It was Summer. Ross Geller was reading one of his many books in his room. He was so fascinated with dinosaurs. When his parents asked him to pick a major, he couldn't help but choose Paleontology. Oh and was he good at it! Though this made him geeky, girls in college kept drooling over his looks. He has successfully kept the balance in both the ways - Academics and Girls! But he was waiting for the one, the one who would take his breath away, the one on whom when his eyes would fall, he won't be able to take them off of her.
Amidst his thoughts, the house bell rung and he heard a loud shriek - "I'll get it". Typical Monica, he thought. She just couldn't hide her excitement.
"Ross.. Chandler's here. Catch up with him for sometime before we go out for dinner", Monica yelled while passing through the hallway infront of his bedroom. "I'll be there in a minute", he shouted.
He closed his book and got up from his bed. Chandler met Ross in the first year of college. They are roommates and now the best of friends. Ross brought Chandler to his place for celebrating Thanksgiving where he met Monica for the first time and fell for her. After 2 months of wondering, he finally asked her out and today was their 6 month anniversary. Initially he thought it was weird that his little sister and his best friend were going out but when looked at them together, he couldn't help but to feel the love they both shared.
He found Chandler in the living room with his father. And by how it looked, Chandler was way too uncomfortable sitting there.
"So Chaunsie, tell me what are your plans for my little Harmonica. Are you serious about her or just messing around?", Jack Geller questioned. Ross laughed at the name his dad used for Chandler. He never could understand why it was so difficult for him to remember Chandler.
"Sir, I-I like.. your daughter way too much..t-to.. to mess around with her. I d-don't think you have to be worried for her", Chandler stuttered ,having no courage whatsoever to say to Jack that his name was not Chaunsie. Good answer, Ross thought. He could certainly trust Chandler for Monica.
"So, are you sayin-", Jack started but was interrupted by Ross, "Dad, stop these questions already. He's a good guy. He won't hurt Mon. I'm sure he knows the consequences of it" Ross went over and stood behind the big chair where Jack was sitting. Chandler mouthed a 'thank you' to Ross for saving him from further rapid fire questions.
"Oh I know that.. I was just messing with him", Jack said, looking back and forth from Ross to Chandler. Ross laughed and Chandler was still amazed by this sudden change in his mood. He respected Jack a lot but boy was he a strange man!
"Jack, could you come here and help me?", Judy called from kitchen. "Boys, gotta go.. when the wife calls, you don't have a choice do ya?", Jack said while getting up from the chair.
Ross sat on the seat his dad just vacated. "Hey Man, big night, tonight han!", Ross said to Chandler. "Oh yes, you know this is the first relationship where I'm getting to celebrate a 6-month anniversary. I'm excited but also a little nervous I guess", Chandler confessed thinking about Monica. "You guys are sweet together", Ross said from his heart. Chandler smiled and said, "Thanks man, this coming from you means a lot. So.. how was last night? Sarah, was it?"
"Yeah, it was okay", Ross said. Chandler got confused and said, "Dude you went out with Sarah Jones, the dream of every single guy in college and you are saying 'it was okay'. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I don't really know.. I just didn't feel anything. No spark, nothing", Ross replied to the sudden outburst of his best friend. "Oh, don't worry man. I'm sure some girl is waiting for you out there. On second thoughts, there are A LOT of girls waiting to be asked out by you but you... YOU are beyond my understanding!" Chandler rolled his eyes.
"I'm just waiting to feel the same thing for a girl that I see in your eyes when you are with Monica or talking about her, you know", Ross tried to make his point. Chandler didn't know what to say to his friend. He was flattered, more so touched to know that Ross thought so highly of his and Monica's relationship. He stood up from where he was sitting, came over to Ross and gave him a hug.
"Ahem..ahemmm", Monica made the sound and the guys broke their hug. "I guess you should take him out on a date with you", Monica joked to Chandler while holding his left hand. "No, sweetie.. he just said the sweetest thing that made me a little too emotional for my manliness.. Maybe I should go and carry a load of rocks to balance it out", Chandler joked. Monica and Ross laughed. Both loved how Chandler could make any situation so easy and light with his jokes. He really did know when to pick the moments.
"So shall we go now? I can't wait to start our half year anniversary", Monica said while looking in Chandler's eyes. "Sure sweetie", Chandler answered looking at her lovingly. He turned to Ross and asked,"Got any plans for tonight?"
"Um yeah.. Joey has called me over to this new bar which has opened at the 5th Avenue. Will head over there in a while. You guys enjoy your evening", Ross answered and gave Monica a kiss on the cheek and a pat on Chandler's back. "Bye then" "Bye Ross" and they were gone.
