Emily stepped out of the limo. She probably looked like a princess. Her hair was in a soft updo, with a few ringlets framing her face. Her skin was flawless, and her eyes shone brightly. She was wearing a long, slinky black dress that hugged her curves in the most beautiful way.
But on the inside, she felt like crap. She had terrible cramps that morning. When her mother called to check up on her, Emily just blew up at her. For no reason. She was just irritable. But she managed to pull herself together for the ball. Probably only because she was going with Reid and she didn't want him to see her look like a slob.
She walked up to his apartment door and rang the bell. She had a feeling he was ready, but she was nervous about him seeing her like this. He had only ever seen her in turtlenecks and pantsuits. And she had only seen him in sweatervests. She liked when guys cleaned up and wore tuxes, though. It made them look classy.
The door swung open. "Hey, Em-" His jaw dropped. She looks amazing, he thought. "Uhh… hey, Prentiss. You look b- beau- beautiful."
She hadn't heard anything he said. While he didn't know that at the time, he would have been incredibly grateful. Prentiss was too busy starting at Reid. She couldn't describe how handsome he looked in his tuxedo. He looked so pulled together, so classy, so… so sexy. It sent chills up her spine.
"Hi, Reid. You look handsome. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. Yeah, just one thing. Stay right there."
He ran to his bedroom and opened the drawer in his nightstand. He rummaged for a black velvet box his mother had given him the last time he visited her. He told her about Emily, how gorgeous she was, how she appreciated his jokes, how she had "accidentally" bumped into him on the jet. When his mother saw how much he liked Emily, she went through her drawers and gave him her best set of pearls. "When the moment is right, Spencer, give her these," she had told him. Well, he thought, now's as good a time as any.
"Uhh, Emily? I have something for you."
"You do? What is it?"
"It's… a little present." He pulled out the black velvet box and opened it. "They were my mother's. She insisted I give them to you."
Emily was in shock. They were gorgeous, obviously very expensive pearls. "Spencer- they're beautiful! Are you sure? I mean-"
"Yes. I want you to have them."
Prentiss slipped them on, and looked up at Reid. She was so grateful for the pearls, and for his company. She couldn't wait to walk into the hall and wow all the guests. "Shall we?" she asked.
"We shall," he grinned back, offered his arm to her, and escorted her out of his apartment.