Locked Up Tight-Chapter 8
Thanksgiving break, finally! I have not been happier than I am now in like the past like month. I barely have any hw too! It's a miracle. I only have some English things to write. Yay! Ok, this chap. begins where the last left off. I advise reading the other chapters first. Please read and review and to those who celebrate it—happy Thanksgiving!
"I can't," Chandler whispered as he turned away from her.
"Why not?" Monica asked in a shaky voice.
"Because, I can't be in a relationship again—I just can't."
Slightly annoyed, Monica challenged, "Why not?"
"I wouldn't want to hurt you," Chandler babbled, "I mean, I stink at relationsh…"
Monica cut him off angrily, "That's a load bull shit and you know it! You're just scared of being hurt again. You think that I would run off like Kathy did."
"No, no, it's not that."
"Yes, yes, it is. You're being incredibly selfish, do you know that?"
"Well I'm sorry," Chandler answered bitterly, "It's just been too painful. I can't shake the feeling that you're gonna hurt me."
Monica's tone softened, "Well I won't."
"I just…need some time," Chandler admitted shyly, "To get used to this—us."
Monica smiled slightly in return, "Fair enough."
Chandler gazed into her eyes, and felt comforted by the honesty he saw in them. Suddenly, Chandler looked down at the sofa, and seeing Monica's hand, he slowly entwined his within hers. Monica smiled at him, and moved closer. They sat in the same place for hours, appreciating the closeness that they were sharing.
A few weeks later, while Chandler was sitting in his dinning room, he saw Monica cooking through the open kitchen door.
"Hey Monica," he requested, "Join me for dinner?"
Monica smiled as she exited the kitchen with the food.
"Sure, I hear the chef here is excellent," she joked as she took the seat next to him. Chandler was amazed that she was willing to wait for him to feel more comfortable. They often had situations similar to this, where they would spend time just joking around and getting to know each other better. He treasured every moment he spent around Monica. Often he would sit up late at night wondering why he couldn't commit to her. She was so wonderful to him—nothing like Kathy was. Yet, he couldn't do it. He could not commit to her, because he still feared it.
"So," Joey began as he noticed Monica working in the kitchen the next day, "You and Chandler have gotten closer, huh?"
"I guess you could say that."
Joey nodded, but said nothing else.
"Why do you want to know? You jealous?" She teased.
"No!" he answered hastily.
Monica smiled at his reaction and turned her attention towards the sink full of dirty dishes.
"You know," Joey began, "He seems a bit happier lately and I'm thinking it's because of you."
"Really?" Monica questioned, surprised, but touched deeply.
"Yeah. He's even cracked a couple of jokes here and there. He rarely ever did that before."
"I'm glad," Monica answered truthfully.
Joey ventured onto the subject carefully. "So…you seem to like him, too."
Monica nodded her head slightly, "Yeah, I really do." In her head, however, she added, "More than you know."
"So Monica," Chandler asked causally the next day, "Could I interest you in a movie?"
"Depends what kind."
"Your choice."
"Ok, nothing gory."
Disappointed, he agreed, "Fine."
She smiled at her victory, as a means of gloating.
After they saw the movie, they decided to walk around Central Park, which was an only a few minutes from Monica's apartment.
"So Chandler," Monica ventured carefully, "Any closer to umm…making a decision about us."
He didn't answer for a moment, but pondered her question, and then answered, "I really want to be with you."
"Yeah?" Monica asked hopefully.
"But,"
"There's always a 'but'," Monica remarked bitterly.
"It's just…"
"Yeah, I know. Sorry to bring it up." Monica noticed how much discomfort it brought on to him. She also was aware that he truly did want to be in a relationship with her. However, she knew not how to remove that fear from his mind.
"Why don't you talk to me?"
"What? I'm talking to you right now," he questioned, confused.
"No, tell me why you're so afraid to commit to me."
"I told you before—because of Kathy breaking my heart."
"Yes, I know. But what happened between the two of you?" She noticed that she had hit a sensitive area, but decided to see if he would divulge his secrets to her.
Slowly Chandler replied, "I…I can't," as he looked towards the ground.
"Why won't you tell me? Don't you trust me?"
"Yes of course I do!" he defended, "But it's too difficult to talk about."
"That's the thing!" Monica noticed, "That's why you're so weird about having a relationship."
"Why?"
"Because you haven't faced your past! You just keep you're thoughts and feelings locked up tight within you. If you'd talk about them, and deal with them, then maybe you could finally begin to get over them."
Chandler became angry about what she said. She was being incredibly hypocritical.
"Ok fine! You know what?" he asked heatedly, "I'll face my past as soon as you face yours!" With that, he pushed past her, leaving her alone and shocked in the park.
When Chandler returned to his house, he went straight to sleep. His emotions wore him out too much for him to do anything, but sleep. After slumbering for two hours, Chandler was woken up from a loud pounding and incessant doorbell rings. Remembering that Joey had left a couple of hours ago, he got up.
"It's probably Monica," he decided as groggily made his way down the hal. He opened the door, but was shocked at whom he saw standing there.
A woman with tattered clothing and short, red, knotted hair stood before him. Chandler's breath was caught in his throat.
The woman cried out, "Chandler!" as she embraced him tightly and cried.
Not knowing what else to do, Chandler wrapped his arms around her, too.
After a minute, the woman broke the hug and asked, "Aren't you going to invite me in?" Chandler just nodded, as he stepped away from the door, allowing her to enter.
"This place hasn't changed a bit," she concluded as she walked around. Finding the bar, she poured herself a glass of scotch and sipped it.
After a few minutes of silence, the woman walked over to Chandler, who was still standing next to the door.
"Well aren't you going to say anything to me? I mean, I'm back! You should be smiling."
He stared at her intensely for a moment and thought to himself furiously, "I should be smiling because she's back!? I should kill myself because she's back." However, he couldn't bring himself to say those things to her. He hated her; she had hurt him intensely. Yet, he could not tell her to leave.
Instead, he forced a smile and said, "Welcome back Kathy."
Ok chapter 8 is finished! I hope you liked it. Sorry that I brought back Kathy, but she needs to be there. Now, I know she wasn't that big of bitch, even though she was one. I mean, she didn't act like she does in my story. But, I don't really know how she acted on the show b/c they didn't show her much. Plus, that's how a picture this woman to act towards Chandler. I just think it works better to have her all snobby. Of course, Chandler's an idiot to except her back, but he's pretty messed up at the moment, if you haven't noticed…lol. Ok, read and review! Thanks!:) So, anyone doing anything special for Thanksgiving? I'm just going to my aunt and uncle's with my parents, bro and my grandparents. Always a snore, but maybe I'll be able to sneak away and watch TV or something. I can always talk to my bro (blech).