The two of you have known each other since the first grade despite not schooling together until the eighth - Jake's mom and your own had been wine friends, and naturally the two of you would have playdates together.

You remember messing around in yards together, whining over homework, dreaming about going to the police academy together. Jake was a die hard fan of - well, the movie Die Hard, whilst you had always had a thing for justice. Fate went your way when you both got accepted into the academy together, and despite not making the same precinct, Jake had practically begged you to submit transfer papers.

Needless to say, you two have always been close, and it hasn't changed with age. It's only gotten stronger, really. Jake holds you near and dear to his heart as his closest friend, built from when you'd comfort him when his dad left or the random lunch hangouts or you helping him find a new apartment. He thinks you're the world - smart and funny and, though his pride is a little stubborn on letting him admit it, a damn good detective.

Jake doesn't know what to do when he finds himself lying awake at night, wondering what it would be like with cuddled up at his side, or if he got to hold your hand in the hallway, or do that cheesy romance movie thing where he wipes the ice cream off your chin...

Yeah, he realizes he's got a thing for you. Oops?

He's hesitant to act on it, naturally. It would kill him if he did something wrong and screwed up your friendship. He's settled for being your pining best friend and would happily suffer through the stupidly corny night delusions if it meant preserving what you had.

Never in a million years would he recognize that you've started to think of him the same way.

"We on for lunch?" Jake grinned as he leaned his hip against your desk, peering at the file you had open before you, trying not to think about hugging and kissing the stressed out frown off your face. "I want to try that new burrito shop. We can share that massive burrito they're blowing up for."