REMEMBER
BY CREASSYA
This is my Changes series. I wanted to try something a little different as always. I won't give away what this series will be about. It'll be clear later on in this fic. What I will share with you is that it'll be an adventure. Enjoy!
*~*
Monica stood in her full-length mirror and forced a smile at her reflection. She knew that she should be happy, sort of. This was a happy occasion. She was going to a wedding. And not just any wedding. Although she was happy for him and his fiancée, she wished that the day would hurry up and leave. She'd been secretly dreading it for a while.
She turned around to get a good look at her baby blue dress with the two slits up her thighs. She wore her hair in deep waves around her shoulders and hoped her hair would hold until the end of the day. The weatherman said that it was eighty degrees out. She thought about wearing her hair up but knew it would look better down in deep waves. She hadn't worn her hair like that in ages. She looked down at her pale blue nails and sandals. She even wore a silver thin necklace with a small baby blue pendant. She was all decked out in blue. Although it was a beautiful spring day and she chose a light spring like color to wear, she felt more like wearing black and preferred it to be fall or winter. Spring was cheerful and she was anything but cheerful.
Being that it was Joey's wedding day she knew that she was in for a long day of pretending. Pretending she was happy. Pretending that her life was full and that she was content to be alone. She'd be totally drained emotionally when the day ended. And to think, there would be another wedding taking place in a few more months and she'll be dreading that one also. Chandler was Joey's best man and also Ross's. This was hell on her. Seeing him would be worst. He'd been Joey's best man from a distance. Today she'd have to see him. He'd been in town for a week and she managed to avoid him. There would be no avoiding him today and for that she dreaded even stepping out of her apartment.
When she finally walked out of her room, someone knocked on the door. She quickly walked over and opened it. Rachel stood there smiling. Monica smiled back and let her in.
"Oh come on. Cheer up. I don't have a date either."
"You look nice."
"So do you. Lady in blue."
"Oh my God."
"Are you ready?"
Monica shook her head.
"It's Chandler isn't it?"
"If someone else asks him to be best man in another wedding I'm not going."
"You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do."
"It'll all be over soon. Have you seen him yet?"
"No."
"Hasn't he been here all week?"
"Yep."
"You've been avoiding him."
"I can't avoid him today."
"That's for sure."
"When is he going back to Washington?"
"In a few days."
"Then he'll be back in a few months."
"It just seems so weird."
"What?"
"You and Chandler. You two have always been so close."
"Not for years though."
"He's not living with Joanne anymore."
"He's not? What happened?"
"I don't know."
"Is he bringing someone to the wedding?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, God. Now I really don't wanna go."
"He'll be drooling all over you when he sees you."
"Like I care."
"Who are you kidding Mon?"
"Well, let's get this show on the road."
"Ready when you are."
"Why can't you stay an extra few days? Florida can get along without you."
She smiled and put her arm around Monica as they walked out the door.
Chandler stood in the bathroom mirror of the hotel room. He wished he were back home in Washington in his new apartment. The wedding was about to take place. He wasn't quite ready. He was really happy for Joey, but the wedding required him to see Monica. He thought for sure that he'd run into her at the coffeehouse or on the street but he hadn't and he was grateful. He hadn't seen her in years. Had almost forgotten what she looked like.
He'd known her almost all of his life, yet they weren't speaking. He had to admit although he wasn't looking forward to seeing her again he missed her. He missed her terribly and wondered if she missed him too. Probably not. He let his head drop to the floor and willed the tears in his eyes not to fall. This was why he dreaded coming back to New York. In an attempt to pull himself together he lifted his head up, turned on the cold water and splashed it on his face.
When he dried the water from his skin, he heard a knock on the door.
"Hey, did you fall in?" Joey called to him.
He took a deep breath an answered…
"Yeah. I'm climbing out of the toilet right now. But don't worry. I'll be dry in a few hours."
Joey laughed and left the door. Chandler sighed. Humor had always been his defense mechanism. His haven. He looked at himself in the mirror again and took a deep breath.
"Here goes."
He walked out of the bathroom and gave Joey a fake smile.
"It's about time. I didn't want to get married without my best man."
"I wasn't in there that long."
"Well, I have to go now. Is it safe to go in?" Ross asked.
"Go see for yourself."
Ross went in just as Lester walked in. He and Chandler glared at one another and Joey noticed.
"Come on you two. Not today."
On sight Chandler wanted to throttle him. He couldn't stand Lester. He even thought about not being in the wedding because he didn't want to have to deal with him. He couldn't tell Joey not to have Lester in the wedding because they grew up together. While glaring at him, he thought of what Lester had said to him on more than one occasion.
