Chapter Six

It was a perfect London morning. The temperature was just right, the sun was shining, a large cup of steaming coffee was sitting in front of me, and I had my laptop open with the prospect of getting some work done. Everything was perfect.

I was distracted as hell.

I had been slumped out on my balcony since sunrise. I hadn't gotten a wink of sleep since Danny dropped his bombshell on me. So after replaying the conversation a dozen or so times (each with an ending that was anything but Danny falling asleep), I proceeded to clean my apartment, reorganize my CD collection, eat a tub of ice cream, bake some chocolate chip cookies, and write an extremely lengthy diary entry.

Hence it was 6am and I found myself out on my balcony consuming my weight in cookies and drinking coffee at steady intervals while staring at my laptop blankly.

I groaned and pushed myself to my feet before slamming my laptop shut. Screw this.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Danny's fingers trailed tantalizingly over my skin, smoothing across my ribs and down the expanse of my stomach. His lips pressed hot open kisses down the length of my neck and I groaned pressing myself closer to him. I shivered in his arms as his teeth nipped at my earlobe before his lips crashed back to mine. I ran my fingers through his hair and…

"Amber… Amber!"

I blinked out of my daze and it took me several moments to regain my bearings. A desk, computer, cream walls and a busy office dotted with work cubicles. Ah yes… work.

I turned my gaze to Lana who was standing beside my desk a bewildered look on her face, "you know, that press release isn't going to write itself," she informed me, sneaking a peak at my computer screen and seeing the two lines I had written.

I groaned and massaged my temples, pushing away the remains of my daydream; "I'm not in the most focused mood today."

"Clearly. You do realize your jacket is on inside out."

I looked down at myself and frowned, "no its not."

Lana shrugged, "you still had to check didn't you?"

"Smart arse," I muttered. I sighed, "you do realize my morning has been torture?"

"I don't see why," Lana replied, pushing a pile of papers out of way and settling herself down on the edge of my desk, "he said he liked you. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yeah, but a pronouncement like that is usually followed by kisses, which inevitably leads to shagging, which then leads on to a relationship of some sort." I leant back in my chair and crossed my arms, "I clearly got the raw end of the deal. I got drunken pronouncements of 'like,' followed by loss of conscience, and then amnesia in the morning."

"And now the world is ending," Lana finished for me with a grin.

"Now the world has officially ended," I corrected her as I bit at my nails.

"Why don't you just ask him about it?" Lana asked, "I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

I shoved my hands into my pockets and stared at Danny's apartment door. My eyes swept over its clean white surface, carefully observing every crack and dent. I reluctantly acknowledged I didn't have any real interest in his door and bit my lip.

Who would have thought this would be so difficult. I knew he liked me right? Well, I assumed he did. He was rather drunk. I grimaced and bit at my fingernails as I eyed the doorknocker.

Finally after giving myself an internal pep talk I gathered together all my confidence and rapped on his door.

"Come in," Danny mumbled from the inside.

I pushed open his door and stepped inside. Utter darkness. I waited patiently for my eyes to adjust. Danny had his curtains drawn and every light on his apartment was off, "wow," I remarked cheerfully, "did someone sink their teeth into your neck last night?"

The lump on the bed rolled over, "what?"

I flicked on the light, "sitting in utter darkness, is a very vampire like trait."

Danny cringed and shielded his eyes, "a bit of warning next time thanks Amber."

"Feel like shit huh?" I questioned as I padded through his apartment. I pulled open his curtains letting the late afternoon light stream into his bedroom.

Danny peered at me through bleary eyes, "I feel like I've been run over by a train."

I glanced at him, "you look it to."

He frowned, "thanks."

"You were a mess last night," I informed him raking my eyes over his messy hair, "do you remember anything?"

"Bits and pieces," Danny replied propping himself up on one elbow and rubbing his eyes, "I didn't do anything embarrassing did I?"

"Aside from trying to get into my apartment with your keys, everything was fine."

Danny stared at me, "are you serious?"

I plopped myself down on the edge of his bed, "dead serious."

Danny mulled it over, "I was wondering how I ran into you. Shit, that must have been at like 3am, I'm sorry Am."

I waved my hand, "forget about it. You were cute."

"Did I say anything awkward?"

Yes, "No," I murmured, "why?"

Danny shrugged and avoided my eyes, "no reason."

Hence officially began the night that never existed.

The weeks that followed that infamous night were interesting to say the least. Something was different between the two of us; something had changed. It was almost as though we had chemistry now. There was awareness between us that had never been there before, a constant awareness that sizzled like an energy field. I could feel it and I know he could too. We had crossed that line, the invisible line of friendship, and there was no turning back now.

0000000000000000000000000000000000

To be continued...