Once again thank you very very much for your wonderful reviews. Just one
thing, this isn't a C&M fic, there are tons and tons out there, they are
just secondary characters here, the main plot is R&R, as you can see, so
tikki, I'm sorry... and also this story is already written. Maybe I'll try
to write a C&M fic later ;).
Now to the story...
BOYS & GIRLS - Chapter 5
Ross and Rachel were trying to make a nice breakfast. Ross had burnt a couple of toast, and the kitchen was filled with smoke. Both were laughing uncontrolably
"Well" said Rachel still laughing "what were we talking about before the 'incident'?"
"About the party" answered Ross, trying to get the burnt toast out of the toaster "you were telling me about the party"
Ross stare at Rachel with loving eyes, listening carefully everything she was telling him, that's why he burnt the toast, cause he was paying more attention to her than anything. Ever since they became close friends it had been like this, he always listened to whatever she wanting to tell him, and she always told him everything she did.
"Well, and this girl said to me: 'Ray-ray, you have to meet this guy" said Rachel, imitating the girl's voice "and I said: 'no thanks, I don't wanna meet anybody'... you know... I still don't feel like I'm ready yet"
"Ray-ray?" asked Ross amuzed
"they call me that way. They say it's better than 'Rach'... I hate it though... but what can I say to them?, it had became my nickname between my classmates already"
"I prefer to call you 'Rach'... it represents more to me what you are... you know, how sweet and lovely you are. 'Ray-ray' is just... you know, kind of your cheerleaders friends at school" said Ross, finally puttin more bread in the toaster, while checking the water
"Mmm... you're making me blush again Ross..., thanks honey" Rachel loved when Ross started to tell her those kind of things, but she couldn't help feeling unconfortable so she quickly changed the subject "let me finnish the story, and get the toast out, they are ready... or you want me to eat carbon?"
Ross laugh at Rachel, he knew she always got a little nervous when he started to tell her how sweet she was, and he kind of liked to have that effect on her "Right, the story... please, continue"
"The thing is they didn't listen to me, and the told me 'Ray-ray, you have to meet him... it's been more than a year since that Steve thing and blah blah blah'. So they introduce me to Paolo"
"Paolo?!... what kind of name is that?!" said Ross kind of annoyed
"It's italian Ross..."
"I know it's italian... and what happened to him?" asked Ross, trying to sound like he didn't care "when I saw you two you were having a good time" Ross looked down, he didn't want Rachel's eyes to meet his, cause she'd know he was feeling kind of hurt
"We dance, we drank... it was pretty nice" replied Rachel avoiding the real answer, while both of them left the kitchen to the table
"This is delicious Ross, great cooker" said Rachel eating a toast
"Rach, is just a latte and a couple of toast, there's not science on it. Beside, after all the trying back there something good had to come out" said Ross joking.
Rachel laugh, Ross was always trying to please her, he was defently the best friend she had ever had, and she loved him so much.
Ross was still worried about how far Rachel had gone with the italian guy "and... and after the party, who brought you home?"
"Paolo brought me" replied Rachel
"And... what time?"
Rachel knew if she told Ross where she had gone and what she had done ast night he was gonna lecture her, she knew what she was doing wasn't right, but at this moment was exactly what she needed. Ross overprotected her too much, and he sure wouldn't understand
"Rach... what time did he bring you home?" asked again Ross
"At. at. at. 6 o'clock" replied Rachel softly "And I saw you sleeping on the couch, so I put a blanket on you and turned off the tv" said really quickly, trying to cover what she said before
"But how come?... the party ended at 4?" asked Ross intrigued
"Yeah wel... the thing is... is... Paolo and I left the party earlier, and went to another place, and theeeeen he brought me home"
"And where did you go?"
"To... to his place" said Rachel softly
"Oh... I see" Ross gave her a mad look
"Ross, please... try to understand, this is what I need at the moment"
"What you need? Do you need to get hurt again?... Rachel, this guy is no different from Chip and Steve, can't you see it?"
"I know he's not different, but I won't get hurt this time... I know"
"How can you know" said Ross, trying to clam down
"Cause there's no feelings in the middle, this is just a fun italian thing, just sex... nothing more. I still think I'm not ready for a relationship, this is not gonna be that, we're gonna fool around for a little." Rachel was trying to convince Ross, but he seemed not willing to understand. "Maybe you should try it too. You're the only 23 years old guy that I know who doesn't sleep with anybody"
"That's not the point Rachel..."
