Hey everyone. Bet you all forgot who I was! lol…well, I've been really busy this summer and my computer broke down for a while so I'm FINALLY able to continue this story. Yay!!

Anyway…I suggest you read the other three chapters because you probably forgot what happened! (okay…okay…I admit, I had to re-read them too! lol)

               "Joey!" Phoebe yelled across the hallway as they were switching classes. "Joey, you need to talk to Monica. You're in her next class right?" Phoebe asked when she caught up with him.

               "Yea…history. Why do I need to talk to her?"

               "Because she hasn't really been acting like herself, y'know. I think that when she called Chandler to tell him that Rachel said yes, his mom picked up the phone and she started venting out all her problems to Monica. So then Monica started getting depressed and felt sorry for Chandler and his mom. Now she's not herself because she realizes that they have all these other bigger problems and she feels sympathetic and a little different…changed maybe." Phoebe's eyes grew wider with every statement she said.

               "Uhhhh…Pheebs, maybe it's just that she's a little weirded out because of Rachel and Chandler dating." Joey meekly suggested.

               "See, I thought of that too, but that just seems too obvious." Phoebe replied nonchalantly.

               "Okay, anyway, of course I'll talk to her. But what am I supposed to say?"

               "I dunno. Just ask her if she's okay, y'know….if something's bothering her or something. Just make sure you find out. I mean, it's really bothering me too. I'm her friend and I love her so seeing her like this really makes me sad and concerned." Phoebe explained with dramatic emotion.

               "Wow, Pheebs. Okay, I'll check up on her because, y'know, if her being upset makes you upset then I'm upset."

               "Oh, and while you're at it, ask her if she's still feeling up to helping me study. I'm so gonna fail this science test!! It's not even funny!" Phoebe started to panic.

               "Okay, relax Pheebs. You do know that the science test is only a pre-test? It doesn't really count as our grade."

               "It doesn't?!?" Joey nodded. "Wow!!! Okay, that's so much better!!!" Phoebe seemed very relieved.

               "I know! Can you imagine what would happen if it actually counted to our grade? I wouldn't be starting this year out too well." They both nodded in agreement. "So I'll catch you later at lunch. And I'll remember to check on Mon."

               "Yeah, great. Later Joey." They both went their separate ways to class.

               "Hey Mon." Joey took his seat next to Monica in their history class with Mr. Bacher.

               "Hi Joe. Did you read page 45?" Monica asked.

               "Page 45 in what?"

               "Our history books. Remember…we had to read it for homework."

               "We have history books?!" Joey asked in disbelief.

               "Yeah, he passed them out on the first day of school." Monica said matter-of-factly.

               "Oh! Is it that red book with the picture of that weird guy with the white hair on the boat with those other men?" Monica nodded. "Yea…I kinda just threw that into my locker after we got it and I haven't really seen it since." Monica rolled her eyes. Class started a minute later and Mr. Bacher began his lecture. Ten minutes into his speech, the class opted not to listen.

               "Mon, I've been meaning to ask you. How are you taking this whole 'Rachel and Chandler' thing?" Joey whispered to Monica.

               "Ummmmm…okay, I guess." Joey could hear her lying even if she was whispering.

               "C'mon Monica. I can tell when you're lying."

               She sighed heavily. "Okay, it's just…I dunno why it's so weird. I mean, it shouldn't be, right?" She begged Joey for an answer.

               "Well, of course it's a little weird. They're like two of our best friends…and now they're going out. Y'know, I mean, what if they get married or something." Monica looked at him puzzled. "Hey, you never know."

               Monica didn't respond. Hearing what Joey just said didn't help as she expected. Joey, noticing she had spaced out a bit, tapped her on the shoulder.

               "Hey, what's wrong?"

               "Nothing, Joey…it's just. I dunno, I mean, I dunno why I'm taking this the way I am. I think…" Monica lowered her voice, a little embarrassed.  Joey looked on curiously.

               "You think what?"

               "I think…I dunno, maybe I might be jealous that Rachel, y'know, has a boyfriend now." Monica kept her head down.

               "Oh I see. And you're also jealous that Chandler, our friend for how many years, suddenly chose to like her, not you." Joey was reading her like a picture book. Monica sighed again and changed the subject.

