Here it is the second chapter of this story. I hope you enjoy your reading and leave some reviews. They always cheer me up!
Ross and Rachel's thoughts in this chapter are in italic.
Two weeks later, Ross and Rachel are in his office working on some things of the makeover. The place is a mess.
"You know what?"
"No, what?"
"I think I'm gonna do a cocktail party when all of this is finished."
"Why? I bet you cannot wait anymore to get rid off me…"
"You know this is not true."
"I know. I'm just kidding with you. Actually I really think a party is a great idea and I'm happy that you like my job."
"I like everything about you." He says looking at her eyes and leaving her speechless.
"Uhm…"
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"No, no…you don't need to apologize. I enjoy being complimented sometimes…you are so kind, Ross. Your wife is a lucky woman."
"I don't know if she would agree with you though."
"If she doesn't, she's a fool, I have to say."
"If you say so…"
They keep looking and smiling at each other when Rachel gets a text from Henry.
"Ugh…of course this would happen."
"May I ask you what happened?"
"I have an architecture party tomorrow night at The Plaza, and my husband won't be here to go with me. He just said that he'll have to do a business trip. Ugh!"
"Uhm…I can go."
"What?"
"I can go with you."
"What about your wife?"
"Out of town…"
"Uhm…you know you don't have to…"
"I want to."
"Oh…then I guess it's ok."
"Great! We can meet here and then go together, or maybe I'll…"
"You'll what?"
"Maybe I can pick you up at your house."
"Yes."
"Yes to what?"
"Yes. You can pick me up tomorrow."
"Yay!" She sends him a puzzled look.
"I mean, yes."
"Fine…just so you know and be warned, it'll be an black-tie affair."
"Woohoo…a chance to look nice and hot. At least for one night."
"Oh, c'mon! You know you are beautiful, Ross!"
"You think?" He asks smiling inside. She thinks I'm beautiful. Score, Mr. Geller!"
"You know I do…now let's get going. It sounds it'll rain anytime soon." They look through the window and see lightings and hear thunders.
"God!" says Rachel already nervous. She hates storms, especially at night.
"Let's hurry then, lady."
They run to the elevator of the building and enter it.
"I think it would be safe if we had used the staircase."
"You're right, but at the 68th floor, there isn't one."
"Oh…well…the party tomorrow is schedule to 22 o'clock…"
They hear a loud rumble and suddenly everything went dark. They are stuck.
"OH MY GOD!"
"Rachel, everything's going to be fine…"
"HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE?" She says in a loud and crying voice.
"I'm not, but as the only man in here, my job is to take care of you and maintain you calm."
"Ok…I knew you were a gentleman."
He picks his phone and turn on the lantern for her.
"Come here." He says pulling her in his arms. Immediately she rests her head on his chest taking a deep breath.
"Better?"
"Yeah, very much. Thank you, Ross."
"Anytime."
Five minutes later, they're still embraced. Rachel is quiet and Ross is quietly singing a song. Recognizing it, Rachel starts to sing with him. Then, she looks up at him and they stop. They lean into each other and their lips are almost touching when the power returns and the elevator restart to operate.
"Oh, finally…I guess." She says.
"Yeah, I guess too." They look back at each other and Ross thinks about his missed chance, but he also thinks that she was going to kiss him too. She was just vulnerable or she's into him?
Outside the building the world is falling upon them.
"Where's your car?" He asks.
"Two blocks from here this way." She responds pointing to her right.
"Mine is on the opposite way."
"Right..so, I see you tomorrow. Don't forget me at home…"
"Never…"
"Bye…"She says smiling at him and already soaking wet going to get her car.
"Rachel, wait! We forgot something on the elevator."
She stops turning to him and he walks towards her. She looks at him waiting for him to say something, but instead he grabs her by the waist and give her a kiss and she instinctively stops him.
"I'm so sorry…"
She stares at him and this time it's her who grabs him by his neck. Their kiss immediately becomes intense and their tongues are battling inside each other's mouth while he holds her with his strong arms and she caresses his back. When they stop all the kissing, Ross grabs her face with both hands and gives her one more lingering kiss before they stop again to look at each other.
"Wow…" he says looking intensively at her.
"I knew you wanted me since the day we first met." She whispers and the only thing he could do is nod.
"Yes…I wanted you."
