~*~*~*~*~Silver Springs~*~*~*~*~

Disclaimer: I like many things. I love many things. I don't own any of those things. FRIENDS© is a registered trademark. Don't sue me.

A/N: Ok. Well, here's the next chapter for those who are reading it. I strongly advise reviewing because I'll stop. I have low self-esteem, anyway, but when people don't review, I end up upset. Well, on with the show. J ~Illume is the Candle~J

~*~*~Chapter 4: "Why?"

Joey and Mary walked silently across the hall. The entered and sat on the couch, carefully dodging each other's eyes. Mary spoke first, "Joey…I…We…," she was grasping for words, "It shouldn't have happened."

"I know," he said.

"If we both know, then how did we let it get us? Why?"

"Well, work couldn't have helped."

Mary looked at him, her hazel eyes sad, "Yeah."

She began thinking. He was right. Their character's love scenes on Days of Our Lives couldn't help the distance between her and Ross. Mary loved him and she knew he loved her, but in the back of her mind she felt that she took second place to someone else. Who? She didn't know. She had some idea. She shook her head. No, he was over her long ago, right? Yet nothing could condone what she had done. Mary couldn't find the words to explain why she did what she did, and she had no clue what Joey was thinking, but she knew that she was sorry. Just as she was thinking about Joey's motive, Mary became vaguely aware that he was watching her.

"Mary, I'm sorry!" he said, the desperate despair apparent in his voice as his face contorted to show utter pain. She was about to say something when he stood and walked into his room without a word. Mary heard the delicate 'click' of the door being locked. She looked shocked, but stood up and left for her & Ross's apartment. (A/N: I know that in the last chapter, I called it a house, but it's an apartment down the street from the guys and girls.)

~*Joey*~

Joey hit himself on the head, fell onto his bed, and proceeded to have a mental battle with himself.

"How did I let it get out of hand?"

"Obviously on the first day; the first time you laid eyes on her…"

`Flashback: Sometime during the day, one year earlier`

Joey was in his dressing room, going over lines. Ross was there helping him. A producer came in and told him that the woman who would be playing his love interest was there. Her name was Mary Sanford. As if on cue, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen came up behind the producer. She had long, curly raven hair, and deep hazel eyes. For the first time that he could remember, he was at a loss for charm. Joey tore his eyes away from her to look over at Ross, who looked disinterested.

`End Flashback`

"So, Ross got her in the end."

"Yeah, but did he ever look fully committed to her?"

"No, but that doesn't matter. I had to hide it because she chose one of my best friends. What I did was wrong."

"She did it, too."

"It was my fault. I let my feelings get the better of me."

"Oh, your such a masochist."

Joey Tribbianni groaned, rolled over, and went to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Next time:

Monica and Chandler get caught in an interesting position.

Ross moves out.

Phoebe and Rachel have a heart-to-heart. *Next chapter will be longer, hopefully*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I hope that I've explained, in part, why. A word about Joey's battle: He can't help but have a slight sarcastic side, after so long with Chandler.