This break up was different for Rachel. It wasn't like the rest of the ones she had experienced throughout her on again off again relationship with Ross. It hurt a lot more than the others had. Their fight replayed constantly in her head. Her bed was surrounded by a million tissues and empty tissue boxes. The gang knew that she and Ross had broken up but they didn't hear the news from her, they had to hear it from Ross because Rachel refused to leave her room. She spent her days lying in bed with the door locked. If she wanted food she'd wait until people left or until late at night. Sometimes Monica set plates of food outside her bedroom door which was a sweet gesture but Rachel noticed that it didn't always work because Joey had no shame in stealing it.
It had been four days, almost five days considering what time it was. It was almost 3:30am. The apartment was dead silent. Rachel stared at her ceiling, she wanted food but her body didn't want to move. It was tired, she was tired. She hadn't slept good since the break up. Everything was so messed up. Her hunger overpowered the tiredness of her body and she slowly crept out of her bedroom.
Rachel went straight to the freezer, it was time for more ice cream. After grabbing the ice cream and a big spoon she started to head back to her room but was startled to see a sleeping Chandler waking up on the couch.
Chandler blinked a few times, as his eyes adjusted to the dark light he came to see that Rachel was the reason he woke up. "Rachel..?" He called out quietly trying to make sense of it all. Was this really happening or was he just dreaming? Rachel hadn't left her room in what felt like ages. Chandler knew that she'd have to come out eventually but he didn't expect that he'd be the first person to find her.
Clutching the ice cream container she looked at Chandler, she was suddenly scared. Suddenly she felt like crying again. Seeing him made her remember Ross, made her remember the fight. Even though Chandler didn't know it he was part of the reason they had, had that fight in the first place. Her head started to shake and she began to breathe heavier. It was evident that she was going to start crying again. She needed to get back into her room. She was safe there.
A sleepy Chandler attempted to stand up. He nearly fell over the coffee table as he walked towards her. Just as she was about to go back inside her room he grabbed her by the arm. "Come on Rach, don't go back in there.." he spoke in an almost whisper, she shook her head, tears poured down her cheeks. "C-chandler, let go." She choked out while trying to pull away from him. She didn't want him to see her like this.
"No." His voice was surprisingly stern. He wasn't going to let go. He refused to. She needed to talk to someone, anyone even if it was going to be him.
Rachel looked down at her arm he was holding onto and then up at him. He met her gaze, it saddened him to see her hurt like this. Tears continued to fall, they barely masked the bags under her eyes. It was obvious that she hadn't been sleeping lately. Rachel looked away once more but then suddenly dropped the ice cream and spoon. She rushed into his arms, holding him close as she began to sob into his sweater.
Chandler was shocked at her actions but he did the only thing he could; he hugged her. He stood there silently with his arms wrapped around her small body. He held her close and began to gently rub her back. "It's gonna be okay.."
Rachel looked up at him, "How do you know?" she tried to steady her breathing but it was a failed attempt. He continued to rub her back as he answered the question, "I just know. You'll be fine. Everything will be fine, trust me." He gave her a reassuring smile but she didn't seem convinced, "Okay listen to me, you helped me when I went through that mess with Kathy, it's my turn to help you. I'll do whatever you want me to, we'll get you through the phases even if I have to take you to a male strip club."
At the thought of Chandler going to a male strip club with her she began to laugh through the tears. It was weak but still, it was a laugh. "That wouldn't help you're 'I'm not gay' image" she pointed out, still showing a small smile. "Yeah.. but I'd go through with it for you. Just thinking about it makes you show of that pretty little smile of yours. I mean look at that thing, I'm surprised that your face remembers how to move that way. You need to smile more often, no more frowning! I only want to see your cute smile" He jokingly pinched her cheeks when he said cute as if he was pinching a little kids cheek. "See? So cutee" He added because she started to grin again when he pinched her cheeks.
Rachel pulled away from him so that the pinching would stop. She couldn't believe how amazing he was acting right now. "Chandler, you're too sweet. Really, you don't have to go this."
"But I want to." He gave her a gentle push towards the couch, implying that she needed to sit there. While she took a seat he picked the ice cream container off the floor. Luckily for them the container still had its lid on. If ice cream would've got on the floor guaranteed Monica would freaked out in the morning. He stared at the label on the container and then looked at her. "You're not eating this"
"And why not?" She questioned as he went back to the freezer to switch the ice cream for another kind. "Simple" he began, "This is that crappy low fat stuff." She cut him off, "So? It's what you eat when you get screwed over all the time." "You aren't going to get screwed over anymore. Put that thought out of your mind. You need the good ice cream, the stuff saved for terminal cases." He walked back over to her and handed her a new spoon and the good ice cream. Once she took it he sat down beside her. "Now eat." She followed his command. He watched her eat a few spoonfuls of the frozen treat. "Okay now share!" she giggled softly as she fed him a spoonful. "Is it good?" she asked, "So good. More please." She fed him some more and then raised her eyebrow, "Wait a minute, this ice cream is strictly saved for break ups. You shouldn't be allowed to eat it." Chandler took the spoon out of her hands and ate some more, "I'm allowed to eat it, I'm going through this break up with you remember? I don't cry often so I make up in that area with eating more ice cream" He declared with a cheeky grin while feeding her a spoonful of the delicious ice cream. "You're always bending the rules aren't you?" She commented between mouthfuls of ice cream. Chandler shrugged, "I don't see you complaining." She nodded, "Good point."
Chandler and Rachel continued to share the ice cream until the container was practically empty. While eating the ice cream Rachel came out with more information on the break up. When Ross told the group he failed to mention the harsh things that he had said. It made Chandler angry, he was going to go have a talk with that guy soon. The talking continued for almost an hour but then Chandler accidentally fell asleep. Surprisingly, so did Rachel. It was the first time in a while. She felt comfortable being with him. She felt safe. That morning Monica woke up to find Chandler still sleeping on the couch with Rachel snuggling into him. She was jealous at the sight but didn't dare wake them. She spotted the good ice cream so she assumed that Chandler had just been trying to help Rachel. That was good. Monica missed her best friend. She wanted her to feel better again.
