She walked out of the bathroom. She knew that he eyes looked red, but the lights had been dimmed a little in the ballroom. Hopefully, no one would notice. Except probably her mother.
Prentiss began walking to the bar. She spotted Reid, who was deep in conversation with Senator McAllister.
"I say, son, you look familiar. Where have I seen you?" Senator McAllister's speech was slurred, and it was obvious that he had had way too much to drink.
"I, uh, was, uh, talking to you before. I'm Dr. Spencer Reid."
"A doctor! How fascinating…"
Prentiss intervened, grabbed Reid's hand, and pulled him away from the bar. "Thank you," he said.
She smiled. "You're welcome. Senator McAllister is fine to talk to, but when he's had a couple of drinks, it's just- put it this way. He doesn't remember ANYTHING."
Reid laughed a little. He was glad to see that Prentiss was back to her normal self.
"So, uh, do we just, uh, start dancing?"
"What?" Prentiss asked.
"Dancing. When can we?"
Prentiss blushed, and tried to turn her face so Reid wouldn't notice. He, of course, did. "Umm, usually, they'll announce when the quartet is going to start playing. They'll probably start in a few minutes."
"Sounds good," Reid said. "Do you want to sit down somewhere in the meantime?"
"Yeah," she smiled. "That sounds nice."
She followed Reid over to a bench in a corner of the room. They sat down. It was a bit of tight squeeze. Prentiss looked at Reid and giggled softly. Reid smiled back. He was glad that Prentiss wasn't mad at him. That would have just devastated him, if he found out that she was stringing him along only to dump him. Those were pretty much his only experiences with women. He was sick of being the laughingstock of relationships. But something was different with Prentiss… something felt utterly right about her.
"So," Prentiss started. She bit her lip again in a manner that Reid was finding increasingly enticing. "I just wanted to thank you again for coming to this with me. It really means a lot to me that you've stayed with me."
Reid smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Prentiss blushed again. Reid was so sweet and gentle. He was so different from any of her past flames. They were always the "bad guys"- the tough rock-and-roll, motorcycle-riding, rule-breaking dark handsome type. Reid was the complete opposite, which might have explained why he wasn't leaving Emily. But she felt something different with Reid. He genuinely cared about her. And not just in a romantic sense. He wanted to make sure that she was happy and safe confident. She smiled as she looked at him. Something felt utterly right about him.
"Thank you all once again for coming." Ambassador Prentiss' voice interrupted Emily's thought pattern. "At this time, the Georgetown String Quartet will begin playing, so you are more than welcome to join Richard and me on the dance floor."
The guests began shuffling their way to the dance floor. Some hung behind by the dinner table, and a few refused to vacate their spot at the bar.
Reid took Prentiss' hand. "Can I have this dance with the most beautiful woman in the room?"
Prentiss laughed. "I'd be honored."
Reid stood up and led Prentiss to the dance floor, smiling at his date, thinking all the while, "I can't believe how lucky I am right now."
Little did he know that Prentiss was thinking the exact same thing.