Disclaimer: Um. Not mine.

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THE ONE WITH THE STORY ABOUT THE CAMPING TRIP

Prologue

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A/N: Here is the new and rewritten prologue. It should fit in a little better with the rest of the story. Enjoy.

A/N2: This story may become slightly AU... Phoebe and Chandler attend Lincoln High for a little while.

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"I win!" Monica exclaimed, placing her last red seven on the Uno pile. Ross threw his cards down to the table in disgust. They very nearly hit the candle that was the only source of light during the blackout.

"Come on," he said. "This is the third game you've won in a row. Let's just stop now. This is—this is boring."

"It's boring or you're afraid you'll lose again?" Monica retorted.

"Hey. Geller children," Chandler said. "Stupid argument, but I'm afraid I agree with Ross over there. This is kind of boring. What did you guys do last blackout?"

"Weren't you here?" Joey asked.

"No, I was stuck in the ATM--" he paused, searching for the word, "thing."

"With the Victoria's Secret model!" Joey exclaimed in recognition. "Okay, what we did then was play Monopoly, look for a cat, and discussed the weirdest places we'd ever done it..." Joey's grin was all too evident in the flickering firelight.

"Okay okay," Chandler said hurriedly, afraid Joey would launch into a description of his strangest "I get it. So what do you want to do now?"

"I could keep winning," Monica suggested.

Ross laughed and stuck out his tongue. "Oh no you can't. Cause I was about to sweep in there with about five Wild draw fours and kick your ass."

"Wanna bet?"

"Mon, remember what happened the last time we bet something? The apartment...?" Rachel cut in.

Monica shrugged. "Yeah, you're right. So I guess I could just keep winning, and winning, and winning..."

Ross snorted out a laugh. "Yeah. You'll keep winning," he said sarcastically.

"Tell me this," Joey said. "Why is it that whenever it's a holiday you two act like you're eight years old?" he held up his hand to still any replies, "Like your troll nailed to a 2x4-trophy?"

"Hey Joe," Ross said, "This is a blackout, not a holiday."

"Whatever," Joey said. "It feels like a holiday 'cause we're all hanging out here instead of at Central Perk."

"Ooh! I've go an idea of something to do!" Phoebe exclaimed. "We can tell holiday stories!"

"And why is that?" Monica asked.

"Or," Rachel said, "We could just tell stories. Not like ghost stories. I mean stuff like Monica and Ross' Geller Cup adventures. Or our worst thanksgivings. But maybe not as bad," she added under the glares of her friends.

"You know," Monica said, "That's not a bad idea. I've got plenty of stories of me and Ross as kids... Well, I think you already head about Bea who drinks tea..."

Ross sighed loudly. "Do they have to be about us as kids? I don't need you to embarrass me at the moment."

"Well I don't have any good stories," Chandler said. "Let's see, my dad was gay, my mom wrote novels about people having sex, uh, most people hated me, and that about sums it up."

"Come on, we can't have three people without stories," Rachel said. "Why don't we all tell one?"

Chandler raised his eyebrows. "We're still different people, remember?"

"I know that," Rachel returned, "But I knew Monica and Phoebe, Ross knew Chandler, and I'm sure Joey appeared in our lives at some point... And there's gotta be some time we can fill everyone in about. Like... like that camping trip in high school where we all got split up."

Ross groaned. "Do we have to?"

"Actually, that would be interesting," Phoebe said. "We were all there, but I only know what happened near me. And" she giggled, "Joey. I'd love to hear about the rest of you guys."

"But... but I hated that," Ross said. "And there's stuff that--that shouldn't be, uh, uncovered."

"Well now I gotta hear this!" Joey said.

"That shouldn't be uncovered?" Monica wondered. "I know you got hurt, Ross, but that wasn't exactly a secret. So there was another secret? We've got to tell this story now."

"Okay, okay," Ross said resignedly.

"So is everybody in?" Rachel asked. She got nods and 'yes's of approval. "Okay then. Who starts?"

When nobody began, she shrugged. "I guess I'll start..."

"Go right ahead."

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