"Come on Ross... you should go out there and try to make it, try to get a date or something. It's impossible that the ghost of your relationship with Carol still hunts you."
Ross just looked at her, he couldn't tell her that the real reason why he wasn't even trying to date was her, he still had a little hope that one day she would realize what he felt for her
"I've been thinking that maybe us hanging out together as much as we do is what keeps you from dating" said Rachel concerned "Am I just a friend for you?"
"WHA. WHAT?!" asked Ross nervous
"Am I just a friend, or am I your girlfriend substitute?... I feel like as long as we are still 'us' you're never gonna try to find somebody else"
"Look Rach, I don't go around the campus trying to score with as many girls as I can, I'm not like that, ok?. For me sex is more than a game, it has a meaning. And there's no ghost hunting me, I'm totally over her. If I hadn't had a relationship all this time is cause I'm still waiting for THAT girl to realize I'm here" said Ross looking into her eyes "And I really couldn't be with anybody else"
"You're always talking about THAT girl, and THAT girl... but I haven't seen you do anything to get her, whoever she is, if you keep waiting for her to realize what you're feelings you may wait forever Ross, or maybe she relized but she's just not interested... Try to relax a little, have fun. I hate to see you like this honey, I'm sure there are hundreds of girls out there who would kill for a guy like you, I know I would, but how can you see it if you keep on hiding behind me"
Ross realized that Rachel was right, he was tired of been the one waiting for her, and the one wiping her tears when she got hurt. If she was never gonna realize how much he loved her, he wasn't gonna wait her forever. It was time to live for him, not for her
"You know what Rachel.... you're right.... that's exactly what I'm gonna do"
*~*
The next day Ross looked for Julie in the class room, he was gonna ask her out, beside he owed her an apology for how rude he had been to her at the party
"Julie!!" called out Ross from the other side of the room while approached to her
"Hey Ross!, how are ya'?.. how did the test go?"
"I don't know... I studied a lot, so I guess it was fine." He replied "Listen, I'm on a hurry now cause I have another class in like 3 minutes, but I wanted to apologize for been so rude with you at the party. I... I was kind of pissed cause there was this girl... well, it doesn't matter"
"It's ok, I understand" said Julie and started to leave
"No, wait... that wasn't all..."
"Ok" said Julie kind of intrigued
"I... I... wanted to. to. to ask you out, you know... going on a date" Ross was rambling nervous
"A date?... I'd love to" Julie smile
"what about tomorrow night at 8?"
"ok... it's a date" said Julie shaking Ross' hand
Ross left the room smiling, as Julie watched him live smiling wide too
*~*
Ross entered to the Central Perk really happy. Chandler and Joey were there
"Hey guys!" greeted Ross
"woa!, what is doing that smile in your face?" said Chandler
"I have a date" answered Ross
"A date?... as in... a date with a girl?" asked Joey amazed
"Wow, this Rachel sleeping with that guy thing really messed you up, didn't it?" said Chandler
"Not really. I mean.... I was kind of upset, but it help me realize that I also have a life to live you know, I can't be sitting around waiting for Rachel my whole life"
"And where did you meet her?" asked Chandler
"Is she hot?" asked Joey
"Well, I met her at the party the other night... and she's on one of my classes"
"So she's a nerd like you huh?" replied Joey dissapointed
In that moment Julie entered the coffe house "Ross!, here you are!"
"Julie?!" said Ross amazed "how did you know I was here?"
"I didn't, I just saw you through the window... I forgot to give you my adress"
"Really... I forgot about it too"
"You have to undestand him, it's been so long since his last date that he doesn't remember how it works" joked Chandler
"Thanks mate" said Ross blushing "let me introuduce you to my friends.... this clown here in Chandler and that over there is Joey... guys, this is Julie"
"Who's Julie?" asked Phoebe, entering the coffe house with Monica
"I'm... I'm Julie" replied Julie shydly
"Hi Julie... I'm Phoebe"
"And I'm Monica" said Monica, shaking Julie's hand
"Julie is Ross' date!!" yelled Joey like a little child showing everybody his new toy
"Date?" said Monica amazed but happy "it was about time
"Well you guys, it was really nice meeting all of you, but I gotta go..." Julie felt kind of intimidated by Ross' friends and wanted to get out of there quickly "Ross, I'll see you tomorrow then"
"Wait, I'll walk you to the door" said Ross always a gentleman
"Bye Julie"-"See ya'" said the rest of the gang
Ross came back to where the rest of the gang was and sat on the arm couch. Everybody was staring at him, waiting for an explanation...