Ross took his car keys and yelled,"Mom.. Dad.. I'm heading over to the city with Joey. I'll crash over at his place. Don't wait up!" "Alright, take care.", Judy yelled back.
Ross entered the bar with Joey. He was a friend of his and Chandler's. He was also a popular guy among the girls. The difference between him and Ross was that well.. he knew how to use that popularity and frankly, Joey was a little cracked in the head but he could be so adorable at times.
They sat on the bar stools at the counter and ordered a couple of beers. "Can't believe you are not going out with her again", Joey referred to Sarah while taking a sip of his beer. "Joe.. Don't push this topic too much, I guess I didn't feel anything for her in that way you know", Ross tried to justify himself. "Dude.. you gotta take it from me. You're in college. You're single, have some hormones.. Don't always put your heart to it", Joey tried to show his side.
"But I do wanna put my heart to it.. You might think its weird but...", Ross trailed off when he saw three girls entering the bar. Three beautiful girls. But one of them stood out.. her blue eyes stood out.. her blonde hair stood out. She was not beautiful. Oh no... Beautiful was not the right word to describe her. No word could describe her. Ross could have the dictionary infront of him and he still won't be able to find a word close enough for her beauty.
Joey looked at the direction where Ross was staring. He smiled his cheesy smile. Maybe he found what he was looking for, he thought. Meanwhile, Ross' eyes followed her. They talked to the bouncer for a table. They ordered their drinks. They were talking and talking and talking until...
Suddenly, THE girl turned around to find Ross staring at her. Ross was aware of her looking at him. Maybe she felt my eyes on her, he thought. But soon he shrugged the thought and got up. He walked over to the table and said,"Hey.. I saw you girls from over there. Umm why don't you join me and my friend?" His eyes never leaving HER.
After a while he realised all the girls were looking at him with a funny look so he continued,"Oh, I'm sorry.. I'm Ross by the way and that over there is Joey" he pointed to the counter and called him. Joey got up and came over. "Hey"
"Hey, I'm Jessica" "I'm Sylvia" The third one, THE ONE just smiled. She didn't introduce herself. Maybe she's a shy person, he thought. Just as he was gonna ask what her name was, the waiter came with their drinks and SHE excused herself to go to the restroom.
Sylvia smiled looking at Joey and said,"We would so love for you guys to join us at our table" Ross couldn't stop himself to follow HER. So he excused himself,"Guys I just remembered I had to make a very important call so I have to excuse myself for a while. Till then you go ahead and order whatever you want" "Sure, but hurry if you wanna eat!", Jessica joked. Ross just smiled and then he quickly made his way towards the ladies room.
He waited for her outside the room. He was walking left-right without looking straight, lost in his thoughts. At one point, he even thought about going in there. He couldn't wait to know her name. He didn't know what came over him that night. But then.. he did know what came over. It was HER.
He collided with something, a drunk man. His eyes were closed shut due to the drink that poured upon him. He felt his shirt was wet and his tongue tasted of cranberry. He frantically moved his hands over his face to clean the juice or whatever it was. Cosmopolitan maybe, he thought. And then he heard a laugh. It was soft at first and then the sound increased. He quickly opened his eyes and found her laughing at him. He was embarrased. Still he couldn't help but smile. She gradually stopped laughing and opened her purse. She took out a handkerchief and handed it over to him.
"Here, take this. Will help in some damage control" "Thanks", he said hoping he did not make a complete fool of himself yet. "Not a problem"
She started towards the table but he called, "Hey.. you didn't tell your name at the table" She smiled. "Maybe you can find that out by yourself. I mean you have traces of a detective, subtly looking at your suspect, following her.. I'm sure you'll find my name too!", She smirked and left, leaving a dumbfounded Ross standing there with her handkerchief.
He could not deny that he was not amazed. He cleaned his face. He folded the handkerchief and something caught his eye. They were alphabets. He opened the fold to find the initials of a name. He smiled. She somehow knew how to play with his mind. He looked at them again.
'RG' it simply said.
He smiled again and even more. This girl was no ordinary girl. She was special. He could feel it. He folded the handkerchief and kept it in his pocket and walked towards the table.
Ross had made his mind. He was adamant. He wanted to woo her. So he made a stop first and then made his way over to the table. The other three were on the dance floor, already. He sat across THE girl or RG. She passed a smile to him which gave him a cue to start up a conversation.
