The One Where They Are All in College

By Aoife

Rachel yawned as she searched through her bag for the keys to the flat she shared with Monica. She had just finished her shift as a waitress in an all night café called Central Perk. She was in her second year at NYU and had decided to move in to a flat in the Village with Monica who working in a restaurant near by. Her parents hadn't been too please about her decision but they agreed to give her money for rent if she got a part time job to pay for her living expenses. She had hated the idea at first but now that she had gotten in the habit of juggling her studies, work and most importantly her social life she quite enjoyed having some responsibility. And since she was still her fathers favorite he often slipped her some extra money which her mother didn't know about!

Just as she dropped her bag in side the door her mobile phone began to ring, she smiled as she saw "Ross" flashing on the screen.

" hey Ross, Whats up?"

"Nothing, me and chandler just left the club and called in to Central Perk for one of your famous Lattes and they said you had just left. Do you want to join us for a quick cup of coffee"

Rachel giggled as Ross rambled on, obvisouly he had a few drinks as he sounded very lively " its like 3 Am and I just left the place I might pass, another time maybe"

She could hear the disappointment in his voice as he told Chandler she wasn't coming, but he just said "yeah- no problem, tell Mon Chandler says HI"

"Good night Ross" She held to the phone to her chest and smiled to her self. She couldn't believe how well she had been getting on with Monica's geeky brother since she started college. He was also in NYU doing his Masters in some geekey dinosaur subject!

She headed for the sitting room and noticed Monica had fallen asleep in front of the telly, she gently woke her and told her to go to bed.

She grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge and began flicking through the channels, she always had trouble sleeping when she had to work late. She just stopped on MTV when there was a knock at the door.

"hey Rach! Since you wouldn't join us we decided to bring you a cup of coffee"

Rachel smiled and took the cup from Ross and stepped back to let the two guys enter the flat.

"is mon here" asked chandler looking toward the living room

"Just gone to bed a few minutes ago" ago replied Rachel knowing that Chandler really liked her best friend "I don't think shed mind if you went to say good night"

Chandler made a bolt for the Monicas bedroom with a goofy smile .

"So can I have a beer?" Ross asked heading to the kitchen " you don't think there is anything going on between those two do you?"

Rachel laughed " of course there is why else would he visit her in the middle of the night!"

"Well actually .." Ross began to blush " I asked him to come with me…. Kinda as back up"

Now it was Rachels turn to blush " am I THAT scary Ross?"

" Well I had something I wanted to ask you" ross took a couple of steps towards Rachel who was now leaning against the work top trying but failing to keep a huge smile of her face " now what could be so important to warrant a three AM visit?"

" I was sort of wondering, you know how we had been getting on so well lately, well maybe if I could take you out sometime" he half whispered getting redder and redder.

Rachel reached out and took his hand " I thought would never ask" she pulled Ross close to her and gently placed a soft but lingering kiss on his lips. Ross pulled back a little and with a huge smile on his face asked " is that a yes?"

Rachel didn't get a chance to reply as Ross drew her in to a more passionate kiss.

Well that's chapter one please read and review, and be gentle as this is my first attempt!