Between Us~Chapter 10~Is it really over?

Well, Yen told me to 'be fun' in this a/n so wow loadsa pressure here! Umm…I could juggle for u! *hums circus tune and juggles watermelons, but watermelons all falls on her head and gives her a concussion*  Hmm…perhaps that wasn't such a good idea, ey? Hmm…what else can I do? *does cartwheel but crashes into the sofa and bruises her ribs* Okay, obviously not gymnastics. *pats Julie* ahh there we go! *continues to pat Julie till Julie gets pissed off, goes shady, and punches her in the face* God damnit Julie…err shady! *sighs* all right, I give up.  *pinches yen's little finger that doesn't havta pee* MEEEEOW! There we go. This is fun! Well, for me. Not you guys just listening to me…or Yen getting pinched. Muwhahahahaha! HA! Oh, and, in case u were wondering, Jamie is not getting a mention in this a/n b/c of what she said in her last review. And I quote…"*sighs* you can't do anything right, can you?" You're EVIL! I take back my retracted statements! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!! Don't worry, I still love you cuz you're my sexy bitch! (I'm not wrong) Anywhosers, please review! Only one more chapter (after this one) left! How exciting, yet depressing?

Disclaimer: Let's see, I own Yen's little finger…and it still doesn't havta pee. Otherwise, I own nothing. Nope, not even the characters in this story. I know, I thought I owned them, too! It's disappointing, really.

This chapter is dedicated to Lyss (aka Al, apparently…according to the monkeys) in honor of her birthday! (may 9th) Hope you enjoyed it! Hmm…I think MY birthday's next! A-whoo-hoo! DO I get to dedicate a chapter to myself? Would that be conceited? *coughs* Someone else should do it for me *coughs* HAPPY BIRTHDAY AL!

That night, Chandler returned to his apartment and sighed when he saw Monica sitting in the dark, watching a movie. He had decided to end things with her, just as Phoebe had suggested. The more he thought about it, the more Phoebe's advice had made sense to him. Monica was just using him. It was hard to believe, but Monica was doing the same thing that everyone else had done to him in the past. Well, this time he wasn't going to play the fool. This time he was going to be the one to end it before it got out of hand for him. Monica felt his eyes watching her and looked up unsuspectingly.

"Hey there."

"Hi."

Monica got up and walked over to him. She moved her fingertips up his chest, soliciting no response from Chandler. She moved closer to him and began to suck on his lip. Still, he gave her no response. She looked up at him with questioning eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"It seems like something's wrong."

"No, nothing's wrong, okay?!"

"If you're sure…"

Chandler's voice softened dramatically, "No, I'm not sure."

"What is it?"

Monica reached her arms up, wrapping them around his neck. He stayed in that position for a moment before shrugging away from her loose embrace.

"It's you."

"What?"

"I can't keep doing this!"

"Doing what?"

"Come on, Mon, don't play dumb. This little game we have going on here. You want me, I want you, we have sex, then things go back to normal."

"Wh—"

"Maybe that's enough for you, but it isn't for me—not anymore."

"What do you want from me then?"

He licked his lips and looked into her eyes. "I want you."

Monica broke away from his gaze. "I don't think I can—not yet."

"Well then," Chandler took a deep breath, preparing them both for the dreaded words, "This can't happen anymore."

Monica nodded sadly. "If that's the way you feel…then there's nothing I can do about it."

She looked up at him pleadingly once more, but this time, he hastily removed his glance from hers. He wasn't going to fall into her trap once again. Chandler kissed her softly on the lips, cherishing their softness against his own.

"Come back when you're ready for a relationship," Chandler walked over to the door, but then turned around and added, "And we'll see where I am then."

Monica nodded and blinked back tears. Chandler could see that she was on the verge of crying. He had to get out. He knew that if he saw the pain he had caused her, he would never let her go. He had to get out now before she hurt him even more. He gave her one last, regretful look and walked out the door, wondering if he would ever get the chance to touch her lovingly again.

*~*~*~*

A week had passed since Chandler backed out on their deal. Sure, they still lived together and joked around like they normally did, but the atmosphere was different. The sunny ambience of affection had been replaced by a murky feeling of habit. They joked and talked, but it was only in order to make light of the situation. In reality, things were awkward. Maybe, on the surface, it seemed normal, but both knew that their relationship was different. There used to be an easiness about it that was now being forced. To top that all off, Chandler felt it was his fault that things had become so tense between them. Therefore, he came up with any excuse to stay away from Monica. Most of the time, it was in order to spend more time with Jill. After all, if he had chosen Jill over his "relationship" with Monica, then he should at least acknowledge her presence in his life again.

