The Pact-chapter 4

I love lazy summer days. Yup, it's 3 PM, yet I'm still in my pajamas. I really should get dressed though. My mom gets mad at me when she sees that. Oh, and I havta clean cuz we're having family over to celebrate all the summer birthdays (summer not meaning my b-day in June, but July, Aug., and Sept., apparently) I don't feel like it.:/ Anywho, thanks for the great reviews last chapter! You all are amazing!:) Please read and review this chapter, thanks! Just remember…thanks are never quite as they seem. *smiles deviously*

This chapter is dedicated to the amazing Clay Aiken. Thanks to him, there is an endless supply of llama-based, toenail biting-virgin jokes. Well, actually, this chapter is really dedicated to my lil' Yen-a-len, who's away for a week *cries* but we can pretend it's Clay so that Julie doesn't slit my throat.;)

Joey and Ross sat on opposite ends of the orange couch in Central Perk. Ross' body was turned in the direction opposite Joey, as he attempted to give off the impression that he was intently reading. Joey was looking at him, contemplating whether or not he should start a conversation. Nonetheless, in his mind, Ross was praying that Joey didn't. He didn't want to hear about how great he and Phoebe were getting along and how 'amazing it is to come home and be able to just have sex just because your wife is there'.

Clearly, Joey and Phoebe were getting along much better than he and Rachel. Joey and Phoebe were sharing a bed, while Rachel refused to give even so much as a look in Ross' direction. They had been married for a week now, yet Ross made no progress with her, whatsoever. In fact, since their "date", she seemed to be going all out to avoid contact with him as much as possible. Dinners consisted of Ross talking to Emma, Emma attempting to talk to Rachel, and Rachel giving short, distant answers. He wished he could reach out to her, somehow. Perhaps, he just needed to give it more time. More time, he realized, will probably just make things worse.

"Ross?" Joey questioned.

He looked up from his magazine, peeved that his thoughts had been interrupted. 

"Umm…wanna go to the Knicks game on Friday?"

"No, sorry, I have plans," Ross lied.

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll just…ask Chandler."

"Okay."

Ross went back to his magazine for a few moments, before being interrupted once more.

"How are things going for you?"

"Great! Just…great! You?"

"Same here. The married life is something else, isn't it?"

"Oh, yeah, it's…something all right."

"So, uh, how's Rachel?"

"Great! Just…great!"

"Great," Joey mumbled.

"What's wrong?"

Joey laughed. "Nothing's wrong! Nothing at all! I've never been happier in my entire life!"

"Same here."

"Good."

"No, great."

Silence overtook them, as Ross went back to reading his magazine. Joey, in turn, looked out the window and sighed softly. Ross was so lucky. Things were going well for him and Rachel. Of course, they had dated before and even had a kid together. It just made sense that things were working out between them, since they had such a huge history. Well, he had to look on the bright side of things. Rachel would've never let him sleep with her on their first night together.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder how things would be different if the girls had never switched backups – if he had been Rachel's backup. Maybe they could've fallen madly in love and lived happily after. But, he was being foolish. He had Phoebe. Phoebe who…seemed incredibly distant lately. Whenever he looked at her, her eyes pointed towards the ground and whenever he'd speak to her, she'd reply with short, quiet responses. They would sleep together every night, yet it was always at his request, never hers. Maybe he should stop asking for sex. Perhaps, that was what forcing her to become so distant.

Joey was jostled out of his thoughts by the door opening and two familiar voices filling the air. He looked towards the door, and saw Phoebe and Rachel hang up their coats and then walk towards the orange couch, all the while smiling and laughing. Their smiles faded, however, when they noticed the two men sitting in front of them. Ross and Joey greeted them monotonously, and they greeted their husbands back in the same manner. Then, the women ordered coffees and sat down on opposite armchairs, an awkward air forming at their presence. No one spoke as they sipped coffee slowly, each wondering how much longer until they could leave the coffee house without seeming rude.

After ten minutes, the silence was still thick, and that awkwardness had only grown stronger as the minutes droned on. Ross finally decided it would be fine for him to leave, if he said he had to pick up Emma from his parents house (that is, if Rachel didn't remember that they were expecting him at 9:00 and it was only 7 at the moment). They had been sitting there for ten minutes already. Plus, the awkward silence was killing him. He experienced enough of that when he and Rachel were in a room together at home. He didn't want to deal with it when they were out of the house, too. However, before he got the chance to stand up, the door swung open.

The four friends all looked towards the door, grateful for the interruption. Chandler smiled at them, as he set the little girl in his arms on the floor, and took off her jacket, then his overcoat. They watched him sigh and stick his head out the door. A minute later, Monica entered, holding the hands of her son and older daughter. Rachel and Phoebe scowled, turning away from the door angrily.

Chandler walked over to where the rest of the friends were seated, although Monica stubbornly sat at a small table on the other side of the room. Chandler turned his head and motioned for her to come over, but she hissed 'no', so he turned back towards their friends.

"Chandler!" Joey greeted enthusiastically, before rising and encompassing him in a tight embrace.

After a shocked moment, Chandler pulled back and gave him a disturbed look.

Joey smiled and looked down at his feet sheepishly, "I missed you."

Chandler nodded and raised his eyebrows. "I could…tell."

"So, Chandler," Rachel interrupted loudly, "What are you doing here?"

"Getting some coffee…"

Phoebe threw him an impatient look.

"And I believe," He looked back at Monica, "Someone here has something to say to say to you."

Monica made no motion to rise, so Chandler sighed and walked over to her, then nudged her towards them.

