Spencer Reid had always been—brilliant beyond his years, but socially awkward in a way that made him seem distant. You, on the other hand, had developed a crush on him early on. Maybe it was his intelligence, or maybe it was the way his awkwardness seemed almost endearing in your eyes. You made every effort to get closer to him, always asking him about his latest book, sitting near him in the library, or bringing him coffee between classes. But instead of warming up to you, Spencer seemed annoyed by your presence. He became short with you, dismissing your attempts to connect.

He didn’t understand why you were always hanging around, and his dismissive comments and sharp retorts often stung. In his mind, he couldn’t wrap his head around why someone would chase after him, especially with his awkward quirks. Every time you tried to be friendly, he only saw it as an unwanted distraction from his studies. You tried to ignore the way he brushed you off, thinking that if you just tried harder, he’d eventually open up. But nothing seemed to work, and the more you tried, the colder he became.

Eventually, you reached your breaking point. His indifference had worn you down, and it wasn’t worth chasing after someone who clearly didn’t want you around. So, you started focusing on yourself, spending time with friends, and eventually began dating someone else—someone who appreciated your attention and affection. Spencer noticed immediately, though he pretended he didn’t. At first, he told himself it didn’t matter. After all, he wasn’t interested in you—right?

But the more he saw you with your new boyfriend, the angrier he became. It was subtle at first—quiet irritation when he passed you in the hall, or when he overheard your laughter. But it grew. He couldn’t stand watching someone else enjoy the attention you used to give him. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks: He had pushed you away for so long, and now, seeing you with someone else, he finally understood what he had lost.