Disclaimer: I wanted to try this. It's a Friends fic, and you guys won't know what to think when you've finished reading. Anyway, nothing that is on Friends is mine, blah blah. Read on! PS I totally apologize if it's so not as funny as the show, I'm usually more with the sarcastic humor, and the writers are so much better at that than me. PPS. If you guys are Chandler and Monica fans, don't read this. I enjoy them together on the show, but that doesn't mean that I'm a fan. This is only because I don't like Courteney Cox. (Yes, I know she has another last name. Who doesn't know by now?) (PS, this takes place the summer before the third season. And Rachel and Ross never dated.)
My Best Friend
By Julia
It was a beautiful summer morning in NYC, and Rachel Greene was sitting in her kitchen, drinking coffee and reading the paper. The door to her and her friend Monica Geller's apartment burst open, and in entered their friends Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani. She smiled at them. ''Hi guys.''
Chandler grinned back. ''Morning, Rach. Anything good for breakfast?''
Rachel got up to get them some coffee from the pot. ''You guys live exactly across the hall. Why can't you make breakfast in your own apartment?''
Chandler looked at her. ''Well, that would be too easy. Remember, Joey and I are men. Or at least, little boys who don't cook.''
Joey just said, ''Did somebody make any breakfast? Where's Monica?'' He sipped his coffee, made a face, and stirred in sugar.
Rachel shrugged. ''I didn't hear her come in.'' She stood next to Chandler, to pour his coffee, and he sighed as he breathed in her scent.
Joey, who'd heard it, smiled and said, ''So, Chandler, did you have fun on your date the other night?'' (Chandler is in love with Rachel. Everyone knows it but her.)
Chandler glared at him, and Joey knew he'd get it later. ''No, Joey, I didn't. It just isn't gonna work out.'' He sipped his coffee.
Rachel patted his arm. ''I'm sorry, Chandler. I thought she was really nice.'' She went to sit on the couch as the door opened again, bringing in Monica. Rachel smiled at her. ''Where were you, Mon?''
Her best friend just smiled slyly and poured some coffee. ''I had a nice night, and didn't feel like coming home.'' Was all she'd say.
Chandler made a face. ''Sharing too much again, Mon, I thought we talked about that.''
Joey looked at Monica. ''Did you have sex?'' He asked bluntly.
Chandler said, ''No, Joey, she played basketball at the court, with the guys.''
Joey looked confused. ''I thought we were the guys. And Ross.''
His best friend just shook his head. ''Don't worry, Joe. Someday, there'll be activity up there.''
Rachel giggled and sighed. She liked Chandler a whole lot. She was afraid to tell him, because she didn't know how he felt about her. ''Now, Chandler, Joey is a very nice guy.''
Her friend smiled. ''I know. Rach, could I please talk to you a second?'' He pointed to the living room couch.
Rachel followed him, not sure what she wanted him to want. ''What's up, Chandler?''
Chandler, barely knowing what he was going to say, said, ''I wanted to tell you something. This is really hard for me to say.''
Before he could get any further, Phoebe Buffay and Ross, Monica's older brother, walked into the apartment, and what Chandler had been going to say was forgotten.
Joey said, ''What are we going to do tonight, guys? Didn't somebody say something about a barbecue?''
Monica made a face. ''In this heat? Are you crazy?'' She asked.
Joey shrugged. ''I'm hungry. Maybe I want some food. And besides, it's Fourth of July, Monica. We have to do something special.''
The group decided to have a barbecue, so Monica, Ross, and Phoebe went to the grocery store to get the supplies. Rachel, Joey, and Chandler sat in the apartment, watching a Spanish soap opera with it muted; making up their own lines.
Chandler changed it when it was over, and it just happened to land on one of Rachel's soap operas. ''Oh boy, here we go, the Young and the Useless.''
Rachel shook her head. ''No, it's one of those I watch occasionally. It's As the World Turns.'' She immediately got caught up in it and Chandler sat back to watch her.
Joey sat back, watching Chandler. ''Oh, man, you've got it bad.'' He said softly, even though Rachel wouldn't hear, she was glued to the set.
Chandler made a face. ''I do not, Joey.'' He said this a bit loudly, and Rachel glanced over in their direction, to tell them to hush. He turned back to Joey. ''Besides, Rachel's one of my best friends.''
Rachel surprised them both by saying, ''Don't push her! She's your pregnant sister!''
When they both got their breath back, Joey shook his head. ''That doesn't matter. You're in love with her.''
Rachel heard this, and muted the television; it was taping. ''Chandler, you love who?'' She smiled encouragingly.
Chandler wasn't sure what to answer. ''Um, I love....'' He broke off, and then decided to finally tell her. ''I love you, Rachel.'' It came out as a squeak.
His friend didn't care. She squealed, ''I love you, too!'' She threw her arms around him and they kissed, and Joey just sat on the couch, kinda grossed out, and the other half of him was happy for his two friends.
Their friends arrived in the middle of Chandler and Rachel's kiss. Monica, who'd known about the feelings between the both of them, squealed happily. ''Aw, guys!'' She said, smiling.
Chandler pulled away, realizing that they were being watched. ''Hi, all.'' Was all he could get out, seeing as how the woman he loved was lying on top of him.
Phoebe grinned. ''It's so cute! They finally got together!'' She looked at Joey, who'd been knocked to the floor, and the soap that was still playing on the tv. She said, ''Hey, who is that handsome man?'' She asked, pointing to the television.
Rachel sat up to look. Her hand still unconsciously in Chandler's, she said, ''Oh, that's Mike. He's that redhead's ex-fiance.''
Phoebe shook her head. ''No, I mean, what's his real name?''
Rachel looked at her friend. ''I don't remember, Shawn something. Why? Do you like him, Pheebs?''
Phoebe nodded. ''Yes, I do. He's yummy.'' She sat down on the couch on the other side of Rachel. She looked at the screen. The characters were in a hospital, and the cute guy and the blond-haired and red-haired girls were all in a tizzy.
