June 23, 2011

Author's Note: This is a strictly "fun" chapter. I've always wanted to write something with the game of truth and dare in it, and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. (Very limited implied sex – so be warned!) Major Mondler at the end! (I was going to add a Lobster scene, but the chapter got too long – so maybe another day.) :) Please review. I am not perfect.

Friends is not my creation. Only this story is.


IX. ~TOW all the truths and dares

Saturday, January 2, 2027 – (Daniel's POV)

It's a nice blustery winter's day, with light snow falling gently onto the ground. Rosalie and I are walking hand-in-hand, dressed up really warmly against the elements. (After Jack got sick, mom is insisting that everyone should dress up like an Eskimo before going outside!) We are walking in the park near my house and the yells and cries of children of all ages ring in our ears, as they participate in snowball fights and sled races down the various hills.

It's been three days since Rosalie and I have been together, and it's been the most amazing three days of my life (although Rosalie spends half the day practicing the piano). I know that the time we have together is going to be minimal within the upcoming days – Rosalie is going back to school on Monday. (I still have one more month of vacation to enjoy.)

We are walking up Suicide Hill and Rosalie drags her green plastic sled with her left hand. The hill is the largest one in the park, and one of the most popular. Sleds of all colours and materials can be seen.

Rosalie and I summit the top and arrange ourselves onto the sled. I sit in the front, while Rosalie hugs me from behind around my stomach. I push the sled off.

The sled moves slowly from its initial inert position on the hill and we gather speed as we zoom down the incline. Rosalie tightens her grip on me.

We hit an icy bump at the bottom, and that sends us both tumbling into the snow. We both laugh after we made sure none of us were hurt. Rosalie (who has landed on top of me) pushes me down further into the snow and kisses me.

I think perfection is the only word that can describe this moment.


Late Afternoon – (Erica's POV)

Andrew, Matt, Jack (he's only got the sniffles now), and I are lounging casually in the living room on the sofa (we are all bored). Daniel and Rosalie are sharing the one-person couch together, paying more attention to each other than everyone else in the room.

"Hey! Why don't we play a very nice game of truth or dare!" Matt suggests excitedly.

"When did we start calling our games of truth and dare nice? I mean last time, there were some really pleasant things involved." Jack replies sarcastically, while removing a tissue from the tissue box. He blows his nose.

"Yeah! Like asking one of our parents for a condom! That was crazy!" Andrew has a horrified expression on his face as he remembers that particular dare. (That's one dare that no one is going to be forgetting anytime soon...)

"Oh that was a good one! I don't know what to be more horrified of though, you asking your dad for one, or that he actually gave you one on the spot!" Matt chortles.

"It's NOT funny! Next time you go ask your dad for one!" Andrew frowns.

"Alright! We will try to keep the dares clean, just please play?" Matt gives his puppy-dog look.

We all nod our assent and the game begins. (We all know that "clean" isn't going to happen.)

"So Matty, since you brought it up, truth or dare?" Daniel asks rather lazily. His arm is wrapped tightly around Rosalie.

"Dare!" Matt replies with a grin.

"I dare you... to make out with Andrew for ten seconds." (Oh my, poor Andrew! Totally did NOT know that Dan was that evil.) Jack winces. (Probably very glad he's sick right now.)

Both Andrew and Matt's faces visibly paled. Rosalie elbows Daniel, while my brother returns her a smirk.

"You start off kind of strong, Dan!"

"You asked for it."

Matt awkwardly pulls Andrew towards him, and they have the most awkward kiss ever. (I thought Andrew and I had the most awkward kiss. Obviously I was quite wrong.) I count to ten, and the two of them break apart with gagging reflexes.

Matt takes some time to regain his composure, while Andrew marches out to the bathroom, claiming he needs to wash his mouth out (while cursing that he always gets the worst dares, ever).

"So, Erica, truth or dare?" Matt asks me.

"Truth!" (Matt has the worst dares ever.)

Matt looks disappointed.

"Out of all of us guys here, which one would you marry, who would you kill and who would you have sex with?" (Ah, the classic kill, marry, and do question.)

"Hmmm... Seeing that two of the guys are my brothers, I would probably kill off Jack (he's more annoying), marry Andrew (he's a pretty good catch) and probably do it with you (only at gunpoint)."

Matt's eyes light up. (The dirty minded bastard!) Jack glares at me while Daniel and Andrew smile.

"No! I will NOT be doing the dirty with you, Matt Hannigan!" He visibly deflates.

