A Different Perspective-Chapter 5

Ok, before I begin, I have a general note based on a bad review I got on another story that goes for all of my fics. Ok, maybe some characters wouldn't act like they do in my fics on the show, but that doesn't mean that u have to totally bash me. I mean this *isn't* the show, if u haven't noticed. It's what I want to do, and if u can't handle that, than don't read my fics. All right, enough said. Enjoy chapter 5!  And a decade of Friends baby! A-whoo-hoo! I was jumping 'round the house for like an hour after I found out on Sat…lol.

Note: Thanks to Exintaris for your corrections. And I made those corrections on the last chapter now. And I hope ur a bit more satisfied now that I told u where Rachel lived. I hope it didn't get confusing, but I kinda had to make up my own history in the midst of things. Please, please, people--tell me if I make mistakes with words like those b/c well yeah, I'm that stupid.

Disclaimer: Yet again, I don't own any of these characters, except for Jessica, who's mine.

          I'm sure you'd agree with me that it's hard growing up, right? I mean there's a lot of pressure to deal with. Between schoolwork, friends, drugs, and appearance, there's a lot on a kid's mind. So, maybe I didn't really deal with any drugs at that point in my life, but I sure felt very self-conscious about my appearance. I was very small for my age, as I mentioned before, which won me many taunts and jokes by peers. Sure, I beat the crap out of them when they said those things to me, but it still hurt. I hated that I looked like I was like eight years old, when I was really almost twelve. All of my friends were beginning to fill out, yet I was completely flat. Not only that, but guys and girls were beginning to mingle, but also none of the guys cared about me. I mean who wants to date a girl who looks like she's nine years old? I decided that I really needed to talk about it with someone. Now, of course I wouldn't tell my friends, so I had to choose one of the adults in my life, preferably one of the woman. Maybe I should have thought to pick my mother, but I chose Rachel instead. It was easier to choose Rachel. She always took me shopping and it just, it seemed right up her ally. I asked her to take me shopping one day, so that we could discuss my problem.

"Rachel?" I began as we sat down for lunch, "Umm…yeah, so…" I was having trouble talking about it. It really was something that embarrassed me beyond imagination. Besides, I wasn't one to just come out and talk about my personal life easily.

"Yeah?"

"See, like all of the girls, they're like ya know, not flat like me, and it's really…"

"Say no more," she smiled, obviously knowing what was bothering me, "That's totally normal. Some girls mature quicker than others. That's the way of life. You'll catch up soon enough."

"Yeah? Did that happen to you?"

Rachel looked away. "No. I was one of those girls who mature quicker than others. But I still know that it's nothing to worry about."

I smiled at her. Somehow, that made me feel better. I guess it was because she knew exactly what I was going to say. That's what I love about Rachel. She's always there to listen, and she usually knows exactly what you're going to say. She's just one of those very comforting people.

Sometimes, I feel bad for her though. I mean she had a lot of problems in her life. Not that most people don't, but one of them, I feel directly responsible for though. See, before I moved in, she had lived with my mother. Now, Rachel was supposed to be married, but she ran out before the wedding and took refuge with my mother. Then, she had to get herself a job and make it out in the real world. The reason she was going to get married was so that she could remain spoiled and selfish; not get a job and work for things. She handled that well though. At the time before I came to live with my mother, Rachel lived with her. Then, I came along, and Rachel was forced to move out, because the apartment is only a two bedroom. She then moved in with my Uncle Ross and began to date him. Things between went really well for a while, but then it all went downhill. I really don't like to get into it though, because it's so complicated. I don't think that they even understand everything that's happened between them over the years.

First, it took them forever to actually get together. Once that happened, they broke up because Ross slept with another woman when they were supposedly 'on a break', but Ross thought Rachel meant a break forever. I have to say that although I see Ross' point, I take Rachel's side. Now, I would never tell them that, because my uncle would absolutely hate me. But, none of that would have even happened if Ross hadn't been so envious of everything. I mean if he wasn't jealous of Rachel spending time with this guy she worked with named Mark, it was that he was upset that Rachel spent so much time at work. If he had kept his mouth shut, then they would have never even been on that 'break' in the first place. But they really did love each other. They're too different though. I do believe that they can make things work, but not without tons of counseling. They have a lot to work through. I mean Rachel tried to break up one of Ross' weddings, the two of them got married in Vegas and then divorced, and now they have a child together. If those aren't huge conflicts in a relationship, than I don't know what is. But I have faith in them. They just have to quit being so stubborn and accept that they want to be together.

Okay, anyway, after Rachel moved out of Ross' place, she moved back into our building, on the floor below us, with this insane roommate, named Diane. No one actually saw Diane though, aside from Rachel, so I know very little about her. I do know that Rachel absolutely hated her, however, had no other choice, but to live with her. Then, when Phoebe's grandmother passed away, Rachel moved in with Phoebe. However, after a fire at their place, Rachel moved into Joey's apartment, since at that point, Chandler lived in my apartment.  Finally, at this moment, due to their child, Rachel lives with Ross. I know it's complicated, but hey, that's life for ya.

A few days after Rachel and I went shopping, I entered the apartment to find my mother sitting at the kitchen table with her head down. She didn't lift it when I walked inside, nor did she even greet me. I found her behavior suspicious, since she always greeted me when I came home from school and bugged me about my day.

"Mom?" I questioned as I sat down next to her, "Is everything okay?" At first, I wondered if maybe somebody had died, but then other people would have been in the apartment if that had happened.

She lifted her head and looked me straight in the eye, "Why don't you trust me?"

I was completely dumbfounded by her question. "What?"

"You know what! You talked to Rachel instead of me about feeling insecure about your body. Why couldn't you talk to me? I'm you're mother!"

"I dunno," I responded, not understanding her annoyance, "I just happened to be shopping with her, so I told her."

"Right. You just happened to be shopping with her. I'm you're mother, Jessica, yet what do I get?"

"Excuse me?"

"The only thing I ever get to do is discipline you."

"That's not tr…"

"Yes it is! I mean all my friends get the good parts of having a kid, while I get the bad! And you're my child!"

"That's not true. I go to you plenty."

"Right. You come to me when you get suspended from school or when your teacher kicks you out of class."

"I come to you for other things."

"Yeah? Name one."

I began to ponder her question, but the longer I thought about it, the more I saw the truth in her accusation.

"See, you can't think of anything. I mean Rachel gets the shopping and everything about your looks. Then, Joey gets to play all the games with you and help you with acting. Also, Phoebe keeps your interest for hours with stories. And Chandler…well Chandler gets your total trust and admiration. I mean he gets everything! You go to him whenever something goes wrong in your life. And…and even Ross gets to help you with your homework!"

I tried to take her point seriously, but I couldn't help but chuckle at her jealousy of her brother. I can barely stand the guy most of the time. See, I don't like him, but I do love him.

My laugh obviously insulted her. "So it's funny?"

"No, no! I just…I had no idea, okay? I didn't think about talking to you instead of Rachel. It just didn't cross my mind. But I see your point and in the future I will…"

"Save it!" she cut me off harshly, "Don't do me any favors, Jessica." With that she stormed into her room.

I felt so guilty at that moment. I had no idea that it meant so much to her. I also didn't know what to say to rectify the situation. Instead, I headed for my room with a heavy heart.

Ok, chapter 5 is finished! Please leave me a review! TBC.