Rachel un-muted and the two girls got wrapped up in the soap opera. Chandler kissed her cheek and he and Joey joined their friends in the kitchen.
Monica smiled at Chandler. She had begun preparing the hamburger meat to go on the grill outside. ''So how did you and Rachel happen?''
Her friend was grinning from ear to ear. ''Joey was teasing me when she was watching tv, and she overheard him saying that I loved her. She asked who, and I told her. The next thing I know, we're kissing.''
Ross, who was in love with Rachel, too, made a face as he played with an orange he'd picked up from Monica's fruit bowl. ''That's great, Chandler.''
Chandler looked at Ross, sorry that his friend couldn't have a chance with Rachel. Chandler couldn't help how Rachel felt. He said, ''I'm all mixed up inside, man. I want Rachel all to myself, but the other part of me is disappointed for you.''
Ross felt a conflicting mess of emotions inside. He was glad that Rachel had gotten Chandler, since it was what they both wanted, but he was upset that she didn't love him.
Joey patted Ross on the arm. ''I'm very sorry that you suck, and Rachel loves Chandler.'' He sat down at the table and bit into an apple.
Ross said, ''Thanks, Joey. That's so very thoughtful of you.''
Chandler stared at Rachel from across the room. She was talking excitedly to Phoebe, and he knew what she was talking to her about, because they both kept glancing at him. He couldn't help thinking that he was the luckiest guy on the planet.
Joey looked up at Chandler. ''You can't stop staring at her, man.''
Chandler grinned. ''I know, she's so beautiful. Man, can you believe that I'm dating her?'' He carried the plate of raw meat outside, Joey following.
His friend took the plate and put the hamburger meat on the grill. Chandler just looked at him before he turned it on. Joey sipped the beer that he brought outside with him. ''Rachel is like, this great woman, and she's in love with you?''
Chandler said, ''Thanks, Joey, you're such a great friend.''
Rachel turned the tv off when the soap was over and asked, ''Where's Chandler? He was right here.''
Her roommate smiled. ''He's outside with Joey, at the grill. They're grilling the hamburgers. You can't be away from him for even a minute now, can you?''
Rachel giggled. ''He's just so sweet. And he's really cute, too.'' She began to cut tomatoes with Monica, and Phoebe, who'd been in a dazed spell, got up and joined them in the kitchen. Rachel stared at her friend. ''Are you OK, Phoebe?''
Phoebe shook her head. ''No, I am fine.'' She said, and sat down at the kitchen table to cut veggies, too.
Her friends shook their heads. Even Ross smiled. Monica said, ''So, anyway, I got plenty of hamburger meat, and potato chips, and soda is on the counter. Ross, could you put it in the cooler?''
Ross picked up one of the twelve packs and opened it, to put it in the ice filled cooler. ''So, Rachel, how long have you been in love with Chandler?''
His friend shrugged. ''Since about the very first time I met him. He was so funny, and cute. Then I got to know him, and I learned how sweet he is. He's just so different than any other guy I've ever gone out with.''
Phoebe resurfaced, shaking her head. ''What are we talking about?'' She asked, then gasped when she saw the boys grilling outside. ''Did you get any veggie burgers?'' She asked her friend.
Monica nodded. ''Yes, I did, Phoebe. Don't worry.'' She finished the tomato she'd been working on and placed it on a plate with some other slices.
Chandler stuck his head back in the window that you climbed into to get onto the balcony. ''Hey, guys, the burgers are on their way. Hey, Rach.'' He said, smiling softly.
Rachel smiled back. ''Hey, you.'' She said, and left her half-cut tomato on the table and went out to the balcony to join Chandler and Joey.
A little while later, the gang was enjoying the burgers and potato chips. Rachel and Chandler were sitting very close together and feeding each other chips. Ross was sitting as far away from them as possible on the couch.
Monica sipped her grape soda. ''So, Rachel, did you get that fashion job interview?'' She was trying to bring the two lovebirds in on the conversation.
Rachel looked away from Chandler to answer the question. ''Oh, yeah, I did. I go tomorrow. I hope that I can get it, because I'm really sick of working as a waitress.''
Ross said, ''You've been working there about two years now. How come you haven't tried to get another job yet?''
''Ross, I don't know. I guess I was just not thinking about it.'' Rachel handed the ketchup to Joey, who'd been eying it from across the table.
Joey said, ''Ross, who cares?'' He knew that Ross was trying to act nonchalant about the fact that Rachel and Chandler were dating.
Chandler was smiling, and Joey knew his friend was thinking the same thing. ''So, boys and girls, I've got a fun idea. Let's play truth or dare.''
Joey grinned. ''Hey, yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Let's play. I have one for one of the girls.''
Monica looked at her friend. ''OK, if this is going to make one of us kiss the other, not going to happen. At least, I'm not going to.''
Phoebe giggled. ''I would, on a dare, but if no one else wants to, that's fine.'' She took a bite out of her veggie burger.
Rachel was silent, thinking of that time in college with Melissa................aloud, she said, ''Just somebody say a dare.''
Joey said, ''Phoebe, I dare you to flash everybody.'' He was grinning devilishly.
The blond masseuse made a face. ''OK, I'm not doing that. What's your truth question?''
Joey grinned. ''Do you ever think about Monica or Rachel being naked?'' Everyone glared at him, and Chandler just shook his head.
Phoebe said, ''Well, no, I haven't. But I did have a dream about Monica having sex with Paul the Wine Guy.''
Her friend gasped. ''Why did you have a dream about me and Paul?''
Chandler said, ''You had a dream about Paul, was it?'' Rachel giggled and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Phoebe shook her head at Chandler and said to Monica, ''I don't know. I just did. I'm sorry. Blame Joey. He asked me the question. I was just answering it.''
Chandler said, ''OK, Pheebs, you have to ask somebody else a question.''
