Chapter 16

"Full scholarship," Monica's voice was thick with awe as she read the two letters in her hand. "Wow! Are you sure they're not making any mistakes here?" Ross glared at her and Monica shrugged, "What? I know you're smart, but I didn't know you're smart enough to receive a full scholarship, let alone two of them. Are you sure it wasn't a mistake?"

"Give that back to me," Ross grunted, snatching the letters back from Monica. "They were not making mistakes, I just received calls on top of the letter of acceptance. They wanted an answer soon and honestly; I'm lost here and you're not helping at all," he sighed.

"Sorry," Monica sent him an apologetic smile. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," he smiled weakly at her sister and then averted his gaze toward the two acceptance letters in his hands.

Ross was completely torn apart.

Both universities offered the best paleontology programs, but Berkeley offered a better program than NYU. Berkeley was named as the second-best paleontology program in the whole country after all, but the thought of being on the opposite coast from Rachel made his stomach churn.

Then again, could he pass this one-of-a-lifetime opportunity away?

We weighed the pros and cons, but even when his head told him to go to L.A, his heart told him to stay in NY.

"I think I'm going to pass on Berkeley," Ross murmured quietly.

"Are you insane?" Monica gasped; her eyes big as she stared at her brother in disbelief. "Do you even know what that means? They have one of the best paleontology programs in the country and you're going to just pass on that? Have you lost your mind?"

"I can't leave New York, alright?" Ross sighed, running his finger over his dark locks out of frustration.

"-and why is that?" Monica raised her eyebrow, folding her chest in front of her brother, wanting to know the reason why he was making a dumb decision. "-because you couldn't leave her?"

Ross looked down guiltily and that was when Monica got her answer even before he confirmed it out loud.

"Have you talked to her about this?"

"No," Ross sighed, feeling guilty for keeping this away from Rachel even though in his defense, it was all for a good reason.

Rachel would want him to go.

Ross knew she wasn't that selfish.

She'd wanted the best for him and as soon as she heard what Berkeley had offered for him, she'd definitely wanted him to choose L.A. But the thing was, Ross didn't want to leave New York.

He didn't want to leave her.

This past year had undoubtedly been the most amazing year of his life.

It was the year when he found not only a great friendship, but also the true meaning of love. His relationship with Rachel was based on a strong friendship and that was what made it so amazing. He could confide in her like the way a friend did and he'd do the same for her. They were each other's rock and they had helped one another during some tough times.

Their connection and chemistry, they were so deep and special.

It was one in a million.

He couldn't lose that.

"You haven't told her, do you?" Monica asked and Ross nodded guiltily. "You know, I support you with whatever decisions you may come up with. But you know that if you do decide to choose Berkeley, it doesn't mean you have to let her go, right? It doesn't mean that the two of you have to break up."

Ross stayed quiet.

Rationally, he knew that if he moved away, it didn't mean it was the end for them, but right now he couldn't think straight, especially not after he learned that the numbers didn't do them any favor. Statistically, only two percent of high school relationships survive long distance relationships. He knew that because he had done his part of the research. He wanted to cling on that two percent, but he was terrified to risk it.

He couldn't risk losing her.

Monica read her brother's expression and sighed, "Let me guess, you went to the library and read all the books and articles you can find about long distance relationships and judging by your face, the numbers aren't great, am I right?"

Ross stared at his sister, dumbfounded.

"Oh, don't act so surprised," Monica rolled her eyes. "You're a science guy, you guys rely on numbers."

"The number is bad," Ross swallowed, feeling physically ill. "I can't risk it, Mon. Do you even know how lucky I am to have a girlfriend like Rachel?" he asked rhetorically. "I can't risk that, Mon. I can deal with losing Berkeley, but n-not Rachel. I just can't lose her, alright?"

"I'm jealous of you and Rachel, do you know why?"

"-because you're lonely and desperate for love?"

"You ass! I was trying to help you and this is what I get in return?" Monica threw a pillow at her brother, but her anger dissipated when she saw the playful smile on his lips.

