Writings on the Wall – Chapter 6
A/N: Right, so I kind of neglected this fic. :/ Oops. I've been tres stressed as of lately, which really sucks. So, I've had time to think of fics, but not time to write them. Anyway, sorry if this fic totally sucks now. In other news, my ass is completely asleep and Yen has introduced me to the wonderful world of LOTR slash *cough*elfhood*cough* [/too much info] Please read and review, thanks! :)
Dedication: To my Darling Waffle. I continued this for you! :) *chases dust balls*
Monica sifted through the pile of books on the desk and sighed. She had been searching for an hour, but no case she read about seemed to parallel her own. She opened another book and flipped through the index. After a moment, she slammed it down on the table. Nothing! Maybe this was all in her head…
"Can I help you?" a librarian asked, irritated by the manner in which Monica was handling the books.
"No, no, I'm okay," Monica answered quickly.
The librarian gave her an uneasy look, before walking away, muttering something about the behavior of teenagers today.
Monica sat down, leaning her head on the table as she flipped half-heartedly through the same books again. Soon after, Chandler came over to her, empty-handed. He sat down beside her, feeling like just as much of a failure as she did.
"They're closing soon," he mumbled.
She sighed, "I guess we should leave then. Sorry to waste your time."
"You didn't waste my time!" Monica looked away, "I mean it, Monica."
She nodded and began to put the books away, cutting Chandler off before he could continue. She was beginning to doubt herself, but Chandler still believed her. He had no proof; it was a gut feeling. Maybe he did not normally believe in supernatural things, but, for some reason, he did believe in her. He watched her for a moment, before beginning to help her put away the rest of the books.
- - - - -
They walked home in silence. Every so often, Monica snuck a glance at Chandler, able to make out his facial features by the streetlights. Why was he sticking by her? She wanted to be suspicious of his intensions, but she could not be. There was something truly genuine about his desire to help. And it was not as if he was a complete stranger; Ross was friends with him.
She stole another glance, but before she could turn away, he noticed her looking at him. She turned away quickly, suddenly aware of the heat of her cheeks against the cool night air. Monica could feel Chandler's eyes on her, as the sound of their shoes hitting the ground permeated through the night. However, they continued to walk in the same silent manner, neither knowing what to say to make the situation less awkward.
When they got to Monica's house, she stopped right at the property line. The light in her parent's room was still on. Assuming her mother knew nothing of her absence, she would need to wait until her mother went to sleep before she could sneak back into the house.
"What's wrong?" Chandler wondered, when he noticed Monica was not going into her house.
"Can't go home," she whispered, "My mom's still awake."
"Well," he stuttered, "We could, ya know, take a walk or something."
Monica smiled, "Yeah, okay."
Monica began to walk past her house, and, after a moment, Chandler caught up to her.
"Why were you grounded?"
"Oh, because, ya know, I left the house yesterday when I shouldn't have."
"Oh, well…I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You helped me."
He blushed, but Monica could not see the shade of his face in the night. They continued to walk in silence, until Monica felt they were a safe distance from her house.
"Let's sit," she said, motioning to the curb.
Chandler nodded and took off his jacket, so that she could sit on it. Monica began to laugh.
"That's so old fashion!"
"Fine then," he said, and removed the coat just as Monica was about to sit on it.
She laughed, "Well, it's still sweet."
"Thanks."
"Until you removed it…" she continued.
"Well, you were making fun of me!"
She laughed and then they were silent again. Chandler found a pebble and began to roll it in the palm of his hand, while Monica just stared out at the street, watching as cars drove past.
"I'm crazy," Monica stated suddenly.
"What?"
"I must be. Look, we should just stop –"
"You're not crazy."
Monica turned and stared at him, eyes challenging, "How do you know?"
"Well," he paused, "I don't know how, but I do. You need to have faith in yourself…in what you feel deep down."
Monica continued to stare, unintentionally inching closer to him. "If you believe me," she whispered, lips just inches away from his, "Then I do, too."
