#other than Chandler and maybe joey she’s got them beat!!!

[skyhawkstragedy]

how does Ilona have better hip action than a good fraction of this cast

[allinmycorner]

Form two lines and bust out your best moves - it's Soul Train night!

(Please note - this episode was taped last week and so it was not a live show, likely to not force the contestants to learn two dances at the same time).

Our remaining 11 contestants channeled the spirit of love, peace and soul to honor the legendary show Soul Train. Original Soul Train dancers were present in the ballroom and former Soul Train dancer Popin' Pete from the Electric Boogaloos performed during the opening number and at one other time. Derek also talked about the differences between the Latin dances using Kool & the Gang's "Get Down on It".

We had a guest judge as former Soul Train dancer and actress Rosie Perez joined Carrie Ann, Derek and Bruno to judge this week's performances. Since this is only night one of a two night special, there was no elimination tonight. All scores and votes will be combined with the scores and votes from Tuesday night.

Who proved to be a Dancing Machine and who ended up Fallin? Find out!

Chandler and Brandon: Chandler and Brandon closed out the show with their cha-cha to Run-DMC's "It's Tricky." They got some tips from an original Soul Train dancer before they dominated the dance floor. Chandler handled the cha-cha moves like an expert and really worked on her connection with Brandon. They were a great team and delivered a standout performance. It was no surprise they achieved all nines. She continues to be the contestant to beat.

Joey and Jenna: Joey pulled out all the stops and broke away from the pack! He even did a backflip after revealing to Jenna that he could. It worked perfectly with their jive to "Shout!" which was a fun romp from beginning to end. If he continues to improve, he might be the first Bachelor to take home the mirrorball trophy!

Jenn and Sasha: Jenn had a breakthrough this week! She also revealed she knows how to play the piano and so "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys has special meaning for her. Jenn danced a Viennese waltz with Sasha. Normally I would use words like "elegant" and "graceful" for the Viennese waltz. Those words apply but Jenn added a new one - sexy! She and Sasha harnessed their chemistry and steamed up the dance floor. Bravo!

Danny and Witney: Danny also employed a backflip in his foxtrot to "Dancing Machine" by the Jackson 5. The set up did feel a little awkward but I think it's because the camera decided to focus on Danny rather than include Witney and it probably would've looked better with a wider shot. The rest of his foxtrot was well done and he let himself groove. But he's still more in the middle of the pack and needs to step it up now.

Ilona and Alan: Ilona and Alan danced a foxtrot to "Lady Marmalade" by LaBelle, though Ilona was more familiar with the version from Moulin Rouge. She had an elegant foxtrot that still had enough sass in it to match the song. I think Bruno is right about her working on following through and not cutting her motions short. Then maybe she can also pull away from the middle of the pack.

Phaedra and Val: Phaedra continues to hold her own and proved it again for the most part with her foxtrot to Aretha Franklin's "Think." She and Val did have a mess up during a move where their arms got a little tangled. She did recover and handled the rest of her steps pretty well, though I do wonder if maybe she ended a little earlier since it looks like Val had to improvise and pretend to bang his head against her.

Stephen and Rylee: I think this might've been the first dance that Stephen kept his glasses on for. Maybe throwing them off is a good luck charm for him, though he did say in the package that he no longer really believed in superstitions like wearing the same pair of underwear for every competition. The quickstep to "Superstitious" got the best of him and the judges were right about him getting ahead of himself while dancing. Hopefully he can reign in his energy and excitement and channel it toward making his dancing even better.

Brooks and Gleb: We know Gleb and Brooks have chemistry. There are rumors that their partnership may have turned romantic. But it didn't really translate into a sexy rumba. It was sensual but I think they could've done so much more. Maybe something is holding Brooks back from giving it her all because I know that she can do so much more. I also think Gleb needs to do one routine where they don't have some sort of story set up and Brooks just dances from the first note to the end. She didn't really start dancing until thirty seconds into the song and I think that maybe by the time she really gets into the groove of the song, it's over.

Eric and Britt: I do have to agree that this was Eric's best dance. He dedicated his foxtrot to "Let's Stay Together" to his wife really got him to feel the dance and let the moves come a little more easily. He still isn't one of the better dances but this shows that he can improve if given the chance and if he puts himself into the right mindset. It was also sweet to end the dance with him giving a kiss to his wife. And that he was giving Britt some advice ahead of her marriage to former partner Daniel Durant, even if most of it was not safe to repeat on ABC.

Dwight and Daniella: Dwight and Daniella had to do some traveling so it meant that they didn't get as much rehearsal time as the others. And unfortunately, it showed in their cha-cha to "Let's Groove." Of course, Daniella looked good but Dwight…not so much. I don't agree with Bruno that it looked like he forgot the routine. It just looked like he wasn't as smooth in his movements and was trying more to copy Daniella but didn't really understand her moves. And that he was relying on his charisma and personality to sell the dance more than his technical abilities. It almost worked but not quite.

Reginald and Emma: Oh, Reginald. He's so sweet and fun to watch that you just can't help but really want him to do better. But his movements even in the foxtrot were limited and stilted. Thankfully his personality makes up for it though I don't know if America can save him with their votes. It was nice to see Jo Marie Peyton, the original Harriet, in the audience cheering him on.

And so ends Soul Train night! Everyone returns to the ballroom for Hair Metal Night so breakout your hairspray and practice your best metal pose. There will also be a double elimination so find out who goes home in my next post!

See you then!

[vestedwithquips]

@ofcleversway

[I made a face and my eyes widened slightly as I heard Monica's retort. Knowing better than to test her threat now because the truth was, she probably could kick my ass and not even break a sweat doing so. Monica was freakishly strong and although she was too kind to even hurt a fly, I also didn't want to do or say anything to provoke her strength] Well, it wouldn't be the first time that a girl beat me up. Besides, you're beautiful, so even though my pride would still be wounded, maybe I wouldn't mind it so much if you were the one on the punching end of things. [I teased in reply. My teasing laced with a compliment and a pathetic attempt to flirt too, so there was also that. I thought to myself as the two of us continued toward the maternity wing] It bodes well for me that you know my preferences in movies and you don't consider me a wimp because of it. [I said through a light laugh as we ultimately reached the plexiglass wall with the babies on the other side of it. Between Rachel and Monica, I felt like I was about to be a puddle of sweat right here on this floor. What's with women and babies. My God. Pump the brakes. Slow down. I practically screamed out in my mind. One date and I could already see the baby fever in her eyes. Feeling a lump form in my throat as I gasped silently in an attempt to get some air. Of course in usual Chandler Bing fashion, I told an ill-timed and offensive joke, which neither of them found funny, might I add, before we continued toward Phoebe's hospital room. Once inside the room, I saw Joey and Ross already around the hospital bed while Phoebe held the babies on a pillow in front of her. I was relieved to see Phoebe was okay but I wasn't as into babies as the others were, so while Rachel and Monica continued toward Phoebe's hospital bed with bright grins, I lowered myself down into an open chair adjacent from the bed] "Do you guys want to hold the babies?" [Phoebe offered to Rachel and Monica. Surprisingly Joey chimed in first with an enthusiastic "yes," before Phoebe started to pass a baby, one at a time, to those who wanted to hold a baby. Nope. Not me. Not a chance in hell. I thought to myself as I remained contentedly silent here in the chair. The others could hold the babies and enjoy themselves. I'd just sit here and stew in my commitment issues while Monica got out her baby fix now while holding and gushing over the babies... At least I hoped she got it out of her system, because I definitely wasn't ready for babies, marriage, or anything to requires a whole lot of commitment]

Continued

@vestedwithquips

Monica was at her end for the day. If it wasn’t for Chandler pissing her off earlier she would’ve sulked her way to the exit doors and left and forgot about this so called meeting with the guys Rachel had wanted to set her up with. But the competitive nature inside of her barked out. She wanted to prove a point to the man that made it so clear he was only ever interested in sex, no feelings her bad; that was all in her head it appeared. But Monica followed her hearing the supply closet door, and it wasn’t all that surprising to find the man that consumed her thoughts to be in here making the commotion. 

Sitting on the floor, buckets that made the sound, rags hitting his leg, His head had good drop of what looked like a scratch or blood? Was he hurt? Her heart sank realizing he was probably hiding. From what or who remained to be seen. Monica was more concerned about his well being despite the idiot he was. She had inched the door open farther shedding the good portion of light into the room, as she got a better look at him. 

What an idiot she said to herself, as he tried to defend himself on why he found himself inside the supply closet. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him. Which was forgotten when I heard his quip about one of the men Rachel and I were talking to. Was that jealousy I detached? I was almost surprised seeing as Chandler was a man of few words especially about how he felt. He definitely told me it was okay to see other people. Implying what we had was only causal. Did I want to hate other people? No of course not. But Chandler had insisted and how he had the audacity to be jealous assuming that was the emotion I had detached. 

Moving my hand to my hips, I had uttered a “ You don’t get to do that, not after you..” I almost finished my sentence with pushed me to date, it’s lucky I heard the footsteps that creeped up behind me which was only confirmed when I heard the guy’s voice, and in which he seemed to shut Chandler up. I glanced over my shoulder with a smile, an impressed smile. Was everything okay here? No because I was seconds from giving the man I had fallen for a piece of my mind, instead i was forcing myself to play nice, I was worried about that head lack with the formed redness I was surprised Chandler hadn’t reached to check the wound yet. 

Forcing a flirtatious smile to the male behind me, I had pressed a lingering hand to his chest as I aired out my words. “ we’re fine, but can you please take a look at Chandler, it seems like he hit his head pretty hard.” I was worried but I also was displaying the dig towards the man that did hurt me, and my wounded heart; kinda served him right for landing in this position. 

The female stepped aside letting the male nurse; enter, under his arm was coming around Chandler’s back to help lift him up to his feet, “ We’ll have you looked at in no time.” This guy was perfect, it was a shame, my heart was spoken for; despite all the arrows pointed at me to leave and cut my losses.

[lovemeleo]

Nuny cuddles...I just need Nuny cuddles...maybe taking care of the other when they’re sick idk (only if u have time of course)

Oh anon, I always have time for Nuny especially if they’re cuddling. I hope you enjoy this, as I really enjoy writing them. These lovely boys and the rest of the SW world belong to the always amazing @lumosinlove. 

Here’s the rest of my Nuny fics if you’d like to check them out:

- Cuddles with Love

- Remus finds out

- A New Dream Come True

- I’ve Got You

- The Same Brainwaves

***

Waking up in their house was usually a quiet affair. Nado wasn’t really a morning person, and Zhenya tended to let him have his first cup of coffee before trying to have a conversation. But this morning, Zhenya woke up to a distressing amount of coughing.

He sat up to see Jackson sitting on the edge of the bed, shoulders shaking as he coughed into the corner of his arm.

“Котено��? You okay?” Zhenya mumbled, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. Reaching across the bed, he rubbed a gentle hand over Jackson’s back.

Leaning back into the touch, Jackson closed his eyes, “Don’t feel good.” He mumbled, his voice hoarse as he laid back onto his pillow. Zhenya could see how pale he was, the circles under his eye darker than he had ever seen them. As he ran a gentle hand through Jackson’s hair, he could feel the heat radiating from his body.

Zhenya sat up, reaching for his phone, “I call Coach, tell him we won’t be in today.” He said already dialing Arthur’s number when Jackson rolled closer to him.

“You shouldn’t miss practice just because I’m sick, Zhenya,” He mumbled, his face pressed into the taller man’s thigh.

He was quickly hushed as Zhenya spoke over the phone to Arthur, running his fingers through his boyfriend’s hair as they spoke. Jackson closed his eyes before another coughing attack had him sitting up again, his chest aching. 

After finishing the call, Zhenya got up and carefully tucked the blankets back around Jackson, “You stay in bed. Coach said get better soon.” He whispered, setting some pillows up behind the other man’s head so he wasn’t lying flat. 

“Where are you going?” Jackson said with a small pout, the one hand that hadn’t been tucked under the covers reaching out to Zhenya. 

Intertwining their fingers with a smile, Zhenya pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles, “I’m make you soup. It helps. And then I come back. Promise.” Jackson let out a soft huff before nodding, allowing the other man to leave.

Jackson turned on the TV after Zhenya left, flicking to a channel he knows will be playing reruns of Friends. The last thing he remembers was Phoebe in the hospital to have the babies, but he must’ve dozed off because the next time he looked at the screen it was a completely different episode. Checking the time, he found that he had been out for over an hour. Just as he was about to get up and look for his boyfriend, he appeared in the doorway with a tray.

“Knew you’d be watching Friends.” Zhenya said with a smile as he carefully set the tray on bed in front of Jackson. There was a large bowl of soup in the middle as well as a steaming cup of what appeared to be tea, a small pile of crackers on the side.

Jackson could smell the chicken and what smelled like garlic coming from the bowl. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until the food was put in front of him, “Looks amazing, babe.” He said with a soft smile.

Zhenya’s face flushed a bit as he shrugged, “My mama used to make for me when I was sick. Chicken soup with garlic, Raspberry tea with honey. Helps with cough and fights the sick. You feel better.”

Carefully bringing some soup to his mouth, Jackson hummed happily. The warm liquid going down his throat felt so nice after coughing all morning, “It’s perfect, Zhenya. Thank you.” He said with a smile.

“Of course. Always.” Zhenya murmured softly as he moved carefully to his side of the bed, trying not to jostle the tray as he curled close to his boyfriend. 

He stayed close to Jackson’s side as he ate, watching whatever episode of Friends happened to be playing at that moment. 

Zhenya played with the long hair on the back of Jackson’s head as he watched the show, “Wait, now Joey and Rachel date? She not with Ross?” 

Chuckling softly, Jackson shook his head, “Not in this episode. She’s with Joey right now.”

“First Ross, Now Joey. She steal Chandler from Monica next?” Zhenya huffed as he watched Jackson finish off the soup. “You done with soup, Котенок? We can set tea on side table so you don’t have tray on you.”

Jackson nodded as he took the warm cup from the tray, “Yeah, baby, that’d be great if you don’t mind.” Zhenya was up before he could even finish the sentence, taking the tray into the kitchen. He put the dishes into the dishwasher before coming back to the bedroom.

Setting the cup of tea on the side table, Jackson reached out for Zhenya as soon as he was back in the room, “Come cuddle now, Zhenya.” He said, pouting out his lower lip.

Zhenya chuckled softly, crawling back under the covers and pulling Jackson onto his chest, “I’m cuddle. I got you.” He murmured, gently rubbing over his back.

“I got you too.” Jackson mumbled, his head resting over his boyfriend’s heart so he could listen to the steady pulse. He could honestly sleep anywhere but Jackson always falls asleep the quickest like this. Zhenya wrapped around him and just listened to the beating of his boyfriend’s heart. That was all he needed.

[sit-communist]

My hand slipped.

Oops Innit.

Mondler

Based on TOW the birth. Also posted on Ao3.

"I don't want to wait, I want a baby now!" Monica cried into Chandlers chest.

"Well, I uh.. I can't say I'm the best option, but.." He looked down at her, gave her an ackward smile, unsure of why he extended the same offer twice in one day.

He was trying to help, but all he could see on her face was hurt. "Chandler, sometimes I wish you wouldn't make everything into a joke". She said in a defeated tone as she pushed herself away from him.

-------------------

A couple of hours later, everyone except Ross was sitting in the waiting room, Chandler just made a quip only he laughed at, and Phoebe is the one who scolds him this time.

"Chandler, not everything is a joke."

"I'm not always joking." Chandler replies defensively, staring at Phoebe for a beat too long. Then as the conversation continues around him, he glances at Monica, catching her eye and trying to convey how sorry he is for being the reason she was hurting.

----------------

As they left Ross in the room with his newly formed, highly dysfunctional family, Chandler felt jealousy, then guilt. He knew it was wrong, but Ben had people who wanted him around. He never had that feeling as a child, he wasn't sure he had it as an adult either.

Ross had always been there for him, but now he had more important things to worry about. Joey wasn't likely to have kids anytime soon, not intentionally anyway, but Chandler had always felt that Joey only stuck around because he helped him out so much financially. When Joey inevitably had his break, he would leave.

That left Monica, the only other person in the world he had let himself open up to.

Chandler looked across the waiting room at her, she was smiling and hugging herself, looking distant, lost in her thoughts. He figured she was picturing some muscular guy named Heath loading up the carseat in the back of their honda civic, taking family trips to Central Park, the zoo, or to see her parents.

There was that guilty jealousy again.

Chandler looked down at the floor and wondered what it would be like to not exist. If anyones life would be worse, if anyones life would be better. He buried his head in his hands and pulled at his short brown hair, trying to escape the sensation washing over him. The familiar dread of neverending loneliness. He started scratching harder at his scalp, willing the pain to bring him back to reality.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and he instinctively jerked away. But he looked up and there was Monica, taking the seat beside him and placing her hand back on his shoulder, gentler this time.

"You ok?" She asked with concern in her eyes.

Chandler tried to bring his wall up as quickly as he could, hoping she didn't see the emotions he had just been holding back.

"I'm great." He smiled and hoped it didn't look as fake as it felt. "It's been a long day, you ready to go home?"

She offered him a small smile in return and nodded.

-----------------

Laying in bed that night, Chandler asked himself how serious he really was about what he offered Monica. He had always been willing do anything for his friends, he felt he had to do what they wanted or they might leave. So when it had popped into his mind, his action was swift, though he was sure it came out sarcastic. But now, he wondered if he could offer her that. No, if he could offer anyone that.

Wait.

He sat up in his bed and did his best to look at himself sideways. Why did feel like a different question when he took Monica out of the equation? It felt scarier, more foreign. He raised his eyebrows at himself. 'It could be that she's my friend, she's important to me, I care about her happiness, yeah that must be it.' He started nodding to himself as his thoughts continued. 'Of course I care about her happiness, I love her. She's an amazing person, she deserves everything she wants, she deserves... she deserves Heath.' Chandler hung his head a little, that guilty jealousy was there again. How could he be jealous of a nonexistant person? Of something he didn't even want? He didn't see Monica like that. She certainly didn't see him like that. 'No, it must just be the family that I want, the stability.' He shook his head before throwing himself back so he was laying down again and fought for another two hours of sleep.

---------------------

A week full of poor nights sleep later, Chandler sat on Monicas couch, his feet on the coffee table, his eyes drifting shut. Ross had just left, he had brought Ben, which meant Carol and Susan were also here, apparently most mothers don't want to leave their babies right away. Rachel was at work. Monica was cleaning, of course. He could hear her scooting the chairs in small increments so they would all be square with the table. He smiled softly to himself, he didn't understand why everyone else thought her neurotic habits were annoying, he thought it would be nice to have a clean house all the time.

Wait, what?

She bumped the side of his knee with her elbow which made him open his eyes and look at her.

"Either start helping, or go home." She practically barked, standing over him.

He shot her a confused look. "I thought you didn't like the way other people clean?"

She averted her gaze, busying herself by fluffing the pillow next to him. "I do." She said firmly, then after a pause she added, more timidly, "But I don't mind as much when you're the one helping".

Chandler didn't even try to hide the soft smile that grew on his lips. "Anything for you, Mon."

He got up and started gathering dirty plates and cups, bringing them to the kitchen, she followed him around the room, he could hear her picking up the coasters and then placing them away, in order. He chuckled to himself because he clearly couldn't hear that last part, but he was sure it was happening.

"What?" She asked, coming up beside him and starting the hot water so she could wash the dishes.

He realized she had heard his chuckle and tried to come up with something quick but drew a blank, a rarity for him. "I just think it's endearing how crazily organized you are." He went for honesty with a lopsided grin on, well, on the side.

"CRAZY?" Her eyes went wide and her head cocked to the side.

"NO!" He tried to back track. "No, no, no. I didn't say crazy, I didn't say that at all!" How did he always say the wrong thing?

Monica broke into fits of laughter. He let out a breath and a nervous chuckle, but as he watched her laugh he couldn't help but wear a genuine smile. He realized it wasn't endearing, it was cute. 'Oh god, did I just say Monica was cute?' His nervous chuckle came back as her laughter finally died down.

He backed away from the dishes and mumbled "I've uh, I gotta go, uh.. GROCERIES! I need to get groceries."

"But Chandler, you never have food at your apartment." She said with a puzzled look on her face.

"Don't you think I should fix that?" He asked as he backed into the closed door. "I should have food for me there because I live there and I don't live here". 'If I just keep talking, she won't notice' he told himself. Then, fumbling with the knob behind him, "So see you later, Monica, Mon.. yyyou." He shut the door and ran down the stairs as fast as he could, well, until he couldn't breathe anymore, which as it turns out is only a fight and a half. She wasn't following him anyway. As he walked slowly down the rest of the steps, his feet feeling heavier than usual, he realizes he wanted her to follow him. He wanted her to care, in the way he cared. He realized he was screwed.