She sat in thought, and then said, ''Ross, truth or dare?'' She got really dramatic.
Ross shrugged. ''I don't know, um, dare, I guess.'' Everyone was surprised, Ross never took dare.
''OK, I dare you to share your most embarrassing memory. And no lying. Besides, Rachel, Monica, and Chandler have all known you the longest, so they'll know.'' Phoebe stopped to take a breath.
Ross knew that there was no getting out of this. He could say the truth question, but then, she'd just ask him what his most embarrassing moment was. So he geared up and said, ''Well, it was this time in college. Chandler was being dumped outside the door to our dorm room, and I was inside, on the phone with a girl. I was trying to do phone sex.'' Ross' voice had gotten really quiet. ''And Chandler and his date heard, and the girl dumped me. Later I found out that she had had it on speakerphone and all the girls in her sorority house had been listening.''
Rachel made a face. ''Aw, Ross, that sucks. Didn't anybody teach you how to do phone sex? My friend Mindy taught me, she also taught me how to kiss.''
Joey smiled. ''Nice, Rach.'' He was nodding at her appreciatively.
Rachel shook her head at Joey. ''Ross, you have to pick someone to ask.''
Ross stared at her. ''Rachel, howabout you?''
His friend settled herself closer to Chandler. ''OK, Ross, I guess truth.'' She smiled as Chandler kissed her cheek.
Ross tried not to let it show how much it bothered him. ''OK, what was the weirdest place that you've had sex?'' He was hoping to get Chandler freaked out.
Rachel ran her hand through her hair. ''Well, I had sex on my dad's pool table twice with Billy Dreskin. He didn't know about it, though, and I had to have it cleaned.''
Everyone laughed, and Rachel said, ''Mon, honey, truth or dare? Either one you pick, you're screwed, because I've got good ones for both.''
Monica made a face. ''Um, I guess truth, then.'' She took a bite out of her burger.
Rachel giggled. ''What did you have to do in high school when you got in trouble for stalking Pete Carney?''
Monica glared at her. ''You are so dead.'' She said, as everyone smiled at eagerly awaited her answer. ''I had to tell him that I was sorry and that I had to be his servant for two weeks.''
This made everyone laugh really hard. Joey said, ''Geez, Monica, never stalk me.'' He stole the ketchup from Ross, who was sitting in private agony.
They played a little longer, and then everyone left. Ross, Phoebe, and Joey went outside in the hall, with the pretense of going home, and Monica went into her bedroom. Rachel wrapped her arm around Chandler and leaned up to kiss him. ''This was fun. We should do it again. But next time, alone.'' She said.
Chandler kissed her again. ''I'd like that. I love you so much, Rach. More than I've ever loved anyone. But there was that Paolo thing, and that stupid thing with Janice, I just never told you. Besides, it's you. And I'm me.''
Rachel kissed his cheek and pulled him tighter. ''Chandler, you are totally great. I love you so much. You're sweet, and funny, and you care about stuff. And, you're like, my best friend. I can totally be myself with you.'' She looked into his eyes.
Chandler kissed her as deeply as he'd ever kissed anyone. When they'd pulled apart, he said, ''We'll talk tomorrow. I'm really tired, and I have to work tomorrow. So do you.''
Rachel walked him to the door, and the three friends outside jumped back. ''OK. I love you.'' She said, kissing him one last time.
Chandler smiled. ''You're not making this any easier, Rach.'' He said, gripping her hand.
Rachel grinned back at him. ''I know. It's hard for me, too.'' She opened the door, and he walked across the hall to his apartment, blowing kisses before he closed the door. She closed hers and then ran across the apartment to talk to Monica before going to bed......
The next morning, Chandler and Joey went over to Monica and Rachel's for breakfast, as always. Joey smiled slyly at his best friend before they opened the door. ''So, ready to see Rachel?'' Joey asked.
Chandler looked back at him. ''It's not like she's one of your conquests or anything, Joey, I love her.'' He opened the door to his friends' apartment, shaking his head.
Monica was making breakfast, eggs and bacon. ''Hey, guys.'' She said, grinning at them cheerily.
Chandler looked around casually. ''Where's Rachel? Isn't she here?'' He asked, a funny look on his face.
Monica laughed. ''She's in her room. I think that she's making herself look pretty for you.'' She gave Joey a plate of breakfast.
Chandler knocked on Rachel's bedroom door. ''Rach, it's Chandler. You don't have to make yourself pretty for me. You're always beautiful.''
Rachel stuck her head out of the bedroom. Her hair was perfect, and she had a small amount of makeup on. ''Yeah, but you're my boyfriend now. I want to be perfect for you.''
Chandler kissed her lightly. ''Well, I love you just the way you are. Don't worry about making yourself perfect, OK?''
Rachel smiled. ''OK, I like that. It's like, eight in the morning or something.'' She closed her bedroom door and walked to the kitchen, dressed in her pj's.
Monica looked at her friend. ''Rach, I thought you had to be at work today.'' She wore a confused expression on her face.
Rachel smiled and nodded. ''I do. I don't have to be at the coffee place until later. Why? Did you need me out of the apartment or something, Mon?''
Monica shook her head. ''I'm going to be at work. I just was checking.''
Ross entered the apartment, and said, ''Chandler, I really need to speak with you for a moment.'' He was looking very angry.
Chandler left Rachel's side and joined Ross off to the side, by the bathroom. ''Yes, Ross?'' He wasn't prepared for what was coming.
Ross looked at him. ''I can't be friends with you while you're dating Rachel. I'm sorry, but I just can't do it. I thought I could, but I can't. So this is where our friendship ends.''
Chandler looked at him incredulously. ''Excuse me? I'm sorry if it's hard for you. But I am not going to feel sorry for loving Rachel or for dating her. You're my friend, but she may be the one. So if you have a problem with that, too bad. I guess this is it, then.''
The two men looked at each other and then Ross stormed out of the apartment with not so much as a look at the rest of them. Joey looked at Chandler. ''What happened, man?''
