Over the course of the next week (Y/N) did everything she could to avoid Charlie. In turn, she ended up spending more time with Cricket and Dennis.
That lead her to tonight, sitting on the couch in Mac and Dennis' apartment with Dennis, watching a movie in the dark, just the two of them.
(Y/N) laughs at the movie, and Dennis can't help but stare at her. She was beautiful, inside and out, and Dennis knew that he was head over heels in love with her. He felt a mix of emotions run through him momentarily. Anger at Charlie for ignoring her feelings, jealousy that Cricket feels the same way about her that he does, and sadness that she doesn't look at him the way she looks at Charlie. He shakes his head in an attempt to clear away these feelings. He should just enjoy what he has with her.
He scoots closer to her, testing the waters.
His heart swells with joy when she subconsciously moves closer to him. She shivers slightly, so he wraps his arm around her. She snuggles closer and lays her head on his shoulder.
"Dennis...this is really nice." She mumbles. He pauses the movie and turns to face her.
"(Y/N), this is all I've wanted since I met you. I know you have feelings for Charlie, but I have feelings for you. Just being in your presence has changed me so much. It's made me a better man. I've become kinder, and gentler, and less of a pervert and a creep, and it's all because of you." He looks down at his hands, too scared to look her in the eye.
"Dennis, look at me." She coaxes gently. He looks up at her, her (Y/E/C) eyes sparkling with the light from the tv.
She begins to lean towards him, eyes half closed. His eyes widen as he gets the hint, moving in quickly and pressing his lips to hers. He feels a sense of pride when she melts into the kiss, bringing her arms up to wrap around his neck.
The world around them fades away as they continue to explore the newfound intimacy.
Their lips part momentarily, and Dennis whispers against her mouth, his voice filled with sincerity, "I want to be the one who makes you happy, (Y/N). I want to be the one you choose."
She grabs the collar of his button down shirt and kisses him more fiercely, her heart swarming with emotions. Just for a little while she wants to forget the rest of the world, forget about Charlie, forget about Cricket, and just focus on this moment and the man in front of her. He sighs into her mouth, and she deepens the kiss.
She didn't care about tomorrow, or the consequences of kissing Dennis, she just wanted to enjoy the moment while she could.
—————
Mac arrives home a couple of hours later, pausing as he takes in the sight in front of him. (Y/N) is asleep on the couch, cuddled up to Dennis who is also fast asleep. The DVD menu screen is displayed on the TV, illuminating the two slightly.
Mac can't help but laugh, awakening the two.
"Oh this is fantastic!" Mac laughs, leaning on the kitchen table to hold himself up.
(Y/N) sits up, still rubbing sleep out of her eyes.
"What's so funny, Mac?" She asks.
"Oh this little love triangle you all have going on is so entertaining!" He calms himself down and stops laughing.
"So, are you two together now?" He asks. Before Dennis can say anything, (Y/N) answers for the both of them.
"No! It was just a fluke thing. It didn't mean anything. I was emotional and Dennis was here. That's all it was." She says quickly, standing up and grabbing her coat.
"I've gotta go." She pushes past Mac and out the door.
Dennis sits there in shock. It didn't mean anything to her? She still wants Charlie?
"Yo, Den. Are you okay?" Mac asks, moving towards his friend.
"No, Mac! I'm not! I spilled my guts to her! I told her how I felt! I told her I loved her! And now I'm learning it meant nothing to her?! Well when we were kissing it sure felt like it meant something. And she still wants Charlie! The jerk that rejected her!" Dennis rants. A tear slips down his cheek.
"Oh, dude. I haven't seen you like this since we were in high school!" Mac sits down next to him on the couch. Mac tires to place a comforting hand on Dennis' shoulder, but he shrugs it off in true Dennis Reynolds fashion.
"Dude, don't touch me."
"Right, sorry." Mac says, standing once more.
"Just leave me alone, Mac." Dennis says quietly. Mac just nods and heads to his room. This whole love triangle is getting out of hand.
————-
(Y/N) enters her and Dee's apartment, flopping onto the couch and burying her face in a pillow.
"Whoa, I guess hanging out with Dennis didn't go so well." Dee says, emerging from the kitchen.
"I kissed him." (Y/N) mumbles into the pillow.
"You kissed him?!"
"Yes! It was a mistake!"
"A mistake?"
(Y/N) rolls over onto her back, staring at the ceiling.
"I'm still upset about Charlie, and Dennis was saying all of these sweet things, and it got me all emotional and confused and I kissed him and I shouldn't have."
Dee sits down at the end of the couch.
"Do you have feelings for him?" She asks.
"I don't know! I'm so confused. I know that I want Charlie. But then Dennis had to come along and fall in love with me and make things so complicated!"
"Don't forget about Cricket, too." Dee reminds her.
"Matthew? What has he got to do with anything?"
"Cricket is also in love with you. Didn't you know?"
"No! Ugh! Why is everything so complicated!"
"Because boys will be boys, (Y/N). You know that."
"Yeah, I guess. But I hurt Dennis tonight, and I can't forgive myself for that."
"Dennis is a big boy, he'll be okay."
"Yeah, you're right. But kissing him did feel really good. He's really good at it."
"Eww! That's my brother!" Dee exclaims, covering her ears. The two women share a laugh.
