The Pact, Part Six

The gang had decided to meet at Central Perk the next morning. Elaina woke Chandler up
early, so the two of them headed down to Central Perk while Monica showered.
Joey showed up a few minutes later.
"Hey, you're up early," Chandler observed, as Joey took a seat on the sofa.
"Yeah, I guess I am used to it now," Joey laughed.
An uncomfortable silence fell between the two former best friends.
"So, Chandler, I, uh..." Joey used to be able to talk to Chandler about almost anything, but
now he felt like he was on his guard. He thought for a second, then continued.
"You know, I did get the letters you sent. And I wanted to reply, I just..."
"You were mad at me for leaving without saying anything?" Chandler concluded.
"No, well, yeah, maybe at first. But when I got my big break, I wanted to share it with you,
ya know? You helped me out so much when I was just a struggling actor. I just wanted..."
"I know, Joe. I'm sorry I wasn't there. But you did it. You made it!" Chandler laughed.
"Yeah," Joey replied distantly.

*2003*

Joey walked into the apartment, slamming the door. His new roommate, Jerry, came out of the
room that was once occupied by his best friend. Joey tried his best not to hold that against
him.
"Hey, Joey," Jerry said, his nose buried in another book.
"Hey," Joey said slumping down into his chair.
"How'd the audition go?"
"Horrible," Joey shook his head, "I think I need to quit and try something new."
"That sucks man," Jerry walked into the kitchen.
Joey stood up and went to his room. Jerry was a great guy, but he just didn't understand.
Chandler would have cheered Joey up, he would have told him that everything was going to
be fine, and that his big break was just around the corner. But Chandler wasn't here anymore,
and Joey found himself hating Chandler for leaving.

"Hello?" Joey picked up the phone early the next morning.
"Joey, it's Estelle," said the croaky, smoke-filled voice on the other end of the phone.
"Oh, hey Estelle," Joey said, not wanting to hear the bad news so early.
"Good news, you got the part in that Mel Gibson movie. You've gotta be in Hollywood by Thursday."
"I got it? I got the part? I-I can't believe this!" Joey was now jumping up and down.
"Well believe it baby," Estelle replied, and hung up the phone.

*

"I can't believe you are going to Hollywood!" Pheobe said, just before Joey was called to board
the airplane.
"I know! Or group is shrinking so fast!" Ross added.
Joey laughed. He never actually considered the notion that he may have to stay in California.
he was a New Yorker, and nothing was gonna change that.
"Maybe it won't be forever," he said more to himself than to the others.
"Aw, you'll move to California, and you'll forget all about us," Pheobe said.
Joey found himself getting a little upset by Pheobe's comment. He would never do that! He'd
never forget his friends like that! He wasn't Chandler.
"Pheebs, that would never happen. I'm not gonna pull a Chandler."

*

Joey sat on the plane, thinking about the conversation he'd just had with Pheobe and Ross.
Maybe he was like Chandler after all. Joey opened his backpack, and pulled out the stack of
letters from Philadelphia. Joey hadn't replied to one letter, and he wasn't quite sure why.
He sighed and pulled out one of the latest letters from Chandler. Chandler had once again
apologized for leaving so abruptly, and told him once again that he was miserable in Philadelphia.
Joey wondered why he just didn't move back to New York. He shook his head, and stuffed the
letter back into his bag.


*2005*

Joey sat in the green room at NBC studios, pretending to listen as the production assistant
for The Tonight Show rattled off some of the questions that Jay Leno would be asking. It
felt strange, having all of this sudden fame and fortune. He sighed, and silently wished he
could share all of this with his friends in New York.

*

"Joey, they need you on the set," the pretty production assistant poked her head into Joey's
trailer.
"Okay, thanks," Joey said, amiling. Whoa, she is cute! Joey walked over to the door as the
woman was leaving and said,
"Hey! How you doin'?"

*2007*

"Well, the past is the past," Chandler said, sipping his coffee.
"Yeah," Joey agreed.
"So, when do I get to go to one of your fancy Hollywood parties?"
"Anytime you want, man. You know you are still my best friend." Joey said.
"Even after all that has happened?"
"You said it. The past is the past."
Chandler nodded, and pulled Elaina onto his lap. "I wonder where everyone else is?"

*

Rachel sat in the airport lounge, debating over her decision to fly home. She just wasn't
sure she could take another day of Ross and Emily. If she left, then everyone would be more
confortable, right? Rachel shook her head. This was ridiculous. Why should *she* have to
leave her friends? She didn't go off and marry someone else.
"You can handle this Rachel," she said softly.
She picked up her bag, and walked out of the airport.

*

Monica walked into Central Perk, and smiled when she saw Chandler and Joey talking. She knew
that there was tension between the two of them, and so she was happy to see that they seemed
to have made up.
"Hey guys," she chirped, as she headed for the sofa.
"Hey," they said simultaniously.
"So, what are we talking about?" Monica asked, waving at Elaina.
"Joey's hot girlfriend," Chandler laughed.
"So, Joey, is it serious?" Monica asked curiously.
"I dunno. I like her...but she is *very* 'L.A.', so we'll see."
"Um, what do you mean by, 'L.A'?" Chandler asked.
"Ya know, people that live in L.A. are very....L.A.-ish."
"Uh, okay," Chandler replied, shaking his head.
Rachel walked in a few minutes later, and was relieved to see that she wasn't the last one to
arrive. Phoebe came in alone, explaining that Mike and the kids would meet up with them later.
After about 20 minutes of chatting, the group fell silent.
"I wonder where Ross and Emily are?" Joey asked.
"Really, it's not like Ross to be late," Monica replied.
"Maybe Emily is the type that runs late," Rachel added, unsuccessfully masking the bitterness
in her voice.
The room fell silent once more, and the group looked at each other uncomfortably.
Elaina finally broke the tension when she tugged on her father's arm to grab his attention.
The others watched as the little girl communicated silently to her father. Chandler replied,
then turned to the group.
"I gotta get Elaina something to eat guys," Chandler informed them. "Maybe I'll just go get
her something, and we can meet up with you."
"No, let's just all go. Ross and Emily were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago," Monica
said, clearly annoyed with her brother.
The group nodded and stood up to leave. As they walked toward the door, Ross came in, wearing
a solemn look on his face.
Rachel could not help but to notice that he had come in alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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