So Many Memories – Chapter Six
Disclaimer: Still don't own them. I've got my eyes set on this new guy. Goes by the name Jamie. Rose knows who he is…
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, but I was trying to get this DOOL fic I'm writing underway, and the story line is moving pretty fast (already been five deaths in like three months, including one on Thanksgiving Day!) and I'm already behind on it. I'm trying to make this one a little longer than the others, in order to fit just about everything before the dance in. 'nough said, here we go!
Ross stood next to Chandler's beat up black Mustang, waiting impatiently for him to return with the goods. Chandler appeared around the corner of the building. A man with bright blonde hair was in tow. "Thanks for the help, Gunther!" Chandler slapped him on the back. "Anything for you guys." He looked at his watch hurriedly before saying he had an appointment and running off. "Who was that?" Ross gave Chandler a questioning look. "Oh, only this guy I know. His dad owns a liquor store downtown. That's how we got what determines who goes home with who tonight."
Chandler pulled a bottle of vodka out of a small paper bag. "Ahh, I see what your evil plan is now. We pour that in the drinks at the dance, then when I put my best moves on Rachel there's almost no way she'll say no!" Ross continued to imagine his dream coming true. Chandler had to snap him back to reality. "Dude, let's get outta here. If we get there too late some one would be bound to see us doing this." They jumped in the car, and Chandler struggled to get it to start. Instead of sounding like a healthy car, it began sputtering like the end of the world. With a loud backfire that made Ross almost jump out of his shoes, they were off.
Rachel leaned her head on the truck window as they cruised down the street. It was like something out of a dream. She couldn't believe she was actually going to the dance with Joey Tribbiani, her childhood friend and increasingly irresistible crush. All those years they spent harassing each other on the playground, and they never even considered the things they were feeling now. They were any typical kids. They teased each other, pulled pranks, and just about anything else you could imagine. Of course they still did all that now, but by this point there was something more. Something that could become great, given the chance. The only trouble is, neither could seem to work up the courage needed to admit their feelings. The forever all-knowing Monica was starting to catch on. It was hard to say how she would react. There were about two possibilities; One, she would totally freak out and go on and on about how their friendship could be totally ruined if things didn't work out, or two, she could be fascinated with the idea and try to play matchmaker. If there was anything Monica loved more, it was trying to influence two people to believe they should be together.
Joey was struggling to keep his eyes on the road. Fighting the constant temptation to look at the figure in the seat next to him. It was a dreary day, so the sky was becoming dark pretty fast. The humidity had risen, not just from the connection between the two in the truck but in the air outside, and it was obvious it was going to rain. But that wasn't going to ruin their night. Nothing would. Joey ran a hand through his sleek, dark hair. He was so close to Rachel, but yet that made him even more nervous. He felt as if he owed it to her to show her a good time. That was exactly what he planned to do.
Amy Greene was at home putting the final touches on her makeup. 'Rachel had better be careful tonight, if she knows what's good for her. I always get what I want, and this will not be an exception.' A knock at the door interrupted her train of thought, which for the umpteenth time today was focused on Joey, and how to get him from Rachel. She went to the door and swung it open, revealing a disgruntled Jill. "What?" Jill ignored the tone that snap was coated with. "Bobby called and said he had to cancel tonight." Jill watched as Amy turned red with anger. "You came all the way to me about this? Figure it out on your own!" With that and a snap of her wrist, the door slammed right in Jill's face. "What gives her the right to barge in here? And over something like that! Puh-leaze!" Amy walked to her nightstand and pulled the drawer open. Inside there was perfume bottles, lip gloss, nail polish in assorted colors, and pictures strewn about. She reached inside and pulled out one of the pictures, a group of kids about the age of six or seven years old.
