When Chandler had a moment alone during his anniversary dinner, he used the restaurant's pay phone.
"Hello?" Joey answered.
"Hi, Joe--"
"Chandler?"
"Yeah, it's me. I don't have much time, so just listen, please. I did what you said and thought about everything, and I, um, I made a decision--"
"You chose her, didn't you?"
Chandler frowned. "How did you know?"
"For one thing, you're whispering. For another thing, if you chose me, you'd come see me in person, wouldn't you?"
"Yeah," he nodded and sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, Joe. I guess--I guess tonight's been crazy. I didn't mean to jerk you around or anything. I--"
"I know," Joey sounded sad. "I was the one that kissed you."
"Are you, are you gonna be all right, Joe? I mean," he looked around to make sure he was alone, "you said you loved me and everything."
"I'm fine!" Joey answered shortly. "Happy anniversary!" He hung up.
"Joe!" Chandler started to dial again, but realized that he'd really put his foot in his mouth, and should just let Joey be angry at him, as he had every right to be.
***
At the hotel, Joey left his room to get some fresh air. He didn't want Chandler's pity, just his love. It was all he'd ever wanted.
Joey sighed miserably. He had been trying to move on for months now, trying to find a date that really meant something to him and could help him let go. How could he let one night undo all that work? It was like Joey had gone back to a year ago, when he was desperately in love and getting nothing from Chandler but his usual moaning about girls.
Joey wished he'd never kissed Chandler that first night, after Yemen. He realized that Chandler was a lot like Kate, who had slept with Joey while she had a boyfriend, but it didn't mean anything to her. She didn't feel love until it was too late. Joey had to stop falling for the smart, complicated ones who never knew what they wanted. But how?
Joey kept wandering around that night, and got fired from his gladiator job when his boss spotted him not working and not in costume. So Joey gave back the stuff and shook his head. Maybe tomorrow he'd go find out where Mr. Bing's gay burlesque show was, and get a job there. Yeah, why not? Go and join another part of Chandler's life that he didn't know how to deal with.
Ross and Rachel had arrived, so Joey hoped hanging out with them would cheer him up, but when he found them in Ross's hotel room, they were drunk and almost insensible.
Joey returned downstairs and finally found Phoebe at the slot machines. She mentioned seeing Chandler and Monica together.
"Yeah, um, they were acting all couple-y when I saw them," she said with a sigh. "I told them to get a room, and they thought I was kidding." She frowned and couldn't help resenting Monica's happiness, but she added quickly, "It's just, um, hard for those of us who are single to watch other people in love like that."
Joey nodded. "Tell me about it."
Seeing how depressed he was, Phoebe didn't feel quite so alone. "I knew you had a soft spot, Joey Tribbiani!" she caressed his cheek. "You do want to settle down some day, huh? Listen, if you and me are still single when we're forty, do you want to get married?" She had already asked this question of Ross and Chandler, on other occasions. She was acquiring quite a collection of backups.
Joey shrugged and said, "Sure."
Phoebe smiled. "Good. Now let's cheer up! You wanna gamble with me? There's this lady who lurks by my slot machines, so you can keep a look out for me."
Joey fished his $100 tip out of his pocket. "You, um, you wanna go to dinner instead? I'll treat." The tip was only a sad reminder of his time with Chandler tonight. Why did Chandler always have to disappoint him in hotel rooms?
Phoebe looked at the chip and giggled. "Wow! With this, we could get liquored up real good, and get married." In fact, she'd done it once already, with some guy years ago. A good thing Vegas weddings didn't count anywhere but Vegas, right?
Joey stared at Phoebe and realized that she didn't need anymore to drink, just like Rachel and Ross upstairs. Joey decided to take care of her tonight, and make sure she didn't do anything stupid. It would be a distraction from moping over Chandler, at least.
Joey and Phoebe had just returned from their dinner when they got the message that Ross and Rachel were getting married. They rushed to the chapel, but were too late for the ceremony. Chandler and Monica were there too, and confirmed that Ross and Rachel actually got married. Phoebe also learned that Vegas marriages did indeed count.
After the gang dispersed from the chapel, Phoebe looked depressed and asked Joey to sleep with her. He answered softly, "No," and kissed her forehead. There was only one person he wanted tonight, somebody he'd already lost.
Phoebe felt rejected, and started to cry, so Joey hugged her and told her she was just feeling lonely and single because of all the couples. He let her come to his room and just fall asleep beside him on the bed, but his mind stayed on Chandler.
