Chapter XV

"The One With The Morning After"

Today was their last day in Los Angeles. Rachel couldn't wait to finally take off and leave this place. The fun and happy trip just turned into her worst nightmare last night. The fresh memories from last night keep coming back and she couldn't stop reliving it. Things were getting normal with her and Ross after they cleared it up last night with heated arguments that made her eyes all red and puffy from all the crying. But she couldn't possibly know how to react in front of Joey anymore. She knew Ross is still mad at Joey, but she couldn't do anything about it. She wouldn't even dare to say his name in front of Ross. She just wanted to avoid all the drama and come back home. She was packing their stuff but then she started to bite her fingernails and lost in her thoughts instead. Ross suddenly greeted her with a kiss in her lips, snapping her out from all her thoughts.

"Are you done?" Ross asked her

He knew what happened last night still bothered Rachel. It's not the first time he caught her biting her nails as she stares blankly today. He knew her habit. She will start to bite her finger nails whenever she feel anxious or when she have a lot in her minds.

"Yeah, I just need to put this in." She put her makeup pouch in and closed the suitcase.

"I'm done!" She waved both her arms to her side and smiled proudly.

He can't help but giggled at her childish act. Though he slightly relieved things weren't awkward between him and Rachel after what happened last night.

"Alright, let's head downstairs. Monica will be pissed off if we're late again"

He helped her stand up from the floor, then drag their suitcase in one hand, and wrapped his other free arm on her waist as they walked downstairs.

"That's them!" Phoebe waved her hand toward Monica and Chandler's as they got out from the elevator.

Yes, catching anyone by surprise, Monica and Chandler were late today.

"Well..well..well.. Looks like you lost your touch, Mon." Rachel teased Monica. It may be nothing, but Rachel loves it when Monica makes a simple mistake that she rarely does.

"Thank to someone, we have to look for the camera all over the room and even the hallway. Only after two hours looking for it, it turns out someone borrow it to his friend, and forgot about it." She pinched Chandler's stomach and he flinched.

"A aa aaaww.." Chandler shouted in pain.

"You mean this camera?" Mike asked as he pulled out a camera from his bag.

Monica simply nodded and took the camera away, but clearly still annoyed at her husband.

"That 'someone' is me by the way. Let me re-introduce myself, I'm Chandler, soon to be divorced by his wife." Chandler joked as he left a small laugh.

His joke clearly wasn't amusing for Monica as she glared back at him as if a laser is shooting from her eyes. The gang just giggled looking at the married couple's quarrel.

"Alright the car is here. Let's go to the airport." Joey came after he pulled out the car from the parking lot.

As soon as he arrived there is this awkwardness between the three of them. It was something noticed by everyone including Monica.

"Alright, let's go." Monica grabbed Rachel's arm and they walked to the car.

Ross is the last one to leave. Joey hesitated, but he decided to confront Ross once again.

"Do you need any help?" Joey asked nicely with a slight smile on his face.

"No, thank you." Ross answered coldly and rather quickly as if he already knew he was gonna ask.

"Look Ross, just punch me." Joey grabbed Ross' arms and made it into a fist.

"You don't get it do you?" Ross then quickly snapped as he removed his hand from Joey's.

"Get what?" Joey asked as he had no idea on what Ross was referring to.

"Okay" Ross dropped his luggage angrily and then continued, "How is it feels when you found out that your best friend, who happened to be his wife's ex-boyfriend by the way, still secretly in love with her? Do you still think a punch gonna make it all better?" Ross yelled exasperatedly.

"But I wasn't Rachel's ex-boyfriend!" Joey whined and tried to reason, "We only went out for a week! We didn't even sleep-" Joey stopped talking as he realized he only make things worse.

Ross was staring at him in disbelief before he managed to say, "Look, Joe, it would be best for us not to talk. I just can't deal with this right now. I have much more important things going on in my life."

Ross walked inside the car and sat next to Rachel who was curious about their conversation but didn't have the courage nor the urge to ask him. Soon later, Joey hoped on into the car and they went straight to the airport. Joey was driving the car, Chandler sat at the passenger's seat next to him. Phoebe, Mike, and Monica shared the middle seat, and Ross and Rachel sat on the back seat.

The ride to the airport was awfully quite. No one said a word as soon as they got into the car. Joey would sometimes stole a glance at Ross and Rachel's from the rear view mirror and saw Rachel fell asleep into Ross' chest as Ross wrapped his arm securely around her. Joey couldn't help but being envious. His heart aches every time. It only reminds him of what he could never possibly have, Rachel. Sometimes he would even regret his decision on letting her go and not pushing through with their relationship. But it all disappears every times he look at her smiling, looking perfectly happy in Ross' arms. He's genuinely happy for them, for deep down he knew she belong to only Ross.

...

They finally arrived at the airport after a dreadful ride that seemed like has no ending. Joey thanked each of them including Ross and Rachel as they said their goodbye. Rachel slightly smiled at him when he thanked her. She actually felt really bad for him, but at the same time she couldn't even say a thing or looking at him in the eyes. While Ross who was being quite all the time, also avoided eye contact with Joey.

As the gang walked toward the check-in booth, Monica left behind to comfort Joey. Last night, Chandler had told her everything he knew about Joey. She couldn't help but feel bad for him. Phoebe was right all along. Joey was in fact still in love with Rachel. She felt sorry for him. He must've been very devastated when Rachel decided to marry Ross, and yet Joey couldn't even tell it to a single soul. It must've been really hard for him, she thought.

However, as much as she wanted to help, Monica couldn't say a thing to Ross because she was afraid that she'll somehow hurt her brother feeling and it was also a delicate and private topic between the three of them that she gladly choose not to be a part of it. She gave Joey a big hug for the last time.

"Are you going to be okay?" Monica asked

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just hate this awkward atmosphere between us." Joey whined

"Us too, honey. Just give it a time and let time heals." Monica tried to reassure him.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you guys around Christmas. Although I'm not sure I should come." Joey looked down, sadly.

"We'll work it out. I promise. Bye, Joe." Monica smiled at him, gave him a kiss on his cheek, and then walked inside.

After a few steps, Monica quickly turned her body around and said, "You know you can always call us, right? Anytime." She smiled at him

Joey nodded and smiled as he mouthed the word "Thank you"

Joey always has a special place in Chandler and Monica's heart. He's like a brother Chandler never had. Of course Ross is also Chandler's best friend, no need to question that. But Joey and Chandler always have this bond they share between them, maybe because of the time they spent years living and struggling together.

Their plane took off and that wrapped up their short weekend gateway to Los Angeles.

Despite all the drama, it was a wonderful and surely a memorable trip for them.