Chapter Two: The Flashback
August, 1994
The gang sat in Central Perk, just hanging out. Monica, Ross, Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey. Ross was saying, ''I really don't know what made her a lesbian, she just is. What do I do?'' He asked his friends, looking very upset.
Chandler said, ''Ross, maybe she didn't want to hurt you. She wouldn't have married you if she had known. She probably just realized it.'' He paused, then added, ''Maybe she saw a 'Break For Lesbians'' bumper sticker and just thought it was a good idea.'' Ross gave him a Look.
Joey shrugged. ''Ross, who cares? I have one word for you: threesome.'' He was nodding and grinning widely.
Monica shook her head as a woman in a white wedding dress came in, drenched from the rain, and shivering. Ross looked up. Monica poked her brother. ''Isn't that Rachel Greene?'' She asked, knowing that Ross would remember.
Her brother nodded, brightening. He'd had a crush on Rachel since, like, forever. He couldn't believe she was here, in a wedding dress, no less.
Chandler wasn't paying attention until he saw Monica and Rachel hugging each other and squealing. He looked up into the most beautiful face he'd ever seen. She had long brown hair, and the most gorgeous blue-green eyes he'd ever seen. The dress made her even more radiant. As Monica was introducing her to everyone, Chandler was struggling to say hi without his voice betraying him.
Rachel looked into the face of the cutest guy she'd ever seen in her life. He had gorgeous brown hair, and was full and luscious looking. His blue eyes made her want to dive into them. She wanted to kiss him and make love to him like she'd never made love before. He also looked a little familiar. ''Do I know you?'' She asked.
Chandler said, ''Maybe. Didn't I meet you at Ross and Monica's parents at Thanksgiving?'' He hadn't remembered her being this beautiful, either.
Ross was noticing the sparks between Rachel and Chandler. Everyone but the two of them were. He said, ''So, Rachel, why are you in a wedding dress?''
Rachel sat down and gave the waitress her order of coffee. She started to tell them what had happened. ''Well, I was engaged to a orthodontist, named Barry Farber, and I was standing in the room where they were keeping all the presents. There was this amazing gravy boat. I got turned on more by this gravy boat then by Barry. I just didn't love him anymore. So I decided to leave him. I snuck out of the bathroom.''
Monica said, ''I'm so sorry, Rach. What did your mom and dad say?'' She was afraid that her former best friend was going to say that she'd been cut off. Most likely, that was what had happened, and the rich daddy's girl was going to have to live with Monica.
Rachel said, ''Mom and Daddy were not happy. Daddy's probably going to cut me off. Monica, you were the only person I knew in the city, I had nowhere else to go.''
Monica smiled at her, and said, ''I wasn't invited to the wedding.'' She figured that Rachel wouldn't want that brought up, but she didn't care. It was the truth.
Her former best friend smiled apologetically at Monica. ''I'm sorry, Mon. I didn't mean to not invite you. I was hoping that wouldn't be an issue.''
Chandler was watching Rachel with the widest eyes he could make. She was so gorgeous. He could hardly believe that this was the girl Ross had been in love with before he'd met Carol. Back then, she'd been pretty, but not this breathtakingly beautiful. He said, ''Well, I think you did the right thing, Rachel.''
Rachel looked to him. ''Thanks for your opinion, Chandler, is it?'' The fact that Rachel acted like she didn't remember his name disappointed Chandler.
The gang went up to Monica's apartment, where Rachel called her father to explain the leaving of Barry at the altar. The rest of the group watched television. Chandler was staring unabashedly at Rachel, while Ross watched with contempt for his best friend. He'd seen Rachel looking back at Chandler, and knew that they had feelings for each other. He sighed and got himself some juice from the fridge. Now he just had to pray that the two never acted on their mutal feelings, and maybe Rach would get over it......