That evening was a warm and breezy one, and Jill suggested that, due to the nice weather, they walk home from the restaurant instead of taking a cab. Chandler obliged, not wanting to start yet another argument. Besides, it was a nice mid-spring evening. A little walk couldn't do him any harm. They strolled in silence, until they passed an upscale jewelry store. Jill stopped to eye a necklace in the window.

"Wow," she gasped, "It's beautiful."

Chandler joined her gaze as they looked at the opal set on a white gold backing, connected to a golden chain, that sat flawlessly behind glass.

"It is beautiful." Chandler stuck his hand in his pocket and fiddled with the brown leather of his wallet. "You want it?"

"What?"

Chandler smiled slightly. "You want it?"

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

Jill smiled, eyes dancing with excitement. "You would get that for me?"

"Sure."

Jill jumped up and kissed Chandler passionately on the lips. "Thank you."

Chandler nodded and grinned. Usually when he pleased Jill, he felt proud of himself, for that didn't happen often. However, this time, it barely impacted him. He wished that it was Monica that was getting so excited over something he had done for her. Chandler shut his eyes tightly for a moment, trying to forget Monica. He had to get on with his life. He followed as Jill entered the store, giddy with childish delight. He went to the counter and gave in his credit card. Once they bought the necklace, Jill handed it to him. He caressed it softly, thinking about what this purchase meant. He was truly giving up on Monica. This time it was about himself and Jill. He slid the necklace around her and clasped it. After that, he kissed her neck softly. She smiled at him and they walked back to his apartment, hand in hand.

*~*~*~*

          Meanwhile, Monica sat in her and Chandler's apartment, watching a movie. Lately, she couldn't concentrate on anything, aside from Chandler. What had brought on his sudden change of heart? Hadn't he told her he would wait for her? I guess he's just fed up with me. I shouldn't have thought that he would've been any different the rest of them. She grabbed a container of vanilla ice cream and poured chocolate syrup over the ice cream greedily. She set the container down on the counter and watched distantly as the syrup began to cover up the whiteness of the ice cream. Soon enough, there were only small patches of vanilla visible through the dark chocolate blanket. Satisfied, Monica grabbed a spoonful and shoved it in her mouth greedily. She swallowed the ice cream, but was callous to the cold and sweet taste. She stood still for a moment and then pushed the ice cream into the sink angrily, watching it melt into the drain. Eating food she couldn't even appreciate wasn't going to do anything to quell her confusing feelings. Part of her wanted to run up to Chandler and beg him to take her back in his arms. However, the more fearful side told her to keep her distance. He would just hurt her like everyone else had. After all, hadn't he promised her to stay, but then, all too suddenly, packed up and left? What made it even more complicated was that she realized that perhaps she was guilty of the same offense.

          Monica jumped, startled, as the door opened. She looked up, just in time to see Chandler with his arms around Jill, smiling faintly and whispering words of affection in her ear. She heard Jill's flirtatious giggles and cringed inwardly. Neither looked up at her, though. Instead, still locked in a tight embrace, they headed to Chandler's bedroom and shut the door. Monica stared at the door for a few moments, wondering if Chandler had noticed her. Was he just trying to get back at her for whatever it was she had done to make him give up hope on her? Or maybe he had found what he was looking from Monica in Jill, after all. Filled with intense jealously, Monica grabbed her laundry basket and headed out the door. Anything to get away from the soft voices and moans she heard coming from Chandler's bedroom.

          Chandler, on the other hand, had indeed noticed Monica sitting there. He automatically felt badly for flaunting his relationship, but what else could he do? She didn't want a relationship; that wasn't his fault. If she was jealous, then she had no right to be. He had offered her even more attention and affection. Yet, Monica had backed away from him. Instead, Chandler began to trail kisses down Jill's neck, forcing himself not to compare her skin to Monica's silky smoothness. Her hands roamed his back, and then meandered to his front, unbuttoning his light blue shirt and throwing it to the floor. Chandler forced himself to remove the thoughts of his and Monica's impatience on their first night together, and to focus on the different woman underneath him, instead. Chandler removed her black dress and underwear, and stared at her body, attempting to arouse himself at the sight of her bare body and not the memory of Monica's luxurious curves. He steadied himself above her as she removed the remainder of his clothes. She then slid out from under him, smiled teasingly at him, and broke the silence in a seductive tone.

