Falling Away From Me
The next part to Infinite Space (P.3) Hope that everyone had a great Christmas, and that you're all enjoying your holiday! Monica and Chandler's relationship progresses and Ross gets depressed as he realizes that Rachel may not come back.
Ross leaned over and grabbed hold of his knees to steady himself. He suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to throw up, so he gulped in fresh oxygen as fast as he could as he collapsed on the wet grass.
"Where would she go?" Ross asked himself as his eyes began to gather moisture. He sat there thinking for a few seconds before he came up with an answer. "Nowhere."
Ross walked as fast as he could back to his house, holding his stomach to keep himself from falling over from the pain digging into his side. He gasped for air as he forced himself to keep moving. He saw his house ahead of him and continued to walk, his breath coming in short gasps.
"Mom! Dad!" He yelled as he opened the door and entered his house. "Get down here!"
He heard some scrambling upstairs so he sat down in the middle of the staircase, tying to calm himself down. Chandler was the first person who appeared at the top of the banister, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Chandler, Rachel took off." Ross panicked.
"W-What? When? How?" Chandler snapped awake suddenly.
"She just left! I chased her to the bus stop but--- she took off" Ross desperately tried to explain.
"Ross, what's wrong?" His parents appeared beside Chandler.
"Rachel, she just left." Ross said again, more irritated.
"What do you mean?" Judy asked him.
"Just get your car keys!" Ross snapped. "Chandler, can you go wake Monica?"
"Sure." Chandler nodded, and walked over to Monica's room, knocking before entering.
"Come in." A sleepy voice answered his knock.
"Hey sweetie." Chandler sat down on the bed beside Monica and stroked her hair.
"Hey." Monica smiled sleepily as one eye peered open to get a better glance
"Monica, honey, I need you to wake up and come downstairs." Chandler whispered in her ear.
"What? Why?" Monica asked as she opened both of her eyes to look at his concerned face.
"Just come." Chandler said as he got up and took a robe off the back of her door and handed it to her. She took it lazily and slipped it on over her pink pajamas and looked up at his face again, trying to read his expression. Chandler took her hand silently and led her out the door and down the stairs, where Ross and his parents were dressed and ready to leave.
"We're going to the bus station, the train station, anywhere we might be able to find her. You guys stay here and notify anyone that might be able to help. Call the bus station at 53rd and Madison and see if they might be able to catch her before she leaves." Ross said quickly.
"What's going on?" Monica asked as she tightened her robe around herself.
"Rachel took off. We don't know where she is or where she's going." Chandler filled in the silence.
At that moment, Ross and his parents left, taking the car keys, and going to search for her.
"What?" Monica asked in a hushed whisper
"I don't know what else. Ross heard her leaving and he took off after her, but she was already gone or something." Chandler whispered.
"She's gone?" Monica felt her eyes cloud over with tears.
"I'm sorry sweetie." Chandler consoled her and wrapped her in a warm hug. Monica grabbed onto him tightly and tried to calm herself into his shoulder
"Sh-she just left?" Monica asked suddenly.
"Maybe she'll come back, or they'll find her. Maybe she just went grocery shopping." Chandler said as a small smile crept over his face.
Monica giggled into his shoulder, but then turned serious. She looked up into Chandler's
eyes and searched his face. He looked back down at her and leant in to kiss her softly. She leaned up and kissed him back slowly. Monica smiled and backed herself out of his hug.
"Was that not okay?" Chandler asked her in a worried tone.
"No, that was more than okay." Monica smiled as she blushed. "But it's just not the time."
"I know." Chandler shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Monica stood away from him nervously. There was a moment of silence as they both stared at their feet.
"Is it me, or is there a lot tension here? Well, compared to when we weren't-um- together?" Chandler asked nervously.
"Oh no, it's not just you." Monica said quickly.
"Oh okay." Chandler said as another moment of silence followed.
"You know-maybe she left a note up in her room." Monica said.
"Who? Oh- we're talking about Rachel now. Okay. Yeah maybe." Chandler said quickly.
Monica quickly turned around and ran full speed up the stairs and into Rachel's room. On her bed there were two pieces of folded paper. One said "Ross" and the other said "Monica."
Monica picked up the envelope that had her name on it and began to read aloud to Chandler.
"Dear Monica," She began. "You've been my best friend for so many years. You've always been there for me and I thank you for that, but my life is overpowering my senses now, and I can't live like that. I'm going away for a while, actually I don't know how long for, but remember that I love you. You are one of the only people in the world that understood me. Love your best friend, Rachel" Monica's face crumbled and she broke down in tears and Chandler hugged her fiercely. He led her down the stairs to the living room couch and turned on the TV in the background. He sat down on the couch and beckoned for her to come over. She nodded quietly and went to sit beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead as she started to slip off into a deep sleep.
