This is my version of the Way/ No Way story… it 's friends with a musical story as Chandler and Ross' band hits the big time… and both boys find love , in a familiar place… These characters are the property of Bright Kaufmann and Crane productions as always… and this story is dedicated to Jen, and Mondler and Lobster fans….
Rachel Green rubbed the mousse in her hair. She then tied it to the side and put it in a ponytail. She put her hands on her hips as the belt slung to the side. Pink boots that matched her fuschia dress covered her feet. Next she put on her lip gloss.She puckered her lips as she got rid of the access. Monica was looking through her closet, after all since she lost all her weight last year, she could now go through designer quality Rachel;s wardrobe. She held up an off the shoulder electric blue dress as she walked in the front of the mirror.
"How's this?" Monica asked.
"That'll look great on you." Rachel said. "Now all we need to do is curl your hair and then tease it a little bit and you will be able to pass for at least twenty." The two girls were so excited . They were sneaking in to the city . Monica's brother's band had a gig and the girls wanted to hear the band. Way / No Way was finally starting to make a name for itself.
"I can't believe that they are playing at the Tunnel. I mean this is my dinosaur loving , no talent geek of a brother." Monica said as she plugged in the curling iron.
"Never mind that, there will be hot guys there. Hot college guys." Rachel said as she started to comb Monica's hair. She put her hair in the curling iron and then she put on some blush. Monica was still very nervous , she still didn't know how to make herself gorgeous. She had other things on her mind as well. Last Thanksgiving, she met her brother's roommate and now the lead singer of Way/ No Way, Chandler . She didn't tell a soul but she would sit in class and doodle the name Chandler Bing, even though she had heard him call her fat. Who knows this might have even been the push she needed to get rid of her fat? She hadn't seen him since the party in the dorm. That was such a special night. After too much beer, she passed out and so did Rachel. Each of them grabbed a bed, Monica , of course, passed out on her brothers bed and Chandler put Rachel on his. In the middle of the night, she felt something on her lips. She could only imagine who it was and hoped upon hope that it would have been Chandler who kissed her.
"Bing , you have spent an hour on your hair. You are worse than a woman." Ross said as he watched Chandler tease his hair and then put on a little eyeliner in the mirror in the dressing room. He looked at his own hair that was straighter now than before. It was combed down and the curl was gone. He also looked at his clean shaven face as well. He took his hand and rubbed it against the clean shaven face . The five o clock shadow looked good on him now. So did the blue jacket and the white t shirt.
"Geller what's the hold up?" Gandalf said as he pushed in front of the mirror. "Oh I see now. Hey Liza Minelli , I still have to get ready. There is a ton of people out there , and most of them are chicks." Mike Gandalf said as he took out of his bag some hair spray and then spiked his hair. Chandler was still putting on eye makeup . The fourth band member showed up as well. Kip carried in his bass and then just ran his fingers thorough his hair.
"Okay guys, five minutes." The manager of the club opened the door and yelled inside. The guys immediately took one final look at the mirror and then high fived each other and then they were off to greet their groupies.
Rachel adjusted her mirror as the car speeded down the highway. She was adjusting it so she could make sure her makeup was perfect. At least now her nose was. It cost her parents a small fortune , but with the premise of reducing her deviated septum. Her face now was perfect. Monica copied the way that Rachel looked in the mirror. She always envied her friend and it was going to take her some time to get used to the transformation from shy fat teenager to thing hot girl. As they parked the car, two guys howled at the girls in their outfits. Monica looked back to see if they were just looking at Rachel, it was still a shock to realize that they were whistling at her as well.
"Got the fake id's" Monica asked Rachel as she pulled it out of her purse. "Chip did a real good job. " Rachel giggled as she thought of her boyfriend. Rachel was never really faithful to one guy, because she claimed she still hadn't met the one. Monica held it up to the light and smiled when she saw what her weight was. "Twenty one!" she exclaimed. "I'll never pass for that." Rachel took out her blush and make Monica's cheeks a little darker. "Now you will. Come on be cool." Rachel said as the two made their way toward the door.
A very large black man with a gold earring stood guard at the door to make sure that only the right people got in. Rachel smiled at herself , and then put away her compact. They wouldn't need id's . She sauntered up to the guy and then smiled at him. "Hi." Baring his pearly white teeth, he pulled up the rope and the two young girls walked in.
