Chandler was sitting on his bed, smoking a cigarette. His blanket was wrapped around his legs and he was looking at the smoke as it drifted towards the open window. He heard a knock on the door and sighed in exasperation.

"Chandler? Can I come in?" came Joey's voice.

"Yeah." Chandler took a drag from his cigarette.

Joey opened the door and frowned at Chandler. "Dude, what's the matter? You look horrible."

He looked a little thinner, he had black circles under his eyes, which Joey could see although the room was dark, and his hair was disheveled.

"Thanks," Chandler said sarcastically.

"I've hardly seen you all week. You haven't been over to Monica and Rachel's. All you do is go to work and then lock yourself up in your room. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Dude."

"I'm fine."

Joey raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms on his chest. "Tell me the truth."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I'm not going to leave you until you tell me what happened."

Chandler sighed. "I've got a crush on someone and she doesn't feel the same way."

"I'm sorry, man. Who is she?"

"You don't know her."

"Is she someone from work?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Is she with someone?"

"No."

"So did you ask her out and she said no?"

"No, I didn't ask her out."

Joey frowned at him. "So if you didn't ask her out, how do you know that she doesn't feel the same way?"

"I just know," Chandler answered, a bit annoyed.

"I think you should tell her."

"No."

"Okay, anyway, the guys are worried about you. Monica was just about to come see what's up with you, but I told her I'd go first."

"No, no, no. Tell Monica not to come here."

"Why not?"

Chandler thought for a while. "I just don't want her to see me like this."

"Seriously, Chandler, she's seen you in a far worse shape. You've spent countless nights on her couch mopping about a woman you wanted and didn't want you back. What's the big deal?"

"Just tell her I'm sick and I don't want to infect her."

Joey looked at Chandler thoughtfully for a few moments, and then his eyes widened. "You've a crush on Monica!" he whispered and pointed at Chandler.

"Shhh! I don't have a crush on Monica." Chandler whispered.

"Don't shhh me, I was whispering!"

Chandler rubbed his face. "I don't have a crush on Monica, now can you please go and leave me alone?"

"Dude, you've got to tell her."

"I don't have to tell her anything, and plus, she doesn't feel the same way."

"Ah, so you do like her."

"Dammit."

"Tell her. Maybe she likes you too," Joey said.

"No, she doesn't, and it'll just ruin our friendship."

"But what if she does?"

"I won't risk it for the minuscule chance that she likes me too."

"Minuscule?" Joey asked, confused.

Chandler sighed and rolled his eyes. "Small."

Joey nodded.

"Well, I think you should tell her, but I'll stop because I got to go back. Do you want to come and join us?"

"No. Thank you."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

When Joey walked back into Monica and Rachel's apartment, Monica turned to him immediately.

"How's Chandler?"

"I think he's feeling a little down," Joey said.

"Why?"

"He wouldn't tell me. I think you should go see him." Joey barely stopped himself from smiling.

"Yeah, I will," Monica said.

Chandler just lit another cigarette when he heard knocking on the door. "Oh, for crying out loud. What, Joey?"

The door opened but it wasn't Joey. It was Monica. Chandler's eyes widened and he sat straighter.

"Monica, what's up?"

"Joey told me you're upset."

"That asshole," Chandler whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing. Um, listen, I'm tired. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

Monica set on the bed. She looked at the cigarette disapprovingly. Chandler sighed and put it out on the ashtray. "What?"

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Joey said that you're feeling a little down. Come on, Chandler, you can tell me." She put her hand on his arm and squeezed it.

Chandler was looking at his blanket and playing with it with his hands for a while. "I've got a crush on someone."

"Really? Who is she?"

"Someone from work."

"So why don't you ask her out? Is she seeing someone?"

"No. And she doesn't feel the same."

"How do you know?"

"I know." Chandler said, annoyed.

"Come on, Chandler. You don't know that. Take a chance."

"No. I'm 100% certain of it."

"Wow, men are stupid."

"Monica, just leave it, okay?" Chandler said. He was getting angry. He didn't want to get angry with Monica. He wanted her to go before he said something he regretted.

"Chandler, who wouldn't want you?"

"You!" He shouted.

Monica's eyes widened. Chandler stood up and walked as far as he could from Monica. He rubbed his face.

"What?"

"I was just giving an example…"

"Chandler," she cut him. She stood up and walked over to him. "How long have you felt like that?" She asked quietly, not looking at his face, which was just as well because he was looking at the floor.

"Like two months. But basically since college."

She looked up at his face, surprised. They stood in silence for some time.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

He sighed, scratching his neck. "Because I know you don't feel the same way." He said sadly.

There was silence again. Monica worried her lip between her teeth. Suddenly, Chandler felt her hand on his cheek, her fingers so light on his skin it was almost like she wasn't really touching him. He lifted his head and looked at her eyes, not sure what he saw there.

Monica leaned in slowly. She kissed him gently, and it was over so quickly that when she pulled away he couldn't help himself and he put his hand on her neck and guided her lips back to his, kissing her soundly. Monica's arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair and pulling slightly.

Chandler's other hand wrapped around her back and he pulled her closer to him. He opened his mouth and caught her bottom lip between his teeth. Monica opened her mouth as well and Chandler's tongue tasted her gingerly, until she sucked it and all caution was thrown to the wind. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth.

They pulled away, breathless, and Chandler rested his forehead on her forehead. Monice kissed him again and he melted into her. She started pulling at his shirt, but he grabbed her hands and stopped her.

"No, no, no."

"Why?" She asked, hurt.

Chandler held her hands in his and smiled at her sheepishly. "I didn't shower since yesterday and I stink of cigarettes and I've a pizza stain on my blanket. You deserve better."

Monica sighed in relief. "Okay," she said. "You do stink of cigarettes."

"Oh, so I better not kiss you again."

"I can let it go once," she said and kissed him.

"So, can I take you on a date tomorrow, maybe?"

"Well, I was planning on playing Scrabble with Rachel, but okay."

"8:30?"

"Sounds great." She kissed him again and then walked over to the door. "Goodnight," she said.

"Goodnight."

When Monica left the room Chandler flopped on his bed with a huge smile on his face. After a few minutes he stood up and threw away all of his remaining cigarettes to the trash.