Chris stood outside Denise's apartment door. In his hand were his letter for her, and a bouquet of her favorite flowers: red, long stem roses. His clammy fist hovered over her birch door, mentally unable to bring himself to knock. He was nervous, the reason being May's upcoming arrival.

May was the month Chris was set to depart from Los Angeles for nine whole months. There were a few major holidays that brought him back home for a week or two, but he was scheduled to be predominantly gone for the next nine months. He had a few projects to film in different parts of the world: 'Avengers: Infinity War' shooting locations were split between Georgia, Edinburg, England, and New York City; as for 'Red Sea Diving Resort', it was set to be filmed in various parts of South Africa. Chris was excited about both projects, but he wasn't excited about leaving for nine months. Not only did he have to be away from Dodger, he was going to be away from Denise too. The fact that they'd spent time together every day for the last sixty-five days should've been enough of an exemplary to depict how much of a struggle it was going to be for both of them.

For two people who claimed they weren't dating, they did a lot of things couples did. They'd meet for meals, go out to the movies, take Dodger for walks, go for short road trips, and organize little picnics or bake days. They spent ample time together, and it didn't end with organized activities and scheduled outings. Denise would accompany Chris when he had to go work out at his gym, or she'd help him with his lines for his upcoming projects- minus 'Avengers: Infinity War' because that was confidential and she didn't want any spoilers. Chris would sit with Denise while she studied at her university's library, or simply hang out at her workplace when she was rostered for late night shifts so she wouldn't be alone and he could drive her home. More often than not Chris was the one who completed errands for the apartment with Denise, rather than Luca- who really should've been the one who helped sort the bills, complete the grocery shopping, and take the trips to IKEA as she lived in said apartment.

Other than not having the romantic benefits of an actual couple, they were a couple. It was bewildering to many why they wouldn't just have the talk and become an official couple. The evolution of their feelings towards each other were highly noticeable, and Luca- who was around the two of them the most- was sick of seeing them as just friends. It finally got to a point where Luca sat Denise down and forced her to listen to the solid points she'd consolidated, points she had no doubt her best friend would relentlessly argue with. It was a dance. They'd been friends for so long it was hard not to be able to predict each other's actions.

"I love the both of you but you two are being absolutely insufferable right now." Luca told Denise, and she sighed because she already knew how insufferable she and Chris were being. "Honestly, Denise. He likes you and you like him, why are you making it more complicated than it has to be? Just grab that man and kiss him already."

"It is not that simple, Luca."

"How is it not that simple?" Luca pressed with a frown. "Do you not see the way Chris looks at you? It is so obvious he likes and wants to be with you. Trust me on this, go pursue that relationship. This is the dream, Denise. You are going to be dating Christopher Robert Evans! That's always been the dream, your dream."

"Exactly," Denise argued and Luca frowned, confused by the comment. "I'm just a fan," Denise elaborated before Luca could ask her to. "What if I'm not with him for the right reasons? What if I'm not good enough for him? I'm just a fan, Luca," Denise repeated with a soft sigh. "I am nobody compared to him."

"Denise," Luca chuckled as she took Denise's hands in hers; she'd both expected, and was stunned by Denise's concerns. "You and I- we've known each other since kindergarten. I'm your best friend, I'm like your sister. I know you better than anyone else, do you agree with that statement?" Luca quizzed and earned a nod from Denise. "Okay, so you're going to listen to me when I say this."

"Luca," Denise sighed heavily because she already knew what was coming.

"You are not just a fan, you are an amazing human being that Chris would be lucky to date." Luca assured Denise. "He's just a guy, okay? And if you're just a fan of his, then what is he to you? He's a fan of your work too, but that's not making him feel less about himself. You are in-love with him, and if you think you are only in-love with him because he's Chris Evans then you're not as smart as I thought." Denise sighed again and she heard Luca sigh too, "he's still here, isn't he? He wouldn't be if he didn't care for you."

Denise knew Luca was right, yet the next words left her lips anyway. "You don't know that, he could just be here for my stories." It was a terrible defense because since the airport, they'd barely talked about her fan fictions. She was scared and scrambling for any kind of excuse to deny the possibility that her celebrity crush could like her as much as she liked him. "Maybe he's still here because he wants to see if I'm like the girl in the story he loves so much."

"I don't believe that for a second, but if that is true- so what?" Luca pressed for a point.

"So what if I'm not that girl? What am I going to do when he realizes that?" Denise bit rhetorically. "Because I am not that girl, I am not even one-eighth of that girl. If we become something more, he's going to realize all that was just fiction and that I am nothing but a huge disappointment. I can't lose him, Luca. It is such a cliché, but I would rather have him in my life as a friend than not have him in my life at all."

