Disclaimer: I don't own about 99 percent of the characters as they belong to BKC Productions, but that's a given. I did create "Danielle" and "Ryan." As for the song, it's "Grand Theft Autumn" by Fall Out Boy (the acoustic version, hence the title) – who I wish I could say I saw live last month, but I didn't. I'm broke, so please don't sue…
A/N: Apologizing for the tardiness of this chapter, but real life's priorities come first. As for some of the comments about Chandler being the lead, I do know that he was on the show and that his and Ross's band was Way/No Way, which is why I did say that this was an AU story and that it'd contain some elements from the show. However, point taken, next time I do a chapter that's instrument heavy (for lack of a better term), I will at least attempt to learn the terminology more. I'm not going to make any promises about Monica and Chandler (not a huge fan of them), but I doubt they're hooking up in this story. Also, this chapter is definitely more dialogue-laced. On with the chapter…
"Acoustic"
Along with several members from other bands, Ross, Chandler, Mike and Kip chatted with and signed autographs for fans who decided to stay behind after the show by the little area designated that sold band merchandise.
Since Gandalf and Kip had nothing better to do, they went around hitting on the pretty girls, not that they were all that successful. On the other hand, Chandler, guitar firmly secured in his lap, took a seat on a stool by the table while Ross was next to him sitting in another stool just a couple feet apart. A few minutes later, a crowd, consisting of mostly women and band members, surrounded Ross and Chandler as the latter started strumming a few chords on the guitar as Ross began to sing,
When I wake up, I'm willing to take my chances on the hope that I forget
that you hate him more than you notice I wrote this for you.
You need him. I could be him.
I could be your accident, but I'm still trying.
That's more than I could say for him.
Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman.
Maybe he won't find out what I know:
You were the last good thing about this part of town.
While looking for Mindy, Rachel, Kiki, and Melissa wandered around Central Perk's confines until they noticed and wondered why a bunch of people gathered around. She noticed him again. It was hard not to – with him wearing a pink shirt (although, if you asked him, he would've said it was more of a faded salmon color) with the phrase "Sex? T.O.N.S." plastered across the front in black lettering, which was color-coordinated with his checkered pink and black Vans slip-ons.
Someday, I'll appreciate in value, get off my ass and call you.
In the meantime, I'll sport my brand new fashion of
waking up with pants on at four in the afternoon.
You need him. I could be him.
I could be your accident, but I'm still trying.
That's more than I could say for him.
Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman.
Maybe he won't find out what I know:
You were the last good thing about this part of town.
During the interlude, Ross took a sip of water from the bottle as Chandler continued to play the notes on the acoustic guitar. Rachel had noticed that Ross's "sound" had developed since the days in Lincoln High when the band went by a different name. And it might have helped that, outside of him, there were completely different members from the original line-up. She was back to reality when Ross continued with the guy next to him singing back-up,
(Won't find out) He won't find out.
(Won't find out) He won't find out.
Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman.
Maybe he won't find out what I know:
You were the last good thing about this part of town.
Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman.
Maybe he won't find out what I know:
You were the last good thing about this part of town.
"Hey, Rach," Melissa spoke, noting her friend's almost dreamlike state. "I talked to Ryan – and he's driving me and Kiki later."
"Sure, whatever…" was the most cogent argument she could form.
XXX
With the exception of a couple of bartenders and a few people, emptiness and silence now filled the bar – at least in comparison to the blaring and near-deafening environment earlier in the night. There was chattering amongst the few remaining at the bar, but the television drowned out some of the noise.
"Ross, it sounds like it should be some kick ass songs, but who are we going to get to sing the female vocals for this song?" Mike asked, trying to read Ross's chicken-scratch writing off the notebook he had written into earlier in the night.
"Was that the last song the one you were writing earlier tonight?" Chandler asked his roommate, peering over Mike's should to get a better glimpse.
Even before tonight, word had spread really fast: despite one member's recent departure to form another band, Chandler, Kip, Mike and Ross were on the verge of finally being signed onto a major label – not that there was anything wrong with their current, more-independent label. Better late than never, right? After rumors had spread, they had started writing newer songs and practicing despite their slightly hectic college schedules – good thing, summer was right around the corner. Plus, Ross, Kip and Chandler were graduating the following spring – Mike had graduated the spring before. After all, they still needed their degrees to fall back on – just in case.