"You ate me with your eyes since the beginning…"
"You're right. I didn't know for sure if you wanted me back, but…"
"Yes, I did…and I fight so hard against it, but I couldn't…"
"It was stronger than you…"
"Just a correction. It is stronger than me, not was."
He kisses her again and then they remember they need to go.
As they walk opposite ways she calls him.
"Tomorrow, huh, Mr. Geller?!"
"I can't wait." He responds winking at her and smiles when she winks back.
All wet from the rain, Rachel enters the large living room of her apartment and sighs. She can't hold a smile.
"Thank you, God." She whispers to no one in particular.
"Thank you for what?" asks Henry walking towards her.
"Jesus, Henry, you scared me!"
"Why's that?"
"I thought you'd be on a plane right now."
"Well, I'm not. My flight is tomorrow morning."
"Oh, ok." She says while walking to their suite. All she needs now is a long bath to put her thoughts in order.
"Hey, hey, hey…" Henry calls her grabbing her by the waist. "Where do you think you're going looking all sexy and wet?"
"I just need to take a bath."
"How about I'm joining you and help you there?"
"Uhm...not necessary." She responds getting rid of his arm on her waist.
"Since when do you say no to me?"
"Oh, please, Henry. Don't start."
"You don't start. Since when?"
"God! Since today! Now let me go!"
"Are you acting like this because I'm not going with you to that stupid party tomorrow?!"
"Stupid?!"
"No…"
"I'm not a child, Henry. It's obvious it isn't about that."
"Then why, Rachel?"
"Geez…you're unbelievable. I just don't want to." At least not with you.
"Why?"
"Can you respect me, please?" He nods.
"Thank you." She rolls her eyes and goes straight to the bathroom.
While bathing she only thinks about that amazing kiss (or kisses). She doesn't even remember when was the last time she was kissed or desired with so much passion for someone. And it's been a long time since a simple kiss doesn't let her wanting more. In this particular case, so much more. Then she thinks about Henry and how they are still together just for the sake of it, because of their parents, especially his. There's no love and passion between them anymore. I need to talk to him. And I'm gonna do it tonight. She's ending her marriage. Not because of Ross, after all he's married too, but for her. She deserves to be happy. Gosh, all these magazines and articles who say that the best time to think things straight is while we are showering or before bedtime when we lay our head on the pillow are 100% correct.
She leaves the bathtub, put on her non sexy PJ's and brushes her hair. Then she leaves the bathroom and goes to the TV room, where Henry is watching a movie while eating something.
"Hey, you're back. Saturday Night Fever is on. I know you love it. Join me?"
"Sure…" She says walking towards the couch where he's sitting and then stops.
"Don't be afraid, I don't bite...come here." He pats the place next to him.
She walks again and stops one more time.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"C'mon, what's wrong?" he asks looking deeply at his wife. She bites her bottom lip and looks down ashamed. Then she looks back at him and with tears forming in her eyes she takes a deep breath before finally speaks.
"I want a divorce."
"You, you what, Rachel?"
"A divorce."
"Wow!" He says turning off the TV.
"Wow what?"
"Why is that now?"
"Why? Henry, look at us, please!" She says while sitting beside him on the couch.
"I thought we were doing okay."
"We were ok, we are ok, but don't you expect more? I want more…"
"Lately we are nothing more than two stranger who share a house and eventually have sex just for the sake of it, because there's no love or passion between us. There's just physical, biological needs. Let alone the fact that your parents never truly accepted me or my lifestyle and my job. To them, I'd never be good enough for you."
"I love you…"
"Henry, do you know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think that you love the 'idea of us'. You love the idea of being with someone. Not necessarily me."
"Babe…" He says putting his hand on her thigh and she puts her over it.
"Henry…" she whispers lightly squeezing his hand. "Don't try to deny it to me…"
He looks down to their hands together and then back at her. She's sporting a calm expression, and strangely he's not feeling so distressed, he's calm too. With his other hand he caresses her cheek.
"I'm wanting a divorce, I don't deserve to be treated well."
"You deserve all the best."
"What?"
"I think that deep inside you're absolutely right about us."
"Really?"
"Yeah. And you?"
"Me what?"
"Do you love me?"
"I…"
"What?"
"There's someone else."
"You cheated on me, Rachel?"