The Tunnel was one of those New York rock clubs that had seen better days, and oh what days that was. Mick and Keith and Dennis with Styx, Gene and Kiss, Steve and Aerosmith. This was a place known for launching careers and breaking young girls hearts. Girls would sell their souls for the boys that pranced on that stage. Tonight, it was Way/No Way 's turn . There was a promise that a record producer was in the audience. Goodbye fraternity parties , hello fame, were the thoughts on the boys minds tonight. The bar smelled of cheap perfume, hair spray , and cigarette smoke.
"Now that was easy." Smiled Monica as she put her fingers through her sprayed hair. Teasing it with her hands, she followed Rachel to the bar. "Two vodkas, neat." Rachel said as she tried to look more adult than her eighteen years. Taking a large gulp, Monica made a face and then set down her glass. "Let's find the guys." She said as they made their way to the front. A table had a reserved sign on it and the manager had been told that the one was the sister of the keyboard player, so he acted ever the gentleman and pulled out a chair for Rachel and Monica. He even asked them for another drink. This time Monica ordered scotch with a twist. She had seen her father order it and wanted to try it. She licked her lips and then took another drink, this was good.
The lights came up , in shades of blue, pink, yellow , and green. Then a fog machine clouded the stage as the intro music began. "This is part of their new opening?" Rachel asked . The girls had been coming to the band's gigs for quite a while now. They both remember just the instruments and the songs, since they Way/ No Way had achieved some prominence , they were going for a different look. More glitz and more show.
"I guess. I mean Ross didn't tell me about this." Monica said as she spotted the lead singer running to the mike. There he was, and even though he insulted her and hurt her, she still remembered those eyes and those dimples. Her eyes were glued to Chandler Bing as he stood waiting to start their set. She held it in quite well and then prayed he would notice she was no longer the fat teenager from a year ago.
Rachel was flirting with a guy at the next table, she smiled at him and then waved. Turning her head, she noticed something else that was different about the look of the band. And that was Ross. Gone was the curly haired locks and the mustache. His hair was teased and moussed and he wore a blue silk shirt and gray pants . "Mon?" Rachel asked as she couldn't stop looking at the keyboard player. He was not the pain in the butt geeky brother, but a hot musician that Rachel would love to just have him play her.
"Yeah Rach?" Monica didn't want to turn her head as she still kept her focus on Chandler.
"When did Ross get his hair straightened?" Rachel asked casually , so she wouldn't be suspect to Monica's third degree. Rachel was never one to be tied to one boy. She was a hopeless flirt that always used her looks. Could it actually be that Rachel Green was falling for a guy, and surprisingly enough, her best friend's older brother.? Chip was the furtherest thing from her mind at this very second. Rachel smiled a smile like she had never done before. This was one guy she had to have. Did he always look like this and she didn't notice?
Gandalf counted on the beats and then the music started. Chandler stepped up to the microphone and then curling his lip like the King , he started to sing. He soon had the attention of every girl in the room, except of course one. Her mind was on the sexy keyboard player.Straining his eyes, Chandler tried to see into the club audience, but couldn't because the lights were blinding him. He did get a small glimpse of the front row. There were two hot girls sitting out there as they moved to the music. He wanted to impress them, because his luck with girls hadn't been that good. He and Ross actually repelled them , they knew with this band thing that maybe they could get girls easier. Moving closer he decided to sing to them. Ross looked at Gandalf , what in the hell was he doing? Kip looked confused too.
As they finished their first song, Ross segued into a ballad and then Chandler kneeled down and started to softly croon. Monica closed her eyes and felt every word as if it was he was singing just for her. At that moment, he was not her brother's annoying friend. He was her troubadour.
"They are really good." Rachel said as Monica seemed to drift into another world. "I remember hearing them before, but wow." She exclaimed. As Chandler ended the song, he turned to the lady in the front row and then gave her a look. Monica melted.
"Hey we are taking a break, so stay cool." Ross said as he got up from the keyboard into the mike. He leaped off the stage onto the floor. "Hey sis." He said as he saw Monica and Rachel. Rachel just kept staring at him, then he noticed it. "Rach, your nose." He exclaimed. "I had it fixed because of my deviated septum." She said embarrassed as she placed a finger on it . "I know this is going to sound so corny, but you actually look more beautiful than you did before." He smiled. "And you , the hair is so cool." Rachel said shyly, actually flirting with him.
