It had been a week since Ben had first called me. He'd had a DNA test done, and it was confirmed that Emma was his, though I'd already known that since the moment I looked at her. There wasn't much legal stuff to handle either really. Ben had all the rights; Angela wanted absolutely nothing to do with Emma.

I'd figured things would've just gone back to the way they were, but Ben had told me that he wanted me back in his life, and Emma's too. Things had been really weird at first, because we'd gone four years without speaking, six years since I'd seen Danny, and I didn't even know their roommate, Tucker, but I was slowly getting adjusted. Things were turning out to be nice even; I was finishing up law school and had an internship lined up, the only thing that wasn't nice were things between Danny and me. It was still awkward every time we saw each other. We just didn't know what to say to each other. What could we? Nothing could erase what happened, nothing could fix our damaged relationship. I wanted so badly to be a part of his life again, but it felt like he didn't even want me to be. I just figured things would be better if we didn't even try to mend our friendship.

I woke up to a text message. It was a Saturday and I'd slept in. I unlocked my phone and sat on my bed, staring at the message from Danny.

Danny: Want to meet up for lunch today? I think we should talk and catch up.

I bit my lip, hard. He wanted to talk? After ignoring me for the whole week I'd been back? Yeah, sure, we could talk. Starting with what the hell happened after graduation. And what happened to my best friend. The person I grew up with, my favorite person in the entire world. Because that person was as good and gone as our friendship.

I angrily punched letters on my phone, sending him a reply.

Me: I'd love to. Where and what time?

I threw the phone down on the nightstand and got up to take a quick shower. When I came back, he'd already replied.

Danny: One o'clock? The bar?

Me: I'll see you there.

After I got dressed I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. I tugged at my hair. Did he like it short? Or did he like my long hair better? Oh, why do you care, I scolded myself. I tucked my hair behind my ear and left the bathroom, grabbing my purse, and walking out of my small apartment.

I spotted Danny the moment I walked inside the bar. He was sitting by himself on the couch, looking around, probably for me. His head turned once I walked up to him, and his lips instantly curled up in a warm smile as he looked up at me.

"Riley." He said in a greeting.

"Danny."

He stood up, tall and intimidating, and then wrapped his arms around me. Oh, how I'd missed his arms around me. He held me a moment longer than necessary, and then reluctantly let go and sat back down. I took a seat next to him, taking my purse off.

"So, how have you been?" He asked.

"How have I been?" I laughed. "Well, I was doing fine until I saw you."

He self consciously looked down at himself. "What, did I spill something on myself?"

I rolled my eyes. "I meant the first time, a week ago."

"Oh," He frowned, "look Riley..."

He grabbed my hand and held it firmly in his, his gaze burning through me, deep blue eyes twinkling, "I'm sorry we lost contact with each other."

I glared at him accusingly. "We didn't lose contact, Danny. You left me." I pointed out, bluntly.

He sniffled, as if somehow he could hide the tears quickly forming in his eyes. He'd always been so emotional.

"Riley, I-"

I cut him off. "Do you even understand what you put me through? The pain...it was unbearable."

He couldn't hold them back anymore, and I watched, guiltily, as his cheeks glistened with his tears. "I didn't mean for it to happen, I'm so sorry, Riley."

"I never got over it." I confessed. I'd spent so much time hoping he'd come back. That we could just go back to how we used to be, but I didn't know if we could ever go back to what we used to be.

"Neither did I." He admitted. "I've missed you so much."

"Oh Danny, I've missed you too."

I threw my arms around him and leaned into his touch. I wanted him back so much. I needed him. Needed him so bad it was like I couldn't breathe, and he was my oxygen.

"I'm never letting you go again, Riley." He swore, holding me tighter against him, and buried his face in the crook of my neck.

It felt like forever, him holding me as he nuzzled his face into my neck, my hair. I craved him, craved everything about him. I never wanted him to let go of me. But then we heard a loud throat clearing and Danny untangled himself from me. I felt cold, already missing his touch.

I looked up to see Ben. He stared down at us, eyes flitting between the two of us curiously.

"Am I interrupting something?" He asked.

Danny laughed nervously beside me. "Interrupting something? What? No."

"Yeah, we were just catching up." I smiled helplessly, and shrugged my shoulders.

"Right...okay." He looked like he doubted our words, but seemed to let it go. "You guys want any drinks?"

Ben's eyes shifted over to Danny, who must have given him some kind of look, because then he looked back at me and said, "You know...I really just need to get back to work. I shouldn't be over here talking to you guys." He laughed awkwardly.

"But you were just asking us if we wanted drinks? Isn't that your job?"

But Ben didn't hear me, he'd already ran off. I looked back at Danny, who was smiling nervously. "That was weird, like really weird." I said.

"Oh, you know Ben, he's so weird!"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Okay...so..."

"Look, Riley..." His eyes seemed to soften. "I'm sorry for everything that happened between us. I know we spent a lot of time apart, and I hate myself for being the one who caused that, but I promise I will make it up to you."

My heart warmed, and my lips instantly broke into a huge grin. I remembered the guy from high school, the guy who canceled his plans just to hang out with me, the guy who would've done anything just to make me feel better when I was upset, and this, this guy in front of me right now, was that guy.

"You've got a lot to make up for, Wheeler."

"Oh, Riley, if there's one thing about me that hasn't changed since high school, it's that I love a challenge."

I giggled softly, and he smiled brightly. Maybe we couldn't go back to what we used to be, but maybe we were starting something new. Something better and even more permanent.

A/N: Reviews are always appreciated!