------------------

Chandler avoided her for a week and a half. Getting up insanely early to make sure he was gone to work before she was up, spending hours locked in his room silently so not even Joey would know he was home, only going to the coffee house on nights he knew she was working, all it did was give him more time to think. On Thursday afternoon, a day she always worked, he strolled into the coffee house. Glancing at their area, it looked empty. 'Great, more alone time, maybe I can think about the way her hair smells some more.' He ordered his coffee and turned to sit down when he caught a whiff of her shampoo and he knew he must have imagined it.

"Chandler?" Her voice, soft and timid, came from behind him.

Fake smile slathered on, he turned around. "Hey Mon! How are ya?"

"Not great, one of my best friends is avoiding me, and I don't know why." She deadpanned.

'It's not fair to her, it's not her fault you're in love with her.' He inwardly scolded himself for his cowardess.

He let out a deep sigh. "I've sort of..." His voice failed, his breath becoming more ragged as he tried again. "I seem to have developed.. feelings".

"Feelings?" Her eyebrows were as high as they could possibly go. "Feelings about what?"

Strangely, he felt a moments calm, and that reflected in his voice when he said "About you."

He was wrong, her eyebrows could go higher. "What? Is this a joke? You've known me for years and now you decide to look at me? When did this revelation occur?" She was yelling and people were watching but for the first time in his life he didn't care about all the strangers or what they thought.

"Since the day Ben was born" He replied simply.

She stood still, her stare boring into his eyes. Then she hit him in the arm. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!?"

Now it was his eyebrows turn to rise. "What?"

She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again before leaning forward and crashing her lips against his. He stood in shock, unable to kiss her back right away. She placed her hand on his cheek, grounding him in the moment, then he brought his hand up to the back of her neck, slotting his fingers through the hair at the base of her ponytail.

When they tore apart, Monica laid her forehead against his. "I've looked at you differently since you made that offer. I was sure you were joking, but I couldn't help but think about what it would be like. I sat in bed that night thinking about how it would feel to kiss you. Then when you were helping me clean, I tried to tell you, but you just left. If you weren't such an idiot, we would have been doing this two and a half weeks ago, all you had to do was talk to me." Her voice was now at a volume only the two of them could hear.

"I am an idiot." Chandler said with a smile.

"You're my idiot."

[knives-out20]

The One With All The Relationships And Surprisingly Good Advice - Chandler Bing x Male!Reader - FRIENDS

Fandom: FRIENDS (1994-2004)

Pairing: Chandler Bing x Male!Reader

Warnings: This Shit Is LONG, Spoilers For Season 3 Episode 19, Fluff,

Notes: This Shit Took All Day To Make, Oh My God. It’s Long Since It’s Literally Every Chandler Scene In That Episode Except For One. But, Uh, Obviously, Enjoy!

"Hello, people who do not live here.”

Phoebe, Ross, Chandler and you turned to the front door of Monica's apartment, to see her standing there, eyebrows raised. “Hi" Phoebe and Ross greeted in unison, Chandler saying "hel-lo" and you merely waved.

"I gave you a key for emergencies" she reminded, hanging up her bag.

"We were out of Doritos" Phoebe told, Chandler and you looking back at the book he was reading, as you shifted on the arm of the sofa he sat in.

"Hey, how'd the date with Mr. Millionaire go?" Ross asked, watching Monica take off her coat.

"'Mr. Millionaire, new from Snooty Playthings'" Chandler teased, altering the pitch of his voice to sound like an infomerical announcer." “Third wife sold separately" he raised his eyebrows, then nodding proudly.

You snickered, lightly pushing his shoulder and looking back to Monica."Seriously, how was it?" You asked.

Monica groaned, walking over. “He's great! I mean, we have such a good time together. He's so funny, and so sweet, and I'm not attracted to him at all!" She exclaimed.

"Still?" Ross then asked.

"No! It's driving me crazy. I mean, in every other way, he's like the perfect guy. He has everything. Plus, he actually has everything.”

Chandler leaned back in his seat, book closed and on his chest. “Life-sized imperial storm troopers from sharper image?" He suggested, head tilted slightly.

"Two." Monica smiled, holding up two fingers.

"Wow." Chandler sat up again, amazed. “Can Joey and I put them on and fight?"

"Why can't I put it on and we fight?" You pouted, turning to Chandler.

"Because you know I'd never wanna hurt you. Joey's my best friend, and he's a real idiot sometimes" Chandler replied, looking up at with with his bright, pretty blue eyes. “Not like you'd ever try to hurt me, anyway.”

You pulled a sturgeon face, "yea, true." You turned back to Monica, ready to ask her another question. But, before you could, Joey came prancing in, singing something.

"Oh mommy, oh daddy, I am a big old baddy!" He cheered, circling the kitchen table."Oh mommy, oh daddy, I am a big old baddy!" Joey repeated, quickly out the door.

Chandler, confused out of his mind, blinked as he turned from Joey, to you, and over to Monica, expecting any reaction or explanation from the woman with the hand on her chest, who had an equal amount of shock on her face.

"I, whole-heartedly, never want to hear Joey say 'daddy' ever again" you stated, raising a finger.

"I guess he must have gotten the part in that play" Ross cleared up, earning an "Oh!" Of realization from Phoebe and you.

"Yea, either that or Gloria Estefan was right- eventually, the rhythm is going to get you" Chandler added, you nodding in agreement.

***

Joey, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler and you all sat around at Central Perk, with the Mr. Millionaire man that Monica recently went on a date with.

"So you're like a zillionaire" Phoebe commented, having you chuckle at that.

"And you're our age, your our age" Chandler squinted, one leg crossed over the other. He had an arm around you, gesturing with that hand as he tried wrapping his head around the fact that Monica's date is richer than rich, but also their age.

"You know what?" Phoebe asked, "you should, like, you should buy a state and then just name it after yourself.”

Monica's date, Pete, scoffed. “Like, Pete Dakota?" He suggested.

Phoebe and Monica laughed. “Yea, or- or Mississipete" Phoebe joked, letting it be Pete's turn to laugh.

"Oh, oh, I got it" Joey pointed at Pete, with an idea. “Pete Chicago.”

Chandler and you exchanged looks. “That's not a state, Joe" Chandler broke it to him, locking eyes with Joey.

"Oh, and Mississipete is?" Joey asked, scoffing.

Chandler, 100% done, turned over to you, looking at you badly concealing a laugh at the look of defeat on his face. “Y'know, (Y/n)'s quite the money man himself" he pointed out.

"Really? What do you do, uh, (Y/n)?" Pete asked, turning to you.

You sucked your teeth, rubbing the back of your neck. “Not myself necessarily, it's- it's my dad, he has this oil company, y'know, uh-”

"Oh, oh, (L/n) North?" Peter asked, you nodding in amazement. “Pretty popular company." After a beat of silence, he announced "I gotta go, so, uh, I'll see you guys later." getting up and out of his seat, going over to the door to grab his coat.

"You're our age!" Chandler repeated, watching Monica follow him.

"So, uh, we still on for tomorrow night?" Pete asked, grabbing his coat and turning to Monica.

"Absolutely" Monica answered, leaving them in tense silence. Until, that is, Monica, out of fear, ruffled his hair and said "now, get out of here, you!" With Joey's, Chandler's, Phoebe's, and your eyes on her. When Pete left, Monica came back over, putting her hands on the arm of the sofa Chandler, Phoebe and you sat on. “Okay, I'm running out of places I can touch him" she forced a smile onto her face. “I mean, is there something wrong with me? I mean, why am I only attracted to guys where there's no future? E-Either they're too old, or they're too young, and then there's Pete, who's- who's...crazy about me, I mean, he's absolutely perfect, and then there's like, zip going on. I mean, seriously, does it sound like there's something wrong with me?" Monica stressed, eyes wide with fear.

"Yea, kinda" Phoebe replied, nodding slightly.

You leaned back, laying on Chandler's chest, who automatically wrapped his arms around you. “Maybe it's because you're rushing into literally every guy you meet, you're trying to make something happen, out of fear. Just go with the flow for a while. I mean, I didn't immediately try to date Chandler when I first met him. I saw he was cute, got to know him, fell for him, 'n' look at us. Perfect stuff takes time, Monnie, c'mon.”

Chandler looked down at you. “You said you didn't think I was cute when we first met".

"Yea, well, I also told you I'm a sucker for floppy hair. You had floppy hair. I thought you'd have put the pieces together by now" you mumbled, smiling up at him.

***

Ross, Chandler, and you were in Chandler's apartment, now. Ross stood glued to the door, looking through the peephole as Chandler and you lay stomach-down on the recliners, holding hands and watching a basketball game on TV.

"Ross, you've got to stop, okay?" Chandler called, making no effort to actually turn and look at him."You can’t just stare through the peephole for three hours!".

"You're gonna get peep-eye!" You added, proud when you heard Chandler giggle and praise you with "nice one, babe.”

"I knew it, I knew it, I always knew she liked him" Ross started. “She'd say no, but here we are, right?" He asked, watching Chandler and you spin around in your seats to face him, "we just broke up first thing she does-"

"You didn't just break up-" Chandler corrected, Ross butting in again.

"Hey, it's been like, three weeks.”

"You slept with somebody three hours after you thought you broke up!" Chandler reminded, gesturing a hand over at him and getting up. “I mean, bullets have left guns slower" he added, helping you up.

Ross shushed him, whispering "here they come, here they come. Oh, if she kisses him goodnight I'm gonna kill myself, I swear. I can't, I can't watch this-" he told, turning to shake his head at Chandler and you, but immediately going back to look through the peephole.

Chandler put his hands on his hips, watching Ross in a disapproving manner as you looped your arms around one of his, holding onto him.

"Come on, date over, date over" Ross silently chanted. “Oh, oh, here we go, she's going in, she's going in-" he giggled, Chandler replying "okay", glad that this would be over. But then Ross' tone changed. “Wait-" he pressed both hands against the door, "he's going in.”

Chandler raised his eyebrows, lowering them as he scoffed and glanced at you.

"He's going in!" Ross repeated, "the door's closed!" He explained, turning to face Chandler and you. “I can't see anything with the door closed!" Ross whined, walking away from Chandler's door.

"And the inventor of the door rests happily in grave" you remarked, earning a quick smile of amusement from Chandler as you both turned around to look at Ross.

"Okay, I have to do something, I mean, I have to- I have to stop it" Ross groaned.

"Stop what?" You asked.

"I don't know! But the- I- I have a feeling that my being there will do it" Ross stuttered."I'll go over, and I'll borrow something...Juice! I need juice!" He declared, going to walk past Chandler, who grabbed him and yelled "no, you can't!"

Chandler pushed you out the way, jumping onto Ross' back as another way of stopping him.

"Look, they must be stopped!" Ross exclaimed, trudging past the fooseball table.

"I am your friend, and I am not gonna let you do this!" Chandler then proclaimed, grabbing onto the table, which he ended up pulling with him as Ross got to the door. “You are surprisingly strong" he looked confused as he said this, almost scared of how strong Ross was. “(Y/n), c'mon, help me, baby!"

You held onto the kitchen counter to stop from falling to the floor from laughing, shaking your head. “Oh, no, no, no, Channy, this is TOO funny!" You cackled as Chandler growled at you, still on Ross' back.

"I need juice" Ross weakly repeated as you calmed down, stepping forward. “People need juice!"

"Look, man..." You started, as Ross repeated what he said while Chandler struggled to finally close the door. “Listen to me!" You called, Chandler's legs walking backwards up the door.

"Juice! They need juice!" Ross cried, one of his own legs on the door, now.

You crossed your arms, watching in bewilderment. “This is so fucking weird to look at" you raised your eyebrows as the two men paused. “Can I please have my boyfriend back- y'know what-" you groaned, pulling Chandler off of Ross and held onto him, keeping your boyfriend close with your arms around his waist. You kissed Chandler's cheek, one of his hands flat on your chest, the other on your shoulder as he looked at Ross like the elder Geller sibling was a madman. “She's moving on, okay? If it's not this guy, it's gonna be somebody else! And unless you're thinking about subletting Chandler's peephole, you are gonna have to get used to the fact that the relationship is over" you explained, banging the counter a 'get used to'. “Okay, man? It's over.” You and Chandler stood in silence, both of you now ready to pounce back onto Ross in case he made a sudden run for it.

Ross sighed. “Yea, okay" he succumbed, "it's just, I miss her so much.”

"I know" you nodded, quickly patting his head.

"You're surprisingly...good at whatever that just was" Chandler mumbled.

"I've had to tell myself similar things in the past, Channy. I'm a natural at this point" you muttered rubbing his side soothingly, kissing his cheek again.

***

Chandler and you sat in his recliners, wearing his loose bath robes over plain shirts. You both faced the TV, then spun the recliners to face each other.

"I don't think this town is big enough for the both of us to relax in" he pointed out, as if the two of you were cowboys about to showdown in some Western movie. He awkwardly raised his fist to his face, lightly blowing it while maintaining eye contact with you. Chandler blinked and rolled his shoulders back then announcing "draw!"

At the same time, you both kicked up the feet of your recliners like cowboys would bring out their guns about now. Chandler and you started to laugh, nodding proudly and heads darting to look towards the door when Joey walked in, slamming it shut behind him.

"We weren't doing anything" Chandler blurted out, eyes wide.

Joeys slammed his bag down on the fooseball table, following his roughly-taken-off coat.

Chandler raised his eyebrows as he got up, offering a hand to help you up as well. “Uh-oh, what did she do now?" He shakily asked.

"Just because she went to Yale drama she thinks she's, like, the greatest actress since..." Joey opened the fridge, "since- since sliced bread" he finished, grabbing a bottle of beer and closing the fridge door.

"Ah, sliced bread" Chandler nodded knowingly.

"A wonderful Lady Macbeth" you nodded along, Chandler and you then giggling and nudging each other.

"God, I just- I hate her. I hate her, with her 'oh, I'm so talented' and 'ooh, I'm so pretty' and 'ooh, I smell so good'" Joey complained, mocking the girl in a weird voice, getting higher with each statement.

Chandler and you shared knowing looks with one another, then turning back to Joey. “I think somebody has a crush on somebody" Chandler teased, a hand on the counter.

"Hey, Chandler, can we please try and stay focused on my problem, here, y’know? Also, no shit you have a crush on (Y/n), you're dating, for crying out loud" Joey groaned, gesturing to himself.

You leaned onto the counter with one hand, your other on your hip. “He’s talking about you, you big, big freak" you insulted, looking at Joey with disbelief.

"Oh." Joey shifted on the spot, looking the both of you up and down in judgement. “Oh- oh, you're out of your mind" he cringed, walking past the two of you.

"Hey, you have done nothing but talk about her for the last forty-eight hours" Chandler followed Joey close behind, stopping at the wooden shelf Joey made once Joey walked into his room. “If you were in a schoolyard, you'd be pulling her pigtails and pushing her down now!"

"Because society has you at a young age that if you're mean to a girl, it means you like her" you added, tilting your head up intelligently. You approached Chandler, who instinctively wrapped an arm around you.

"Oh, yea?" Joey asked, now at the doorway of his room. “Then how come I keep thinking about her in all these sexual scenarios and stuff, huh?" He asked, raising his eyebrows as he pointed at Chandler, like what he said was just the smartest comeback in the world.

When, in reality, it made all three of you furrow your eyebrows in a mix of confusion and disgust.

"Maybe because what you feel is only sexual attraction towards her-?" You suggested, Chandler nodding and mumbling "okay-" to end the conversation.

***

Chandler lay on his back on the long couch of Monica's apartment, half-asleep with you fast asleep on his chest, the book he was reading now over your head like a hat.

"Hey," Phoebe called, instantly waking Chandler up. 

He blinked wildly and looked around at where he was, then down at you. Slowly, Chandler picked up the book and set it on the table, using a finger to fix your hair and brush it out of your face. He smiled lovingly, hugging you like a body pillow, or like his arms was your blanket. Chandler gave Phoebe a shaken double-take.

"Why isn't it Spiderman?" She asked. “You know? Like Goldman, Silverman?"

Chandler cautiously adjusted how he lay on the sofa, careful not to wake you up, but to no avail. He pursed his lips, looking down at you apologetically as you groggily opened your eyes. “Ah, sorry, baby, I wasn't trying to wake you up-"

"'S okay, what's up?" You groaned, squinting over at Chandler with a sleepy smile on your face.

"Uh- Uh," Chandler cleared his throat, momentarily rendered speechless whenever you had that sleepy grin on your face. “Phoebe just asked me 'why isn't is Spiderman'. Like Goldman, or Silverman" he repeated. “Anyways, Phoebe, because it isn't- it's not his last name" Chandler answered, turning to Phoebe with furrowed eyebrows.

"It isn't?" Phoebe looked genuinely surprised.

"No. It's not like...Phil Spiderman" he shook his head.

"Yea, if that was the case, it would be 'Chandler Perfectman', not 'Bing'" you sleepily added, Chandler's cheeks flushing.

"He's a spider...man" Chandler explained, ignoring the heat in his face. “You know? Like, uh, like Goldman is a last name, but there is no gold man.”

"Sometimes, last names derive from what your ancestors were. Goldman and Silverman probably mean your ancestors were gold or silver miners, or silversmiths. Spiderman, if this is the case, would mean your ancestors fucked spiders or something" you noted, lazily raising a finger but quickly dropping it.

"Oh, oh, okay" Phoebe nodded, as if she just learned the true, real meaning of life. “There should be a gold-man!" She told, eyes going wide in realization.

Chandler nodded and raised his eyebrows, turning back down to you quickly.

"Hey." Rachel greeted, walking in and closing the door behind her

"Hey, Rachel." Monica smiled.

"Yo, Monica's here?" You asked, lifting your head up and turning towards the kitchen. “Hi, Monica!" You tiredly waved, not catching Chandler gazing at you in adoration.

"Hi, Chandler's boyfriend" Monica teased, waving back. “How was work?" She asked Rachel, turning back over to her.

"Oh, great. Although, I did sit down where there wasn't a chair" Rachel replied, hanging up her bag and walking over.

"By the way, Ross dropped by a box of your stuff" Monica reminded, turning to quickly point at a white box on the table.

"Oh, well, I guess I had that one coming" Rachel sighed, walking into the living room and around the small table. “I'm just gonna throw it out, it's probably just a bunch of shampoo, and-" she stopped talking when she opened the box, finally seeing whatever was inside.

Confused, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and you all looked over at her, after you quickly reached up to kiss Chandler's neck.

"Something wrong?" Monica asked.

Rachel didn't answer, silently reaching into the box and pulling out a singular, white shirt, which you were just about able to read 'FRANKIE SAYS' on it, not being able to read the last word. Rachel took a deep breath as she stared at it, her hair hiding her smile as he flipped it to read the words on the front. She chuckled blankly, "no, nothing." Rachel turned and walked into her room without saying another word.

You were still confused, so you looked up at Chandler. “Who's Frankie?"

Chandler pursed his lips and dramatically shrugged, mumbling "I don't know.”

***

Chandler and Phoebe sat on the recliners in his apartment, you sitting securely on his lap as Phoebe sat cross-legged and rocked back and fourth in her recliner like a child. “So, uh, what kind of powers would Gold-man have?" Chandler asked, smiling like an excited kid.

"Okay, well, he would turn things to gold" she stated in a straight-forward manner.

"Ooh, ooh, like King Medias from Greek Mythology!" You recalled, fists balling out of joy. You saw the look on Chandler's faced and decided to clear up his confusion by saying "I sorta had a small Greek mythology phase, growing up.”

Chandler nodded, looking back to Phoebe. “What about things that are already gold?" He challenged, eyebrows raising expectantly.

"Ah, his work is done" is all Phoebe returned.Chandler smiled and nodded, adjusting how he sat as he said "okay, let's play my game now.”

"Okay" Phoebe agreed, uncrossing her legs to sit on the chair properly. “Arr, you yellow-bellied, lily-livered...draw!" She called, Chandler and her both pulling up the feet of the recliners.

You giggled as you bounced when Chandler pulled his feet up, your boyfriend sitting up to wrap his arms around you.