"Yeah," Ross confirmed, "they are. I've had the first song written down for awhile now."
"Dude, what's up with these songs being about Danielle? What are we, fucking emo?" Kip blurted, taking several sips from the beer bottle. "Fuck it, I need another beer."
"Yeah, Kip, it's because that's the emo thing to do: bitch about relationships," Ross mocked, aware friend's drunken demeanor. "Anyways, Bing, would you be fine if Mike does some of the more screaming background vocals? You could still do the normal background vocals."
"Oh, could I really, Ross?" Chandler replied in his usual sarcastic manner. "Yeah, I'm cool with it – whatever's best for the band."
Mike interrogated, "So, Bing, do you think your mom will really be able to get some studio time to record an album?"
"Of course," he declared. "She's definitely got connections."
Looking again for where Mindy had wandered off to, Melissa, Kiki and Rachel brushed past the guys. Ross cocked an eyebrow towards the other three. 'Wow, two of them were really cute,' he mouthed as Mike and Chandler acknowledged by nodding their heads.
Ross, Mike and Chandler headed in the direction of the three women. Chandler and Ross heard Mike mumble something along the lines of, "it pays off to be in a band."
Taking charge, Mike introduced 'his' group, "Hey, I'm Mike – and this Ross and Chandler."
"Melissa," one of the voices divulged, having the darkest hair color of the three. Obviously not rejecting them, she continued, "These are my friends, Rachel and Kirsten."
Rachel and Kiki waved at the guys. Mike looked at the other two guys – they had the same thought that he had: How are we going to decide who gets who?
"So, how and when did you guys become a band?" Kiki asked.
"Well, I was in, um, another band before college. My friend and I left that band, where I met Kip and Chip," Ross started. "They went to the same high school and were in a band called Way/No Way, and I met Mike through one of the shows when I was in that other band – where'd told me he was a pretty good bassist. So, that's how it all happened."
Melissa asked, "So, where'd you come up with 'The One Night Stands'?"
"Leave it to a marketing major who thinks with his penis," Chandler began.
Mike added, "Uh, yeah – Bing makes jokes when he's nervous or uncomfortable. But yeah, Kip came up with the name because it was catchy and it's obviously easily marketable," pointing at Ross's shirt.
The girls excused themselves to use the restroom. Simultaneously, both genders had decided on who would hook up with whom. The girls didn't seem to mind or notice where Mindy had gone.
Mike suggested, "Dude, since Melissa and I have the same initials, we pair up. Ross and Rachel, they pair up, etc. It's great alliteration."
"But where does that leave me, Michael?" Chandler replied.
"Yeah, you get Christine," Mike botched her name intentionally.
"I think she said Kirsten, not Christine."
"You sure? I could've sworn…"
"Shut up, that's because you two get the prettier ones."
"She wasn't that bad looking, Chandler."
"Not that bad looking? Her hair looked like a tornado ransacked it."
Ross just stood there watching his friends argue back and forth, trying his hardest not to burst out laughing. "Chandler, we won't let you get the mess next time. Here they come…"
"So, Melissa," Mike uttered, walking with her in the opposite direction. "Later, Bing…"
"Bing, where have I heard that name before?" Rachel mumbled to herself before it dawned on her, "Oh my god – is your mom the Nora Tyler Bing, the famous author? You're mom writes some of the best erotic novels."
"No," Chandler disagreed, apprehensively, "my mom writes porn."
Kiki chimed, "They're so not porn."
"Okay, 'erotic novels'" Chandler said. Okay, this might not be that bad, he thought. "I still don't see the difference between the two."
As Ross was about to speak again, his cell rang, reading the caller I.D. – he left to take the call outside. Damn it, he murmured.
XXX
Apparently, Mike and Melissa wasted little time making out – which left Rachel alone to go outside, catch some fresh air...
"So, who was that?" the woman's voice asked, which allowed Ross to jump back from where he'd been sitting on the sidewalk."
"Wrong number," he lied, sitting back down. "I didn't know you followed me out here."
