Chapter 11
Someone like you
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends.
A/N: Thanks so much for the lovely reviews guys on the last couple of chapters. Im glad your all enjoying the fic, and hope you all keep reading, even if you don't like the couple's ive thrown together. Coz you never know, I may just change things :o)
~*~
"OH LOOK! AN ALLOSAURUS SKELETON!" Ross ran away from Chandler, and like a little boy stood beneath the giant stack of animal bones, his jaw dropping in awe at the great feature before him. It was like nothing he had ever seen before and we wanted to take in its every detail, much to his friend's annoyance.
Chandler had been awake all night, unable to allow himself to sleep once he returned to the college dorm. He had tossed and turned, trying to eliminate the memory of Phoebe from his mind, but it was just impossible. So he had gotten up and spent the remainder of the morning waiting on Ross in the kitchen, playing his evening over and over again in his head until he felt like her was going out of his mind.
The last thing he wanted now was to be trailed around some boring science exhibit, but a promise was a promise, he couldn't let Ross down now. He would just have to grin and bear it.
He stood looking bored while Ross walked circles around the exhibit, his mouth constantly agape.
"What's wrong with you man? You haven't said a word since we arrived." Ross dragged himself away from the rather large dinosaur and went to make sure his friend was ok.
"Nothing, I just haven't slept very well, that's all." Chandler was too exhausted too try and think of a better excuse.
"Do you want to go home?" Ross looked at him disappointedly, clearly upset at the prospect of leaving, but for his friend he was more than prepared to go.
"No, I'm not gonna waste your day, you've been looking forward to this for like forever." Chandler knew there was no point in going home now. It didn't matter where in the world he went there would be no Phoebe there.
Right now she was all he could think about, and burdening anyone else with his problem now wouldn't make the thoughts of her go away, it would just make it all seem more real.
What he had to do was deal with it in his own time, and hopefully she would just become a distant reminder of a pleasant evening.
Anyway, no one would understand. How could he possibly explain falling in love after a few hours, with a prostitute that he didn't even have the guts to sleep with, who had ran away from him and taken his money? Not that he gave a damn about the money, if she needed it so badly then he was more than happy for her to have it.
Neither did he care about the mocking that would more than likely ensue, especially from Jason, or the judgemental attitude he would get from the girls.
All he cared about was never getting the chance to make Phoebe laugh again or see that precious smile spread across her beautiful face.
Or would he?
He wanted to run to that alley where he had first met her and whisk her away from her life of depravation she was barely living through. He could tell by the look in her eyes and the way she spoke that she was hiding something from him, and he had to find out what it was.
It was then he made a conscious decision to go and look for her once he had dropped Ross back off at NYU. He had to find her, if it killed him he had to tell her how he felt and find out if she felt the same.
~*~
Phoebe had spent her morning in much the same way as Chandler had. She moped around Tony's house, unable to sleep, or eat for the pain that was tugging at her heart.
She lay herself down on the couch and curled herself into a foetal position to once again think about the first man she had ever had any respect for. She wouldn't allow herself to believe it was love; she had never felt it before and couldn't be sure if this was the real thing. The only thing she was sure of was she was setting herself up for a fall if she let her emotions get the better of her.
Her daydreaming was unexpectedly put on hold as she heard an all too familiar noise.
She jolted her head up as she heard the front door slam shut forcefully.
Tony had been out all night, and this was, she expected, him returning. She had no idea where he had been, and she didn't really care either. It meant she had had a peaceful morning to herself without him leeching all over her, or getting too handy with his fists and mouth when she didn't do exactly what he told her to.
She listened intently to his approaching footsteps and abruptly sat up and straightened herself out. She did dare let him see her lazing about doing nothing.
"Your back. Good." Tony did not look in the slightest bit pleased as he walked towards the table in front of her and lifted the envelope filled with Chandler's money that she had left there for him.
She gulped loudly as he removed the cash and began to count it. Sweat began to descend down her brow, and her heart began palpitating unsteadily as she awaited the fate that was to befall her.
With the mood he was in she had no idea what would come next. She had made him money, but would it be enough to satisfy him and stop a beating? She doubted it, but maybe he would forgive her?
