Author's Note: I'm really sorry (and this goes for everything I'm writing), if I don't update as frequently as I say I will or when I say I will, I have the most annoying guest right now and I'm forced to take care of her, but she leaves on Sunday so thank goodness for that. Anyway, I'm trying. Here's another update for you guys, thanks so much to those of you who review, I can't tell you how happy it makes me. Keep it up!
Monica walked in to her apartment and plopped down her bag on the counter, sitting down at the kitchen table. She sighed in defeat. Chandler wanted to marry Janice.
"Hey, where have you been?" Rachel walked out of her bedroom and over to Monica.
"I was just helping Chandler pick out a ring for Janice."
"A wedding ring?!" Rachel seemed shocked. Monica nodded and shrugged her shoulders. Rachel put her arm around her, rubbing her back comfortingly. "Oh sweetie, I'm sorry. I had no idea they were that serious." Monica gladly accepted Rachel's sympathy as she tried her best not to cry.
"You know what, who cares. I never had a chance, he's my best friend." She said, more to herself than to Rachel. Rachel didn't know how to respond, so she just continued rubbing her best friend and roommate's back, trying to make her feel better.
"I'll get out the ice cream." She told Monica.
"Okay, but make sure it's the good stuff." Monica reminded her; this was a serious case. Rachel got it out, along with a spoon, and handed it to Monica, sitting at the table next to her and placing a hand on her arm.
"It'll be okay. I know it will." And she did know. She just wished Chandler would hurry it up a little bit. She hated seeing Monica like this, hurt and sad, but she had promised Chandler she wouldn't say anything. She decided to have a word with Chandler. "Hey Mon, you gonna be okay? I forgot my book at Joey and Chandler's, I should get that before I forget. Do you mind if I go do that really quick?" Monica shrugged in response.
"I guess. Hey Rach?" she called out as Rachel got up and headed out. Rachel turned back.
"Yeah Mon?"
"Thanks."
"Of course." Rachel gave her a sympathetic smile and then turned and headed out the door, across the hall to apartment 19.
Chandler turned his head in shock as the door to his apartment burst open and then got slammed shut again. "Chandler!" Came Rachel's voice behind him. She sounded angry. This wasn't good. He let her come over to where he was sitting in a recliner and stand in front of him, hands on her hips. "How dare you ask Monica to go ring shopping with you? For Janice?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down. First of all, the ring's not for Janice, it's for her." At this, Rachel brought her hand to her heart and tears started forming in her eyes. How sweet!, she thought. "Second of all, it's all part of the plan. She was supposed to think it's for Janice; she'll be so much more surprised and happy when I ask her."
"Oh, Chandler! I didn't realize you wanted to marry her. That's so sweet! She'll love it." He smiled to himself.
"I know. It's perfect. Just like her." Rachel nearly melted when he said that. She wished there were more sensitive guys in the world.
"I didn't realize that. That's good to know. Just, you might want to think about moving just a teeny bit faster. She was all upset today when she came home because she was sad about you wanting to marry Janice. Which you don't, but she doesn't know that."
"Don't worry, Rachel. She'll be fine. I'll get there, I just want it to be perfect for her. Do you understand that?"
"Yeah, okay. I'm sorry I came over here and yelled at you."
"That's okay." Chandler stood up and pulled her into a hug. "Remember, no matter how hard it might be, do not tell Monica anything! Okay?"
"Yeah, okay." Rachel turned to leave, but then she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and one more thing! Do you have a book I can take over to our apartment? I told Monica I left my book in here, and that's why I needed to come over and get it." Chandler laughed.
"Of course." He walked into Joey's bedroom and came back out with a copy of 'Little Women'.
"Hey, this is my book! So that's what happened to it." Chandler laughed at Rachel's look of realization.
"Oops, that's right. Joey loved that book so much he had to read it again, but was too embarrassed to ask. So he just went and got it." This, in turn, made Rachel laugh.
"I really should return his copy of 'The Shining' too, shouldn't I?" She smiled again and patted Chandler on the head. "So what's next on your agenda to get Monica?"
"You'll see." Chandler replied. Rachel shrugged, laughed, and walked back across the hall into her apartment, waving the book at Monica as proof that she got it back as she walked into her bedroom again.
