I did not get a single review after the last chapter! Come on people, review...I don't do this for my health, I do it for the respect and validation of others...duh! :)

Also, I know a lot of you really disliked Lizzie in Chandler's story. There was a lot of Lizzie hate. Hopefully, you like her a bit more now?

Out of curiosity...how many of you have read all of the "True Story of..." stories so far? How many have read only one or two, do you have a favorite?

April 1990

After Lizzie and Chandler had broken up back in September, Chandler's partying had increased and Lizzie had seemingly vanished. Ross had tried to be her friend, but suddenly she moved out of her dorm and he no longer saw her. There were some rumors, rumors that reminded him of the ones he had heard back in high school about Rachel. He was close to Carol now, they were officially a couple spending most nights together and while there was part of him that worried about Chandler, he liked being in a relationship.

"Why don't you hang out with me?" Carol asked over their now quite typical pizza meal. They were at the Pizza Hut, hanging out, eating and discussing Chandler's twenty-first birthday which would be coming up in a few days.

"Because the man will be celebrating the fact that now it's legal for him to get drunk off his ass. G-d knows what will happen?"

"Nothing good."

"Of course you know what will suck? Gandalf and Kip are twenty-one so I'm gonna have to listen to the stupid jokes, 'oh, Geller, you're not twenty-one. You're lame'. How can I possibly be blamed for the month I was born?"

"It's sounds like your night is gonna be awesome."

"I'm gonna be driving them around all evening. I feel like I should just start charging per mile."

"That will be hilarious. I think you should and you know, you drive Sally as much as Chandler at this point."

"I know. I should be listed on his car insurance. Come with me."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"'Cause I hate Kip and Gandalf and don't want to spend the entire evening with them. They keep calling me Lesbo Carol. So offensive. I'm not a lesbian. If I were….I'm not…."

"I believe you," Ross said.

"Although, maybe you could get drunk tonight."

"Probably not. I'm the designated driver and…"

"You should go crazy. Maybe for your twenty-first. Really just let loose. You don't let loose."

"I let loose."

"Liar."

"I could. For Chandler's birthday, I'm driving a car I'm not insured to drive."

"Whoa."

"I know," Ross laughed as he and Carol continued their lunch date. He loved being there with her. He felt so comfortable with her. He could imagine being with her forever and he felt so lucky. How many guys could say they succeeded in finding "the one" their first time out? He was certain with Carol, he had found the one.

It was now officially Chandler's birthday and while Chandler was drinking in the common area with Kip and Gandalf, he was reading in his dorm when the phone rang. He grabbed it and after saying hello several times, he was stunned to hear Lizzie's voice on the other end.

"Lizzie?"

"Is Chandler there?" Lizzie asked.

"Hey, watch me suck this mother fucking shit down, fucker," Chandler screamed from the shared area. That was followed by Kip and Gandalf cracking up. Ross rolled his eyes.

"Did you hear that?" Ross asked.

"What's he sucking down?" Lizzie asked.

"Haven't a clue. Do you want me to get him?"

"No...no, maybe….no….just...tell him I said Happy Birthday and I miss him."

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in seven months."

"Oh...um….just family issues."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah…."

"Why don't you come out with us tonight? I'm the designated driver."

"I can't."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Ross asked.

"Yes. Just…please take care of him tonight."

"He's made it to twenty-one. Only nine more years until thirty."

"Yep. Just tell him I said Happy Birthday," Lizzie said.

"Hey, dude," Chandler said walking up towards to him, drinking a mimosa. "We're planning out there. Come help us. Who are you talking to?"

"Don't tell him," Lizzie said. "I have to go, bye."

Lizzie hung up and Ross looked over at Chandler. Something was off, Lizzie was being weird. He wondered if something else had happened.

"Have you….have you talked to Lizzie?"

"No, that bitch dumped me," Chandler said.

"She just called to say Happy Birthday."

"Ehhh, i don't really care."

"She….just….she sounded weird. Like something is going on."

"It's not my problem Geller."

Ross cocked his head to the side and stared at him. Chandler was sipping his drink and staring at Ross, shrugging and shaking his head.

"How-you've known her for eleven years. Break up or not, that's a long time. You were friends with her far longer than you dated her. How can you write her off so easily? "

"She cheated and dumped me."

"Wow….I think you and Rachel are a lot more alike than you both realize."

"Like a knife to the heart."

"How do you write someone off that you've known for eleven years, that's a Rachel move. Did you care about Lizzie at all."

"She didn't say goodbye," Chandler said.

"Excuse me?" Ross asked. There seemed to be a darkness float over Chandler's face. His eyes almost hardened.

"Lizzie. Just like my dad. He left without even saying goodbye, without turning back."

"You didn't give her the chance. You kicked her out of your car."

