It was just another slow afternoon at Central Perk… well, at least you thought it was. You’d ducked into the staff break room for a quick coffee, hoping for a few minutes of peace before the lunch rush. But as soon as the door clicked behind you, Rachel Greene appeared, clearly flustered.

“Ugh, Ross!” she groaned, throwing her apron onto the counter. “He doesn’t get it at all. He thinks just because we… you know… used to… it’s okay to—ugh!”

You raised an eyebrow, silently leaning against the doorway. She paused, noticing you. “Oh… hi. I didn’t… I mean, it’s nothing. Just… Ross being Ross.”

You shrugged, sipping your coffee, but she didn’t back down. “You know what’s crazy? Sometimes I feel like I can’t even think straight around him. He’s… so… ugh!” She ran a hand through her hair, pacing. “And it’s not just him—it’s… it’s like I… I don’t know, I just… I wish someone else would just—ugh, I’m rambling!”

You tilted your head, waiting, sensing she wasn’t done.

Rachel froze, cheeks flushing. “Okay, I shouldn’t say this… but… sometimes I think about… being with someone else. Someone who actually… gets me. Someone like…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked down, embarrassed, then back at you. “…someone like you.”

Your heart skipped. The break room suddenly felt smaller, warmer, charged with something neither of you had expected.

Rachel laughed nervously, trying to brush it off. “I mean… I didn’t mean to say that! Forget I said anything!”