'Cliff Gilbert, huh? How about that.'

It was not the fact that it was Cliff that caused the pain. It was the fact that he had been so incredibly stupid, to think that she would actually like him. This was Mindy Lahiri. She was out of his league, not the other way around. Of course she would never like him. He sighed as his French toast was getting burnt. She had acted so lovingly, like she really had feelings for him. She had rambled on about some false love story that they had, with some parts ringing true. The way she said it, it was as if she had been thinking a lot about them as a couple, like he had been doing for the past how many months he realised he had some sort of feelings for her. So when he thought she was talking about him, his heart had lifted slightly. It had come as a shock, but he was deep down excited at the possibility of carrying his relationship with Mindy further. That was why they had to talk. If Amy had not ruined everything, he might have had some answers without having to hear it this way.

'Yeah, of course! Who else? I've already been with Jeremy which was such a disaster. I really was messed up those days. And well there's Boris, that really hot cleaner for Cliff's office. But he's too hot for me I can't even consider him.' She laughed as she looked back at her paper that Danny had bought when he ran to the shops to get breakfast. Breakfast that they would share.

Enough was enough. She could not play with his heart anymore.

'Okay Mindy we need to talk. Now. About you and me.'

Mindy looked up to see a tense Danny by the smoky French toast, with a hand on his hip and his eyes piercing onto hers.

'What 'you and me'? You keep mentioning this and it's getting weird, Danny.'

Danny walked towards her and sat down opposite her.

'Just shut up for a second, okay?'

'Danny! What is wrong with you?'

Danny stood up and paced around the kitchen island, looking up and down with his hands in and out of his pockets.

'Nothing is wrong with me Mindy! I'm just… flummoxed.'

'Speak regular English, Danny.' She couldn't help but chuckle.

'This is not funny!' Danny looked at her, his mouth parted. He had his irritated expression painted on his face.

'Calm down. I'm sorry.' Mindy stopped eating and turned to face him.

'You should be sorry. I'm fed up, Mindy. I'm fed up of having to be by your side every day listening to you go on and on about these guys you're dating. I don't want to hear it anymore! I know I'm your friend but you have Gwen and Alex and that sports chick or whatever. You should be telling them these things, not me.'

'Okay, first of all Danny, you brought up the whole guy thing just now. And second of all, I've been telling you about these guys all this time. Why are you having such a big issue with it? You're acting really weird!'

'Because I don't want to know about your love life! It's none of my business and it shouldn't be either!'

'Fine but you said it just now. You brought it up! You asked me yesterday and I answered and I did the same now. So you're just bringing it on to yourself!' Mindy stood up and walked towards him.

'Okay I brought it up! But it was only because I thought this time it was different.' Danny's voice cracked and he looked away from her. Was he doing the right thing?

'Of course it's different. He's a guy you actually like. Well, I thought you did but it doesn't seem like it…'

Danny sighed. She did not get the point. She never did.

'I like Cliff. He's a great guy and a good friend of mine. But I thought you were talking about…' Danny faced Mindy and stared deep into her eyes. He needed her to know the truth. 'About me.'

Mindy scrunched up her face and smiled.

'What do you mean?'

Danny groaned and walked around again.

'I mean me, Mindy! I thought you wanted to be with me! That's why I am so angry because I thought for once my life would actually turn out right!' Danny walked to his couch and sat down, burying his face in his hands. Mindy followed, feeling Danny's scent on his jumper which made her feel suddenly conscious of her surroundings.

'You thought I liked you?' She sat down next to him, observing this stranger in front of her.

'Yes.' He turned to face her, sweat entering his forehead. 'I am an idiot.'

Mindy analysed his face and saw him look at her in a different way. Did he always look at her like this?

'Danny, if this is because of all the pretending to be your girlfriend thing, I'm sorry if I confused you. It was all pretence you know that right?'