"So..." started Monica
"So what?" replied Ross
"What was that about?" asked him his sister
"Well, I had a very interesting conversation with Rachel yesterday, and I decided to give it a go" answered Ross matter of factly
"It was about time... speaking of Rachel, have any of you seen her today?" said Monica
"She must be on classes" said Ross
"Or with Paolo" continued Phoebe
"Ok... I have to go" said quicky Ross when he heard Paolo's name, he wasn't ready yet to accept that, and defintly not ready to talk about Rachel's new lover, it would just ruin his great day.
"What's with him?" asked Monica
"He must be nervous, you know, he haven't had a date in years." replied Chander as he stood up from the couch "well children... I better get going too... I have clasess"
"What?!... you classes?" asked amazed Phoebe
"Yes. I decided to go."
"I have to go. you know, gotta keep looking for Rachel" said Monica also standing up
Monica and Chandler left quickly the coffe house
"I bet they're doing it" said Phoebe to Joey
"Monica and Chandler?... you think?... I don't think so" asked Joey
"Why not?"
"Cause Ross would kill him"
"Yeah probably" Phoebe stared at the space blanky for a while and then said "wanna go do it?"
"I tought you would never ask" said exited Joey, and both left the coffe house running
*~*
Ross and Julie's date went really well, so well that it was followed for another one, and another, one and another one. After dating for a couple of weeks, Ross asked her to be his girlfriend, and she accepted happyly. The rest of the gang was really happy for him, well at least almost all the rest of the gang. Rachel didn't like Julie at all, she was always telling Monica and Phoebe how manipulated and fake she thought Ross' girlfriend was. What bothered Rachel the most was that Ross spend all his time with Julie, so he seemed to not have time for her anymore, and she missed him. Her relationship with Paolo, if that could be named 'relationship', was down the hill already, they almost never saw each other during the day, just one or two nights on the week, and it wasn't as fun as it used to be anymore
Monica, Rachel and Phoebe were hanging out in the house, sitting at the table, looking at Ross and Julie, who were sitting on the couch
"I don't understand why the hell she has to spend so much time in here" said Rachel pissed
"cause she's Ross' girlfriend Rachel" replied Monica, tired of her friend's comment on her brother's girlfriend
"I think she's nice... I like her" said Phoebe
"I like her too... in fact we went shopping the other da..."
Rachel stood up "YOU WENT SHOPPING WITH HER?!... WITH THAT... WITH THAT B¡TCH?!" said angryly Rachel, interupting what Monica was saying
"Rachel, would you calm down?... I wanted to know her better, she's my brother's girlfriend for God's sake, he hasn't been in a relationship with anybody since Carol... you should give yourself some time to get to know her better. I still can't understand why you don't like her"
"I really really don't wanna know her better. You are a traitor Monica" said Rachel before turn around to go upstairs to her room.
Phoebe couldn't help start laughing
"Why are you laughin?... did you see her?, she's mad at me and I still don't know why is she reacting like this?"
"Can you see it?" asked Phoebe really amuzed "she's totally jealous of Julie... she couldn't be more in love with Ross"
"In love with Ross?"
"yeah, it's pretty obvious Monica... but I don't think she's realized it yet"
Monica stare at the stairs for a while, and then at her brother on the couch. "In love with Ross?" asked again in her head... "this should be interesting"
*~*
Rachel entered to the house, she was crying. She had promise herself that she won't cry over Paolo, but she couldn't help it. What she saw when she entered the italian's appartment made her remember of Chip and Steve. After seen how happy Ross was with Julie, she decided to give her relationship with Paolo a try, and take it to the next level, so she had went to his appartment that day after classes to surprise him, when she entered she saw him in bed with another girl, she yelled at him a thousand things, and told him to never ever call her or look for her again. Now at home she didn't know what to do, so she sit on the couch and continued crying.
Ross came home really cheered, those last 3 months had been amazing. Julie was amazing, smart, fun, cute, nice and studied the same thing he was studing, so she could understand everything he said when he started talking about dinasaurs. But he knew she wasn't Rachel, he didn't allow himself to think about her as much as he used to. Seeing her with Paolo still bothered him, as it would a little stone on his shoe, but he had managed to live with that. Maybe he would never get her out of his head, but he couldn't limit himself just because of that.