"So Jack, truth or dare?" I ask sweetly. Jack has a pile of used tissues beside him.

"Dare. Pretty sure no one is going to force me to do anything physical." He says smugly. (Must think of something to wipe smug grin off his face!)

"Oh I know! You are going to go upstairs, and put on the first dress you see in my room." (Muhaha!)

Everyone else bursts into laughter as Jack dejectedly stalks off to my room. He comes back a few minutes later wearing a formal red dress over his clothes. (He makes a pretty girl. It's his eyes. Why do guys have such pretty long eyelashes anyways?)

"Nice dress, man!" Andrew guffaws. (Clearly the scarring from the first dare has worn off.)

Jack ignores the barbs, grabs another tissue and sits down in an elegant manner.

"Daniel, truth or dare?" He inquires (with the air of a well-bred lady. Jack is a good actor!).

"Going to go with truth."

"So Daniel, when was the first time you did it?" (Oh, Jack's going for the good stuff!)

"Prom night, I think it was with Marie." Daniel replies (a tad uncomfortably).

Jack has an "I knew it" expression on his face. Andrew pulls out a wallet from his pocket and hands Jack ten dollars. Matt reluctantly does so too. Rosalie has a mystified expression on her face.

"Wait! What? You were betting on me?" Daniel stammers.

"Of course! The odds were pretty good that you were going to get laid at prom! I mean, everyone does something crazy and wild there." Jack replies, before coughing into another tissue. He tucks the twenty dollars into his shirt pocket.

"Yeah, besides, I started the game of truth and dare to try and settle the bet. Clearly, it has backfired on me. I am out ten dollars!" Matt explains.

Daniel grabs a cushion from the sofa and starts beating Matt and Jack with it. Before we know it, we are all drawn into an all-out pillow fight. (The game of truth and dare is completely forgotten.)

Oh and Jack totally forgot about the dress he was wearing.


Evening – (Monica's POV)

"So, what's with that red dress that we saw Jack wearing earlier?" Rachel wonders.

Chandler, Ross, Rachel and I are all in the living room, sitting on cushions, on the floor in a circle. When we all came back to our house after shopping the entire day, we were greeted with the shattering sound of glass, cushions and pillows everywhere and six guilty faces. Jack was wearing a red dress which made Rachel and the rest of us gawk at him for a minute. He looked really confused until he looked down and realized that he was in said dress and immediately ran out of the room. Of course, the mess on the floor immediately came to my attention and I cleaned up. (Fortunately the broken glass came from this very hideous vase that someone gave us as a present several years ago.)

"I think he said something about a dare or something..." I reply.

"Yeah, they sure do have the most interesting dares. Remember that day when Andrew asked for protection, Ross?" Rachel asks.

"Oh yeah! And his expression when I gave one to him!" Ross exclaims.

"Totally scarred him for life, I bet." Chandler remarks, "Maybe even worse than the dare where you had to go ask Mr. Heckles for one!"

"Oh my god! I almost forgot about that one. Nothing could be worse!" Ross bangs his head against his palms in an effort to block out the painful memory. (Oh wow, I almost forgot about that dare too! It's been like three decades ago! Ross was so stunned that Mr. Heckles actually had some to give away.)

"I know! Why don't we play a little bit of truth and dare?" I ask. (It's been so long since we've played.)

"Seriously! Aren't we a little too old for that game?" Ross says in an exasperated voice.

"Come on Ross! Don't be such a party-pooper!" Rachel pouts (and looks at Ross imploringly).

"Surely four mature adults can find some better way to pass the time." My husband quips. He reaches for my hand, which I give.

"Okay, FINE! I am in!" (Ross can never resist Rachel... That man has NO willpower when it comes to her!)

"Or maybe not..." Chandler trails off.

*A few rounds later*

Ross and Rachel have switched underwear, Chandler is sitting topless (my doing and it gives us an excuse to cuddle – to keep Chandler warm), clothes have been dumped on floor (Rachel dared me not to clean them up until tomorrow. It's so hard!) and we have fewer secrets. It's my turn.

"Monica, truth or dare?" Rachel asks.

"Truth." I reply.

"When Chandler and you were secretly dating, what was the scariest moment in terms of almost getting caught by us?"

Ah! That was a long time ago. I still remember the sneaking around and all the laundry that Chandler and I did. It made our already exciting relationship even more so...

~Monday, January 25, 1999 – Flashback~

Chandler and I are bundled up in our winter clothes and walking hand in hand in Central Park. We both managed to get off work early, and we are enjoying the cool wintry day outside.

