The Theory
Chapter IX
Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
~Psalms 21:11
Joey looked up in time to see Chandler dart across the room, looking pale and shaken up. He looked out the kitchen window, and saw that Monica was sitting alone in the backyard, and that she was sobbing. Joey momentarily debated over which friend to comfort.
That moment was slight, to say the least.
Joey darted upstairs, and soon found Chandler, pacing back and forth in the guest room, muttering incoherently.
"Chandler?" Joey stood in the doorway tentatively.
"Go away Joey," Chandler said gruffly.
"Chandler, what's going on?"
"Joey, tell me something. Why did you come out here, really? Was it because you didn't trust that this is where I'd be?" Chandler yelled.
"Chandler, I swear to you, that is not why I came. Yes, we found out about your Dad afterward, but I really think there are bigger reasons here—"
"She said she was in love with me," Chandler said quietly, cutting Joey off.
"What?"
"Monica. She said she's in love with me."
Joey closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping slightly. He knew it. It was his greatest fear, coming to pass. He opened his eyes slowly, and watched, as Chandler sunk down onto his bed.
"What did you tell her?" Joey asked slowly.
"Nothing. I couldn't—I didn't know what to say. I thought—I didn't know what to think, actually," Chandler shook his head.
"Do you—I mean, how do you feel?"
"I don't know," Chandler sighed.
"Do you love her?" Joey asked.
"I…I used to. I don't know anymore," Chandler said, though the tone of his voice said otherwise.
"You used to…" Joey echoed, his heart sinking. He was suddenly seeing That Night from a totally different perspective.
"When she laughed…when you all said…I just…I lost all hope," Chandler said softly, his voice raspy.
~One Year Ago~
Chandler sat on the steps of Kathy's building, his body shaking. She really was cheating on him. He'd never felt so…betrayed. It wasn't until he was outside that he realized that he wasn't sad that things had ended with Kathy. The thoughts that were going through his head scared him. He should be heartbroken; the woman he loved was sleeping with someone else. But that was just it—Kathy wasn't the woman he was in love with anymore.
Thinking back, Chandler wondered if his relationship with Kathy had been doomed from the start. And when things started going sour with Kathy, Chandler was more than willing to see things that, perhaps weren't there.
But in the last week, there had been no mistaking the signals. Monica had definitely been looking at him differently. And just last night, she had let her hand linger on his leg…let her gaze linger on his face. He'd never had much luck with women…but there was no mistaking the signals.
Sadly, Chandler realized that even if Kathy hadn't cheated, Chandler would have ended things—he wasn't much of a cheater—his heart belonged to Monica; it always had.
Chandler stood up, as the epiphany hit him with full force: He was in love with Monica, and he had to tell her—tonight.
~Present~
"She was devastated after you left," Joey confessed. "I saw all the signs…Phoebe did too, but we knew that you were hurting…and that that was the last thing you wanted to hear. I was reluctant to come out here, but I could tell that there was no stopping Monica. There was never any doubt in her mind that you were here, and she…she had this desperation about her. Last month, when she had to miss that dinner with you, she grilled all of us for three days about you. How you looked, what your demeanor was like, what you said. She drove us crazy," Joey chuckled.
"I—I don't know what to do," Chandler said stiffly.
"I'm just telling you what I know, Chandler. I think you should follow your heart. I think you should do whatever makes you happy. If that means walking away from all of us, and never seeing us again, then do it. All I want is for you to put yourself first—you deserve nothing less than that."
Chandler looked up at Joey, shock lining his eyes. He studied Joey's eyes for a long minute, searching for an answer. Finally, after a deafening silence, Chandler smiled.
"You're a good man, Joey, and a good friend. I have to admit that after all of this happened…I wondered if you weren't trying to get back at me for a few of my indiscretions as a friend—namely, your sister, and Kathy. But I always knew that deep down…you truly had no idea what you were doing to me. I appreciate that you are so willing to do this…I do. And I have no desire to cut you out of my life. I want to trust you Joe, and I want to believe that Monica is telling the truth, but—"
"I know. And I don't think you should do anything, if you don't feel right about it."
"Joe…I'm scared. I've loved her for so long, I don't know how to stop," Chandler felt tears line his eyes, and his voice trembled as he spoke.
"I know," Joey whispered sadly, and pulled Chandler into a hug. He wondered if Monica was being sincere: because if she wasn't, and Chandler let himself fall again…he would never, ever recover.
Joey refused to let that happen.
AN: It's short, but it kinds needed to end there…sorry. Next chapter later in the week…