"Sorry, I was joking and now that I think about it, it wasn't the best timing ever," he smiled sheepishly.

"You think?" Monica snapped.

"Sorry, Mon," Ross apologized once more. "You were saying?"

Monica sighed, "I'm jealous of you two because you found true love at such a young age. Do you know how rare that is?"

"I know," Ross murmured, his heart soared every time he thought about what he had with Rachel.

They were indeed very lucky people.

"That's why I can't lose her, Mon. I really think she's it."

"Wow!" Monica's eyes went wide at Ross' confession. "First of all, don't let Rachel hear that, she's going to freak out."

Ross frowned, "Why?"

"-because the way you said it, it sounds like you're ready to propose to her anytime soon."

"Well…" Ross ducked his head down, his cheeks pink.

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me!" Monica groaned. "You can't propose to her! That's just crazy!"

"What? Sometimes I'm at school and my mind wanders, you know," Ross explained, his cheeks turned crimson. "I think about us in the future, about marrying her and building a family with her."

"Well, it better be some time far far away," Monica sighed exasperatedly. "She may be in love with you, but she isn't ready to get married and frankly you are too. We're still in high school, Ross, and you're going to start a family without a decent paycheck? What were you thinking?"

Ross frowned.

"I guess I wasn't thinking that far," he admitted sheepishly.

"Damn right, you weren't," Monica muttered. "Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I think if anyone can defy the odds, it would be the two of you. I've never seen two people more in love with each other than you and Rachel. My only advice is, tell her, Ross," Monica said. "You have to tell her. She needs to know it before you make any decisions. And, in the meantime, please do me a favor and don't do anything stupid, okay?"

"Okay," he whispered, pulling his sister into a hug. "Thanks Mon," Ross sent her a thankful smile.

"You're welcome," she patted his shoulder a few times before she got up and left Ross alone with his thoughts.

Ross picked up his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart.

Monica was right.

Rachel needed to know.

The last week of Summer 1987 was officially here.

Ross and Rachel cuddled in the swings, on his backyard porch. Twinkling stars painted the night sky magnificently, while the moonlight shone right above them. Ross ran his hand over her sun kissed skin and then resting it over her shoulder, pulling her even closer to him. He then heard her sigh before she leaned into his touch, nuzzling her head over his chest.

"You're leaving," Rachel whispered as she tightened her hug around his waist. "You're really leaving."

"I am," Ross whispered, mimicking her move, wanting to hold her as tight as he could and never let go. "-but I still can stay. It's not too late."

"You have to go," she had said to him the day he told her about the acceptance letters. "It's Berkeley, Ross, you can't not take it."

After long deliberations and a lot of persuasion from her side, he finally decided to go to Berkeley and called them the next day to make his decision official and final. It definitely one of the hardest decisions he had ever made, but like they agreed, everything was going to be worth it in the end.

They'd make sure of it.

"No, you go," she quickly pulled away, looking at him as she shook her head. "You're not going to stay just because I want you here. We talked about it, Ross," her eyes shone with tears because what hurt her more than his departure was to see him throwing away his dream for her. "You're going. You're not going to throw your dream away for me."

"Okay… okay… I'm going," he pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "-but like I promised you, I'm not going to give up on us just because of the distance. We can do this, Rach. I have complete faith in us."

"Me too and that's what I want," she murmured. "I don't want us to end," she whimpered, clutching his t-shirt rather desperately.

"This is not the end, I promised," He held her tighter. "I love you too much to let you go."

"I love you too," she closed her eyes shut and sighed, choosing to believe his words.

Rachel had clung into Ross for the rest of the week, she even spent the nights at The Gellers and then sneaked into Ross' room in the middle of the night. She wanted to cherish every moment she had left with him and Ross was feeling the same too.

Ross sneaked his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him, and then placed a sweet kiss on her temple as they sat silently in the car on their way to the airport. Monica sat quietly beside her best friend, opting to avert her gaze toward the scenery, watching the clouds dancing over the blue bright sky, trying to ignore the gloomy mood that was clouding the entire car.