"It's so nice when we don't have to pretend." Chandler tells me with a smile on his face.

"I know. It's nice to spend time together as a couple in public." I reply, leaning closer to him.

"I mean, we can even do this!" He bends down and kisses me. I kiss back passionately.

We break apart and beam at each other happily.

"Ah, the benefits without having friends..." Chandler remarks.

A cold gust of wind blows against me and I involuntarily shiver.

"Why don't we head back to Central Perk? It's still too early for any of them to be there." Chandler suggests after noticing my shiver.

"Oh yeah, definitely. Let's go!" We walk arm in arm to Central Perk, pretty much oblivious to everything around us.

When we reach the coffeehouse, I get a table at a secluded corner while Chandler goes and gets the coffee. Chandler soon returns and we hold hands.

"We should come here as a couple more often." I say wistfully.

"Well, I am quitting my job tomorrow. You should quit yours too! Then we can come here all the time!" Chandler jokes. (I smile. I love how he always tries to cheer me up. I know he won't quit his job though...)

"I wish I could. I love spending time with you. But I need to pay the bills –"

Chandler cuts me off by kissing me. Before I know it, our hands are roaming elsewhere. Chandler grabs my hands.

"We can't do that here!" He exclaims. (He has the cutest disappointed expression ever!)

Then, we notice the closet. The closet near the orange sofa that we commandeer every time we come to Central Perk. Chandler gives me a knowing look. I get up and as stealthily as possible sneak into the closet, making sure that Gunther was busy at the back. (No one else is paying attention anyways.)

I find myself in a walk-in closet with all kinds of cleaning supplies. (But for once in my life, I am more interested in Chandler than cleaning. Oh my god! I love him!)

A few moments later, Chandler comes in. We immediately start kissing and making out. (Fortunately Chandler had some condoms in his wallet; he claims they are for whenever he bumps into me. Glad he's prepared for any sexual emergencies! Heck, the fact that he's prepared turns me on!)

A long time later, after several rounds (we didn't quite get to seven) we are both panting and resting against each other. All of a sudden, we hear very familiar voices outside. We freeze in shock.

"What are those sounds coming from the closet?" Rachel's voice can clearly be heard through the door.

"I don't know," replies Ross, "Maybe some guy is organizing the cleaning supplies?"

"Guys, haven't you heard about the Central Perk closet? It's what makes Central Perk, Central Perk!" Phoebe's voice is very excited.

"Huh... What d'ya mean?" Joey has confusion in his voice.

"Oh! You mean there are people doing it in there." Rachel replies knowingly.

"Of course!" Phoebe exclaims.

During their conversation, Chandler and I have been putting our clothes back on as quietly as possible. At least if we get caught in there, we won't be caught naked. But we are both listening to the conversation outside with frozen expressions of horror on our faces.

"Oh! I've done it there!" Joey replies happily.

"So have I!" smiles Phoebe, "I have all sorts of nice, warm and fuzzy memories from that closet."

"Hey! Why don't we go look and see who is in the closet!" Rachel suggests. (Oh no, Rachel, please don't come in here!)

"That's a wonderful idea!" Phoebe ecstatically agrees. (Oh no! Phoebe!)

"Yeah!" Joey replies, "By the way, where are Chandler and Monica?" (Joey!)

"Not in that closet, that's for sure." Rachel quips. (Only if she knew how wrong she is!)

"Guys, shouldn't we respect whoever is in there's privacy? I mean if I was in there, I wouldn't want people to know." Ross offers the voice of reason. (Go Ross!)

"You are no fun!" Phoebe complains.

"But seriously, do you really want to see two people going at it?" Ross asks.

"Alright, we won't do it!" Rachel sounds disappointed. (Thank you, Ross!)

We wait for what felt an eternity before we are sure that they are all gone. Phoebe has an evening massage client, Joey has a date (like always), Rachel also has a date, and Ross leaves when they all leave.

"You go first," I whisper to Chandler.

He opens the door a bit and examines his surroundings before inching out of the room. I follow suit a moment later. We both sit on the orange couch.

"That was close. We need to be more careful next time." I rest my head on Chandler's shoulder.

Gunther walks over and gives us the strangest look. Chandler and I just shrug our shoulders. And go order our coffee (like nothing's happened).

~End Flashback~

"Oh My GOD! It was you guys that were in that closet!" Rachel screams.

"I am now forever glad that I managed to talk Phoebe, Rachel and Joey out of looking in that closet." Ross says (with a shudder).

"So are we. So... are... we." Chandler replies.