There were five of these kids who stuck out from the crowd. Three of them had light or blonde hair. The other two had darker hair. You could almost see the family resemblance among the three blonde girls. The lone dark haired boy had a hint of Italian just by looking at him. And then the dark haired girl. She was unusually clean for a child her age. Compared to the other four, who had obviously been playing in the dirt for quite a while, she absolutely glowed. Amy scowled as she looked at the boy and one of the blondes, who were obviously extremely close. There was another knock at the door, and Amy put the picture back, slamming the drawer shut before going to the door. She swung it open in the same fashion she had almost caught Jill's nose in it just a little earlier. She was about to scream, expecting to see her downcast sister in the doorway back for another round, but instead it was Irene. "What do you want?" Irene just looked her straight in the eye, not too enthused about her tone. "Well, since you're asking, I'd like for you to get your act straight!" Amy just stood there rooted in the doorway, aghast. Irene stepped forward, causing Amy to back slowly into the room. Amy wasn't used to this kind of treatment. She could just about get away with murder any other time.
Irene was far from backing down. "It's always the same, day in and day out. You don't even realize how your attitude is affecting the people around you. And I'm getting sick of it!" Amy continued to back up, by this time she was about to run into her bed. Irene continued. "And do you realize what happened to your sister after she came to you just now?" Amy timidly shook her head no. "That's right, I didn't think so. She's in her room bawling her eyes out, and you couldn't care less! Well, this is going to change. You are going to straighten up, and you better get working on it soon. I'll be sure you sty on track. Even if I have to keep one eye on you every waking moment. And if I find out you caused trouble tonight at that dance, there will be hell to pay!" Amy was almost shaking and on the verge of tears. Irene waited a moment, staring into the teenager's eyes with a look of care and strictness. When she thought it had sunk in, Irene went back down the grand hallway.
Amy continued to lay on her bed, still in shock. After a few moments, she went back to her task of getting ready for the dance. Pulling a black dress out of the closet, she tried to devise a way to get back at Irene for setting her straight. It was obvious she had taken the dress from Rachel's collection. She put the final touches on her makeup after she changed into the dress.
The lights were dimmed in the gymnasium. Students were crowded in the lobby outside, or waiting outdoors for friends to show up. Ross and Chandler broke away from the group in the hall and entered the gym. It was decorated with red, white, and blue streamers, and balloons inside the basketball nets. The stage was all set for the announcement of the election winners, and a sign was attached to the curtain which said, "Lincoln High Election '86". Next to the stage was a table set up with refreshments and snacks. The two rebels went for the punch, Chandler pulling the brown paper bag he had stashed away before they arrived at the school. It wasn't a very big bottle, but considering the damage just a few glasses of vodka could do to a person, this could be lethal.
He poured the bottle in, not turning it over until he was sure the last drop had fallen out and into the ounch. Ross meanwhile was acting jittery, constantly watching the doorways in case a by passer would lay eyes on them. Chandler finished his job, handing the bottle over to Ross to expose of. "What do you want me to do with this?" He was showing all the signs of being an amateur at this type of thing. Chandler had done things like this many times in the past, and he knew how to deal with nervous accomplices. "Just take it out and throw it in the backseat of my car. Make sure no one sees you with it on your way out there! We've come this far and you're not going to blow it now." Ross agreed obediently, going over his instructions one last time as he placed the bottle in his coat pocket. Making his way through the now larger crowd outside, he made it to the Mustang unnoticed. Or so he thought.
A hand came from behind him, covering his mouth before he could scream. "Well, well, well, punk. What do you have this time?" Ross froze completely, afraid that any further movement would set his assailer off. She tightened her grip and asked once more. "Did you hear me or not? Hand it over, dammit!" Ross frantically searched his pockets, still unable to breath a word to the young woman behind him. He found the bottle and handed it over after he fumbled to catch it when it slipped out of his hand. She looked at it disgustedly for a moment before she lost her cool altogether. "A bottle? Are you kidding me? Of all the crap I've collected on the street, this has to be the most worthless!" She paused for a minute, taking in the look of his face, which was now staring at her frightened after she left go of her grip. The smell of the gel in his hair took her back to a day years ago. Then she remembered who this young man was. She was shocked.