'I'm not that stupid, Mindy.' His thoughts flashed back to when he hugged her, feeling her in his arms. He felt awkward at first, this physical contact with the person he had longed for in a while. Under false security, he thought she felt the same. And when he remembered this feeling, he relaxed. He acknowledged her arms around his torso, her head of his chest. He loved it. He could smell her perfume and her hair. Enclosing her, he felt her. She was wearing his clothes but he felt it. She looked up at him with eyes that seemed to speak of love. It was perfect. He held her and kissed her forehead, forgetting there was some woman staring at them. Resting his head on her head, he gazed into the distance, enjoying this moment. Whether Amy believed them or not, it didn't matter. He loved holding her and wished he could hold her forever.

'Of course you're not, I'm sorry for assuming that.'

'Yeah well.' He looked at his hands, wishing he would stop speaking.

Mindy edged closer to him and touched his shoulder. 'Danny, you don't really like me do you? I'm Mindy, remember? Annoying co-worker? She's selfish, crazy and constantly talks about sex. Surely they aren't attractive traits?' She tried to ease things but she knew in the back of her mind he was serious. It scared her. She had never anticipated that Danny Castellano would ever fall for her. Ever. It was impossible, in her mind. To even think about it was like taboo.

Danny faced her again, their faces closer than it ever had been.

'I do. I like you a lot.'

She felt his eyes bore into her and it made her uncomfortable. Cliff had left her mind and she had just stared back, at her best friend claiming he had feelings for her.

'Oh.'

'Yeah.'

Danny took a piece of her hair and put it aside. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Softly and slowly, his lips lingering near her face. He kept his eyes on her as he kissed her, and saw her close her eyes. As he leaned back, he saw her eyes were still closed.

'Now tell me that meant nothing to you.'

Mindy opened her eyes. 'Why are you doing this to me?'

'What are you talking about?'

'Danny you're supposed to be my friend. I don't ever want to lose you and I assumed I never would. But you having all these feelings… it's made things worse.'

Danny's face lowered. Tears started to enter his eyes and hoping she wouldn't see, he quickly wiped away the tears.

She did see.

'Don't cry, please.' Mindy had started crying too.

'What do you expect me to do, Mindy? I am in love with my best friend and she goes and rejects me. Three times, might I add. I have a right to cry even though I don't exactly want to.' He cleared his throat and headed for his room.

'Wait. You're in love with me?'

Danny stopped and turned. He didn't expect to declare his full feelings. He had hoped he would just hint at a slight liking to her which could make her reciprocate. Yet he was being the idiot that he always was.

'Yeah.'

'But how?'

'I don't know, alright? I am. I can't say I regret it because it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Even though I've been broken a few times.'

Mindy was silent for a few seconds. 'How have I hurt you?'

Danny smiled a sad smile. 'Well, you went to Haiti leaving me. I thought you would consider staying but you left. Remember the night where I nearly kissed you? Surely you remember that. Oh, and when you told me you were engaged. Of course that wasn't your fault, after all you can't help being engaged. But it hurt. And now this, with your feelings for Cliff and what not.'

'I'm so sorry Danny.' She wiped a tear falling down her cheek. 'I always watch these romantic movies where one friend loves the other but the other loves someone else. And in the end they get together but knowing that the friend went through a lot of pain always made me sad. And now knowing I did that to you… I am so sorry. I'm not worthy of being your friend.'

It was tearing him apart, knowing she was feeling so guilty. It wasn't her fault he had fallen hard for her. It was no one's fault. It just happened.

'Don't say that, Min. Don't blame yourself. Look, just forget this all happened and let's just carry on as friends. I don't want to lose you either.'

'That's the thing, Danny. I can't forget. Now that I know all this.' Mindy looked down. 'I… I need some time.'

Danny winced.

'I'll quickly get ready and go. I'm sorry for everything and thank you for letting me stay here.' She walked towards him and kissed his cheek in a millisecond before heading for the bathroom.

Danny sat on his bed, hands behind his head staring at the ceiling. How much time did she need? Or rather, how much time did he have?