Ross entered the kitchen, poured himself a glass of milk and headed to the couch, cause his favourite tv show was about to start. When he got to the living he saw Rachel crying
"Rach... Rach, what happened?... are you ok?" he asked concerned
"I was wrong Ross... God, I was so wrong" replied Rachel
"It's ok honey" Ross hugged her, not understanding what was happening "everybody has the right to be wrong sometimes"
"No Ross" Rachel let go of Ross' arms and looked into his eyes, those eyes where she had found confort so many times before "you always know, you told me... but I don't listen to you... I'm a fool"
"Rach... relax. Here, take some milk" Ross hended her the glass of milk "and now tell me what happened, cause I really don't understand what you're talking about"
"Ok" Rachel took the glass of milk from Ross' hand, took a sip and wiped her tears "I got out of classes a little early, so I went to Paolo's appartment to surprise him... we were gonna get together later anyway. But when I entered" Rachel's eyes filled with tears and her voice broke "I saw him... I saw him in bed with another girl" she started to cry again, and Ross hugged her "Why Ross?? Why every single guy cheats on me?"
"But Rach, you said that this whole Paolo thing was without feelings in the middle, that you guys were only playing. To any other guy that means 'I get to sleep with you, but I also can sleep with other girls'"
"I know Ross... and I know I shouldn't feel this way... and I promise myself I wasn't gonna cry this time, but look at me, I'm a mess again... why can't I just find a guy who loves me, and takes care of me... and doesn't hurt me?"
Ross looked at her straight to the eyes. He wanted to tell her "you have that guy standing in front of you right now" but he couldn't, she was vulnerable right now, and this wasn't the best moment. "Maybe you're looking in the wrong places Rach... but let's not talk about this right now, ok?... what do you say of we do something together, to cheer you up?"
"A 'Ross and Rachel day'?, we haven't done that in a long time... it sounds like fun" said Rachel, more cheered
"Right, what do you wanna do" asked Ross, happy he could help her
"Let's go to the movies"
"Ok, pick a movie, and I'll call Julie to cancel"
"You're have a date with her?"
"No, I have a date with you.... you're way much important now" replied Ross winking at her
Rachel smiled at him, it was amazing how great Ross made her feel. He always knew the exactly words to make her smile. She grabed the news paper and started to look at the movie billboard
to be continue...
Now to the story...
BOYS & GIRLS - Chapter 5
Ross and Rachel were trying to make a nice breakfast. Ross had burnt a couple of toast, and the kitchen was filled with smoke. Both were laughing uncontrolably
"Well" said Rachel still laughing "what were we talking about before the 'incident'?"
"About the party" answered Ross, trying to get the burnt toast out of the toaster "you were telling me about the party"
Ross stare at Rachel with loving eyes, listening carefully everything she was telling him, that's why he burnt the toast, cause he was paying more attention to her than anything. Ever since they became close friends it had been like this, he always listened to whatever she wanting to tell him, and she always told him everything she did.
"Well, and this girl said to me: 'Ray-ray, you have to meet this guy" said Rachel, imitating the girl's voice "and I said: 'no thanks, I don't wanna meet anybody'... you know... I still don't feel like I'm ready yet"
"Ray-ray?" asked Ross amuzed
"they call me that way. They say it's better than 'Rach'... I hate it though... but what can I say to them?, it had became my nickname between my classmates already"
"I prefer to call you 'Rach'... it represents more to me what you are... you know, how sweet and lovely you are. 'Ray-ray' is just... you know, kind of your cheerleaders friends at school" said Ross, finally puttin more bread in the toaster, while checking the water
"Mmm... you're making me blush again Ross..., thanks honey" Rachel loved when Ross started to tell her those kind of things, but she couldn't help feeling unconfortable so she quickly changed the subject "let me finnish the story, and get the toast out, they are ready... or you want me to eat carbon?"
Ross laugh at Rachel, he knew she always got a little nervous when he started to tell her how sweet she was, and he kind of liked to have that effect on her "Right, the story... please, continue"
"The thing is they didn't listen to me, and the told me 'Ray-ray, you have to meet him... it's been more than a year since that Steve thing and blah blah blah'. So they introduce me to Paolo"
"Paolo?!... what kind of name is that?!" said Ross kind of annoyed
"It's italian Ross..."