Chandler felt her warm breath on his face, as he leaned forward and brushed his lips with hers. Monica parted her lips, as Chandler kissed her again, this time slipping his tongue in her mouth. Chandler wrapped his arms around her, clinging to the feel of her body against his. Something felt so perfect about the kiss, but neither could figure out what. Monica ran her fingers through his hair with each stroke of his tongue against hers, all thoughts far from her mind.
Suddenly, her whole world went blank, and she began to fall deeper and deeper into a spiral of complete darkness. She could feel the searing pain in her head, hear her screams, but could not free herself. She continued to fall into the bottomless pit, as all perception of time and place flew from her mind.
Five minutes passed. Monica found herself lying on her back on the cold sidewalk. Chandler was crouched next to her, rubbing her arm and desperately talking to her. She could barely make out the words at first, as they sounded unclear and distant. Slowly, she began to feel alive again, and his words became comprehensible.
"Monica? Monica, are you okay?"
"Yeah," she answered slowly, shutting her eyes tightly, "What happened?"
"I don't know," he answered quietly, "We should get you home."
She nodded blankly, and took his hand when he offered it. Walking slowly and clutching her aching head in her hands, the two of them walked back in silence. Neither wanted to contemplate what had just occurred. They feared the results would not be favorable.
- - - - -
Monica opened the front door slowly, and cringed as it squeaked slightly on its hinges. She took off her shoes and put them in the closet, before walking carefully through the dark living room. She was about to head up the stairs, when she saw someone moving in the corner of the room. She gasped, and put a hand to her chest, as she noticed it was Ross, sitting on one of the chairs.
"What are you doing out here?!" she hissed.
"What are you doing out here?!"
"Nothing. Go away and mind your own business!"
"You were out with that sleezy John, weren't you?"
"Not that it's any of your business, but no, I wasn't."
"Pfft."
"We broke up yesterday, Ross! Why would I be out with him?"
Ross paused, contemplating her words. "Well then where were you? You're grounded! You're not supposed to be out!"
"Hey, you don't know what it's like to be grounded so don't start…"
"Well, I behave. I don't need to be grounded," he answered, pride evident in his voice.
"Yeah, right.
He crossed his arms over his chest, "If you don't tell me where you were, I'll tell mom you were out."
"You wouldn't…"
"Wouldn't I?
"Shut up, asshole."
"Mom!" Ross yelled.
Quickly, Monica ran over to Ross and covered his mouth with her hand. "Shut up!" she paused, "All right, I'll tell you." Ross smiled smugly, "I was at the library."
"Yeah right, Mo –"
"I was at the library," she continued angrily, "With Chandler."
"Chandler? Chandler as in Chandler Bing, Chandler?"
"How many other Chandlers do you know?"
"What?! What are you doing going out with my friends?!"
"Look, Ross…we're friends, okay? And he's helping me out."
"With what?"
"With…science."
Ross furrowed his brow, "Chandler sucks at Science. He failed Biology," he paused, "You're lying."
"Okay, okay, fine. But you're not going to believe me."
"Go on…"
"Well, Chandler and I think that…maybe, in some form…his dead girlfriend has possessed my body."
"What?! That's crazy! You're lyi –"
"Shh!" she hissed, "Really weird things have been happening to me lately. It's the only explanation."
"That's insane! I'm sure it's nothing a doctor can't fix."
"Look, Ross, the doctors haven't found out what was wrong with me, did they?" he stared blankly at her, "Besides, I'm not asking you to agree with what I'm saying. I'm just asking you to respect it. If you care about me, then you'll respect it."
He sighed, "Fine. But I don't completely trust Chandler…"
"Fine, you don't have to. I do."
"But –"
"And if he ever makes me feel like I shouldn't trust him, then I won't. Right now all he's been is caring. Just please don't make a big deal out of anything?"
"All right," he relented.
Monica hugged him and then began to head up the stairs. She stopped and turned around, "This is just between us, right? You're not going to tattle on me?"
"Right," Ross muttered.
"Thanks! I love you."
Ross watched as his sister bolted up the stairs and into her room. After seventeen years of living under the same roof as him, she had never said she loved him. He smiled and slowly climbed the stairs to his own room. He could keep her secret, even if she was going insane.
A/N: So, is this worth continuing or should I just throw it down the pooper?