May 1995
Ross had met Julie, and was still dating her. To his great dismay, Rachel and Chandler still had feelings for each other. Chandler however, was dating the most annoying woman on the planet, a woman named Janice. Rachel was dating no one. Monica told her brother that she was in love with Chandler. The closer friends that they grew to be, the more she fell for him. The same for Chandler.
One afternoon, Chandler was talking to Janice over the internet, when Joey came out of his bedroom. He said, ''Why are you still dating Janice? You should go for it with Rachel.''
Chandler looked up. ''Joey, it's never going to happen. I wish that it would, but it's never going to. Rachel sees me as a friend, and nothing else.''
Speaking of the devil, she entered her friends' apartment. ''Hey, guys. Ross and Julie are having a party, and they want us to come. I guess I need a date. Chan, you'll be bringing Janice, right?''
Chandler as usual, could hardly speak when Rachel was in the room. ''Of course, I will. Joey, I'm sure, will bring some floozy.''
Joey smacked his friend upside the head. ''I don't date floozies. Rach, howabout you and I go together? That way, you won't have to find a date.'' He was really doing it as a favor to Chandler, so she wouldn't find someone she really liked.
Rachel smiled. ''OK, Joey. Sounds like a plan.'' She pulled a juice out of the fridge and sighed. She was glad that Joey was going to take her, so she wouldn't have to search for a date. She really wanted to go with Chandler, and wished for the millionth time that he wasn't dating Janice. She liked Janice, but she wanted Chandler for herself.
The party that night was fun for everyone involved. Rachel and Monica were getting dressed when Joey and Chandler arrived with Janice to pick them up. Monica was going with her boyfriend, Richard Burke, and he hadn't arrived yet.
Joey was looking in the fridge for some beer. ''So, Chan, think maybe Rach and I will hit it off?'' He teased, knowing it would bother his friend.
Chandler, who was sitting on the couch, having to endure Janice's hands all over him, said, ''Maybe, Joe. I guess it's possible.''
Monica came out of her room, dressed in casual party gear. She had brushed out her shoulder-length black hair. ''Hey, guys. Joey, Ross will have beer.'' She told him.
Joey nodded. ''I know. Rachel's my date, though, and it could be another half hour before she's ready to go.'' He wasn't joking.
Rachel, dressed in a robe, stuck her head into the living room. She was holding up a light purple sleeveless dress. ''Does this make my butt look big?'' She asked.
Joey shrugged. ''No, you'll look fine.'' He looked at Chandler. ''What do you think, Chan?'' He asked, knowing again, that it would supremely bother his best friend.
Rachel went back in her room without hearing what Chandler thought. She couldn't watch him and Janice anymore. She pulled on the purple dress and took her hair out of the hairclip. She brushed it out and decided not to put it back up. It would take too much time, and she'd already taken enough time getting ready as it was. She finished doing her makeup and slid on some purple strappy sandals.
When she came out of the bedroom, Phoebe had joined them. ''Hey, guys. I couldn't find a date, so Rach, we're gonna share Joey.''
Rachel smiled. ''That's fine. So what happened to that one guy you were seeing, Pheebs? The one guy, oh, what did he do?'' She picked up her purse from the kitchen table.
Phoebe shook her head. ''He left me because I wasn't enough for him in bed. It's OK, though, 'cause I put a hex on him. We'll see how much sex he'll have.'' She smiled as they went out the door, Joey's arms linked with Rachel and Phoebe's. Monica was fretting about Richard, and they ended up meeting him downstairs, so all was well.
When they reached Ross', the party was already in full swing. It was a lot of Ross' friends from work, and some of Julie's friends. Rachel left Joey with Phoebe and went to get some juice out of Ross' fridge. She said hello to Gunther on the way back to the living room. Ross' apartment was pretty small, and not really big enough for the party.
As she was thinking this, Chandler joined her at the dining room table. ''So, how annoying is Janice?'' He asked her, making a face.