"I loved her, Ross. She was it for me and now she's gone. I'm writing her off 'cause it's just easier. I'm not like Rachel. Not at all. Rachel's a bitch. I'm…"

"Broken?"

"Hmmm, perhaps. Let's my plan my birthday," Chandler said, taking another sip from his mimosa and walking out, leaving Ross staring after him. it was a lot. Chandler was a lot, but he had made a promise to Lizzie. He would remain Chandler's friend although he was quite aware that nights like tonight would be tough.

He walked out of the room and into the common area. Chandler was resting on the couch sipping his mimosa with Gandalf and Kip shouting out ideas. Of course, none of those ideas were things he could legally do yet.

"Dude, let's do Atlantic City," Gandalf said.

"That would be awesome," Kip said.

"That's the one thing I haven't done," Chandler smiled.

"But I can't go," Ross said.

"You don't have to go," Gandalf said.

"No...I wanna go, but I can't. I...I'm not twenty-one yet," Ross said.

"Well, then...you can't come," Gandalf said.

Ross nodded. He truly disliked Gandalf and Kip. He hated how obnoxious they were, how they took advantage of Chandler and how they constantly gave him a hard time for being younger than the rest of them. He had never cared all that much that he was younger, that he couldn't drink yet, but this was getting annoying.

"Well, let's think of something all four of us can do," Chandler said.

"I wanna go to Atlantic City. Ross can stay in the room, we'll hang out with him when we get back," Gandalf said.

"It's fine," Ross said and it was, it would be. Maybe he could do dinner with Chandler when they got back from Atlantic City.

"No, no...I wanna hang out with my boys tonight...and wait, you know...what about Atlantic City during Halloween? Ross will finally be twenty one...that would be amazing," Chandler said.

"That would be cool," Kip said.

"Alright, alright...what do you wanna tonight, Bing?" Gandalf asked.

"Well...Ross, you do have to be the designated driver," Chandler said.

"That's fine," Ross said, knowing that would be the case.

"Then whatever you have planned will be fine," Chandler said.

Chandler lay back on the couch as Gandalf and Kip did most of the planning. Ross mouthed "thanks" to Chandler but wasn't sure what he was thanking him for. He was going to be in hell, but he survived it before and he would do it again.

The night began with Ross in the driver's seat. Driving Sally was really the one thing he was looking forward to that night. Chandler in the passenger's seat and Kip and Gandalf in back.

"So where am I driving to?" Ross asked.

"Drive…. the night is young," Chandler said.

"Why don't you let us ever drive Sally?" Gandalf asked.

"Because….Ross is the only one I trust with this car. Sally is the reason I get laid so Sally has got to last," Chandler said.

"You've had one girlfriend and she dumped your ass," Kip said.

"But I did get laid in it. One time, Liz and I did it in the parking lot of a Wendy's," Chandler said.

"Seriously? So am I sitting on your ass print?" Ross asked.

"No….Lizzie's," Chandler said, grinning.

"Enough," Ross said.

"I pinned her up against the window-"

"Classy, Bing," Ross said.

"So, Bing maybe next you'll bang Ross' sister at a Burger King," Gandalf said.

"What?" Ross asked.

"Maybe you did it already. How was your lunch?" Kip asked.

"Can we not talk about my sister in gross ways?" Ross asked.

"She's hot," Kip said.

"How was your lunch with my sister?" Ross asked, purposely ignoring Kip.

"I was twenty minutes late and she got pissed. It was fun. She's….she's nice," Chandler said.

"You totally wanna hook up with her." Kip said.

"No, no...I'm still getting over Liz. It's….we're friends….besides she's not interested," Chandler said, "and she's way out of my league."

"It's Monica. She's not out of anyone's league," Ross said.

"I don't wanna talk about it. Let's get ready to have a night we won't remember in the morning," Chandler said.

"Isn't that every night?" Ross asked, teasing. Chandler let out a snort and stared out the window and Ross continued his drive. He truly felt like a chauffeur, going from one spot to the next. He would stop at bars, use a fake ID to get in and some bars he was able to get in but others he had to wait in the car. Those moments were the ones that pissed him off the most, the waiting in the car. He would wait alone and Chandler would promise they would be right out and they'd spend at least an hour or so in there while he simply waited. It angered him how he was treated by those guys but it was his promise to Lizzie that kept him from giving up completely.

Around 2, 3 in the morning, Ross desperately wanted to go home. Chandler's birthday was a Sunday night and all this craziness was taking place on a Sunday. He had a Monday class but he knew better than to argue at this point. He would just be tired during class and be thankful that he had no tests or papers on that Monday. Soon they were on top of the Statue of Liberty. Chandler was obliterated, as were Kip and Gandalf. Ross really wanted to go home and did not want to be there.

