I know it's been awhile but this story is back. I really love this one and I refuse to leave it unfinished. At the pace the story is unfolding I'm looking at it lasting about 5 chapters, so we're halfway there. This chapter features some major plot developments, so I hope it keeps everyone entertained. It also features a song from one of my favorite movies, Moulin Rouge. Enjoy! And be sure to review when you're done!
Chapter 3
I wanna wake up where you are…
Rachel wore a smile as she sung in front of her boyfriend, Joey Tribianni. She was standing near the edge of the roof of their apartment building, taking in the beautiful, cloudless, New York City day. Standing a few feet behind her, staring at her with nothing but love in his eyes, was the love of her life.
She couldn't have been any more in love than she was at that moment. She loved Joey for everything that he was, everything he was going to be, and everything he had refused to become in the past.
She turned from her view of the city to face him.
Could you whisper in my ear?
The things you want to feel.
I'll give you anything, to feel it coming.
She walked towards him, and immediately his arms closed around her body.
Do you wake up on your own?
And wonder where you are, you live with all your faults…
He was smiling at her, and all she could do was return the look. She loved moments like those when they connected so well.
I wanna wake up where you are.
I won't say anything at all.
So why don't you slide?
And then, she woke up. Alone, cold, and wanting him. She really did want to wake up where he was. She hated how something so simple was really so complicated.
Yes, she liked Joey. Yes, she was falling in love with him. And yes, it was just too much to risk.
She sighed and got out of bed. She had the sudden urge to be with him. She crept towards her door and slowly pulled it open. She quietly sung to herself.
I wanna wake up where you are.
I won't say anything at all.
So why don't you slide?
She tried her hardest not to make the floor creak as she slowly moved towards his door.
And I'll do anything you ever,
Dreamed to be complete.
Little pieces of the nothing, that fall.
Oh my, put your arms around me.
What you feel is what you are,
And what you are is beautiful.
Oh my, do you manna get married?
Or run away…
She peeked into his room, expecting to find him sound asleep, clutching his bedtime penguin pal.
But instead, all she saw was an empty bed.
Then the phone rang.
********
Chandler poured down yet another shot of Jack Daniels. He lost count of how many he had consumed since he first took his seat on the bar stool. But he knew by the way the room was spinning around him, it was more than enough. He remembered the last time he was this drunk…he kissed Joey's sister. What a mess that had been… He didn't want to think about what kind of trouble he would be in if he kissed a girl tonight.
Lucky for him Ross was with him, drinking away all his sorrows about Phoebe. He wouldn't let him get into any trouble.
The bartender gazed down at Chandler and Ross, shaking his head at their drunken forms. "Look guys, I called you a cab, it's waiting outside…the night's over…it's closing time."
"Closing time?" Chandler's voice was like that of a child's, begging for everything to be explained to him.
Ross nodded and smiled over at Chandler. "Oh yeah." The last word was held out, as Ross' glassy eyes lit up, as if he just realized the words' meanings. Ross glanced at Chandler as he stood up.
Closing time
Open all the doors and let you out in to the world
Closing time
Turn all of the lights out over every boy and every girl
Chandler looked over at Ross, "Oh! Closing time!" He remembered the song, so he decided to join in.
Closing time
One last call for alchohol so finish your whiskey or beer
Closing time
You don't have to go home but you can't stay here
The guys began to walk home, singing like drunks the whole walk home.
Closing time
Time for you to go out to the places you will be from
Closing time
This room won't be open till your brothers' or your sister's come
Before Chandler knew it, he was waving goodbye to Ross and walking across the street towards his apartment.
So gather up your jackets
And move it to the exits
I hope you have found a friend
Closing time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
As he slammed shut the door of his apartment, reality began to sink back in. He walked to the sink, and splashed cold water all over his face…
"Getting drunk isn't the solution Chandler." He sighed, and glanced towards the phone…Monica…
He had to call Monica.
************
Joey couldn't remember how long they had been talking, he didn't bother counting the hours. They seemed to click so well, like everything about them just fell together perfectly. The story was fairly simple to figure out, she walked in, she was hot, and without hesitation, Joey hired her on the spot.
After giving her a run through of her responsibilities, Joey was ready to head home and tell Rachel the good news, that he had found a manager. But before he left, he had a cup of coffee, and he hadn't got out of his chair since. Once they started talking, neither of them wanted to go home. The rest of the world seemed to disappear.
She liked the Yankees, beer, and video games. To Joey, she was nothing short of an angel.