Rachel's heart lifted. She felt happier. Maybe Chandler was going to tell her that he was in love with her. ''She's not so bad.'' She consoled, trying to be his friend.
Chandler shrugged. ''I guess not, but, I'm looking for something more. I just can't date her anymore. She is the single most annoying person on the planet. That's including Ross.'' The two laughed at his joke.
Rachel sipped her bottle of juice. ''Then break up with her. Life is too short to be dating someone you don't really like.'' She wished she could take her own advice. But Chandler would never love her that way. She'd just have to face it.............
End flashback
Chandler was lifted off the couch by Ross, who dropped him to the floor. Monica was screaming about blood getting on her floor. Chandler was hollering at Ross, wanting to know why he was holding him and pummeling his face.
Joey lifted Ross up and said, ''What are you doing? Leave Chandler alone! He and Rachel have been in love with each other since the day she left Barry at the altar. If you were truly Chandler's friend, and truly in love with Rachel, you would be happy for them.''
Phoebe was trying to help Chandler up. ''Yeah, Ross, Joey's right. Leave Chandler alone.''
Ross was being held back by Joey, and trying to fight past him. ''You guys don't understand. I have been in love with Rachel since ninth grade typing. Chandler's only been in love with her for only two years.''
Rachel put her hands on her hips. ''Ross, did you ever think that maybe I don't want to date you? I love Chandler. I do. I love every part of him. The way he wants to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade instead of the football game, his sarcastic humor, his good heart, his sweet nature, the fact that he doesn't think he's the greatest guy since sliced bread, and his blue eyes are so gorgeous, it's like I'm swimming every time I look into them. I love him. You are just going to have to get it through your head that you and I aren't going to be dating.''
Ross sighed, and stopped trying to fight Joey. He said, ''Well, I'm just gonna go.'' He didn't even try to apologize or anything, he just left. Everyone looked at everyone else, and Rachel hugged Chandler to her, wanting to cry. Ross may have been being a jerk, but he was still a friend.
August, 1994
The gang sat in Central Perk, just hanging out. Monica, Ross, Phoebe, Chandler, and Joey. Ross was saying, ''I really don't know what made her a lesbian, she just is. What do I do?'' He asked his friends, looking very upset.
Chandler said, ''Ross, maybe she didn't want to hurt you. She wouldn't have married you if she had known. She probably just realized it.'' He paused, then added, ''Maybe she saw a 'Break For Lesbians'' bumper sticker and just thought it was a good idea.'' Ross gave him a Look.
Joey shrugged. ''Ross, who cares? I have one word for you: threesome.'' He was nodding and grinning widely.
Monica shook her head as a woman in a white wedding dress came in, drenched from the rain, and shivering. Ross looked up. Monica poked her brother. ''Isn't that Rachel Greene?'' She asked, knowing that Ross would remember.
Her brother nodded, brightening. He'd had a crush on Rachel since, like, forever. He couldn't believe she was here, in a wedding dress, no less.
Chandler wasn't paying attention until he saw Monica and Rachel hugging each other and squealing. He looked up into the most beautiful face he'd ever seen. She had long brown hair, and the most gorgeous blue-green eyes he'd ever seen. The dress made her even more radiant. As Monica was introducing her to everyone, Chandler was struggling to say hi without his voice betraying him.
Rachel looked into the face of the cutest guy she'd ever seen in her life. He had gorgeous brown hair, and was full and luscious looking. His blue eyes made her want to dive into them. She wanted to kiss him and make love to him like she'd never made love before. He also looked a little familiar. ''Do I know you?'' She asked.
Chandler said, ''Maybe. Didn't I meet you at Ross and Monica's parents at Thanksgiving?'' He hadn't remembered her being this beautiful, either.
Ross was noticing the sparks between Rachel and Chandler. Everyone but the two of them were. He said, ''So, Rachel, why are you in a wedding dress?''
