Evanescent

Chapter 5

Hey, thanks again for the reviews :) So wanna hear like the saddest story ever? So, I have these flip-flops (yes, cuz every truly sad story starts off with "so I have theses flip-flops") and I've had them for like 3 years and they're the ones from old navy that are like 4 bucks and they're my favorite shoes…and yesterday…they broke! Now, my mom didn't find this sad at all. She was like "Jamie, you have a million pairs of shoes, wear a different pair" but I want my purple flip-flops! *sighs* Stupid 4 dollar sandals that only last 3 years…Oh, and yes, Becca knew something that I didn't know (don't get too used to it, Bec, hehe). Oh, and one thing about the fic…if you picked up (hopefully) that this is like 4th season and it'd be after the girls and guys switched apartments….so Joey and Chandler live in Monica and Rachel, er, Monica and Chandler's apartment…well, it was Monica and Rachel's then, but…well, you all know so I'll shut up, lol.

There's another world inside of me

That you may never see

There's secrets in this life

That I can't hide

But somewhere in this darkness

There's a light that I can't find

Well maybe it's too far away

Or maybe I'm just blind

Maybe I'm just blind

(When I'm Gone, 3 Doors Down)

"Hey."

Joey, Ross, and Phoebe all looked up in surprise when Chandler came out, ready to go.

"Hey," they all smiled in return.

"So…where are we going to eat?" he asked, digging his hands into his pockets.

"We haven't decided yet," Joey answered. "And we still have to wait for Rachel and Monica to get here."

"So why don't we just decide now so that we can leave right when they get here?" Phoebe suggested.

"So where should we go?"

"Hey," Monica and Rachel walked in, cutting off the conversation and the need to decide whether or not they should wait for them to decide where to go.

"So where are we going?" Monica asked, sitting on the arm of the Barca Lounger that Chandler had sat down in. Chandler looked up at her, but didn't say anything, not even making a suggestion when everyone else voiced their opinions on where they wanted to go.

But at least he was going.

~*~

"Doug's getting sued for sexual harassment," the five other pairs of eyes at the table were immediately on Chandler, surprised that he had actually voluntarily spoken. And at that realization, they realized just how weird it was to be thinking that. He used to not shut up. Now they were about to set off fireworks in celebration of the fact that he was talking to them at all.

And it wasn't right.

"What?" Joey finally asked.

"He slapped Brian's ass, and Brian's gay…so he figured, if he'd slapped a woman's ass, it would've definitely been harassment," Chandler laughed slightly, and the other five exchanged glances, all grinning and laughing again, relieved to hear him laughing again, even if it was only for a few seconds.

And it wasn't right.

~*~

You can't see the stars in the city. It's kind of sad that you can't. The city never sleeps; it never turns off its lights and says goodnight. It's always too bright. Too many lights. Always.

There's something calming about sitting and looking at the stars…staring out into the endless sky and watching them glistening…the vast never ending darkness, only interrupted by the light emitted by the stars. It's almost soothing just to stare out at them. So maybe that's why the city's always so…you know? Because you can't see the stars.

Upstate you can see them. Get far enough away from the city and everything, and there are so many stars it's insane. Seriously, unbelievable.

I want to get out of the city. Eventually, I mean. Get married, get away, have kids, live somewhere where they can attempt to count all of the stars in the sky…Yes, me. I want all of that. I want to leave the city and live somewhere that you can see the stars and I want everything that comes with it. And I always thought that by the time I truly did want all of that stuff, that I'd be able to have it, that I'd eventually…grow out of, per se, the whole always-fucking-up thing.

But I didn't. I still always do.

But, who knows…Maybe someday I'll live somewhere that I can see the stars.

~*~

Monica walked into the guys' apartment, not sure that Chandler being fine at dinner wasn't just an act. She started toward his bedroom, but, glancing out the window and seeing Chandler sitting out on the balcony, she stopped. Walking over, she about went out to join him, but paused for a moment, watching him.

He looked deep in thought.

She finally went out, and he only glanced up at her momentarily before taking another drag of the cigarette in his hand, looking around again. Monica sat down next to him, still watching him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she finally asked quietly.

Chandler held out his hand. "I only accept payment up front."

Monica smiled. "I don't have any money on me."

"Then you'll never know, will you?" he made eye contact again, this time holding it longer before looking away. Monica also finally looked away, looking around, trying to see whatever it was that he was looking so intently at. "You can't see stars in the city," Chandler finally said, putting his cigarette out.

"What?" Monica turned back to him, but he was still facing away.

"That's what I was thinking about," he looked at her, smiling slightly. "You can't see stars in the city."

Tbc…

Please review…thanks :) And we're getting to the point in the school year when everything's insane, so the next part might be awhile…or not if I need a break from everything, lol