"What's wrong Chandler? Mad that I was Monica's first?"
Every time he thought of those words it infuriated him. If he so much as breathed in his direction, Chandler knew that he would lay him out and apologized to Joey later. He knew exactly what to do and say to get under Chandler's skin. He looked at Lester with threatening eyes, warning him not to start with him today.
Ross walked out of the bathroom and stopped in his tracks. He looked from Chandler to Lester, then to Joey. He had to do something.
"Hey Chandler, come downstairs with me for a minute."
"All right. I could use some air."
"We'll be right back guys."
Joey patted Ross on the back, silently thanking him for stepping in. When he and Chandler were out of the room, Ross just looked at him.
"I didn't say anything to him."
"You two looked like you were about to kill each other."
"I don't know if I have the strength for this today."
"You have to. It's Joey's wedding day."
"I know."
"Try not to think about anything else today okay?"
"That's easy for you to say."
"I know."
"How's Monica doing?"
"You don't usually ask me about her."
"Doesn't mean I don't wonder."
"She's fine."
"Just fine?"
"She's not seeing anybody if that's what you mean. Relieved?"
"I don't know."
"Yeah right."
"To be honest, I miss her. We were so close."
"You miss her just as a friend?"
"Come on Ross. You know me."
"You could tell her that."
"We haven't spoken in years."
"So."
"What am I supposed to do huh? Go up to her and tell her that I miss her, that I still love her?" He said, eyes watery.
"You still love her?"
"I didn't mean to say that."
"Apparently. What happened with you and Joanne?"
"It's a long story."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that I don't want to discuss it."
"Why not?"
"Not now Ross."
"Okay. Later then?"
"Maybe later."
"Will you at least speak to her when you see her?"
"I assume you're talking about Monica?"
"Of course."
"I can't promise anything."
"Come on. This has gone on long enough."
"I know but…"
"But nothing."
"Is she bringing a date?"
"No."
"Oh."
"Speaking of date. Where's yours?"
"She's around here somewhere."
"How long have you been dating her?"
"She's not my girlfriend Ross."
"Aren't we in a good mood today."
"Not really. I mean this is Joey's wedding day and I'm happy for him."
"But…"
"Facing Monica…I don't know if I'll be able to take it."
"I think you'll be fine."
Monica and Rachel sat next to Phoebe and her boyfriend. Monica looked around at the beautiful set up. The wedding was being held outside of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. For it to be a small wedding, there seemed to be a lot of people around, Monica observed. When her eyes wandered back to the alter, she saw Chandler for the first time in years. She held her breath at the sigh of him. He was even more gorgeous than she remembered. He didn't notice her at first. He was talking to Joey. She felt that she should look away from him but somehow she couldn't remove her eyes from his face. That wonderfully handsome face. She realized then that she missed him. So much.
"Mon?"
"Huh?"
"Are you okay?"
She turned her attention to Phoebe who was sitting next to her on the right.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah. Why?"
"Because, I was talking to you and you were like in a trance or something."
"I'm sorry."
Rachel tapped her on her left hand that lay in her lap. Monica looked at her.
"You were looking at Chandler weren't you?"
"What?"
Rachel gave her a knowing look and Monica knew that she couldn't deny it.
"So I was. It's just that I haven't seen him in so long."
"You're sweating," Phoebe noticed.
"It's eighty degrees out not to mention the sun sitting in our laps."
Phoebe and Rachel exchanged glances, each on both sides of Monica. When she looked at Chandler again, he was staring right at her. All of a sudden her mouth went dry. She and Chandler locked eyes on one another for what seemed like an eternity before she looked away. She expected to feel anger when she saw him again, but all she felt when she looked at him was love. It shocked her to realize that all the anger she'd felt toward him had dissipated. She wondered if he was still upset with her. She certainly couldn't tell by the way he was looking at her. He didn't look like a guy who held a grudge against her.
While Joey and Mira stood in front of the minister, Chandler tried his best not to look at Monica. When he first caught a glimpse of her he felt dizzy. She was dressed in all blue. Baby blue at that. She wore her hair in deep waves, the way he always liked it. She was definitely the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, he decided. He still loved her just as much as he ever did. Against his better judgment he looked at her again. She met his eyes once more. He'd known her since he was nine years old and she was eight. She of course looked a lot different. She was chubby but that didn't stop him from becoming her friend. In fact, when he and his parents moved into the same neighborhood, she became his first friend.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Nine-year-old Chandler sat on the grass next to the swings covered in dirt and grass. Three boys, who were older and bigger than him, kept pushing him around until they got bored. He sat in the grass dusting himself off, feeling embarrassed and humiliated in front of the other kids at the playground. Some kids laughed. Other kids looked at him with pity in their eyes. While he was dusting himself off, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked up. The chubby girl walked around to stand in front of him.