Rachel sat down and gave the waitress her order of coffee. She started to tell them what had happened. ''Well, I was engaged to a orthodontist, named Barry Farber, and I was standing in the room where they were keeping all the presents. There was this amazing gravy boat. I got turned on more by this gravy boat then by Barry. I just didn't love him anymore. So I decided to leave him. I snuck out of the bathroom.''
Monica said, ''I'm so sorry, Rach. What did your mom and dad say?'' She was afraid that her former best friend was going to say that she'd been cut off. Most likely, that was what had happened, and the rich daddy's girl was going to have to live with Monica.
Rachel said, ''Mom and Daddy were not happy. Daddy's probably going to cut me off. Monica, you were the only person I knew in the city, I had nowhere else to go.''
Monica smiled at her, and said, ''I wasn't invited to the wedding.'' She figured that Rachel wouldn't want that brought up, but she didn't care. It was the truth.
Her former best friend smiled apologetically at Monica. ''I'm sorry, Mon. I didn't mean to not invite you. I was hoping that wouldn't be an issue.''
Chandler was watching Rachel with the widest eyes he could make. She was so gorgeous. He could hardly believe that this was the girl Ross had been in love with before he'd met Carol. Back then, she'd been pretty, but not this breathtakingly beautiful. He said, ''Well, I think you did the right thing, Rachel.''
Rachel looked to him. ''Thanks for your opinion, Chandler, is it?'' The fact that Rachel acted like she didn't remember his name disappointed Chandler.
The gang went up to Monica's apartment, where Rachel called her father to explain the leaving of Barry at the altar. The rest of the group watched television. Chandler was staring unabashedly at Rachel, while Ross watched with contempt for his best friend. He'd seen Rachel looking back at Chandler, and knew that they had feelings for each other. He sighed and got himself some juice from the fridge. Now he just had to pray that the two never acted on their mutal feelings, and maybe Rach would get over it......
May 1995
Ross had met Julie, and was still dating her. To his great dismay, Rachel and Chandler still had feelings for each other. Chandler however, was dating the most annoying woman on the planet, a woman named Janice. Rachel was dating no one. Monica told her brother that she was in love with Chandler. The closer friends that they grew to be, the more she fell for him. The same for Chandler.
One afternoon, Chandler was talking to Janice over the internet, when Joey came out of his bedroom. He said, ''Why are you still dating Janice? You should go for it with Rachel.''
Chandler looked up. ''Joey, it's never going to happen. I wish that it would, but it's never going to. Rachel sees me as a friend, and nothing else.''
Speaking of the devil, she entered her friends' apartment. ''Hey, guys. Ross and Julie are having a party, and they want us to come. I guess I need a date. Chan, you'll be bringing Janice, right?''
Chandler as usual, could hardly speak when Rachel was in the room. ''Of course, I will. Joey, I'm sure, will bring some floozy.''
Joey smacked his friend upside the head. ''I don't date floozies. Rach, howabout you and I go together? That way, you won't have to find a date.'' He was really doing it as a favor to Chandler, so she wouldn't find someone she really liked.
Rachel smiled. ''OK, Joey. Sounds like a plan.'' She pulled a juice out of the fridge and sighed. She was glad that Joey was going to take her, so she wouldn't have to search for a date. She really wanted to go with Chandler, and wished for the millionth time that he wasn't dating Janice. She liked Janice, but she wanted Chandler for herself.
The party that night was fun for everyone involved. Rachel and Monica were getting dressed when Joey and Chandler arrived with Janice to pick them up. Monica was going with her boyfriend, Richard Burke, and he hadn't arrived yet.
Joey was looking in the fridge for some beer. ''So, Chan, think maybe Rach and I will hit it off?'' He teased, knowing it would bother his friend.
Chandler, who was sitting on the couch, having to endure Janice's hands all over him, said, ''Maybe, Joe. I guess it's possible.''
