Hey you guys, and Merry Christmas!

Here I am with another story :) I really didn't want to start a new story before finishing the previous one (such a wuss, I know) because I'm kinda lazy.. busy at times and I don't want to keep you guys waiting too long with the updates. As an active reader I know how annoying it can get.. No offense! But anyway I just got this idea and decided to go for it, and hopefully you'll like it :)

So.. Let's start with some basic information you guys need to know. First of all.. It's um, 1997.. And Monica and Ross aren't siblings. I know, how odd is that? They probably don't have siblings at all.. I don't know, it's not important. I guess. (I wish I'd thought this through..) Monica and Rachel are not friends with the others - yet. Which is totally weird, almost inaproppriate, but they are friends with each other and live together.. somewhere. But where would everyone else live and stuff? Well, Phoebe lives probably at her grandmother's, and Chandler and Joey - obviously - in apartment 19. Ross lives somewhere.. wherever he did at the time, alone. Not married or anything. Actually no one is dating anyone at the moment. So, this is clearly gonna be one of these Mondler stories, for sure..

Oh, yeah, and this is in Monica's pov. Although there might be some exceptions coming.. I don't really know yet. I don't know anything.

Disclaimer: I don't own Friends or anything else, blah blah blah.. you know the story, it's depressing.

Please leave a review, they're more than welcome :)

Chapter 1 ~ Hard day

"Monica, you should just go out there and have fun. Don't take it too seriously. You're still young, enjoy while you can!"

Damn you, Rachel.

I step on the street, slamming the restaurant door shut. It's dark, cold and raining. Such a perfect weather for the perfect night. The cold air makes me shiver immediately. I hug myself for warmth as I start walking. I can't take a cab because of the lack of money at the moment. My new, crappy job in that stupid diner isn't bringing a lot of extra, and I want to save everything I can. Our apartment isn't really as far as it now seems. I start taking longer steps, regretting that I'm not wearing a warmer jacket.

I had tried having fun. I just had my first date in a really long time and it turns out the guy was married. I shake my head. I can't understand men. Why on earth would someone stay in a marriage he is not satisfied with? I don't understand and actually don't even want to. I'd just got up and left the restaurant.

There must be great guys out there, too. I know my friends go out with nice guys all the time but apparently I just happen to meet the bad ones. What's wrong with me? There must be something wrong with me. Maybe I shouldn't go on a date ever again. Everytime I go there, it just lowers my self-esteem and I'm more and more starting to feel like the fat girl from years ago. But I'm not fat anymore. I'm thin, nice, funny and attractive. I should be attractive, but still no one good wants to date me.

Some people might say I'm picky, and maybe that's partly true. But I can't go there and ruin other people's marriages either, can I?

I'm looking down at my shoes as I walk. The wind is burning my eyes, and soon I can feel hot tears streaming down my face. I don't know if it's because of the wind or the fact that my date had failed again. I deny myself crying, I am not that weak. I look up, noticing I'm still pretty far from our place. I need to go somewhere to warm up and wipe these ridiculous tears away. I look around and see a nice coffeehouse right across the street. Central Perk. Sounds good to me.

I enter the coffeehouse, getting a few brief stares. I inhale the warm air, smelling the scent of coffee. Glancing around I notice there's a lot of people in here. And I think I've been here some time before.

I'm taking my way through the crowd to the counter and look at the white haired man.

"Hi. Anything for you?" he asks after looking at me for awhile.

"Hi, yeah. A coffee, please." The guy nods and is about to turn around, "and, um.. eight.. nine muffins, please," I add rather quietly. He stares at me for seconds before nodding again. I let out a sigh. I really am pathetic. Alone and pathetic, and here come the tears again. No wonder people stare at me.. Nowadays, I start crying almost as easily as Rachel. As soon as something goes wrong, I-

"Wow.. Having a hard day, huh?"

I jump slightly at this unfamiliar man's voice, coming from my left. I turn to look at this thoughts interrupting stranger.

He takes a step back as my slightly teary eyes meet his.

"Oh.. a really hard day, I guess?" he says.

He's tall, dark haired, handsome.. In the other way, who doesn't look handsome when you haven't dated in forever or had sex in months?

Wait a minute, do I really look that bad? I pull a tiny mirror out of my purse. Gosh, my mascara is on my cheeks. How long has it been there? Seriously, no wonder people stare at me!

"Oh God," I say as I start rubbing my cheeks.

"What?" the guy smirks as he leans casually against the counter.

I look at him again, somewhat furiously. "Amused?"

He shakes his head, his expression turning serious. "No, not at all. Absolutely not."

