Hey, here's chapter 10…phew took me a while to figure out which chapter I was up to. I don't have it saved on this computer, or on the disk I have…it's on my downstairs computer. Who woulda thought? Now that I finally figured that out, on with the story. Thanks for the nice reviews on previous chapters. I hope you enjoy this chapter, too, and if you're somewhere cold, stay warm! ;)
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story, yada, yada, yada.
"Kathy!" Chandler called from his bedroom.
"Yes dear?" Kathy answered and entered his room.
Chandler felt himself tense up at the words she uttered, but did not allow himself to show it. "Dear?" he muttered to himself, "Pathetic." However, he focused his attention back on Kathy.
"I'm going to be working all day, and I don't want you to be bored…"
"Oh, I'd never be bored around you, Chandler!" she interrupted cheerfully.
"Right," Chandler continued, "But it wouldn't feel…proper…if I…knew…I was the cause of your boredom, so why don't you spend the day shopping?"
Chandler knew that would not seal the deal, but decided to start small.
"Oh honey!" she lied, "You're much more important than shopping."
"No, I insist, really. Here," he said, handing her a one hundred dollar bill, "Take this and go shopping."
"No, I couldn't."
"No, please. You know what, here, take another hundred!" he insisted and handed her the second bill.
"Sweetie…"
He pulled out his wallet and handed her his last bill, "Here. This $50 is all I have left. I insist you go…spend it all; I don't care. That's my…gift…to you!"
Kathy looked at the bills in her hands and fingered them hesitantly, "Well, if you insist…"
Chandler inwardly smiled at his accomplishment. He was well aware that Kathy could not turn down money, no matter what. Chandler also knew that she had been so clingy towards him because she suspected his feelings towards Monica. For this reason, he needed to bribe her out of his presence.
"Great, bye!" he said while hastily escorting her to the door.
She learned in to kiss him, and he cringed, giving her only his cheek. With that, she exited the apartment.
Chandler let out a sigh; one part of his plan was done. He looked out the window as he saw Kathy pull out of the driveway and drive off into the distance. After that, he grabbed his jacket and ran out of the house.
Monica stood in her living room, pacing back and forth. She knew that she had to talk to Chandler. Although she knew not of what would happen, she was well aware that she needed some sort of closure. She needed to know a reason for why he had tossed her aside for that Kathy woman. Monica couldn't help, but feel jealous towards Kathy. She almost had Chandler—then Kathy swoops in and takes him away from her! Monica finally stopped pacing and plopped down on the sofa. She wanted to give into her desire to clean, but there was nothing left to clean in the apartment. She had been so angry and nervous lately, that she had been spending most of her hours cleaning, since it often took her mind off her other problems. Now she didn't know what to do. She turned on the television and flipped through the channels, half-heartedly. Finally, she began to drift off to sleep; the hours of restless squirming in bed finally caught up to her. Before she realized it, she was fast asleep on her sofa at noon, with the television blaring. None of that mattered, for momentarily she was not thinking of her troubles.
Chandler sat in a taxi, impatiently, driving through the crowded streets of Manhattan. Although he couldn't remember exactly where the apartment building was, he figured he would remember it once he saw it. He stared outside at the many buildings, shops, and various peoples.
"Oh, I remember that coffee shop!" Chandler remarked excitedly, noticing that the apartment was right next to the coffee shop.
Once the cab driver stopped and Chandler paid him, he made his way into the building.
"Damnit!" he said under his breath, noticing that he would have to be buzzed in to the building. He wasn't sure if she would allow him to enter. Scanning the list, he found the apartment for "Geller-Greene" and hesitated before calling up to apartment 20.
Before he could dial, a dark haired man in a brown coat asked him, "You need to get in buddy?"
"Yeah," Chandler answered, distractedly.
"Ok, I'll let you in," the man then studied Chandler closely, "Unless you're a thief or a mass-murderer."
"No," Chandler chucked, "No. I just want to surprise my, umm…girlfriend."
"Oh, I see," he smiled as he put in his key and opened up the door.
"Thanks," Chandler said as the two of them entered the apartment.
"No problem. Good luck man." With that, the two men parted ways.
Nervously, Chandler made his way up the stairs. "Apartment 20, apartment 20…" he repeated over and over again to himself.
After a minute of climbing stairs, he approached the floor and apprehensively made his way towards the green door marked "20". For a moment, he just stood outside of it, leaning on the doorpost, afraid to knock. He waited there, just trying to muster up the courage. Finally, using all of his efforts and bravery, he gingerly lifted his fist towards the door.
Monica groaned as she heard a soft tapping on her door. Groggily, she stumbled towards the door and peered through the peephole. Once she focused her eye on the man standing outside, she gasped. Surprised, she opened the door slowly.
"Chandler…?" she whispered.
With his mouth dry and palms sweaty he answered quietly, "Monica…"
She opened the door fully as she looked up into his soft, blue eyes. She thought that she saw compassion and raw emotion in his eyes, but wondered if she was just being too hopeful.
"Can we talk?" he questioned, after they shared a moment of solely staring into each other's eyes.
Monica examined the hallway before answering. "Is she here?"
"No," Chandler answered quickly, "I bribed her to get her away from me."
"What did you have to do?"
"Give her $250."