               "So, you coming to the soccer game tonight?" Monica asked. She and Ally had made it to the JV soccer team last year and have been playing since.

               "Of course! But, only if you're coming to my basketball game next week." Joey had also made it to the basketball team. The three of them were the only ones of their group that played sports.

               "Deal. Don't forget now! None of you guys came last time." Monica eyed him angrily. "Plus, we're playing against Park West."

               "Oh! Those guys that we had that fight with last year?" Joey laughed in excitement. The two teams had played a close game, and Lincoln High won by one point, but Park West had said the referee was biased and the goal shouldn't have been counted. [AN: I have NOTHING against Park West, it's just an easy name to say :D]

               "Yeah! Don't you wanna see what happens this time?" Monica tried to persuade Joey in coming.

               "Hell yeah! I'll bring Phoebe too! Remember the last time when she attacked the ref?" They both laughed.

               "And that is the final cause of the Spanish-American war. Now, can anyone please recap what we learned yesterday?" Mr. Bacher's booming voice woke everyone up. He searched the classroom through his thick, wire-rimmed glasses. "Ahh! Mr. Tribbiani, please refresh our memory on the fourth cause of the Spanish-American war."

               Joey's 'deer caught in headlights' look made the class laugh. "Uhhhhh…meatball subs?"

               Rachel caught up with Chandler and Ally as they were walking to lunch. She went over to Chandler and they awkwardly held hands.

               "Hey Rach!" Ally tried to break the tension that was quickly forming between the three of them. "Ummmm…so what class do you have next?"

               "Oh, we both have Social Studies next. Aren't you in our class?" Rachel asked suspiciously.

               "Oh…yeah. Uhhhh…I just forgot there." Ally could feel herself turning red. "And, I mean, how could I forget? It's only like my favorite class! I mean, we're all practically in it! Me, you, Chandler, Monica and Phoebe." She did her best fake laugh.

               "Okay Ally…what were you sniffing in art class?" Chandler joked. They all laughed just to break the tension.

               "Guys!!! Hello??!" Phoebe came running up from behind them. "Did you hear me yelling?? What are you, deaf?!" She was out of breath having run all the way from the other side of the campus.

               "Sorry Pheebs! We were…uhhhhh…busy talking." Rachel didn't really know what they were doing.

               "Oh, you were busy talking. You were busy talking. Huh? You were busy talking?!" Phoebe started throwing a fit.

               "What's wrong Phoebe?" Chandler asked. Phoebe glared at him.

               "If I wanted to tell you, I would have in the beginning, right Chandler?" she said menacingly. Chandler just gulped and nodded.

               "Se-seriously, Phoebe, what's wrong?" Rachel asked.

               "You wanna know what's wrong?? Do you Rachel Karen Green??" Phoebe pointed her finger. "I'll tell you what's wrong. I just found out from Kristin that we have a huge and I mean huge project in social studies! It counts as 22.75% of our grade!!!"

               "22.75%?" Ally asked. Phoebe shrugged.

               "Something like that. Anyway, do you know what that's gonna do to my grade?! I hate projects!" Phoebe yelled, scaring a passing janitor.

               "Do you know what the project's about?" Rachel asked.

               "Well, Kristin said it has to do sorta with the controversial issues we've been talking about and sorta with the economic shit we just started learning." Phoebe explained.

               "What?! What kinda dumbass project is that?!?" Ally shrieked. She hated economics. "How are controversial issues and economics related?" They all shrugged. After getting their lunch, they found a spot that Monica had already saved. She was already eating with Joey and Chelsea.

               "Mon, did you hear about the project we're getting next period?" Chandler asked her.

               "Yeah, Chelsea just told me. She said we have to create a society or something like that."

               "Are we working by ourselves? Cuz if we are, I'm just gonna transfer schools right now." Phoebe wanted to know.

               "No, we get to work in groups of three. Mrs. McLean lets you choose one of the group members, then she chooses the other one for you." Chelsea groaned. "I'm with Nichi Mei!!" The rest of them groaned as well. They ate lunch and discussed how unfair the project was. Rachel and Chandler sat next to each other and occasionally drifted away from the gang. Monica was beginning to get upset, and it was obvious that Joey was, too.

               "They're only talking to each other!" Monica whispered to Joey while they walked back to class.

