Elle Greenaway was more than okay with being single. She was too focused on work most of the time to even think about it, not to mention that her colleagues kept her company enough. When you joined the BAU, it was nothing out of the ordinary. For a few months, at least. At first, when you had joined, Elle thought nothing of it. The two of you quickly became friends, spending lunch together, working together on cases, going out for drinks, etc. It was normal and Elle enjoyed her time with you.

She ignored the fleeting thoughts when they first started to appear. A wandering thought here and there about how you looked exceptionally attractive that day, a quick wondering of what you were doing on the days she had off, a small feeling of wanting to be around you whenever you were in the same room as her and even when you weren’t.

But, of course, she could only brush those things off for so long. A year went by since you joined the team and Elle found herself utterly enamored with you. In love, if she dared to admit it. It was an odd thing for her, feeling something she had so adamantly brushed off ever happening in the past. She couldn’t ignore it now, not after so long, not after so many thoughts about you that couldn’t be stretched in a platonic way.

It wasn’t a fun experience, being in love. Not when Elle had to spend every day working next to you, staring at your beautiful face, looking at your eyes which were blissfully unaware of her feelings for you. The look in your admiring eyes made it feel like the world would end if she told you her feelings, like the world would end if you heard of how she loved you.

Elle was sat on your desk watching as you diligently worked on finishing up a file. She had done this so many times she had all of your mannerisms memorised: your furrowed eyebrows, the frown on your face, the way you held on to your pencil unnecessarily tight and bounced your leg up and down.

“Hey,” she waited for you to look up before continuing, “do you want to get lunch with me after this? I’ll buy.”