Chandler shook his head. ''Nothin', man, nothin'.''
Later that morning, when Rachel and Phoebe were left alone in the living room, Regis and Kathy on, Phoebe asked Rachel the question. ''Do you know that Ross is in love with you?''
Rachel turned to Phoebe, with a look of surprise on her face. ''He does? Wow, I didn't know. But Pheebs, it doesn't matter, I love Chandler. I'm with Chandler now.''
Her friend turned on the couch to face her friend. ''Well, you should prolly tell him that you truly love Chandler, because he's not ever truly going to believe that you do if you don't.''
Rachel shrugged. ''Well, I love Ross, he's one of my best friends. But I don't love him that way. And if he doesn't understand that, then he's not really my friend, is he? It's like he doesn't want me to be happy or something.''
Phoebe was going to say something when the telephone rang. Phoebe answered it as Rachel took a sip of her coffee. ''Hello, Rachel and Monica's.'' Phoebe said winningly.
It was Monica. ''Pheebs, I just got a call from Ross that deeply disturbed me. He said that he can't be Chandler's friend if he's going to date Rachel. He said he told Chandler that much this morning. He told me that he's not going to hang with us anymore, just to be fair, so it doesn't make it too tense for everyone.''
Phoebe was upset by this. ''That's just dumb. Ross will get over Rachel, and he'll be able to hang with us again. But he was able to hang with us when Chandler wasn't with Rachel. What's his problem?''
Monica stuck up for her brother, even though she was happy for Rachel and Chandler. ''Well, it just must be hard for him. If I was in love with someone that you or Rachel dated, I don't know if I'd be able to see him with one of you.''
Rachel got up and took her dishes in the kitchen as Phoebe talked to whichever one of the group it was. She loved Chandler, and wasn't going to apologize for it. And she shouldn't have to. She loved him very much. She grinned as she thought of how much she missed him already.
Chandler was sitting at his desk at work, doing some work for the WENUS, (Weekly Estimated Net Usage Statistics) and thinking about Rach. He was also thinking about Ross. He felt a little guilty, and knew he shouldn't. He loved Rachel, and like he'd told his former best friend, he wasn't going to apologize for it. If Ross felt he couldn't be friends with him anymore, that was his progetive. Chandler wasn't going to lose sleep over it. OK, he probably was, but he shouldn't be, doggone it!
Joey, who was currently working at Chandler's work for some quick money, as a fellow process server, entered his BFF's office. ''Chan, are you going to eat with me at lunch today?'' He asked, face hopeful. Chandler had been annoyed with him as of late, since Joey had made up a character, "Joseph the Processing Guy", who was actually complex. It was making Chandler a little crazy.
Chandler looked up. ''Of course, Joey. I'm heading across the street to the pizza place. Does that sound good to you?'' He asked, as he placed some papers in his desk drawer.
Joey nodded. ''Sure. But there's something else I wanted to talk to you about. Shelley didn't get done with her numbers for the weekend, and wanted to know if she could have an extension. I told her I would ask you.''
Chandler shrugged. ''As long as I get them by the end of the day, no exceptions. I have to have them to finish out last week.'' He knew Joey was actually dying to ask him what had happened with Ross earlier that morning.
Joey didn't waste any more time asking, either. ''Chandler, I wanted to ask you something else. What did Ross say? And what did you say that made him so mad?''
Chandler gestured that Joey sit down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. ''Well, he told me that he couldn't be friends with me if I was dating Rachel. I told him that I wasn't going to break up with or apologize for being with her. That's when he stormed out this morning. He prolly won't be hanging with the rest of us anymore. It can't be helped. He's gotta do what he's gotta do, and we've gotta do what we've gotta do.''
Joey was shocked. ''He's not going to talk to the rest of us because you're dating Rachel? That's just so stupid. I mean, you can date Rachel if you want. I mean, she loves you. Ross just needs to understand that.''
Chandler nodded. ''I know. Rachel and I can be together. It's not like Ross had a mark on her or something. A "This is Ross's" pin or something.'' He leaned back in his chair.
Joey changed the subject. ''So, this girl that I met, she is really getting on my nerves. She thinks she's the best actress since sliced bread, and she is so not.''
Chandler asked, ''This is the one who's working on the play with you, right?'' He didn't even add a sarcastic comment, which is usually what he would have done.
Later that afternoon, when everyone but Ross was gathered in Rachel and Monica's apartment, Monica asked, ''Rachel, why is Ross being this way? I mean, it's not like you showed interest in him that way anyway. Please. He's being such a butthead to Chandler.''
Rachel said, from where she was sitting in Chandler's lap, ''It's Ross' problem. Chandler and I are his friends. I am not an ex-girlfriend, and Chandler is not an ex-boyfriend. He has no right to get angry. If he liked me, then he should have let me know.''
Joey shrugged. ''You're Rachel. And he's Ross. Besides, he's Mister Dinosaur Geek. Why would he have a chance with you?'' He shoved a bite of sandwich in his mouth.
Everyone looked at him. Chandler looked at his best friend. ''Joey, what do you think I am? I am a total dork. Women flock away from me.''
Monica said, ''He lives in his own little world, Chandler. You'll have to excuse him.''
Rachel kissed Chandler. ''You're not a dork, honey. You're very cute. And I love you.'' She said.
Chandler looked at his girlfriend. ''Sorry, Rach, but I am. I'm a total dork. I couldn't get a woman if I tried.''
Rachel said, ''Excuse me, but you're talking about yourself so disparagingly, and I don't want to hear it. Although, no one in this room can get as many people as they want, except for Joey.'' Everyone watched as Joey inhaled sandwich. ''I don't know why, though.''
Joey asked, ''What?'' He licked mayonnaise off his fingers. Then he stuffed the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and licked his fingers again.
Phoebe smiled and giggled at him. ''What, Joey's cute.'' She said, and picked up the potato chips.