***
The next morning, Phoebe was grateful for Joey's gentlemanly behavior and considered him a great friend. She suggested that they always get together and discuss the others, whenever they felt low. Joey agreed and was tempted to tell her all his secrets about Chandler, but he held back. It was too painful and private, and she probably wouldn't approve of how he and Chandler had behaved last night. In any case, Phoebe was already getting drunk again.
At the breakfast buffet, Chandler pulled Joey aside and whispered, "I'm sorry about last night."
Joey nodded and stared at the eggs on his plate.
Chandler sighed. "Anyway, um, it turns out that you were right, Joe. I was having a commitment freak-out, just like with Janice. I mean, I even proposed to Monica last night, and we almost got married at that chapel."
"You did?"
"Yeah. The perfect end to a very strange night! Again, I'm very sorry about everything."
Joey said nothing.
***
Joey learned that his movie was officially cancelled, so he drove home with Phoebe. New York was just like he remembered it, but he felt as though he had been gone much longer than just a week.
Chandler and Monica announced that they planned to live together, and Joey knew it was healthier than having Chandler stay with him, but he was still upset and lonely. He only confided his conflicted feelings to the chick and the duck, who at least wouldn't judge him or say, "He never belonged to you."
After Ross and Rachel divorced, everyone prepared for the big move: Rachel would move in with Phoebe, and Chandler would move in with Monica. The night before the move, Chandler kept trying to offer Joey money to cover his bills, but Joey wanted to concentrate on saying goodbye. He was going to have a new roommate move in soon, and everything would move forward, he hoped.
At the end of the night, Joey gave Chandler the big white dog and refused Chandler's charity again. "The only thing I'm gonna miss... is you," he said. "And now the dog."
Chandler smiled sadly and gazed into Joey's eyes. "I'll miss you too."
Joey looked away from him and coughed. "Anyway, um, I'm happy everything worked out with you and Monica."
"Thank you," Chandler said, even more touched and surprised. He moved around the big white dog and came closer. "Listen, about Vegas..."
Joey sat down and didn't want to talk about it. "It's over with. It was nothing."
"No," Chandler sat down opposite him. "It wasn't nothing. I mean, I was really messed up and confused, and I shouldn't have even been there in your room, or before, in my room. I'm sorry. I-I hope you find somebody much better than me to love, Joey. Whoever your dream girl--or guy--is, you just let me know, and I'll support you just like you supported me and Mon. I will."
Surprised, Joey nodded and thanked him. Then Chandler hugged him close and found himself getting weepy.
"I'm--I'm sorry," he said, trying to hide his tears. "But I guess I should, after how you cried when we told you I was moving. I'm gonna miss you, Joe."
Joey repeated softly, "I'll miss you."
After Chandler composed himself, they started to let go, but met each other's eyes. It was Chandler who first leaned in for a kiss.
Joey turned away and got up from the couch.
Chandler cleared his throat and said, "I'm sorry. God, I don't know what's wrong with me. You're--you're okay?"
Joey went over to the broken foosball table and pretended to fix it, keeping his back to Chandler.
"I'm sorry!" He felt awful. "I-I guess it's a good thing I'm moving out, huh? I never used to be this weak. I just, I don't know, started remembering what we almost did in Vegas."
Joey said nothing, so Chandler continued talking, shaking his head. "I mean, what am I panicking about this move for? It's just across the hall. It's nothing like getting married to her." Chandler sighed and rose to go. "Maybe, maybe they're done packing over there. I should spend the night there."
Joey answered, "No, they're having their special last night. They sent me and Ross home so they could hang out, just girls."
"Oh." Chandler frowned. "Then I'll go to Ross's, I guess."
"What will you tell him?"
"I don't know. Maybe, um, we're fighting about the broken foosball table or something."
Joey warned, "No, he'll just come back with you and try to get us to make up. It's our last night."
"Yeah," Chandler realized and sat on the stool. "Yeah, they all want us to be together." He winced at the irony. "I guess I'll stay in my room. You--you lock your door just in case, Joe." How strange to say that, when Joey had always been the one to sneak into Chandler's bedroom when they were lovers. Chandler had never locked his door against him.
Joey remembered that. He remembered everything they'd ever done together. Joey stared at Chandler, and could almost feel his thoughts. Surrendering to temptation, Joey came over to Chandler and asked, "Kiss me one last time. Just for goodbye."
Chandler did so, passionately, and neither of them wanted to break off the kiss.
Joey finally let go. "Goodbye," he whispered.
Chandler held onto him and searched his eyes. "We could--since it's our last night... I mean, I owe you something for Vegas, huh? And London? It would be... goodbye."
Joey knew better, but he wanted it badly too. He kissed Chandler again, and nodded. They spent the rest of the night in Chandler's bedroom.
