PART FIVE
"Hey, Mon, I need to talk to you about something." Phoebe said the next morning.
"What about?" Monica asked, eating her breakfast.
"Well, I didn't want to bring it up last night because I didn't want to ruin your reunion."
"What is it Pheebs?" Monica asked, looking worried, "You're beginning to freak me out a little."
"Oh it's nothing bad," she assured her, "…but it might still upset you a little."
"Ok…"
"Well, do you remember David who went to Minsk a few months ago? He's coming back!"
"Wow!" Monica cried out, "That's great! Why would that upset me?"
Phoebe sighed. "We've talked about it a lot and we've made a decision. He's moving in." she looked closely at Monica's face, studying her reaction.
"Oh…" Monica nodded, "You want me to move out?"
"I'm really sorry Mon," Phoebe replied quietly, "I hope it doesn't upset you too much…"
"Oh Pheebs…" Monica sighed, "Something like this was going to happen sooner or later and it is your apartment. I don't mind finding someplace else."
A look of relief spread across Phoebe's face. "Thanks for being so understanding. You can stay for as long as you need to until you get somewhere else."
"Thanks Pheebs." Monica grabbed a newspaper, "I'd better get apartment hunting then!"
"This place looks great!" Phoebe walked around the boxes, admiring Monica's new apartment.
It had been four weeks since Monica had begun apartment hunting, and now, she had a place not too far away from Phoebe's.
"Yes," Monica agreed, "I've just got to start unpacking now!"
"Well, I'll leave you to it then." Phoebe opened the door and turned around to see Chandler standing behind her.
"Hi!" he greeted.
"Hi!" Monica greeted back in surprise, "How did you find out where I would be living?" she saw Phoebe turn away, "Ohhh. I see. Never mind." She smiled, shaking her head.
"Bye!" Phoebe called, shutting the door.
"Well, nice furniture you've got here!" Chandler quipped, gesturing towards the blanket-covered couch. He pulled it off. "That's better!" he sat down.
Monica watched him. "Are you here to help or are you just going to sit there?" she asked him.
"Oh, I'll help." He grumbled good-naturedly.
Hours later, the unpacking was finished. Chandler collapsed on the couch. Monica collapsed on it next to him, surveying the room.
"Thanks for helping." She said.
"No problem." Chandler mumbled, his eyes closed. He opened them and smiled at her.
She smiled back at him and snuggled against his arm. "Despite feeling tired," she yawned, "I've had a good time."
He put his arm around her and kissed her forehead.
"Me too," he said quietly, looking into her eyes.
"Uh-huh." Monica murmured, not taking her eyes off him.
Chandler leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips.
"Er…um…" she said, not thinking of anything else to say at that point.
Chandler smiled gently at her and got up off the couch. "Um…right." He stuttered, "I'll get going then."
"Sure." Monica nodded, getting up and blushing a little. "Bye."
"Bye." Chandler hugged her gently, not too long but enough to express his feelings, and left.
"Hi, Rachel." Monica greeted, arriving at the Central Perk later that day.
"Hi, Mon!" Rachel called. She went over, "Listen," she said, "I heard you were looking for a new apartment so I was thinking…why don't you just move in with me?!"
"Oh, I wish you had told me that sooner," Monica groaned, "I've already found somewhere."
"So?" Rachel shrugged, "Have you signed the lease contract yet?"
"Well, no but…"
"Then move in with me!" Rachel cried, "It would be so much better to share the rent than have to pay for it by yourself! We'd have a great time as roommates. Please?" she looked hopefully at her.
"Ok, ok." Monica sighed and then smiled. "I'll do it!"
"Yay!"
Chandler walked in. "Hey," he greeted, "What's up?"
"Monica's moving in with me!" Rachel exclaimed.
"You mean, more packing?" Chandler groaned, smiling secretly at Monica.
Monica blushed a little, shy about what happened with Chandler earlier that day.
"I can't believe you're giving up this place to share an apartment!" Phoebe groaned, lifting boxes to take to Rachel's.
"Sorry," Monica apologised, "but financially, it's a lot better."
Phoebe set down a box and wiped a brow. "I don't know what you've got in here…" she muttered to herself, and then looking up at Monica. "Where's Chandler? I thought he was helping."
"He's at work."
"What does he do again?"
Monica raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I asked him. Which is really weird considering how many times I've talked to him over the past few weeks." She shrugged, "I guess neither of our careers came up into our conversations."
"What happened to the other one?" Phoebe gestured to the laptop.
"Oh…well, we actually haven't been in touch since we arranged to meet…"
"Really? If it was me, I'd be demanding to know why I've been stood up!" Phoebe smacked her hands together, annoyed at the thought of her friend getting hurt.
Monica shook her head. "I'm kind of glad Tom didn't come in a way. Instead, I met some great old friends." She smiled, thinking of Ross and Rachel, and Chandler in particular.
"Yes, but…" Phoebe hesitated, and then decided to continue, "you seemed to really like this Tom. You had a lot in common with him and, at the time, you really wanted to meet him…"
"Oh, wow…" Monica muttered.
"What?"
"That's who Chandler reminds me of!" Monica exclaimed, "Tom!"
"Chandler reminds you of Tom?" Phoebe said slowly.
"Yes!" Monica shook her head, sitting down. "Now what do I do? I've been talking to these guys…one who is so like me and so sweet. The other who is so great and whom I like more and more every time we speak …" she paused, not wanting to tell Phoebe just how much she liked Chandler.
"Are you going to tell me which is which?" Phoebe asked, confused.
"The first one is Tom and the second one is Chandler."
"You seem to really like Chandler." Phoebe said thoughtfully.
"Really? You think so?" Monica blushed as she thought of the kiss she'd had with him.
"Yes, I think so." Phoebe studied Monica's face and smiled, "I really do…"
"Then there's Tom…" Monica sighed.
"Wow, you have got a problem haven't you?"
END OF PART FIVE