No Queen songs in this chapter... sorry (I'm amazed how many people like them out there, I feel kind of a recluse amongst my friends). I really like "Don't Stop Me Now" too, but I have no idea how to put that in this fiction. Maybe I will at some point... we can but dream. Anyway. Chapter Nine has begun. Please read and review.
-------
She'd been to the park again. With him. They never seemed to do anything interesting, except sit, talk, sometimes kiss. It didn't seem interesting to the man, hunched over his steering wheel, watching Monica and her "boyfriend." He was annoyed. He'd thought hanging around at the Geller's house frequently would make Monica scared of all men.. especially after what he had done to her before... he couldn't help but be attracted to this dark haired, average height, sixteen year old. She was so slim, her face so innocent... yet he knew it was an act.
Could she have told her boyfriend about him? He doubted it. Monica was the kind of person who could sort out her own life. She didn't like anyone else intruding. She didn't want anyone else to think she was weak. It was unlikely she would have told anyone. That was what he was counting on.
They seperated at the park gates, kissing for a while. The man frowned. Would they ever finish? Finally they seperated, and he checked his watch. The Gellers had wanted him at their house in ten minutes. He would be there.
-------
"Mom! I'm home!" Chandler called as he came through the front door. He could smell something in the kitchen, which surprised him. His mom hadn't cooked since Charles had left. It was unheard of for her to even leave her bedroom on most days.
"Hi Chandler sweetheart." Nora came out of the kitchen. Chandler noticed she was wearing a lot of make up and looked very happy. He was quite confused.
"Mom? What's happening?" he asked, voicing his concern as they walked into the lounge and she sat down heavily on a couch.
"Well, Chandler..." she began, not sure how to continue. "I... I got a promotion."
Chandler smiled widely. "That's great Mom," he said, relieved that nothing terrible had happened. "Have we got any coffee in the house?"
"Chandler... wait," she said. "The job... it's in London."
Chandler jumped, and turned round. Had he heard her correctly? London? But that was in England. He couldn't just leave...
Nora watched him carefully, trying to imagine what he was thinking. Her heart sank as she saw his face. She hated herself. He had just begun to make new friends and heave himself out of the depression that the divorce had caused. He'd also met Monica. Despite assuring her that they were "just friends" she knew her son better than he realised. She knew that there was no way that they were just friends. She'd seen the way that they had leapt apart when she had entered the room. She was happy for him, and didn't want to spoil his life.
"Will we... will we have to move?" Chandler whispered. Nora felt tears coming to her eyes, but nodded, and hastily wiped them away.
"No!" Chandler exclaimed. "I can't, Mom, I can't just leave. I was going to go to college... university... next year. I want to stay in America. Mom... please, do you have to take this job?" But he could tell from her face that she wanted to go. And even though he hated her for making him leave the friends and people he loved, he knew he couldn't make her feel any more guilty than she obviously already was.
"Congratulations," he muttered, before leaving the lounge and going up to his bedroom. Nora sighed and let herself drop on the sofa. It could have been worse. He could have shouted at her. But the look in his eyes made her feel ten times worse than she had done before. But she had no other choice. If she didn't go to London, she would have no job and barely any money. They had to go.
------
Monica sat at the table awkwardly, pushing around a few garden peas. Her parents were entertaining again, and she hated it. Amongst the people that Judy had invited round was the man that she never wanted to see, ever again.
Jack's friend Richard had been seated next to Monica, and every now and again he smiled at her, but she never returned the smile. She never even looked at him. She just wanted to get through the dinner as quickly as possible and excuse herself. She knew if she ran off now, her parents would be suspicious, and insist that she tell them what was wrong. Probably in front of everyone, as a way of an apology for being so rude as to leave the table without asking. She had to stick it out, and vigorously ate her chicken, wishing all the food would just disappear.
A hand rested on hers. She looked up, startled, and saw Richard's kindly smile. She couldn't help but smile back, albeit sadly. Richard was one of the few people who Monica felt she could talk to at times. He was almost like a father to her, and sometimes he turned out to be a better dad than the one she had. He actually listened to her. But she could never tell him her biggest secret. He would be shocked, disgusted and appalled, and would tell Jack and Judy. And then what would happen?
"You're eating rather fast!" he exclaimed, but quietly, and Monica grinned.
"Just... have things to do," she said, but Judy had overheard the conversation.
"Oh Monica, how are things with you and Chandler?" she asked, quite loudly. Monica went red as every head turned to look at her.
"Chandler, huh? Is that your new boyfriend?" Sandra, Judy's best friend, asked kindly.
Monica looked down at her plate. "Kinda," she said shakily.
A couple of people laughed at Monica's obvious discomfort. "Leave the poor girl alone," Richard said, coming to her rescue. "I bet you wouldn't like it if people asked you about your private lives."
"Not that there's much to tell," said one man, who was sitting opposite Monica. He looked at her with what appeared to be a kindly glance, but Monica froze. She'd been avoiding him all night, and now he seemed to be directing a comment straight at her. "So, what is he like, this Chandler?" he asked, and a couple of women giggled at his question.
Monica stuttered, and looked to Richard for help. Richard glared at the man. "I said, leave her alone, George," he said.
George looked at Richard, as if he were about to retort, but thought better of it. Judy giggled a little too loudly, trying to break the awkward silence that had fallen. Monica went red again and nodded slightly at Richard, to show she was grateful, and excused herself from the table when the phone rang.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she left the dining area and reached for the phone. "Hello?" she said, sinking to the floor.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end. Monica was confused. "Hello?" she repeated, a little impatiently. "Who is this?"
"It's me," came the reply. Monica smiled to herself. Chandler.
"Hey Chandler, how are you?" she asked, playing with the cord on the phone.
Chandler breathed in sharply. "Not good, Mon," he said honestly. "I've got... got a problem."
Monica sat up a little. "What's wrong?" she asked, worried. She thought maybe his mother had done something stupid.. tried to kill herself maybe. She had seemed so depressed lately.
"My mom got a promotion."
"That's a good thing, surely?" Monica said, feeling slightly more relieved.
"No... you see, it's in London." Chandler bit his lip as he heard Monica gasp on the other end.
"London.. in England?" she asked.
Chandler didn't have the heart to even be sarcastic. "Yeah, Mon," he said, deadpanned.
"Sorry... I don't know why I said that... of course it's London in England, why else would it be a problem?" Monica gabbled, not knowing when to stop. Chandler sighed, knowing that Monica was freaking out.
"Mon... Monica, you're getting high-pitched..."
"I suppose you'll have to leave, too, leave me, just as we'd got so close... we were doing so well and now you're going to have to leave, but no, it's okay, I can't stop you leaving, you can't stop your mother, she's probably going to get much better pay..."
Chandler let her carry on for a while, knowing she would eventually stop and break down. He didn't have to wait long. He could hear her voice becoming hysterical, and he interrupted her. "Mon, can I come over, so we can talk?"
"We've got guests," Monica said, but she didn't know why that should stop him coming. "But I'm sure my mom won't mind. Can you be here in ten?"
Chandler agreed to be there soon, and hung up. His mother was sitting on the stairs, and as he turned, he saw her, her eyes red from crying.
"Chandler..."
"I'm going to Monica's," he said shortly, grabbed his jacket and left the house.
------
So sorry this took so long! And I'm sorry this chapter was so short too. I've been very busy, I went shopping today with birthday money . Someone asked when my birthday was, and it was on Monday (14th.) I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner. Anyway, please read and review. Think of this chapter as a link for more angst-y things to come. Sorry! :( Lilian xxx