[brrahbrrahcharacterimagines]

Everything To Me (Joey Tribbiani x Reader)

MASTERLIST

Pairing: Joey Tribbiani x Reader

Word Count: 843

Warnings: Angst, kinda cheating

Request: Joey Tribbiani  x reader where they get into a fight because she finds out that he kissed Rachel? Maybe just a lot of fluff?? Thank You! - @curvydolleros

A/N: Congratulations again for being one of the runner-ups in my giveaway! It ended up with a lot of angst, but they did get into a fight! I hope you enjoy!

You had an awful feeling in the pit of your stomach. You knew something bad was on the way, but you had no idea what.

You knocked on the door to his apartment, but you got no response from your boyfriend. Reaching for the handle, you found that it was unlocked and let yourself in.

“Joey?” You said, not raising your voice. The sinking feeling was getting worse, and a part of you wanted to figure out what was going on before he knew you were there. You didn’t want him to try to hide anything.

“She needs to know, man.” Came Chandler’s voice. You creeped closer to try and hear them better.

“I know,” said your boyfriend. With every word your suspicions that they were talking about you became more and more real. “I’ll tell her when the time is right.”

“There’s no good time to tell her this,” said Chandler. You felt your heart drop. Joey had something to tell you, and it couldn’t be anything good. You heard the scuffling of footsteps, and you quickly scurried closer to the door.

“Y/N!” Exclaimed Chandler in surprise as he saw you, raising his eyebrows almost comically. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Y/N?” Asked Joey, following Chandler. His eyes widened as he saw you. “Y/N!”

“Hey guys,” you said, trying to play cool as if you had just entered. 

“Well, I’ll be going.” Said Chandler awkwardly before rushing out the door, likely only heading across the hallway.

“So,” started Joey, “how long have you been waiting for me? I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Not long,” you lied, “I just walked in the door when you guys came in the room.”

“Oh.”

The two of you sat in silence for what felt like forever. You wanted to sit on the couch with him and cuddle like usual, but something inside you couldn’t bring you to it.

“Hey Joe?” You said timidly.

“Yea Babe?” He replied.

“What’s going on?”

Joey’s face dropped.

“What do you mean?” He asked nervously.

“I know something is up,” you said. “I’ve been feeling off for a while now.”

“You have?”

“Yea,” you admitted, “and I overheard Chandler saying that you had some bad news for me.”

Joey closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He ran his hand over the back of his neck before he spoke.

“It’s hard to tell you,” he revealed.

“I figured it would be,” you said. “But I have to know. My mind is running wild with all the possibilities, I would rather just know.” Joey paused, taking another deep breath before speaking.

“I kissed Rachel.”

Your heart seemed to stop beating as your head went fuzzy.

“What?” You sputtered, feeling tears prick your eyes. You already knew what. He was blunt and to the point; you didn’t need clarification. It was just the only word that you could muster.

“I’m so sorry Y/N,” he said, breaking out into tears himself. “It was only a little peck. I swear it was an accident. I’ve never regretted anything in my life more than that. You know how I feel about you.”

“I do,” you said through your tears, “but why?”

“Because I was dumb,” he said. “I got a little too tipsy and she leaned in towards me, I wasn’t thinking straight. I know it doesn’t make it okay, but somewhere in my drunk brain I was just copying her.”

Your heart felt pang after pang of pain.

“Please Y/N,” he begged, “please don’t leave me.” 

You looked up into his eyes, and they were full of sincerity. You had never been more sure of anything in your life than you were now about how genuine he was. It had truly been a stupid mistake, something that meant nothing to him.

“I love you,” he said softly. You froze. Despite the pain you were feeling, your heart fluttered. You had never said the infamous ‘L-Word’ to each other before.

“What?” You whispered.

“You heard me,” he said with a sad smile. “I love you Y/N.”

You let him pull you into his arms. You buried your head into his neck, letting him hold you and comfort you.

“I promise I didn’t mean it,” he said while caressing your hair. “It meant nothing with her. But when I tell you I love you,” he paused to pull away and look into your damp eyes before he continued, “that means everything to me. You mean everything to me.”

“I love you too Joey,” you say. He leans down slowly, capturing your lips in a soft, romantic, and somewhat salty kiss. “I bet she didn’t kiss you like that,” you teased. He just shook his head, a smile forming on his face as he looked at you.

“Can we do that again?” He asked, shyly for once. You giggled and nodded your head, leaning up to press your lips to his again in a passionate kiss.

“God I love you,” he mumbled against your lips.

“I love you too.”

[mcsstydia]

Lay me down- Chandler Bing

Listen to Lay Me Down by Sam Smith while reading this!

request:

prompt: you tell your friends you have depression and Chandler in particular is shattered by this

pairing: chandler x reader

WARNINGS: a lot of talk about depression

A/N: by writing this imagine, I realised I shouldn’t write for notes. I know not a lot of people following this will read or like this but I find comfort in this fictional character and so I wrote about him. It’s that easy. I’m still proud of my work and that’s why I put it out there into the world. For those of you reading this, I love you and I hope you enjoy any of my works!

Always accepting requests, though

It was quiet. It was so much more quiet in the flat of Monica Geller, Rachel Green and Y/N Y/L/N. No one really knew what to say. They wanted so badly so say something, to act as though everything was normal, to be there for you. But it was hard for them, and you really couldn’t blame them.

Let me clear things up for you: You had to struggle with depression ever since you were a teenager. And most of the time, you managed. You could smile and you could laugh and you could hide it all beneath it if you wanted to.

And that exactly was the problem. You became so good at managing, at hiding, that when you couldn’t, it was the worst anyone had ever seen.

And now, it was a time like this. It had begun two days ago. You hadn’t spoken, hadn’t even smiled at one of Chandler’s stupid jokes you loved so much.

Of course, everyone immediately noticed. They thought you had a bad day. Because if there was one thing you hadn’t ever told anyone, not even your best friends, about, it was your depression. You wanted to, you knew it would be much easier dealing with you if they knew. But everytime you got close to telling them, it felt as though your throat would be tied together. 

So you kept quiet. As you did right now.

Your friends soon realised you weren’t having a bad day. So, on the second day, after dinner, when your and your friends all sat together, they asked, gently, what was up with you.

You looked up from your sleeves, panic rising to your every muscle. Your chest heaved heavily and you thought you would pass out. Oh how you wished you would- otherwise you’d have to tell them.

But you didn’t pass out. Nonetheless, you breathed so quickly the others gently laid you down onto Monica’s couch and brought you a glass of water. 

You could see the worry in their eyes, Monica even teared up from worrying so much. You looked at your friends. Chandler was currently turned away from you. And although you thought it was because he didn’t care about you, it was in fact because he couldn’t stand seeing you suffer and he didn’t want the others to notice the tears in his eyes.

You grabbed Joey’s hand, who wa closest to you right now, and he helped you it up. Your head felt dizzy and you closed your eyes in order to make the white stars disappear. Once they did, you breathed in and out before looking up from the floor. 

It cost you all your bravery, but you finally said it. 

“I have depression.”, you said quietly. 

It got quiet. Some of your friends covered their open mouths, others’ eyes widened. And then there was Chandler, who sat down and buried his head in his hands. No one said a word, and you didn’t expect them to. You pressed our lips together in a thin line.

“I’m visiting a doctor,”, you began talking again, as quiet as a minute ago. “He wanted me to take medication, but that didn’t work. So now he wants me to go to therapy. But I’m afraid. That’s why I didn’t go to him this time. I know I should’ve. And I will. So that you don’t have to endure this lame version of me anymore.”, you half,heartedly joked. 

No one laughed. No one cracked a joke themselves. Not even Chandler. Joey didn’t ask a stupid question. Neither did Rachel. Monica and Ross didn’t tell you what to do. And Phoebe didn’t bring her usual clarity into the sitaution. 

It was silent. And it stayed silent. So long, that your head told you they hated you now. You cleared your throat and got up from where you sat. Only when you reached the door to your room did Rachel speak up. “What can we do for you?”, she asked, worry glacing her eyes, her voice sounding shaky.

You managed a small smile. For them. “Nothing, really. It’ll pass. Until again it doesn’t.”, you said and then entered your room without another word. 

Then you cried. For hours. Quiet, of course, you didn’t want them to hate you any more than they already did. 

But what you didn’t know was that they loved you more than anything else. You were family, so they had to make you feel better. It was Monica’s idea. She thought it would be a good idea to show you how much all of them loved you. So she told them to write down everything they loved about you and why they wouldn’t ever stop doing that.

While everyone was writing and Monica was creating a giant frame for all the notes, Chandler sat in front of a blank paper. Finally, after half an hour, he wrote something down, placed it in the box with all the notes and stood up. 

“Would you guys mind if I...eh..”, he pointed to your bedroom door. Everyone looked up from what they were doing and either shrugged their shoulders or shook their heads. 

Chandler knocked silently and then slowly opened her door. Your back was turned to him so you turned your head to look who came into your room. When you saw the all too familiar face you had fallen in love with on the first day you met him your heart began beating faster.

Chandler’s hand went up to his neck and he rubbed it out of his nervous habit.

“Can I lay by your side?”, he asked quietly. You gaped at him, not knowing what to say. His cheeks turned slightly red.

“To make sure you’re all right,”, he continues due to you not having answered him yet.

You slowly nodded as an answer and turned your head again. You felt the bed dip down and then a warm body right behind yours. Butterflies erupted in your stomach and you felt much warmer and comfortable than before. 

You knew he was hesitating. After a few seconds you felt a hesitant hand snake around your body. Chandler gently pulled you into him, your back pressed against his front and his mouth so close you could hear him breathing. 

Your breath hitched and gulped audibly, but Chandler didn’t hear. How could he? His thoughts were racing a mile per minute because he was going to tell you. He was finally going to tell you that’s he’s been in love with you ever since Rachel introduced you to him.

Maybe, just maybe, if he heard your breath hitching he could have considered you liking him back. But now was not about him. It was about you.

His hand went up to yours and he gently and slowly slipped his fingers through yours. You reassuringly squeezed his hand in between yours.

“Y/N?”, he whispered. “Mhm?” Chandler took a deep breath and hoped his bravery wouldn’t leave him. 

“Okay so..”, he began. He was so glad you were turned away from him right now. “The truh is I love you. I’ve loved you since day one. And that’s why I was so silent when you told us you were depressed. Hearing how you’ve been feeling this whole time shattered me. I can’t imagine how lonely and sad you’ve been all this time and that I didn’t notice it made me so angry at myself,”,he explained.

“And so it doesn’t matter to me whether I make a fool out of myself right now. I just needed you to know that I’m in love with you. Completely. And by that I mean if something ever happened to you, I wouldn’t know how to carry on. And if after today everything’s weird between us then at least you know that you being sad kills me.”, he let out a breath he didn’t know he’s been holding.

He still held your hand; tightly. Your thoughts raced around your head. This couldn’t be, could it?

You let go of Chandler’s hand in order to turn towards him. His free hand was now lying on your hip and yours lay on his cheek. You grinned at him and he finally saw light in your eyes again. Your smile was contagious, he instantly smiled as well.

You gently caressed his cheek. “You may be a fool Chandler,”, you began, smiling. “But what on earth makes you think that I’m not utterly in love with you too?”, you asked, almost in a whisper. 

Chandler’s eyes widened in surprise. “You-you do?”, he asked, not believing what he was hearing. You chuckled at his reaction. Your hand played with his hair by now, your eyes fell upon the lips you’ve been dreaming about for years before your gaze met his again.

He had seen, though. Both of your breaths began picking up on speed and both of you were as nervous as could be. In a matter of seconds, both of you had smashed their lips against the others, hands roaming each other’s bodies gently. 

“Chandler? Y/N?”, Monica’s voice interrupted your kiss. You looked at each other sheepishly while chuckling, before getting up and opening the door to the living room.

All your friends stood there, admidst them a giant frame with at least a hundred notes inside. “We thought you needed to know how much we love you,”, Rachel explained.

“And so Monica came up with this idea,”, Ross continued. You looked at Monica, who grinned proudly. “You’ve been through a lot, we know,”, Phoebe said. “And we should’ve noticed. And we’re sorry that we didn’t,”, she apologised. You wanted to interfere their unnecessary apology, but Joey interrupted you. 

“Uh uh uh,”, he said, holding up his index finger in order to silence you. “So now, with this frame, you’ll always be reminded why we love you and why we never want to lose you.”, Joey finished the explanation.

Tears had been building up in your eyes ever since you saw what they had made for you. You looked at all of your friends and their nervous faces. “I love you so much,”, you sobbed, letting the tears fall. 

In an instant, you were surrounded by six people, all of them hugging you and each other. You stood there, hugging, for at least five minutes before you pulled apart. 

“But I have clear something up,”, you began. “I never want to hear you apologise to me ever again. It is not your fault I have depression and it is not your fault that you didn’t ‘notice’ it. I’m simly good at hiding,”, you stated. “But you guys, you are the reason I smile and laugh and can forget about my sickness for even a second.”, you explained, seeing tears in their eyes as well.

You felt Chandler taking your hand and you looked down and then smiled up at him. The others’ eyes went wide and they erupted in cheers. “Finally!”, they yelled out. 

Chandler and you looked at each other in confusion. “You knew?”, he asked. “You should rather ask who didn’t!”, Phoebe answered.

You looked at Chandler and as he pulled you close to him, you got up on your tiptoes and kissed him with everything you had.

You could defeat depression. You knew it. With them. With him.

[makramarenco]

The way he looks at you

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14863772

It was nearing midnight and he was at a shitty 24h supermarket in the middle of NY waiting in line to buy some shitty beer to take back to the apartment. And if the kid that was before him could decide soon what kind of candy bar he would take his girlfriend, well, that would've been great.

The cashier looked almost as bored and done as he himself felt and Chandler could only begin to imagine what must have been like to work in that place at those hours. After what felt like hours he got to pay for the beer and an impulsively chosen chocolate bar, and went outside into the cold mid February air.

The store was more block aways from the apartment than Chandler would have liked, but hey, when your roommate is apparently so good at sex that he is making the girl of the week cry out his name over and over while you are trying to sleep and can hear everything because of the paper thin walls, well, there’s only so many things you can do.

So there he was, walking back home, hoping they were finally over with their porn sounding sex so he could just go to sleep and pretend the next morning that he was not hopelessly gay and disgustingly in love with said roommate.

The streets were obviously empty, freshly fallen snow laying over everything and he tried to avoid slipping and falling.

It took about ten minutes before he was climbing the stairs and opening the door to a, oh thank god, silent apartment. He was just setting the beers into the almost empty fridge, thanks Joe, when said guy walked out of the bathroom. Shirtless. With sex rumpled hair. Yawning like a newborn kitten. And Chandler was so gone and so fucked up.

“Hey man! I thought you were asleep!” The good mood was evident in Joey’s voice despite the sleepiness.

“Oh yeah, like I could’ve gotten any sleep while I kept hearing everything through this damn walls”

Joey’s eyes went wide and second latter where filled with guilt.

“Oh man, I’m so sorry, didn't mean to wake you up!” He paused for a second before his eyes were filled with pride “But I have to say that to make a woman scream like that you have to be a natural my friend”

And just like that Chandler was done with the situation.

“Yeah, okay Joe, congrats, I’m just gonna go to bed now”

And it seemed like Joey was about to say something, something flickering on his eyes that Chandler couldn't quite put his finger on, but let it go, a small smile grazing his lips.

“Yeah, okay, good night man”

So he just stepped into his bedroom, pulled off the hoodie he had thrown over his pajamas before going out and fell face first groaning into the unmade bed.

He could've woken up to the usual singing man that lived across the window in the other building, but instead it was the sweet laughter of a girl in the other room that ripped Chandler out of his dreamland.

He grumpily pulled the sheets away, the chilly air making him shiver slightly before he padded to the door, opening it slowly, in hopes that the couple outside wouldn't notice him.

Of course that plan quickly failed when Joey spotted him and his face broke into a huge smile. Chandler felt his heart miss a beat and tried to smile back, knowing fully well he hadn't achieved it. He knew, though, that as it was a Saturday, Joey had no auditions, which meant today he wasn't making pancakes and sending the girl on her way. And nothing could cheer him up more than that, cause that way he didn't have to deal with jealousy and pity for the woman.

Once he was out of the bathroom, he quickly made his way to the door, not bothering with saying hi. Joey though, was not amused by this and grabbed his arm before he could even open said door.

“Hey Chandler, good morning, nice to see you, slept well?” Sarcasm dripping from his voice. He dropped quickly enough though, something like hope stirring in his eyes “You’re not staying? I wanted you to meet Laura, she’s new to town and I was hoping we could all go to have coffee with her so I could introduce her to everyone”

And wait, what?! What on earth was going on? Joey did not introduced girls to the group and he most certainly never looked this eager for everyone to meet someone.

It must have shown in his face, since Joey was immediately pulling him along to his bedroom so they could talk.

Chandler didn't even had to say anything, his expression communicating everything he needed.

“Look Chandler, I know it’s weird since I never do this, but I really really like her. She’s funny, she’s smart but not too much and she has a great body” and of course that came with a goofy smile and some obscene hand gestures. As he got no reaction from his friend, that was still gaping at him by the way, he sighed “Dude, come on, it would mean so mucho to me if you could just approved this, you know your opinion means a lot to me”

And maybe it was that or the doe eyes that got Chandler out of his trance. He wished his features to stay neutral, knowing well enough that he was usually way too expressive.

“Yeah, okay, I’m sorry, I was just really shocked. Cause it’s shocking Joe, I never expected this from you… But sure, you have my blessing, I would never get in the way of you happiness man” And just as he began panicking that he had said too much, that Joey was so gonna be able to figure it out, since he was not nearly as stupid as people thought, his friend gave him a beaming smile and jumped forward to hug him.

So Chandler just melted into the arms of his best friend, forced down the jealousy bubbling in his throat and wished his feeling aways, not for the first time.

Afterwards, he excused himself saying he was starving and only Monica’s food would be able to tame the hunger inside of him and escaped the apartment before he did something stupid. And he felt the need to hide in some dark, far far away corner of the world and cry his heart out cause he just knew he would never get a chance with the man at the other side of the door, well, no one needed to know.

And as he was just so bad at hiding his emotions that as soon as he stepped into Monica’s and the two girls living there took one look at him, they were immediately fussing over him.

“Oh my god, Chandler, you look as if someone had killed a puppy in front of you” And that was just great, cause now he was picturing that and it did nothing to help his mood.

“Come on honey, we have some nice breakfast that will cheer you up, right Mon?”

Said girl was in a blink of an eye rushing to prepare the tastiest and most mouth watering breakfast that could exist in the gang’s opinion, but the blue eyed man was so under the weather that he just slumped down into a chair and willed he could just sunk into hell.

And yeah, he was being dramatic, but it was just like him to blow things out of proportion and sulk about it.

He was soon playing with delicious food, not really being sure if he could actually stomach it.

And the more he played, the more restless Monica and Rachel seemed.

“Chandler? Honey? Can you just please tell us what happened? We’re dying here” And he could clearly recognize the desperation in Monica’s voice. But he was just unable to voice out his feeling, his most well kept secret. Or at least that was what he wanted to think.

He slumped into himself even more.

“Is it about your feeling for Joey?” And the question was just so innocent, Rachel not even realizing the weight of her words.

But Chandler just froze.

He could barely catch Monica and Rachel arguing in harsh whispers, but he was too caught up in his panic to really hear was they were saying.

“Chandler? Chandler! Please, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to throw it on you like that, I’m just worried! Please say something” And now Rachel’s voice was full of despair too and he just felt horrible.

He willed his voice to work, clearing his throat about a hundred times before being able to actually form words that came out raspy and full of raw emotions anyways.

“You… You know? About my… preferences?” And he cringed internally at how formal that sounded but he couldn't found it in him to say the word just then.

The silence was oppressing even when it lasted just a few seconds for them to get over their surprise. Cause they thought Chandler would freak out about they knowing about his feeling for his best friend, not about the fact that they knew from day one about his sexual orientation.

“Oh my god honey, you were worried about that?” Rachel was the first one to find her voice.

“Chandler, we have known you for years, and sure, Ross and Joey obviously have no idea, but we’re girls, we know about this things, call it sixth sense or whatever” Monica smiled in that encouraging way of hers, while Rachel’s smile was sweet and supporting and suddenly Chandler didn't feel as alone and hopeless as he had mere second ago.

“Well in that case… I’m not even gonna ask how do you guys know about Joey, honestly. But yeah, it’s about him…” He sighted while fidgeting with the table cloth “He… he met this girl that is new to town and they hit it off and he’s apparently halfway in love with her and wants us all to meet her… I mean, he never does that! For all I know they will get married tomorrow as Emily and Ross did and I will be forced to be the best man cause I’m his best friend and can’t say no to those freaking puppy eyes of his and I will end up alone and with a broken gay heart…”

He didn’t even care that for the first time in his life he had openly recognized he was gay out loud. He was now picturing all of those things happening and the simple thought made him want to throw himself from the balcony.