Half an hour later, the car came into a complete halt as they finally arrived at the airport.

"Please don't cry," Ross whispered, closing his eyes as he whispered into Rachel's ears.

What Rachel did was quite the opposite, she sobbed harder into his chest, making her body shake vigorously against him.

Judy, Jack, and Monica Geller shared a knowing look.

"We're gonna go and take your luggage out from the trunk..."

Ross nodded, sending a smile to his family, "Thanks, we'll be out in a few minutes."

"Take your time, sweetheart, we have plenty," Judy smiled warmly before the three of them got out of the car to give Ross and Rachel some privacy.

As soon as the door shut, Ross moved her slightly so that he could see her face. He then let out a smile, although his heart was torn apart by the scene playing in front of his eyes.

"Hey," he murmured softly, placing his finger over her cheeks and moving his thumb in stroking motions. "We're going to be alright. I'm going to call you as soon as I land and every day after that. I'll write you letters and send you pictures like we promised each other. I'll be home for Christmas, alright?"

Rachel nodded.

"Here," he reached into his pocket and took a small box out. "This is for you, a little something to keep you company while I'm away."

Rachel watched as he took a small jewelry out of the box, taking her hand and delicately placed a ring into her slender finger.

"It's a promise ring," he murmured. "It's my promise to you, Rach. To us. I love you so much."

"Thank you, it's beautiful," she murmured, taking a closer look at the ring. "-and this is for you. I want you to have it," she said as she gave him a box with a blue ribbon tied on it.

"You don't have to give me anything…"

"Open it," she nudged his arm.

"Okay, thank you," he kissed her before finally doing as he was told.

Carefully, he unwrapped her present and then gasped as he found what was inside of it.

"I've been saving my allowance and I really want you to have it," she explained. "I also engraved our names on the back of the watch."

Ross flipped the watch and she was right, on the back of the watch was their names engraved on it.

Ross & Rachel

Their names did have a nice ring to it, huh?

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotions. "Do you mind?"

"Here," Rachel reached out to put the watch around his wrist, deliberately taking her time, not wanting this moment to be over just yet. "It looks good on you."

Their gazes found each other once more, both filled with goodbye tears, painfully aware that it was almost time for his plane to leave.

"I'm going to miss you so much," Ross finally let go of the tears he had been holding off.

"Oh, Ross. I'm going to miss you so much too," Rachel whimpered, letting him pull her into an embrace.

She then buried her face into the crook of his neck, whispering over and over how much she loved him, how much she was going to miss him.

It wasn't long after when Jack knocked on the window, signaling the young couple that it was time for Ross to board the plane. Reluctantly, Ross and Rachel pulled away, stepped off the car, and together they made their way toward the boarding gate. Minutes later as they arrived in front of the gate, Ross said goodbye to his parents and sister, while Rachel stayed behind, wiping off the uncontrollable tears that wouldn't seem to stop streaming down from her blue eyes.

When it was Rachel's turn, he just hugged her as tight as he could.

They had said their official goodbye last night where they laid together in his bed until the crack of dawn, but today, the magnitude of his departure hit the couple harder.

It was so much real now.

He really was leaving…

Rachel held her grasp around his neck tighter as he kissed her there in the middle of a busy airport just like a scene from a movie.

"Hey," Ross whispered, their noses touched and they smiled at each other. "Remember what I said last night?"

"Hey… Listen to me, I promise you that even when we're away from each other, this is not our end," he had whispered through the darkness of his bedroom. "It's just our beginning."

"It's our beginning," she whispered, a smile on her face as she recalled the words he had promised her last night.

"It's our beginning," he repeated with a smile on his face.

A/N

I've been toying with the idea of keeping Ross in NY instead of L.A, but in the end, I let Ross leave to make the story more interesting lol

It's a short chapter, but I promise the next chapter is going to be longer and filled with more Ross and Rachel's moments as they try to make the long distance relationship work. As usual, let me know what you think of this chapter!