(A/N: My first time venturing into the HIMYM world with my own writing, I hope you guys enjoy this.)
Everyone has their own ideals, be it their career, friends, the one. There's a certain spark that crackles up in your heart every time you see the person you love, even if you don't know it then. It feels like that person is special, in a way you can't quite put into words, but there's an undoubted attraction. The thing is, no matter how hard you try, it doesn't go away.
He glances in her direction from the bar out of the corner of his eye, holding a scotch and pretending to chat up a girl. She's pleasant, blonde and normally, the kind of girl that he would go for without a moment's hesitation. But it's been a while - he hasn't quite been Barney Stinson. He doesn't dare to say a word, she knows she only treats him like a friend, a bro; but she's beautiful. She's not just beautiful outside, but the way she thinks, it's alluring, and underneath the flirt everyone sees, he wants to be a romantic.
"I don't love her, okay? I just...miss her when she's not around, think about her all the time, and I imagine us one day running towards each other in slow motion and I'm wearing a brown suede vest."
He's never felt this way about anyone before, at least, not for this long. Her laugh, the twinkle in her eyes as the corners of her mouth turn upwards, the way she gestures as she speaks; her every action captures his attention, and much as he has tried, he can't ignore the fuzzy feelings that are building up within him.
For now, it's about all he can do, admire her from afar, pretend they're just friends and bros from up close. Pretend that she's just one of the girls that he has charmed. But it's not the same, his heart silently protests, I could take on a completely different persona and get into any girl's bed within minutes. With her, I mess up my words, my voice jumps up an octave, tongue tied.
Ted gestures at him wildly in a half-drunk stupor, shouting over the noise. "Barney! What's taking you so long!" Back to the Stinson. He winks in his patented style, eyeing the girl next to him at the bar in a suggestive manner, his cheekbones defining themselves as he made out a forced smirk, which he knew Ted wouldn't notice in his alcohol-induced confusion. Passing a fleeting look over the gang in the booth, his eyes stopped as they met Lily's. She was staring at him intently, her dark brown eyes seemingly looking right through him. He tried to shrug it off, replacing the uncertain look he knew had swept across his face with the arrogant, cocky one that he usually wore. She shook her head slightly, and mouthed, or at least he thinks he saw her mouth, Tell her. You're better than this, Barney.
He wants to be better. He wants to be good enough for her.
"What's taking you so long, Barney?" Marshall hollered at him, giving him a weird look as Barney nodded distractedly.
He took two beers from the bartender, taking a deep breath. Come on Barney, you can do this. You are awesome. Look normal. Be awesome. Be Barney.
He stood at the head of the table, holding the two beers awkwardly. Just be awesome. He looked at her confidently, and smirked a little as he remarked, "So, when are we going to see the next Sparkles video?"
(A/N: It's really just an idea I had, and thought it wouldn't be a bad way to start off. Hope you guys liked it, and do drop me some comments!)