/N: Not much to say here. Thanks for the reviews.
Disclaimer: None of them are mine!
Wait... am I forgetting something?
Oh yeah - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECCA!
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
You look like a monkey
And you act like one too
That's a compliment, babe. Anyway, everyone go with Becca happy birthday because she's 16 today! Okay, it's not today anymore, it was actually a few days ago, but ffnet was being a poo that day and all the other days, so better late then never, right? A-whoo-hoo! You're old... but hey, it's better to be over the hill than under it! ;) Love ya.
CHAPTER FIVE
Half an hour later, Rachel had gone (assuring her that she looked great) and
Monica was waiting expectantly for Chandler. There was a knock on the door.
Monica stood up, gripping her cane, and felt her way to the door. She opened it
with a smile on her face.
"Hi," Monica said.
"Hey, Monica," Chandler said. "Ready to go?"
"All set," she replied. "Let's go."
They went to Central Perk and sat at a small table near the back. A short man
with bleached hair came up to them, holding a pad of paper. "Hi, Monica," he
said. "I heard you had an accident. Are you okay?"
Chandler watched Monica's eyes turn to a spot close to the man; unfortunately, it
was a few feet too far to the left. The man stared at her curiously. "Yeah,
Gunther, I'm doing okay, thanks. Can I have a cappuccino, half-and-half, with
whip, cinnamon sprinkles?"
"Sure. And... you?" the man, Gunther, asked, nodding to Chandler.
"Uh, just a coffee. This is a coffeehouse, right?" he asked, smiling. Gunther
blinked. Monica hid a smile.
"So how's Rachel?" Gunther asked before he left their table.
"Still with Ross," Monica smirked. Gunther nodded and walked back to the
counter.
"Does he have a crush on her or something?" Chandler asked.
"Only for about three years," Monica replied.
They talked a while longer about Gunther and Rachel and Ross; Chandler told
Monica about his friends Joey and Phoebe, his job, where he'd gone to college.
Never did Monica's accident come up. But, Monica noted, she really felt like she
and Chandler connected, just as she'd felt when she'd talked to him at the
hospital. She was talking more openly with this man than she did with her mother.
They both stalled for time in the coffee shop, not wanting to part. Finally, when
their coffee cups were drained and the place had emptied out, Monica said,
"Listen, my roommate's not home, would you maybe want to, uh, keep me
company?" She sounded very hopeful and nervous.
"I'd love to," Chandler said warmly. Monica grinned. They paid for their drinks
and left, walking slowly back to her building.
Monica had counted the number of steps from the stairs to her apartment door,
but even so, she said in embarrassment, "Is this apartment 20?"
"Yeah," he said. Monica reached into her purse and pulled out her key, fumbling
for the lock. She couldn't find it. "Stupid key..." she murmured. Suddenly,
Chandler's hand closed over hers, and he put the key in the lock and turned. She
turned her head to where she thought he was and smiled gratefully. "Thanks."
"No problem," he said, opening the door for her. Monica walked inside and felt
her way to the refrigerator.
"You want anything to drink?" she asked.
"No, I'm good," Chandler replied. They sat on the couch and fell into silence.
"Sorry I'm not the best conversationalist right now," Monica teased. "I kind of...
have a lot on my mind."
"It's okay. But I can go, if you want - "
"No!" Monica said vehemently. "I mean - no. Please don't leave. I really - I really
don't like being here alone. It's so dark..." she trailed off.
"Don't worry, Monica," Chandler said. "I'm not going anywhere." He took her
hand and squeezed it. She squeezed back.
"Why are you so nice to me?" she asked with a smile. "I mean, I'm practically
useless, sitting here like a lump - and you're willing to sit here and keep me
company. Why? Most people wouldn't do that - I mean, look at Rachel and Ross,
my two supposed best friends."
"I don't have anywhere else to be," Chandler joked. "Seriously... I like you. I like
to spend time with you."
"But I'm blind," Monica said suddenly. "Nobody wants to be with a blind
woman..."
"That's not true. You're a great person, Monica - you're sweet and funny and
smart."
"How do you know? You've known me for, like, three days."
"But I think I've gotten to know you pretty well," Chandler said. "And about
being blind - that doesn't matter to me. Would you not want to be with someone
because they had cancer? Or because... because... their father is a drag queen?"
"Where did that come from?!" Monica cried, laughing.
"Uh... no where. I'll tell you some other time. But my point is... I don't like you
in spite of your being blind. That doesn't affect me at all."
"You are the sweetest guy in the world. I just wish... I wish I could see you," she
said, her voice becoming choked.
"Your not missing much," he mumbled, and Monica could tell by his voice that he
was smiling. Monica felt tingly and her heart jumping nervously in her chest.
"Monica," Chandler whispered throatily. "If you could see me, you'd know how
badly I want to kiss you. But since you can't, I'm going to ask you. Can I kiss
you?"
"Yes," Monica whispered, afraid and delighted at the same time.
She felt Chandler's lips touch hers, gently, searching, still asking the question. The
kiss didn't last long, but it left Monica's head spinning.
"Wow," he said. Monica smiled.
"Right back at ya," she said.
A/N: Another short one, sorry. I've got a lot going on the next few weeks (if you
can call going to the beach, graduating, and having a party busy) but yeah :) Good
reviews will help me along!