Joey smiled back at her and said, ''How you doin'?'' This was the line he used on all the girls, and Phoebe usually fell for it.
She giggled and said, ''Oh, Joey.'' She smiled at him and handed him another sandwich, which she knew was his favorite food.
They spent the day flirting and talking until the showdown with Ross and Chandler....
My Best Friend
By Julia
It was a beautiful summer morning in NYC, and Rachel Greene was sitting in her kitchen, drinking coffee and reading the paper. The door to her and her friend Monica Geller's apartment burst open, and in entered their friends Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani. She smiled at them. ''Hi guys.''
Chandler grinned back. ''Morning, Rach. Anything good for breakfast?''
Rachel got up to get them some coffee from the pot. ''You guys live exactly across the hall. Why can't you make breakfast in your own apartment?''
Chandler looked at her. ''Well, that would be too easy. Remember, Joey and I are men. Or at least, little boys who don't cook.''
Joey just said, ''Did somebody make any breakfast? Where's Monica?'' He sipped his coffee, made a face, and stirred in sugar.
Rachel shrugged. ''I didn't hear her come in.'' She stood next to Chandler, to pour his coffee, and he sighed as he breathed in her scent.
Joey, who'd heard it, smiled and said, ''So, Chandler, did you have fun on your date the other night?'' (Chandler is in love with Rachel. Everyone knows it but her.)
Chandler glared at him, and Joey knew he'd get it later. ''No, Joey, I didn't. It just isn't gonna work out.'' He sipped his coffee.
Rachel patted his arm. ''I'm sorry, Chandler. I thought she was really nice.'' She went to sit on the couch as the door opened again, bringing in Monica. Rachel smiled at her. ''Where were you, Mon?''
Her best friend just smiled slyly and poured some coffee. ''I had a nice night, and didn't feel like coming home.'' Was all she'd say.
Chandler made a face. ''Sharing too much again, Mon, I thought we talked about that.''
Joey looked at Monica. ''Did you have sex?'' He asked bluntly.
Chandler said, ''No, Joey, she played basketball at the court, with the guys.''
Joey looked confused. ''I thought we were the guys. And Ross.''
His best friend just shook his head. ''Don't worry, Joe. Someday, there'll be activity up there.''
Rachel giggled and sighed. She liked Chandler a whole lot. She was afraid to tell him, because she didn't know how he felt about her. ''Now, Chandler, Joey is a very nice guy.''
Her friend smiled. ''I know. Rach, could I please talk to you a second?'' He pointed to the living room couch.
Rachel followed him, not sure what she wanted him to want. ''What's up, Chandler?''
Chandler, barely knowing what he was going to say, said, ''I wanted to tell you something. This is really hard for me to say.''
Before he could get any further, Phoebe Buffay and Ross, Monica's older brother, walked into the apartment, and what Chandler had been going to say was forgotten.
Joey said, ''What are we going to do tonight, guys? Didn't somebody say something about a barbecue?''
Monica made a face. ''In this heat? Are you crazy?'' She asked.
Joey shrugged. ''I'm hungry. Maybe I want some food. And besides, it's Fourth of July, Monica. We have to do something special.''
The group decided to have a barbecue, so Monica, Ross, and Phoebe went to the grocery store to get the supplies. Rachel, Joey, and Chandler sat in the apartment, watching a Spanish soap opera with it muted; making up their own lines.
Chandler changed it when it was over, and it just happened to land on one of Rachel's soap operas. ''Oh boy, here we go, the Young and the Useless.''
Rachel shook her head. ''No, it's one of those I watch occasionally. It's As the World Turns.'' She immediately got caught up in it and Chandler sat back to watch her.
Joey sat back, watching Chandler. ''Oh, man, you've got it bad.'' He said softly, even though Rachel wouldn't hear, she was glued to the set.
Chandler made a face. ''I do not, Joey.'' He said this a bit loudly, and Rachel glanced over in their direction, to tell them to hush. He turned back to Joey. ''Besides, Rachel's one of my best friends.''
Rachel surprised them both by saying, ''Don't push her! She's your pregnant sister!''
When they both got their breath back, Joey shook his head. ''That doesn't matter. You're in love with her.''
Rachel heard this, and muted the television; it was taping. ''Chandler, you love who?'' She smiled encouragingly.
Chandler wasn't sure what to answer. ''Um, I love....'' He broke off, and then decided to finally tell her. ''I love you, Rachel.'' It came out as a squeak.
His friend didn't care. She squealed, ''I love you, too!'' She threw her arms around him and they kissed, and Joey just sat on the couch, kinda grossed out, and the other half of him was happy for his two friends.
Their friends arrived in the middle of Chandler and Rachel's kiss. Monica, who'd known about the feelings between the both of them, squealed happily. ''Aw, guys!'' She said, smiling.
Chandler pulled away, realizing that they were being watched. ''Hi, all.'' Was all he could get out, seeing as how the woman he loved was lying on top of him.
Phoebe grinned. ''It's so cute! They finally got together!'' She looked at Joey, who'd been knocked to the floor, and the soap that was still playing on the tv. She said, ''Hey, who is that handsome man?'' She asked, pointing to the television.
Rachel sat up to look. Her hand still unconsciously in Chandler's, she said, ''Oh, that's Mike. He's that redhead's ex-fiance.''
Phoebe shook her head. ''No, I mean, what's his real name?''
Rachel looked at her friend. ''I don't remember, Shawn something. Why? Do you like him, Pheebs?''
Phoebe nodded. ''Yes, I do. He's yummy.'' She sat down on the couch on the other side of Rachel. She looked at the screen. The characters were in a hospital, and the cute guy and the blond-haired and red-haired girls were all in a tizzy.
Rachel un-muted and the two girls got wrapped up in the soap opera. Chandler kissed her cheek and he and Joey joined their friends in the kitchen.
Monica smiled at Chandler. She had begun preparing the hamburger meat to go on the grill outside. ''So how did you and Rachel happen?''