"I think I'm half way through in solving the mystery of your name, RG", Ross said feeling proud. She laughed."Oh, I guess then I would have to help you with the other half, Mr Holmes",she joked. "You might as well, Watson", said Ross joking back.
"It's Rachel. Rachel Greene", she introduced herself properly this time and offered him her hand."Ross Geller", he said shaking her hand.
"So you're RG too", said Rachel, smiling. Ross said, "By all means" taking a bow.
"So tell me about yourself", Ross asked her taking a sip out of his drink.
"Well.. I'm from New Jersey. I have 2 very annoying sisters. I'm visiting my aunt and uncle. Jessica is my cousin and Sylvia is her friend. I'm a fashion major at Yale. And... I think its your turn now", said Rachel pointing towards Ross.
"Lets see... I am studying Paleontology at NYU an-" "Paleo-what", said a very confused Rachel."Oh its the study of evolution.. dinosaurs and stuff", answered Ross feeling a little shy now. He continued, "I know you may think its boring but I'm so fascinated by dinosaurs and a little too curious to know what happened billions of years ago"
"Noooo.. its nothing like that, Ross. I can see its something you love. I like people who do what they love", said Rachel.
Ross smiled. She didn't make fun of his major. Every girl he went out with, had made fun of that, even if she was the one who asked him out. But Rachel.. she seemed so cool about it.
"Please continue", said Rachel.
"Umm.. where was I? Right.. I'm from Long Island. I ha-" "Long Island?" Ross nodded. "Jessica lives there. I'm gonna be there for the whole summer.", Rachel said feeling a little too excited about it.
"Thats great. Maybe we could see each other again", Ross said nonchalantly. Inside, he was dancing at the coincidence. "Yeah", Rachel agreed.
"You know, I thought of you as a shy girl when you didn't introduce yourself back then. But you are fun to talk with.", Ross said looking at her. "Oh I was just taken aback when you came over. Afterall you WERE staring at me from before", said Rachel.
"Well... I couldn't help but to.", Ross confessed looking directly into her eyes. Rachel blushed.
They both fell into a comfortable silence. Ross feeling content with the conversation he was able to establish with Rachel. Meanwhile, Rachel was thinking about Ross' manners. She thought he was a decent guy.
Their thoughts were interrupted by an announcement. "So the next song is dedicated to RG by a secret admirer"
Now it was Rachel's turn to be amazed. She knew it was Ross who made that request. And she didn't mind. She was actually eager to find out the song. So she smiled looking back at him. "I guess the secret admirer failed to keep himself a secret, didn't he?", joked Ross.
You're insecure,
Don't know what for,
You're turning heads when you walk through the door,
Don't need make-up,
To cover up,
Being the way that you are is enough,
Rachel liked the song. She had heard it once or twice. But now she was really listening to it. Ross saw her hanging on to every word of it.
"Hey. Would y-you mind da-dancing... with umm..me?", asked Ross nervously offering his hand. Rachel smiled at his sudden shyness. "I'd like that", answered Rachel gladly accepting his hand.
They made their way over to the dance floor.
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh, oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'd understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh, oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh, oh,
That's what makes you beautiful
They started dancing, trying to keep their feet in sync with the beats, never looking away from each other.
So c-come on.
You got it wrong.
To prove I'm right
I put it in a song.
I don't know why
You're being shy,
And turn away when I look into your eye-eye-eyes,
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,
Joey looked at them from where he was dancing. Someone's gonna get lucky, he thought.
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
That's what makes you beautiful.
"Rachel, come on we gotta go", screamed Jessica making her way over to her cousin. Rachel looked at her and stopped dancing. "Mom called up, said she wants us to be home by 12. Its 11.30 already. Lets go.", Jessica explained her sudden rush.
Ross couldn't help but feel disappointed. Rachel looked at him with eyes full of sorrow. She also wanted to stay a little more. She wanted to know more about him. But now.. she really needed to leave.
"So.. I guess I gotta go.",said Rachel. Ross just smiled. So she continued,"Thanks for such a lovely song. I really appreciate it. It was nice meeting you, Ross", said Rachel smiling. "You too.. bye", Ross said waving to her.
She started walking towards Jessica and Sylvia but turned around when she was called by Ross.
"Umm.. I don't want you to think I'm being too forward but..umm.. I really had fun tonight. Maybe.. we could get together for.. you know.. a cuppa coffee sometime", said Ross. "Sure. Here.. take my number. Give me a call", said Rachel while writing her cell number on a napkin. Ross said smiling, "Thanks, bye" "See ya", and with that Rachel was gone.