"So, I take it you've seen me as Dr. Drake Ramoray on Days of our Lives, right?" Joey flashed his Dr. Drake look and smiled at her, sitting across the counter.
"Yeah I've seen you on TV. It's too bad I hate Dr. Drake Ramoray." She smiled back, stirring her straw around her drink.
"What?! How can you hate Dr. Drake Ramoray?!" Joey stared at her in wide-eyed shock. "Dr. Drake saves lives!"
She couldn't help but smile at his obvious attachment to his character. "Well, I may hate Dr. Drake, but I really like the man who plays him."
Joey let out a flattered laugh, before noticing the time on the clock on the wall. "Wow. It's late. We've been here awhile."
"Yeah. I guess we should call it a night. You can head on home if you'd like. I'll lock up." She stood and began to collect the dishes lying around on the tables. Joey also stood, and was about to help her, when she pushed his hand away. "Stop it. It's my job now, remember? Go home and get some sleep."
Joey quickly removed his hands from the dishes and smiled. He wasn't going to protest about not having to do work. "Do you need a place to crash for the night? According to your application, you live pretty far away."
Nic shook her head no. "I'll be fine Joey. Trust me." Joey looked at her for a few more moments, then simply shrugged.
"Suit yourself. Here's the key." He sat the small metal key on the table and headed towards the door. He turned back just before leaving. "I'll see you tommorow."
"You sure will," she answered back, "you definitely will." She smiled as he exited the coffee house, she was really starting to like him.
He was sweet, funny, financially secure…he was everything a girl wanted in a man. And most importantly, he was single.
*********
Monica entered her hotel room after another long day of doing nothing but thinking about Chandler. This time apart was killing her, but yet something kept telling her that it was for the best. Just as she flung herself onto the bed, the phone rang. Lazily, she reached to the night table beside the bed and picked up the reciever. "Hello?"
"Hello. Am I speaking with a Mrs. Monica Bing?"
She rolled her eyes. Even this late at night, the hotel couldn't resist calling to advertise their morning breakfast. "Um. .yes you are."
"Great. This is Samantha down at the front desk. Someone has left a recorded message for you. Should I play it for you now?"
A message? Who would have left her a message. Her first thought was Chandler, but then she remembered how he hated leaving messages anywhere…he always said machines made his voice sound funny. Maybe it was Rachel, calling to see what was going on. "Yeah, go ahead and play it please." She heard a click on the other side of the phone, and then heard the message begin to play.
Don't pretend you're sorry
It was Chandler.
I know you're not.
You know you got the power, to make me weak inside.
Girl you leave me breathless, but it's ok.
Cause you are my survival.
Now here me say,
I can't imagine, life without your love.
And even forever, don't seem like long enough.
Cause every time I breathe I take you in.
And my heart beats again.
Baby I can't help it.
You keep me drowning in your love.
And every time I try to rise above,
I'm swept away by love.
Baby I can't help it.
You keep me drowning in your love.
"We're going to be fine Mon. I promise…you know I'm serious if I left a message, cause you know how I hate my voice on these things." He laughed a little. She smiled.
"I love you. I'll see you when you get home. Goodnight."
Then, it was Samantha again. "That's the end of the message ma'am. Would you like to hear it again?"
Monica curled up at the top of the bed, and held the phone close to her ear. She smiled and replied, "Yes…play it again."
*********
Joey walked into his apartment wearing a bright smile. He sat his keys down on the counter, and was surprised to see Rachel sitting in the recliner in the living room, he had expected her to be in bed by now. "Hey Rach." As he walked closer to her, he noticed her demeanor. The phone was clung against her chest, the remnants of tears were obvious in her eyes, and she refused to look directly at him. He rushed over to her side, "What's wrong Rach?"
She didn't want to do this…she didn't want to deliver this news to him, but she didn't have a choice. "Joey, honey, I have some bad news."
"What? What is it?" He didn't like things to be dragged on. He wanted to know what was going on, and he wanted to know quickly.
"There's been a car accident Joey…she didn't make it…" This was going to be so hard…why did she have to be the one to break his heart? Hadn't she done enough of that lately?
"Who Rach?!" His mind was racing…who had he lost? He hoped and prayed it wasn't one of his sisters. He didn't know many girls that drove…then it him. Phoebe! Joey instantly started praying, Phoebe was like a sister to him…he couldn't lose her…
"Joey…it's your mom."
The room fell quiet. But deep in the silence…you could hear Joey's heart breaking into pieces.
