Title: Bad Dreams

Author: Melonie Morgan

Rating: R

Summary: Five friends fighting for survival, with only each other to lean on... Five friends, five problems, one on the verge of a drastic measure.

Disclaimer: If I owned the character or the actors of Friends, then I wouldn't be living in Danville, Virginia. All I can say is I've dreamed of them being my friends and now, in a sense, they are. Yay, invisible people!

- Chapter One -

Alyssa Alderson stepped out of the school and looked up at the storm threatening sky. Maybe I should wait it out, she thought worriedly. Leaving the high school so late after band practice was the main reason she didn't like being in the jazz band anymore. All of her friends were gone by this time, which left her walking home completely alone. Which she had to admit, lately was kind of creepy.

Taking a deep breath and saying a silent prayer to the Gods, Alyssa jogged down the steps and started the short walk home.

"Alyssa, wait up."

Turning, Alyssa smiled, thrilled to see her best friend, Monica, running towards her, school books in hand.

Once Monica caught up, the two girls fell into step easily with each other.

"What are you still doing here?"

Monica wrinkled her nose, "I had to make up a history test. Mr. Leigg didn't like me taking my time but you know how I am with history."

Alyssa laughed, "Yeah, the same way I am about math. You suck."

"Well, thanks, girlfriend." But Monica had a smile on her face. Alyssa had been her best friend since fifth grade and now they probably knew each other better than their own family knew them.

"So, how are things on the homefront?" Alyssa asked , giving her friend a sideways glance. Monica's parents were in the middle of a messy divorce and Mon and her older brother, Ross, had been right in the middle of things.

"Okay, I guess, for right now, anyway." Monica shrugged and kicked a rock out of her path.

"Really?"

Monica sighed, "No, not really. Dad's pissed because he has to pay alimony and child support. Mom's pissed because Dad's living with the woman he left for, and Ross? Well, he's just pissed at the world, except you, of course, who he carries an ever-flaming torch . But I don't want to lay all my problems on your shoulders."

"That's what I'm here for, Mon, and you know it."

Monica played with a frayed edge on the corner of her math book, "I notice you keep side-stepping the Ross issue. Don't you think that the two of you need to at least talk about your feelings," she asked as they came to a stop on the corner of Alyssa's street.

"Monica, it's not that simple. The way I feel when I'm around Ross is... I don't know. Comfortable? But I've known him so long he's like my brother, too. I just don't think that I can look at him like that. You know?" Alyssa let her heavy book bag drop to the ground for a moment and hugged Monica, "But I will think about it, okay?"

"That's good enough, I guess."

Alyssa laughed and, hoisting her book bag onto her shoulder, she started down her street, past the familiar bungalows until she reached hers.

Dragging up the driveway, Alyssa hoped and prayed that her stepfather wasn't drunk today. Oh well, if he is I'll just go to my room and stay the hell out of his way.

Entering the house through the side kitchen door, Alyssa's heart sank as she heard the familiar sound of her stepfather yelling at the game on the t.v., his words obviously slurred, as usual.

Alyssa, knowing she couldn't take this today, dropped her bookbag on the floor, and quietly slipped back through the door. I'll go to Monica's and see if she wants to get the gang together at Wimpy's. Their favorite hangout. Maybe, with some luck, they'll take my mind off of that pig living in my house.

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Wimpy's was crowded as usual. Alyssa, Monica, and Ross slid into a back booth with Phoebe and Rachel and placed their orders for cheeseburgers.

Phoebe, who already had a large order of fries in front of her, wrinkled her nose, "You guys are so gross. Do you even realize what you are putting in your body?" she asked , sniffing haughtily. "A poor innocent cow had to die so that the four of you could eat your -"

Ross banged his fist on the table "Be quiet, woman," he ordered, playfully. "I need sustenance." Everyone laughed but Phoebe, who flipped him the bird, instead.

"You guys act your age." Rachel scolded, trying to appear stern.

"I do act my age." Ross replied, grabbing two of Phoebe's fries and sticking one in each nostril, "See?"

"Oh, gross, Ross. Grow up." Monica snapped.

"Chill, Mon, I was just having fun." Ross said, defending his actions.

Alyssa leaned in and whispered in Monica's ear, "And you wonder why I don't want to date him?"

Monica snickered.

Alyssa looked around at the people who had been her friends forever, it seemed like. They were such a diverse group, but they managed to get along great. Phoebe was a mixture of all of them, and definitely the most upbeat of the group. Monica always said that if there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Phoebe would be the one to find it. Ross, who Monica proclaimed to be a total serious bore at home, was just the opposite when he was with a group of people. Playful all the time, if not a bit goofy, he managed to keep all of them laughing at the silly things he did. Rachel was the most fashionable of the group, she practically lived at the mall. Monica was the serious one, always obsessing about her grades, which were always straight A's. And Alyssa? Well, how she fit into the equation, she didn't really know. Alyssa had always been the one everyone came to talk about their problems, which she supposed was her niche in the group. Great, I really want to be these people's psychiatrist, Alyssa thought sourly.

"Hey, earth to Alyssa, are you in there?"

Alyssa blinked and looked at Phoebe, "What?"

"Your disgusting food has arrived, if you would like to eat it before I vomit."

Alyssa laughed and took a big juicy bite of her burger, chewing slowly and, teasing Phoebe, she said, "Ummm.....That's good. Nice and meaty."

Phoebe always referred to herself as a born again vegetarian. For the past two years, anyway. But Alyssa thought she missed meat, at least a little, because she always got a little crabby when they ate in front of her.

"So, where's Chandler tonight?" Phoebe asked Monica.

Monica and Chandler had been dating for three months. They made a great couple, and Alyssa was really happy for her friend, but she was also slightly jealous. It would be nice to have somebody.

"Working." Monica stuffed an onion ring in her mouth.

"He got the job at the music store?" Phoebe squealed, clapping her hand together excitedly, "Does that mean we can get discounts?"

Monica couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips as she nodded. Phoebe still had a lot of kid in her and that was probably one of her best qualities. Monica admired it because she had always been so studious and logical. Even when Monica was a kid she didn't act like one.

Alyssa glanced at the watch on her wrist and pushed herself away from the table. "Got to run, guys. Mom will be home and I won't have to deal with Steve with her there. "

As she walked home, she wondered idly if Steve would be passed out. It doesn't matter as long as I don't have to deal with that asshole.

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