"Need some help?"
"From a girl?"
"Looks like you could use a hand."
Chandler stood up and was now looking down at her.
"My name is Monica. What's your name?"
"Chandler."
"Are you new around here?"
"Yeah. How'd you guess?"
"It's written all over you."
"Thanks."
"Welcome."
"Are the kids around here always so mean?"
"No. Just Rodney, Ted, and Spike."
"Who are they?"
"I'm quite sure you've met them already. They're the bullies of this playground."
"Now someone tells me."
She smiled.
"You can't let them push you around."
"There were three of them. I was outnumbered."
"They don't bother me."
"Why is that?"
"Because I'm fat and I don't let them talk to me any kind of way they want."
"They probably just don't mess with you because you're a girl."
"That could be it too."
"Chandler smiled.
"Are any of these kids your friends?"
"I don't have any friends."
"Why not?"
"I just don't. I don't like these kids around here."
"I see why."
"Well, you can be my friend. If you want to be."
"You mean be friends with a girl?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"People will pick at me for hanging out with a girl."
"It looks to me like they've already harassed you without you being friends with a girl."
"Yeah but they'll actually beat me up next time."
"Oh, I see."
"See what?"
"The real reason you don't want to be my friend is because I'm fat."
"No it's not."
"I understand. Nobody wants to hang out with the fat kid."
"That's not it."
"It's okay. I guess I'll see you around."
"Monica, I don't have friends that are girls."
"I get it. You don't have to explain."
She looked as if she were about to cry. Chandler watched her turn and walk away. He felt bad that she was hurt because he didn't want to be her friend. It wasn't because she was fat. It was for the reason he said. He tried to make her see that, but all she saw was him rejecting her because of her weight. Despite how he felt about girls as friends, he liked Monica. Maybe having a girl for a friend won't be so bad…
Watch to see how Chandler and Monica's friendship evolves in….UNLIKELY FRIEND
BY CREASSYA
This is my Changes series. I wanted to try something a little different as always. I won't give away what this series will be about. It'll be clear later on in this fic. What I will share with you is that it'll be an adventure. Enjoy!
*~*
Monica stood in her full-length mirror and forced a smile at her reflection. She knew that she should be happy, sort of. This was a happy occasion. She was going to a wedding. And not just any wedding. Although she was happy for him and his fiancée, she wished that the day would hurry up and leave. She'd been secretly dreading it for a while.
She turned around to get a good look at her baby blue dress with the two slits up her thighs. She wore her hair in deep waves around her shoulders and hoped her hair would hold until the end of the day. The weatherman said that it was eighty degrees out. She thought about wearing her hair up but knew it would look better down in deep waves. She hadn't worn her hair like that in ages. She looked down at her pale blue nails and sandals. She even wore a silver thin necklace with a small baby blue pendant. She was all decked out in blue. Although it was a beautiful spring day and she chose a light spring like color to wear, she felt more like wearing black and preferred it to be fall or winter. Spring was cheerful and she was anything but cheerful.
Being that it was Joey's wedding day she knew that she was in for a long day of pretending. Pretending she was happy. Pretending that her life was full and that she was content to be alone. She'd be totally drained emotionally when the day ended. And to think, there would be another wedding taking place in a few more months and she'll be dreading that one also. Chandler was Joey's best man and also Ross's. This was hell on her. Seeing him would be worst. He'd been Joey's best man from a distance. Today she'd have to see him. He'd been in town for a week and she managed to avoid him. There would be no avoiding him today and for that she dreaded even stepping out of her apartment.
When she finally walked out of her room, someone knocked on the door. She quickly walked over and opened it. Rachel stood there smiling. Monica smiled back and let her in.
"Oh come on. Cheer up. I don't have a date either."
"You look nice."
"So do you. Lady in blue."
"Oh my God."
"Are you ready?"
Monica shook her head.
"It's Chandler isn't it?"
"If someone else asks him to be best man in another wedding I'm not going."
"You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do."
"It'll all be over soon. Have you seen him yet?"
"No."
"Hasn't he been here all week?"
"Yep."
"You've been avoiding him."
"I can't avoid him today."
"That's for sure."
"When is he going back to Washington?"
