From that point on, it was a waiting game for Derek. When Spencer came in, he didn't want to pressure him into anything and scare him away, so he just had to act like it was the farthest thing from his mind. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't hiding it very well, and Penelope liked to poke fun at the fact that he was waiting for a guy to call him, instead of him being the one to do the calling.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked, putting the milk away. "Us going out together completely depends on his schedule. He knows mine, I don't know his. His school work needs to come first, and I respect that."

"Do you really?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Having been in his shoes, yes, I do really." He walked past her to grab a sleeve of lids, restocking them.

"... Let's say it takes him a month, maybe even two, to come to you with plans. You're really going to be okay with that?"

He shrugged. "If that's what it takes, then yes."

"Oh boy, do you have it bad. What would Momma Morgan say if she saw her baby this lovesick?"

"...She'd probably be taking your approach and telling me to just ask him out, despite what he wants from the situation, but then when she meets him and sees the kind of person he is, would reprimand me for pushing him into it."

She giggled. "I already love your mom and I haven't even met her yet."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm glad you like her."

She pointed to the apron around his waist. "...Is your phone on full blast and in your apron right now?"

"Why, are you going to write me up?" he asked.

She shook her head, scoffing. "As if. Just curious if you're that level of desperate yet."

He took out his phone, showing it to her. "Just vibrate. And before you go there, no innuendos."

She frowned. "Spoilsport."

It wasn't until the next weekend, when Derek was sitting at home with Clooney, that his phone started ringing. Hoping it wasn't his mother or Penelope, he dug it out of his pocket and checked the screen. Seeing Spencer's phone number on the display, he smiled to himself, answering.

"Hello?" he said, leaning back on the couch and running his fingers through Clooney's fur.

"Derek?"

"Yeah, who's this?" he asked.

"Sorry, I suppose I should've started with that. It's Spencer, from the coffee shop? You um, you said I could call you when I wasn't too busy with schoolwork. Is this a bad time?"

"No, not at all. What's up, kid?"

He cleared his throat. "I was wondering if I could, well, if we could possibly meet up tonight?"

He checked the time on his cable box. "Yeah, sure, what time?"

"Well, I have to go to the art museum for their night time exhibit and take notes for my Art History course. I know, it's schoolwork and it's probably not what you want to do with your Saturday night, but I need to get this assignment done and I figure maybe we can grab something to eat after I finish? If it's not something you want to do, I understand completely and I won't be offended, and I can just wait to ask you to do something again when it doesn't have to do with my coursework?"

He smiled to himself, finding his rambling cute. "I'm okay with that. What kind of exhibit are we talking here?"

"I'm not sure you'll find it too entertaining, not to say that you have no interest in the arts, but even I find it to be a bit dull. It's all Impressionism, so there's going to be a lot of Monet, Degas, and Renoir. Admission is free on Saturday nights, so it won't cost you anything."

Derek clicked his tongue. "I think I could do that. Do you want me to meet at your place, at the museum, or what?"

"I actually, I didn't think of that." He paused for a minute, Derek assumed to think it over. "Can you meet me at the art museum, maybe around 5:00?"

"Yeah, no problem. Should I bring anything?"

"I didn't think about that either," he cleared his throat before speaking again. "I'm just going to be taking notes for class, so I'll be bringing my bag and a notebook, so… just bring yourself, I guess?"

He laughed softly. "Sounds great, I'll see you then."

"Yeah, see you then."

Spencer hung up and Derek smirked, calling Penelope.

"I swear to God, Derek, if you're calling me to pick up a shift while it's ladies' night at the bar-"

"Definitely not, sweetness, but I did just get a phone call."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do continue."

"From a certain patron of our fine work establishment."

"...Did his name happen to be Spencer Reid?"

He smirked. "It did, and he asked me out on a date tonight."

"Seriously?! Like, seriously. He's actually going out with you?"

"...You sound surprised. Did you think it would never happen?"

"No, it's just… wow. How?"

He shrugged. "He has to do an assignment for school at the museum, then we're going out to dinner. I think that qualifies as 'going out', don't you?"

"Oh yes, indeed. And I need to grab JJ tonight, because she owes me twenty bucks and a drink."