"I know it's italian... and what happened to him?" asked Ross, trying to sound like he didn't care "when I saw you two you were having a good time" Ross looked down, he didn't want Rachel's eyes to meet his, cause she'd know he was feeling kind of hurt
"We dance, we drank... it was pretty nice" replied Rachel avoiding the real answer, while both of them left the kitchen to the table
"This is delicious Ross, great cooker" said Rachel eating a toast
"Rach, is just a latte and a couple of toast, there's not science on it. Beside, after all the trying back there something good had to come out" said Ross joking.
Rachel laugh, Ross was always trying to please her, he was defently the best friend she had ever had, and she loved him so much.
Ross was still worried about how far Rachel had gone with the italian guy "and... and after the party, who brought you home?"
"Paolo brought me" replied Rachel
"And... what time?"
Rachel knew if she told Ross where she had gone and what she had done ast night he was gonna lecture her, she knew what she was doing wasn't right, but at this moment was exactly what she needed. Ross overprotected her too much, and he sure wouldn't understand
"Rach... what time did he bring you home?" asked again Ross
"At. at. at. 6 o'clock" replied Rachel softly "And I saw you sleeping on the couch, so I put a blanket on you and turned off the tv" said really quickly, trying to cover what she said before
"But how come?... the party ended at 4?" asked Ross intrigued
"Yeah wel... the thing is... is... Paolo and I left the party earlier, and went to another place, and theeeeen he brought me home"
"And where did you go?"
"To... to his place" said Rachel softly
"Oh... I see" Ross gave her a mad look
"Ross, please... try to understand, this is what I need at the moment"
"What you need? Do you need to get hurt again?... Rachel, this guy is no different from Chip and Steve, can't you see it?"
"I know he's not different, but I won't get hurt this time... I know"
"How can you know" said Ross, trying to clam down
"Cause there's no feelings in the middle, this is just a fun italian thing, just sex... nothing more. I still think I'm not ready for a relationship, this is not gonna be that, we're gonna fool around for a little." Rachel was trying to convince Ross, but he seemed not willing to understand. "Maybe you should try it too. You're the only 23 years old guy that I know who doesn't sleep with anybody"
"That's not the point Rachel..."
"Come on Ross... you should go out there and try to make it, try to get a date or something. It's impossible that the ghost of your relationship with Carol still hunts you."
Ross just looked at her, he couldn't tell her that the real reason why he wasn't even trying to date was her, he still had a little hope that one day she would realize what he felt for her
"I've been thinking that maybe us hanging out together as much as we do is what keeps you from dating" said Rachel concerned "Am I just a friend for you?"
"WHA. WHAT?!" asked Ross nervous
"Am I just a friend, or am I your girlfriend substitute?... I feel like as long as we are still 'us' you're never gonna try to find somebody else"
"Look Rach, I don't go around the campus trying to score with as many girls as I can, I'm not like that, ok?. For me sex is more than a game, it has a meaning. And there's no ghost hunting me, I'm totally over her. If I hadn't had a relationship all this time is cause I'm still waiting for THAT girl to realize I'm here" said Ross looking into her eyes "And I really couldn't be with anybody else"
"You're always talking about THAT girl, and THAT girl... but I haven't seen you do anything to get her, whoever she is, if you keep waiting for her to realize what you're feelings you may wait forever Ross, or maybe she relized but she's just not interested... Try to relax a little, have fun. I hate to see you like this honey, I'm sure there are hundreds of girls out there who would kill for a guy like you, I know I would, but how can you see it if you keep on hiding behind me"
Ross realized that Rachel was right, he was tired of been the one waiting for her, and the one wiping her tears when she got hurt. If she was never gonna realize how much he loved her, he wasn't gonna wait her forever. It was time to live for him, not for her
"You know what Rachel.... you're right.... that's exactly what I'm gonna do"
*~*
The next day Ross looked for Julie in the class room, he was gonna ask her out, beside he owed her an apology for how rude he had been to her at the party
"Julie!!" called out Ross from the other side of the room while approached to her
"Hey Ross!, how are ya'?.. how did the test go?"
"I don't know... I studied a lot, so I guess it was fine." He replied "Listen, I'm on a hurry now cause I have another class in like 3 minutes, but I wanted to apologize for been so rude with you at the party. I... I was kind of pissed cause there was this girl... well, it doesn't matter"
"It's ok, I understand" said Julie and started to leave
"No, wait... that wasn't all..."
