Disclaimer: I don't own Friends or any of the characters (as much as I wish I did!). I have throughout my story used quotes used previously in the show; however most of them have been altered. Enjoy!
Sobbing echoed through the large room which was empty except a few moving boxes, a cabinet and a closet. The apartment was humid although summer had barely begun. A rainbow of shimmering lights danced across the walls, the crystal hanger reflecting the ray of sunlight which shone through the sole window.
"But you're always crying" whispered Monica.
"I'm n-n-not" stuttered Rachel through sobs.
"What about yesterday? You cried when Ross told you he liked your necklace." But Monica knew it was too late. She had made Rachel even more upset.
"Stupid, stupid Monica" she whispered to herself under her breath.
"That was because Ross has no taste. You should know that, he's your brother" she accused as she lifted her head to catch the disgusted look on Monica's face. Rachel's eyes were red and blotchy, and a tear rolled down her right cheek, but her mouth twisted into a crooked smile on seeing the disgusted look on Monica's face.
Suddenly, Joey crashed through the door, sending the pile of moving boxes flying in all directions. Joey and Rachel instinctively turned to look at Monica.
"Clean it up…NOW." She turned to glare at Joey, and Chandler and Ross who had been trying not be noticed in the back corner, and then left the room. Rachel followed.
"What's her problem?" asked Joey.
"I HEARD THAT!" yelled Monica as she stormed out the door.
"It's like you don't even know her." Ross shook this head and continued.
"Ok, Joey, I'll put it this way. If a cleaner is coming to clean the house, she's scared the apartment will be too dirty, so she cleans it." Chandler moved from his position on the box and came to stand next to Ross.
"It's like being married to a vacuum, a bucket of chemicals and a dish cloth all at once. Everything is soooo clean." Joey smiled in understanding. Just then Monica rushed into the room.
"Hurry up! Rachel's flight leaves in six hours! It could take time to get a taxi! There could be traffic! The plane could leave early! When she gets there, there could be a line at the luggage check-in! Come on!! Come on!!" And as quickly as she had entered the room, she was gone.
"An hour long trip to the airport, that's a lot of Monica." Joey said sarcastically.
"Oh really, and a lifetime isn't?" joked Chandler.
They continued packing in silence for over an hour until Chandler stopped what he was doing and walked over to the window and gazed up at the sun. People below on the sidewalk rushed past in an effort to escape the sweltering heat of the sun.
"It's almost midday Ross." Joey looked up with an excited expression on his face.
"Lunch?" he asked, now excited. Chandler and Ross both rolled their eyes in unison.
"Yes, go and eat. You're excused. Knowing Monica lunch will be waiting ready on your table. She's that damn organised."
Once Joey had left the room Chandler, once again, averted his eyes to the faded red windowsill and stared down at the busy street below. City people and tourists alike rushed past in an effort to reach their destinations on time. He took a deep breath.
"You are happy she's leaving aren't you?" A confused expression crossed Ross's face.
"Of course not. She's my friend. You're not happy she's going, neither is anyone else. Why would it be different for me?" However Ross knew why things may be different for him and Chandler. He and Rachel had so much history together. He'd loved her since like the ninth grade. Even though many things had come between them, he'd never stopped loving her. She was Rachel.
"I thought maybe this would be your chance to do what you have been trying to do for years. Get over her. Maybe even make it a clean break…give her back her things…I dunno." An expression of disbelief crossed Ross's face.
"Are you kidding? I'm not going to put her through that kind of pain. She can keep whatever she has of mine…just like I'll keep her stuff." Ross turned away from Chandler trying to hide the pain that was so clear on his face. Of course he didn't want Rachel to leave.
Chandler bent down and lifted one of the moving boxes and placed it on top of another one. "Look man, just tell her you're sorry or something. Let her know you care. This has to be hard on her."
Shaking, Ross retreated to the white couch which was still in the centre of the room. Hard for her? What about him? Did nobody care about him? He felt someone sit down next to him, and lean over to hug him. He looked up. He hadn't even heard Phoebe come into the room.
"Ross, would making chocolate milk make you feel better?" Phoebe smiled. She was genuinely trying to cheer him up; she just wasn't very good at it.
"No thanks Pheebs, I'm 33. That's more something you do with kids…but you could help Joey make some." Ross laughed at his own joke. On the other hand, Phoebe was good at cheering him up; she just did it in a very odd sort of way.
"Ross you have to do something. She's actually going to leave." Ross rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I'm aware of that Phoebe, I've just spent like a decade packing all her crap. Boy has she got a lot of clothes."
Phoebe just starred at him, stunned. "That's it? After everything you've been through together, all you've got to say is 'she has a lot of clothes'. That's pathetic Ross. Of course she does, its Rachel! What's wrong with you?" She turned to look at Chandler.
"Chandler, help me. Something is seriously wrong. He hasn't even got enough energy to say 'but we were on a break'." Chandler looked amused.
"It's like they're two different people. I mean, don't you remember Pheebs, like every fight they ever had went something like 'we were on a break. No we weren't.' What happened to you two?" Ross sighed and rolled over. What had happened between them?
Across the hall, Monica, Rachel and Joey were eating lunch.
"Joey could you please give Rachel and I a minute…alone." Joey smiled enthusiastically.
"Yeah I could." Rachel and Monica starred at him.
"Oh, ok, not that kind of minute alone, huh?" Monica was annoyed now.
"Just leave!" Joey stumbled out the door cursing Monica under his breath. Rachel starred at Monica who was just sitting there.
"Is there a point to us being alone, Mon?" Monica opened her mouth and closed it a few times before finding the right words.
"Rachel, I have to ask." Rachel looked vaguely interested.
"Ask away." Monica nodded.
"Ok, well with you it's always been 'I'm Rachel. I love Ross. I hate Ross. I love Ross. I hate Ross,'" she paused. "Is it ever going to be 'I love Ross' again? Because he's my brother and…"
Rachel stopped listening. She was lost for words, but it wasn't because she didn't know the answer.