"Here." Chandler said as he laid her down across his lap. She mumbled a thanks and fell asleep immediately, as Chandler watched her breath in and out with a smile on his face.
Chandler began to drift off about an hour later when suddenly the door opened. Monica jumped up quickly and scrambled off of Chandler's lap to go greet her brother at the door.
"Well?" Monica asked eagerly as Chandler followed behind her.
"We couldn't find her." Ross said dully.
"Well, she has to be somewhere!" Monica began to panic.
"We got to the bus station, and there was no one there. The bus for the train station had just left so we went there and we searched for her, we really did but the trains for Dallas, San Francisco, Boston and New Orleans had already left, and no other trains were coming in for another 2 hours." Ross explained
"There's a note for you on her bed." Monica said quietly. Ross looked at her, shocked, and sprinted up the stairs and to Rachel's bedroom, picking up the piece of paper. He read it silently as his parents, Monica and Chandler stood at the door.
"Ross,
I know I was cruel to you before, but you made the past few days the easiest ever. You were so good to me, I wondered what I had done to deserve you. I never realized, but I was falling in love with you. It hit me like a train yesterday at the prom. You were dancing with all the seniors, and I was jealous. I mean, extremely jealous. That's when I knew I was falling for you. I can't have those feelings. At least, not yet. My whole family is gone, and I just need some time to breathe. This is not your fault Ross. I've been wanting to run away from everything-all my problems and fears for a long time. If I could take you with me, I would, but I just need to start over somehow. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, because I really do love you, and never wanted to hurt you. Love, Rachel
Ross nodded slightly at the paper before tearing it up into tiny pieces. He looked down at the floor and scattered the small pieces around the bed. He then looked up at the glowing stars on the ceiling and blinked back tears. It had all happened so fast. He wished he could go back to the night before when he had tried to kiss her. He wished he could take it all back, but he couldn't. He squeezed past his parents and little sisters into the hallway and into his room, where he shut the door quietly as they watched him, expecting an answer that he didn't have.
"We'll see what we can do in the morning." Judy said quietly as she and Jack headed for their own room.
Monica nodded and followed suit, leaving Chandler alone in the hallway. He turned without a word and walked out the front door, not knowing his final destination.
Monica collapsed onto her bed and pushed her pillow against her face to cover her sobs. "She really can't be gone, can she?" She thought to herself. The question rang over and over in her head until she fell into a troubled sleep.
The next few days were hectic in the house. Ross came out of his room only to go to the washroom, Monica walked around as if she were a zombie, and Jack and Judy tried everything they could to find out where Rachel was.
It was more than a week after Rachel disappeared when Chandler finally got his car back from the shop. He picked up his car and immediately drove over to Ross and Monica's place, where he had been every day since Rachel left. He jogged up to the house and knocked on he front door, where Monica opened the door. Her face immediately brightened when she saw him, and she gave him a kiss hello.
"Come on in." Monica gestured.
"Actually, I was kind of hoping we could go out for a drive. I got my truck back." Chandler said.
"Well, it's almost 10, and tomorrow I have to go to school." Monica said, but gave in quickly when Chandler gave her the puppy eyes that drove her crazy.
Monica ran into the house to get her coat and tell her parents that she was going out.
"Where?" Judy questioned her.
"Me and Chandler are just going to take a drive. He got his truck back." Monica said eagerly.
"Okay. Be back by midnight, or the latest by one." She said.
"Thanks mom!" Monica said as she ran out the front door and jumped into Chandler's arms.
"Whoa." He said as he caught her and kissed her deeply.
"Hi." She said as she motioned for him to put her back down.
"Hi." Chandler smiled as he took her hand and led her to his truck, where he opened the door for her. He ran to his side and got in the truck.
"So where exactly are we headed?" Monica asked him
"Wherever we end up." He smiled as he turned on the radio just as one of his favorite songs began to play.
Stars are out tonight
And you're the brightest one shining in my sky.
It's like very wish I ever made came true.
The day I woke up lying next to you.
Monica leaned over and put her hand on top of Chandlers. He turned and looked at her through the corner of his eye and smiled.
Ross sat on his bed listening to the same song as he looked at a picture of Rachel in his high school yearbook.
Will you be my best friend
If I offer you my heart?
'Cause it's already yours.
We could hang out every night
And watch the sun go down.
As long as we could watch it rise again.
Chandler pulled onto the highway and sped up as he turned up the volume on the radio. He began to sing along with the song as Monica joined in.