"Yeah well the seventies are over." Ross said. "And this hair, well I looked more like my dad. Can't have that can we?" he laughed at his own joke. Rachel batted her eyelashes
Chandler decided to try his luck. It seemed that this lead singer thing did give him more confidence with women. There was that hot brunette at the first table. Ross turned to Chandler, "You remember my sister , Monica." Chandler couldn't believe his eyes. She was a total babe. The Monica he remembered was fat . This dress hugged her in all the right places.
"Hi Chandler." She said smiling and holding out her hand. "Been a while hasn't it?"
"Yeah, last Thanksgiving. Boy you look great." He said as he mentally undressed her with his eyes. He could picture her in a bra and stockings as she wrapped her legs around him. He could be arrested for the kind of thoughts he was having. He would definitely get his ass kicked if his buddy knew what kind of dirty thoughts he was having about his sister.
"Well it is time for a cigarette." Chandler said as he pulled the pack out of his denim jacket. Usually Monica would protest when someone would smoke. It was a nasty habit, but somehow seeing Chandler lift the cigarette to his lips and take a puff made her feel differently. He seemed to have a certain sexiness, like George Michael , when he exhaled a ring of smoke. She wanted to be that cigarette.
Ross seemed to stare intently at Rachel. She had so many things that were hidden deep inside of her. Her aqua eyes were the mirror to her soul, it almost seemed like this new Rachel, was a Rachel he never knew before, yet she was comfortable and familiar. This new girl actually was talking to him and from the looks she gave him, she was interested in him as well. Even though he didn't smoke, he still wanted to get off of this crowded place and get a breath of fresh air. Instead he walked to the bar, and asked the bartender for a beer and a vodka on the rocks. He walked back over and winked at Rachel. "Don't ever tell my mom, I did this." He handed her the vodka and she sipped it like a man sips fine whiskey. Then she said. "To having fun." She lifted her glass in a mock toast and they clinked glass. He took a long swig of his beer , mostly because he was hot from being under all those lights, and also because the only thing he could feel for this little girl was a dangerous fire. He would be crossing a line if he did. She was still a little high school girl and he was a college man, there are rules. Secondly, she was the best friend of his sister, yet all he had were visions of her and him together making love.
"I'm having fun." Giggled Rachel as she began to stumble around. Losing her balance , she fell and then Ross put down his bottle and caught her. She looked into his deep brown eyes and then she laid her cherry flavored lips on his. Closing her eyes, he slowly opened his mouth and then his tongue met with hers. He took her face into his hands and then kissed her very passionately.
Crushing the cigarette with his boot, he turned to Monica and said. "Let's walk." The two of them walked down the dark street , each one eyeing the other as they did. Monica would give a shy smile and then Chandler would try to play it off as cool. It seemed like each of them were playing a game and trying to hold off the inevitable. Gandalf looked at his swatch and knew that the break was over, now all he had to do was find their lead singer and keyboard player. He trolled the smoky bar, and he saw no sign of them at all. Sighing, he saw a crowd of people coming through the door. He made his way past them and then as he saw someone who might have been them , he would force his way in. Seeing two people making out, Gandalf pushed them apart and a very embarrassed Rachel ran away.
"Why the fuck did you do that? We were really getting along." Ross said angrily as he took another swig from his beer.
" Dude the guy from the record company is here. He wants to hear Emotional Knapsack." Gandalf said excitedly. "We have to find Bing, cause if this guy likes us. He wants to sign us tonight." Ross thought he was hearing things. After all this time , was Way / No Way going for the big time? Ross sat down the empty bottle and then took off down the street , hoping to find him.
Chandler was deep into her kiss as she kept on humming as she tasted his lips. They were mixed with the flavors of tobacco and beer. She wanted them to taste her honey. Chandler pulled himself away realizing that the band would want to go on again. Monica grabbed him as he walked away, "Hey what did I do?" Chandler turned his head. "You didn't do anything babe. I just think that your brother wouldn't want a guy like me to touch his pure as the driven snow virgin sister." Chandler admitted. Monica started to sit down on the curb and sob into her hands. "You don't like me." Chandler kneeled down . "Are you kidding? You are hot." He said smiling. "I just think right now it would be mistake. Mon, I really have to go." He looked back to see she was all right, then entered the club again.