"Ok" said Julie kind of intrigued
"I... I... wanted to. to. to ask you out, you know... going on a date" Ross was rambling nervous
"A date?... I'd love to" Julie smile
"what about tomorrow night at 8?"
"ok... it's a date" said Julie shaking Ross' hand
Ross left the room smiling, as Julie watched him live smiling wide too
*~*
Ross entered to the Central Perk really happy. Chandler and Joey were there
"Hey guys!" greeted Ross
"woa!, what is doing that smile in your face?" said Chandler
"I have a date" answered Ross
"A date?... as in... a date with a girl?" asked Joey amazed
"Wow, this Rachel sleeping with that guy thing really messed you up, didn't it?" said Chandler
"Not really. I mean.... I was kind of upset, but it help me realize that I also have a life to live you know, I can't be sitting around waiting for Rachel my whole life"
"And where did you meet her?" asked Chandler
"Is she hot?" asked Joey
"Well, I met her at the party the other night... and she's on one of my classes"
"So she's a nerd like you huh?" replied Joey dissapointed
In that moment Julie entered the coffe house "Ross!, here you are!"
"Julie?!" said Ross amazed "how did you know I was here?"
"I didn't, I just saw you through the window... I forgot to give you my adress"
"Really... I forgot about it too"
"You have to undestand him, it's been so long since his last date that he doesn't remember how it works" joked Chandler
"Thanks mate" said Ross blushing "let me introuduce you to my friends.... this clown here in Chandler and that over there is Joey... guys, this is Julie"
"Who's Julie?" asked Phoebe, entering the coffe house with Monica
"I'm... I'm Julie" replied Julie shydly
"Hi Julie... I'm Phoebe"
"And I'm Monica" said Monica, shaking Julie's hand
"Julie is Ross' date!!" yelled Joey like a little child showing everybody his new toy
"Date?" said Monica amazed but happy "it was about time
"Well you guys, it was really nice meeting all of you, but I gotta go..." Julie felt kind of intimidated by Ross' friends and wanted to get out of there quickly "Ross, I'll see you tomorrow then"
"Wait, I'll walk you to the door" said Ross always a gentleman
"Bye Julie"-"See ya'" said the rest of the gang
Ross came back to where the rest of the gang was and sat on the arm couch. Everybody was staring at him, waiting for an explanation...
"So..." started Monica
"So what?" replied Ross
"What was that about?" asked him his sister
"Well, I had a very interesting conversation with Rachel yesterday, and I decided to give it a go" answered Ross matter of factly
"It was about time... speaking of Rachel, have any of you seen her today?" said Monica
"She must be on classes" said Ross
"Or with Paolo" continued Phoebe
"Ok... I have to go" said quicky Ross when he heard Paolo's name, he wasn't ready yet to accept that, and defintly not ready to talk about Rachel's new lover, it would just ruin his great day.
"What's with him?" asked Monica
"He must be nervous, you know, he haven't had a date in years." replied Chander as he stood up from the couch "well children... I better get going too... I have clasess"
"What?!... you classes?" asked amazed Phoebe
"Yes. I decided to go."
"I have to go. you know, gotta keep looking for Rachel" said Monica also standing up
Monica and Chandler left quickly the coffe house
"I bet they're doing it" said Phoebe to Joey
"Monica and Chandler?... you think?... I don't think so" asked Joey
"Why not?"
"Cause Ross would kill him"
"Yeah probably" Phoebe stared at the space blanky for a while and then said "wanna go do it?"
"I tought you would never ask" said exited Joey, and both left the coffe house running
*~*
Ross and Julie's date went really well, so well that it was followed for another one, and another, one and another one. After dating for a couple of weeks, Ross asked her to be his girlfriend, and she accepted happyly. The rest of the gang was really happy for him, well at least almost all the rest of the gang. Rachel didn't like Julie at all, she was always telling Monica and Phoebe how manipulated and fake she thought Ross' girlfriend was. What bothered Rachel the most was that Ross spend all his time with Julie, so he seemed to not have time for her anymore, and she missed him. Her relationship with Paolo, if that could be named 'relationship', was down the hill already, they almost never saw each other during the day, just one or two nights on the week, and it wasn't as fun as it used to be anymore
Monica, Rachel and Phoebe were hanging out in the house, sitting at the table, looking at Ross and Julie, who were sitting on the couch
"I don't understand why the hell she has to spend so much time in here" said Rachel pissed
"cause she's Ross' girlfriend Rachel" replied Monica, tired of her friend's comment on her brother's girlfriend
"I think she's nice... I like her" said Phoebe
"I like her too... in fact we went shopping the other da..."