Her friend was grinning from ear to ear. ''Joey was teasing me when she was watching tv, and she overheard him saying that I loved her. She asked who, and I told her. The next thing I know, we're kissing.''
Ross, who was in love with Rachel, too, made a face as he played with an orange he'd picked up from Monica's fruit bowl. ''That's great, Chandler.''
Chandler looked at Ross, sorry that his friend couldn't have a chance with Rachel. Chandler couldn't help how Rachel felt. He said, ''I'm all mixed up inside, man. I want Rachel all to myself, but the other part of me is disappointed for you.''
Ross felt a conflicting mess of emotions inside. He was glad that Rachel had gotten Chandler, since it was what they both wanted, but he was upset that she didn't love him.
Joey patted Ross on the arm. ''I'm very sorry that you suck, and Rachel loves Chandler.'' He sat down at the table and bit into an apple.
Ross said, ''Thanks, Joey. That's so very thoughtful of you.''
Chandler stared at Rachel from across the room. She was talking excitedly to Phoebe, and he knew what she was talking to her about, because they both kept glancing at him. He couldn't help thinking that he was the luckiest guy on the planet.
Joey looked up at Chandler. ''You can't stop staring at her, man.''
Chandler grinned. ''I know, she's so beautiful. Man, can you believe that I'm dating her?'' He carried the plate of raw meat outside, Joey following.
His friend took the plate and put the hamburger meat on the grill. Chandler just looked at him before he turned it on. Joey sipped the beer that he brought outside with him. ''Rachel is like, this great woman, and she's in love with you?''
Chandler said, ''Thanks, Joey, you're such a great friend.''
Rachel turned the tv off when the soap was over and asked, ''Where's Chandler? He was right here.''
Her roommate smiled. ''He's outside with Joey, at the grill. They're grilling the hamburgers. You can't be away from him for even a minute now, can you?''
Rachel giggled. ''He's just so sweet. And he's really cute, too.'' She began to cut tomatoes with Monica, and Phoebe, who'd been in a dazed spell, got up and joined them in the kitchen. Rachel stared at her friend. ''Are you OK, Phoebe?''
Phoebe shook her head. ''No, I am fine.'' She said, and sat down at the kitchen table to cut veggies, too.
Her friends shook their heads. Even Ross smiled. Monica said, ''So, anyway, I got plenty of hamburger meat, and potato chips, and soda is on the counter. Ross, could you put it in the cooler?''
Ross picked up one of the twelve packs and opened it, to put it in the ice filled cooler. ''So, Rachel, how long have you been in love with Chandler?''
His friend shrugged. ''Since about the very first time I met him. He was so funny, and cute. Then I got to know him, and I learned how sweet he is. He's just so different than any other guy I've ever gone out with.''
Phoebe resurfaced, shaking her head. ''What are we talking about?'' She asked, then gasped when she saw the boys grilling outside. ''Did you get any veggie burgers?'' She asked her friend.
Monica nodded. ''Yes, I did, Phoebe. Don't worry.'' She finished the tomato she'd been working on and placed it on a plate with some other slices.
Chandler stuck his head back in the window that you climbed into to get onto the balcony. ''Hey, guys, the burgers are on their way. Hey, Rach.'' He said, smiling softly.
Rachel smiled back. ''Hey, you.'' She said, and left her half-cut tomato on the table and went out to the balcony to join Chandler and Joey.
A little while later, the gang was enjoying the burgers and potato chips. Rachel and Chandler were sitting very close together and feeding each other chips. Ross was sitting as far away from them as possible on the couch.
Monica sipped her grape soda. ''So, Rachel, did you get that fashion job interview?'' She was trying to bring the two lovebirds in on the conversation.
Rachel looked away from Chandler to answer the question. ''Oh, yeah, I did. I go tomorrow. I hope that I can get it, because I'm really sick of working as a waitress.''
Ross said, ''You've been working there about two years now. How come you haven't tried to get another job yet?''
''Ross, I don't know. I guess I was just not thinking about it.'' Rachel handed the ketchup to Joey, who'd been eying it from across the table.
Joey said, ''Ross, who cares?'' He knew that Ross was trying to act nonchalant about the fact that Rachel and Chandler were dating.
Chandler was smiling, and Joey knew his friend was thinking the same thing. ''So, boys and girls, I've got a fun idea. Let's play truth or dare.''
Joey grinned. ''Hey, yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Let's play. I have one for one of the girls.''
Monica looked at her friend. ''OK, if this is going to make one of us kiss the other, not going to happen. At least, I'm not going to.''
Phoebe giggled. ''I would, on a dare, but if no one else wants to, that's fine.'' She took a bite out of her veggie burger.
Rachel was silent, thinking of that time in college with Melissa................aloud, she said, ''Just somebody say a dare.''
Joey said, ''Phoebe, I dare you to flash everybody.'' He was grinning devilishly.
The blond masseuse made a face. ''OK, I'm not doing that. What's your truth question?''
Joey grinned. ''Do you ever think about Monica or Rachel being naked?'' Everyone glared at him, and Chandler just shook his head.
Phoebe said, ''Well, no, I haven't. But I did have a dream about Monica having sex with Paul the Wine Guy.''
Her friend gasped. ''Why did you have a dream about me and Paul?''
Chandler said, ''You had a dream about Paul, was it?'' Rachel giggled and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Phoebe shook her head at Chandler and said to Monica, ''I don't know. I just did. I'm sorry. Blame Joey. He asked me the question. I was just answering it.''
Chandler said, ''OK, Pheebs, you have to ask somebody else a question.''
She sat in thought, and then said, ''Ross, truth or dare?'' She got really dramatic.
Ross shrugged. ''I don't know, um, dare, I guess.'' Everyone was surprised, Ross never took dare.
''OK, I dare you to share your most embarrassing memory. And no lying. Besides, Rachel, Monica, and Chandler have all known you the longest, so they'll know.'' Phoebe stopped to take a breath.