"Wow," Monica laughed.
"Ehh," Chandler answered nonchalantly. Obviously $250 was little for him to sweat over. "Besides," Chandler continued, "You're worth much more than that."
Timidly, Monica smiled at him, unsure of his intentions. At first, she was certain that he was there to rid himself of her in his life. However, now she was not so sure.
"Come in," Monica invited.
Chandler nodded and entered the apartment. Monica gestured for him to sit with her on the sofa, and he obliged, while taking off his coat.
Chandler took a deep breath, "I made such a huge mistake."
Monica stifled a cry, thinking that she was his huge mistake.
Chandler continued, not noticing Monica's sadness, "I let Kathy back in my life."
"What?" Monica asked, taken by surprise.
"I don't want her! She hurt me too much. I don't love her." He looked straight into her eyes and continued with his heartfelt confession, "I love you."
Monica had tears of relief in her eyes as she struggled, "Y..yeah?"
Chandler touched her chin lightly, lifting her face towards his, "Yeah."
"Can I kiss you?" Chandler questioned, hoping that she would allow him.
"Uh-huh," she answered shyly.
Immediately after, Monica found Chandler's lips gently brush hers. Monica's hands grabbed the back of his head, pulling him closer to her. The two of them got caught up in the kiss; feeling content. Chandler pulled Monica closer to himself by hugging her. He loved the way it felt to hold her close to him as their tongues intermingled inside her mouth. Chandler couldn't imagine being anywhere else at that moment. He was on cloud nine, soaring through the sky. The only thing he was aware of was the incredible woman that he held in his arms. Monica ran her fingers through his hair as she enjoyed the kiss. This was what she had been waiting for all her life--the perfect kiss, with the perfect guy. So maybe Chandler had his flaws, but at that very moment, he was perfect to her. This is what a dream coming true felt like. It was something Monica had never experienced before in her entire life, and did not wish to end.
However, like all great things in life, the kiss came to end. Chandler still held Monica in his arms as he searched her eyes. They looked back up at him, filled with affection, but also fear. He stepped back a bit, deciding to give her space.
"Was that…not okay?" he questioned hesitantly.
"No," Monica assured him quietly, "No, that was perfect."
"Then what is it?"
"This is all too complicated."
He looked at her, not understanding, and so she continued.
"There's Kathy, for one thing."
"Right," Chandler looked down at his feet.
"And also, what about the fact that you have so many problems that you claim you can't be in a relationship?" Monica questioned, fearing the answer.
"I…I can get rid of Kathy!" Chandler answered, "She's just using me, anyway."
"Yeah, well what about the second thing?" Monica challenged.
"Well, I realized what it would be like to lose you, when I was with Kathy." Chandler took a step closer to Monica and continued, "I couldn't stand a single second of my life without you. I won't be stupid and block you from my life."
Monica just stared at him, so he reassured her, "I love you Monica. I want to be with you, in a relationship now, and for as long as I possibly can, because life without you, for me, is like a fish without water. Just as a fish cannot live without water, I cannot live without you."
Monica contemplated his words for a while. Although touched by his words, that were straight from his heart, she was still apprehensive. He watched as she stood, pensively, beside him. He nervously shifted his weight from one leg to the other, anxiously anticipating her response. Her answer could make or break him, and he knew that she was aware of this.
After a few minutes, Chandler heard Monica's voice call, "Chandler." He looked up at her, his heart beating a million miles an hour.
She lightly took his hand in hers and began, "I love you, too."
Chandler smiled slightly, but feared that there was more to her statement.
"And I want to be with you, too. But you need to do some things for me."
"Anything!" Chandler answered truthfully. He would jump off a cliff for her--anything to get her in his life.
"You have to break up with Kathy."
"Right, of course!"
"And, you have to make a promise to me."
"What's that?"
"Don't break my heart."
He looked into her eyes and saw a vulnerable, fearful woman in place of her normal strong, brave demeanor.
"I swear I'll try my hardest not to. But you have to do something for me, too."
She looked at him curiously, as he took her other hand.
"Don't break my heart, either."
"I swear I'll try my hardest not to, also," she answered while squeezing his hands.
Chandler smiled gratefully and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Time to kill the wicked witch of the west," he joked as he started towards the door.
She smiled back at him, and watched as he walked out of the door. Before closing it, he turned around and looked at Monica again, lovingly. Because of this, Monica felt her heart flutter with love. After that, he left her apartment and headed back towards his home to get rid of his sore that was Kathy.
"This time," he told himself confidently, "It's for good." He smiled to himself as he noticed the double meaning of his words, and hailed a taxi.
Ok, chapter 9. Yay! I couldn't wait to get up to this part! Yay! In the next chapter, Chandler will attempt to get rid of Kathy. Will it work? Pray that it will! Lol. I'm not that mean, though. Ooo, while you're praying, pray that I get a day off from school tomorrow for snow. Yeah, like that's gonna happen--my school, like never cancels. I figure if we get anything at all, it will end up being an early dismissal. But I wanna sleep late! Plus, if I go into school, I get more hw! Oh well, I don't really wanna think about it now. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. BTW, I don't know if Central Perk is underneath the apartment building or next to it, so I just said next to it. If I'm wrong, then I'm so sorry! All right, Please read and review!:)