Author: Jen

Author's Note: I'm working on a couple of stories at once. This happens a lot, but I really started to like this one so I wanted to post it. I'll still work on my other stories as well. Please read and review, thanks!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own anything or any of the characters.

A/N: Rachel's an actress. Her co-star, Joey, has always been unavailable to her; which doesn't make her crush on him any easier.

Rachel still knows Ross, Chandler, and Monica from school, but she never met Phoebe. Joey doesn't know any of the other friends. The first few chapters are lighter and fun, later chapters include drama!

"I can't believe it's really cancelled," I sigh and take another sip of wine.

"I know, it was a good show," he utters next to me.

"Really good," I confirm. "I guess the critics just don't know what they're doing."

He pours himself another glass of wine.

"Yeah, a bunch of bastards," he tries to grin to make it a joke, but he's too depressed. He takes another sip of his drink as I do the same. "Maybe it's me?"

"What?"

"I mean, first Days of our Lives and now this, maybe I'm just a curse or something."

"Hey come on, DOOL was insane to kill your character off, you were a definite fan favorite, you were amazing," I flatter him. He smiles weakly and I feel worse for him than myself.

"Well, hey I'm sure you'll get something else. You even have Mandy to help you, I'm sure she can make some calls," I propose. Joey shakes his head and I'm wondering why his girlfriend would be so selfish not to help him.

"We broke up."

I wasn't expecting that one. Now, I'm crumbling to pieces because of how broken he is. Our TV show cancelled and his famous girlfriend gone. What can I say? I'm depressed about the show and sad for his break up, but a small tingle enters my stomach because secretly I've been crushing on him since I met him.

"Joey, I'm so sorry."

"It's alri-" he begins, waving his hand at me, but I sit up and pull him into a hug. After the initial surprise, he gladly accepts it and squeezes me tightly. I wish I could just kiss him to make him feel better, also because it would make me feel a whole lot better. I was able to kiss him for weeks, everyday on set. I played his love interest, of course. In the beginning, I didn't care, I was thrilled at getting to touch him, hold him, and taste his lips nearly everyday at work. Since, he was originally taken, it was all I ever thought I would be allowed; some fake kisses and love stricken lines in the script. Now, he's single, he's available. I pull back and look at his lips, trying to decipher my next move. When I was convinced I was going to lean in, I sit back slowly instead. He smiles at me, a more genuine smile and I smile sadly back. I can't make a move on him. Not now, anyhow, he's sad and heartbroken. If anything, it would just be a rebound fling and that's the last thing I want. I want a relationship, I want honest feelings from him. I'll wait as long as I have to for that.

Joey and I had obviously gotten close on the show. We worked together everyday and closer than anyone else seeing that our characters were madly in love. Especially with Joey being free of a time-consuming girlfriend, we continue to spend even more time together. Somehow, we manage to grow even closer as friends. We truly understand the insides and outs of each other. We know how the other one thinks and we can end up laughing all day while doing the most boring things.

Joey has been in the lime light since his Dr. Drake Ramorary days, and now with the new show and it being cancelled, the paparazzi are around quite a lot. They've taken photos of us together countless times. I now find it a regular occurrence to find a picture of us in any weekly magazine. They have all labeled us as a rumored couple. Some firmly believe it and even make up quotes that we supposedly confessed our love to each other, just as our characters did on the show. We laugh when we see them all. But I guess I didn't realize how believable magazines can be or should I actually say, how gullible people are.

On Tuesday, I'm out to lunch with a bunch of my close girlfriends. We haven't seen each other in a couple of weeks and so we're ecstatic to finally cramp together at a table, with our cobb salads, and chit chat for hours. Eventually, the topic comes up.

"Okay, so what I really want to know is, is he really as big as they say?"

I stare widely at my girlfriend Carrie.

"What?" I ask, totally bewildered.

"You know, the rumors about his… size," she whispers deviously and the girls all giggle. I look at them truly complexed.

"Really, who and what are you talking about?"

"Joey! Supposedly he's carrying a big package if you get what we mean?" Ashley cuts in.

"Well, yes I know what you mean! You guys are as subtle as a collapsing building! Why…why would I know this?"

"Well, haven't you…" Nicole begins her question, but I cut her off abruptly.

"I've never seen him naked?" I more ask than say. They all look at me quizzically. "Why would I have seen him naked? We didn't even have a sex scene in-"

"No, not the show, real life of course." Nicole rebukes. I shake my head rapidly in disbelief.

"What are you girls talking about, I don't…Im not… Joey and I are not together!"

They're eyes all go wide.

"What, how can that be? You spend every waking minute together and every magazine says so," Ashley refutes.

"You believe everything the tabloids say? Girls look, we're just good friends, we've never slept together or anything," I confirm. They all seem devastated by this and I'm still shocked they could be so stupid.

"What, why is this such a big deal, don't you think I would have told you if I was dating him?"

"I guess," Carrie sighs. "It's just we wanted some juicy details on him!"