Gave me a valentine
It's these little things that stand the test of time.
I've saved the tickets from the shows that we've been to.
And a thousand other memories of you.
Chandler pulled onto a vacant scenic overlook that looked over Manhattan.
"Wow." Monica breathed. "It's beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you." Chandler whispered in her ear.
Monica leaned over and kissed him passionately, aa he kissed her back. The windows on the car began to fog up, and Monica's hand roamed downwards and began to unbuckle his belt.
"Have you done this before?" He asked her gently.
She shyly shook her head no.
"It's okay. I'll be gentle." He smiled at her.
"Okay." She answered
"Are you sure?" He asked her.
"I've never been more sure of anything." She said breathlessly, as he kissed her again.
Gave you this I.O.U. today.
It said good for one galaxy.
Once I build my rocket to the stars.
We'll fly away just you and me.
Ross angrily turned off his radio. Even the rock stations nowadays always played love songs. He wished that he could just listen to the music without hearing the words, but lately all he heard was the words, and nothing else.
He stayed up watching TV until almost 3 o'clock when the front door opened and Monica came in silently, not noticing Ross watching her.
"Hey what's wrong with you?" Ross asked as he watched her walk lopsidedly.
"I'm- sore." Monica said quietly with a smile on her face.
"Oh." Ross said disgustedly, not wanting to hear anymore. "At least someone's happy these days." He muttered to himself after she had disappeared up the stairs.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep as he had before, sprawled across the living room couch.
Monica woke up the next morning with a smile spread across her small face, and she bounded out of bed to get dressed and go to school. Even Mandy was leaving her alone now, and she suddenly had much more friends than usual. Everyone thought that Rachel was still resting at her house, so they would give her notes to give to her, and Monica would just sadly dump them together in a garbage bin when no one was around. Every day after school Chandler would come pick her up and they'd go for a drive together before he took her home for supper, which he most often stayed for. She was hoping that tonight they could go to the bluff where they had spent all last night trying to get comfortable with each other. The awkward phase had passed, and now they were better friends than they had been before, and they got to do all the little stuff that friends didn't do with each other. She pulled on a white tank-top and dark blue jeans, and reached for her earrings and sunglasses before she headed downstairs to have breakfast. She was still a little sore from the night before, but she thought that it was worth it.
She bounced happily down the stairs and into the kitchen where her mom was making eggs and toast.
"Hey mom." Monica chirped.
"Someone's in a good mood this morning." Judy smiled. "What time did you get in last night?"
"About one o'clock, maybe one thirty. We drove all around Manhattan and went to all these scenic bluffs. It was so beautiful that we lost track of time!" Monica said easily. She had been practicing her alibi all night.
"Well, good to see that Chandler's picking your spirits up. He really is a good friend to you." Judy smiled.
"Yeah." Monica smiled nervously. He mom still didn't know that she and Chandler were a couple, even though she had told Chandler that her parents knew.
"Well, I'm off to work, but I made you breakfast so enjoy, and I'll see you later sweetie." Judy kissed her cheek and went to put on her shoes and coat, and headed out the door.
Ross tossed and turned on the couch and Monica looked at him worriedly. His only good friend was Chandler, and she had taken Chandler away from him. He now spent most of his time alone watching TV and eating. He and Chandler had plans to get a job at a restaurant up the road, but Chandler had dismissed the idea when he had started dating Monica. Monica gulped down her breakfast and ran upstairs to use the washroom and brush her teeth before she left for school. She pulled on her jean jacket and went to kiss Ross goodbye.
"Ross?" She said as she knelt beside him.
"Hmm?" He asked tiredly.
"I'm going to school now, okay? I'll see you later." Monica smiled at her older brother.
He smiled back at her. "Bye Mon."
Monica kissed him on the cheek and headed out the door. The sunlight shone down on her, so she pulled on her sunglasses and headed out on this warm day.
The day went by quickly to Monica, who had received another four notes for Rachel. The end of the day bell rang, and she rushed to her locker, where a dozen people said hi to her. She couldn't believe how much had changed in a mere week. Last week she was a loser who spent the day in the bathroom crying, and now she was known around school, and everyone called her "the girl who's going out with the cute college guy." She had to agree with the last part. He was really cute. She stuffed her books in her bag, and slung it over her shoulder and looked into her locker mirror. She was eager to get outside to see Chandler.
"Hey Monica." A voice came from behind her.
"Hi Mandy." Monica said before she even turned around.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for last week." Mandy said sincerely.
"Well, thanks Mandy." Monica smiled to her.
"You're awfully happy. Something happen with Chandler last night?" Mandy asked.