"Oh dude...I'm gonna throw up," Chandler mused as he held onto the railing.

"Alright, alright...I have a bet. Two hundred bucks to flash the tourists Bing," Gandalf said.

"I'm in on that bet," Kip said.

"Come on it's late...let's go home. I'm tired." Ross said. This seemed like a stupid bet.

"That's 'cause you haven't been drinking," Gandalf said.

"Someone has to be the responsible grownup," Ross said.

"Wait, wait...two hundred bucks each if I show that boat load of tourists my statue? Ross, you in too?" Chandler asked.

"Fine...expose yourself and I'll give you two hundred bucks," Ross said, sounding annoyed. Chandler proceeded to pull down his pants as well as his boxers. He grabbed his penis and began to sing at the top of his lungs, singing the "Star Spangled Banner". Kip and Gandalf couldn't stop laughing as he kept singing. Ross turned away. This was absolutely ridiculous. When Chandler was done, he pulled back up his pants and turned to his friends.

"Pay up, bitches," Chandler said.

"Alright, alright six hundred bucks for the Chan Chan man," Gandalf said, patting him on the back as the four boys began to make their way back down towards the car.

"Can we go home? I'm tired...and this is boring," Ross said.

"We should have gone to Atlantic City," Gandalf said.

"I'm not driving to Atlantic City," Ross said.

"Rossy," Chandler said as he put his hand on Ross' shoulder. Ross cringed, knowing where that hand had just been.

"Don't touch me with that hand," Ross said.

"Let's just...loosen up. You're twenty. You're not eighty...and oh...crap," Chandler said when he suddenly turned away from Ross and vomited all over the stairwell inside the Statue of Liberty. When he was done, he smiled at Ross. "Ooops."

"Nice, Chan Chan," Gandalf said as they now ran down the stairs even faster towards Chandler's car. They all got in, but with Ross behind the wheel and because Ross was driving, he made the decision that they would go home. It was a compromise though. The other three wanted to keep drinking, so they would. Ross stopped at a liquor store where Chandler bought them bottles of alcohol. Ross was stunned they actually were okay with serving him. Once at home, Ross did drink a little and even played beer pong but soon fell asleep as the party continued.

Ross was exhausted but he was used to driving around during school nights while Chandler partied. He was currently in a lecture hall trying desperately to stay awake as his professor lectured about something. It was about one pm and he was ready to go to sleep. He was almost half way there when the door to the lecture hall swung open and there was Chandler looking like he had just woken up. Ross looked at him, Chandler didn't want to go drinking now, did he? Chandler motioned for Ross to come outside. He did as told and that's when he learned Monica had collapsed. She was at the hospital. Ross' heart dropped as he ran back into grab his stuff and tell the professor that there was an emergency. He then followed Chandler to Sally. Chandler was driving now. Ross was too scared.

"Can you go faster?" Ross asked.

"I'm hungover. I can't go that fast."

"Shit...I should have driven."

"No, no...I should."

"Fuck...she said she stopped," Ross said. Monica needed to stop. She looked fine, she was thin and he thought that was what she wanted. At her Halloween party last October, she had looked good. Chandler had kept staring at her.

"You knew?" Chandler asked.

"Of course. You don't lose two hundred and forty pounds through diet and exercise," Ross said, not adding the 'in less than a year' part. Why was she trying to hide it? Ross wondered if he should tell Chandler that he was the catalyst to this but decided not to, he didn't think Chandler would react well.

"I caught her once," Chandler admitted.

"What?"

"During Thanksgiving. When she cut off my toe."

"You should've told me," Ross said, sounding angry. Why didn't he know about this?

"I was...I wasn't doing well either."

"I confronted her about it too and I thought it was done."

Chandler nodded as he continued to drive to the hospital. When they arrived, they asked a nurse where Monica's room and were pointed in the right direction. When they found it, they ran in and saw Monica and Ross' parents sitting by Monica's bed, comforting her.

"What the hell happened?" Ross asked as he walked in.

"I collapsed...I'm not eating enough," Monica said.

"Oh, honey...you look so tired," Judy Geller said walking towards Ross and patting his cheek. Ross looked at him mom, confused. His mom looked even more tired. He knew his mom was worried about Monica.

"Monica...what are you doing?" Ross asked.

"Ross...were you in class?" Judy asked.

"Chandler got me," Ross said.

"What were you doing? You look like crap," Jack Geller said.

"I-yesterday was my twenty first birthday," Chandler said.

"Oh, I remember my twenty first birthday," Jack grinned. "Had a few too many?"

"Of course he did," Monica grinned.

Ross shook his head, wanting to focus on Monica. He knew there was a friendship forming between Monica and Chandler which he did like but at that moment, he wasn't really focused on that.