***********
Nic finished stacking the last of the cups inside the cupboard, and sank onto a stool in pure exhaustion. She glanced at her watch, "God it's late…"
She would have been done much sooner if she could have concentrated. But every few minutes her mind couldn't help but to wonder back to Joey. She was falling pretty hard, pretty fast. She wiped her hands off with a small towel and threw it onto the counter. Retrieving the keys to the shop from her purse, she grabbed her belongings and walked towards the door.
She stepped outside into the cold of the New York City night, and locked up the place. She turned to glance down the road for a cab, but none were in sight. It was a long, boring cab ride back to her place, and all she could think about was Joey's offer to crash at his place…All she could think about was Joey. She leaned against the brick wall behind her and gazed up at the stars.
Maybe its intuition,
Some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
There it goes
I think I found my best friend
I know that it might sound, more than little
Crazy, but I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
There's just no rhyme or reason
Only the sense of completion
And in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
Searching for
I think I found my way home
I know that it might sound, more than a little,
Crazy, but I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
After another moment of thought, she headed towards the address she had given him. After the walked up the stairs she found the appropriate apartment and knocked on the door.
No answer, so she knocked again.
Then, behind her, a door opened. "Can I help you with anything?"
"Oh, no…I'm just looking for Joey Tribianni. He said I could stay at his place if I needed to."
"Who are you?" The man asking the questions looked in horrible shape. The circles under his eyes were proof positive that he hadn't slept in days, hair was poking out of his skin, making it easy to tell he hadn't shaven in awhile, and his unappealing hair style told her he hadn't washed it in awhile.
"I'm Nic…Joey just hired me as the new coffeehouse manager."
"Oh! I'm Chandler Bing, one of the co-owners." He brought his hand out to shake hers.
"Nice to meet you." She shook his hand, and put on the best smile she could manage after smelling his breath. This man had been drinking. "So do you know where Joey is?"
"Yeah. He just came over here to borrow the Porsche…he had a family emergency and had to leave town…But you can stay here if you want. I have a guest room."
She thought about her options. Stay with the odd dirty guy, or suffer a long cab ride home. She didn't like either option very much, but the latter seemed worse. "Ok…that sounds fine." She walked inside the apartment, and he closed the door.
"Look, the guest room is right over there, and the bathroom is right there up the hall. As you can tell by my appearance, I'm pretty wore out, so I'm going to go sleep for about 24 hours. Use whatever you need. Make yourself at home."
************
Joey was in the driver's seat, speeding the Porsche down the highway at around 90 mph. Joey's mind was racing…he couldn't believe his mother was gone. He had just spoken to her on the phone yesterday…he couldn't believe how fast life could change. He glanced over at Rachel, who had been silent ever since they left. "Are you ok?"
She looked over to him…she felt so bad for him, but right now, she knew she wasn't the one who should be getting sympathy. "I think I'm supposed to be asking you that."
"I'll be fine, Rach." He was holding everything in. He didn't want to break down in front of her…He told her he would protect her from anything if she was to be with him…but how tough would he look if he lost it right in front of her?
"Are you sure Joey…because it's ok if you're not." She didn't want him to hold anything back…she wanted to know that he trusted her with everything.
"No Rach…I'm not, ok? Because today, I realized how quickly life can change. Today, I realized how quickly you can lose someone you love. And today, I realized that my life is too short for me to just sit and wait for you to come around." There, he said it. He hoped she was happy.
"Joey…me and you…that's not something you should be worrying about right now. I mean right now all you should have to worry about…"
He interupted her, "We need to stop for gas." He didn't want to hear what she had to say, if it didn't involve them.
He pulled the off onto the next exit, and stopped it in the Chevron that sat right beside the off-ramp. Before he got out to pump the gas, he asked her, without looking at her, "Do you need anything?"
She shook her head, she wasn't going to bother him for anything. "I'm just gonna go to the rest room."
They both exited the car, and Joey began to pump the gas. He couldn't help but watch her walk away. He adored her…she stole his heart from him, and he knew he wasn't going to get it back.
He didn't want it back.
Joey shook his head and smiled to himself…his first smile since hearing the news. "You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape my love."
Here's how it goes,
You and me,
Up and down
But maybe this time we'll
Get it right,
Worth the fight,
Cause love is something you can't shake,
When it breaks,
All it takes,
Is some trying,
If you feel like leavin'
I'm not gonna make you stay
But soon you'll be findin'
You can run, You can hide,
But you can't escape my love.