"I just wanna thank you for the gift."

Chandler plopped down on his back and Jill moved down towards his hips, throwing the comforter off the bed as she slid her body down his. Chandler licked his lips in anticipation and pushed out thoughts of his lost chances as he concentrated on the pleasure that was about to bestowed upon him. He felt Jill's hot, moist breath on him and closed his eyes. However, after a few moments, he noticed that she wasn't in the same position anymore. Chandler's eyes shot open in alarm, just in time to see Jill's eyes widen in horror.

"What's this?!" Jill demanded.

"What's what?"

Chandler was completely baffled. How did she go from completely sensual to utterly fuming?

"This!" she screamed and flung a pastel flowered bra onto Chandler's bare chest.

"I--uhh…where did that come from?"

"It was under your sheets," she stared at him, green eyes fuming with contempt, "I can't believe you, Chandler Bing!"

"I--I…"

"What?! What could you possibly have to say to make anything better?!"

He looked away guiltily. "I was in love."

"Yeah, well, so was I."

"You totally ignored me!"

"Well, maybe things weren't always so great between us, but I thought we were working them out.

"We can!"

"No. Things can never be worked out with a cheater. And maybe sometimes I didn't pay attention to you, but I never cheated on you!" She gave him one last cold look and then slapped him hard across the face. "I never want to see you ever again!"

Chandler touched his freshly bruised cheek gingerly and turned away. He listening to the rustling around him as Jill hastily dressed, threw opened his bedroom door, and then slammed it shut again.

          Jill hastily made her way across the living room, but was stopped by Monica entering the apartment, just as she was attempting to leave. Monica was shocked to see Jill on the other side of the door. Then, she noticed the anger that was radiating from the woman in front of her.

"What's wrong?"

"Chandler's what's wrong," she mumbled and then left the apartment.

Monica scrunched her forehead in confusion. Was he sick or injured? Worried about his health, Monica knocked timidly on his door. Upon hearing no answer from within, Monica pushed open the door and entered.

"Chandler I just saw Jill and--"

She froze when she noticed Chandler, sitting on the side of his bed, conflicted, naked, and aroused.

"Oh my god, Chandler. I--" she turned away sharply, and was about to head out the door, when she was stopped by Chandler's voice.

"Wait!"

She swallowed nervously and turned her body around, though she kept her eyes focused on anything but him. Still, she felt herself blushing profusely from the situation she had found herself in.

"You did this to me."

"What?"

Chandler grabbed the recently discovered bra and tossed it at her. Monica's eyes widened in horror.

"I--"

"Guess I should change my sheets more often, huh?"

"Oh my god! I'm…I'm so sorry. If there's anything I can do…"

"Yeah, actually there is something you could do," Chandler informed her in an eerily unfamiliar voice.

Monica took in a shaky breath. "What's that?"

He motioned for her to come closer to him. She looked into his eyes and saw a look that she had never seen on Chandler's face before. His eyes were like burning blue flames, fiery with both anger and regret. After a moment's hesitation, she fearfully obliged to Chandler's silent request. He grabbed Monica by the wrists and pushed her down semi-violently onto the bed. Monica held in the whimper that was threatening to escape from her mouth as he threw off her shirt and began to suck hard on her nipples. She had never seen this side of Chandler before, and it took every ounce of control she had not to run away from his demanding assaults. His tongue found its way into her mouth, seeming to request something from her that she didn't have the ability to give up. Monica's body fell limp as Chandler continued to explore her roughly. Just as he had gotten into position to enter her, he rolled off of her and collected his clothes quickly. Monica stared at him blankly--things were happening all too quickly for her to register what was going on. After a minute, he was fully dressed. Finding her clothes on the floor, he flung them at her and, before Monica had the change to realize it, he had fled their apartment.

Wha…wha…what are u doing with that knife? Put it down, Chuck, put it down! I…I know I said u could kill Chandler, but I'm not gonna let u. No, don't kill me! Kill Yen instead. Or, or Lyss, yeah Lyss! It could be my b-day gift to her! No, no kill Yen. She's too Yennish for me. *watches as Chuck gets on plane to Yen's uhh…state* Phew. Umm…Yen…u might wanna watch ur back…and front, too… Ok, even though Chuck is gone, he still could come back so REVIEW! *mwuah* And if u get a change, check out my new fic…Tainted Dreams cuz that would be perfection! Hehehe (what? It's not conceited to talk up my own fic, is it? Woops if it is…)