"Not bad. At least you made something. But in future I want to see more than this, got it?" Phoebe nodded enthusiastically and held her breath until he had sat down away from her. She was in the clear for the first time since she had started working for him, finally pleasing him. But she still had a feeling of butterflies in her stomach at the prospect of having to at least double her "wages" later that evening. So she wasn't totally off the hook quite yet.
Silence filled the room, apart from the odd grumble from Tony as he removed his shoes and jacket to make himself more comfortable.
Phoebe was terrified to start a conversation in case she infuriated him in some way so she sat quietly, waiting to be spoken to.
He was easily annoyed, and she always seemed to push him over the edge in one-way or another. But she had definitely learnt her lesson where he was concerned and she still had the bruises to prove it.
Once he had settled he let his gaze drop on Phoebe, and his continual staring was making her feel more than a little awkward. She shifted her feet back and forth, and twiddled her thumbs nervously, waiting on him removing his eyes from her, but he never did. He was too busy thinking.
"You know what. Im looking at you, and you're not that ugly. So why have you only had one client in the entire time you've been working? Ive never had this problem with any of my other girls. So either you aren't trying hard enough, or it's where you're standing." Tony's tone was unemotional as he spoke and Phoebe kept her head down the whole time.
"So which one is it? Because either way it will have to be sorted" His voice was beginning to change again, and it was scaring her.
"I'm trying I swear, Tony. I don't know why I can't get clients. Maybe it is the location?" Phoebe ran all her words together, hurriedly trying to defend her, panic clear in her voice.
"Hmmm, I'll take your word for it. But if I move you, and we still have the same problems you're going to be sorry." Tony stood up and walked towards her, grabbing her by the wrist, unaware of his own strength.
"Im taking you to meet one of the other girls. You can share her spot for the moment, and maybe pick up some tips along the way."
Phoebe could feel the pain run up her arm as his grip tightened and didn't have the nerve to pull away or object. She knew he would just seize her tighter in spite.
As usual she had no option but go along with him. But all that was about to change and it would alter her life forever.
~~*~~
Someone like you
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with friends.
A/N: Thanks so much for the lovely reviews guys on the last couple of chapters. Im glad your all enjoying the fic, and hope you all keep reading, even if you don't like the couple's ive thrown together. Coz you never know, I may just change things :o)
~*~
"OH LOOK! AN ALLOSAURUS SKELETON!" Ross ran away from Chandler, and like a little boy stood beneath the giant stack of animal bones, his jaw dropping in awe at the great feature before him. It was like nothing he had ever seen before and we wanted to take in its every detail, much to his friend's annoyance.
Chandler had been awake all night, unable to allow himself to sleep once he returned to the college dorm. He had tossed and turned, trying to eliminate the memory of Phoebe from his mind, but it was just impossible. So he had gotten up and spent the remainder of the morning waiting on Ross in the kitchen, playing his evening over and over again in his head until he felt like her was going out of his mind.
The last thing he wanted now was to be trailed around some boring science exhibit, but a promise was a promise, he couldn't let Ross down now. He would just have to grin and bear it.
He stood looking bored while Ross walked circles around the exhibit, his mouth constantly agape.
"What's wrong with you man? You haven't said a word since we arrived." Ross dragged himself away from the rather large dinosaur and went to make sure his friend was ok.
"Nothing, I just haven't slept very well, that's all." Chandler was too exhausted too try and think of a better excuse.
"Do you want to go home?" Ross looked at him disappointedly, clearly upset at the prospect of leaving, but for his friend he was more than prepared to go.
"No, I'm not gonna waste your day, you've been looking forward to this for like forever." Chandler knew there was no point in going home now. It didn't matter where in the world he went there would be no Phoebe there.
Right now she was all he could think about, and burdening anyone else with his problem now wouldn't make the thoughts of her go away, it would just make it all seem more real.
What he had to do was deal with it in his own time, and hopefully she would just become a distant reminder of a pleasant evening.
Anyway, no one would understand. How could he possibly explain falling in love after a few hours, with a prostitute that he didn't even have the guts to sleep with, who had ran away from him and taken his money? Not that he gave a damn about the money, if she needed it so badly then he was more than happy for her to have it.