"Well, not that it's any of your business, but yes." Monica said contemptuously.
"Well, you have a reason to be happy. He's really good." Mandy nodded.
"W-What?" Monica asked, shocked.
"Oh, did he not tell you? He took me to that scenic overview--- uh the bluff in Long Island. It was uncomfortable, but we managed somehow." Mandy said.
"What are you talking about? That's our place!" Monica said as she trembled.
"He took you there too? What a bastard!" Mandy said.
Monica slammed her locker door shut and ran out the front of the school, hoping that no one would see her crying and in this state.
"Monica!" Chandler called out to her as she exited the building.
"Not here, not in front of all these people." Monica muttered to herself as she kept walking, pretending not to hear.
Chandler quickly caught up with her and grabbed her arm, turning her around.
"Hey." He smiled, but when he saw that she was crying he looked immediately concerned. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG!" Monica screamed at him as he was taken aback.
"What's going on?" He asked quietly as he noticed a crowd forming around them.
"You slept with Mandy." Tears began to pour from her eyes. "You-you pig." Monica began to run away but Chandler caught her.
"Listen, I'm sorry."
"That's all you can say? I lost my virginity to a guy who doesn't give a shit about me." Monica said, not caring who heard her.
"I care about you so much." Chandler whispered to her.
"Why'd you take me to that same spot?" Monica yelled at him. "Were you just seeing how many girls you could nail there?"
The people around them stared open mouthed at the couple who had gotten together so romantically the week before at the prom.
"It wasn't like that at all! I didn't care about Mandy that way, but I do care about you!"
"Drop the act Chandler. It's getting old." Monica sobbed. "I thought you were someone else. I really did. I mean, you think that the first guy I ever kissed would be something special, but I guess I was wrong."
"What?" Chandler barely whispered. "Monica, please don't go." He said in desperation as he grabbed her bag to prevent her from leaving. She threw her bag down to the floor.
"Forget anything that happened between us. Forget that an us ever existed. I hate you, and I never want to see you again." She cried as she took off, leaving Chandler and her bag amongst strangers who laughed at him.
Chandler looked at Mandy coldly and then back down at the floor in shame. How could he have ever let Monica go? The one girl that he had ever truly liked, he had chased away. He began to walk with his head down to his truck where Monica's perfume still lingered from the night before. He got in his truck and began to drive around, trying to chase his problems away. Hours went by and he was still driving around in circles, and he had come to find that he was going in circles around Monica's house. He finally stopped his car in front of her place and got a piece of paper out of her bag and began to write her a letter. Once he was done, he stuck it between her books and went up to the front door and dropped the bag carefully at the doorstep. He rang the doorbell and ran away and into the shelter of his car before anyone could see him. He began to leave when the front door opened and Monica peered out. Chandler watched as her beautiful face searched her surroundings before her gaze turned to the bag. Her face dropped and she picked it up and went back inside, not noticing Chandler's truck across the street. Chandler sighed and left. He had to go home sometime.
Monica carried her backpack inside and up to her room and shut herself in. Her parents and brother had gone grocery shopping, and she had wanted to stay home and sulk. They knew that something was up, they just didn't know what was wrong with her.
She pulled out her science book and a piece of paper fluttered out. She picked it up and recognized Chandler's sloppy handwriting immediately. She opened it and began to read.
"Monica, I know I screwed up royally, but what you have to understand is that she started doing stuff to me, and I just- I couldn't stop her. My brain wasn't functioning properly, and I know this is a very common line, but if I could go back in time I wouldn't do it again. Monica, Don't run from me. Don't run from whatever you're feeling. You don't think that I was scared? I've been dating one wrong woman after another. It gets as easy as it does old. And suddenly, you're with someone who could be right? It's terrifying. I'll wait for you if you think that there's a chance we could do this over. I wasn't lying when I said I care about you. I've never felt this way before, and I'm willing to wait as long as it takes. Please think about this before you tear up or burn this letter. I know I've only known you for more than a week but I feel like we're soul mates, that we're connected at the core. I'm begging you to give me another shot. Please? Chandler."
Monica smiled at the letter. He was right about one thing. She took a box of matches from her drawer and began to burn the letter. She smiled in satisfaction as the ashes began to drop to the floor. Maybe Chandler was the right one for her. She did feel phenomenal when she was with him, but maybe it was because he was her first boyfriend. Whatever the cause, she didn't feel as if she would ever be able to forgive Chandler. Ever.