"...And why would Spencer's neighbor owe you when you haven't talked about this to anyone but me?"

She sighed. "I may have kind of made a bet with her about Spencer getting a date this semester?"

"...You did this knowing that I was going to ask him out?"

"...No, we made this bet after the first time you met him. I didn't know you'd actually get a date with him… I just sort of hoped you would." She cleared her throat. "So… are you going to give me details Monday morning at work?"

"Maybe. We'll see, just don't go making anymore bets or sharing any details, got it?"

She groaned loudly. "Fine! Though I can't be held responsible for what Drunk Penelope says tonight."

"Drunk Penelope had better have a little bit of censorship if Sober Penelope wants to know anything."

"Fine!" she snapped again.

"I'll see you first thing Monday morning."

"See you then, loverboy."

He shook his head, hanging up and checking the time again, realizing he had enough time to shower, get dressed, and be early to the museum. Knowing this was the best option, he patted Clooney a few times before getting up, walking toward his bedroom.

Derek stood outside of the museum, his hands in his pockets, pacing. He couldn't remember ever being this nervous for a date before, and couldn't imagine why it was this stressful for him. He thought it could possibly be the fact that he didn't make the plans, or maybe that he really liked Spencer and didn't know how to express it without scaring him away. The only thing he was certain of was that he wouldn't be stood up, because Spencer needed to do this for his schoolwork, and that obviously always came first to him.

When he saw Spencer approaching, he stood up straight, taking his hands out of his pockets and crossing his arms.

Spencer walked up to him, fixing his glasses. "Sorry, the buses were running late."

"...If you needed a ride, I could've picked you up?" Derek offered. "I'm sure you weren't too far out of the way and I wouldn't have minded."

He shook his head. "It's fine, I'm used to it." He adjusted the strap on his bag, clearing his throat and motioning toward the museum. "Shall we?"

"Sure thing." He felt a buzz in his pocket and checked his phone to see a message from Penelope.

According to JJ, he hasn't been on a whole lot of dates, be careful with him please!

He rolled his eyes, responding.

Don't worry, sweetness. I'll be good.

Tucking his phone in his pocket, he turned to Spencer. "Sorry. Ready?"

Spencer nodded, walking inside, Derek close behind.

"I think the exhibit is on the third floor and to the left," Spencer said, walking toward the stairs.

Derek pointed to the elevators to their right. "...You do realize we can just take one of those up?"

"Considering there are several thousand elevator related injuries reported every year, as well as some deaths, I feel safer taking the stairs. If you'd like I can give you the numbers, but if you really want to take the elevator, I can meet you up there?"

He shook his head. "Nevermind, stairs it is." He followed Spencer over, taking the steps slowly. "So, do you do a lot of morbid research, or are you just one of those 'I know a lot of things' guys?" he asked.

Spencer smiled slightly. "I'm one of those 'I know a lot of things' guys," he confirmed. "Considering I've retained everything I've ever read and my fast reading speed, it's no surprise I know so much." He turned to Derek. "Turn-off?"

"More like endearing," Derek assured him, giving him a smile. "So you remember everything?"

"Pretty much. I could recite your entire menu board right now without even having to think about it, as well as the specials you've written on the chalkboard stand outside every day, despite the fact I've only ever ordered the one kind of drink."

He raised his eyebrows, impressed. "Wow. So, when are you going to break out of the sugar coma and order a regular drink, since you know everything?"

"When the semester slows down and I don't need it to keep me alert."

"...So once the semester's over?"

"Pretty much."

"Come on, not even one little drink swap?"

He thought about it and shrugged. "Okay, maybe switching out one drink a week."

"I'll consider that a victory. So, Art History?"

"It was an elective that wasn't going to bore me to tears. I tried other electives, finished all of the coursework, and just sat in the classrooms bored for the rest of the semester. I'd have to explain to my professors that I wasn't a bad student and not being attentive because I didn't care, but because I'd already retained all of the information. Luckily, some of them understood and only had me come in for tests."

"Trust me, I wish I had your skills when I was in school. I worked my ass off and only pulled a B average in most classes, if I was lucky."