"Hello?" Joey answered.
"Hi, Joe--"
"Chandler?"
"Yeah, it's me. I don't have much time, so just listen, please. I did what you said and thought about everything, and I, um, I made a decision--"
"You chose her, didn't you?"
Chandler frowned. "How did you know?"
"For one thing, you're whispering. For another thing, if you chose me, you'd come see me in person, wouldn't you?"
"Yeah," he nodded and sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, Joe. I guess--I guess tonight's been crazy. I didn't mean to jerk you around or anything. I--"
"I know," Joey sounded sad. "I was the one that kissed you."
"Are you, are you gonna be all right, Joe? I mean," he looked around to make sure he was alone, "you said you loved me and everything."
"I'm fine!" Joey answered shortly. "Happy anniversary!" He hung up.
"Joe!" Chandler started to dial again, but realized that he'd really put his foot in his mouth, and should just let Joey be angry at him, as he had every right to be.
***
At the hotel, Joey left his room to get some fresh air. He didn't want Chandler's pity, just his love. It was all he'd ever wanted.
Joey sighed miserably. He had been trying to move on for months now, trying to find a date that really meant something to him and could help him let go. How could he let one night undo all that work? It was like Joey had gone back to a year ago, when he was desperately in love and getting nothing from Chandler but his usual moaning about girls.
Joey wished he'd never kissed Chandler that first night, after Yemen. He realized that Chandler was a lot like Kate, who had slept with Joey while she had a boyfriend, but it didn't mean anything to her. She didn't feel love until it was too late. Joey had to stop falling for the smart, complicated ones who never knew what they wanted. But how?
Joey kept wandering around that night, and got fired from his gladiator job when his boss spotted him not working and not in costume. So Joey gave back the stuff and shook his head. Maybe tomorrow he'd go find out where Mr. Bing's gay burlesque show was, and get a job there. Yeah, why not? Go and join another part of Chandler's life that he didn't know how to deal with.
Ross and Rachel had arrived, so Joey hoped hanging out with them would cheer him up, but when he found them in Ross's hotel room, they were drunk and almost insensible.
Joey returned downstairs and finally found Phoebe at the slot machines. She mentioned seeing Chandler and Monica together.
"Yeah, um, they were acting all couple-y when I saw them," she said with a sigh. "I told them to get a room, and they thought I was kidding." She frowned and couldn't help resenting Monica's happiness, but she added quickly, "It's just, um, hard for those of us who are single to watch other people in love like that."
Joey nodded. "Tell me about it."
Seeing how depressed he was, Phoebe didn't feel quite so alone. "I knew you had a soft spot, Joey Tribbiani!" she caressed his cheek. "You do want to settle down some day, huh? Listen, if you and me are still single when we're forty, do you want to get married?" She had already asked this question of Ross and Chandler, on other occasions. She was acquiring quite a collection of backups.
Joey shrugged and said, "Sure."
Phoebe smiled. "Good. Now let's cheer up! You wanna gamble with me? There's this lady who lurks by my slot machines, so you can keep a look out for me."
Joey fished his $100 tip out of his pocket. "You, um, you wanna go to dinner instead? I'll treat." The tip was only a sad reminder of his time with Chandler tonight. Why did Chandler always have to disappoint him in hotel rooms?
Phoebe looked at the chip and giggled. "Wow! With this, we could get liquored up real good, and get married." In fact, she'd done it once already, with some guy years ago. A good thing Vegas weddings didn't count anywhere but Vegas, right?
Joey stared at Phoebe and realized that she didn't need anymore to drink, just like Rachel and Ross upstairs. Joey decided to take care of her tonight, and make sure she didn't do anything stupid. It would be a distraction from moping over Chandler, at least.
Joey and Phoebe had just returned from their dinner when they got the message that Ross and Rachel were getting married. They rushed to the chapel, but were too late for the ceremony. Chandler and Monica were there too, and confirmed that Ross and Rachel actually got married. Phoebe also learned that Vegas marriages did indeed count.
After the gang dispersed from the chapel, Phoebe looked depressed and asked Joey to sleep with her. He answered softly, "No," and kissed her forehead. There was only one person he wanted tonight, somebody he'd already lost.
Phoebe felt rejected, and started to cry, so Joey hugged her and told her she was just feeling lonely and single because of all the couples. He let her come to his room and just fall asleep beside him on the bed, but his mind stayed on Chandler.