"Well, sorry no sex secrets here or… size reveals?" I give Carrie an outrageous look and she shrugs with a smirk.

"Well, have you two ever almost?" Nicole asks, leaning in to my side.

"No, we never…" my voice grows tired at this, but my friends sense what's really going on.

"What, you want something to happen?" Ashley jumps in.

I look at them and my face, even though desperately trying to hide it, probably gives it away instantly.

"You do, she does! You're crushing on Joey Tribbiani!" They all chuckle together. I want to object, but how can I.

"Okay, yes, I've sort of always had a thing for him."

Ooohs string from my friends in a near chorus. I roll my eyes as they press the subject more.

"So, what's the problem?" Nicole shoots.

"Well, when we first met he had a girlfriend. They were together up until the show ended."

"So, what have you been waiting for, it's been a month!" Nicole argues with my answer.

"Well, excuse me for not wanting to risk ruining a friendship!" I counter back.

"Oh come on, you can't go on like this forever. If you've liked him for this long, then it's pretty obvious you're not getting over him," Ashley points out. I sigh, remembering the countless times I've tried to get over the attraction.

"But don't you think if he liked me like that he would have made a move. I never did cause he was the one with the girlfriend, but now that's he's single I figured it would be his move to make, you know?"

"Why can't you make the move? Maybe he hasn't for the same reason, he's holding out on you." Carrie suggests. I never even thought of that before. I work on finding any clues in the past that Joey might have liked me as more than a friend. I can't think of any, but maybe having a long term girlfriend blind-sighted us. Maybe he never looked at me any other way because he was being faithful and I watched myself from being too obvious so I wouldn't come between them. I mean we're obviously a good match if we can get along so well and have such a great time together. Also, everyone always said we had incredible chemistry on screen, even the critics! I remember hearing that one and gloating over it for weeks. The possibility that Joey could really like me delighted me immensely. I just wish it was easier to actually find out.

Joey and I made a deal that when we both get new jobs, we would celebrate together. He got one two weeks ago, but I just received the news from my latest audition, today.

He comes over to my house basically because I have better boozes. We pour some fancy wine and clink our glasses together. Since, we're on the topic of our new jobs, we soon start reminiscing about our last show.

"And remember when John hit his head on the car door. We had a nice, long lunch that day!" Joey grins and I laugh.

"Yeah. Oh and then when Marsha first met you. I still can't believe she kept messing up on purpose so you would have to redo the kiss scene a million times!"

"Yeah, we had to do like eleven takes that day. Good thing I had a mint," Joey jokes.

"I never told you, but she was talking to me before that scene, She was so nervous to kiss you. So, I told her…that you're not a very good kisser," I smirk at him.

"Hey, I am so!" he smiles.

"Okay, sure sure…" I tease.

"I am, come on, you're telling me you could't stand kissing me for those six months of shooting?"

I shrug, trying to bite my smile back.

"Well, in my defense, you can't preform as well when there's an entire crew watching you."

"That's what you're blaming it on?" I laugh at him. I'm surprised he actually believes me at all. I'm about to tell him I was kidding the whole time when he doesn't give me a chance.

"I've been told many times, I'm a good kisser. I can prove it!" he challenges me. My eyebrows raise.

"Oh really?"

"Really," he widens his eyes sarcastically. "Rachel?" he playfully sets a serious face.

"Yes?" I play.

"May I kiss you," he uses a funny accent that makes me laugh again. When I get my control back I answer in a more formal accent.

"Surely."

Then, he's leaning in and the smirk wipes off my face. I realize in this moment, I'm about to kiss Joey again. The anticipation is driving the butterflies inside of me wild. I stay still as his lips finally reach mine. I don't have to pretend anymore. He's always been a great kisser. I'm not sure if it's actually any better this time or if it has to do with the fact that I've missed his lips like crazy this past month. Whatever it is, I'm showered with bliss as I taste his familiar sweet kiss again.

I feel a difference as he's clearly making more of an effort to impress me with his skills. And it's working well. I'm drowning in the kiss when he pulls away. I immediately wipe my face clear of any give away emotions so I'm not desperately obvious. Not much matters though because within seconds Joey says this:

"You know what else I can do really well…" he talks as he leans back in, but this time his mouth moves to my neck. He's nibbling on my ear until his soft lips travel down. Before I know it, he's sucking on my neck and I'm losing my vision as I need to close my eyes from the intense feeling. I try not to let any moans out, but he's making this task pretty difficult. I could seriously had sat like that forever, letting him manipulate my neck with his lips, but then the stupidest thought enters my mind. I start filming tomorrow and I don't want to walk in with a hickey on my first day; even if it is from Joey. So, I force myself to pull back. He displays his confusion clearly with the help of his still puckered lips.

"You win. I have work tomorrow, I don't want to get a hickey," I say, more embarrassed than ever. He just nods. After a few moments of awkward silence, he sips his wine and I do the same. So much for a celebration.