Spencer smiled. "It's a gift and a curse." He got up the last stair and started fishing his notebook out of his bag. "I don't know if you're interested, but while I'm taking notes, I could maybe tell you about the artist, based on my knowledge, make it a little more insightful, and once we finish here, we can go out to dinner?"

Derek smiled, nodding. "Sounds great."

It turned out that Spencer knew more about the artists than the cards the museum provided. Derek would read the basics beforehand, and while taking notes, Spencer was able to tell him the history of the artist, as well as details about their life and how they came to work in that style of painting. He'd occasionally peek over at Spencer's notebook and read his notes, and saw that he was not only analyzing the painting, but going into his own details about them.

"Not to be rude, but you do realize you can just Google the paintings later to look at them and do the analysis, right?"

Spencer shrugged, his eyes still on his notebook as he took notes. "I find this method easier. I remember everything I've ever read, and sometimes, my mind will remember things I've seen, so I can just recall the painting. Besides, the more I write down now, the less I have to type up later."

"So when's the paper due?"

"Next Thursday. Today was the only day admission was free, and being a college student, 'free' is pretty much my favorite price."

Derek laughed softly. "Free is pretty much everyone's favorite price."

"So what were you like in college?" Spencer asked, looking up at the painting one last time before finishing his notes.

"You really want to know?"

Spencer raised an eyebrow. "I don't know why else I'd ask?"

He thought about it. "I was pretty much the nerdiest jock on campus. I worked my ass off on the field, and when I wasn't at practice, I was studying or writing my papers or meeting up with a tutor."

"You admitted to needing a tutor?"

"Definitely. I'm not a super genius who can remember everything I've ever read, and I needed a little help. Coach ended up telling me I was the only one to admit I had trouble and needed it to keep my GPA up."

Spencer smiled slightly. "Pretty impressive. I used to tutor in the spare time I had, and let me tell you, I would've killed for an athlete to actually care about their grades."

"I take it that didn't go well?"

"I either ended up being stood up, they came to one meeting and then gave up, or in my high school days, I'd end up with my head in a toilet or in a garbage can."

"...You're kidding me."

He shook his head, clicking his pen. "Jocks haven't improved from the stereotypes in 1980's movies."

"Well, I'm sorry?" Derek offered.

"Why, did you take all of their brain cells so they couldn't come up with an original way to deal with a nerd?"

"No, not exactly-"

"And besides, I'll be getting my revenge when they amount to nothing in life."

He chuckled. "Very nice. Let me guess, they'll amount to nothing, and you'll be making it big?"

"You said it, I didn't." He stuffed his notebook into his bag, turning to Derek. "Ready to go?"

"We're done?"

"I've taken notes on pretty much everything I could to make it a five page paper."

"...But you've only seen three paintings."

"Exactly."

He smiled, shaking his head. "Perfect. Where to?"

Spencer adjusted his glasses, clearing his throat. "Well, I know of a restaurant right off campus we could go to, if you'll take a suggestion? If not, since I controlled the first half of the night, you can pick?"

Derek took his car keys out of his pocket. "Be my GPS and lead the way."

Spencer ended up leading Derek to a diner, which was just a few blocks away from campus.

He looked out the window, smirking. "Your kind of place, kid?"

He shrugged. "When I can't survive on coffee house food, I come here. It's good food, reasonably priced, and great service. If you'd like to go somewhere else, feel free to drive there, I just thought this would be a good idea."

"Whatever works for you." He took his keys out of the ignition, stuffing them into his pocket before unbuckling himself and getting out. "So is this where you run to when you're not at the coffee house at your regularly scheduled times?"

Spencer laughed softly. "Possibly. Here or attempting to study in the library, but that usually just gets frustrating and I give up and go to the coffee house."

"I can imagine." He walked up to the restaurant and held the door open for Spencer, following him inside.

After placing their orders, they sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Spencer, Derek deduced, was more likely than not going over the facts about the museum exhibit in his head and formatting his paper for when he got home and could type it up. Derek, however, was thinking about something Spencer had said earlier.

"...So you have a really good memory?" Derek asked.

Spencer nodded. "Eidetic. I remember everything I've ever read."

Derek nodded and thought about it before he clicked his tongue. "Interesting."

"...I believe we already established that?" he said, stirring the straw around in his drink before taking another sip.