As usual, thanks to all the people who reviewed previous parts, and please review again! Give me suggestions, or tell me if I'm doing anything wrong, but please review!
rossandrachelforever
The next part to Infinite Space (P.3) Hope that everyone had a great Christmas, and that you're all enjoying your holiday! Monica and Chandler's relationship progresses and Ross gets depressed as he realizes that Rachel may not come back.
Ross leaned over and grabbed hold of his knees to steady himself. He suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to throw up, so he gulped in fresh oxygen as fast as he could as he collapsed on the wet grass.
"Where would she go?" Ross asked himself as his eyes began to gather moisture. He sat there thinking for a few seconds before he came up with an answer. "Nowhere."
Ross walked as fast as he could back to his house, holding his stomach to keep himself from falling over from the pain digging into his side. He gasped for air as he forced himself to keep moving. He saw his house ahead of him and continued to walk, his breath coming in short gasps.
"Mom! Dad!" He yelled as he opened the door and entered his house. "Get down here!"
He heard some scrambling upstairs so he sat down in the middle of the staircase, tying to calm himself down. Chandler was the first person who appeared at the top of the banister, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Chandler, Rachel took off." Ross panicked.
"W-What? When? How?" Chandler snapped awake suddenly.
"She just left! I chased her to the bus stop but--- she took off" Ross desperately tried to explain.
"Ross, what's wrong?" His parents appeared beside Chandler.
"Rachel, she just left." Ross said again, more irritated.
"What do you mean?" Judy asked him.
"Just get your car keys!" Ross snapped. "Chandler, can you go wake Monica?"
"Sure." Chandler nodded, and walked over to Monica's room, knocking before entering.
"Come in." A sleepy voice answered his knock.
"Hey sweetie." Chandler sat down on the bed beside Monica and stroked her hair.
"Hey." Monica smiled sleepily as one eye peered open to get a better glance
"Monica, honey, I need you to wake up and come downstairs." Chandler whispered in her ear.
"What? Why?" Monica asked as she opened both of her eyes to look at his concerned face.
"Just come." Chandler said as he got up and took a robe off the back of her door and handed it to her. She took it lazily and slipped it on over her pink pajamas and looked up at his face again, trying to read his expression. Chandler took her hand silently and led her out the door and down the stairs, where Ross and his parents were dressed and ready to leave.
"We're going to the bus station, the train station, anywhere we might be able to find her. You guys stay here and notify anyone that might be able to help. Call the bus station at 53rd and Madison and see if they might be able to catch her before she leaves." Ross said quickly.
"What's going on?" Monica asked as she tightened her robe around herself.
"Rachel took off. We don't know where she is or where she's going." Chandler filled in the silence.
At that moment, Ross and his parents left, taking the car keys, and going to search for her.
"What?" Monica asked in a hushed whisper
"I don't know what else. Ross heard her leaving and he took off after her, but she was already gone or something." Chandler whispered.
"She's gone?" Monica felt her eyes cloud over with tears.
"I'm sorry sweetie." Chandler consoled her and wrapped her in a warm hug. Monica grabbed onto him tightly and tried to calm herself into his shoulder
"Sh-she just left?" Monica asked suddenly.
"Maybe she'll come back, or they'll find her. Maybe she just went grocery shopping." Chandler said as a small smile crept over his face.
Monica giggled into his shoulder, but then turned serious. She looked up into Chandler's
eyes and searched his face. He looked back down at her and leant in to kiss her softly. She leaned up and kissed him back slowly. Monica smiled and backed herself out of his hug.
"Was that not okay?" Chandler asked her in a worried tone.
"No, that was more than okay." Monica smiled as she blushed. "But it's just not the time."
"I know." Chandler shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Monica stood away from him nervously. There was a moment of silence as they both stared at their feet.
"Is it me, or is there a lot tension here? Well, compared to when we weren't-um- together?" Chandler asked nervously.
"Oh no, it's not just you." Monica said quickly.
"Oh okay." Chandler said as another moment of silence followed.
"You know-maybe she left a note up in her room." Monica said.
"Who? Oh- we're talking about Rachel now. Okay. Yeah maybe." Chandler said quickly.
Monica quickly turned around and ran full speed up the stairs and into Rachel's room. On her bed there were two pieces of folded paper. One said "Ross" and the other said "Monica."
Monica picked up the envelope that had her name on it and began to read aloud to Chandler.
"Dear Monica," She began. "You've been my best friend for so many years. You've always been there for me and I thank you for that, but my life is overpowering my senses now, and I can't live like that. I'm going away for a while, actually I don't know how long for, but remember that I love you. You are one of the only people in the world that understood me. Love your best friend, Rachel" Monica's face crumbled and she broke down in tears and Chandler hugged her fiercely. He led her down the stairs to the living room couch and turned on the TV in the background. He sat down on the couch and beckoned for her to come over. She nodded quietly and went to sit beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead as she started to slip off into a deep sleep.
