She fumbles with her keys as she grumbles a curse under her breath. Everything had gone to hell in a hand-basket today. If she had to utter one more word about selling toner she'd go crazy. She needed to land a part in a show and soon. But New York City was a cruel mistress. It was a hard game out there.

She kicks off her shoes and collapses on her couch as her phone dings.

Heard you come home. Coming over.

-K

She smiles and rests her head on the couch pillows. Seconds later there's a soft knock at the door.

"It's open!"

Her best friend and next door neighbor Killian Jones is smiling broadly at her. His blue eyes twinkling and his black hair is slightly mussed.

"Hello," she greets.

"Bad day?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"I heard you swearing," he confesses with a laugh as he sits down next to her.

She rolls her eyes and punches his arm lightly. "You are such a creeper!"

"It's not my fault your voice carries so much," he answers quickly.

"It does not carry!" She argues.

He smiles as he sets her feet on his lap and his talented fingers begin to massage her heel. "Enough arguing, tell me about your day."

"Oh, I hate my job. I hate it. Some guy swore me out just because I asked if they wanted more toner. I was just following the damn script."

"Why don't you just quit?"

"I need to pay rent, eat, pay bills."

"When was the last time you auditioned for a show?"

She looks up at him, his gaze is soft and warm. This was a safe space. "Three months ago."

"Emma!"

"What?"

"You need to be auditioning for shows all of the time. You are a talented actress and you are going to make it big. And I'm going to sit in the audience and tell everyone that beautiful woman up there is my best friend!"

She gets a vivid memory of the first time they met. He had offered to help her move in and she'd blown him off. But he hadn't given up. He talked to her in the elevator and at the mail boxes. Then before she knew it he was coming over every night.

She reaches over and takes his hand. "That I am."

He raises a curious eyebrow. "What are you thinking about?"

"The first time we met."

"What made you think about that?" He curiously inquires as he begins working on the arch of her foot.

"You saying that I'm your best friend. I wouldn't have been if you hadn't tried so hard."

"You were kind of stand-offish."

"Kind of? I literally told you to get the hell away from me."

"Well, I knew that was just because you were intimidated by how hot I was," he teases.

"That is not why!"

"Oh, Emma. Come on we are best friends, you can tell me anything," he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

"That is not why!"

"Is that why you are blushing? Don't you remember the elevator?"

It had been about eight months after they had met. She'd been slightly tipsy, they'd been in the elevator together. He had been on a date and he'd smelled so good and his hair was mussed.

"So, uh, how did the date go?"

"Very well," his tone was smooth and low.

"Obviously not that well."

He turned to her with a smart smirk. "How do you know?"

"Can you be any more cocky?"

"You are just jealous."

"I am not! Besides you couldn't get me if you tried."

"You sure about that?"

"Try me," she hissed.

"Challenge accepted."

He neared her and brushed a hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. His cocky look had vanished, his eyes were soft and warm. His breath was light on her cheek. He moved his hands down to her waist and pulled her close.

He slowly began to close the gap between their lips. Her breath stalled in her chest.

Then the elevator doors opened. An old lady boarded and the moment was shattered. It had never happened again. And secretly, Emma had been sort of disappointed. But she couldn't let Killian know that.

"I was tipsy!" She argues. "I had been out celebrating because I got a call back for a show for the first time in months that day!"

"Admit that you thought I was hot," his fingers begin working on her calf. They are warm and rough against her skin. Heat begins to build in her face and neck. She's imagining all sorts of other places that those fingers would feel. Okay, this needed to stop right now. Or she would do something she'd regret.

"Tell me about your day," she says as she pulls her leg away.

"Liam played our demo for a record company."

"And?"

"They liked it!"

"Killian! You should have lead with that!" She exclaims as she wraps her arms around his neck. "That's so great!"

"Thanks!" He exclaims and Emma misses the warmth of his body when he pulls away.

This was getting really out of hand. Usually she was able to push away the feelings. But perhaps the long day of people yelling obscenities at her had gotten to her.

"Emma, are you okay?"

"My bad day is just getting to me."

"You sure?" He curiously inquires. "You look flushed."

"Maybe I'm getting sick," she answers quickly. His hand is lingering on hers. Electricity flows up her arm. She knows now that bringing up that memory of the elevator had been a bad idea. "Yeah, you know, Killian. I'm not feeling so well all of a sudden."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Can I get you anything?"

"No, I think I'm just going to lay down for a bit."

"Do you want me to stay?"

"NO," she answers too quickly and Killian looks hurt. "This could get ugly."

"Okay," he quietly says as he rises from the couch. "I'll come over and check on you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

He closes the door behind him and Emma lets out the groan she's been holding in.

"This is your best friend, Emma. This is your best friend!" She throws a pillow across the room. But the tingles in her toes had now moved to her stomach. All she could see were those eyes. She needed a bath. Her phone dings.

Hope you feel better. I'll look around to see if there are any open auditions 2morrow, ok?

-K

Of course he had thought she was upset about her job. But he was so wrong. He always was so wrong.

Maybe she just needed to sleep it off.

Yes, that sounded good.

The next morning she wakes up with a massive headache. It was as if all of her emotions had transferred to her head. She rubs her temples as she checks her phone.

:-) hope u r feeling better

-K

She smiles despite herself and the pain in her head lessens a little.

I am. Come over tonight?

-E

Her phone dings again.

Deal. We can go 2 a movie.

-K

A movie theater was dark and romantic. Oh, great that was the last thing she needed. His warm body pressing up against hers. But they had been to countless movies before. Why was this such a big deal now? Those memories and feelings were old. But every time he smiled his crooked smile or his fingers touched that magic spot on her calf they were right there at the surface.

Then with a jolt she realizes that it wasn't just a crush. Or residual feelings. She was head over heels in love with that man. Head over freaking heels.

"Oh, shit," she whispers.