Mr. Brightside- Song-Fiction
Disclaimer- I do not own the television show Friends, it belongs to the creators Bright, Kauffman, and Crane
This story is set in the beginning of Season Nine, after the episode where Ross discovers Joey and Rachel making-out in their apartment
(It's almost midnight, and Ross is having trouble sleeping)
Joey and… Rachel? No, I must be kidding myself. This can't be happening! Rachel? The woman who I loved for almost 12 years? The woman who had my baby? The one woman I can't stop thinking about? Rachel?
I mean, I thought that it could never happen. Rachel would never return his feelings… but, in some ironic way, she did. I can't sleep, I can't eat… it feels like my world is slowly closing in. No one can stop this but her.
Should I be mad at Joey? Sometimes I feel like that's the only reasonable answer… but, then again, he has been my friend for nine years. He's been there for me through everything. Yet, somehow, I can't stop the anger that seems to burn inside me.
And Rachel… what could possibly be going through her mind right now? Does she truly feel the same way about him, the same passion… the same love? And who knows, they might end up getting married, then having children… oh, god. This is just horrible.
Ross continued to turn throughout the night. His stomach was doubled-up in knots, as his mind wandered. Somehow, he was going to have to overcome the drastic situation he had been pulled into.
Monica had been trying to council him, but nothing seemed to work. No matter how hard he tried to run from it, the same thought came back, haunting him: He loved Rachel. And he always would.
That's when he came to the conclusion: He had to get over her, no matter how hard it might be. No matter how many nights he worried, he regretted… he cried.
But she's touching his chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, let me go
I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
(At Joey and Rachel's apartment)
"You're, you're so beautiful…" Joey murmured, staring at Rachel.
She chuckled, "Thanks, sweetie." She gently touched his shoulder, "But, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Joey choked, "Please tell me this isn't about… (whispers) us. I'm sorry, but I really can't go through a rejection again, I mean, I love…"
"Joey, honey… I just don't understand what we're doing here," Rachel interrupted.
"What, what do you mean?"
"Do you really see a future here? Can you picture us getting married, or having a family?"
"I'd love to have a family!" Joey exclaimed.
"No, no. Sweetie, calm down. I mean, can you see us years from now, still together?" She asked, slowly.
He paused for a minute, than spoke, "Sometimes… no. (Quickly) But most of the time, yes!'
Once again, she laughed, "I'm sorry, Joey. I just… I just, I feel like my heart belongs somewhere else. You know…" She trailed off.
Joey sighed, "I know that you and Ross fit together like… you know, a puzzle or whatever. But, if you could just… Oh yea, and you have a child together. But, if you could just… And you dated, but, if you could just…"
"Give you another chance?" Rachel finished.
He nodded and then gently kissed her on the lips. She tried to enjoy it, but far off his name kept pounding in her head: Ross.