"Here." Chandler said as he laid her down across his lap. She mumbled a thanks and fell asleep immediately, as Chandler watched her breath in and out with a smile on his face.
Chandler began to drift off about an hour later when suddenly the door opened. Monica jumped up quickly and scrambled off of Chandler's lap to go greet her brother at the door.
"Well?" Monica asked eagerly as Chandler followed behind her.
"We couldn't find her." Ross said dully.
"Well, she has to be somewhere!" Monica began to panic.
"We got to the bus station, and there was no one there. The bus for the train station had just left so we went there and we searched for her, we really did but the trains for Dallas, San Francisco, Boston and New Orleans had already left, and no other trains were coming in for another 2 hours." Ross explained
"There's a note for you on her bed." Monica said quietly. Ross looked at her, shocked, and sprinted up the stairs and to Rachel's bedroom, picking up the piece of paper. He read it silently as his parents, Monica and Chandler stood at the door.
"Ross,
I know I was cruel to you before, but you made the past few days the easiest ever. You were so good to me, I wondered what I had done to deserve you. I never realized, but I was falling in love with you. It hit me like a train yesterday at the prom. You were dancing with all the seniors, and I was jealous. I mean, extremely jealous. That's when I knew I was falling for you. I can't have those feelings. At least, not yet. My whole family is gone, and I just need some time to breathe. This is not your fault Ross. I've been wanting to run away from everything-all my problems and fears for a long time. If I could take you with me, I would, but I just need to start over somehow. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, because I really do love you, and never wanted to hurt you. Love, Rachel
Ross nodded slightly at the paper before tearing it up into tiny pieces. He looked down at the floor and scattered the small pieces around the bed. He then looked up at the glowing stars on the ceiling and blinked back tears. It had all happened so fast. He wished he could go back to the night before when he had tried to kiss her. He wished he could take it all back, but he couldn't. He squeezed past his parents and little sisters into the hallway and into his room, where he shut the door quietly as they watched him, expecting an answer that he didn't have.
"We'll see what we can do in the morning." Judy said quietly as she and Jack headed for their own room.
Monica nodded and followed suit, leaving Chandler alone in the hallway. He turned without a word and walked out the front door, not knowing his final destination.
Monica collapsed onto her bed and pushed her pillow against her face to cover her sobs. "She really can't be gone, can she?" She thought to herself. The question rang over and over in her head until she fell into a troubled sleep.
The next few days were hectic in the house. Ross came out of his room only to go to the washroom, Monica walked around as if she were a zombie, and Jack and Judy tried everything they could to find out where Rachel was.
It was more than a week after Rachel disappeared when Chandler finally got his car back from the shop. He picked up his car and immediately drove over to Ross and Monica's place, where he had been every day since Rachel left. He jogged up to the house and knocked on he front door, where Monica opened the door. Her face immediately brightened when she saw him, and she gave him a kiss hello.
"Come on in." Monica gestured.
"Actually, I was kind of hoping we could go out for a drive. I got my truck back." Chandler said.
"Well, it's almost 10, and tomorrow I have to go to school." Monica said, but gave in quickly when Chandler gave her the puppy eyes that drove her crazy.
Monica ran into the house to get her coat and tell her parents that she was going out.
"Where?" Judy questioned her.
"Me and Chandler are just going to take a drive. He got his truck back." Monica said eagerly.
"Okay. Be back by midnight, or the latest by one." She said.
"Thanks mom!" Monica said as she ran out the front door and jumped into Chandler's arms.
"Whoa." He said as he caught her and kissed her deeply.
"Hi." She said as she motioned for him to put her back down.
"Hi." Chandler smiled as he took her hand and led her to his truck, where he opened the door for her. He ran to his side and got in the truck.
"So where exactly are we headed?" Monica asked him
"Wherever we end up." He smiled as he turned on the radio just as one of his favorite songs began to play.
Stars are out tonight
And you're the brightest one shining in my sky.
It's like very wish I ever made came true.
The day I woke up lying next to you.
Monica leaned over and put her hand on top of Chandlers. He turned and looked at her through the corner of his eye and smiled.
Ross sat on his bed listening to the same song as he looked at a picture of Rachel in his high school yearbook.
Will you be my best friend
If I offer you my heart?
'Cause it's already yours.
We could hang out every night
And watch the sun go down.
As long as we could watch it rise again.
Chandler pulled onto the highway and sped up as he turned up the volume on the radio. He began to sing along with the song as Monica joined in.
