𝑺 𝑬 𝑽 𝑬 𝑵 .

“that version of me is gone.”

“this changes nothing.”

“i was counting on it.”

“watch me.”

“it wasn’t like this before.”

“i can’t pretend anymore.”

“it’s a promise.”

“say it again.”

“don’t do this.”

“you’re late.”

“this is your last chance.”

“i made my choice long ago.”

“it was over the moment you left.”

“i had to see it for myself.”

“i’ve made worse mistakes than this.”

“you changed.”

“tell me the truth.”

“you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“you owe me.”

“you followed the wrong path.”

“this isn’t over.”

“i warned you.”

“you’re hiding something.”

“you’ll regret this.”

“they recognized the weapon before they recognized the person holding it.”

“is this a threat?”

“some things can’t be fixed.”

“help me understand.”

“it ends however you decide.”

“you don’t understand.”

“you can’t stop this.”

“you came back.”

“it doesn’t have to end like this.”

“you’re making a mistake.”

“we never make it out clean.”

“maybe it was the only one.”

“you remember me, don’t you?”

“you lied to me.”

“you’re shaking.”

“silence would have been kinder.”

“you shouldn’t have followed me.”

“i trusted you.”

“say my name.”

“i’m not afraid.”

“you knew, didn’t you?”

“is this goodbye?”

“things change.”

“you don’t have to be alone.”

“i mean it this time.”

“that was your first mistake.”

“you’re not who i remember.”

“we don’t have much time.”

“was any of it real?”

“that’s not what you said before.”

“listen to me.”

“and yet, here we are.”

“put it down before this gets worse.”

“look at me.”

“i regret a lot of things.”

“you’re bleeding.”

“i didn’t think you’d survive.”

“don’t say my name like that.”

“you knew i’d come.”

“maybe you never knew me.”

“why are you here?”

“you wouldn’t like it.”

“people like us don’t get happy endings.”

“you followed me into ruin.”

“before everything fell apart.”

“there’s always a choice.”

“we could still fix this.”

“you’ve said that before.”

“i never meant for this to happen.”

“you promised.”

“what did you do?”

“before you chose a side.”

“don’t turn your back on me.”

“before you betrayed me.”

“you shouldn’t have.”

“i’m trying to help you.”

“you’ve always known the truth.”

“say something worth hearing.”

“i’m not backing down.”

“help me, or get out of my way.”

“don’t be foolish.”

“you should have run when you had the chance.”

“i owe you nothing.”

“i had no choice.”

“i walked away when it mattered most.”

“i crossed a line i can’t uncross.”

“i remember you too clearly.”

“you still care?”

the question is immediately on her tongue as she moves to deposit the money into the register. what happened today? she so badly wants to be nosy. her curiosity incredibly piqued. he'd looked so pensive over there, stewing in his own thoughts. what could have happened that would have caused him to be so deep in thought? to be reading into it, as he'd put it? she shakes herself from her own thoughts and lets out a chuckle instead. 〝 you say that like i'm not bored out of my mind in this place like ninety-eight percent of the time. 〞she offers a final friendly smile when he moves toward the door to leave. 

a soft laugh slips from her lips, her shoulders slumping slightly. 〝 well . . . okay, i don't actually know exactly where she stole my identity, but i do know she was parading around the city pretending to be me. so it really wouldn't surprise me if she hit the coffee shop too. and don't ask me how i know she was pretending to be me. 〞

she glances away, her brow furrowing at the absurdity of her allowing more of the experience to be shared with this poor, unassuming stranger just trying to get his coffee. 

〝 hm, 〞her lips press together, giving him a once over in consideration. 〝 okay, i guess i can see it ─ if you had to. 〞

she returns the smile, thankful that he seems to be in on the joke and that she hasn't completely weirded him out. and if she had, at least he was being polite about it. 

what do you mean? i've always been okay with you dating other people. for some reason, this time just feels different.

do you think you could ever see us as more than friends?

i compare anyone i ever date to you. is that weird?

did they actually think we were dating? that's a little strange.

do you get asked a lot if we're a couple?

you're my best friend. i would never want to risk our friendship.

our friendship matters more to me than anything. i don't ever want you to leave my life.

i'll admit. i've started looking at you differently... in a good way.

guess i never realized how beautiful you are.

would you consider this a date?

seeing you with them... it made me so mad. i can't explain the feeling.

i'm afraid i'll lose you. i can't risk it.

you're not just my best friend, you're my... nevermind. forget i said anything.

sooner or later you'll probably realize you've been in love with me this whole time.

i don't want to ruin our friendship. that's the main issue i have.

but what if you're the one for me?

do you believe in soulmates?

no one else compares with you.

of course i care about you. you're my best friend. you always will be.

wow. you look... absolutely breathtaking.

i know i'm not supposed to have feelings for you, but i do.

they said we'd make a cute couple, you know.

if no one asks you, and no one asks me... maybe we could go to the dance together. as friends.

i'm always going to be by your side. that's what best friends do.

i won't let anything happen to you. i promise.

you have no idea the lengths i would go through to keep you safe.

you don't treat anyone else like this. just me.

how long have you had feelings for me?

whatever happens, we can't let this get in the way of our friendship.

what's a kiss between friends?

best friends cuddle. this is normal. this doesn't have to be romantic.

i've always viewed you differently than other people.

you're so special to me, and you don't even realize it.

i've never cared about anyone like i care about you.

i just don't want them to get in the way of our friendship.

when were you going to tell me you were seeing someone? i thought i was the first person you told about that stuff.

don't you get it? they're not you.

i'm not in love with them. i have feelings for someone else, someone i can't have.

would it make things weird between us if i kissed you right now?

no, i'm not staring at your lips. what are you talking about?

my parents keep insisting that we'd make a great couple.

you've always been my first priority.

you said something earlier about the people you love.

could you ever see yourself loving me?

and what about me? do you love me?

maybe we could go on a date sometime. an actual date where i plan nice things and bring you flowers.

if you're looking for some dynamic ideas before sending a meme or jumping into something, here's a handy dandy little guide i whipped up that might help to spark something??  also, keep in mind monica is pretty adaptable / easy to drop into a variety of universes.

NEIGHBORS.  maybe your muse lives in monica's building. they see each other occasionally when doing laundry or collecting the mail and have exchanged the typical pleasantries. maybe they've only seen each other in passing in the hallway or on the way into or heading out of the building. perhaps they live directly below her apartment and have had put up with the noise from apartment 20 for far too long.  

CHILDHOOD / FORMER FRIENDS.  perhaps your muse grew up with monica.  attended the same elementary / high school / college or lived in the same neighborhood. or maybe they were on her field hockey team.  were they the one who coined her nickname "big fat goalie"?  or were they just another one of her bullies?  did your muse make monica's early life a living hell? 

COWORKERS.  does your muse work with monica at the diner / restaurant? maybe they're a fellow chef working along side her creating nightly specials. or are they a waiter? bringing the customers monica's creations on a nightly basis and delivering compliments to the chef on their delicious meal. 

EXES.  monica has had her share of failed relationships, could your muse have been involved in one of them? did they end things on friendly terms where they still see each other around the city and do the whole friendly catch up thing? or did things between them end so badly that they do everything in their power to avoid eye contact if there's an unexpected run in at the grocery store or neighborhood bar?

ultimate ships challenge - [2/5] friends to lovers ships

Chandler/Monica  »  Friends