Author's note

Hi again, this one is going to be multi chaptered, well, that is if you guys like this chapter. It's sort of AU (I think that's right) where Chandler is a big TV star and Monica is a fan who goes to meet him... well, you'll have to read on to find out really :) The title is taken from "Farley's song" from the film Shock Treatment which is good, and weird. The title for this chapter is taken from the first line of the song "E=MC2" by Big Audio Dynamite. "Get on with it!" I hear you cry ok, here goes...

p.s. I don't Friends.

Somebody I never met but in a way I knew

Monica Geller was happy. Today, on her 23rd birthday she was going to see the taping of her favourite TV programme, Marriage Maze. She'd been obsessed with it ever since she was about 13 but was only now getting to go see it live. She was going alone, her friends didn't share her obsession, but she was happy. She wasn't going to pass up the ticket her mother had given her 2 weeks in advance.

It wasn't just the show she was obsessed with because even she had to admit it was a mediocre attempt at getting rich people's money- it cost $300 to go on, and that was without the guarantee of playing, she had found this out during one of her late night reading sessions. She had countless books on the show, and its presenter. Chandler Bing.

That was the reason she was going to the taping. That was the reason she had flown across the country on her own. That was the reason she was going to arrive an hour before and not leave until she had spoken to him afterwards. He was the reason she was in love.

When she was younger, she found him quite attractive and developed what her mother described as a 'crush' on him. As she got older, her crush developed and she began to appreciate what a funny, charismatic, kind man he was.

Thus her obsession began. The collecting photos, interviews, old VHS tapes, even films he'd done before. Mainly small low budget films no one had ever heard of where he played an insignificant, sometimes even uncredited role, but it was worth it. It was all worth it.

She had hardly slept the night before. She had gone for a walk to calm herself down then when she arrives back at the hotel, the Chateau Marmont, she had called her friends. They were all well aware of her obsession, they found it sort of sweet yet at the same time creepy.

"Hey Rach! I can't believe I'm here"

"I can't believe you're there either. I'm so happy for you"

"Thanks. God I'm nervous. This may be my only chance to speak to him, I can't mess it up."

"Just be yourself, try not to get too excited. Remember what happened when you met Richard O'Brien?"

"Yeah" She blushed at the memory. She had barely been able to speak, and what she did say probably didn't make sense, she had ended up with an autograph so it wasn't all bad.

"Well, I'm working tomorrow so I'll let you go. Have fun, I want all the details when you get back"

"Ok, night" She hung up then dialled her brother's number, she could completely freak out to him and he'd be ok, he'd grown up with her. He was used to it.

"Oh my God Ross, it's tomorrow. I can't believe it!"

"I know, wow, just think, you've waited like 10 years for this!"

"I know!"

"Listen, I'm happy for you and all but you'd better get some sleep or you'll be too tired to do anything tomorrow"

"Yeah, you're right."

"Night then. Love you"

"Love you too" she hung up then sat on the bed. She heard soft piano music coming from down the corridor. It was soothing. She quickly got under the covers and shut her eyes.

Morning couldn't come fast enough. When it did Monica literally flung back the covers and jumped up. Happy birthday me she thought. She quickly got dressed into a little black dress she had bought from a Mr McKinley in his little boutique a few days before. "It's a classic" he'd said "can't be beat". She slipped into it quickly, shivering with excitement. 7 hours, and she would catch a glimpse of Chandler Bing in person. 7 hours.

She did her hair and make-up, taking her time, wanting to get it perfect… for him. It had taken her 2 hours to get everything perfect but it would be worth it she told herself. Just wait.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Fabulous, she thought. She grabbed a piece of toast to eat then headed out onto the strip.

It was a warm day, as usual. Monica didn't know her way round but she knew she had to do something to pass the time. She walked to what appeared to be the main shopping area and looked around. It was all so glamorous, she could never have imagined. The people there seemed different to, so at ease with who they were, so free.

She smiled as she headed into a book shop. She'd been meaning to start reading again, she used to read a lot when she was younger but has grown out of the habit really but she wanted to start again. It was a big shop but she found it quite easy to navigate as there were signs everywhere. Most of the sections like 'sport' and 'politics' didn't interest her. She headed straight for the classics. Monica had loved reading classic novels when she was younger. She'd gotten through most of the Bronte sister's works and a whole heap of others by the time she was 13, that's when her obsession with Chandler had taken over her life.

Now, looking at all the books she remembered all the times she had woken up with a book still in her hand from the night before and smiled. She browsed for about half an hour before deciding on 'Let it Come down' by Paul Bowles. She was certain she had read some of his short stories in school. She paid then headed out again, this time heading into a clothes shop. Wow, she thought, black really has come back. Especially in dresses. One particular dress caught her eye, it was a little strapless backless dress in basic black but it still looked stunning, like the one she was wearing but somehow even more glamorous. She resisted the urge to buy it then went looking for a place to eat lunch instead.

She found a nice little café that was relatively cheap and bought a sandwich. She sat outside watching the world go by, happily wasting another hour.

The afternoon couldn't go quick enough, but when the time finally came, she found herself in the queue to studio 12, waiting to see Marriage Maze live. And Chandler, especially Chandler.

Footnote

Well there you go. Please review, but nothing too harsh. Unless of course you feel this is so diabolical that your morals are the only thing stopping you from hunting me down... x