Ross knew that there was no getting out of this. He could say the truth question, but then, she'd just ask him what his most embarrassing moment was. So he geared up and said, ''Well, it was this time in college. Chandler was being dumped outside the door to our dorm room, and I was inside, on the phone with a girl. I was trying to do phone sex.'' Ross' voice had gotten really quiet. ''And Chandler and his date heard, and the girl dumped me. Later I found out that she had had it on speakerphone and all the girls in her sorority house had been listening.''
Rachel made a face. ''Aw, Ross, that sucks. Didn't anybody teach you how to do phone sex? My friend Mindy taught me, she also taught me how to kiss.''
Joey smiled. ''Nice, Rach.'' He was nodding at her appreciatively.
Rachel shook her head at Joey. ''Ross, you have to pick someone to ask.''
Ross stared at her. ''Rachel, howabout you?''
His friend settled herself closer to Chandler. ''OK, Ross, I guess truth.'' She smiled as Chandler kissed her cheek.
Ross tried not to let it show how much it bothered him. ''OK, what was the weirdest place that you've had sex?'' He was hoping to get Chandler freaked out.
Rachel ran her hand through her hair. ''Well, I had sex on my dad's pool table twice with Billy Dreskin. He didn't know about it, though, and I had to have it cleaned.''
Everyone laughed, and Rachel said, ''Mon, honey, truth or dare? Either one you pick, you're screwed, because I've got good ones for both.''
Monica made a face. ''Um, I guess truth, then.'' She took a bite out of her burger.
Rachel giggled. ''What did you have to do in high school when you got in trouble for stalking Pete Carney?''
Monica glared at her. ''You are so dead.'' She said, as everyone smiled at eagerly awaited her answer. ''I had to tell him that I was sorry and that I had to be his servant for two weeks.''
This made everyone laugh really hard. Joey said, ''Geez, Monica, never stalk me.'' He stole the ketchup from Ross, who was sitting in private agony.
They played a little longer, and then everyone left. Ross, Phoebe, and Joey went outside in the hall, with the pretense of going home, and Monica went into her bedroom. Rachel wrapped her arm around Chandler and leaned up to kiss him. ''This was fun. We should do it again. But next time, alone.'' She said.
Chandler kissed her again. ''I'd like that. I love you so much, Rach. More than I've ever loved anyone. But there was that Paolo thing, and that stupid thing with Janice, I just never told you. Besides, it's you. And I'm me.''
Rachel kissed his cheek and pulled him tighter. ''Chandler, you are totally great. I love you so much. You're sweet, and funny, and you care about stuff. And, you're like, my best friend. I can totally be myself with you.'' She looked into his eyes.
Chandler kissed her as deeply as he'd ever kissed anyone. When they'd pulled apart, he said, ''We'll talk tomorrow. I'm really tired, and I have to work tomorrow. So do you.''
Rachel walked him to the door, and the three friends outside jumped back. ''OK. I love you.'' She said, kissing him one last time.
Chandler smiled. ''You're not making this any easier, Rach.'' He said, gripping her hand.
Rachel grinned back at him. ''I know. It's hard for me, too.'' She opened the door, and he walked across the hall to his apartment, blowing kisses before he closed the door. She closed hers and then ran across the apartment to talk to Monica before going to bed......
The next morning, Chandler and Joey went over to Monica and Rachel's for breakfast, as always. Joey smiled slyly at his best friend before they opened the door. ''So, ready to see Rachel?'' Joey asked.
Chandler looked back at him. ''It's not like she's one of your conquests or anything, Joey, I love her.'' He opened the door to his friends' apartment, shaking his head.
Monica was making breakfast, eggs and bacon. ''Hey, guys.'' She said, grinning at them cheerily.
Chandler looked around casually. ''Where's Rachel? Isn't she here?'' He asked, a funny look on his face.
Monica laughed. ''She's in her room. I think that she's making herself look pretty for you.'' She gave Joey a plate of breakfast.
Chandler knocked on Rachel's bedroom door. ''Rach, it's Chandler. You don't have to make yourself pretty for me. You're always beautiful.''
Rachel stuck her head out of the bedroom. Her hair was perfect, and she had a small amount of makeup on. ''Yeah, but you're my boyfriend now. I want to be perfect for you.''
Chandler kissed her lightly. ''Well, I love you just the way you are. Don't worry about making yourself perfect, OK?''
Rachel smiled. ''OK, I like that. It's like, eight in the morning or something.'' She closed her bedroom door and walked to the kitchen, dressed in her pj's.
Monica looked at her friend. ''Rach, I thought you had to be at work today.'' She wore a confused expression on her face.
Rachel smiled and nodded. ''I do. I don't have to be at the coffee place until later. Why? Did you need me out of the apartment or something, Mon?''
Monica shook her head. ''I'm going to be at work. I just was checking.''
Ross entered the apartment, and said, ''Chandler, I really need to speak with you for a moment.'' He was looking very angry.
Chandler left Rachel's side and joined Ross off to the side, by the bathroom. ''Yes, Ross?'' He wasn't prepared for what was coming.
Ross looked at him. ''I can't be friends with you while you're dating Rachel. I'm sorry, but I just can't do it. I thought I could, but I can't. So this is where our friendship ends.''
Chandler looked at him incredulously. ''Excuse me? I'm sorry if it's hard for you. But I am not going to feel sorry for loving Rachel or for dating her. You're my friend, but she may be the one. So if you have a problem with that, too bad. I guess this is it, then.''
The two men looked at each other and then Ross stormed out of the apartment with not so much as a look at the rest of them. Joey looked at Chandler. ''What happened, man?''
Chandler shook his head. ''Nothin', man, nothin'.''
Later that morning, when Rachel and Phoebe were left alone in the living room, Regis and Kathy on, Phoebe asked Rachel the question. ''Do you know that Ross is in love with you?''