Gave me a valentine
It's these little things that stand the test of time.
I've saved the tickets from the shows that we've been to.
And a thousand other memories of you.
Chandler pulled onto a vacant scenic overlook that looked over Manhattan.
"Wow." Monica breathed. "It's beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you." Chandler whispered in her ear.
Monica leaned over and kissed him passionately, aa he kissed her back. The windows on the car began to fog up, and Monica's hand roamed downwards and began to unbuckle his belt.
"Have you done this before?" He asked her gently.
She shyly shook her head no.
"It's okay. I'll be gentle." He smiled at her.
"Okay." She answered
"Are you sure?" He asked her.
"I've never been more sure of anything." She said breathlessly, as he kissed her again.
Gave you this I.O.U. today.
It said good for one galaxy.
Once I build my rocket to the stars.
We'll fly away just you and me.
Ross angrily turned off his radio. Even the rock stations nowadays always played love songs. He wished that he could just listen to the music without hearing the words, but lately all he heard was the words, and nothing else.
He stayed up watching TV until almost 3 o'clock when the front door opened and Monica came in silently, not noticing Ross watching her.
"Hey what's wrong with you?" Ross asked as he watched her walk lopsidedly.
"I'm- sore." Monica said quietly with a smile on her face.
"Oh." Ross said disgustedly, not wanting to hear anymore. "At least someone's happy these days." He muttered to himself after she had disappeared up the stairs.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep as he had before, sprawled across the living room couch.
Monica woke up the next morning with a smile spread across her small face, and she bounded out of bed to get dressed and go to school. Even Mandy was leaving her alone now, and she suddenly had much more friends than usual. Everyone thought that Rachel was still resting at her house, so they would give her notes to give to her, and Monica would just sadly dump them together in a garbage bin when no one was around. Every day after school Chandler would come pick her up and they'd go for a drive together before he took her home for supper, which he most often stayed for. She was hoping that tonight they could go to the bluff where they had spent all last night trying to get comfortable with each other. The awkward phase had passed, and now they were better friends than they had been before, and they got to do all the little stuff that friends didn't do with each other. She pulled on a white tank-top and dark blue jeans, and reached for her earrings and sunglasses before she headed downstairs to have breakfast. She was still a little sore from the night before, but she thought that it was worth it.
She bounced happily down the stairs and into the kitchen where her mom was making eggs and toast.
"Hey mom." Monica chirped.
"Someone's in a good mood this morning." Judy smiled. "What time did you get in last night?"
"About one o'clock, maybe one thirty. We drove all around Manhattan and went to all these scenic bluffs. It was so beautiful that we lost track of time!" Monica said easily. She had been practicing her alibi all night.
"Well, good to see that Chandler's picking your spirits up. He really is a good friend to you." Judy smiled.
"Yeah." Monica smiled nervously. He mom still didn't know that she and Chandler were a couple, even though she had told Chandler that her parents knew.
"Well, I'm off to work, but I made you breakfast so enjoy, and I'll see you later sweetie." Judy kissed her cheek and went to put on her shoes and coat, and headed out the door.
Ross tossed and turned on the couch and Monica looked at him worriedly. His only good friend was Chandler, and she had taken Chandler away from him. He now spent most of his time alone watching TV and eating. He and Chandler had plans to get a job at a restaurant up the road, but Chandler had dismissed the idea when he had started dating Monica. Monica gulped down her breakfast and ran upstairs to use the washroom and brush her teeth before she left for school. She pulled on her jean jacket and went to kiss Ross goodbye.
"Ross?" She said as she knelt beside him.
"Hmm?" He asked tiredly.
"I'm going to school now, okay? I'll see you later." Monica smiled at her older brother.
He smiled back at her. "Bye Mon."
Monica kissed him on the cheek and headed out the door. The sunlight shone down on her, so she pulled on her sunglasses and headed out on this warm day.
The day went by quickly to Monica, who had received another four notes for Rachel. The end of the day bell rang, and she rushed to her locker, where a dozen people said hi to her. She couldn't believe how much had changed in a mere week. Last week she was a loser who spent the day in the bathroom crying, and now she was known around school, and everyone called her "the girl who's going out with the cute college guy." She had to agree with the last part. He was really cute. She stuffed her books in her bag, and slung it over her shoulder and looked into her locker mirror. She was eager to get outside to see Chandler.
"Hey Monica." A voice came from behind her.
"Hi Mandy." Monica said before she even turned around.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for last week." Mandy said sincerely.
"Well, thanks Mandy." Monica smiled to her.
"You're awfully happy. Something happen with Chandler last night?" Mandy asked.