               "I know! I tried to tell Chandler this joke between classes, but he was too busy looking for Rachel!" Joey complained back. "I thought they were a little awkward around each other…but I think…"

               "It only seems awkward when we're around!" Monica finished. Joey nodded enthusiastically. "So…we're making it awkward?" Monica asked confused. Joey just shrugged.

               "Hey, did you talk to like Phoebe and…Ross about this?" Monica wondered how her brother was taking this.

               "I talked to Phoebe. She seems okay, but she said if they phase us out she'd 'kick their love-struck asses' or something like that. But I didn't see Ross at all today. I wonder what he thinks about this…Does he still like her?"

               "I dunno…I thought he did, but about a week before school started, he said he'd moved on. But I really don't know." Monica drifted off slightly.

               "Well, if he does, this whole situation is gonna suck for him!" Joey laughed and Monica just rolled her eyes.

               "No abortion!! It just wouldn't be right!! C'mon, Chandler!" Monica argued with Chandler in social studies. Ironically, Monica, Rachel, and Chandler were all in the same group for their 'Create-A-Society project'. Monica chose Rachel, Rachel chose Monica, and Chandler chose Rachel. They had to create a society and balance economic and controversial issues in it. [AN: A HORRIBLE project we had to do last year]

               "I know abortion isn't right, but remember when we did the pros and cons? If you don't have an abortion and you know ahead of time that your child is gonna be handicapped, wouldn't it just be right to abort it and not let the child suffer?!" Chandler debated back.

               "Wow! You actually paid attention to that?" Rachel asked.

               "Yeah, see, I don't want to fail this project. You on the other hand…" Chandler teased. Rachel playfully hit Chandler while Monica softly sighed.

               "Anyway, Chandler, we can't have a society that's pro-abortion! Remember, abortion raises the risk of breast cancer by 80%…or something." Monica contradicted. Chandler continued arguing.

               "Yes, but what if the birth will hurt the mother? You wouldn't want the mother to die, just because 'Oh, Monica won't let me have an abortion', now would you?" Chandler mocked. Monica gasped.

               "I do not sound like that!"

               "Is that the issue we're discussing now?" Chandler didn't know why he was getting into it so much. 'Arguing with Monica is fun.' He thought.

               "Okay, Chandler, we're gonna have to come up with an agreement soon because we still have to discuss all the other 19 issues!" Monica yelled.

               "So…it would be better if we just said pro-abortion on planet RCM!!"

               "I didn't agree to pro-abortion and what kinda jacked up name is 'planet RCM'?!" Monica shouted again. Mrs. McLean looked up from her desk.

               "Is there a problem in group 5?" She asked. The three of them shook their heads and continued working. Monica groaned.

               "Okay…Rachel, abortion-yes or no?" She asked politely. Rachel looked up from the magazine she had been reading through all of the arguing and pointed to herself.

               "Who, me? I have to decide this?" Monica and Chandler both nodded. "Uhhhh…well, I guess I'm gonna have to go with…" she looked at their pleading faces. "Pro-abortion?"

               "Yes!! Thanks Rach!!" Chandler hugged her. Monica, on the other hand, was in shock.

               "Rachel, I can't believe you. We've always been against abortion! Ever since we were 11," Monica exclaimed in disbelief. Rachel just smiled and shrugged.

               "Yeah…well after this whole debating thing, I kinda figured that, well, maybe abortion pros outweighs the cons." She said sweetly and as innocent as if nothing happened. Monica just stared at the floor while Chandler and Rachel smiled at each other. After a minute or so went by, Chandler noticed that Monica was staring into space again.

               "Mon? What's wrong?" Chandler was concerned. He'd never really seen her in such deep concentration.    

               "Oh, she's just mad because she lost!" Rachel jokingly said. They both laughed, but Chandler kept his eye on Monica.

               "Uhhhh…okay, next issue." Monica tried to get her mind off her thoughts. "Euthanasia. Yes or no?"

               "Eutha-what?" Rachel was clueless.

               "Euthanasia." Chandler emphasized. "It's whether or not the criminals should get the death sentence." He explained.

               "No, that's capital punishment. Euthanasia is whether or not the terminally ill should be able to just kill themselves so they don't have to suffer anymore." Monica responded to Chandler's mix-up.