************
She didn't know why she had the cab drop her off at Ross'…but for some reason, she had to see him tonight. Things couldn't wait. She made her way up to his apartment, and lightly locked on the door.
"Who is it?" Ross' voice called out from his place on the couch. He sounded horrible, and Phoebe could tell that he was sick. She figured he had probably been drinking.
"Ross it's me, Phoebe."
He sighed, couldn't this wait? He appreciated the fact that she wanted to keep him informed but couldn't she at least way until a decent hour to break his heart? Did she have to do it in the middle of the night? When he had a splitting headache?
"Can this wait Pheebs? I feel like crap."
"No Ross…it can't wait."
He sighed, "And why not?"
Because I don't wanna wait
For our lives to be over
I want to know right now, what will it be?
I don't wanna wait
For our lives to be over
Will it be yes or will it be,
Sorry…
Ross opened the door, and stared at her. "The answer really depends on the question."
She smiled at him and walked into his apartment, trying hard to come up with the right words to say. "Ross…I don't want to be with David…I want to be with you."
"You know…today, all day, the only thing I could think about was you and him kissing…" He laughed, "I've been going crazy."
"That's funny…Because all day today, all I could think about was kissing you…" And she kissed him. Suddenly, everything that stood between them before was gone…even if only for that moment.
Ross barely opened his eyes after their lips parted…Something else had taken over him.
Never knew, I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish, inside your kiss
Everyday I love you more and more
His eyes found hers, and they both wore a smile.
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing
Telling me to give you, everything
Seasons may change
Winter to Spring
But I love you, until the end of time
He took her hands in his as he stood up, pulling her closer to him.
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you
Until my dying day
Phoebe smiled at him, and gently pulled out of his embrace. She walked towards the window and she sang.
Suddenly the world seems such a powerful place,
Suddenly it moves with such a powerful grace.
Ross followed her towards the window, and joined in.
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste.
Phoebe turned to him.
It all revolves around you.
Ross nodded his head and sang with her.
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide,
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather
And storms may collide
Ross whispered in her ear, "But I love you."
She smiled, "I love you."
Ross let his forhead rest against hers. "Until the end…"
Phoebe closed her eyes…"Until the end…"
Together they turned towards the window. Phoebe's back leaning against Ross's chest, his arms wrapped safely around her. Both of them looking out onto the city. Both of them looking out towards the future.
Of time.
Come what may,
Come what may,
I will love you,
Until my dying day.
Oh come, what may
Come what may
I will love….
Ross placed a kiss on her cheek. "You..."
I will love you.
Phoebe stared out onto the skyline. Her voice barely above a whisper…
Suddenly the world seems such a powerful place....
*******
The Next Morning…
She had hurried home. After listening to his message again, her work just didn't seem that important. She wasn't sure if he would still be sleeping or not, it was only 7:30. She quickly ran up to her door, and was surprised to find it locked. After a minute or two of shuffling through her purse, she finally found her keys. She swung open the door and stepped inside, dragging all her luggage with her.
She heard the shower running, and assumed that Chandler was indeed awake. "Wow…" She smiled and walked towards their bedroom, wanting to put away some of her things. She pushed open the door, and say Chandler still lying in bed. Then she heard the water shut off. She glanced around the room. The smell of alcohol was obvious…
She walked back into the living room in time to see Nic stepping out of the bathroom, wearing a bathrobe. "Who are you?"
Nic glanced over at her. "Oh, hi, I'm Nic. Are you a friend of Chandler's?"
Monica's arms quickly folded over her chest. "I'm Chandler's wife."
"His wife? Funny he never mentioned that he was married." She saw Monica's furious look, and tried to figure out what it was for. She glanced down at the bathrobe…"Oh I'm sorry! This must be yours! Chandler just told me to make myself at home. He told me he was wore out and that he would sleep for awhile, and to just use whatever I needed…."
"Oh he did, did he?"
"Um…yes. If it's a problem, just let me hurry up and get changed, and I'll give it right back."
"That's ok, you can keep it!" She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, slamming it shut behind her.
He cheated on her. She couldn't believe he cheated on her.
*That's the end of Chapter 3 folks, still more to come! Please take the time to leave a review, good or bad. Feedback keeps a writer going after all.*
Featured in Chapter 3 were the following songs:
Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
Closing Time - Semi-Sonic
Drowning - Backstreet Boys
I knew I loved You - Savage Garden
Escape - Enrique Iglesias
I Don't Wanna Wait - Paula Cole
Come What May - Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, from the major motion picture, Moulin Rouge.