"If we are doing Emotional Knapsack. I want to sing it. " Ross said as he looked out to see if Rachel had returned to her seat. Gandalf knew that would be a mistake, yet he was powerless to prevent the founder of the group from not doing it. Besides he had been working on his vocal skills a few more times at practice. Ross actually kind of sounded good at ballads."Tell Bing." Kip said as he lifted his bass on to his shoulder. Gandalf came over and looked Ross in the eye. "If you fuck this up for us, I will kill you , Geller." Ross knew it had to be perfect, but with her in the audience, it would. Chandler ran into the bar and leaped onto the stage. "Okay boys, what are we starting with?" Chandler said as he grabbed the mike stand.
"I 'm doing Emotional Knapsack." Ross stated as he positioned the keyboard mike . Chandler looked at Kip and Gandalf for confirmation, and they gave him a helpless look. Chandler grabbed his guitar and then stepped back from the mike. He quickly scanned the audience for any sign of Monica. She was still not there.
Rachel had managed to liberate another drink. Drinking came very natural to her because of her country club parents. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't see her mother or father with out a drink in their hand. Rich people solved their problems with liquor, you know just like on Dallas and Dynasty. That fact couldn't have rang truer for the Greens. At seventeen , she was on the road to a lifelong drinking habit. She went back to her seat and started to gulp her drink. Ross had a smile on his face now, he could do this. And he would dedicate it to her. He took the mike from the holder and cleared his throat. "Alright now, we're back. And we're going to do a song that I wrote called Emotional Knapsack. And I would like to dedicate this song to the lady in the first row." He blew a kiss to Rachel as she became hypnotized once again. The lights faded down as he slowly fingered the keys of the keyboard. The music that came out was almost haunting. A spot came upon him as he began to sing.
Coming home from my past
Thought our memories would last
Days of when our love was true
Memories of me and you
When our romance was on track
Guess I 'll just have to carry them in my emotional knapsack…..
Rachel let her the alcohol and thoughts of Ross carry her away. But meanwhile, at another table, a man was sitting and listening intently. He had heard something about this new band that had started playing all of the NYU frat parties and functions. They had a different kind of sound, not arena rock or even the synthesized rock of that time period. Plus they were songwriters, and that would always sell a group. He opened his leather jacket and took out a small notebook and then began to write in it. He then closed it up and tucked it back in the pocket. As the song ended, he was the first to applaud. He knew that the minute that band was done. He had to sign them before any of the other major labels did. Ross stepped out and took his bow as the club came alive. He also noticed one other chair was empty.
Monica could only hear the music coming from the club as she sat perched on the curb. If she was so beautiful , why didn't he want to be with her? She could still only picture herself as the ugly fat girl, and now she thought that's what Chandler thought as well. Right now , she couldn't face him.
After the boys finished, the man in the audience ran to the stage and introduced himself. "I'm Mike Fisher, and if what I heard tonight is what you guys play then our label would like to sign you. Full tour, a record contract, and a video. " The guys could not believe what they were hearing. This was a dream right? Their little dorm room band was now on their way to rock stardom. "All I need is for each of you guys to sign this contract and we can start from there."
Ross was having an inner conflict. All of his life, it had been planned for him to go to college. He was valedictorian at Lincoln and also President of the Science Club. After finishing his bachelor's , he had plans for his master's and eventually his PhD in either archeology or paleontology. If this man was right, he would have to quit school to go on the road. All his plans of academia would be shattered. Yet this was a once in a lifetime thing, and he would literally get beat up if he said no. Plus this would endear him to the woman of his dreams. Any girl always wanted to make love to a rock star.
"Okay." He sighed resigned to the fact he would do it. He picked up the pen and wrote his name in his child like manner. "You guys are in for the ride of your lives. I suggest you hang on tight." Mike said as he put the signed contract in his pocket. "I will be talking to you." He said as he walked away.
"Did that just happen?" Kip said as he watched the man walk away. "Are we going to be rock stars?"
"Dude we are so gonna get the women." Gandalf smiled and high fived Kip. Ross ran happily from the stage to tell Rachel his good news. "Hey babe, Way / No Way is going to be famous. That guy was from a record company and he signed us up as their new band." Rachel leaped into his arms and began to kiss him . His hands rested on her ass as they publically kissed.
Chandler wanted to share the news with Monica, but he noticed that she never returned to her seat. He was going to ask Rachel, but she was busy. He was a man on a mission. He had to tell her why he couldn't be with her, he had a feeling she didn't understand.