Chandler could smell the soft flowery scent of Monica's hair and longed to run his fingers through it. He couldn't believe what had happened, his girlfriend was dead and now the woman he had always loved was in his arms. His mind drifted back to Kathy again and jerked him into reality.
Monica had her head on Chandler's shoulder, she wondered what she was doing here in Chandler's arms when his girlfriend had been dead for only a few hours. But, she realized, this was nice. In fact it was more than nice; it felt natural. She could feel Chandler's breathe in her hair, tickling her scalp. A chill ran down her back, making all the hairs on her body stand up on end.
There was a knocking at the door. Chandler pulled himself away from Monica and Monica quickly got up to answer the door. Rachel stood in the doorway looking at the two of them. It looked almost as if they were guilty of something. Rachel had a phone in her hand and handed it to Monica, "it's Richard" she said.
At the mention of Richard's name, Chandler's stomach turned violently. Richard, he thought, why is Richard calling her? Richard the great, Richard the magnificient, Richard is the best lover in the world. His name made Chandler want to spit.
Monica nodded and took the phone from Rachel. She went out in the living room to take the call, presumabley so Chandler couldn't hear. Rachel went into Monica's room where Chandler was looking at the floor. "oh honey, I'm so sorry" said Rachel soothingly. Chandler briefly wondered if she was sorry about Kathy or sorry that Richard was on the phone. He could have kicked himself for even thinking that, of course she was sorry that Kathy was dead!
"Uhm yeah, thanks Rach.." Chandler mumbled, "I'm kinda gonna leave now, kay? Tell Monica thank you for her support" Rachel nodded and though she didn't need to, showed Chandler to the door. As Chandler was about to leave, he turned his head and looked at Monica who was sitting by the window with the phone pratically glued to her head. Naturally she was laughing and looking like she'd forgotten all about Chandler.
Chandler headed across the hall and opened the door to his apartment. Joey was home sitting in his recliner watching Baywatch. Joey whirled around as he heard the door open. There was a giant box of Kentucky Fried Chicken on his lap. "Hey man!" Joey exclaimed, "want some chicken? I'm only eating the skins"
Chandler grimaced, "no thanks man, I'll pass. How was your audition today?"
"Dude! I was so good, I think they really liked me!" Joey replied. Chandler nodded.
"What was the audition for again?" asked Chandler, "you might have told me earlier but I forgot"
Joey looked thoughful for a moment, "I think it was for the part of a male escort.." he said finally, "I figured that couldn't be too hard. I mean I have a car, I can escort the ladies around town. I figure I know the town pretty well."
Chandler gave Joey as look that obviously said, "how dumb ARE you" and then said, "well Joe, it sounds perfect for you."
As Chandler was heading for his room Joey called, "I didn't ask you how your day was. Did you work today or what?"
Chandler drew in his breath and without turning around said almost in a whisper, "well Joe, thank you for asking....my girlfriend was killed today."
To Joey's credit, he didn't say a word. He just sat there, staring at the screen and peeling the skin off his bucket of beaks.
In Monica and Rachel's apartment, Monica had just hung up the phone after talking to Richard. She had run into him earlier and without thinking she had told him once again that she missed him and wanted him to call her. "Rachel.." Monica said, "is Chandler still here?"
Rachel shook her head, "nope sorry Mon, he left just after Richard called. Speaking of that Monica...is something still there between you two..if ya know what I mean?"
Monica shook her head, remembering the feeling of being in Chandler's arms, "no Rachel, I just ran into him earlier and we didn't have time to catch up then so I asked him to call me."
Rachel just nodded and smiled to herself. "Listen Rach, I'm going over to Chandler and Joey's..I just want to see how Chandler's doing."
Monica looked around and picked up her sweater. Rachel looked at her funny, "Mon honey, you know that they live just across the hall right?" Monica gave Rachel a withering look and went out the door.
Monica went into their apartment without knocking. Joey looked up at her, "hey Monica!" he said brightly, "want some chicken?" Monica shook her head and headed straight for Chandler's room. She knocked on his door.
"Go away Joe!" exclaimed Chandler, "I already told that I don't want chicken."
"Chandler..it's not Joey. It's me, Monica."