Monica came out of her room, dressed in casual party gear. She had brushed out her shoulder-length black hair. ''Hey, guys. Joey, Ross will have beer.'' She told him.
Joey nodded. ''I know. Rachel's my date, though, and it could be another half hour before she's ready to go.'' He wasn't joking.
Rachel, dressed in a robe, stuck her head into the living room. She was holding up a light purple sleeveless dress. ''Does this make my butt look big?'' She asked.
Joey shrugged. ''No, you'll look fine.'' He looked at Chandler. ''What do you think, Chan?'' He asked, knowing again, that it would supremely bother his best friend.
Rachel went back in her room without hearing what Chandler thought. She couldn't watch him and Janice anymore. She pulled on the purple dress and took her hair out of the hairclip. She brushed it out and decided not to put it back up. It would take too much time, and she'd already taken enough time getting ready as it was. She finished doing her makeup and slid on some purple strappy sandals.
When she came out of the bedroom, Phoebe had joined them. ''Hey, guys. I couldn't find a date, so Rach, we're gonna share Joey.''
Rachel smiled. ''That's fine. So what happened to that one guy you were seeing, Pheebs? The one guy, oh, what did he do?'' She picked up her purse from the kitchen table.
Phoebe shook her head. ''He left me because I wasn't enough for him in bed. It's OK, though, 'cause I put a hex on him. We'll see how much sex he'll have.'' She smiled as they went out the door, Joey's arms linked with Rachel and Phoebe's. Monica was fretting about Richard, and they ended up meeting him downstairs, so all was well.
When they reached Ross', the party was already in full swing. It was a lot of Ross' friends from work, and some of Julie's friends. Rachel left Joey with Phoebe and went to get some juice out of Ross' fridge. She said hello to Gunther on the way back to the living room. Ross' apartment was pretty small, and not really big enough for the party.
As she was thinking this, Chandler joined her at the dining room table. ''So, how annoying is Janice?'' He asked her, making a face.
Rachel's heart lifted. She felt happier. Maybe Chandler was going to tell her that he was in love with her. ''She's not so bad.'' She consoled, trying to be his friend.
Chandler shrugged. ''I guess not, but, I'm looking for something more. I just can't date her anymore. She is the single most annoying person on the planet. That's including Ross.'' The two laughed at his joke.
Rachel sipped her bottle of juice. ''Then break up with her. Life is too short to be dating someone you don't really like.'' She wished she could take her own advice. But Chandler would never love her that way. She'd just have to face it.............
End flashback
Chandler was lifted off the couch by Ross, who dropped him to the floor. Monica was screaming about blood getting on her floor. Chandler was hollering at Ross, wanting to know why he was holding him and pummeling his face.
Joey lifted Ross up and said, ''What are you doing? Leave Chandler alone! He and Rachel have been in love with each other since the day she left Barry at the altar. If you were truly Chandler's friend, and truly in love with Rachel, you would be happy for them.''
Phoebe was trying to help Chandler up. ''Yeah, Ross, Joey's right. Leave Chandler alone.''
Ross was being held back by Joey, and trying to fight past him. ''You guys don't understand. I have been in love with Rachel since ninth grade typing. Chandler's only been in love with her for only two years.''
Rachel put her hands on her hips. ''Ross, did you ever think that maybe I don't want to date you? I love Chandler. I do. I love every part of him. The way he wants to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade instead of the football game, his sarcastic humor, his good heart, his sweet nature, the fact that he doesn't think he's the greatest guy since sliced bread, and his blue eyes are so gorgeous, it's like I'm swimming every time I look into them. I love him. You are just going to have to get it through your head that you and I aren't going to be dating.''
Ross sighed, and stopped trying to fight Joey. He said, ''Well, I'm just gonna go.'' He didn't even try to apologize or anything, he just left. Everyone looked at everyone else, and Rachel hugged Chandler to her, wanting to cry. Ross may have been being a jerk, but he was still a friend.