***
The next morning, Phoebe was grateful for Joey's gentlemanly behavior and considered him a great friend. She suggested that they always get together and discuss the others, whenever they felt low. Joey agreed and was tempted to tell her all his secrets about Chandler, but he held back. It was too painful and private, and she probably wouldn't approve of how he and Chandler had behaved last night. In any case, Phoebe was already getting drunk again.
At the breakfast buffet, Chandler pulled Joey aside and whispered, "I'm sorry about last night."
Joey nodded and stared at the eggs on his plate.
Chandler sighed. "Anyway, um, it turns out that you were right, Joe. I was having a commitment freak-out, just like with Janice. I mean, I even proposed to Monica last night, and we almost got married at that chapel."
"You did?"
"Yeah. The perfect end to a very strange night! Again, I'm very sorry about everything."
Joey said nothing.
***
Joey learned that his movie was officially cancelled, so he drove home with Phoebe. New York was just like he remembered it, but he felt as though he had been gone much longer than just a week.
Chandler and Monica announced that they planned to live together, and Joey knew it was healthier than having Chandler stay with him, but he was still upset and lonely. He only confided his conflicted feelings to the chick and the duck, who at least wouldn't judge him or say, "He never belonged to you."
After Ross and Rachel divorced, everyone prepared for the big move: Rachel would move in with Phoebe, and Chandler would move in with Monica. The night before the move, Chandler kept trying to offer Joey money to cover his bills, but Joey wanted to concentrate on saying goodbye. He was going to have a new roommate move in soon, and everything would move forward, he hoped.
At the end of the night, Joey gave Chandler the big white dog and refused Chandler's charity again. "The only thing I'm gonna miss... is you," he said. "And now the dog."
Chandler smiled sadly and gazed into Joey's eyes. "I'll miss you too."
Joey looked away from him and coughed. "Anyway, um, I'm happy everything worked out with you and Monica."
"Thank you," Chandler said, even more touched and surprised. He moved around the big white dog and came closer. "Listen, about Vegas..."
Joey sat down and didn't want to talk about it. "It's over with. It was nothing."
"No," Chandler sat down opposite him. "It wasn't nothing. I mean, I was really messed up and confused, and I shouldn't have even been there in your room, or before, in my room. I'm sorry. I-I hope you find somebody much better than me to love, Joey. Whoever your dream girl--or guy--is, you just let me know, and I'll support you just like you supported me and Mon. I will."
Surprised, Joey nodded and thanked him. Then Chandler hugged him close and found himself getting weepy.
"I'm--I'm sorry," he said, trying to hide his tears. "But I guess I should, after how you cried when we told you I was moving. I'm gonna miss you, Joe."
Joey repeated softly, "I'll miss you."
After Chandler composed himself, they started to let go, but met each other's eyes. It was Chandler who first leaned in for a kiss.
Joey turned away and got up from the couch.
Chandler cleared his throat and said, "I'm sorry. God, I don't know what's wrong with me. You're--you're okay?"
Joey went over to the broken foosball table and pretended to fix it, keeping his back to Chandler.
"I'm sorry!" He felt awful. "I-I guess it's a good thing I'm moving out, huh? I never used to be this weak. I just, I don't know, started remembering what we almost did in Vegas."
Joey said nothing, so Chandler continued talking, shaking his head. "I mean, what am I panicking about this move for? It's just across the hall. It's nothing like getting married to her." Chandler sighed and rose to go. "Maybe, maybe they're done packing over there. I should spend the night there."
Joey answered, "No, they're having their special last night. They sent me and Ross home so they could hang out, just girls."
"Oh." Chandler frowned. "Then I'll go to Ross's, I guess."
"What will you tell him?"
"I don't know. Maybe, um, we're fighting about the broken foosball table or something."
Joey warned, "No, he'll just come back with you and try to get us to make up. It's our last night."
"Yeah," Chandler realized and sat on the stool. "Yeah, they all want us to be together." He winced at the irony. "I guess I'll stay in my room. You--you lock your door just in case, Joe." How strange to say that, when Joey had always been the one to sneak into Chandler's bedroom when they were lovers. Chandler had never locked his door against him.
Joey remembered that. He remembered everything they'd ever done together. Joey stared at Chandler, and could almost feel his thoughts. Surrendering to temptation, Joey came over to Chandler and asked, "Kiss me one last time. Just for goodbye."
Chandler did so, passionately, and neither of them wanted to break off the kiss.
Joey finally let go. "Goodbye," he whispered.
Chandler held onto him and searched his eyes. "We could--since it's our last night... I mean, I owe you something for Vegas, huh? And London? It would be... goodbye."
Joey knew better, but he wanted it badly too. He kissed Chandler again, and nodded. They spent the rest of the night in Chandler's bedroom.