Monica looked down and mumbled, "I'm sorry that I wasn't more supportive."

Phoebe and Rachel exchanged looks.

"It's okay," Rachel admitted after a moment.

"Good!" Chandler sighed, "I was getting sick of hearing her complain."

"So, uh, when's the weddings?" Monica questioned.

"Oh…we're already married," Phoebe replied casually.

"What?!"

Although he, too, looked shocked, Chandler whispered in her ear to be supportive.

She sighed and said, "That's…nice. I'm…happy for you guys."

"Thanks," Rachel and Phoebe answered at the same time.

She and Chandler sat down on couch, their son in between them, and each with a daughter on their lap. No one spoke for a few moments, as Chandler and Monica studied the rest of the gang curiously.

"So," Chandler began, "How goes the married life?"

"It's great," they all replied simultaneously.

Chandler laughed, "Wait until you're married for a few more years."

"What?!" Monica demanded.

"…because it gets even better!"

Monica rolled her eyes, but chuckled along with the others.

Once the laughter died down, however, there was more silence. Ross sighed agitatedly, convinced that the rest of his life would consist of silence and awkwardness.

After an hour and a half, everyone, aside from Rachel and Joey, left the coffee shop. Joey stayed because he wanted to allow Phoebe to get back to the apartment first, and, maybe, fall asleep before he got back. That way, he wouldn't be able to ask for sex, even if he wanted to.

Rachel, on the other hand, stayed there in order to not have to return to her apartment with Ross. He was driving her crazy. She was beginning to regret marrying him. Although, she felt something for him, (although not sure what that something was) every time she looked at him, she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.  She was thoroughly confused, unsure of what she wanted in the marriage.

Joey looked at her briefly, before turning his head away from her. He knew he should think of something to say, but, ever since they kissed in Barbados, but decided not to peruse a relationship, he had been unable to start up a good conversation with Rachel. Sure, it was a long time ago, but he still felt that same uneasiness around her that he felt over 5 years ago.

Rachel shifted uneasily in her seat. Joey's presence made her feel as if she was a teenager again. Her small, meaningless crush (as she had decided it was a long time ago) made her feel self-conscious when the two of them were alone. However, the feelings she was experiencing at the moment in the coffee house were better than the ones she felt in her own house.

"So," Joey began uneasily, "I hear, uh, you and Ross are, uh, getting along well."

"Yeah…" Rachel agreed distantly.

"That's good."

"Yeah…"

"Did you and Phoebe have fun shopping today?"

"Yeah, it was nice."

"Buy anything?"

Rachel laughed whole-heartedly, despite her clogged brain, "Who do you think you're talking to?!" Joey looked at her blankly, "Of course I did!"

He laughed along with her, although felt a bit stupid at his denseness. Rachel grinned at Joey and moved onto the couch next to him. She took out her shopping bags and began to show him what she had bought, both grateful that the air of uneasiness had disappeared, for that conversation, at least.

"Oh, and I got this new bracelet," continued Rachel, as she finished showing off her new purchases, "See."

She held her wrist out to him for a moment, and Joey grasped it lightly, staring at the bracelet. Then, he dropped her wrist and instead looked up into her eyes. Rachel blushed and cast her eyes down, however, attempting to break his stare. He looked away shamefully, and that familiar awkwardness returned.

"You know what?" Rachel began after a few more minutes of silence.

"What?" Joey asked, much too quickly.

"I'm…gonna go."

"Oh," he replied disappointedly, "Oh, okay."

"Bye."

Rachel stood up and walked slowly towards the door. Joey, however, called back to her. She turned around, willing herself not to smile at his desperate look. She had wanted him to call her back.

"Do you, umm, want to go to a Knicks game with me on Friday?"

Rachel smiled. "Shouldn't you be asking Ross or Chandler?"

"Well, uh, I asked Ross and he said he was busy and last time I asked Chandler to go, he had ended up bringing along Danny. As much as I love that kid, he ended up causing three men to fall down the stairs."

Rachel chuckled at the tale of Chandler and Monica's son. However, another thought struck her, which caused her to sober. "What about Phoebe?"

"Oh, Phoebe…right. I, uh, I already asked her. She said no."

"Oh, okay then," Rachel agreed brightly, "I'll go."

"Great! I'll see you then."

"Yeah, bye."

"Bye."

Joey watched as Rachel put on her coat and left the coffee shop. He squeezed his eyes shut, attempting to swallow the guilt that suddenly encompassed him. He hadn't actually asked Phoebe if she wanted to go. In fact, he had completely forgotten about Phoebe when he was with Rachel, until she brought her up. He sighed and left the coffee house, attempting to clear his mind before he reached his apartment.

When Joey entered his apartment, his first realization was that the television was on, but the channel was just gray snow. He walked over to find the remote, but, instead, noticed Phoebe, sprawled out on the couch. Figuring she had fallen asleep waiting for him, the guilt he felt magnified. However, he couldn't cancel on Rachel. He had to spend time with her or else he would never forgive himself. They had to fix things between them before it was too late. And, it wasn't as if anything was going to happen between them. Not only did she not have feelings for him, but neither did he anymore (well, he tried to convince himself that, anyway). They were merely friends going to a basketball game together. That was all. Joey turned off the television, before he scooped Phoebe up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, never noticing the empty bottle of rum that had rolled under the couch.

Okay, that's a wrap for chapter 4. Thanks for reading! Hope people still like this fic. Please click that little button on the bottom of your screen to review and make me happy! Thanks.:) To be continued soon…