He wasn't aware of the looks Monica and Rachel were sharing, having a whole conversation without saying words. The brunette was the first one to speak.

“Look, Chandler, I know it seems bad. But I assure you that Joey will not marry this girl, she won’t probably last more than a few weeks. None of us actually think Joey will get married with any girl at all. You know how he is. I know it might seem like a lot to endure, but you’ve made it this long, so have some faith in yourself…” She seemed doubtful about her next words, but one look to Rachel’s stern expression told her she should just tell their friend “And I know you might hate us for saying this and getting this idea into your head… but we really think you should tell Joey about how you feel”

Chandler’s head immediately went up, wide blue eyes staring at the two girls, and both of them were able to feel the scarred panicked feeling the man was suddenly surrounded by.

Rachel chose that moment to intervene before their friend went into full panicked mode, possibly close enough to a panic attack.

“Ok honey, listen to me. If you think for a second Joey will hate you, and feel repulsed and move out just because you are in love with him, you are so so wrong and he would probably feel insulted you think so lowly of him. He loves you Chan, doesn't matter how, but he would never let you hurt because of him, he’s way too good friend for that, and you are his best friend. How can you think he will react like that?” As she saw the panicked expression change into a doubtful one, she smiled softly, reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze “We just want you to consider it honey, it would make you feel so much better, independently from how it ends. We just want whats best for you”

And he believed her, but all Chandler could do was bury his head between his hands, willing his heart to believe what his friends had just said as well.

It was almost the sixth month after that dreadful morning and everything Chandler had predicted was becoming true.

Joey was dating Laura, that was as amazing as Joey had made it sound, which only helped Chandler sulk more and be even more unhappier. He still hadn’t said anything to Joey. Ross suspected there was something going on between his two male friends but was too oblivious to tell. Besides that, everyone acted as if nothing had changed.

Laura adapted real quick into their group, and even though the three girls were on Chandler’s side (Phoebe had expressed her support the same day the girls helped him by a “I knew it!” and a “I love you no matter what” followed by a hug) they all loved the red headed addition. Even Chandler himself, since the girl had amazing comebacks that dripped sarcasm 24/7 and her sense of humor mixed with his all too well.

So it all sucked, cause he couldn't even hate the woman. But he kept on sulking and suffering between the four walls of his bedroom while on the outside he was, or tried to be, the same Chandler everyone knew. Everything was fine.

Except suddenly it wasn't cause Joey intercepted him one morning before he could escape the apartment and do something useless to stay as far away as possible of said man, which had been his strategy since the fourth month.

“Chandler! Wait! I really need to talk to you about something” Oh man, he had been just so so close. And he knew what he had coming, he could see it in Joey’s posture “Look man… since this whole Laura thing started you have been really distant… And I know you like her, so I just can’t understand this? Is it me?” And there they were again, the huge doe/puppy like eyes that Chandler and basically anyone who knew the guy couldn't say no to.

“What? No! Joey, come on, you are my best friend! Why on earth would I be avoiding you?” Chandler knew there it was, the tone, as Joey used to call it. When he didn't actually believe something, or was lying, his voice would get high pitched. So when he saw his best friend’s eyebrow twitch, he knew his lie was not believable.

“Dude, please, just tell me!”

And, honestly, Chandler’s heart broke a little when he noticed how truly hurt Joey was. He could see it in those chocolate colored eyes that he usually fantasied about.

“Just… Look Joe, I’m sorry, okay? I know I’ve been distant, but I just… I can’t… I’m not able to tell you just why yet, sorry man” He awkwardly fidgeted with his hands, rubbing them together in that nervous way of his, avoiding at all costs Joey’s eyes.

He realized the exact moment the man gave up, since he seemed to slump into himself, a heavy sight escaping his mouth.

“Okay, yeah, it’s… it’s fine. I get it. Just… if there’s something wrong with me… with us, you would tell me, right?”

Blue eyes immediately met brown, wide with surprise.

“What, of course! I… this is not about you Joe, I swear. We’re okay”

A wide smile spread across his best friend’s features, his eyes crinkling in the corners and filled with happiness. He went for a quick hug before letting go but keeping both of his hands in Chandler’s shoulders.

“Oh god, that’s just, thanks man, I was just so worried! You are my best friend, you know? I can’t loose you, what would I do?!”

“Honestly Joe? Neither of us has a clue”

He received a light punch in his left arm by answer.

Turns out, the conversation he had with Joey was just a bad bad bad idea.

Cause, suddenly, as a bonding moment, the guy just decided to drag Chandler along to buy Laura’s sixth month anniversary present. And since they were that grossly sweet kind of couple, it had to be just ‘perfect’.

So there he was, being dragged along trough one big commercial avenue by the love of his life that was looking for a present to give the woman he was dating. The perfect situation. He was feeling just peachy.

What he had apparently missed, was that ‘perfect’ for Joey meant ‘Chandler approved’, which also meant his opinion was heavily considered in the moment of buying any kind of product. And he was just so not in the mood to give Joey’s selections much thought.

“Hey Chan, which kind of necklace do you think Laura would like the most?” In his hands Joey held two silver necklaces that were basically the same to the blue eyed man.

“I don’t… Do you, honest to God, think in college I studied how to choose jewelry for a woman? Cause I don’t really remember taking that subject” And maybe he should have seen it coming, but apparently that was the exact moment Joey had had enough.

“Sorry, I’ll come back to this later” His tone was polite while putting both pieces of jewelry back over the crystal counter and taking to the salesman that had been trying to help for the last twenty minutes or so. He then turned to Chandler, a displeased expression in his face “You. We are going home. And you’re telling me what the hell is going on”

And so they did. The shops they had been looking at were not that far from the apartment, so it took about ten minutes of Joey dragging Chandler before Joey was closing the door and turning to look at the blue eyed men, who was just looking everywhere to avoid eye contact.

“Chandler. You have one more second to tell me what’s going on with you before I actually start loosing my mind over this” And even under the angry tone, there was hurt and worry and Chandler just wanted to go into his room and cry his eyes out cause, honestly, how could there be a person more perfect in his eyes than Joey.

This was hurting him. He was so selfish, scared of what it would mean to him if he confessed his true feelings, not realizing he was hurting Joey in the process. The one person he had tried to keep safe. And it torn him apart, knowing that this might have been the last few moments of their friendship. But Rachel’s words came back to him and he found himself releasing a deep sigh before he reached out to take Joey’s hand and gently move both of them to the couch.

“Okay, okay, you are right, I should have told you before. I’m sorry, I’m just scared that what I’m about to tell you will completely ruin our friendship and that thought alone terrifies me…” And he was rambling, he knew that, but he had to brace himself before he could actually say the words.

“You… Chandler you are worrying over nothing. Nothing you could say to me would ruin our friendship, you are way too important for me to just let something get in the way of us”

And that sounded so much like something a lover would say. But it was ridiculous to think like that. Joey only meant it in a friendly way. He wasn't going down that road though.

He took a deep breath, finding Joey’s eyes but unable to keep the eye contact.

“Okay, here we go…” He fixed his gaze in his lap “I love you Joe”

Seeing as Joey didn’t immediately react, he started explaining himself even before the guy asked him for one explanation.

“And I mean it as in I am in love with you. Have been for as long as we’ve known each other. Maybe a little less. I’m not really one to believe in love at first sight, you know?” He laughed awkwardly, his gaze still fixed on the hem of his t-shirt that he has fidgeting with “But yeah. And that’s why I’v been trying to stay away. You love Laura, and she’s so so cool, everything I could never be. And I just want you to be happy, doesn’t matter if it kills me to see you with her. I just want to keep the smile you carry around when you look at her in your face forever. I never wanted to get in the way. And I’m so so sorry about the present. I couldn’t bring myself to help you get her something when, even though I really like her, I get jealous every time I see you two together cause I jusmmmmmphh…”

His speech was cut shortly by lips on his, his head being held into place by a hand in the back of his neck, while other cupped his cheek. Warm, soft, plump lips were pressed against his own with a rough edge that soon turned into a gentle pressure when he stopped trying to keep talking. He kissed back by reflex, his eyes closing while his hand went up to grab the wrist of the hand cupping his face, the other being used for support so he wouldn't fall off the couch because of the surprise.

It was only when he actually caught up to what was going on that he ripped himself away, watching Joey with wide eyes while his hand went up to touch his lips.

“Wha… You kissed me! Why did you kiss me?!” He was, most definitely, freaking out. His breathing became erratic and suddenly he felt like he was drowning.

Joey’s eyes went wide and he immediately went to cup both cheeks of Chandler’s face.

“Okay, no. You are so not having a panic attack just after we shared our first kiss. Breath Chan, I know you can do it” He obeyed, following his friend’s own breathing pattern and soon enough he felt like himself again. Once Joey realized this, he gently rested his forehead against Chandler’s, his hands not leaving his face.

They stayed like that a few seconds before Chandler pulled back.

“What are you doing? You were supposed to reject me, not kiss me Joe”

Said man’s eyebrows went up, eyes wide.

“What?! Why would I ever do that?! I’ve been pining over you for as long as you have!”

To say Chandler was speechless was to run short.

“I… I know I’ve been with my fair share of people, but it was only in the hope I could avoid and push down the feelings I have for you. Dude, I’ve been in love with you since forever. And Laura knows, you know? She was the first one to get it, she’s been trying to get over her own ex since we met. We were both trying to help each other… guess there’s no use to it now” That was finished with a small hopeful smile, soft eyes staring up at Chandler’s.

He spluttered unhelpfully.

“You are not even gay!” And oh man, was that the perfect thing to say.

Joey threw his head back while laughing.

“God, I love you but you are unbelievable. I’m bisexual, but I honestly don’t get why it matters”

If Chandler’s heart hadn't been to caught up in the confession coming from Joey, he would have argued, but he didn't have the mind for it.

“You… you love me?” And if the surprise and hope was way too obvious on his voice, who was he to care? He had spent way too many years pining, waiting, dreaming about this.

There was that look in Joey’s face, when his head tilted to the side and his whole face scrunched up in confusion, looking way too much like a confused puppy.

“Dude, come on! Keep up! That’s usually what ‘being in love with someone’ means!”

A nervous laughter bubbled from Chandler’s throat and soon enough he was finally relaxing into his best friend’s arm, burying his face in the crook f said man’s neck.

He felt like flying. Couldn't believe this was even happening. Joey loved him. He loved him back! He had waited his whole life for someone to love him, for his feeling not be unrequited, for someone, anyone, ideally a person from the male population, to accept him for who he was. And here it was, the best human being he had the luck to be best friends with, the one he had craved every single night since they met, the one he thought was just perfect, telling him he loved him too.

“What are you thinking about? I can feel your head overthink this” Joey’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he leaned back, letting his gaze roam freely over the handsome features of the other’s face like he hadn't allowed himself before.

“No, I just… I’m so happy” And the smile he gave was genuine, all soft edges and warm feelings.

Joey smiled too, beaming at him, before he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Chandler’s in a chaste kiss, before he pulled back, as if testing the waters. The blue eyed man didn't let him go far though, puling him in again to press their lips together for a longer period of time. He parted his lips experimentally, and was greatly surprised when Joey only hummed happily and deepened the kiss. Hands roamed, Joey’s hands settling one in Chandler’s surprisedly lean waist, pulling him closer, the other in the back of his neck, guiding his head gently while the other’s hand ended up one in Joey’s chest, the other around his ribs.

Soon enough they were fully making out laying across the couch, Chandler ending up between Joey’s legs, most of his weight over the brown eyed man’s chest. After a while, when the kisses turned to sleepy presses of lips, trailing across jaws and necks, just basking the warmth of the embrace. They ended up napping there, Chandler’s head against Joey’s chest, both heartbeats steady and calm.

And if they woke up giddy and happy and couldn't help but tell the others right away, no one really judged them, although he saw the way the three girls shared a look and looked proud of him.

The group was sitting at their usual place in the coffee house, with the exception that now Chandler and Joey sat together in the armchair that was too small to hold both men comfortably so it usually ended with Chandler sitting in Joey’s lap, leaning against him or the armrest.

They were casually talking about some nonsense like dinosaurs or Phoebe’s last ridiculous massage client when Joey starter mindlessly nibbling at Chandler’s throat, apparently done with the conversation and having nothing else to do.

He only rested more heavily against the other’s chest, sighting softly, not being able to continue being part of the conversation.

It was only when everyone turned to look at him expectantly that he realized they had been talking to him.

“Sorry, what was that?” He tried to straighten himself, but Joey’s arm around his waist kept him from doing so.

“Oh man, you guys are honest to god, ridiculous. It has been three fucking months! When will you be able to keep your hands to each other!” Ross complained loudly, obviously done with the situation.

Someone behind the sofa snickered softly.

“Well, I think they’re cute”

Everyone turned to the voice, meeting red hair and blue piercing eyes. A shorter brunette with soft hazel eyes and caramel skin close behind.

“Laura! Annie! We thought you wouldn't be back for another week!” Monica was immediately on her feet hugging the woman, followed by Rachel that seemed to squeeze the living hell out of the redhead.

So, it had been like this; Joey had broken up with Laura and Chandler had never in his life met someone before that was as comprehensive and forgiving as that woman. Soon enough she met a girl and they both started going out and fall in love. She had stayed as part of the group, everyone too fond of her to let her go. And she introduced them to Annie, her girlfriend. Everything was perfect, they were no hard feelings between either Chandler and Laura and Joey and Laura. Two months later the two girls announced they were moving to the other side of the country, since Annie had been offered her dream job in LA. So they were in the process of moving and Rachel was just sad since Laura and her both worked in fashion and had found a good friend in the industry.

But over all, it was all good. They were finishing up some things with the moving company before going away for good in two weeks.

Chandler was surprised with how much he was gonna miss them. Both him and Joey made no effort to move and say hi, too comfortable in their warm embrace to move. Both girls eyed them knowingly but said nothing, moving on to order some scones and coffee.

Chandler turned around, smiled softly at Joey, that was looking up to him with an adoring gaze, as if he was responsible for hanging up the moon and all the stars.

A few months ago he had thought the fondest look Joey could give to someone was the one he gave to Laura, followed by the softest smiled.

He had been wrong.

He know knew the most adoring and fondest look Joey could give to someone was him. He was now used to find brown eyes staring at him lovingly while he was doing things as mundane as cooking or talking to someone. The ones he liked the most, though, were those when they were buried in blankets, sometimes after having sex, there when they where just laying together, that were accompanied by an ‘I love you’ and followed by a kiss.

So yeah, maybe Chandler had been jealous of the expression Joey had when he was with Laura, but now he knew that it had been nothing compared to how Joey looked at him now.

This was my first fanfic ever so I though I would post it here too just because

[1dffexchange]

i know the feeling

To: Fran @fromherlips​

From: Eriza @booksncoffee​

Summary: Nina is taught to believe that everything happens for a reason and whilst she does believe it, that doesn’t stop her from complaining about how much she hates her job and how at only 23 and a half, her life has already reached a plateau. She wishes time would fly by faster because she wants nothing more than for this confusing part of her life to end.

Meanwhile Niall thinks there’s not enough time in a day because there are so many - not particularly good - things happening in his life. He barely has time to meet someone new and when he does make time for it, something embarrassing happens, making him want to give up altogether. Maybe he isn’t cut out for life outside of grad school.

In which sometimes all you need is the right person to help you overcome the struggles of being an adult.

Nina hated her job.

It’s supposed to be a temporary job whilst she waited for another job (one that would pay her better, wouldn't give her a splitting headache, wouldn't make her clothes and hair smell like coffee by the end of her shift, and definitely one that she would love) and yet she’s still here at The Brew, serving coffee and occasionally pastries to the customers.

Seven months had passed since she started actively applying for jobs that were related or remotely related to her job, and she’d been unlucky so far. The companies she applied to either went quiet after her interviews or would give her the devastating news: we were impressed by you but unfortunately we are unable to offer you the job or we are afraid that we require someone with more experience, but please do not be discouraged by that.

How was she supposed to not feel discouraged? She got rejected, for God’s sake. Who, in the right mind, would jump in joy when they got rejected for a job? Did they expect her to be happy when she didn’t get the job? If they did then they’re mental.

Nina had lost count on how many times she’d been rejected and it’s beginning to take a toll on her self confidence. Not wanting to feel like a complete failure, she decided to apply for a job at the coffee shop a couple of blocks away from her flat and she was accepted straightaway -- the fact that the manager contacted her less than 24 hours later to tell her that she’s accepted gave her confidence the boost it desperately needed.

“Your time will come,” her friend, Elaine, assured her for the tenth time this week as she refilled the coffee grinder with arabica beans, her words nearly muffled by the sound of the beans rushing out of the packaging and into the machine. “I mean, if Rachel could do it so can you. At least you can get people’s orders right and you make a good cup of coffee.”

“Tell that to everyone who came in here and complained about my coffee.”

“What do they know about coffee?” Elaine scoffed, making Nina chuckle. Most of the times, their customers knew nothing about coffee but pretended like they’re experts. “If I didn't know you, Nins, I’d say you love this job. You’re bloody brilliant at it.”

Nina wasn't one to toot her own horn, but Elaine was right about that. Whereas Rachel was shockingly bad at her waitressing job, Nina was shockingly good at it. She didn't think she’d be good at it considering that she had never worked in the food and beverages industry before and almost everyone who worked here had. Elaine worked part time as a waitress at a restaurant during her undergraduate studies and so did Jason. She supposed she’s a fast learner so it only took her three days of training to learn everything that needed to be learned. Three months later, she’s practically a pro and fellow baristas agreed with that because they’d tasted her coffee, and yet according to their customers, she didn’t know how to make the right coffee. Nina wanted so badly to ask them to define what right coffee meant to them, but she’d rather not create a scene. Like she said earlier, this wasn’t even supposed to be her permanent job so why bother, right?

“Maybe you should quit.” Elaine continued.

Nina was about to ask her friend if she’d lost her mind but she clamped her mouth shut when she saw where this conversation was going. She must have spent her free time binge-watching Friends again -- the mention of Rachel Green’s name earlier gave it away. Elaine had the tendency to reference the tv shows she was currently watching. Like when she used to watch Parks and Recreation, and she’d say things that the characters said in the show or like when she used to watch Grey’s Anatomy and she thought she’d become one of the doctors.

Being someone who regularly binge-watched Friends too, Nina knew straightaway that Elaine was referring to the episode where Chandler and Joey talked Rachel into quitting her job at the coffee house.

“So you know,” she paused to give Nina a look, “You’ll have thefear.”

“I don’t need to quit to have the fear, El.” Nina said flatly.

“Then why’re you still working here?”

“Can’t leave you alone,” Nina replied without missing a beat. Elaine scoffed and rolled her eyes. “No, I’m serious. Who’s going to scare those college boys away if I’m not here?”

“I can scare them myself, thank you very much.”

Nina had to laugh at that. Elaine was the nicest person she’d ever met and she had the patience of a saint, which made her perfect for this job. Their customers could be complaining about the littlest and most ridiculous thing ever, and Elaine wouldn't get mad like Nina would. Like when a middle-aged woman walked up to the counter, fuming because her cappuccino had too much foam when in reality it had enough foam and demanded a new one with less foam. Nina tried explaining to her but logic went over her head so Elaine stepped in, talked to the woman and made a cup of latte instead. Before leaving, the older woman complimented Elaine and shot Nina a sideway glance.

“What’re you gonna tell them?” Nina quizzed, chuckling to herself as she recalled what Elaine always said to people who flirt with her. “Please stop flirting with me?”

Elaine was too polite for her own good sometimes. “There’s nothing wrong with saying please stop flirting with me,” she said with a frown.

“Hi,” a voice interrupted the girls’ conversation. Nina turned away from the espresso machine and found a man standing in front of the counter. When his eyes met hers, a look of recognition crossed his face. “Hey, aren’t you, uh, Nina, right?“

“Yeah?” Nina squinted her eyes suspiciously at the newcomer. She’s about to ask him how’d he know her name when he said,

“I’m Niall. Think we used to have a class together.”

Nina scanned his face as she tried to figure out which class he could’ve taken that she did too. It couldn't have been International Political Theory – he didn't seem like someone who’d major in International Relations.

Nina then racked her brain for compulsory courses that she had to take during her undergraduate studies and she remembered one:

“World History, is it?”

