Woo, more reviews! Keep them coming, you know I love 'em! I have one lil problem though... where's lobster? I miss her reviews... :( anyways, this chapter *should* be longer, so I hope that's good news. Sorry if I get the years wrong (these are past memories.) Lilian xXx.
1986- Rachel and Monica are 17
The front door slammed downstairs. Rachel looked up from her magazine into her friends eyes in surprise. "Who's that?" she asked, not that bothered, just shocked out of reading an article about Tom Cruise.
Monica shrugged in reply. "Probably Ross," she said, trying to stuff more chips into her mouth as she spoke. "He's been in and out of the house all day. I think he's rehearsing with his "band."
Rachel half-laughed, still unsure about Monica's older brother. It had been obvious to her for the past few months that he liked her, but he was so goofy that she didn't even want to mention it to anyone else. Especially in case she was wrong. She shrugged too, and carried on reading.
Rachel enjoyed coming round to visit Monica. Her family were always friendly towards her, not stiffly polite like some people, and Monica was very "real." No pretences, no airs and graces like some of her other friends, although, Rachel thought honestly, it would be stupid if Monica thought she was beautiful. It wasn't that she was an ugly hideous creature, as some nasty people had commented before. It was just that... she stood out in the crowd.
"Hey," Monica said suddenly. "Let's sneak downstairs and see if Ross has got any cute friends in his band."
"Yeah, that's likely," Rachel said sarcastically, but she was beginning to feel a little bored and decided it was better than trying to make small talk. "Go on then," she sighed. "Anyone in particular we're looking out for?"
Monica giggled. "Well... there's this one guy," she said dreamily. "What I wouldn't do to give my flower to him."
Rachel looked at her sharply. "Monica," she said. "If you call it that one more time, I'm going to make it clear to everyone that you still have a flower to give."
Monica looked hurt. "Not everyone's like you, Rache," she said sullenly. "Not everyone's already giv... had "sex" with someone before they're even married."
There was an awkward silence in the air. Rachel went red, remembering a couple of months back, when she had gotten very drunk and... things had happened. She completely regretted it, and wished she hadn't even told Monica, her best friend. Supposedly.
Monica broke the silence. "Rache, I'm sorry," she said quietly, stroking her arm. "I didn't mean it."
Rachel nodded. "I know," she said, attempting to hug her friend. As she pulled away she smiled. "Come on," she said, standing up. "Let's go spy on the guys."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As the two teenages crept downstairs, Rachel felt her stomach flip as she caught sight of one guy. She'd seen him hang around Monica's house before-he was obviously a good friend of Ross'- and she'd often been amazed at how good looking he was. She sniffed suddenly, as she remembered that Monica also had a crush on him.
"It's Chandler!" Monica hissed through gritted teeth. As she said his name he looked up. Rachel, forgetting about Monica for a minute, continued her descent down the stairs and smiled widely at Chandler.
"Hey," she said sweetly, realising that Chandler seemed quite shy suddenly.
"Hi... Rachel?" he asked, as if not sure of her name. Rachel wasn't sure whether the hesitation was genuine or not, but she didn't let it hinder her.
"Yeah, that's it. And you're... hmm, Bing, isn't it?" Rachel asked, teasing him by using his surname. He flushed, obviously annoyed that she had called him by that.
"Chandler," he said. He looked up the stairs and saw Monica cowering, or attempting to cower. "Hey Monica," he called up, in a friendly way. Monica just blushed and waved idiotically.
He turned back to Rachel, and couldn't help but stare at her, which Rachel noted happily. "I've got to... go, play..." he said, before smiling in a cute way at Rachel, which made her heart melt. "See you around," he finished, and gave Monica a token wave before wandering off.
Rachel stood motionless, staring after him as he left the room. Monica came downstairs and gasped. "Did you see the way he spoke to me?" she asked eagerly. "He said hi and everything!"
"Yeah," Rachel said encouragingly, but only part of her was concentrating. She didn't want to admit it, but she thought it was possible that Chandler liked her, and not Monica.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Present Day
Rachel shrugged.
