Good Old Monica
"Well hello, ladies," Chandler sang out as he entered Monica's apartment with a frumpy Joey behind him. The three girls looked up and greeted the two.
Rachel took two more plates for her friends and set them on the table. "Well," she said, "how was your dates?" Joey's tired face lit up slightly, "It was great, if you know what I mean."
Chandler looked at Joey, the familiar exasperated look on his face, "No, explain it to us." He sighed and turned back to the girls. Each of them was looking at him with sympathetic looks. He laughed, "Wipe those sorry faces off because I got another date for this weekend!"
Monica and Rachel grinned, "That so great!" Chandler grinned as he helped himself to Monica's pancakes. He took a bite of the fluffy, syrup colored treat. It melted in his mouth. If only she showed even the smallest sign of interest, Chandler would have asked Monica out on a date. There had a been a few chances before, but Chandler did not want to ruin one of the best friendships he ever had.
"It was really weird, though, you know? At first Joanna and I are just sitting there not knowing what to say, and then suddenly, it's like something clicked," Chandler told them, in between mouthfuls of pancake and fruit. Joey grinned, "So you got a little action last night?"
Chandler sat silently for a moment, "No. And you know why? Because I think this time it might go somewhere. Joanna and I are actually going to go through the whole relationshp-get-to-know-eachother stage instead of skipping ahead to the sex."
Monica fell into a chair, genuinely shocked, "Chandler! I've never heard you talk like this before!" She wrapped one of his hands with her own, "I'm so happy for you. You're really going for it!" Chandler grinned at her, then took his hand away so he could pick up his glass of milk.
What the hell was that? Chandler thought to himself. He looked at his friends. There was Phoebe, watching some morning news show on the couch. Good old crazy Phoebe. Then there was Joey, still half asleep, but awake enough to methodically scarf down his cereal and toast. Rachel sat beside him and was delicately eating a pancake. Good old Rachel. Monica had just finished setting the feast on the table and was prepared to start eating a waffle. Good old Monica.
Good old Monica? Who am I kidding?, Chandler thought, looking at his long-time friend. He stared as she laughed with Rachel and Joey. He looked at her glowing face, the soft locks of her dark hair, her radiant smile. Chandler felt a strange feeling in his chest as she caught his eye and grinned. He kicked himself, You've got Joanna. You've got a good thing, don't blow it just because some old crush is resurfacing.
But Chandler did have to admit it to himself. He had once told Monica a few years ago she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met in real life. Fuck that, he thought. Monica was the most beautiful woman in the world, period.
"So what did you and Joanna talk about?" Rachel asked. Chandler snapped back to reality.
"Actually, it really wasn't anything. She and I talked a little about our old relationships, but that was pretty much it. I walked her home, but we didn't talk much then. We were pretty comfortable just being together, you know?" Chandler tore his gaze from Monica as he talked to Rachel. That's right, man. Joanna. Joanna's the one you like.
"So you really like her, huh?" Joey said. It seemed that food had finally woken him up. At least his eyes were open all the way now. Chandler finished off the rest of his pancake. "Yeah, I really do."
"Hey Phoebe, come offer your congratulations to our love-fearing friend, Chandler," Rachel said, calling to Phoebe. It wasn't until now that Chandler noticed she had been uncharacteristically silent since he and Joey got to the apartment.
Phoebe turned around, a less than enthusiastic expression on her face, "I'm so happy for you, Chandler!! Way to go!" The words were barely out of her mouth when she turned back to the television. Chandler looked at her puzzled, but shook it off after Monica gave him a fresh plate of pancakes.
After setting down the plate in front of Chandler, Monica went over to the living area and sat down next to Phoebe on the couch.
"Hey Phoebe, you okay?" Monica asked. Phoebe's face relaxed and she smiled at her friend. "I'm fine. It's just the stuff on this world! Why can't everyone just get along?"
Monica laughed, "Well, you were acting like this last night after Chandler and Joey left the coffee house. Is there anything you want to talk about?"
Phoebe turned her head to look back at Chandler. "Hey, Chandler, you really like Joanna, huh?"
Chandler dropped his fork and looked at his friends with a shocked expression, "Why do you guys keep asking me that? Are you trying to scare me? What is this, a big conspiracy?" He looked at his watch and sobered immediately, "I should go now."
Chandler dropped the napkin on the table and gave Rachel a kiss on the cheek. "I have to work now. Bring food home, make sure there's dinner on the table. Or at least, Monica's table," he said. As he turned to walk towards the door, Ross walked in.
"Hey, sweetie," he said, giving Rachel a brief kiss, then pouring himself a glass of juice. He looked at Joey and Chandler. "How were your dates last night?" he asked.
"Will you guys stop interrogating me? I did not commit a crime!" Chandler cried, then left the apartment, the door slamming behind him like a punctuation mark.
The five friends looked at the door with amused expressions on their faces, then resumed what they were doing.
Ross took Chandler's empty seat and helped himself to some of Rachel's pancake. "Do you have to work tonight?" Rachel asked. Ross shook his head, "No, why?" Rachel smiled, "Nothing, I just wanted to spend some time with you tonight. Make up for lost time, if you know what I mean."
Joey looked up from his food, having finally slowed down. "I know what you mean," he said, flashing a knowing grin at the couple. Ross and Rachel glared at him. "I better go," he said with an uncomfortable smile, then left, returning to his own apartment.
Monica, who had been watching the morning news with Phoebe, turned back to her friend.
"Chandler's gone, do you want to talk about it now?" Monica asked. Phoebe laughed, "You really want to know, don't you?" Monica nodded. "You know, I would not tell you just so I can see you squirm," Phoebe said, laughing.
"What?! Phoebe, it's me!" Monica cried. Phoebe laughed and shook her head, "I know! That's the beauty of it! This time, it's Phoebe that has the power!" Monica rolled her eyes.
"So you're really not going to tell me about Chandler?" Monica asked. Phoebe became serious again and shook her head, "It's not about Chandler, it's Joanna." Monica nodded, "Go on."
Phoebe sat still and thought for a moment, "Monica, I want to tell you, I really do. You have no idea how much I want to get this off my chest. But I can't, not right now."
Monica nodded, "Alright, well, just wait until you're ready then."
Monica got up to clear off the from the table. Rachel turned to Phoebe, "Ready for what, Phoebe?" The blonde turned around and sighed, "Chandler was right! You guys just don't stop with the questions!"