I glare at him and continue rubbing my face. It's not fading.. What a surprise. "Excuse me," I say and walk away, looking for the ladies' room. There's not that much people in the coffeehouse than when I first came, and I can find my way easily. Thank goodness I manage to clean my face with water, and more rubbing. But now my cheeks are burning and they're redder than ever before. I let out a deep sigh as I stare my reflection in the mirror. I don't even have powder with me. How clever.. Whatever. I'm alone. No, not that kind of thinking, or the mascara starts falling again along new tears.

I finally get out of the ladies' room and walk back to the counter, sitting on a chair. I bury my face in my hands. This is unbelievable. This must be the worst day since-

"So, you're having a bad day?"

I jump for the second time at this same voice and drop my hands. I thought he left already. I look at him for awhile as he stares at me curiously. "Actually it's none of your business, but do I look like I'm coming from a picnic?"

"It depends. Believe me, some picnics can be nightmares."

I roll my eyes and look away, ignoring him. Would he just leave me alone? Where the hell is my coffee? And do I even have to mention my muffins?

"I paid for your coffee.. and the muffins," he answers my thoughts. What is he, a mind reader? "I hope that was okay?"

I notice a huge cup of coffee on the counter and a plate with nine, similar muffins on it. "Why would you do that? Are you trying to hit on me or something?"

"It's not working, is it?" he asked and grimaced.

I let out a snort. "You paying for my coffee and muffins.. not saving the day, okay?"

"Okay," he says with a shrug.

I study his face as he stays silent for awhile. "Thanks anyway," I mumble.

I see a slight smile on his lips. He watches as I grab the cup and plate in front of me. "No offense, but.. nine muffins?"

"Yeah," I confirm shortly and start eating. I don't wanna start telling my life story to a person I've never met before.

"You know.. If you're hungry, I can take you to dinner."

"I'm not hungry," I keep resisting. I'm really not hungry, not in the mood for another date and I'm sure at the end of the day, this man is just like everyone else.

"Okay.." he says. He's clearly trying to come up with another suggestion.

"Hey.. You're obviously very persistent, and I guess I'm admired, but I'm gonna save you some time here. I'm not going on a date with you."

"Well then, what about..-"

"Seriously, no. I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in men anymore."

He raises his eyebrows. "Oh, right.. It was nice meeting you, though," he says as he turns to leave.

I frown. What? What did I say? Gosh, that sounded so lesbian.. I grab his arm, and he turns to look at me, confused. "I.. I mean I am interested in men. It's just that they've been really awful to me lately and-and.. I'm not a lesbian, if that's what you thought," I stutter.

He nods understandingly. "That's.. nice," he says, giving me an awkward smile.

I turn my attention back to the muffins in front of me. This is so pathetic, I think as I take another bite. I wait for the guy to leave so I can keep enjoying my muffins alone. But no, he stands still. "I don't know if that was necessary for you to know but anyway," I add as he keeps looking at me eating.

"Yeah, me neither.." he chuckles. "I know what you mean though."

"Huh?"

"I know what you mean. I've been there."

"What? Men have been awful to you too?"

He's clearly taken aback by that. "No, I'm not gay, no, not at all. I'm talking about women, women have been kinda.. mean lately."

"I didn't think you were gay," I say with a smile. "Although, your hitting techniques do not amaze me."

"Hey!" he says, putting on an offended face.

"I'm kidding," I laugh. He sits down, obviously feeling satisfied about the fact he made me laugh. "They're not bad. To be honest, you seem okay," I add, surprised that I actually mean that. He does seem okay. Slightly annoying at first, but few minutes ago I wasn't that charming either.

"Thanks," he says. "You seem nice too.. Now after you stopped mocking me, and your face is clean."

"Yeah, obviously."

"Can I ask you.. what happened?"

I look at him in the eyes for awhile, considering. "I guess.. Stranger," I say with a smile. "Okay. I had a date with this guy, and.. turns out he was married."

He shrugs negligently. "That doesn't seem like a thing to cry and be that upset over."

"Maybe not.. But it's been a long time since I had a date, and it's been a really long time since I was in a relationship."

"How long?" he asks quickly.

"Since I was in a relationship? Hmm, in a decent one, let's just say.. almost six months."

He looks at me up and down, and I again realize I'm probably being too open to this man I don't know. "Really? You?" he asks.

"Yeah I-I don't know why I told you that either," I say quietly. "Why? Is it really that long?"

"No, not maybe. I just thought, you're probably that kind of a woman who can date whoever she wants, you know, since you're all like.. all like.."

"All like what?"

