street.