Rachel stood up "YOU WENT SHOPPING WITH HER?!... WITH THAT... WITH THAT B¡TCH?!" said angryly Rachel, interupting what Monica was saying
"Rachel, would you calm down?... I wanted to know her better, she's my brother's girlfriend for God's sake, he hasn't been in a relationship with anybody since Carol... you should give yourself some time to get to know her better. I still can't understand why you don't like her"
"I really really don't wanna know her better. You are a traitor Monica" said Rachel before turn around to go upstairs to her room.
Phoebe couldn't help start laughing
"Why are you laughin?... did you see her?, she's mad at me and I still don't know why is she reacting like this?"
"Can you see it?" asked Phoebe really amuzed "she's totally jealous of Julie... she couldn't be more in love with Ross"
"In love with Ross?"
"yeah, it's pretty obvious Monica... but I don't think she's realized it yet"
Monica stare at the stairs for a while, and then at her brother on the couch. "In love with Ross?" asked again in her head... "this should be interesting"
*~*
Rachel entered to the house, she was crying. She had promise herself that she won't cry over Paolo, but she couldn't help it. What she saw when she entered the italian's appartment made her remember of Chip and Steve. After seen how happy Ross was with Julie, she decided to give her relationship with Paolo a try, and take it to the next level, so she had went to his appartment that day after classes to surprise him, when she entered she saw him in bed with another girl, she yelled at him a thousand things, and told him to never ever call her or look for her again. Now at home she didn't know what to do, so she sit on the couch and continued crying.
Ross came home really cheered, those last 3 months had been amazing. Julie was amazing, smart, fun, cute, nice and studied the same thing he was studing, so she could understand everything he said when he started talking about dinasaurs. But he knew she wasn't Rachel, he didn't allow himself to think about her as much as he used to. Seeing her with Paolo still bothered him, as it would a little stone on his shoe, but he had managed to live with that. Maybe he would never get her out of his head, but he couldn't limit himself just because of that.
Ross entered the kitchen, poured himself a glass of milk and headed to the couch, cause his favourite tv show was about to start. When he got to the living he saw Rachel crying
"Rach... Rach, what happened?... are you ok?" he asked concerned
"I was wrong Ross... God, I was so wrong" replied Rachel
"It's ok honey" Ross hugged her, not understanding what was happening "everybody has the right to be wrong sometimes"
"No Ross" Rachel let go of Ross' arms and looked into his eyes, those eyes where she had found confort so many times before "you always know, you told me... but I don't listen to you... I'm a fool"
"Rach... relax. Here, take some milk" Ross hended her the glass of milk "and now tell me what happened, cause I really don't understand what you're talking about"
"Ok" Rachel took the glass of milk from Ross' hand, took a sip and wiped her tears "I got out of classes a little early, so I went to Paolo's appartment to surprise him... we were gonna get together later anyway. But when I entered" Rachel's eyes filled with tears and her voice broke "I saw him... I saw him in bed with another girl" she started to cry again, and Ross hugged her "Why Ross?? Why every single guy cheats on me?"
"But Rach, you said that this whole Paolo thing was without feelings in the middle, that you guys were only playing. To any other guy that means 'I get to sleep with you, but I also can sleep with other girls'"
"I know Ross... and I know I shouldn't feel this way... and I promise myself I wasn't gonna cry this time, but look at me, I'm a mess again... why can't I just find a guy who loves me, and takes care of me... and doesn't hurt me?"
Ross looked at her straight to the eyes. He wanted to tell her "you have that guy standing in front of you right now" but he couldn't, she was vulnerable right now, and this wasn't the best moment. "Maybe you're looking in the wrong places Rach... but let's not talk about this right now, ok?... what do you say of we do something together, to cheer you up?"
"A 'Ross and Rachel day'?, we haven't done that in a long time... it sounds like fun" said Rachel, more cheered
"Right, what do you wanna do" asked Ross, happy he could help her
"Let's go to the movies"
"Ok, pick a movie, and I'll call Julie to cancel"
"You're have a date with her?"
"No, I have a date with you.... you're way much important now" replied Ross winking at her
Rachel smiled at him, it was amazing how great Ross made her feel. He always knew the exactly words to make her smile. She grabed the news paper and started to look at the movie billboard
to be continue...