"Do you ever get tired of selling yourself short?" Luca inquired because she was genuinely curious. Ever since grade school, she'd noticed that to be one of Denise's biggest flaws; the other two being perfectionism and chronic over thinking. All that weight Denise constantly carried on her shoulders were phantasmal, the perfection she strived for chimerical. "Because I do," Luca released her hands with a sigh, "I am so sick of it."

"I'm sorry, Luca," Denise managed a small smile, "but I just can't."

"It's your decision," Luca shrugged. "If you don't want to take that risk and be with him, then don't. I know what I'd do if I were in your shoes, but I'm not so-" Luca cut herself off with a huff, frustrated with the entire situation. "As your best friend," she began again after a slow, deep breath, "you know I'll always respect your decision." Denise smiled, reaching forward to give Luca's elbow a grateful squeeze. "Even if it is a dumb one," Denise heard Luca murmur under her breath as she walked towards the kitchen.

"Yeah, I heard that!" Denise called.

"Good, 'cause I meant for you to!"

A week later, after Luca had a similar but more subtle conversation with Chris, here he was at their front door. Luca was right about the intentions behind their feelings; their want to be together was for all the right reasons. It was understandable what brought them together birthed some doubts and insecurities, but all that time they'd spent together should have cleared their minds of it by now.

It was inexorable for Chris to admit he liked Denise- loved her even, and he was done being just friends. He yearned for more, for a future that would not eventuate if he didn't disclose his true feelings. He'd be disconsolate if he left for nine months without telling her he loved her and she got swept off her feet by another man. It was a feeling Denise had been acquainted with after she read the latest tabloids about him and Scarlett Johansson being a thing. Which was why-

"Chris," Denise gasped when she opened the door. Chris took an instantaneous step back, as stunned as she was. He hadn't expected her to open the door, nor did she expect him to be standing right outside. "What are you doing here?" She asked incredulously, slinging the strap of her little purse over her right shoulder as she glanced at her phone which had just buzzed in the palm of her hand.

"Oh um- I just..." Chris trailed off, swallowing. He physically could not get the words he wanted to say to her out of his mouth. He grew increasingly nervous with each flitting second, and now he was distracted because Denise was dressed up like she was going on a date. And she was- with Sam, a boy from her class- but she hadn't mentioned anything to Chris, which was why he was confused. "Where are you going?" His jealously brought forth a protective instinct that transformed a simple question into an authoritative demand.

Denise geared up for a mental war against herself when she heard his question. She didn't want to tell him she was going on a date because a tiny part of her still held onto the hope that she had a chance with him. She was afraid- terrified even, that if she told Chris about Sam the door would close forever. She considered lying until she recalled she'd read he was allegedly dating his oldest friend and brilliantly talented co-star, Scarlett Johansson- a woman she could never, ever surpass. They had history, they were around the same age, she had a beautiful daughter that he'd make an incredible step-father to. It would've been selfish and senseless for her to come between such a simpatico relationship. So why couldn't she tell him? After all what would be the harm in telling him, her friend?

"I'm going on a date." The words felt so onerous coming out of her mouth; the excitement she had when she agreed to coffee with Sam languished the second she saw Chris. "His name is Sam, he's in my class." The more she explained, the more Chris' heart ached. He inconspicuously slipped the letter into his back pocket and lowered the bouquet to his side. "Are those...for me?" She questioned with a raised brow.

"No." He blatantly lied with a shake of his head and a forced smile. He was a gentleman who had to pretend he was okay because he didn't want to ruin her date. "These are for Luca, she mentioned the other day that her mom wasn't doing too well. I um- I don't know- I just..." He trailed off in a weary tone. He was an actor who couldn't act because he was heartbroken, he just wanted it to be over; he needed to be as far away from her as soon as possible.

Denise was so distraught herself she didn't register Chris' terrible attempts at lying and bought into everything he was saying. "What?" Her eyes narrowed with deep concern as she mentally questioned why her best friend didn't mention anything to her. "That's crazy. She-" Luca had heard the commotion from her bedroom and decided to make an appearance. The second she poked her head over Denise's shoulder, she was hit with "why didn't you tell me your mom's sick?"

"Because she's not," Luca answered with a slight frown.

"Didn't you say she was she hurt her back or something?" Chris quickly spoke up. His wistful blue eyes begged Luca to go along with his lie when Denise looked away from him; he had no intention to continue with his original plan now. "You were really upset, which is why I brought you these." He held out the bouquet and Luca took it, even though she knew the flowers weren't for her. It was fairly obvious, roses were Denise's thing; Luca preferred her sunflowers. "Anyway, I should go. Um-" he uncomfortably scratched the back of his neck, "I've got errands to run."