“Yeah, that’s it!” He exclaimed and his excitement put a smile on Nina’s face. It’s refreshing, the complete opposite of the customer she had earlier who walked in with a gloomy cloud above his head. He didn’t even look at her in the eye, simply ordered a black coffee to go and left as soon as he got his drink. “Glad that’s cleared up. It would’ve bugged me for the rest of the day.”

“Same.” Her reply held no truth to it. She probably would forget all about this incident the moment he walked out of the coffee shop had he not mention that they used to have a class together. “So, what can I get for you, Niall?”

He eyed the menu. Normally Nina would sigh because she hated it when customers held up the line by looking at the menu when they could’ve decided what they wanted before they lined up – she knew other customers hated that too. But since there’s no one behind him as it’s not the peak hours, Nina let him take his time deciding.

“Is it okay if I order later?” he asked, unsure. He looked almost afraid to ask that question and it’s then that Nina realised that she’d been sporting her scowl so she relaxed her face. She didn't have the friendliest of face, which probably explained why most customers preferred sweet, sweet Elaine to her. Scratching his jaw, he sheepishly added, “I’m supposed to meet my date later so I don’t want to, you know, drink before she gets here.”

“Right,” Nina nodded. That made sense. “Yeah sure.”

“Yeah?” He looked surprised. “So it’s okay if I sit without ordering anything?”

“If it’s the peak hours I would’ve asked you to come back later but since the place’s practically empty, go ahead.”

“Alright, that’s fair.” He smiled, chuckling to himself as he rubbed his nose once, twice. “Thank you.”

He looked around the place, probably to decide which table was the best for him and his date, before deciding on the one at the corner. Classic, popular choice. Nina had seen a fair share of couples sitting there and today she’s about to witness another one.

As soon as he’s out of their hearings, Elaine sidled up to her and asked, “You know him?”

“I think so?”

Elaine frowned. “What do you mean you think so?”

“I know we had a class together but dunno, I don’t remember him.”

“You don’t remember anyone,” Elaine countered. Nina simply shrugged because her friend’s right. Elaine took another look at Niall, not doing a really good job at being subtle as he caught her eyes a moment later. She smiled at him and then pretended to wipe a cup. “Maybe he looked different back then.”

Nina chanced a glance at Niall and when she saw that he’s looking at his phone, she took that as an opportunity for her to study him. She tried to figure out why she couldn't remember him. Sure she blocked out all memories back in her undergraduate studies – except for the important things, of course – but if Niall could recognise her, maybe they’re somewhat close in that class. She was the least memorable person ever so it’s a wonder that he could remember her face, let alone her name.

“Or maybe his hair’s longer?” Elaine said. She’s a firm believer that all guys, at some point in their lives, went through a phase where they thought they looked good with long hair -- oftentimes, they’re wrong.

“That’s not it.” Nina shook her head. He didn’t have longer hair but there was something different about his hair now that she’d thought about it. She took another look at Niall and it was then that she remembered a rather major detail about him that had slipped her mind: “He was blond.”

Her memory must’ve been really bad for her to not recognise someone simply because they changed their hair colour and started wearing glasses. Especially when that someone was the guy who always sat behind her in class and the guy whom she partnered up with for a group project with two other students.

“There you have it. He went through a phase where he dyed his hair like you did,” Elaine gave Nina a pointed look. She did go through that phase and in her defence, she was still in high school and she thought it’s cool to have lighter coloured hair. “Wait, unless he’s a natural blond -- is he a natural blond?”

Nina didn’t get to answer that question. Their conversation was put to an end when a customer, one that she saw twice or thrice in a week, walked up to the counter and ordered her usual.

&&

An hour had passed and Niall’s date still hadn’t showed up.

Nina had never been one to stick her nose in someone else’s business so instead of speculating about the absence of his date, she continued her work of cleaning the espresso machine. Her shift would be ending soon so all she could think about was her bed and how badly she wanted to lie in it. Her back was beginning to kill her from standing too long and the thought of being able to relieve that sore soon pushed her to power through the rough time -- it’s not the most comfortable bed, but Nina was taught to make do with what she had.

Elaine, on the other hand, had always been one to let curiosity get the best of her. There’s nothing wrong with being curious was something she’d say to justify herself.

“Do you think he got stood up?”

“Hmm?”

“Niall,” Elaine said. “Do you think his date’s late or he got stood up?”

Nina took a quick look at Niall, who was looking out the window, his knees bouncing up and down, up and down. Nina had spent enough times people-watching when there weren’t many customers around to know that he was anxious, and the way his eyes continuously darted between the exit and his phone told her that he was trying to decide if he should stay or leave. Even from afar, she could see how red his ears and cheeks are.

“I don’t know,” Nina replied as she tore her gaze from Niall. She didn’t want to pry and she certainly didn’t want to make assumptions.

“If he’s my date I’d never bail on him. He’s really cute.”

“What would Zac say about that?”

Elaine simply snorted at that. ”As if he never looks at girls and thinks they’re cute.”

Zac was Elaine’s boyfriend of six years whom she loved very much, though she liked to make everyone believe that she didn’t. They met during their senior year of high school and had been together ever since. It blew Nina’s mind how someone could be together that long. The longest relationship she’d ever had was with Ervin and it only lasted for eleven months -- they couldn’t even make it to a year. After that relationship Nina’s status remained unchanged, which most of the times she’s fine with.

“He’s coming,” Elaine whispered before she hastily left the counter to check on the inventory. It’s an excuse because Nina saw her doing that exactly twenty minutes ago.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, he glanced at the menu behind Nina. She knew he was just doing that to avoid her eyes because she might or might have caught him doing that -- reading the menu -- a lot whilst he waited for his date.

“So, uh, my date didn’t show up,” he said as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark blue jeans.

Nina really didn’t know what to say in reply. Should she tell him she’s sorry? Would he like to hear that or would that only make him feel worse? Nina didn’t know because none of her customers had ever walked up to the counter and told her that they got stood up. That they hadn’t slept for 24 hours or more, now that she’d heard plenty of times before.

“I’ll have a, uh, flat white.” He told her when she didn’t say anything else.

When he handed her his money, Nina shook her head. “It’s okay. It’s on the house.”

“No, no, please accept my money.” He insisted. “I didn’t tell you that so you’d feel sorry for me and give me free coffee.”

“Then consider it a free coffee from your old classmate.”

“But--”

Nina didn’t give him a chance to say anything else as she cut him off by telling him to return to his seat and wait for his drink there. Flustered, he did as told and she began preparing his coffee. In the midst of pouring frothed milk into the espresso, Elaine reappeared from the back to join Nina.

“So? What’s the verdict?”

“He got stood up.” Nina hated saying those four words.

“Oh no, that’s too bad.”

Gossiping was something Nina and Elaine did to pass the time so they -- mostly Nina -- wouldn’t feel like the day was dragging and her shift wasn’t ending. Of course they only did that when there weren’t many customers around. They couldn’t risk getting reported to the store manager although their manager happened to be Elaine’s cousin, Stephan, and he probably wouldn’t say anything to them.

Gossiping was fun. Well, usually it was. It’d make them laugh and it’d make them not look at the time. But not this time. It didn’t feel right to Nina that she and Elaine were talking about Niall, who clearly was not having the best time of his life. She knew that if the roles were reversed, she wouldn’t appreciate the baristas chatting about her whilst she waited for her coffee.

Nina wiped the brim of the cup with a small towel and then stepped out from behind the counter. As she made her way to Niall’s table, she caught him talking on the phone with his friend.

“Why would I lie about that?” Nina heard him say to the phone. “Jesus, Liam, I’m sure she just stood me up.”

Whilst that wasn’t news to Nina because he literally told her that a few minutes ago, Nina still felt bad for him. No one deserved to be stood up. Unless they’re complete douchebags. They didn’t deserve dates at all -- period. Niall didn’t seem like a douchebag and so far, he hadn’t given off vibes that he’s one of them. She usually could tell when a guy turned out to be an arsehole -- it’s a gift, that’s what her friends kept telling her because her predictions were always right. Like when her friend Toni was seeing a guy named Mark and Toni refused to believe Nina when she told her that Mark seemed fishy. Three dates later, Toni found out that Mark had already had a wife.

Anyway, the point was, Nina was convinced that Niall didn’t deserve to be stood up.

“I literally just saw her walking into the pub across the street five seconds after she told me she’s not feeling well. She probably saw me by the window and decided she’s not interested.”

And she’s also convinced that she wasn’t supposed to hear that. But before she could turn around, Niall caught her and ended the phone call. She placed his coffee on the table and offered him an awkward smile.

“Sorry,” she apologised, cheeks heating up with embarrassment. “Didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“S’fine,” he waved her apology off with a hand. “Would you like to join me? Could use a company right now. I’m not in the mood to go home and get back to my reading materials.”

Nina glanced at the counter, at Elaine who was giving her the thumbs up, before she pulled out the chair and took a seat.

“Thank you for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied. Niall took a sip of the coffee and let out a relieved sigh. She felt a smile touching her lips when she didn’t hear a complaint coming afterwards.

“This coffee is probably the only good thing in my life right now,” he said.

Nina wanted to prod but she held herself back from doing so. Whilst she did know him, they weren’t close enough for her to be nosy. If this conversation were between her and her friends, she’d definitely ask them what’s going on. As it was, this was a conversation between her and her ex-classmate whom she didn’t remember at first.

Niall must’ve sensed her awkwardness because he shifted the conversation to something else after that, something that didn’t revolve around what he’d just admitted. “So, how long have you worked here?”

“A few months,” she answered. “But it’s not my permanent job.”

“Shame. You make a good cup of coffee.”

Nina couldn’t help but to laugh at his compliment. If her mother were here, she’d chastise her. She should thank him not laugh. “You’re the first to say that.”

“That can’t be right.” He quirked an eyebrow as he looked at her in disbelief.

“Well, some customers can be… unkind.”

“You mean they’re arseholes?” Niall could read her mind, she swore. “I’ve worked at a coffee shop before.”

“You have?”

“Yeah,” he nodded before he took a sip of his flat white, “before school takes over my life.”

Nina remembered then that he mentioned reading materials when he invited her to join him, so she had to ask, “You’re still in school?”

“I am,” he answered. Before she could ask what course he’s taking, he added, “Biological Science.”

“Biological Science?” Nina leaned forward, curiosity lilting her voice. “What’s it about?”

Nina had always admired people who found Science to be interesting enough that they’d want to major in it. She had never liked Science, mostly because she couldn’t seem to wrap her head around everything that she learned back in school and because no matter how hard she tried, she didn’t find it interesting at all. She was lucky that despite her dislike, she always got a B during her tests and examinations, and never an F -- her mother chalked it up to her having a smart brain.

Convinced that she had a smart brain, Nina’s mother encouraged her to continue her studies until she earned her PhD, but she didn’t want it. Nina had another plan: she wanted to get a job first, save some money, get some experience and if after a year or so, she felt like studying again, at least she would have money in her bank.

So far, nothing seemed to go according to her plan.

It took her months to finally land a job and even when she did, she ended up with a job she hated, which her parents didn’t know about. They thought she’s happy with her job -- she never complained in front of them -- and that’s all because she’s too proud to raise the white flag and tell her mother that she’d made a mistake when she turned down the postgraduate study offer from her previous university. The overconfident part of Nina had made her believe that she’d be able to get a job as soon as she graduated, that she wouldn’t have to wait long before she got a job offer. If she could turn back the time, she’d yell at herself for having that mindset.

But then again, like Nina’s parents had always told her: everything happens for a reason. That belief was the only thing keeping Nina from losing her mind because damn it, life after school was so, so much harder than she’d ever imagined. Back then, she only had to worry about her grades. And sometimes whether or not her allowance could last until the end of the month. Now she had a lot of things to worry about and she couldn’t even bring herself to think about it.

“I feel like I’ve been in school for a very, very long time,” Niall concluded after he’d finished talking about the course he took.

“But you’re almost done, right, with your master?”

“Well, yeah,” he nodded, “but I’ll probably continue my PhD and that’ll take like another, what, 3 to 4 years. Like I said, I’m gonna be in school forever.”

“Wow.”

“I know.” He chuckled.

“But you love it, yeah?”

“Yeah, I guess.” His words didn’t sound convincing as he said them out loud, his eyes fixed on the nearly empty glass in front of him.

Unlike earlier, instead of holding herself back from prodding, Nina asked, “But?”

He looked up, surprised clear in his blue eyes. He must’ve not expected her to pick up on his less than enthusiastic answer. Straightening his back, Niall cleared his throat before he spoke, “I hardly have free time. There’s my thesis that I have no fuckin’ clue what’s going to happen to it and then I’ve to go to some seminars every now and then ‘cause my supervisor thinks I need them, which I know he’s right, but it’s-- Jesus, I’m talking your ears off, aren’t I? So sorry, didn’t mean to load off my burden to you.”

“It’s fine,” Nina told him. Hearing him talk about his busy life distracted her from her dull life that consisted of the same routine every single day. Hearing him talk also made Nina miss life in school. She swore she’s not a nerd but she enjoyed studying. And especially right now, she’d rather study than serve coffee, which back then she thought she’d rather do the latter instead of the former.

“So, you mentioned earlier that this isn’t your permanent job,” he recalled. Nina nodded, suddenly feeling like she’s talking to an interviewer whom she’d likely fail to impress. “What job are you looking for?”

“I’d love to be social research officer,” she answered. Whilst she talked about the job she’s interested in, he looked at her with an impressed look on his face. Nina didn’t think he would be impressed considering that once he graduated, he’d be able to do something a lot cooler. He could be a lecturer or he could be a researcher -- both sounded amazing. “I don’t know, I like doing a research.”

“Trade places with me, then.”

“I know nothing about your course and I suck at Science so I’d probably ruin your thesis.”

“Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous enough for it to work?”

They both laughed because they knew that it wouldn’t work.

“I think I know someone who works in your field,” he mentioned after he’d finished his coffee. “I can ask him if there’s an opening if you’d like?”

The polite reply would be: no, you don’t have to do that. But Nina was desperate to get out of The Brew so she couldn’t exactly let the opportunity go to waste. Don’t get her wrong, the place wasn’t bad at all. It’s a great coffee shop but she’d like it better if she wasn’t the one serving coffee.

So, she said, “Yeah, that’d be great. Thank you.”

Niall opened his mouth to say something but the sound of his phone ringing interrupted him. He picked up his phone from the table and looked at the caller ID. “It’s my friend, s’it okay if I--”

“Sure, go ahead.” Nina nodded before he could finish his sentence.

He smiled at her before he answered the call. “Hey, Liam. What’s up?”

Whilst he talked to his friend, Nina looked at the time. She didn’t even realise that her shift had ended fifteen minutes ago. Usually she’d already be on her way home by now and when she reached home, she would spend the rest of the night on her couch catching up with her flatmate, Toni, before she eventually excused herself to get some sleep.

Nina didn’t even realise that Niall’s phone call had ended until he cleared his throat and said, “So that’s my friend Liam. He’s at a pub a block away from here and he wanted me to meet him there.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Hey, thank you so much for keeping me company. It’s… It’s nice to see you again.”

“Likewise,” Nina replied with a smile. It was nice to see him again — he’s one of the few people that she didn’t find annoying back then.

He got up from his seat, then, and Nina did the same. Dread surged through her at the prospect of this meeting being their first and last meeting post-school. She enjoyed talking to him, enjoyed hearing him talk — Nina didn’t enjoy many things these days but this she did.

“Can I, uh, have your numbers?” He asked. “In case there’s an opening at my friend’s office so I have a way of contacting you.”

“Sure,” Nina smiled. She usually hesitated when people asked for her numbers, but not this time. She took his phone from his hand and typed her number, saving it under her name. When she handed the device back to him, he grinned, tapping it against his palm.

“Thank you, again, for everything,” he said as he kept his phone. He pushed the chair forward, his movements slow like he didn’t want to leave. Surprisingly, Nina didn’t want him to leave either. An hour ago she was so looking forward to going home but now she wanted to stay here. Something’s wrong with her. “Tonight could’ve easily been the worst night of my life but it ended up being pretty good.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

He glanced over his shoulder at the exit and then returned his gaze back to Nina. “I should go before my friends call me again. They can be really annoying sometimes.”

“Friends,” Nina said understandingly and somehow that one word could make him laugh. His laughter filled her with delight and her lips curved into a smile.

“Right.” He’s about to head to the exit when he suddenly stopped. “Is it okay if I text you? Like, not about the job.”

Nina laughed softly and nodded, her heart swelling against her ribcage. “I’d like that.”

Niall finally headed for the exit and moments before he stepped out into the sidewalk, he waved at her, his smile the last thing she saw before she turned around and returned to the counter. Elaine was looking at her with a funny look on her face.

“What?”

“You gave him your numbers.” Elaine said, giving away the fact that she had been eyeing them whilst she stood behind the counter. When Nina didn’t say anything else, she added, “Are you two gonna see each other again?”

Nina rolled her eyes, though it was pretty difficult for her to suppress the smile. She liked the idea of them seeing each other again but she didn’t want to get her hopes up. He did say that he hardly have free time so that could very well be the only time she got to see him.

“Dunno. Don’t think he’d even text me.”

“Nonsense,” Elaine shook her head, “I bet he’ll text you by the end of the night.”

“Heh.”

“You know, Jason fell sick at the right time.”

“What?” Nina distinctly remembered how awful Elaine felt when she found out Jason had fallen sick. She believed that it’s all because of her because she came to work with runny nose and sore throat last week, and this week Jason caught the flu.

Elaine shrugged. “If he didn’t fall sick and you didn’t cover his shift, you wouldn’t have met Niall again. Oh and if his date showed up, you two wouldn’t have ended up talking and exchanging numbers--”

“We didn’t exchange numbers,” Nina felt the need to correct that statement. “He has my numbers but I don’t have his.”

“You will soon,” Elaine said as though she could predict the future. “Anyway my point is: everything happens for a reason, remember?”

Huh.

/////

“You look happy for someone who just got stood up,” was the first thing Liam said to Niall as he approached his friends at their table and took a seat at the only empty chair. That’s a brave thing to say considering that he’s the one who set Niall up with Anna, the girl from his office, whom he thought was the great match for his friend. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” Niall replied. He didn’t think he’d say that an hour ago, but things changed when he started talking to Nina. He wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole when he saw Anna walking into a pub after telling him that she wasn’t feeling well. He was mortified, even more so because it happened in front of Nina and her friend.

“Told you, mate,” Louis piped in, nudging Liam in the rib, “You should’ve set him up with Jess not Anna. Jess is the right one.”

“No,” Niall shook his head as he put down his beer. He needed to put a stop to this. His friends had been trying to set him up with girls from their office for months and he’d grown tired of it. He knew his friends meant well -- they wanted him to live a little, that’s what they always said, but he didn’t need that right now. What he needed was for the time to stop so he could catch a breath and not feel like he’s behind on everything. “No more setting me up with anyone. I don’t have time for it.”

“Oh here we fucking go again,” Louis grumbled as he rolled his eyes and shook his head. Taking a sip of his beer, he pointed a finger at Niall. “All you talk about is how you don’t have time for fucking anything. Make time, then!”

Niall let out a scoff. He’d lost count on how many times he’s told to make time for something other than school. “Easy for you to say,” he said to his friend.

Liam, noticing the tension in the air, interjected. “Hey, let’s talk about something else.” Turning to Niall, he asked, “You mentioned you’re with someone at the coffee shop. Who was it?”

“Nina.”

“Nina as in the girl you used to have a crush on?” Liam asked.

Niall’s cheeks reddened at the reminder. He did have a crush on her back then. He thought she was cool, incredibly smart and annoyingly beautiful. Annoyingly, he thought, because he had a hard time taking his eyes off of her -- read: the back of her head -- in class and she didn’t realise how beautiful she really was.

Louis’ ears perked up at the mention of the word ‘crush’, his annoyance from earlier dissipated into thin air. “Niall had a crush on someone? Niall ‘I don’t have time for anything’ Horan actually had time for crush back then?”

“Fuck off,” Niall gave his friend the bird.

“Who’s this Nina girl, anyway?” Louis asked, curiosity lilting his voice.

“Niall partnered up with her for a project in-- what class was it?”

“World History,” Niall mumbled, unwilling to share that piece of information because he knew Liam was going to embarrass him so why help him, right?

“Yeah, that’s it.” Liam grinned. “They worked together quite a lot and he had a huuuuge crush on her--”

“You’re exaggerating,” Niall interrupted. Maybe it’s a bad idea to mention Nina in front of his friends who’d take any chance they could get to embarrass him.

“Am I?” Liam kinked an eyebrow at him. Niall simply rolled his eyes. “But true to Niall Horan’s fashion, he never told her that he liked her.”

