A lot of people asked me to write more on this because it seemed open ended. So I guess I will. I will make it multi-chapter.

Loser in Love

Chapter 2

Tonight is my "fake" date with Riley. I am so nervous I sweated through three shirts. I have practiced what to say in front of my mirror, much to Tucker's amusement. I nicked myself shaving, and nearly burnt down the house when I accidently left a fork in the leftovers I heated up in the microwave.

It's all because of Riley. When she came back into my life, I felt things I hadn't felt since high school. It felt like my stomach was trying to eat itself and my head felt like a balloon and I couldn't eat for days.

"Why are you dressed up? Do you have a hot date?" Ben asks, feeding Emma at the table.

"Uh, yeah, sort of," I say.

Tucker is smiling. I shake my head at him.

"Do I know her?" asks Ben.

"Yeah, Danny, do we know her?" asks Tucker.

I could easily squish him. Maybe I should.

"It's Riley," I say.

I didn't want to tell him. I am not sure how to tell him.

"You're going out with Riley?"

"It's fake. She wanted to make some guy jealous so I volunteered to be her date so she wouldn't have to go out with some stranger she doesn't trust."

"Good plan," says Ben, slugging me affectionately on the shoulder.

I am taking Riley to a nice romantic dinner at a nice restaurant in the city, after that it's a carriage ride through Central Park, and who knows, maybe a moonlight stroll. Maybe she'll get used to the idea of me being her boyfriend and we could make it official. Although my plans never go the way I intend them to.

"Hey, Danny, Riley's here," says Tucker.

That's odd. I am not expecting her. I am supposed to meet her outside her apartment in half an hour. What is she doing here? She's not even dressed for our date, but she even in her work clothes she still looks really pretty.

"Danny, I'm sorry, something came up," Riley says.

"Is everything alright?" I ask.

"Yeah it's fine; I just can't do anything tonight. I am sorry," says Riley.

"How about tomorrow?" I ask.

"Actually let's cancel. It's silly to ask you to pretend date me just to make Ben jealous. It's a little sad, don't you think? Besides, neither of us have the time. Thank you so much for being supportive," says Riley.

She stands on her tip toes to kiss me on the cheek. I feel like someone just yanked my heart out with a scalpel. I watch Riley leave before I punt Emma's empty car seat across the living room. It misses Tucker's head by a millimeter.

I expect a snarky comment from Tucker, but it doesn't come. I sit on the couch and bury my face in my hands. Tucker sits beside me. It's a while before either of us says anything. I know what he's thinking. He knows what I am thinking, nothing needs to be said.

"I'm sorry, Danny," says Tucker.

"I am going to bed," I say.

"It's 7:30," Tucker says.

"I need to be alone right now," I say.

"I will bring you a sandwich," says Tucker.

"Thanks, bro."

I kick my nightstand several times. Why am I such a loser? I lay on my bed for along staring at the ceiling. I see her face there. It pains me to think about her now. I know she didn't mean to be hurtful, she has no idea I like her. It's my fault for agreeing to that stupid date. God, I'm an idiot.

"Here's your sandwich, Danny," says Tucker.

He comes in with a turkey sandwich on wheat; he puts it on my nightstand. I don't touch it right away. I can't eat anything. I feel like throwing up.

"Do you need anything?" asks Tucker.

"I'm not ill, Tuck," I say.

Tucker nods and leaves.

I take out my old high school year book. There was a picture of Riley. Even though she was very rotund, she was cute. She had dimples in her cheeks and soft brown eyes. She was always good to me. I wanted to ask her to prom, but I didn't have the guts and I didn't want to ruin my reputation.

If only I had done it. If only I had asked her to prom maybe I would with her right now. The more I look at this picture the better I feel. Why am I depressed? I shouldn't wait for something to happen. I should make it happen.

I am going to make it happen. I don't know how I'm going to do that without revealing my feelings for her or maybe I need to do just that.

So I am sorry if this chapter sucked. I really have a hard time writing about Danny because there are only four episodes of the show so far and I haven't really grasped everyone's personalities yet, except Tucker, but that's too easy. It's hard to keep characters canon when you barely know them.