"Actually, I'd love it if you stayed," Luca stopped Chris before he attempted to turn on his heel and escape the complication. "I'd really like to talk to you about something before you run off. Surely your errands can wait," she said in an esoteric tone; the look in her eyes was one only she and Chris understood.

Denise's phone buzzed in her hand again, informing her Sam had arrived and was waiting for her in his car downstairs. "You two have fun, I gotta go. We'll call Aunt Liz later and send my regards?" She suggested to Luca and received a nod in response. "Last chance, is this outfit a winner or not?"

Chris wanted to answer that question, unfortunately it wasn't meant for him. But he thought she looked breathtaking, though he thought that even if she was in her 'Tom & Jerry' tee-shirt and black sweatpants. She was the winner in his eyes, whatever outfit she had on played no part in how amazing she truly was.

"It's a winner," Luca assured Denise with a smile which faltered when she looked over her best friend's shoulder at Chris. His heavy expression educed a soft sigh because she knew exactly how he felt, it wasn't an unfamiliar feeling for one to love and not be loved in return; it was the most common source of pain. "You're a winner."

"I love you." Denise told Luca with a smile then gently touched Chris' arm as she brushed past him. He opened his mouth to stop her, but stopped himself before he could. He was too late, she looked happy and he couldn't ruin that for her. "I'll see you later!"

The second Denise vanished from their views, Luca beckoned Chris inside. His shoulders were slumped as he plodded in, the sound of his heavy footsteps echoed. Luca held the bouquet for him to take back then closed the door behind him. He stood in their living room, shuffling his feet as he tried not to kick himself at his bad timing.

"Denise is only going on a date because she thinks you're dating Scarlett Johansson," Luca told him and his head shot up, a deep frown on his face. "Have you not seen the tabloids?" She quizzed, unsure if his shock was genuine. "It's everywhere. The magazines, the television, social media- she was devastated."

"Wait- what- why would I date Scarlett?" He asked. "She's one of my oldest friends, she's like a sister to me. We don't have that kind of a relationship," he told her and she nodded in agreement because she'd told Denise the same thing. "I mean- we tried, but there was nothing there. Wait- so Denise is going on a date to spite me?"

"What is wrong with you?" Luca scolded and Chris lowered his sheepish gaze. "She is going on a date to distract herself from you because she is irretrievably in-love with you. It is befuddling how you think she could fall for someone else when you are right in front of her. Have you read everything she wrote? Because if you have and you still can't tell how much that girl loves you, then you are beyond saving." Chris had no words, he could only sigh. "The reason she hasn't confessed is because she's worried she's not good enough for you."

"Not good enough for me?" Chris frowned. "What- that's-" He was astounded it was a concern of hers. "Why would she think that? She's- she's amazing." A smile promptly appeared on his lips when he began talking about Denise. "Denise is- She is everything I want in a girl. She is sweet and kind and talented and funny and-" he cut himself off, sighing. "And I am in-love with her."

"Yeah, you are," Luca nodded. "And she is in-love with you too. It's not too late," she assured him when she heard him sigh, "she's not interested in Sam. She's just going because she needed the distraction and was too nice to tell him she was in-love with someone else. Just leave that letter you have in your pocket here and I'll pass it on to her."

Chris felt his eyes narrow as he reached into his back pocket, "how did you know that this is for her?" He quizzed as he pulled out the letter he'd spent days writing and refining; it was a mystery as to how how Denise got her stories out within hours. His thumb brushed over her carefully penned name before he passed it to Luca.

"Because I read my best friend's writing too. The two of you have been living one of her very adorable, but slightly more complicated little series." Her statement caused the corners of his mouth to quirk. "Luckily for you, Chris, the angsty part of it all is coming to an end. Things should be smooth sailing from here on out, as long as the two of you talk. God, if the two of you had just talked like I'd advised- this could've all been avoided. That poor boy wouldn't lose the perfect girl to the most wonderful guy without an explanation."

"Thank you, Luca," Chris smiled. "You are a good friend to her, I get why she loves you."

"I am her best friend," Luca corrected with great emphasis; an assertion to which Chris felt his lips purse. He understood what was said with that tone: "don't fuck with my best friend or I will kill you." She then repeated it in actual words so Chris grasped her point, "which means I will kill you if you hurt her in any way, do you understand me?"

"Believe me," he assured her with a firm nod, "I'd kill myself if I hurt her."