"In a few days."
"Then he'll be back in a few months."
"It just seems so weird."
"What?"
"You and Chandler. You two have always been so close."
"Not for years though."
"He's not living with Joanne anymore."
"He's not? What happened?"
"I don't know."
"Is he bringing someone to the wedding?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, God. Now I really don't wanna go."
"He'll be drooling all over you when he sees you."
"Like I care."
"Who are you kidding Mon?"
"Well, let's get this show on the road."
"Ready when you are."
"Why can't you stay an extra few days? Florida can get along without you."
She smiled and put her arm around Monica as they walked out the door.
Chandler stood in the bathroom mirror of the hotel room. He wished he were back home in Washington in his new apartment. The wedding was about to take place. He wasn't quite ready. He was really happy for Joey, but the wedding required him to see Monica. He thought for sure that he'd run into her at the coffeehouse or on the street but he hadn't and he was grateful. He hadn't seen her in years. Had almost forgotten what she looked like.
He'd known her almost all of his life, yet they weren't speaking. He had to admit although he wasn't looking forward to seeing her again he missed her. He missed her terribly and wondered if she missed him too. Probably not. He let his head drop to the floor and willed the tears in his eyes not to fall. This was why he dreaded coming back to New York. In an attempt to pull himself together he lifted his head up, turned on the cold water and splashed it on his face.
When he dried the water from his skin, he heard a knock on the door.
"Hey, did you fall in?" Joey called to him.
He took a deep breath an answered…
"Yeah. I'm climbing out of the toilet right now. But don't worry. I'll be dry in a few hours."
Joey laughed and left the door. Chandler sighed. Humor had always been his defense mechanism. His haven. He looked at himself in the mirror again and took a deep breath.
"Here goes."
He walked out of the bathroom and gave Joey a fake smile.
"It's about time. I didn't want to get married without my best man."
"I wasn't in there that long."
"Well, I have to go now. Is it safe to go in?" Ross asked.
"Go see for yourself."
Ross went in just as Lester walked in. He and Chandler glared at one another and Joey noticed.
"Come on you two. Not today."
On sight Chandler wanted to throttle him. He couldn't stand Lester. He even thought about not being in the wedding because he didn't want to have to deal with him. He couldn't tell Joey not to have Lester in the wedding because they grew up together. While glaring at him, he thought of what Lester had said to him on more than one occasion.
"What's wrong Chandler? Mad that I was Monica's first?"
Every time he thought of those words it infuriated him. If he so much as breathed in his direction, Chandler knew that he would lay him out and apologized to Joey later. He knew exactly what to do and say to get under Chandler's skin. He looked at Lester with threatening eyes, warning him not to start with him today.
Ross walked out of the bathroom and stopped in his tracks. He looked from Chandler to Lester, then to Joey. He had to do something.
"Hey Chandler, come downstairs with me for a minute."
"All right. I could use some air."
"We'll be right back guys."
Joey patted Ross on the back, silently thanking him for stepping in. When he and Chandler were out of the room, Ross just looked at him.
"I didn't say anything to him."
"You two looked like you were about to kill each other."
"I don't know if I have the strength for this today."
"You have to. It's Joey's wedding day."
"I know."
"Try not to think about anything else today okay?"
"That's easy for you to say."
"I know."
"How's Monica doing?"
"You don't usually ask me about her."
"Doesn't mean I don't wonder."
"She's fine."
"Just fine?"
"She's not seeing anybody if that's what you mean. Relieved?"
"I don't know."
"Yeah right."
"To be honest, I miss her. We were so close."
"You miss her just as a friend?"
"Come on Ross. You know me."
"You could tell her that."
"We haven't spoken in years."
"So."
"What am I supposed to do huh? Go up to her and tell her that I miss her, that I still love her?" He said, eyes watery.
"You still love her?"
"I didn't mean to say that."
"Apparently. What happened with you and Joanne?"
"It's a long story."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that I don't want to discuss it."
"Why not?"
"Not now Ross."
"Okay. Later then?"
"Maybe later."
"Will you at least speak to her when you see her?"
"I assume you're talking about Monica?"
"Of course."
"I can't promise anything."
"Come on. This has gone on long enough."
"I know but…"
"But nothing."
"Is she bringing a date?"
"No."
"Oh."
"Speaking of date. Where's yours?"
"She's around here somewhere."
"How long have you been dating her?"
"She's not my girlfriend Ross."
"Aren't we in a good mood today."
"Not really. I mean this is Joey's wedding day and I'm happy for him."
