Cigarette

Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.

Author's Note: Just an idea. An experiment. It'll be continued in another piece, this is just the introduction. I don't have a ship, but both of them seem to include Chandler so far. But don't count on me for strictly C/P stories or C/R OR C/M. I'm full of surprises, hehe.

Author's Note #2: Takes place in season 4, before Joshua, after Kathy.

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They both stand, side by side, on the balcony. She inhales, he inhales. He exhales, she exhales.

The smoke fills the air. It's their dirty little secret. They're each other's dirty little secret.

Sometimes they think it's stupid to not tell anyone. It's harder to just keep it quiet. Especially with Rachel's screams at night.

But they wouldn't understand. Two friends, just friends. The only difference in their relationship is the fact that they have sex and smoke together. It would just complicate things.

Rachel sometimes yells out Ross's name. Chandler sometimes thinks about Monica.

Rachel's told Chandler about how she still loves Ross. Chandler's confessed his crush for Monica. They both just need something to do to get their minds off of the people they love, but can't have.

Or, more, someone to do.

Rachel throws her cigarette off the side of the building. She begins to walk inside.

"You coming?" she beckons.

Chandler looks back at her, her brown hair shading parts of her face, her emotions a mystery to him. He just nods.

He watches her walk back into the apartment and into her bedroom to wait for him, and he thinks he might just be falling in love with her.

What a perfect idea.

Fall in love with a girl and her roommate, while neither loves him back.

He just takes in another breath. Nicotine's so sweet.

It's the only thing that loves him back.

He puts out the cigarette and goes back inside. No use in keeping her waiting.