Rachel turned to Phoebe, with a look of surprise on her face. ''He does? Wow, I didn't know. But Pheebs, it doesn't matter, I love Chandler. I'm with Chandler now.''
Her friend turned on the couch to face her friend. ''Well, you should prolly tell him that you truly love Chandler, because he's not ever truly going to believe that you do if you don't.''
Rachel shrugged. ''Well, I love Ross, he's one of my best friends. But I don't love him that way. And if he doesn't understand that, then he's not really my friend, is he? It's like he doesn't want me to be happy or something.''
Phoebe was going to say something when the telephone rang. Phoebe answered it as Rachel took a sip of her coffee. ''Hello, Rachel and Monica's.'' Phoebe said winningly.
It was Monica. ''Pheebs, I just got a call from Ross that deeply disturbed me. He said that he can't be Chandler's friend if he's going to date Rachel. He said he told Chandler that much this morning. He told me that he's not going to hang with us anymore, just to be fair, so it doesn't make it too tense for everyone.''
Phoebe was upset by this. ''That's just dumb. Ross will get over Rachel, and he'll be able to hang with us again. But he was able to hang with us when Chandler wasn't with Rachel. What's his problem?''
Monica stuck up for her brother, even though she was happy for Rachel and Chandler. ''Well, it just must be hard for him. If I was in love with someone that you or Rachel dated, I don't know if I'd be able to see him with one of you.''
Rachel got up and took her dishes in the kitchen as Phoebe talked to whichever one of the group it was. She loved Chandler, and wasn't going to apologize for it. And she shouldn't have to. She loved him very much. She grinned as she thought of how much she missed him already.
Chandler was sitting at his desk at work, doing some work for the WENUS, (Weekly Estimated Net Usage Statistics) and thinking about Rach. He was also thinking about Ross. He felt a little guilty, and knew he shouldn't. He loved Rachel, and like he'd told his former best friend, he wasn't going to apologize for it. If Ross felt he couldn't be friends with him anymore, that was his progetive. Chandler wasn't going to lose sleep over it. OK, he probably was, but he shouldn't be, doggone it!
Joey, who was currently working at Chandler's work for some quick money, as a fellow process server, entered his BFF's office. ''Chan, are you going to eat with me at lunch today?'' He asked, face hopeful. Chandler had been annoyed with him as of late, since Joey had made up a character, "Joseph the Processing Guy", who was actually complex. It was making Chandler a little crazy.
Chandler looked up. ''Of course, Joey. I'm heading across the street to the pizza place. Does that sound good to you?'' He asked, as he placed some papers in his desk drawer.
Joey nodded. ''Sure. But there's something else I wanted to talk to you about. Shelley didn't get done with her numbers for the weekend, and wanted to know if she could have an extension. I told her I would ask you.''
Chandler shrugged. ''As long as I get them by the end of the day, no exceptions. I have to have them to finish out last week.'' He knew Joey was actually dying to ask him what had happened with Ross earlier that morning.
Joey didn't waste any more time asking, either. ''Chandler, I wanted to ask you something else. What did Ross say? And what did you say that made him so mad?''
Chandler gestured that Joey sit down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. ''Well, he told me that he couldn't be friends with me if I was dating Rachel. I told him that I wasn't going to break up with or apologize for being with her. That's when he stormed out this morning. He prolly won't be hanging with the rest of us anymore. It can't be helped. He's gotta do what he's gotta do, and we've gotta do what we've gotta do.''
Joey was shocked. ''He's not going to talk to the rest of us because you're dating Rachel? That's just so stupid. I mean, you can date Rachel if you want. I mean, she loves you. Ross just needs to understand that.''
Chandler nodded. ''I know. Rachel and I can be together. It's not like Ross had a mark on her or something. A "This is Ross's" pin or something.'' He leaned back in his chair.
Joey changed the subject. ''So, this girl that I met, she is really getting on my nerves. She thinks she's the best actress since sliced bread, and she is so not.''
Chandler asked, ''This is the one who's working on the play with you, right?'' He didn't even add a sarcastic comment, which is usually what he would have done.
Later that afternoon, when everyone but Ross was gathered in Rachel and Monica's apartment, Monica asked, ''Rachel, why is Ross being this way? I mean, it's not like you showed interest in him that way anyway. Please. He's being such a butthead to Chandler.''
Rachel said, from where she was sitting in Chandler's lap, ''It's Ross' problem. Chandler and I are his friends. I am not an ex-girlfriend, and Chandler is not an ex-boyfriend. He has no right to get angry. If he liked me, then he should have let me know.''
Joey shrugged. ''You're Rachel. And he's Ross. Besides, he's Mister Dinosaur Geek. Why would he have a chance with you?'' He shoved a bite of sandwich in his mouth.
Everyone looked at him. Chandler looked at his best friend. ''Joey, what do you think I am? I am a total dork. Women flock away from me.''
Monica said, ''He lives in his own little world, Chandler. You'll have to excuse him.''
Rachel kissed Chandler. ''You're not a dork, honey. You're very cute. And I love you.'' She said.
Chandler looked at his girlfriend. ''Sorry, Rach, but I am. I'm a total dork. I couldn't get a woman if I tried.''
Rachel said, ''Excuse me, but you're talking about yourself so disparagingly, and I don't want to hear it. Although, no one in this room can get as many people as they want, except for Joey.'' Everyone watched as Joey inhaled sandwich. ''I don't know why, though.''
Joey asked, ''What?'' He licked mayonnaise off his fingers. Then he stuffed the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and licked his fingers again.
Phoebe smiled and giggled at him. ''What, Joey's cute.'' She said, and picked up the potato chips.
Joey smiled back at her and said, ''How you doin'?'' This was the line he used on all the girls, and Phoebe usually fell for it.
She giggled and said, ''Oh, Joey.'' She smiled at him and handed him another sandwich, which she knew was his favorite food.
They spent the day flirting and talking until the showdown with Ross and Chandler....