               "Oh! Right! Well, I think it shouldn't be done." Chandler began the debate. "It's just like an easy way out of things if you do it." Monica and Rachel both looked at him quizzically.

               "You're actually opting to take the harder way out?" Rachel said in shock. They all laughed and Chandler rolled his eyes.

               "Well, I think it should be done. I mean, if you're suffering and you know you'll be suffering forever, why not just end your misery right then and there? Plus, if it was someone you loved who was ill, you wouldn't wanna see them suffer forever, would you?" Monica retorted back.

               "Yeah, but wouldn't you be sad if you couldn't see your loved one anymore? Wouldn't you be disappointed knowing they could've lived longer but they chose to end it all?" Chandler argued.

               "I would be sad, but it'd be relieving knowing they're not suffering and they're in a better place!"

               Mrs. McLean's voice interrupted their discussion. "Monica, can I see you at my desk. I want to see how far your group has gotten." Monica winced and slowly walked to her teacher's desk.

               "So Rach, what's your stance on euthanasia?" Chandler asked. He figured Rachel should get a say in this debate.

               "Well, I agree with you. Euthanasia shouldn't be done. It's kinda like murder."

               "Oh…okay. So, that's it then. Anti-euthanasia. That was…easy." Chandler sounded a little disappointed.

               "So, see you all at the game tonight!" Ally shouted as she left. School was over and in about 4 hours Monica and Ally were going to have their soccer game at the park.

               "Yeah! Bye Ally!" they all shouted. After a quick snack at Arturo's, the gang headed home. At 6:15 pm, Monica and Ross left their house to go to the soccer field. They met up with Ally, Phoebe, and Rachel.

               "Hey, where's Chandler and Joey?" Ross wondered aloud.

               "Oh, they went to get hotdogs or something." Rachel said.

               "Hotdogs for a soccer game? Never really heard of that." Monica laughed. She and Ally were dressed in their dark green uniforms and were ready to play. Ally played defense and Monica was a goalie, but after realizing she was competitive and could run, the coach put her as a forward.

               "Monica, Ally, c'mon! We have to warm up!!" their teammate, Erica, called out. Twenty minutes later, the rest of the group found seats and the game had begun. Monica had the ball and was taking it down the field when her opponent pushed her down.

               "Yeah! Good job Jamie!" The coach from the other team yelled out. This game was a lot rougher than usual since the two teams were rivals.

               "Oh come on ref!!!!" Phoebe shouted from her seat. "Did you see that foul!?! Are you blind??!" Rachel shrank down in her seat and pretended not to know her. By half time, two people from Park West had already been hurt and three people had been yellow-carded. The score was tied, 1-1.

               "Ally! You have to be more aggressive! Get in there! Don't let them pass you!" Joey could here the coach yelling at the team. This game was one of the most important games. "And Monica, cross the ball to Jan! Cross it to the center!! That's the only way you'll score!"

               "Hey Joe, are Rachel and Chandler…y'know, going out?" Ross asked him while they waited for the game to resume.

               "Uhhhh, yeah. Why?" Joey didn't know how Ross was handling this.

               "No reason, I just…I just wanted to know." Ross was hiding something from Joey and he could tell.

               "Hey man, are you okay with this?" Joey started. "I mean, I heard you used to like Rachel."

               "I used to like her. I don't anymore Joey. Just…forget I even said anything." Ross was trying to avoid the subject. He glanced at Chandler, who was sitting next to him. He was talking closely and softly to Rachel. Ross couldn't help but shiver slightly and didn't notice, but he winced when Rachel laughed and touched Chandler's shoulder. He saw Rachel hand him some jellybeans that Chandler had bought for her and he saw him eat them. He saw her laugh. He saw him smile. He saw her throw a jellybean at him. He saw him flirtatiously hit her. He saw them talk. He saw them. What he didn't see was this entire thing coming.

               The game resumed seven minutes later and the crowd was back to normal, cheering and yelling. However, Rachel and Chandler seemed preoccupied in their jellybean-eating, napkin throwing fiasco. Ross tried to ignore them and focus on the game. Focus on the team. His sister…

               "Monica's down!!" Joey yelled and stood up. The referee blew his whistle and the game stopped. So did Chandler and Rachel. They both stood up and craned their necks to see what was going on.