Louis let out a loud groan as he slapped Niall on the back.

“Wha-What the fuck was that for?”

“You’re a fucking idiot, do you know that?”

Turning to Liam, he frowned, “And what do you mean true to Niall Horan’s fashion?”

“It’s what you do, mate. You wait until it’s too late.” Liam said as he gave his friend a sympathetic pat on the back. Niall slapped his away, his frown deepening. “Remember Julia?”

“Yes?” Of course Niall remembered her. Julia was his crush back in high school. They were close, always spending time with each other and at some point, he thought that there’s a chance that she liked him back, but he never had the guts to tell her that he liked her, too afraid he’d ruin their friendship. With few months left in their senior year, Julia told him that she’s dating Colin. He couldn’t help but wonder if they’re still together or not.

“Well you liked her but you never told her you did and she ended up with Colin.”

The best (worst) part was, she told him that she did like him but he was taking too long to confess and she got tired of waiting around for him.

“Ooof,” Louis remarked, to which Niall scowled at him.

“That’s one time,” Niall said to defend himself.

Liam gave him another look. “Alice? Emily?”

“Okay, okay. I get your point.” Niall said and that stopped his friend from listing out the names of girls he used to like. He got it: he never had the guts to admit his feelings and he ended up with nothing. When asked to choose between go big and go home, he always chose go home. He always chose the safest option. Except when it came to his academic -- he’s only brave when it came to school.

“Wait, this happens a lot of times?” Louis questioned.

Liam nodded. “Anyway, how’s she like?”

“She’s still the same,” Niall told him. Still like the girl he used to have a crush on. Talking to her earlier brought back feelings he thought had gone away when he never saw her again after they’re done with World History. He never saw her after that and it didn’t help that they were in different courses. But it did help with him getting over his crush. Seeing her standing behind the counter when he walked into The Brew reminded him that some crushes never really went away.

“Tell me you have her numbers,” Louis said, interrupting his train of thoughts.

“I have.”

“That’s my boy!” Louis exclaimed, slapping his back out of excitement. “You need to man up and tell her you like her.”

A frown materialised between Niall’s brows. “Why would I do that?”

“Because I think you still like her,” Liam said.

“How--”

“How’d I know that?” Liam quirked an eyebrow at him. Niall nodded sheepishly. “Give me some credits, mate. I’ve been your friends for over a decade and what kind of a friend would I be if I can’t tell when you like someone and when you don’t?”

Niall didn’t say anything as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.

Even if he still liked Nina, that didn’t mean he should tell her about it. Before today, Nina didn’t even remember he existed. In fact, he could tell that when he walked up to her earlier, she didn’t recognise him at all. So why would he embarrass himself by admitting to her that he liked her when clearly she didn’t feel the same way? He had embarrassed himself enough in front of her today and he’s not going to do that again.

&&

Niall had been staring at the screen of his phone, unsure if he should text Nina or not. He hadn’t done this in a while and he didn’t know the protocol when it came to texting the girl one liked. How long must he wait before he texted her? A day? Two days? Three days? A week?

“I’ve gone mad,” Niall muttered to himself as he put his phone down and threw his body onto his bed. His book fell down to the floor and he didn’t bother to pick it up. He’s too tired to do so.

Niall picked up his phone again. Hi, this is Niall -- he stared at the text for a few seconds before he erased it. Hi, it’s late and you’re probably sleeping but -- nope, too long. Nina, hey, it’s Niall -- okay maybe that’s better. Before he could change his mind for the tenth time, Niall clicked the send button.

Sitting up, he looked at the situation in his room. Aside from the book on the floor and a pair of socks near his laundry bag, his room was spotless. Unlike his mess of a mind.

Niall’s about to take off his glasses when his phone vibrated next to his thigh. He looked at it for a good five seconds before he picked it up.

Hi Niall :)

“Shit.” He didn’t think she’d reply because it’s pretty late and he thought he would at least have until next morning to think of a reply in case she did reply whilst he slept.

Can’t sleep? -- Niall figured that’d be a great opening for a conversation so with his eyes closed, he sent that message. A few seconds later, he saw three dots appearing on the screen. He held his breath.

Nope. My friend made me watch a horror movie so now i can’t close my eyes without seeing the ghost

Niall found himself laughing, no longer feeling tensed. He couldn’t even remember why he was so worried about texting Nina.

How ‘bout you? Studying?

He did plan on studying but Liam and Louis kept him out late and now he’s too tired to even pick up his book. Besides, he’s a bit tipsy from the drinks he had earlier, which explained why he had the guts to text Nina at nearly 2 in the morning.

Just got home actually.

Fun night?

Niall’s heart was pounding against his chest as he read her reply. He had never considered himself as someone who’s good at small talks, especially through text messages, but as he typed his reply, he realised that what you thought was difficult could be easy when you’re doing it with the right person. Their conversation flowed effortlessly. He told her that he had a pretty good night and that he couldn’t stop thinking about her coffee -- read: just her -- and she told him that he could come to The Brew from here on out to get his coffee fix. He usually just made his own because that saved him a lot of money but after tonight he considered getting coffee at the coffee shop.

Then they talked about their family and Niall found out that they’re both an only child. He also found out that she got offered to continue her postgrad study earlier this year but she turned it down because she was hoping to get a job first but so far she hadn’t gotten the job she wanted and that’s how she ended up working at The Brew.

In return, he told her that initially, he only accepted the master’s degree offer because he wasn’t ready for life out of collegiate atmosphere. Over time, he realised that it’s the right thing to do and that he’d made the right choice even though oftentimes he felt like he didn’t. Nina then asked her what he’d like to be once he graduated and Niall had to stop for a while to consider his answer. He’d never really thought that far. He’d been so caught up with the things he had to do daily that he hadn’t gotten the chance to step back and look at the bigger picture. He should really start thinking about that.

I think you’d be a great lecturer.

Niall didn’t get to finish typing his reply -- i don’t know -- because Nina’s caller ID took over the screen of his phone. He frowned, his heartbeat fast.

“Hello?”

“Hey.”

She sounded tired. Niall instantly felt bad for texting her in the first place. Maybe she was just being polite when she told her that she couldn’t sleep.

“Sorry for calling you out of nowhere. My fingers are tired.”

“Your fingers are tired?” Niall laughed. That’s the first time he heard someone say this.

“It’s a real thing,” she countered.

“I believe you.”

“Good,” she replied and Niall could see her smiling face behind his closed eyes. “Hey, can I be honest with you?”

Niall swallowed the lump in his throat. “Yeah sure.”

“I didn’t think you’d text me.”

“Really? Why?”

“Dunno. I just, I didn’t think you’d text me ‘cause you said you hardly have free time so why would you text me, right?” Her laugh was short and awkward. “But I’m glad you did.”

Niall felt a smile forming on his lips. “I’m glad I did too. I didn’t think I’d have the guts to do it, to be honest.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s… I don’t know. My friends got to me, I guess.” Niall couldn’t stop thinking about what Liam and Louis said to him earlier. Mostly what Liam said about how he had the tendency to wait too long to admit his feeling and by the time he’s ready, it’s already too late.

“What’d they say?”

Niall pursed his lips. “They, uh, pointed out my flaw.”

“That’s what friends do,” she chuckled. Niall pressed his phone closer to his ear, wanting to hear that sound loud and clear. What had gotten into him? “Are you going to tell me what that flaw is or are we going to forget about that and pretend we never talk about it?”

This could be Niall’s chance to come clean about his feeling for her. He screwed his eyes shut as indecisiveness took over. On one hand, he wanted to wait before he told her that he used to like her because they just met again today and he didn’t want to freak her out but on the other hand, waiting had never worked out for him. He always ended up waiting too long. He’s bad at this, so embarrassingly bad.

“Hello?”

“Sorry, sorry,” Niall spluttered.

“S’fine. If you’re tired we can--”

“No. I, uh, I’m going to tell you what the flaw is,” Niall said.

“Okay.”

Niall took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe that he’s doing this. Must be the drinks he had a few hours ago and must be Louis’ annoying voice taunting him about how he needed to man up and tell Nina he liked her. “I have the tendency to wait too long until it’s already too late. Like, uh, back when we had a class together I had a crush on you but I didn’t say anything to you ‘cause I wanted to wait for the right time but then the semester ended and we never saw each other again.”

It felt simultaneously good and bad to let that out. Good because he finally got to admit his feeling and let Nina know about it instead of keeping it to himself. Bad because she hadn’t said anything in the last fifty seconds.

“Jesus. I’ve made things awkward, haven’t I?” Niall closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Why’d he take an advice from Louis? That guy hadn’t been in a committed relationship in years so his advice was the last thing he should listen to. “Please just forget--”

“I-wow, you liked me?”

“Why’re you so surprised?” He couldn’t be the first one to tell her that he liked her.

“Dunno, it’s just… I’m me.”

Niall let out a laugh. “I’m aware of that.”

“Well, thanks…” she trailed off. “Thanks for telling me, I guess. It’s nothing we can do about it because it’s in the past but yeah--”

“See, there’s a possibility that it’s not in the past.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t like doing this through phone but I don’t wait to wait either.” Because he’d probably lose the guts to do it come morning time. He’s choosing go big this time instead of going down the same route which was go home. Maybe his life wouldn’t be so boring if he started taking risks outside of school. “So I’m gonna do it right now.”

“Do what?” She sounded confused. Rightly so.

Niall cleared his throat. “Would you like to, maybe, grab a dinner with me soon? I know this might be too soon but--”

“Would you have time for that?” She interrupted him before he could finish his sentence. “I mean, you hardly have free time.”

“What? Of course--”

“I’m just teasing you.”

He laughed. He didn’t think it’s possible for him to like her even more but he just did.

“Right.” She and Louis were going to get along so well if they were to meet each other. He should hold that meeting off for as long as he could. “So, what do you say?”

“I’d like that.”

&&

When Niall woke up the next morning, his mind immediately drifted to the conversation he had with Nina last night not his research -- it’s a first. He couldn’t believe that he confessed to her, couldn’t believe that he asked her out and most of all, he couldn’t believe that she agreed to it. And it all happened in one night.

Everything felt too good to be true. Needing a confirmation that last night did happen, Niall picked up his phone from his nightstand and scrolled through his text messages and then his phone calls list. Nina’s name was there and he let out a relieved sigh. Whilst that was enough to convince him that he wasn’t dreaming, he needed a verbal confirmation. He needed to see Nina even though the prospect of seeing her again made him feel excited and terrified at the same time.

Instead of jumping straight into the shower so he could study afterwards, he stayed in bed and checked on his Instagram and Facebook, something he didn’t allow himself to do often because he always worried that he’s wasting his time doing so when he could’ve been working on his research. He figured after the week he had, he deserved this. He deserved to relax and not do anything for an hour or two.

It’s nearly afternoon when he finally decided to leave his bed and his friends had just texted him to let him know that they’re coming over to his place in twenty minutes.

“Have you told Nina you like her?” Louis asked as he threw himself onto the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table. He took a sip of the beer he brought and let out a relieved sigh. “Did you text her like you said you would?”

Niall rolled his eyes at his friend. Of course that’s what he wanted to know first when he got here.

“Give him a break,” Liam stepped in as he handed Niall a bottle of beer before he took a seat next to Louis. Niall shot him a grateful look but that look immediately turned into a scowl when he asked, “What’d you two talk about last night?”

“Stuff,” Niall replied, not loving his friends’ inquisitiveness. He opened the cap of his beer and took a few sips. When Louis and Liam told him half an hour ago that they’re coming over to watch a football match between Derby County and Southampton, he knew that they’re going to question him about Nina. He’d decided, before they arrived, that he was going to be tight-lipped about it. He didn’t want to jinx it.

“You asked her out, didn’t you?” Liam asked, eyes squinted as he studied his friend’s face.

Louis sat up straighter, his eyes widening. “You did?”

Niall let out a groan. He couldn’t keep anything from his friends even if his life depended on it because even if he kept his mouth shut, they’d know what’s going on with him. If he didn’t know them better he’d think their full time job was studying him.

“I did,” Niall answered reluctantly.

“Attaboy!” Louis cheered as he leaned against Liam so he could reach for Niall and patted his back, his beer sloshing in his bottle with his every movement.

“So when’s the date?”

Niall shrugged. Whilst he and Nina did agree on grabbing dinner soon, they never did decide on the time and day. He didn’t want to seem pushy, though the uncertainty was killing him. A part of him, the paranoid part, was scared that she might change her mind so he decided that going with the flow was the right thing to do here. Worrying about it would do him no good.

So with that thought in mind, he leaned against the couch and picked up his remote control before he turned up the volume. “Derby’s gonna win,” he said to his friends.

“No way. Nuh uh.” Louis shook his head. “Southampton will.”

&&

Ten days had passed since Niall got stood up at The Brew, which meant ten days had passed since he started talking to Nina and asked her out. They talked regularly via text messages, but that’s about it. They hadn’t seen each other and they still hadn’t decided when they’re going to grab dinner together.

Niall didn’t have much time to think about that because he’d been busy with his research since his supervisor told him that he needed to see his final draft by the end of the month. Niall had about three days left for that and he’s freaking out. Couple with the fact that he hadn’t gotten enough sleep in the last ten days, he’s also so close to losing his mind.

The more past researches he read to support his findings, the more he realised that he knew nothing. And it didn’t help that time seemed to fly really quickly. How was he supposed to learn everything there was to learn when there wasn’t enough time in the world for that?

Okay, maybe he’d already lost his mind.

“When’s the last time you slept for longer than 2 hours?”

“Dunno,” Niall answered as he fastened his pace so he could get to the coffee shop faster. He was getting frustrated with his research that he ended up slamming his laptop shut -- he knew he’d regret it later. He grabbed his coat, then, and left his flat without thinking twice. He needed to be elsewhere, he needed a distraction even though that’s the last thing he needed.

So he figured there’s one place he should go to.

“Where’re you?” Liam asked, concern in his voice.

“I just got off the tube,” he told his friend. “Going to The Brew.”

“If you needed coffee you could’ve just told me. I would’ve brought some for you.”

Coffee wasn’t the only thing he needed. He needed to talk to Nina, to see her in person.

“S’fine. I needed to get some fresh air, anyway.”

“You wanted to see Nina, didn’t you?”

“Maybe,” Niall replied before he ended the call a few seconds later when he arrived at the coffee shop.

But Nina wasn’t at The Brew when he stepped in. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach when he realised that he came all the way here for nothing. Well, not exactly nothing because he could still get coffee but--

“Niall?” Niall glanced over his shoulder and there she was. She walked over to him, brows furrowing. “Are you okay? You look…”

“Awful?” He finished the sentence for her. He saw his reflection on the tube earlier and it nearly frightened him. His hair was disheveled and the dark circles under his eyes were becoming more and more prominent.

“I was gonna say tired,” she told him with a small smile on her lips. She touched his arm and cocked her head to the side. “Let’s head inside. My shift isn’t starting for another twenty minutes so we could sit down and have a drink.”

“That sounds good.” They walked into The Brew and Nina led him to the table he sat at over a week ago. Whilst he sat, she ordered coffee for them and returned a few minutes later. “Let me pay for that.”

“You don’t have to.”

Niall shook his head. He couldn’t let Nina give him free coffee again so he slid some money to her. “Please accept it.”

Nina looked at him and at the pleading look on his face, and took his money. “You haven’t answered my question. Are you okay?”

Niall shrugged. To other people he’d lie and say that he’s okay because he didn’t want them to offer him their sympathy but with Nina he felt like he could tell her anything and she wouldn’t make him feel awful about it.

“Dunno. Think I’m losing my mind,” he said, his voice small and timid.

Admitting that to himself is one thing, but admitting it to other people? That’s another thing. He’s used to keeping his feelings to himself that he found it hard to voice it out. And that’s mostly because he’d made himself believe that no one cared what he felt. No one cared if he’s so tired that he felt like there were heavy bricks on his shoulders and chest. No one cared if he hadn’t been getting enough sleep because his nose had been buried in books and past researches. No one cared if he’s losing his mind because he didn’t think he’s going to ever finish his research.

“Why do you think so?” Nina asked as she placed her hand on top of his and squeezed it. He looked up at her and caught her smiling encouragingly at him.

“Everything’s just… so difficult. So frustrating. My supervisor wanted to see the final draft this Thursday and I’m only like 40% done with it. I’m not gonna make it.”

“Hey,” she nudged his foot. “You will make it. I know it feels like everything’s against you right now, trust me I know how that feels, but you’ll figure everything out. You’ve come so far; you can’t give up now.”

“Can I figure everything out now? I have three days before I have to see him again and he’ll bite my head off if I show him nothing.”

“You won’t show him nothing.” She said confidently. Niall looked at her in awe. Her confidence in him blew his mind. “You’ll have your final draft ready by Thursday. I believe in you. You’re a smart person and you will make it. Now drink your coffee before it gets cold.”

Niall let out a chuckle. He picked up the cup and took a few sips. Warmth spread across his chest. “You’re amazing, do you know that?”

Her cheeks flushed. “What?”

“You… I don’t know, you just know what to say and it blows my mind.”

“It’s nothing.”

“No,” he shook his head, refused to let her downplay this. Her words of encouragement were what Niall needed to hear and it could very well help him finish his final draft. “It’s not nothing. You’ve no idea how badly I wanted to hear what you just said to me. You just… understand me.”

Niall didn’t realise up until recently how important it was to have someone who understands you in your corner. He loved his friends, he really did, and he didn’t know what he’d do without them in his life, but they didn’t get him the way Nina did. Their priority wasn’t the same as his. Whereas they worried about not reaching their monthly target at work, Niall worried that he might not be able to finish his research on time.

“Everyone needs someone who understands them,” she smiled at him as she patted his hand.

“You’re right.” Niall agreed. “Enough about me. How are you?”

“I’m good,” she replied. “I might have an interview in two days so, I’m nervous about that.”

“Really?” Niall’s eyes widened. He’d give her a hug but there’s a table separating them. “That’s great!”

“Well, I wouldn’t put my hopes up. I’ll probably not get the job.”

For someone who had pretty much restored his belief in himself, Nina didn’t have much confidence in herself. She didn’t realise how amazing she really was, didn’t realise how smart he thought she was.

“Don’t say that,” he said to her. “You’ll do great and you’ll impress all of them. It’d be their loss if they don’t hire you.”

A hint of a smile touched her lips. “Well, I hope you’re right.”

The two of them continued to talk about Nina’s interview until eventually she had to leave him as her shift was starting. Niall stayed for another ten minutes before he left and when he’s home he went straight to his laptop and continued working on his research. By the time he decided to take a break because his back was killing him from hunching in front of the laptop, he’d already finished 80% of his research.

Who would’ve thought that all he needed was a trip to The Brew and twenty minutes with Nina to get his brain to start working again?

/////

Nina got the job.

She was grocery shopping, not at all thinking about the job interview she had a couple of days ago, when she got the email stating that she was the perfect candidate for the position she applied for so they’re hiring her. She couldn’t believe her eyes at first so she stopped by the cereal aisle and reread the email. She didn’t misread it. She really did get the job.

Her hands were shaking as she composed a text message to Niall to inform him of the news. She’d like to think that had it not been for his words of encouragement, she wouldn’t have walked into the interview with confidence in her steps. She didn’t stutter, not even once. She was able to answer all questions thrown at her and got positive reactions and responds from the interviewer.

It felt natural to text Niall. They did that a lot, more so after Niall’s short trip to The Brew the other day he had a little meltdown. Soon after that, she’s the one who had a meltdown, via text messages, because she was anxious about her interview. He didn’t reply straight away because he was meeting his supervisor at that moment but he called her as soon as he read her text.

Ever since then, Nina found herself texting him whenever something happened because he’s the first person she wanted to talk to.

Knew you could do it. Congratulations, nina -- she had the biggest smile on her face as she read Niall’s reply. She didn’t think it’s possible but her smile turned bigger when he sent another message: we should celebrate! I’ve submitted my final draft & you got a job. There’s still hope for all of us.

Nina laughed. She told him that they definitely should celebrate before she put her phone away. Toni was going to start calling her if she didn’t come home soon because this was supposed to be a quick grocery run. They ran out of milk, cereal and bread so Nina volunteered to buy them -- it’s her turn to do the grocery, anyway.

After checking out her items, Nina headed home. Just as she was about to open the door, Toni called her. She didn’t pick it up.

“I’m here, I’m here,” Nina announced her presence as she walked straight to their open kitchen.

