Chapter Two

He had it all planned out. This wasn't going to be easy – he knew it. But Monica was with him… so that made it easier. He already had all his money with him – who needs a savings account, anyway? They were in NJ and walking through the streets. It was a cute little state, which was too small for its population. Chandler looked over at Monica and smiled.

"You have no idea how much I appreciate you doing this for me, Mon," he thanked her.

"It's nothing. I'd do anything for you." Monica averted her eyes to the floor. "So how are we going to find this woman of your dreams?" she asked trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"I'm not that sure. I'll just – I'll look for the descriptions from my dream. I'll listen for her voice."

"Chandler… are we actually going to travel around America?"

"I'm going everywhere until I find her."

"What if you hear millions of voices that sound like hers?"

"Then I'll see which one is right for me. Whoever I think is that, then she must be my soulmate."

"What if you pass her up?"

"I won't, Mon. Whatever is meant to be happens."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. When they finally reached the hotel 'Holiday Inn', it was late at night. Monica and Chandler walked up to the front desk.

"We'd like a room, please. And please find the cheapest one," Chandler told the woman at the front desk. The woman nodded, and in a few minutes gave them their key. They went to their room number and entered. Monica looked around, but stopped when she saw there was only one bed.

"Chandler… we'd better get another room. There's only one bed."

Chandler shook his head. "No… we can't. This was the cheapest room and we can't afford another one. This place is too expensive."

"Then… I'll sleep on the floor. Just give me a pillow and blanket…"

"Come on, Monica. We're best friends. We can share a bed."

Monica reluctantly nodded. "Okay. You're right."

Chandler walked up to the bed and fell onto it. "Ugh. I'm beat. I'm gonna sleep… don't mind me having my clothes on. Too tired to put my PJ's on," he yawned.

"I'm going to stay up a little longer…" But Chandler was already asleep. Monica shook her head and smiled. "Sleep tight." She went over and covered him in the blankets. Monica looked out the window and leaned her back on the wall. She sighed. "Let Chandler be happy. Please, God – if you're up there… do whatever it takes to make Chandler happy. Don't let him search the world and not find the person he's meant to be with." Monica looked back at Chandler.

Monica walked to the bed and laid down on it. She moved herself closer to Chandler and hugged him.

"I just want you to be happy," she whispered with tears in her eyes. "Even… even if I'm not the one that makes you happy."

When Chandler woke up, the first thing he noticed was Monica hugging him, asleep. He smiled, but stopped when he noticed his wet shirt and Monica's tear-stained cheeks. He frowned.

"Mon? Are you awake?"

Monica slowly opened her eyes. When she saw she was still hugging Chandler, she quickly threw her hands off of him. "Hey, Chandler."

"Mon… were you crying last night?"

Monica looked at his shirt. "N – no."

"Then… why is my shirt wet, why are your eyes red, and why do you have tears on your cheeks?"

"I – okay… maybe I was…"

"Why?"

'Because I want to be with you!' she wanted to say. 'Because I can't have you, and because you're looking for your soulmate, not giving me a second glance!'

But instead she said, "I must have had a bad dream. You know how I cry sometimes when it truly is horrible."

"What was your nightmare about?"

"I – umm… oh, yeah – I remember now. I was – well, umm… Phoebe died."

Chandler looked at Monica skeptically. "How did she die?"

"Just the way she always told us she would – she fell off the roof."

Chandler nodded. "Okay." It was all Monica could do not to breathe a sigh of relief. "What to get some breakfast?" Monica nodded and they walked to the hotel restaurant, hand in hand. They were always close like that. They reached a table and ordered what they wanted. Chandler looked around the entire time. Monica knew what he was doing. He was looking for her. His soulmate.

"Shouldn't you be listening instead?" Monica asked. Chandler looked at her.

"Yeah… I guess. Mon, is something wrong? I can tell something is bothering you."

"No, I'm fine. Perfect. Couldn't be better." Monica smiled and looked out the window. Everything was just fine. She wished it was that simple. If only.

"I was thinking we could go to California next," Chandler said while swinging. They were at a park and on the swings.

"Why so far?"

"Maybe… you know, maybe we could go farthest then head in."

"Okay."

Chandler looked at Monica and smiled.

"I bet you I can swing higher than you," he told her. Monica spun her head towards him.

"You wish."

"Wanna bet?"

"Come on. Just try me."

Chandler went higher and higher, Monica right next to him.

"Okay, I don't think we can go higher than this!" Monica yelled over to him.

"Then let's see who can land the jump!"

Monica jumped from the swing and easily landed on the floor. Chandler waited a couple of seconds, jumped, but fell. Monica ran over to him and laughed.

"Wow. You really are good at this," she teased. Monica held out her hand, and Chandler took it.

"I know." Chandler pulled Monica to the floor and she fell on top of him.

"You ass!" Monica said, mocking anger while she playfully hit him. Chandler was the one laughing now.

