Encore
An Alternate Universe Mondler Fan fiction
Chapter 9:
Chandler was admittedly ashamed of himself as he fled the coffee house, but he didn't know whether he could've stood another moment of the unbearable tension. So now here he was, sitting in his room strumming on his guitar and singing. He was traditionally a soft rock artist, but he dabbled in multiple genres, sometimes pop, sometimes a song may have a classical feel, but most often if it weren't rock, it would be country. There was one song, he had taught himself quite sometime ago, a song he hadn't played in a while; but as though his fingers had minds of their own, he found himself singing Dierks Bentley's Come A Little Closer.
Come a little closer, baby
I feel like layin' you down
On a bed sweet surrender
Where we can work it all out
There ain't nothin' that love can't fix
Girl, it's right here at our fingertips
So come a little closer baby,
I feel like layin' you down
Come a little closer, baby
I feel like lettin' go
Of everything that stands between us
And the love we used to know
I wanna touch you like a cleansing rain
Let it wash all the hurt away
So come a little closer baby
I feel like lettin' go
If there's still a chance
Then take my hand
And we'll steal away
Off into the night
'till we make things right
The suns gonna rise on a better day
Come a little closer baby
I feel like strippin' it down
Back to the basics of you and me
And what makes the world go round
Every inch of you against my skin
I wanna be stronger than we've ever been
So come a little closer baby
I feel like strippin' it down
Come a little bit closer baby
Just a little bit closer baby
Come a little bit closer baby
I feel like layin' you down
He continued his noodling on the guitar, continuing in the key of the song; improvising a continuation as he found himself getting lost in the music.
He let out a soft sigh before startling at a knock on his door. Reluctantly he set the guitar on its stand and made his way to the door, attempting to compose himself before he opened it. For lack of a better word he was shocked to see Monica standing on the other side, her eyes seeming to swim with emotion. He didn't want to let himself believe the emotion he saw there, shrugging it off to her possibly having burned her mouth while drinking her coffee; accounting for the slight tears that seemed to be building in her eyes.
Suddenly, he realized they had been staring at each other for nearly three minutes without either saying a word. Clearing his throat roughly he gazed at her with a guarded expression.
"Can I help you with something?" he rasped.
His words seemed to shake Monica from her trance as she licked her lips that had suddenly gone dry along with the rest of her mouth.
"Uh, can we talk?"
Chandler eyed her warily before nodding and stepping into the living room. He was about to sit down when he realized he didn't want any of their friends walking in on this. In a few quick strides he had locked the door and was back beside the barcaloungers, gesturing to Monica to sit in either one.
"Would you like anything to drink? I'm afraid we only have water and beer." He said softly.
"No thank you." Came Monica's shaky reply.
Running his hand through his hair and biting his bottom lip nervously, he wordlessly sat down in the vacant barcalounger and turned to face her.
Immediately Monica's courage deserted her, but she was well aware that she could hardly turn back now. She shifted slightly, if only to stall for a brief second. Finding great interest in her shoes, she began.
"I-I'm so sorry about how I've been acting; recently and a year ago. I was far too quick to pass judgment then, beat myself up over it when you left, and then when an opportunity to hear your side of the story presented itself again, I brushed it off, hearing what you said, but not listening. I m-missed you so much when you left; and it only made my pain worse knowing it was my fault. I-I hate myself for breaking up with you. I don't want to seem presumptuous but if the pain I went through was any indication, I hate imagining the pain I caused you and-"
Chandler cut her off. "Mon. Mon. Monica." Once he got her attention he continued. "Mon, I, you have no idea how long I dreamed of hearing you say such things to me, so this is why it feels so incredible, yet hurts so much to say this…I don't want to say we can't be back together because, one day, I really would like to be. But, I really think we should rebuild our friendship first and foremost. That was always our foundation; without it, I think, we, we risk a far more unstable relationship."
Monica looked up at him for the first time to see the true devastation she had caused him that one fateful day a year ago. It was written across his face and she was startled to see a lone tear dripping down his cheek. Unable to stand it any longer, Monica rushed over and wrapped him in her arms. She was pleased to feel his arms wrap around her as well, pulling her tightly against his chest. The hug was their undoing and tears were now continuously streaming down their faces, wetting each other's shirts.
Finally they pulled apart, just enough so they could see each other. Their tears had dried up, leaving streaks done both their faces. Neither really wanted to break their hug, reveling in the feeling of being close after so long. However, the longer Chandler stared into Monica's beautiful, royal blue eyes, the stronger his urge to kiss her grew. Finally he realized he had to pull away from her, not wishing to contradict all he had just said, for he truly believed it.
Monica looked the slightest bit hurt when Chandler broke their hug, but seeing the look of need in deep blue eyes, a look she hadn't seen in a while, she understood.
She made an attempt to compose her self then smiled at Chandler sweetly. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt as good as she did now.
Seeing Monica smile brought a smile to Chandler's face, which turned into a lopsided grin as he absorbed how her beauty seemed to radiate from her, when she smiled.
"Well, I guess I should getting going…I'll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast?" Monica asked hopefully.
Chandler's grin grew.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
Monica gazed at him for a few moments more before turning and walking across the hall to her apartment.
By the time the door closed, Chandler was smiling from ear to ear. He licked his lips and looked at the door once more before doing a little hop-skip towards his room.
Life was finally looking up.
AN/Disclaimer: Seriously, do I have to do a disclaimer every time? I mean, I even credited the song in text. Whatever, you guys all know I don't own them. I'm sorry for the long wait, and I regret to inform you that wait times will only get worse. Come Tuesday I'm starting Highschool as a ninth grader and I won't be home for the rest of the week which means I can't even start the next chapter. But anyway, at least hopefully you enjoy this chapter, and re-read the story whenever you want.