“Finally! I’m starving.” Toni took out milk from the grocery bag and poured some into her bowl. Next, she took out the cereal box and poured some cereal. Nina scrunched her nose at Toni because she’s one of those weird people who poured milk before cereal. “I can feel you judging me.”

“Only because you’re a weirdo.”

Toni ignored her remark as she picked up a spoon and started eating her cereal whilst standing in the kitchen.

Nina wanted to wait but her excitement took over and she found herself yelling, “I got the job!”

Toni’s eyes widened. “Oh my God!”

“I know.”

“Holy shit. Congratulations!” She put down the bowl and pulled her friend into a hug. “When’re you starting?”

“They told me to start in two weeks so I’ll have to give my two weeks’ notice tomorrow.”

Nina was going to miss The Brew, she really was, especially Elaine whom she hadn’t told the news to yet. She decided it’s better if she broke it in person. Telling her through text message didn’t feel right.

“So, are we celebrating?” Toni asked, wriggling her eyebrows. “Unless you’ll be celebrating with a certain someone?”

“Dunno what you’re talking about, Toni.”

Toni rolled her eyes. “Don’t play dumb. I know you’ve been talking to that Niall guy. When are you two going on that date, anyway?”

Nina shrugged. Whilst they did talk a lot, the date was something they hadn’t talked about. She figured that since he’s busy with his research and she’s busy with work, it’s best if they waited a little.

The sound of Nina’s phone ringing broke the silence between her and Toni. She looked at the caller ID, her heart pounding against her chest when she saw Niall’s name on the screen.

“Oooh lover boy’s calling you. I’m gonna give you some privacy.” Toni grinned and winked before she made her way to the living room. Technically, she could still listen in on Nina’s conversation because there’s no wall dividing them.

Nina took a deep breath before she answered the call. “Hello.”

“Nina, hey.” He sounded out of breath like he’d just finished running.

“Hey, everything alright?”

“Yeah, yeah. I just… Are you free this evening?”

“I… am. Yeah, I am.”

“Great. That’s really great. What do you say we finally go on a date?” Niall asked before he quickly added, “Sorry, that’s not the most romantic way of asking you out but--”

“This evening sounds good.”

“Yeah? You think so?”

“It’s long overdue, don’t you think?” Her question was met with a laughter.

“You’re right. I’m sorry it took me so long to do this.”

“You have nothing to apologise for.” The fact that he still remembered the date surprised her. She thought that since over two weeks had passed, the date was never going to happen. Niall continued to surprise her.

“I’ll pick you up at 5?”

“Sounds perfect. I’ll text you the address.”

“Can’t wait to see you.”

They bid their goodbye after that and Nina had a huge smile plastered across her face as she ended the call and texted Niall her address.

“Someone scored herself a job and a date,” Toni commented from the couch. “Lucky.”

Lucky indeed. But then again, it’s about time something good happened to her.

&&

Nina was worried about not being able to get ready on time so she decided to get ready an hour and a half earlier. It turned out that she didn’t need that much time. Less than an hour later her hair’s done -- she didn’t do much to it, simply clipped half of her hair to the back -- and her makeup’s done too -- she followed a tutorial she saw on Youtube, one that wouldn’t make it seem like she’s trying so hard.

Not wanting to overdress and underdress at the same time, she put on a wrap dress she wore to her cousin’s beach wedding last year and threw on a jacket over it. Then, she finished her look with a pair of flats. She’s not one to wear heels, unless she really needed to.

“You look gorg,” Toni commented as she leaned against the doorway, arms crossed in front of her chest. “When’s the last time you went on a date?”

“Can’t remember,” Nina replied. She really couldn’t. “Do you think I look okay?”

“I literally just told you that you look gorg.”

Nina didn’t hear the compliment. She was busy staring at her reflection, trying to figure out if she’s wearing the right outfit. She’s suddenly having second thoughts about her outfit. “Sorry, must’ve not heard that.”

“Well, you look gorgeous. More than okay. Niall’s jaw will be on the floor the entire time.”

“Thank you,” Nina smiled.

“Did he tell you where he’s taking you?”

Nina shook her head. She didn’t even ask him about it, but maybe he would tell her when he got here. “Is it normal to be nervous?” She asked Toni as she cracked her knuckles, something she often did when she’s nervous.

“Of course. Especially when you really like that person.” Toni gave her a knowing smile before she left her alone with her thoughts.

It hit her then how much she liked Niall, how strongly she felt for him. It’s crazy because they just met. But then again, did time really matter? Because when she talked to him or when she’s around him, it felt like she’d known him forever. And as cheesy as it sounded, it’s like she’d been waiting her whole life for him. Except it took her a little while to realise that because the first time she met him, he was just her classmate whom she hoped would cooperate well with her because they needed to do a project together. Now, they’re more than that. Maybe, just maybe, the universe decided to throw them together again because they needed each other to go through the confusing part of their lives. Niall with his research and Nina with her job.

“Nins, your date’s here!”

Nina could feel her breath leaving her lungs. She took one last look at the mirror before she left her room.

“Have fun.”

“Thanks, Toni.”

Nina took a few deep breaths before she opened the door. Niall was wearing a dark blue button up with a pair of jeans that matched his shirt and a pair of dark boots. He looked amazing. Nina couldn’t believe that she’s going on a date with him.

“Hi,” he smiled. He leaned forward and pulled her in for a half hug. Before he pulled away, he pressed a kiss on her cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Her cheeks warmed up at the compliment. “You look great too.”

“Are we ready to go?”

Nina nodded as she stepped out of her flat and closed the door behind. “Where are we going?”

“How do you feel about mini golf?”

“I’ve never played it but it sounds fun.”

“Then that’s what we’re doing,” he grinned. “Fair warning: I’m extremely good at it.”

Nina let out a laugh. “We’ll see about that.”

&&

Niall wasn’t lying when he said he’s good at it. There’s only one hole left and Nina’s scores were far behind his. There’s no way of catching up, which was why she had already admitted defeat ten minutes ago.

“Do you do this often?” Nina asked as they made their way to their last hole.

“Not really.”

“Then how’re you so good at it?” Nina frowned. It didn’t make sense that he’s good at it if he didn’t play this often.

“Well I did go mini-golfing a lot when I was a kid but this is my first time in, erm, four years.”

“So you haven’t played since you started uni?” Niall nodded. He’s so dedicated to his academic and Nina found that admirable. But even the smartest person on earth needed a break sometimes. You couldn’t focus on one thing and one thing only. So she decided to propose something. “We should do this a regular thing. Once a week? Once in two weeks?”

Niall looked at her, brows furrowing in confusion at the sudden suggestion.

“I mean, I gotta do this a lot if I want to beat your score someday.”

He laughed. “Once a week sounds good.”

“Awesome. I’ll be able to top your score in no time.”

Niall gave her a look. Okay maybe she was exaggerating. She’s going to need at least a year of practice before she could be as good as Niall because when it came to sports, she wasn’t a fast learner. Shame. She could really use that trait of hers for this.

“Alright. Here we are.” Niall stopped at their 18th hole and put down the ball. There’s a small fountain next to them and a family of three taking a picture of it. It made her miss her family suddenly. She hadn’t told her parents that she got a new job but she planned on doing so tomorrow morning. She owed them a video call, after all. “Nina?”

“Hmm?”

“You okay?”

Nina removed her gaze from the family to look at Niall. “Yeah,” she told him. She didn’t want to dampen the mood by talking about her parents. “My turn?”

Niall nodded.

Nina took her place in front of the ball and took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing,” she said as she hit the ball. She watched, with bated breath, as the ball hit all the right places and eventually fell into the hole. Her eyes widened. “Wait, no way.” She didn’t just do that, did she? A few minutes ago she hit the ball into the lake but now.

“You did it!”

“I did it? I did it!”

Nina jumped in excitement and threw her arms around Niall who dropped his golf club onto the grass so he could wrap his arms around her waist and lift her off the ground. Nina didn’t realise what she’s doing until her nose bumped against Niall’s when she pulled back. Time stopped, she swore, when their eyes met. As if on instinct, her gaze dropped to his mouth. Had it not been for the sound of laughter interrupting their moment, reminding them that they’re in public and there were families around them, she had a feeling she would’ve been kissing him by now.

She cleared her throat and stepped away from him. “I, uh, it’s your turn.”

“Right, right.” Niall nodded as he picked up his golf club. He hit the ball with precision and unsurprisingly, it went into the hole on one try. “So, that’s the last one.”

“Mhmm, mhmm.”

“We should return these.”

“Mhmm.”

The two of them made their way to the return counter in silence, unsure if they should talk about what nearly happened a few minutes ago. So they decided that it’s best if they kept their mouth shut. Nina waited on the bench as Niall returned the equipments they used earlier.

Nina was just about to wrap her head around what happened back there when Niall returned from the counter. He took a seat next to her.

“I, uh, want to be clear about something.” He started. He sounded nervous and unsure. Nina looked at him, scared to hear what he’s going to say next. “We almost kissed, didn’t we?”

She didn’t know what was she expecting, but this wasn’t it.

“I wasn’t imagining that?”

Nina shook her head. “No, you weren’t.”

“Oh great.” He let out a relieved sigh. He heaved himself off of the bench and offered Nina his hand.

“Great?” Nina kinked an eyebrow at him. She accepted his hand and he helped her stand on her feet.

“You know I like you, yeah?” He quizzed. “Really like you?”

“I… I like you too.” Nina said. This was her first time admitting it out loud and strangely, it felt good to do so. She was always scared that when she did tell someone she liked them, she’d get a thank you or silence in return -- it’s one of her biggest fears. But what she got was a smile. A huge one. “Really like you.”

Feeling an invisible pull towards each other, they both shifted closer and closer until there’s no gap between them and until the only thing left to do was for them to kiss, to continue what they nearly did a few minutes ago.

Nina didn’t remember who made the first move. It could be her, it could be Niall, or it could be the both of them -- not that it mattered because when their lips met, the only thing that they could think about was how this was just the beginning and how, for once, they weren’t scared of what the future had in store for them because they had each other.

[writingandotherstuff13-blog]

The One Where They Go Camping (Part One)

Pairing: Chandler Bing x Reader

Time: 1994 (Season One)

Word count: 1124

Cute-o-meter: 9/10

Hot-o-meter: 5/10

Sad-o-meter: 0/10

Fun-o-meter: 8/10

The seven of you had decided to spend a week away from the hustle of the city, in the mountains, near a big lake. The nearest town was 30km/19miles away, and Phoebe’s grandma’s cab was parked 7km/4miles away. 

You had just finished setting up your tents. They were five, and were disposed facing each other, so you all could sit at the entrance and talk at night.

Everything felt so quiet and comforting in that place... You looked at the big, bright, blue sky with only a few clouds on it, and felt happy and at home. It was really nice to be there with your friends.

‘Hey, (y/n)!’, Joey called from inside his tent. ‘Wanna go to the lake?’

‘Sure, let me just get my bikini’, you answered, and went inside your own tent to change.

‘Is everyone ready?’, asked Ross. ‘It’s important that we stay together, so nobody gets lost.’

‘In a minute!’, shouted Rachel. 

Both you and Chandler let out a quick laugh. She was always the last one to be ready. As you heard each other laugh, your eyes met for a second, but he quickly looked away. 

Still a little insecure, you walked towards him, taking little steps, with your hands in the pockets of your shorts. 

‘I feel like I haven’t seen you all week’, you told him. 

And it was true. It had been precisely a week since he stopped hanging out with you guys at Central Perk. You kept wondering what could have happened, if he had just been busier than usual, or if he had gotten a new girlfriend who was so great he forgot about you all. That particular thought made your heart sink like a stone.

‘I know, I feel the same. I’ve been so swamped at the office I didn’t even have time to breathe.’, he said.

You felt a little better after realising there was no reason to be paranoid. If he had a new girlfriend, he would have told the group. At least, he would have told Joey. Either way, you would have known.

Rachel finally got out of her tent, and you headed to the lake. You kept talking to Chandler while you walked, there were too many things you wanted to ask.

‘And tell me, how are things going... relationship-wise?’, you asked him.

‘Pretty much the same since I broke up with Janice.’, he answered. Something in his smile made you feel like he had been meaning for you to ask that question for a long time. ‘And you, is there anything that I should know about?’

‘I guess there isn’t’, you replied, giving him the exact same smile.

***

‘Let’s play a game!’, suggested Monica as you arrived to the lake.

‘Which game?’, you asked.

‘Any game!’, she answered.

‘Oh, I know one, I know one!’, Rachel said immediately. ‘We could play that one in which we make pairs, and one person is on their teammate’s shoulders, and you have to push the other people to the water. Last team standing wins!’

‘That does sound fun!’, Ross agreed, and then turned to Monica. ‘Geller team?’

‘Geller team!’, she replied enthusiastically. ‘The winning team, obviously.’

Rachel was already teaming up with Joey, when Chandler looked at you, the question in his eyes.

‘What about Phoebe?’, you asked.

‘You guys team up, don’t worry about me, I wanna be the ref!’, she told you.

‘Okay!’, you grinned. ‘ Let’s do this!’

You guys were already in the lake, and everyone seemed ready to start the game. When Phoebe gave the signal, you and Chandler went right across the lake to run away from the Gellers, who were chasing you at an impressive speed. He kept both of his hands on your legs so you wouldn’t fall.

Ross threw water at you, and you splashed him back immediately. Monica tried to push you back, but you ducked right in time. You all laughed loudly, and Chandler took his right hand from your leg to push Monica back.

Joey and Rachel came from the other side of the lake, and were about to reach Monica and Ross, giving you both some time to go away and make a proper plan.

‘Okay, we’ll go after the Gellers, right?’, he asked you.

‘Totally! Joey and Rachel will be easier to defeat once those two are out. Maybe you should push Ross’s leg with yours under the water, he’s not expecting it, and it might make them lose balance.’

‘I like the way you think, (y/n).’

You smiled.

‘Okay, I think Joey and Rachel just escaped them, so they are coming in our direction!’, you pointed out.

You faced them as they were making their way towards you through the water. It was time to put your plan in motion.

When they reached you, Chandler hit Ross’s leg, making them shiver, but not fall.

‘I bet that was (y/n)’s idea!’, Monica shouted, tightening her grip.

‘Your bet is right, Mon!’, you screamed, and as Chandler took one step in their direction, you pushed her to the water, making a huge splash as she fell down.

‘We did it!’, Chandler screamed.

‘We are awesome!’ you added proudly.

You tried to hug his head and requested a high-five as Monica came back to the surface and stood on her feet.

‘You beat us this time’, she said, grinning cheerfully and splahing your feet. ‘Let’s go, Ross, we need to see who wins.’

You and Chandler were so busy celebrating the fact that you took down the Gellers that you didn’t see Joey and Rachel getting closer and colser to you. When you finally heard them, it was too late. They were already standing at your right side, and pushing both of you to the left.

You didn’t see that coming at all. And falling like that, it felt like slow motion. Chandler lost balance first, as his left foot was lifted from the ground and the water splashed around you when he fell. Impulsively, you pushed yourself to the front, and ended up falling right into his arms, as the small drops of water were lifted.

You emerged from the water, expecting to feel a little awkward after being locked in that unexpected embrace, but you didn’t. You were now both lying in the shallow end of the lake, his arms still around you, and you were laghing at that whole situation like two children would, but also staring intensely into each other’s eyes. You put your hand behind his neck, and fought the urge to kiss him as your friends approached you.

‘And the winners are... RACHEL AND JOEY!’, Phoebe screamed. 

But it certainly did not feel like it. At least not for you.

[thewackywriter]

The One With The Maybe

Joey Tribbiani x Y/N

Summary: What happens when Y/N makes a comment during a game that she can’t take back? How does Joey react?

A/N: This is super cringy and cheesy, but I loved the episode where they played this game so I turned it into an imagine! Hope you enjoy!! Check out my masterpost below for other imagines and series I’ve written!! Feedback is appreciated and requests are open! Thanks for reading!!

MASTERPOST

ASK/REQUEST

The group was all sitting in Central Perk trying to decide what movie to see that night when Y/N showed up. All the girls wanted to see the new romantic comedy while all the guys wanted to see the new action movie.

“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Y/N asked as she walked in. She took a seat on the edge of the couch next to Phoebe.

“We can’t decide which movie to see tonight, you pick.” Rachel told her before each side explained what the movies were about.

“They both sound really good, I have no idea.” As Y/N thought some more, Phoebe perked up.

“Oh I know, I know! I’m gonna ask you a bunch of questions and you have to answer them as fast as you can.” Phoebe explained. Y/N nodded, saying she was ready as the others watched.

“Dogs or cats?”

“Dogs.”

“Black or white?”

“White.”

“Would you rather sleep with Joey or Chandler?”

The name ‘Joey’ slipped out before Y/N covered her mouth in shock. She watched as Joey seemed to beam in pride, while Chandler threw his hands up in disbelief.

“Should I even be surprised?” Chandler asked rhetorically. “You know what. I get insulted, I pick the movie. Let’s go.” They all got up and headed out, with everyone except Joey forgetting what happened.

Later on that night they were all hanging out at Monica’s when Y/N stood up. “I’ve gotta head out. I’ve got to get up early for work tomorrow morning. That movie was awesome, good choice Chandler! Night everyone!” She didn’t even notice as Joey followed after her.

“Hey Y/N, wait up.” Joey decided not to beat around the bush. “So you wanna have sex with me.”

To say that Y/N was shocked would be an understatement. “Woah, what?”

“The game in the coffee shop, you said you wanna have sex with me.”

Y/N laughed. “Um, no. I said I would rather sleep with you than Chandler, not that I wanted to sleep with you.” Joey slowly walked up to her so that her back was against the wall and she was trapped between his arms.

“So, do you wanna have sex with me?” She leaned in so their lips were about to touch before pulling away, patting him on the chest, and slipping out from between his arms. As she walked out of the hallway and down the stairs, she called over her shoulder.

“Maybe.”

[harry-saopaolo]

Red Ribbon

Harry surprises Y/N by telling her how he feels but Y/N has a surprise of her own.

“My mum said if someone is sad just give ‘em a cupcake and all will be better”

That day was Harry’s first day in school and he was alone. It’s not that he didn’t want to have friends but he just didn’t know how make friends. Every third grader was at the playground having someone to chat with, play tag with while he sat on the swing having no one to push him.

But that’s when she came. The first thing he saw was her red ribbon shoes. It had a cute little bow on it. Then he saw the yellow dress, suddenly his day was a little brighter and things weren’t as dull as before he saw her. He looked higher to look at the owner of the shoes and there she was, hair adorned with yet another red ribbon. She smiled sweetly and handed him what seemed to be a Vanilla cupcake. Her mom sure was right, cause whether it was because of the cupcake or her, his day surely was better.

That was also the day he was sure he wanted to be friends with her forever.

“Wait, so you tell me, you’d rather finish a jar of mayo every month for the rest of your life than drink soda from your shoe once? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

They were taking a study break cause their heads were already hurting from trying to understand trigonometry so Y/N proposed a little game of ‘Would you rather...’ and she was getting frustrated by his answers by the minute.

“You’ve seen my running shoes, love. It ain’t pretty” He says before popping a handful of Skittles into his mouth.

“Oi, you’re eating all m’orange ones you knob!”

“Why don’t you get ‘em from me?” He mocks as he opens mouth.

“Eww, so I’d get slutty germs from when you kissed Jen last night? No thanks. I’d love to be as HIV free as much as possible, If you mind” 

“Love, you’re just saying that cause you hate her guts”

True.

She hates Jen with every fiber of her being. Ever since high school came around, she suddenly became interested in Harry. She would do things to get on Y/N’s nerves like act sick in front of Harry so he could take her to the infirmary, leaving Y/N all alone and act so sweet and innocent when he’s around. Jen would even give Y/N backhanded compliments like ‘’Ooh I love how old your skirt looks!” or “When other people wear too much makeup, it doesn’t look right but you pull it off just right!”. Her blood boils just by thinking about her.

“Don’t get all worked up now, love. Broke it off with her last night. Nothin’ to get your panties in a twist.” She can’t help but be surprised. Sure she hated her guts but if she made her best friend then she’d just keep her feelings at bay.

“What?! And you didn’t think it was worth telling me?”

“I’m telling you now aren’t I!”

“You know what I mean!” She had to stop to calm herself. “ Why? What did that bitch do? Tell me bub” He loved her pet name for him. It was the right amount of playful and sweet. She lets it slip every once in a while, knowing how much Harry loves and finds comfort in it.

“Nothin! jus’ wouldn’t stop yappin’ her mouth. Would’ve been better if she used it for something else better than talking, right love?” 