"Well, hot and stuff.."

I can feel myself blushing slightly. Hopefully my cheeks are still all red so he won't notice. I don't know if I should leave, stay, flirt or what, so I just sit still and try to figure out what to say next. God, it's really been a long time. Suddenly, a stranger in a coffeehouse is making me blush just by calling me hot.

"I was hoping it wouldn't get this awkward," he breaks the silence.

"Yeah," I say. "So.. What about you? You said women have been mean to you?"

"Right.. Actually, only one woman was mean to me."

"How?"

"She cheated on me with her husband. They were supposed to be divorcing at the time."

"Wow!" I exclaim. "But that's horrible! Did you-did you love her?"

"Sort of, yeah.."

"Aww.. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I stole her shoe," he grins.

"You stole her shoe?" I ask in disbelief.

"Yep. I keep it on my nightstand," he says, causing me to laugh.

"Gosh, you need these more than me," I say and offer him my muffins.

"Thanks," he smiles and takes one. "I guess it was some kind of a payback for all the shit I've done to women."

"Right, you're a guy, you must do shit to women," I let out a sigh. "What have you done?"

"Um.. For example.. Well, this happened after that cheating thing, but anyway. I got drunk and slept with my best friend's sister."

"Oh my God!"

"And I didn't remember which of his seven sisters was the one I slept with. Still don't, to be honest."

I shake my head in disbelief. "Guys are unbelievable! Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Huh, you must be really furious with us," he says, looking surprised. "I'm sorry. I don't know about the other guys but me, I just tend to screw everything up. But if you think men are weird, women are too. They always want more and more, they're always rushing into things, they always want it to be dead serious.. Anyways, just so you know, I never mean to hurt anyone."

His honest eyes meet mine. "Fine, I believe you."

'They always want it to be dead serious..' Maybe I don't. I remember Rachel telling me few days ago how worried she was about me. She told me I can't just have fun anymore. Normally I would've gotten slightly offended for something like that, but I didn't 'cause I knew she had a point. It's true, it's been a long time since I've done anything exciting and crazy. And here I am, sitting with a guy who seems really nice and safe, rejecting him.

He glances at his wristwatch, his eyes widening. "Oh, I have to go. Sorry.. It was nice talking to you," he says with a smile.

"It was nice talking to you too," I say, disappointed that he has to leave.

"I know you said you're not looking for a date or anything but if you change your mind.." he says as he takes a napkin and writes his number on it with a pen, "here. And thanks for the muffin."

I look at him leaving the coffeehouse. Act spontaneous, Monica. I turn to the white haired man behind the counter and ask him for a bag to take my four muffins with me. As soon as they're in the bag, I get up and run after this man.. whose name I still don't know.

It's still raining, but I keep running to the direction I saw him going. After five minutes I realize I'm standing one block away from where I live. I stop and look around. I must've lost him. I stand still for a moment, panting slightly. I guess being spontaneous isn't for me. And apparently it's not as easy as in movies. I'm feeling disappointed. He seemed different.. but when it comes to first impressions, I've gone wrong, so many times. I pull the napkin with his number on it out of my pocket. He didn't even write his name on this. I let out a sigh as I start walking towards my building, but walk into someone.

"Oh no, I'm sorry!" I look up, and as my surprise I see a familiar face.

"Hey, it's you again," he laughs.

"And you," I state, stunned. "What are you doing here?"

He looks down, clearly embarrassed. "I, um.. I-I live here."

I look at him suspiciously. "No you don't," I get a sudden thought, "you were following me, weren't you?"

He shakes his head fiercely. "I wasn't! No, seriously, I wasn't following you."

Now it's my turn to look down and be embarrassed. "Oh.."

"But I did walk past my building 'cause I was thinking about you.."

I look back up into his eyes. Even in the dark, they shine bright blue. His gaze wanders briefly on my lips, but soon returns right up. I'm almost sure he would kiss me but he's thinking I'm not looking for a man. He knows I wouldn't stop him but he doesn't wanna hurt me. That's what he told me, he tends to screw things up. But I'm not looking for anything serious. Not this time. This time it's different, I don't wanna think. I'm tired of thinking. Why bother? So I wrap my arms around his neck firmly, and standing on my tiptoes I lean in to kiss him softly, gently. He seems to be a little tense at first, but I just close my eyes and wait for him to respond. And when he does, he takes the lead right away and I feel my stomach flipping happily. It's been too long, Monica, too long. I lose myself into the kiss as his hands slide down on my waist, pulling me closer.

Just for tonight.

So, what do you think so far?

Any guesses who this charming stranger is? :D Please leave a review!