Neither did he care about the mocking that would more than likely ensue, especially from Jason, or the judgemental attitude he would get from the girls.
All he cared about was never getting the chance to make Phoebe laugh again or see that precious smile spread across her beautiful face.
Or would he?
He wanted to run to that alley where he had first met her and whisk her away from her life of depravation she was barely living through. He could tell by the look in her eyes and the way she spoke that she was hiding something from him, and he had to find out what it was.
It was then he made a conscious decision to go and look for her once he had dropped Ross back off at NYU. He had to find her, if it killed him he had to tell her how he felt and find out if she felt the same.
~*~
Phoebe had spent her morning in much the same way as Chandler had. She moped around Tony's house, unable to sleep, or eat for the pain that was tugging at her heart.
She lay herself down on the couch and curled herself into a foetal position to once again think about the first man she had ever had any respect for. She wouldn't allow herself to believe it was love; she had never felt it before and couldn't be sure if this was the real thing. The only thing she was sure of was she was setting herself up for a fall if she let her emotions get the better of her.
Her daydreaming was unexpectedly put on hold as she heard an all too familiar noise.
She jolted her head up as she heard the front door slam shut forcefully.
Tony had been out all night, and this was, she expected, him returning. She had no idea where he had been, and she didn't really care either. It meant she had had a peaceful morning to herself without him leeching all over her, or getting too handy with his fists and mouth when she didn't do exactly what he told her to.
She listened intently to his approaching footsteps and abruptly sat up and straightened herself out. She did dare let him see her lazing about doing nothing.
"Your back. Good." Tony did not look in the slightest bit pleased as he walked towards the table in front of her and lifted the envelope filled with Chandler's money that she had left there for him.
She gulped loudly as he removed the cash and began to count it. Sweat began to descend down her brow, and her heart began palpitating unsteadily as she awaited the fate that was to befall her.
With the mood he was in she had no idea what would come next. She had made him money, but would it be enough to satisfy him and stop a beating? She doubted it, but maybe he would forgive her?
"Not bad. At least you made something. But in future I want to see more than this, got it?" Phoebe nodded enthusiastically and held her breath until he had sat down away from her. She was in the clear for the first time since she had started working for him, finally pleasing him. But she still had a feeling of butterflies in her stomach at the prospect of having to at least double her "wages" later that evening. So she wasn't totally off the hook quite yet.
Silence filled the room, apart from the odd grumble from Tony as he removed his shoes and jacket to make himself more comfortable.
Phoebe was terrified to start a conversation in case she infuriated him in some way so she sat quietly, waiting to be spoken to.
He was easily annoyed, and she always seemed to push him over the edge in one-way or another. But she had definitely learnt her lesson where he was concerned and she still had the bruises to prove it.
Once he had settled he let his gaze drop on Phoebe, and his continual staring was making her feel more than a little awkward. She shifted her feet back and forth, and twiddled her thumbs nervously, waiting on him removing his eyes from her, but he never did. He was too busy thinking.
"You know what. Im looking at you, and you're not that ugly. So why have you only had one client in the entire time you've been working? Ive never had this problem with any of my other girls. So either you aren't trying hard enough, or it's where you're standing." Tony's tone was unemotional as he spoke and Phoebe kept her head down the whole time.
"So which one is it? Because either way it will have to be sorted" His voice was beginning to change again, and it was scaring her.
"I'm trying I swear, Tony. I don't know why I can't get clients. Maybe it is the location?" Phoebe ran all her words together, hurriedly trying to defend her, panic clear in her voice.
"Hmmm, I'll take your word for it. But if I move you, and we still have the same problems you're going to be sorry." Tony stood up and walked towards her, grabbing her by the wrist, unaware of his own strength.
"Im taking you to meet one of the other girls. You can share her spot for the moment, and maybe pick up some tips along the way."
Phoebe could feel the pain run up her arm as his grip tightened and didn't have the nerve to pull away or object. She knew he would just seize her tighter in spite.
As usual she had no option but go along with him. But all that was about to change and it would alter her life forever.
~~*~~