“Alright, I’m out that’s fucking gross” 

“Yeah yeah, act all concerned and whatnot but deep inside you’re happy I finally got rid of her” He always saw right through her.

“No, I’m not” Although saying that, She can’t help but smile.

That’s when he knew he’d do anything to make her smile.

“ Can’t believe I gave myself to him only to find out what a fuckin’ dickhead he is”

Harry came as soon as he heard her voicemail which was basically Y/N sniffling and mumbling incoherent words. He was lucky enough to make out the words “Come ‘ere. I need you, bub.” with that he bolted out of his apartment to hers. Now they were cuddled up on her bed, sharing a bowl of ice cream. A variety of things were laid on her bed, there were torn up pictures of her now ex-boyfriend, balled-up tissues and the necklace that was given to her by Brad. To her defense, she did try to break it but after the red marks it left on her palm and it still being unscathed, she gave up and just tossed it on the bed. Friends was softly playing in the background, the episode where Chandler lost the gold bracelet Joey got him was now forgotten.

“He wasn’t even good! Fucking sloppy as ever. Brad. What kind of name is that anyway? Straight out of a fuckin’ porno” 

Harry didn’t say anything. Letting her vent out all of her anger and pain, Knowing she always loved to hear his words of advice after letting everything out first.

“You know what? This is what I get for rushing into this! Don’t even know if I love him but I couldn’t even keep my legs closed. Maybe I was the bad one eh? That’s why he ran off to the blondie from Chem! Yeah, that is definitely it” By now her tears has dried up on her cheeks and there weren’t any new ones threatening to fall. She was past getting mad, she’s just sad.”Things always end up like this you know? M’never good enough, bub.”

“That’s bull Y/N, and you know it. They don’t know the fuck they lost, givin’ up a gem like you. M’not saying this just because I’m your best friend but never have I met anyone as perfect as you, you know?” She couldn’t help but let a few tears escape “ One day, you’re gonna meet ‘em and he’s gonna be great, just like what you deserve and you’ll forget about someone as petty as Brad. Never doubt yourself, love. Who else is gonna cheer me up and keep me at my toes if you keep on bringing yourself down?”

She hugs him tighter, finding serenity between his arms. She can’t help but place a quick kiss on his cheek. “ You’ll always be my guy, right bub?”

For some reason, his heart skipped a beat.

“You know it, love”

That’s the day he realized he never wanted to see her crying again.

“We’re gonna rule the world, You and I.”

“Yeah is that right? How so?” They went out for a picnic in the nearby park. Harry was going over his manuscripts as Y/N’s head rested on his thighs while she was trying to understand the medical terms that are starting to look gibberish.

“We might be pullin’ our hairs out now but soon you’re gonna be the best and most handsome author of our generation, selling millions of copies and all that. Whereas I will be the most daring surgeon of our time! I’ll be able to save lives and check out cute interns too” She says as if she made the greatest discovery of their lives.

“You do know Grey’s Anatomy is just a show right? like you don’t actually always have sex with other doctors and have screaming matches in halls”

“Bugger off, will you? But I’m serious though. We haven’t done much but I’m already proud of us, proud of you. My little writer. Be sure to dedicate a book or two to me will you?” 

“I’d dedicate all of ‘em to you if you like, that’s the least I could do for my great little surgeon.” She can’t help but laugh at his offer before it was replaced with a serious expression.

“You know I love you right? Harry, you may as well be the person I want to be the most proud of me”

“And I you”

That’s the moment he realized he loves her.

--Present--

He wanted to tell her he loved her. She was the light of his life in his moments of darkness. How can someone feel so right, feel as perfect as a puzzle piece, be in the arms of a man that is not him?

Then he’s stuck. Harry’s currently working on his third novel and for the nth time, he’s been spewing out great ideas but can’t seem to fit them together. Now 28, he can’t help but feel unaccomplished despite his success in his career. What was missing? 

He was a risk-taker when it comes to developing his fictional characters and was daring enough to tackle multiple controversial issues in his novels but never seem to get the courage to tell her how he really felt.

Y/N.

His Y/N.

His Y/N with Dexter.

They’ve been together for a little more than a year now as Harry still remained a bachelor. By now he’s not quite sure if he was waiting for the right girl or waiting for her. and her only.

Something about today lit a fire inside of him. Maybe it’s because of the pent up frustration of having yet another writer’s block or the fact that he’s so sick of waiting for destiny to do its thing than actually making something happen. Next thing he knows, he was already dialing her number.

“Hey, bub! you caught me at a great time! What’s up?” I love you.

“Can we meet somewhere or something? Really need to talk to you ‘bout something”

“Really? I have something to tell you too! Why don’t we meet at the ol’ cafe down the street in twenty?” I love you.

“Sure sure, see you love.”

“Can’t wait!” I love you and I can’t wait to tell you I do.

---

He was already there by ten and it’s safe to say he was nervous. This is gonna be years and years of friendship at risk but he knows he won’t be able to sleep at night knowing he should’ve at least tried.

“You certainly got ‘ere early” There she was, wearing the dotted pink sundress he adored. She had her hair up and looked radiant as ever. He’s in it deep.

“Have some news for you, couldn’t wait” Cause if he did he might shit his pants, he thought.

“Good or bad? I have news too!”

“ Depends on how you’ll take it. If it’s okay can I go first?” 

“Sure, go on bub.” Just the comfort he needed.

He took a deep breath, knowing what he was about to say could make or break him.

“We’ve been the best of friends all these years and I think I know why. It’s because we just get each other you know? and we always got each other’s back no matter what. Like the very first day we met, up to now, you never left my side and I never left yours. Everything did start because of a damn cupcake but that’s not the point.” She can’t help but laugh at his flustered state.

“But as we grew older, the more and more was I enthralled by you. By how you never forget to take care of me and how you never let anyone step on you. and as deep as my admiration goes, Y/N I fell for you” She stopped smiling. The shock was evident on her face. But he had to continue.

“ It took me a while to realize and even longer to tell you but I love you, I really do. I know it’s a shitty thing to do knowing that Dexter’s in the picture and all but I was there for everything. For your first heartbreak to your first ever patient. I was there at your best and worst. He’s a great guy, I know. It may even be too late but I can’t help but feel like we were meant to be, that you were meant for me.”

“So if you can find it in your heart, feel every beat of it and know that somehow for some unexplainable reason, what I am saying is making sense. Y/N choose me, love me. Be with me cause for as long as I remember, that’s all I really wanted” He could finally breathe. He said everything his coward of a heart couldn’t before.

“Harry I-” He didn’t like the sound of her voice, if this was rejection, he never wants to hear it. So he interrupted.

“Before you make a decision or anything, tell me your news first, love.” Sure, that will buy him some time.

Y/N does this thing when she’s nervous. Either she’d play with the ends of her braid or grips then releases her hold on the cup of her chosen beverage. That’s exactly what she’s doing to her cup of steaming hot tea.

And that’s when he saw it and his world stopped. He was suddenly holding his breath as the light caught on to something on her hand.

“Harry, I’m engaged.” 

Author’s Note: This was an idea I’ve been playing around with. Tell me what you think! All the love xx.

p.s. that choose me love me scene may have been inspired by grey’s anatomy, don’t hate. xx

[chwrpg]

You're asking me out? That's so cute! What's your name again? -- Birdie Stratford

A NOTE FROM ADMIN B: BINGO! The 10 Things cast is complete! What I like most about Birdie as a character is that she’s not a bad person, but with the way she’s so heavily motivated by her own self interest she’s not quite a good person yet either. It’s always about the growth of a character, and there is so much room for that with Birdie. You always bring it Erin, so we know this time will be no different!

OOC NAME/ALIAS, PREFERRED PRONOUNS, AGE & TIMEZONE:

if you don’t know me by noowww, you will never never never know me, (oooh)

DESIRED CHARACTER:

Birdie Stratford

HOW ACTIVE WILL YOU BE?

roughly 7 actives 

SECONDARY CHOICE:

<3

DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER:

Oooh boy do I live for Miss Birdie Stratford. A social climber without a heart of gold, out for her own best interest because who else is going to do it (I’m getting early Jenny Humphrey vibes on that front)? Her moves are calculated and almost always with the end goal of becoming more important, more notorious, just more. She’s not happy with simply accepting the reputation Rosewood wants to put on her shoulders like her sister seems to be. All of the less than ideal things (her mother very publicly running off with her fitness instructor, the weird no dating rule, the Kenya problem) that have followed her around all her life were distractions that just got in the way of who she was truly meant to be: someone. She has successfully overcome all of those early hurdles in her way and now she’s ready to take on more. She knows she has greatness ahead of her and she’s willing to work for it. 

SAMPLE WRITING:

When Birdie accepted Cohen’s invitation to be his date for the party that night she’d expected a certain chain of events to unfold. She’d arrive in her immaculate new mini courtesy of Christian Siriano. She’d tell anyone who complimented her on the dress what a sweetheart he was and how she couldn’t believe he’d sent it to little old her but that, of course, she was honored to take a picture with them. Chandler Solano’s envy over her having a James on her arm would only grow which, in turn, would continue improve her stock. She’d have a drink, maybe a dance with Cohen but she’d spend most of the night with her girlfriends assessing the other outfits in the room, who was dating whom, and so on and so forth. 

That perfect night was not the night she got. 

Chandler and the girls were nowhere to be seen. Once she realized they weren’t coming she nearly left the party. Honestly, what was the point of being there when no one who mattered would be there to see her let alone appreciate the look she’d put together. She looked over at Cohen, adorable in his obliviousness, really. A polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. What was she supposed to do, hang out with him all night? What would they even talk about? He was sweet and all and Birdie loved the family name that came attached to him but beyond that? They had nothing in common. He had her on this angel-status pedestal which was understandable but like, not exactly sparking any flames in her. And he liked to talk about comics and arthouse movies that Birdie never understood. Either he’d come out of the night thinking she was an idiot or a complete bitch because it’d be so obvious by the end of the hour that they had nothing to talk about. 

To top it all off, it took less than an hour to come upon her sister having a full on nervous breakdown? She’d never seen Kenya acting out like this, she’d never even seen her dance after she stopped having dance parties with her in elementary school. She didn’t get drunk and let loose like this, ever. But of course she’d choose to come to the party Birdie was attending and embarrass her so thoroughly it would undo months of her hard work. The Stratford name was finally getting the respect it deserved but Kenya seemed determined to keep it in the mud. 

Birdie was already seething when Joey turned up. The gorgeous Calvin Klein model in all of his glory made her heart skip a beat and she was sure her night was turning around. She took in the moment, enjoying it until he started to talk about Kenya. Disrespectfully. She may have been mad at her sister but she was still her sister. In spite of her own rising anger she tried to diffuse the tension that had unexpectedly boiled up between Joey and Cohen. Seriously, why was Cohen defending Kenya? He didn’t know her and everyone in town hated her…

The punch that landed on Cohen’s face was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Birdie was sure it wouldn’t help her reputation a ton but she knew what needed to be done. She decked Joey Donner in the eye as hard as she could — which was pretty hard considering all the boxing and kickboxing classes she took at the gym — and she smirked at him on the ground. Honestly, what a baby.

“That’s for punching my date in the face, you asshole.” She checked in with Cohen, making sure he was alright before returning her attention to the beautiful sniveling loser on the ground. “And next time you want to talk shit about Kenya, maybe do it to someone who isn’t her sister. Moron.” Birdie tossed her long braids over her shoulder and took Cohen’s hand in hers. “Do you want to like, get out of here? I’m suddenly not in the mood for a party.”

ANYTHING ELSE?

19-19-1985

[chamrosh]

so a few days ago, I wanted to draw while watching tv as a change to music, and Friends came on, and like

wow it’s aged awfully

and wow it’s offensive

season 1, episode 9. Joey walks in wearing make up, he looks fine? Like, the lipstick’s a little more obvious than ideal, but legit, he looks fine, it seems like less make up than stage actors have to wear from my experience, and yeah. He looks fine.

Monica asks what’s going on, and Joey says he’s now part actor, part model.

Chandler’s first line in the whole episode is... “No, you look part he, part she.”

And just yeah.

and the whole episode, he spends making jokes about Joey not looking manly enough, or doing unmanly things like being employed as one of santa’s elves, or dating a single mum, and yeah.

Chandler is just an awful human being.

and... then Joey gets employed as a model for a STD awareness poster, and there’s this running “joke” about his family abandoning him at Thanksgiving because they think he has syphilis, and like...???? no??? that’s not a thing to joke about? It’s not that it’s offensive (it is) but getting kicked out by your family is not funny. Especially as the episode is sort of trying to frame it as people thinking that Joey is gay, and I think they didn’t want to make Joey come off badly to their producers and all, because I mean. HIV would fit that plot better, but producers might not like certain audiences being able to see a character who comes across as almost confirmedly gay.

Then Ross’s ex-wife, and her wife are framed entirely as villains - and the thing of not making a minority villains so as to not paint the minority as bad is dumb, yeah, but if they’re your only members of a minority, you... probably shouldn’t do it - and Ross’s main plot line through the whole episode is that he’s doing things for his unborn baby’s wellbeing just to spite his ex-wife’s wife. They get way more subtle with this later, but Ross also spends progressively less time with his son as they get less hostile, and we don’t see his son for like 2 seasons at the end, so...? Apparently the only reason why your divorced dad would want to see you is to spite your mother’s new partner. And also, all lesbians are awful people

Monica’s entire plotline that episode is that she needs to cook dinner really well, and that she needs to cook 4 types of potato, except Rachel’s a moron and doesn’t bring the keys when Monica asks her to bring the keys, and it’s really really obvious that Monica is asking about the keys. Like... women’s concerns regard that they need to cook things and they need to stop being dumb. And I get that those are actual things for some people, but Phoebe gets no plot, Ross gets the plotline of getting to know his kid more, and Joey gets the plotline of getting a new job and his family abandoning him. The dudes get a better deal, yo.

Also, worth noting, that by the time they get back in the apartment, all the cooking has burned to ash. And yeah, Monica’s annoyed and all but like. Can you imagine how pissed off you’d be if your friends strong armed you into doing all the same work 3 more times in a row, and then they casually laugh about it later, and replace all your work with literally a couple of sandwiches? Can you imagine how underappreciated you’d feel, if your several hours’ work can be equated by like two sandwiches? So basically, her friends sort of portray it as all of Monica’s work doesn’t even matter. A woman’s work doesn’t matter. There’s no apology for it all being wasted by everyone, there’s no attempt to at least get a cooked meal done, even if it were just like, a heap of pasta, no. Absolutely minimal effort is what’s needed to replace what was lost when something made by a woman is destroyed.

Okay so I sort of just let it through because I wanted to give more of a chance and see if it was just that episode?

Next came season 1, episode 10.

Phoebe spends christmas playing messed up songs about her mother’s death in the cafe, which could have been funny, but the punchline is super obvious, and the only light they give to the scene is one of the verses about Pheobe’s mum’s ashes is interrupted by her going “lalalalallalala” loudly. So.

And then she’s interrupted by two really nerdy-looking blokes, who were debating if she was prettier than a supermodel or not, which is legitimately really cute, but then she starts dating one of them, and her plotline starts revolving around how David isn’t typically manly enough? That instead of a proper date, he shows her graphs and equations, and he’s genuinely excited, but they portray it as bad? Even though he genuinely wants to share what makes him happy with her, and that’s a good thing, because you sure don’t want to date someone who won’t let you into things they enjoy... but nope,it’s framed as him being a whiny wimpy loser, and Phoebe does the framing. And she demands he toss his work on the floor to kiss her, despite it all being neatly placed around and like yeah. that’s gonna be hours of sorting, I’m sure you can pick another counter, Pheebs. And at the end of the episode, she basically forces him to break up with her? He gets a job offer in Minsk, and he’s torn between going to the new job and breaking up with her. And I get why Phoebe wants him to go! She knows he’s happy at that job, and that’s fine! But instead of discussing it at all, she forces him into breaking up. If she’d done that after they discussed and realising he didn’t know, that might be different, but they don’t communicate about it at all. Phoebe leaves a guy heartbroken because she doesn’t want to talk to him, and because couples can’t just talk things over like people who have a shared language!

So in S1E9, Rachel wants to go skiing, and like half her plotline is jokes about her being awful at her job. And, yes, that fits her personality and history and all, and it gives her somewhere to grow from later, but you’re like “haha. i see. the joke is that women are awful at their jobs! how amusing.” She eventually gets given the money for a plane ticket because she’s just that awful at her job, but the thing with the keys and her being a moron happens. And in S1E10, again her plotline revolves around planes. She wants her boyfriend to come back from Rome, and his plane is delayed but she only finds out when at the airport. Okay, decent plot idea... but they never actually show it, we’re just told about it. And then she gets back from the airport, her jacket... that she didn’t leave with... is covered in mud, she has a mild cut to one lip, and yeah, she looks like she thinks she’s awful beat up. Maybe I’m judging injuries by the scale of “hey when I get a paper cut it bleeds for hours!” but still, it’s really not a big cut. And she tells - not shows, this is an offense against storytelling too - this story about a “literal whale of a woman”.

Like????? what???? you don’t like this woman who stole your cab, and the scriptwriters take this as an opportunity to both dehumanise the other woman and fatshame her. And they keep going on about how massive this woman is, rather than what she did to hurt Rachel (it turns out, mildly pull her hair, she tripped to get the cut lip), and Rachel seems more upset about her size than the hairpulling, honestly. So Rachel’s plotline... is actually.... about fatshaming a random lady who also needed to get a cab.

To new years’, Chandler invites his ex, who he broke up with because her laugh is annoying and she just generally annoys him. The second bit is fair enough, but it’s clear that he broke up more because of the first bit. And she’s portrayed as literally a giggling jack in the box demon thing. And like, I get this is a sit-com, and everyone’s an extreme? but... you can portray people as awful in a way that’s a little less just bad? Janice doesn’t get that Chandler isn’t interested, she messes up stuff at the party, she asks weird questions, y’know, stuff like that. And yeah, the take-away is that when men say their ex is crazy, they probably mean it... which is bad. Because like, women don’t just become worthless human beings as soon as dudes break up with them. People don’t have to be inherently awful for them dating to just not work, and they don’t even manage to get that right when those between the main cast break up (Being on a break does not mean not being open about stuff, Ross, or not wanting to discuss what you’re going to be happy with the other doing, and why were you on that break, huh?). Instead, Janice is reduced to just the most annoying laugh track they could manage without highlighting exactly how awful the studio audience laughing constantly is. I don’t even know how to phrase how awful it came across that there’s just this woman who’s there to embody the crazy ex-girlfriend trope and nothing else. Even if she tried to get to date Chandler again by small little tokens of stuff, then that’d be something? But no, as soon as you break up with someone, they have no value beyond being a crazy ex-girlfriend.

Note also, that the only female plotlines that aren’t more about a man than about her own storyline, are Monica needing to cook potatoes, Rachel having no ability to pick up basic requests, and Rachel wanting to go skiing and clear off so we don’t see her for an episode, and insulting all her friends in the process, and highlighting in turn how awful she is at her job. The female plotlines are all about romance, or about something sorta sexist. Women need to cook, women don’t understand things that are obvious, women need to leave, women are awful in the workplace.

I might do more of these rants about Friends being awful later. We’ve got the whole box-set, it’s not like I’d run out of material soon. But yeah, it’s aged absolutely awfully.

Lots of sexism, some homophobia, shaming of people with STDs, laughing at kids with rough backgrounds, shaming men who aren’t stereotypically manly, laughing at people whose conservative families kick them out, saying that all divorced dads are awful parents and only pretend that they care to spite your stepparent, that women will trick you into doing things you’re not sure you want to do, saying that women are all idiots, stating in Monica’s potato plotline that women in the kitchen need to bow down to whatever requests are put on them, even if it’s to make 4 different types of potato for one meal, and that their effort is worthless if it fails... Yeah, there’s a lot here.

I’d also like to point out that generally I don’t spend entire TV shows just thinking about the awful things they show but it was literally one of the first lines that made me go “well that’s not acceptable” and it sort of spiraled from there. Most TV shows i might notice one small thing, and not care because one small thing is normally going to be from a character flaw or whatever, and that’s fine. But when your not-okay ideas become entire 20 minute (40 minute in the case of Joey not looking masculine enough) storylines, without them being portrayed as not-okay at all, but as being sympathetic, and such? no. No no no. There’s lots of ways to handle sexist / whatever-ist ideas in your TV show in a way that makes it clear that there’s a maturity, and there’s ways to handle them that don’t light up the red flags in people’s brains even if they’re not fully explored and whatever. But these episodes just did nothing there.