Ella let out a sigh, closing her locker, ready to leave the high school, when someone called out her name.

"Ella!" Alex smiled, jogging up to her.

"Hey," The girl smiled softly, "What's up."

"Well, you know how Valentines Day is coming up?" Alex asked.

"Oh, really?" Ella smirked, flicking the giant paper heart that had been stuck on the locker next to hers, "Couldn't tell."

Alex chuckled, "Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date."

The blonde girl raised an eyebrow, "A date?"

Alex gave her a nod, "With me."

A laugh escaped Ella's lips, "Well, I didn't think you were implying that you wanted me to go out with a toaster," She said, making the both of them giggle, "And, yes. I would love to go on a date with you."

Alex smiled wider, "Great."

***

Monica, Phoebe and Jake entered Central Perk, having a debate.

"You can not do this." Monica begged the blonde woman.

"She's right, Pheebs," Jake agreed, "It's a terrible idea."

"Do what, do what?" Rachel asked, both her and Ella on shift.

"Roger wants to take her out tomorrow night." Monica told her.

"Phoebe! No!" Ella groaned, giving Jake a muffin and walking behind the counter.

"No! Phoebes!" Rachel agreed, "Don't you remember why you dumped the guy?"

"'Cause he was creepy," Phoebe sighed, "And mean. And a little frightening... alright, still, it's nice to have a date on Valentine's Day!"

"She has a point." Jake shrugged, looking over at Ella, who was having a chat with Gunther, a longing look on his face.

***

Phoebe, Monica and Rachel laughed as they sat in the latter two's kitchen, discussing and prepping for their Valentines Day bonfire, when Jake walked in, a solemn look on his face.

"Jake?" Monica asked, concerned for her baby brother.

"Ella's going on a date with Alex tomorrow." The boy frowned, making the women feel bad for him, encasing the teen in a hug.

"You want some ice cream?" Rachel asked softly.

"As long as it's not any of that low calorie, soy crap."

***

"I can't believe that Chandler hooked up with Janice." Ella laughed, as she got ready for her date over at her sister and grandmother's apartment.

"I can." Phoebe laughed.

"Yeah, it is a Chandler thing to do," Ella giggled, before stepping out of her older sister's bedroom, into the living room, "How do I look?"

Smiling fondly at her sister, Phoebe said, "Lovely."

"Thanks." Ella blushed, grabbing her coat, ready to leave.

"Can I ask you something?" Phoebe wondered.

"Sure."

"Why'd you agree to going out with Alex?"

Ella turned to look at her sister, "Well, he's nice. And he's funny."

"Shouldn't there be more of a reason than nice and funny?"

"Well, it's like you said," Ella shrugged, "It's nice to have a date on Valentines Day. And why are you asking me this?"

"Well, you've never been on a date before," Phoebe told her, "I just want to protect you. I don't want you going out with scummy guys like Monica, Rachel and I have."

 A small frown appeared on Ella's face, "What kind of guy do you think I should go out with?"

"Someone who gets you," Phoebe started, "Someone who knows how to make you smile when you're having a bad day. A guy who you can depend on and who makes you feel safe. One that shares your interests and wants to know about the ones that you don't share. A guy who looks at you as though you're his world and will remind you that you're beautiful every single day. Someone who is like your best friend. But is also a really good kisser, because that is always a bug plus."

That last comment made Ella laugh.

"Yeah."

"And hey, maybe eventually that could be Alex." Phoebe shrugged.

"I guess," Ella shrugged, before checking her watch, "I've gotta go."

The teenager hugged her sister goodbye, before rushing out of the apartment.

Phoebe smirked as she closed the door behind the girl, "And the seed has been planted."

***

Jake sat on the couch of his, Joey and Chandler's apartment, flicking through channels on the television, rolling his eyes at all the romcoms that came up.

The boy let out a groan, before turning the television off, "It's like you're just trying to torture me."

The door to the apartment then opened and Ella walked in, "Hey."

Turning around, Jake gaped at the girl, "H-Hey. You-You look great."

Ella blushed, "Thanks."

"How was your date?" Jake asked, as he watched his best friend look through one of his suitcases for a shirt and some sweatpants.

"It was okay." Ella shrugged.

Jake raised an eyebrow, hope rising in his chest, "Just okay?"

"I didn't really feel much of a spark." Ella admitted, moving over to the bathroom, Jake's clothes in hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Jake told her, even though he was fighting back a grin.

"To be honest, I'm not," Ella said, giving him a small smile, "Do you wanna order a pizza and watch a disgusting romance movie?"

Jake grinned, "Sounds like the perfect Valentines Day to me."