"No..."
"Are you sure?"
She sighs. "It was just a kiss…today."
"I'm not gonna pretend that this didn't hurt me."
"I was just trying to clear things between us. After years of relationship I think I owe you minimal respect."
"Okay."
"Uhm...I have a business trip tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"When I get back, I'll not come here anymore. Not because I don't want to see you, but because I think you deserve your space."
She sends him a thankful smile.
"You're welcome." He says giving her a tender kiss. And she responds it.
Her eyes fill with tears and she can't hold them anymore when he breaks their kiss and holds her tight.
"C'mon, let's go to bed and try to sleep. You must be tired."
"I am…and you must be too."
"Well, now I am."
"I'm sorry, Henry. I could have been a better wife, a better partner."
"Me too."
They share a sad smile and head to their bedroom.
Ross and Melanie are quietly dining in their dining room. The place is large and Melanie looks annoyed with the clink of the cutlery.
"What happened?" Asks her.
"Nothing…why?" Ross responds without looking at her.
"You are so quiet…"
"I just don't feel like talking right now."
"But you should, you know?!" Melanie says already angry. "And look at me whan I'm talking to you. Show some respect!"
He finally looks at her and fires back.
"What's your problem?"
"My problem?! It wasn't me who came home soaking wet and without talking to my partner, Ross!"
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry!"
"You should be! Uhm…I'm not gonna be here tomorrow. We should be enjoying our time together, not fighting with each other."
"It was you who started…"
She sighs saying she's tired.
"Then go to sleep."
"NO! I'm tired from us. I'm carrying this marriage on my back and this is too heavy for just one person. I need your help, Ross, cause we're falling apart. Now please, baby, talk to me, trust me."
"I'm gonna take a shower."
"Typical of you, Ross Geller! You're so bad ass with other people's problems, you are an amazing doctor, but when it comes to us, to our own problems you run away. You know what? You are a coward!"
"I'm not running from nothing. I just need to take a shower."
"Go ahead, then!"
"I'm going!"
"Good, and think things straight!"
While the hot water runs over his muscular body he cannot think anything unless Rachel. Her kiss is even better than he imagine the first time he saw her. Their moment was so hot that he already wants more, so much more of her, so much more of his life and keep Melanie in his life is no longer in his plans. Some minutes later he leaves the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and other one smaller on his neck. Melanie is sitting on their bed looking at her husband, then walks towards him.
"I'm sorry, baby." She says caressing his naked chest.
"Mel."
She gives him a peck on the lips. "Mel, stop." He says grabbing her wrists with his hands and she just looks into his eyes and suddenly she realizes that their marriage is over.
"I can't anymore, Mel." He says releasing her wrists. Her eyes fill with tears but she brushes them off and keeps quiet. "I met someone…"
She swallow hard and takes courage to ask him who even with trembling voice.
"Who is she?"
"It doesn't matter, Mel."
"You're just protecting your mistress!"
"Please, don't be childish."
"I'm the child? It's not me who's thinking with my dick, Ross!"
"I'm not think…"
"And poor me. I was thinking that our main problem was the fact that you don't want to have children."
"I want to have children, just…"
"Just not with me, I get it."
"You was not the problem. The time was. I don't want this now. I don't feel ready."
"It's obvious that the problem isn't me. The problem is that you are a cheater."
"I think we are done, Mel."
"You're right. We are done! As soon as I get back, I'll send someone to pick up my things, after all this is your apartment."
"We have to talk about this."
"We are talking, Ross. It's over."
"Ok, so…"
"So…this is it."
"I'll sleep in the guest room." He says.
"You better!"
Ross is almost reaching their bedroom door.
"Just one question."
"Go ahead…"
"How many times?"
"How many times what?"
"How many times you fucked that whore?"
"Don't talk like this…"
"Oh, please! You cheated on me, I can say what I want, the way I want."
"You're being irrational…and I didn't cheat on you."
"Ha ha, what a joke. You didn't fucked her?" She asks ironically.
"I mean…I kissed her. And that was all of it."
"So you cheated on me."
"I…"
"Ok…get out of here, leave me alone before I kill you."
Hearing this, the only thing he has to do is leave, but even with all this storm with Melanie he can only think of Rachel.
- END OF THE SECOND CHAPTER -