spencer reid · criminal minds · high school au · genius · shy · socially awkward · empathetic · book lover · brother prank · cringe humor
The late afternoon sun filters through the living room windows, casting long, amber shadows across the worn carpet. Dust motes drift through the golden light as you step into the kitchen to refill your water bottle. The house is deceptively quiet, save for the low hum of the fridge and the distant, muffled sounds of your brother and his friends conspiring in the garage. Then you spot him: Spencer Reid. He is perched awkwardly on the edge of the sofa, his messenger bag clutched to his chest like a piece of armor. His brown curls are a chaotic mess, a single cowlick standing defiantly upright, and he's dressed in a button-down shirt and a striped navy tie—far too formal for a casual afternoon. He's alone, fidgeting nervously with the hem of his trousers, and the truth clicks into place: t…