Derek shook his head. "Not that."

Spencer raised an eyebrow. "Then what?"

"...You asked for my phone number a couple of weeks ago," Derek pointed out, leaning back and crossing his arms.

Spencer looked at him, confused. "...Yes, I did, so I could call you and make the plans for tonight. Hence why we went to the museum and are now at dinner?"

Derek smirked. "But you remember everything you've ever read."

"...As you said less than a minute ago?"

Derek tapped his fingers on his arm. "If you do, in fact, remember everything you've ever read, you'd remember that I gave you my phone number on that coffee cup, every single digit, especially considering you called me, and more likely than not, read it on your phone anytime you went to your recent calls, and quite possibly saved it to your contacts."

Spencer coughed slightly, clearing his throat and pushing his drink aside. "Meaning?"

"Meaning that you asked for my phone number just so you could keep a conversation going with me."

He quickly shook his head. "No, that's not the case at all…"

"Uh huh. I will pay for this meal and your coffee for a week if you can prove to me that contact information wasn't saved the day I wrote my number on that coffee cup," Derek said, leaning forward on his elbows and grinning. "Care to take that bet?"

Spencer chewed on his cheek, before smiling, holding up his phone. "Unfortunately, I don't have a smartphone, so unfortunately, you won't be able to check." He clicked his tongue. "How unfortunate."

Derek chuckled. "Yeah, unfortunate."

"What about you?" Spencer asked. "Did you save my number in your phone after I called?"

"I'm not the one in the hot seat with the super memory," Derek responded.

Spencer rolled his eyes. "Right."

Judging by the smile that followed, Derek could tell he was kidding around, and it felt good to know that he could relieve some of Spencer's stress and get him to loosen up a bit. On their second date, if there ever would be one, Derek would be sure to take him out and let him have some actual fun for a change, not involving schoolwork, because he really liked his smile and wanted to see more of it.

Derek noticed the slight blush in Spencer's cheeks. "What?"

He quickly shook his head. "Nothing."

"It's flattering that you had my number saved. And besides, you're not alone."

Spencer looked at him, curious. "Excuse me?"

Derek took his phone out of his pocket, looking through and setting his phone in front of Spencer. "I saved your number too."

Spencer leaned over, checking the screen and seeing his name. "So it's not just me?"

"Definitely not. It's been there since you called me."

"...Since I called you this morning?" Spencer asked, pushing the phone back toward him.

"Not quite," he started, tucking the phone back into his pocket. "Since my failed attempt at flirting when I put my number on the coffee cup."

"...That was flirting?"

"I admit, it wasn't my best, but desperation makes a guy resort to anything-"

"No, it's not that," Spencer said, clearing his throat, "it's just… I didn't notice." He bit his lip. "With my intelligence, it's all booksmarts… I'm really not, for lack of a better term, real world savvy."

"I'd be happy to introduce you to the real world and how it works," Derek offered.

Spencer smiled slightly. "We'll see how tonight goes."

After they ate, Derek reached into his pocket and took out his wallet.

Spencer shook his head. "You don't have to pay. I dragged you to the museum, it's the least I could do."

"Don't sweat it, I enjoyed the museum and your way of going about it. Besides, it's just a diner. I don't mind."

"Come on, you didn't really enjoy it-"

"No, I did!" Derek argued. "It was really fun and it was so much better to have you there to explain everything."

Spencer chewed on his cheek, running his credit card through his fingers. "I'll tell you what… we'll make a deal."

"...I'm listening?"

"I'll pay for this meal, and you could pay for the potential next one," Spencer reasoned. "Since I ran the 'date', if it could be called that, it's only fair that I pay."

"If you want to call it 'fair', okay." He tucked his credit card back into his wallet, pointing to Spencer's hand. "Having fun?"

He nodded, handing the card to the waitress when she came over. "Idle hands make me nervous, so I always need to do something with them. It's why I'm always tapping my fingers, and why I took up magic as a kid."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "Magic?"

"I know, it's not the most popular thing I could do-"

"No, I actually think that's pretty cool."

Spencer scoffed. "No, you don't."

"I do," Derek insisted as the waitress set the bill and receipts in front of Spencer. "I never had the patience to learn anything like that, I actually find it kind of fascinating."