Chandler stared at her for a moment, confused. "You've liked me since... for... like 15 years?" he said, amazed.
"On and off," she admitted. "I mean, honestly now, I loved Ross. I loved him with all my heart, and I know you loved... maybe, you love, Monica. But with you, there's something about you that was never there... with Ross," she said slowly. "There's something about you... something inside, and something outside," she said, smiling a little. "I've always loved your eyes, Chandler.
Chandler smiled back. "And I've always loved your hair," he said coyly, fingering the blonde-red strands lovingly. "I think it's beautiful."
Rachel smiled, and stroked his hand. "See, Chandler?" she said gently, not wanting to push him but needing an answer. "We could be great together, if you only gave us a chance."
Chandler sighed. "I don't know, Rache," he said.
"Well, what about you?" she asked, interested suddenly. "Have you ever had feelings for me... honestly now. Tonight we have no secrets from each other," she finished, holding his hand inbetween her smaller ones.
Chandler looked at her for a moment, then turned a little, nodding his head slightly.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
1996
"My parents are driving me CRAZY!" Rachel exclaimed to a scared Chandler. "I have to keep going back and forth, and it's my birthday for gods sakes! It shouldn't be up to me! Why can't they worry about me for a change, instead of bitching about each other to their daughter. It's my birthday!" she repeated, before sinking to a seating position in the hall, her dad in the room on her right, her mum in the room on her left.
"Hey," he said, sitting beside her. "Look, if it helps, I know exactly how you feel."
"Really?" she said, looking at him.
"Yeah, when my parents split, it was hard for me," he said, putting his arm round her as they sat together on the step. "I always felt like I was piggy in the middle... kinda," he tried to explain. "I was in the middle, anyway. They were always complaining to me. One would go on about how the other was having it away with all the young men in the area... and my dad bitched about my mum," he joked weakly. Rachel smiled. "Thanks," she said quietly. They stood to hug properly, and Chandler breathed in slowly as he smelt her hair. She always smelt and looked so beautiful. He often felt a twinge of sadness, knowing how in love she was with Ross. His best friend. He knew he couldn't do anything.
They had been in an embrace for a minute at least before he heard a door open. Sighing, he turned to see Ross stand behind him. He nodded to his friend before moving to allow him to take over. As he watched the two embrace, he almost felt his heart break in two. It was then he told himself he could never let himself get too close to Rachel again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Present Day
Rachel hugged Chandler, feeling tears in her eyes. "Oh Chandler," she breathed. "I wish I'd known. Why didn't you say anything?"
Chandler couldn't help but laugh. "Say something? You were in love with my best friend, Rache. I couldn't ruin your lives."
Rachel was quiet for a few seconds, before stating "You wouldn't have ruined my life, Chandler."
Chandler looked at her sidewards. "You might think that now," he said, before running a hand through his hair. "God Rache, you are making leaving New York so hard right now."
Rachel grinned. "Good," she said, moving closer to him on the couch. She put her hand on his leg. "I don't want you to leave, Chandler. No one does."
"But-"
"Shush," she said. "No buts. No howevers. Just... stay. Please?" she asked. "I've proved this isn't a one time thing. You've proved you..."
"Love you," he said, admitting it out loud for one of the first times. "Rache, I'm getting all these conflicting feelings. I love you. But how can I love you? I loved your best friend. How can I fall in love with you afterwards? How can I love two friends?"
Rachel breathed in. "Do you still love her, Chandler?"
"No," he admitted. "No, Rache, I don't. But I did. And it doesn't seem right."
"But why does it matter if you don't love her?" Rachel asked, confused. "Chandler, I love you, and you love me. Why let anything come between us just because of what some people might say?"
Before he could answer, Rachel leaned forward and kissed him again, gently on the lips. As she pulled away, she repeated herself, almost silently, but Chandler heard each word. "Please. Stay."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I'm sorry I'm dragging this out, but I really want to show that Chandler is really confused. He can't just turn off his feelings... I hope that makes sense. Please r&r. xXx