"But…"
"Facing Monica…I don't know if I'll be able to take it."
"I think you'll be fine."
Monica and Rachel sat next to Phoebe and her boyfriend. Monica looked around at the beautiful set up. The wedding was being held outside of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. For it to be a small wedding, there seemed to be a lot of people around, Monica observed. When her eyes wandered back to the alter, she saw Chandler for the first time in years. She held her breath at the sigh of him. He was even more gorgeous than she remembered. He didn't notice her at first. He was talking to Joey. She felt that she should look away from him but somehow she couldn't remove her eyes from his face. That wonderfully handsome face. She realized then that she missed him. So much.
"Mon?"
"Huh?"
"Are you okay?"
She turned her attention to Phoebe who was sitting next to her on the right.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah. Why?"
"Because, I was talking to you and you were like in a trance or something."
"I'm sorry."
Rachel tapped her on her left hand that lay in her lap. Monica looked at her.
"You were looking at Chandler weren't you?"
"What?"
Rachel gave her a knowing look and Monica knew that she couldn't deny it.
"So I was. It's just that I haven't seen him in so long."
"You're sweating," Phoebe noticed.
"It's eighty degrees out not to mention the sun sitting in our laps."
Phoebe and Rachel exchanged glances, each on both sides of Monica. When she looked at Chandler again, he was staring right at her. All of a sudden her mouth went dry. She and Chandler locked eyes on one another for what seemed like an eternity before she looked away. She expected to feel anger when she saw him again, but all she felt when she looked at him was love. It shocked her to realize that all the anger she'd felt toward him had dissipated. She wondered if he was still upset with her. She certainly couldn't tell by the way he was looking at her. He didn't look like a guy who held a grudge against her.
While Joey and Mira stood in front of the minister, Chandler tried his best not to look at Monica. When he first caught a glimpse of her he felt dizzy. She was dressed in all blue. Baby blue at that. She wore her hair in deep waves, the way he always liked it. She was definitely the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, he decided. He still loved her just as much as he ever did. Against his better judgment he looked at her again. She met his eyes once more. He'd known her since he was nine years old and she was eight. She of course looked a lot different. She was chubby but that didn't stop him from becoming her friend. In fact, when he and his parents moved into the same neighborhood, she became his first friend.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Nine-year-old Chandler sat on the grass next to the swings covered in dirt and grass. Three boys, who were older and bigger than him, kept pushing him around until they got bored. He sat in the grass dusting himself off, feeling embarrassed and humiliated in front of the other kids at the playground. Some kids laughed. Other kids looked at him with pity in their eyes. While he was dusting himself off, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked up. The chubby girl walked around to stand in front of him.
"Need some help?"
"From a girl?"
"Looks like you could use a hand."
Chandler stood up and was now looking down at her.
"My name is Monica. What's your name?"
"Chandler."
"Are you new around here?"
"Yeah. How'd you guess?"
"It's written all over you."
"Thanks."
"Welcome."
"Are the kids around here always so mean?"
"No. Just Rodney, Ted, and Spike."
"Who are they?"
"I'm quite sure you've met them already. They're the bullies of this playground."
"Now someone tells me."
She smiled.
"You can't let them push you around."
"There were three of them. I was outnumbered."
"They don't bother me."
"Why is that?"
"Because I'm fat and I don't let them talk to me any kind of way they want."
"They probably just don't mess with you because you're a girl."
"That could be it too."
"Chandler smiled.
"Are any of these kids your friends?"
"I don't have any friends."
"Why not?"
"I just don't. I don't like these kids around here."
"I see why."
"Well, you can be my friend. If you want to be."
"You mean be friends with a girl?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"People will pick at me for hanging out with a girl."
"It looks to me like they've already harassed you without you being friends with a girl."
"Yeah but they'll actually beat me up next time."
"Oh, I see."
"See what?"
"The real reason you don't want to be my friend is because I'm fat."
"No it's not."
"I understand. Nobody wants to hang out with the fat kid."
"That's not it."
"It's okay. I guess I'll see you around."
"Monica, I don't have friends that are girls."
"I get it. You don't have to explain."
She looked as if she were about to cry. Chandler watched her turn and walk away. He felt bad that she was hurt because he didn't want to be her friend. It wasn't because she was fat. It was for the reason he said. He tried to make her see that, but all she saw was him rejecting her because of her weight. Despite how he felt about girls as friends, he liked Monica. Maybe having a girl for a friend won't be so bad…
Watch to see how Chandler and Monica's friendship evolves in….UNLIKELY FRIEND