Joey pulled into the school parking lot, glancing at Rachel who was almost in a daze. She was staring mindlessly at their fellow students assembled just outside the main entrance. "Hey, Rach?" She looked across the seat as Joey continued to look at her. He wasn't sure if he should be worried or not. She had been acting weird for a while now, mainly starting right before her father decided to get help for his alcoholism. "Are you okay?" He hoped to get a straight forward answer this time. "I'm… fine." She really didn't feel like talking about what was nagging at her as of yet. "You're sure? You don't have anything on your mind that might be bothering you?"
"No, Joey. Really, I'm fine! There's nothing to be worried about." She gave him a look of false reassurance. Given his past experiences, he had a gut feeling something wasn't right here. He didn't know how much it pained her to harbor such a big secret from him. Deep down, it was just killing her that she couldn't confide in him. And God did she ever want to.
He pulled the keys out of the ignition and laid a hand on her shoulder. "You do know that if you ever have a problem, no matter how big or small or meaningless as you may think it is, you can come to me. It doesn't matter what it's about, I'll be here to listen." She smiled as she laid her head on his hand, which had a comforting grip on her. She took his statement to heart. It meant so much to her that he cared about her. She knew he didn't believe her when she said she was all right, and that just made her feel worse that he knew she was lying to him. But she also appreciated greatly the fact that he wasn't trying to press her into telling him everything right this minute. Joey removed his hand and opened the truck door. He went around to the other side and, being the perfect gentlemen that he was, opened Rachel's door and helped her out.
They walked toward the mass of people that was now slowly dwindling down as more and more of them began to conjugate inside. Just as they reached the entrance, Ross was returning from his run in with his own personal mugger. Rachel looked concerned, this was her best friend's brother, Monica's flesh and blood, how was she supposed to react? "Ross…" No answer, just a baffled look. She snapped her fingers in his face, which worked in getting his attention. His eyes were wide and he spoke in a high pitched voice.
"Hi, Rachel! Um, what are you two doing here?" Joey never really got to know Ross, but he knew how big of a brainiac he was, and this just didn't seem normal. "We're here for the dance, remember? The same reason that you and that other guy… oh, what's his name… Oh! The same reason you and Chauncey are here!" It was all starting to come back to him, and finally the light clicked on in that over sized brain of his. "Oh! Sorry, I was kind of in another place for a minute. Chauncey? You mean Chandler, don't you?" Joey knew her mistake the minute she made it, but he still left her with all the talking. "Yeah, that's the guy!"
"Hey, Ross! Did you get my lighter from my car like I asked you?" Chandler winked and this time there was no confusion because Ross realized how Chandler made up the story to cover his tracks. "That's what you wanted me to get? I thought-" Chandler was quick to cut him off in their little charade they had going. "You thought! You know what baffles me? How you always think, but yet it never pays off!" Ross continued the act. "Geez, dude, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to set you off like this." Chandler took off for the parking lot, brushing up against Ross's arm in an attempt to make it seem like he didn't accept Ross's apology, whispering "Thanks, man," in his ear. Rachel just stood there a few moments longer, until she finally nudged Joey and motioned to go inside.
Monica caught up with Chandler before he could reach his car. He was still basking in his moment of glory when she tapped him furiously. He turned thinking it would be Ross, but instead he came face to face with an enraged Monica. "What the hell did you think you were doing in there?" Chandler didn't know what she was talking about, but took a wild guess. "You mean that little fight with your brother? Don't worry, I just needed to get some things out in the open. The two of us are cool." Monica gave him a disapproving look. She saw right through his lies. "I didn't mean that. I saw what you did inside the building!"
A/N: Okay, so I didn't get to the actual dance yet, but I promise it'll get here in the next chapter! It might be kind of emotional, depending on whether or not I add a certain scene, which I'm planning on working in somehow. It kinda leads up to the "main event" with J&R, so I totally feel the need to include it. So what did you guys think? Average, better, horrible, don't quit your day job kinda thing? Leave me a review and let me know!