"Well, not that it's any of your business, but yes." Monica said contemptuously.
"Well, you have a reason to be happy. He's really good." Mandy nodded.
"W-What?" Monica asked, shocked.
"Oh, did he not tell you? He took me to that scenic overview--- uh the bluff in Long Island. It was uncomfortable, but we managed somehow." Mandy said.
"What are you talking about? That's our place!" Monica said as she trembled.
"He took you there too? What a bastard!" Mandy said.
Monica slammed her locker door shut and ran out the front of the school, hoping that no one would see her crying and in this state.
"Monica!" Chandler called out to her as she exited the building.
"Not here, not in front of all these people." Monica muttered to herself as she kept walking, pretending not to hear.
Chandler quickly caught up with her and grabbed her arm, turning her around.
"Hey." He smiled, but when he saw that she was crying he looked immediately concerned. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG!" Monica screamed at him as he was taken aback.
"What's going on?" He asked quietly as he noticed a crowd forming around them.
"You slept with Mandy." Tears began to pour from her eyes. "You-you pig." Monica began to run away but Chandler caught her.
"Listen, I'm sorry."
"That's all you can say? I lost my virginity to a guy who doesn't give a shit about me." Monica said, not caring who heard her.
"I care about you so much." Chandler whispered to her.
"Why'd you take me to that same spot?" Monica yelled at him. "Were you just seeing how many girls you could nail there?"
The people around them stared open mouthed at the couple who had gotten together so romantically the week before at the prom.
"It wasn't like that at all! I didn't care about Mandy that way, but I do care about you!"
"Drop the act Chandler. It's getting old." Monica sobbed. "I thought you were someone else. I really did. I mean, you think that the first guy I ever kissed would be something special, but I guess I was wrong."
"What?" Chandler barely whispered. "Monica, please don't go." He said in desperation as he grabbed her bag to prevent her from leaving. She threw her bag down to the floor.
"Forget anything that happened between us. Forget that an us ever existed. I hate you, and I never want to see you again." She cried as she took off, leaving Chandler and her bag amongst strangers who laughed at him.
Chandler looked at Mandy coldly and then back down at the floor in shame. How could he have ever let Monica go? The one girl that he had ever truly liked, he had chased away. He began to walk with his head down to his truck where Monica's perfume still lingered from the night before. He got in his truck and began to drive around, trying to chase his problems away. Hours went by and he was still driving around in circles, and he had come to find that he was going in circles around Monica's house. He finally stopped his car in front of her place and got a piece of paper out of her bag and began to write her a letter. Once he was done, he stuck it between her books and went up to the front door and dropped the bag carefully at the doorstep. He rang the doorbell and ran away and into the shelter of his car before anyone could see him. He began to leave when the front door opened and Monica peered out. Chandler watched as her beautiful face searched her surroundings before her gaze turned to the bag. Her face dropped and she picked it up and went back inside, not noticing Chandler's truck across the street. Chandler sighed and left. He had to go home sometime.
Monica carried her backpack inside and up to her room and shut herself in. Her parents and brother had gone grocery shopping, and she had wanted to stay home and sulk. They knew that something was up, they just didn't know what was wrong with her.
She pulled out her science book and a piece of paper fluttered out. She picked it up and recognized Chandler's sloppy handwriting immediately. She opened it and began to read.
"Monica, I know I screwed up royally, but what you have to understand is that she started doing stuff to me, and I just- I couldn't stop her. My brain wasn't functioning properly, and I know this is a very common line, but if I could go back in time I wouldn't do it again. Monica, Don't run from me. Don't run from whatever you're feeling. You don't think that I was scared? I've been dating one wrong woman after another. It gets as easy as it does old. And suddenly, you're with someone who could be right? It's terrifying. I'll wait for you if you think that there's a chance we could do this over. I wasn't lying when I said I care about you. I've never felt this way before, and I'm willing to wait as long as it takes. Please think about this before you tear up or burn this letter. I know I've only known you for more than a week but I feel like we're soul mates, that we're connected at the core. I'm begging you to give me another shot. Please? Chandler."
Monica smiled at the letter. He was right about one thing. She took a box of matches from her drawer and began to burn the letter. She smiled in satisfaction as the ashes began to drop to the floor. Maybe Chandler was the right one for her. She did feel phenomenal when she was with him, but maybe it was because he was her first boyfriend. Whatever the cause, she didn't feel as if she would ever be able to forgive Chandler. Ever.
As usual, thanks to all the people who reviewed previous parts, and please review again! Give me suggestions, or tell me if I'm doing anything wrong, but please review!
rossandrachelforever