and i will hold on hope
and i won't let you choke
on the noose around your neck
.
The pass-off successful, Chandler re-entered his apartment and found himself face-to-face once more with the woman who couldn't seem to keep her tongue to herself.
"Dennis," she slurred, and it became apparent to him that she was even drunker than before. "Dennis, baby, c'mere and lemme see you."
Chandler sighed. "Alright, but only if you'll be skins."
The woman squinted, confused. "Skins? Won't we both be skins?"
He rolled his eyes and passed her, ignoring her cries for his return. He headed into his own bedroom, found a place on his bed among the ruins of his lamp, and laid back, intently studying the nooks and crannies of his ceiling.
How the hell did they get that name, he mused.
It had been a long time since he had talked about his childhood, more than just the day his parents had announced their divorce. He could find the humor in that. At least to an outsider, the situation may have come across as funny, at least as funny as divorce can be.
"More turkey, Mr. Chandler?" asked the voice in his head.
There was no humor in long nights spent listening to his parents scream at each other, or the time he walked in on his father trying on his mother's makeup, or the first time he wet the bed at a sleepover and had to change schools. He hadn't told his friends about that, and he hadn't planned to.
Maybe now was the time he should make an exception.
.
She sat and listened attentively as he relived his childhood, and when he was finished, she took his hand.
"Thank you for telling me," she said with a sigh. "I know it was hard to talk about it."
Chandler grimaced. "Only when I think really hard."
Rachel smiled a little and realized that his guard had immediately been thrown back up. "I know that's a stretch for you."
"I'm sore just thinking about it."
She shook her head and stood. "I'll get through it, though, right? I mean, you did. You survived."
Chandler nodded. "Yeah, I survived."
Rachel smiled half a smile. "I'm going to bed. Night, Chandler, and seriously, thanks."
He opened and shut his mouth several times before standing and saying, "Would it be totally inappropriate for us to hug right now?"
She turned around, letting her hand drop from the door handle. "Of course not."
He crossed the room quickly and enveloped her in a hug, his arms wrapping easily around her waist. She hummed contentedly into his shoulder.
"Thanks," she said again, looking up at him. "In the least awkward way possible, you give excellent hugs."
"Lots of practice with women while saying good night," he muttered, only half-kidding. He kissed her forehead, and they locked eyes for a long time, words passing between them silently. Finally he blinked. "If you need an ear, or a hug, I'm here."
"I know," she said, smiling. She turned and left, and he found himself grateful to have chased the woman who wanted to be shirts.
.
and i'll find strength in pain
and i will change my ways
i'll know my name as it's called again
-mumford and sons, 'the cave'
.
A/N: I've been watching Friends forever and a day but haven't ever written anything for it. Here's my first step. Tag to 2.22, TOW Two Parties. Thanks for reading :)