Spencer signed the receipt, writing down the tip and total before closing it, putting his card back into his wallet. "If you've got a few minutes, you can come back to my place and I can show you a few tricks."

Derek knew that he wasn't used to dating or modern day terminology, but he kept himself from laughing at how that sentence sounded. He took his keys out of his pocket, getting up and pulling his jacket on. "Let's go then."

Spencer gave Derek turn-by-turn directions to his place, and when they were walking inside, he swore he saw someone, JJ he assumed, peeking through the curtains. Brushing it off, he followed him, walking into his apartment. He took it all in: he actually had a decent sized apartment, considering he was a broke college student. It had a few rooms to it, one of which seemed to include a library or office.

Spencer pulled off his jacket, hanging it up by the door. "Can I get you anything, a drink maybe?"

Derek shook his head. "I'm fine. Nice place."

He shrugged slightly. "It's something. My dad, in an attempt to make up for his abandonment, decided that since I got a full-boat, the least he could do was get me a good place."

"...He thought a good apartment would erase his abandonment?"

"I never said my father was intelligent… or decent." He cleared his throat, shaking his head. "I really don't want to spend the rest of the night talking about him. New subject?"

Derek nodded. "Sure. Magic tricks?" he suggested, sitting on the couch.

Spencer laughed softly. "Come on, you don't really want to see me do magic tricks."

"If I didn't want to, why would I be here?" Derek asked.

Spencer looked at him, to see if he was being genuine. "...And this isn't some sort of joke?"

"Of course not. I really want you to show me a few things."

Spencer stood there for a minute, most likely to gauge his reaction, before putting up a finger. "Just give me a minute." He walked to his room, grabbing a box and walking back out, setting it on the table. "What would you like to see?"

He shrugged. "Anything."

Over the next hour, Spencer showed Derek several of his best tricks, and Derek enjoyed every single one. He saw Spencer getting more and more comfortable with him as he did more of them, and he had to admit, he liked seeing Spencer slowly open up to him. After a while, Spencer checked his watch and saw that it was getting late.

"Want me to get going?" Derek asked, checking his phone and seeing that it was nearly midnight.

"I don't want to seem like I'm kicking you out, but I want to write the paper based on the exhibit while it's still fresh on my mind, and I just-"

Derek shook his head. "No need to explain." He got up, pulling on his jacket. "I'll see you at the shop on Monday?"

"Mhm." Spencer stood up. "I'll show you out." He walked Derek down the hall, chewing on his cheek. "I had a great time tonight," he said, crossing his arms.

"I did too. Good luck writing your paper," Derek told him, reaching in his pocket and taking out his keys. "If you want to talk at all, my phone's going to be on."

He nodded slightly, clearing his throat and waving to Derek. Derek took that as his sign to leave and turned around, opening the door and walking outside.

"...Hey, Derek?" Spencer asked softly.

Derek turned around to face him. "What's up?"

Spencer bit his lip before stepping outside, resting a hand on each of Derek's cheeks and pulling him in for a kiss. Derek leaned in, wrapping his arms around Spencer's waist. It wasn't the most perfect first kiss they could've had, but for Spencer initiating, he was going to take it.

Spencer pulled back, biting his lip and looking up at Derek, blushing. "So, I'll see you Monday?"

Derek smiled, nodding. "See you Monday." He leaned in, kissing his cheek, before walking out to his car and getting in, starting it. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out, checking his messages.

What is this I hear about your night ending at Spencer's place?

He rolled his eyes, looking over at the window and waving to JJ before starting his car, smirking when she immediately closed the curtain.

I'll tell you all about it on Monday.

After sending his response, he buckled his seatbelt, driving home.

Derek woke up the following morning with a grin on his face. The previous night had been a great first date, one of the most personal ones he'd ever been on. He'd done movies and things of the such, but nothing had ever included so much conversation and getting to know one another. He sat up, running a hand over his scalp, before reaching for his phone and checking his messages. There had been one from Spencer last night around 1:30, with a picture of his completed paper, along with a message.

Thanks for joining me tonight, I had a great time.

He smiled to himself, lying back on his bed, and hoping the two of them could have another date sometime soon.