"So you don't like your own medicine?" Chandler smiled, and Monica stopped. God, she could just melt into his smile. They looked into each other's eyes, all laughing aside. Monica abruptly rolled over beside him instead of being on top of him. Chandler turned his head and looked at her. He grinned evilly and went on top of Monica, pinning her to the ground. Monica looked deep into his crystal-blue eyes and smiled.

"Why do you have to be so difficult, Chandler?" she asked him.

"Because I like to be."

Monica tightly shut her eyes. She could feel the hot tears threatening her eyes. 'Why are you doing this to me, Chandler?' she asked herself. 'Why couldn't you just have been an insignificant, low person? Why do you have to be so sweet – so lovable?' She swiftly rolled over and out of Chandler's grip. Chandler and Monica got up at the same time.

"Mon… now you can't tell me that there isn't anything wrong. You can talk to me. Please… I want to help you," Chandler pleaded for an answer. Monica shook her head.

"No… no, there's nothing wrong. Really."

"Fine." Chandler looked down to the floor and started walking towards the hotel while kicking the dirt. Monica ran up to him and hugged him from behind.

"I'm serious, Chandler. I'm just so happy that soon you'll be happy," Monica told him. Chandler looked ahead without moving. He slowly turned around.

"Really? So you're not mad, sad, or anything like that?"

"Oh God… no. No, I'm good. Perfect."

Chandler smiled. "What would I do without you?"

Monica sighed. "I think I need you more than you need me."

"What? Why would you say that?"

"I – it's just that… soon, you'll finally be happy. And me… I'll be all alone."

"No, I'll still be with you, Mon. I'd never leave you."

"But when you find her… you won't need me…"

"Oh, Mon… is this what this is about? Mon… I promise. Friends forever." Chandler held out his pinky. "Pinky swear."

Monica linked her finger with his. "I believe you. Friends. Friends… forever." Just friends.

It was a long week, but Monica and Chandler managed to get through it. Chandler searched for the woman in his dreams, but couldn't seem to find her. Monica tagged along, consoling him.

They were now headed toward California. Los Angeles.

They were on a plane.

Just the two of them.

And Monica didn't think she could take it.

She saw the disappointment on Chandler's face when they boarded the plane. And she remembered how Chandler felt when he thought he found her – about five times. But each time, Chandler would run after her, his hopes high, and the woman would link her arms with the arms of the man next to her. Each time Monica told him the same thing: "It wasn't the woman in your dreams. I know it wasn't." It never failed.

Chandler looked out the window next to him. He wasn't going to find her. He was never going to find his soulmate. And to make matters even worse, Monica was acting so differently. Sure, they had fun. But she seemed so distant in the past couple of days. He needed her there for him. If it weren't for her, Chandler would collapse. He needed her. She was his glue that held him together. He looked over at her and saw that distant look he was so familiar with now. He sighed and closed his eyes. Was he doing the right thing going on this journey? Chandler paused. No, of course he was. What was he thinking? Soon he'd be happy – not just the kind of happy he was when he was near his friends, but a love-happy. But… he wasn't sure if that would ever come.

"Chandler?" Chandler looked over to Monica.

"Hmmm?"

"What did she sound like?" she asked.

"What?"

"Your soulmate… what did she sound like?" Chandler took a minute to answer.

"Like heaven. Her voice sounded sweet, but determined. Everything good."

"It sounds like you're describing her."

"What?"

"Find a person with those descriptions, and you'll find her," she told him. She wanted to help him. Really, she did. It was just hard.

"Thanks Mon… you're the best. You're always helping me out… what could I do to make it up?"

"Be happy."

Chandler smiled. "After this is all through, I will be."

Monica could feel the tears come again. "I know." She hesitated, but continued. "Do – do you think that sometimes you could pass up love without knowing it?"

"No. True love is never passed up."

'Then I guess we were passed up.' "Chandler… have you ever – have you ever loved somebody so much it made you cry? So much… you can't – couldn't – sleep?"

"No… no, I haven't. That's why we're here now, Mon. Have you?"

Monica looked at him. "Yes."

Chandler looked taken aback. "Really? Who?"

'You' "You don't know him."

"How could I not know him?"

"Well… it was love at first sight. Do you believe in that?"

"I guess… maybe."

"Well it was. And I can't stop thinking about him. But he doesn't see me that way." Monica felt the tears roll down her face.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. What would you do, Chandler, if you were me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I'd tell him. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Everything in his life would turn upside-down."

"But you don't know that for a fact. Just try it. If you loved him enough, you'd try."

"I just don't want to ruin his life." Monica smiled through her tears. "I'm sorry, Chandler."

"For what?"

"For telling you all of this. You can just forget I said anything."

"Mon… I'm glad you told me. We promised to tell each other everything, remember?"

Monica nodded her head. She was breaking the promise.

All she wanted to do was tell him how she felt. But she wouldn't. It would be too hard on him. She couldn't do that to her best friend and the man she loved. Monica leaned her head on Chandler's shoulder.

She'd have to settle for just friends.

To Be Continued…

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