"Monica, come on….what did you do? Why are you doing this?" Ross asked.

"I think she should come home," Judy said.

"I just didn't eat enough, I'm fine," Monica said.

"You know, I'm gonna step out," Chandler said, backing out towards the hall. Ross gave him a nod before turning back to Monica. Judy was back at Monica's bedside, gently brushing Monica's hair out of her face.

"Mom, I'm fine," Monica said. "Are you really worried?"

"I'm terrified," Judy said.

Monica looked over at Ross. Ross noticed Monica seemed a little taken aback by that. He knew his sister was convinced that Ross was the favorite, that their mom preferred Ross. He could only imagine how Judy's admission was affecting Monica.

"I'm going to be fine. I don't want to live at home and it doesn't matter if I live at home. I just….I'm okay. I…" Monica said.

"Judy, our Harmonica is going to be okay. She's stronger than we give her credit for," Jack said.

"I really am. I'm stronger than Ross. You babysat a twenty one year old last night, didn't you?" Monica said.

"Three of them," Ross said.

"He looks awful," Judy whispered.

"He's hungover," Monica whispered back.

"Well, I'll be happy when you're done with college so you never have to see him again. I mean, between him and Rachel-"

"Oh yeah, mom hates Rachel," Ross said.

"You do?" Monica asked.

"Of course, she was awful to you. Your father keeps telling me I need to be nicer," Judy said looking over at Jack.

"Well, honey….Rachel and Chandler don't know any better. They need Harmonica and Ross to show them how to behave," Jack said.

"Why?" Judy asked which made Monica laugh. Ross found that funny as well. Their dad would always be the one to understand why they kept letting people like Rachel and Chandler into their lives, Judy found it rather dumb and there was something sweet about that.

A few days later, Ross was walking out of the hospital to get some dinner when he was stopped by a sight, by Rachel walking towards him. He had not seen her in so long. Her hair was still long and brown and she looked good, shy though. She could barely look at him.

"Rachel?" Ross asked, looking confused.

"Hey. I wanted-I don't know."

"I was going to get dinner."

"Oh," Rachel kept looking at the ground. She looked nervous, like she kept wanting to say more. He wondered how she knew Monica was in the hospital? Did she come to visit Monica? He thought of mentioning the time he saw her in Amsterdam but decided not to, all he could think about was Thanksgiving and what she had done. That line she had crossed.

"You know I never told Monica or Chandler what I saw you do to Chandler's car that Thanksgiving."

"Thank you...are you still friends with Chandler?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah. His birthday was a couple days ago."

"Cool….this was a mistake, I shouldn't be here. Monica doesn't wanna see me and I have a boyfriend," Rachel said.

"Good for you," Ross said. She was acting so strangely, so very bizarre. It was like she had no clue how to even act around him now. Rachel immediately turned and began to walk back towards her car. Ross followed her. He wasn't done, he wanted to talk to her. The faster she walked, the faster he followed.

"Where are you going? Why are you following me?"

"You wanna have dinner with me?" Ross asked, although he was pretty sure that was a dumb question.

"No. No, no...I don't….I can't...okay, this was wrong and you know, my favorite movie is Terms of Endearment and leave me alone and don't tell Monica I was here," Rachel said as she reached her car and got inside. She locked the doors and Ross tried to open the door, he kept tapping on the windows but Rachel was not letting him in. Why was she acting so strangely? She started her car and soon he stepped out of the way to let her leave. He wasn't sure what to make of that interaction, if he should tell Monica or Chandler? He decided not to tell anyone, he figured it would crush Monica if he knew Rachel was here and left so he wouldn't say a word and if he ever saw Rachel again, he would mention it to her. Instead, he went off to get dinner and return to the hospital where Monica was resting. Chandler was sitting in a chair, reading.

"Where are our parents?" Ross asked.

"I sent them to their hotel. They were driving me nuts. Mom kept picking at me and….it's driving me crazy," Monica said.

"Well, they do love you despite your beliefs. Mom is worried, so is Dad. So am I."

"Awww, what must it be like to have parents who love you," Chandler mused as he closed his book and walked towards the bed.

"Shut up," Monica said, "I'm fine, Ross. I really am. I promise I-I won't...I mean, you need me...I keep you from killing him," she pointed at Chandler.

"Hey," Chandler said.

"It is true," Ross said.

"You are a jackass," Monica said. "I'm Team Lizzie."

"Me too," Ross teased.

"She dumped me," Chandler said.

"What took her so long?" Monica said.

"I've asked myself that a lot," Ross said.

"You two suck as humans," Chandler retorted.

Monica and Ross laughed as Chandler pretended to be upset with them. He soon put the interaction with Rachel out of his mind. It no longer mattered. She was officially gone and it was now Chandler as the only one they needed to continue taking care of.