"You look sort of different, yet somewhat familiar" the voice noted, somewhere between a truth and a lie. "Didn't you go to Lincoln High?"
"Yeah, how did you know? You're not stalking me or anything, are you? Not that I wouldn't mind being stalked by you," he joked.
"No, I was friends with your sister, Monica. We were like best friends." Saying that in past tense felt awkward, but she wasn't quite sure why. "But then we just drifted apart," she lied – she'd known the exact reason why they weren't exactly the best of friends nowadays. "Anyways, how's Monica?"
"She's really good. She's almost done with college – and she's a sous chef at Iridium," Ross said, proud of his sister's accomplishments.
"That's great, is she still thin?" she wondered, taking a seat next to him on the sidewalk.
"Yeah, it's a good thing, too – she seems even more confident, not that she wasn't before losing all that weight."
"I used to remember when we were kids and then teenagers," she paused. "We were pretty inseparable. We planned on going to same colleges and everything…"
He looked into her greenish-blue eyes. They seemed to sparkle in the moonlight. He felt something in the pit of his stomach – not sure what that was. Something he hadn't felt with Danielle in all of the three months he had been with her. "Wait, weren't you the one who almost got stood up at prom night?"
She gasped before admitting it, defeated "Um, well, technically, yeah… how did you know?"
"Rumors spread pretty fast, especially considering you were one of the most popular girls at Lincoln High. Plus, I think my parent's wanted me to take you to prom after they thought you'd been stood up back then, but I turned that down. I might've had a tiny crush on you, but that all ended when I realized you were sort of stuck-up and out of my league, I guess…"
"Well, you weren't exactly a knight-in-shining armor either."
"Yeah, I know. What the hell was I thinking with that 'Mr. Kotter' look?" he lightened the mood, sensing they were on the verge of starting a needless argument.
It worked, she laughed. "First impressions aren't the greatest, huh?"
"So, what are you majoring in?" he asked.
"Well, I thought about psychology, but something came up. And I settled on fashion," she answered. "And you?"
"Why am I not surprised?" he joked, assuring his playfulness by patting her arm. "But namely, I'm graduating pretty soon with a major in anthropology with an emphasis on paleontology." He noticed her giggle a bit, "Yeah, it's not as 'cool' as the whole music thing, but I'm a sucker for dinosaurs."
"At least, we're both doing something we love," she included.
Until Mindy showed up out of nowhere, they continued to talk for a couple hours about almost anything – just simply talk.
He debated on whether he should tell her or not, he caved in. "I don't know, uh, if I should be doing this, but there's this barbecue party a friend's throwing next weekend to officially kick off summer before she heads back home – I was wondering if you or your friends would want to go… you know, if you're not busy or anything."
"I'll be there, just let me know where it's going to be. Besides, I don't think my friends would be able to turn down free alcohol…"
"It's a date," he teased her.
XXX
3 A.M. Ross really hadn't noticed the time fly by talking to Rachel. He was conflicted about inviting her for next weekend, but insisted nothing was going to happen between them, yet it felt wrong to do that to Danielle.
It might've taken him forever, but walking up the flight of stairs, he finally reached his destination: Apartment #20 – his sister's two-bedroom apartment. He wasn't sure if she was still working at Iridium – or if she'd been asleep by now. Either way, he felt bad about bothering Monica this late at night. Slowly, he knocked the door, but loud enough so anyone inside could hear.
No response. Must not be there, he thought. A couple more knocks – still nothing. Finally, he gave up and situated himself on the steps of the hallway between his sister's apartment and whoever occupied Apartment #19. A few minutes later, the door opened, causing him to jump up, not the first time that'd happen tonight – or yesterday night, whichever…
"Ross, what the hell are you still doing up?" the voice spoke groggily.
"Sorry – band had a gig tonight at Central Perk," he answered. "It's a little late to drive back up to Syracuse right now, so I figured I'd crash at your place. Is that cool?"
"Oh, that's right. Yeah, the couch's available," she replied. "Hopefully, I'll cook up something for breakfast before work."
"Thanks, Mon," he said, falling back on the couch.
Sure, Ross and Monica hadn't always gotten along – partly due to their mother clearly favoring him over her. Once they had both moved out of their parents' home in Long Island, they'd been able to patch up most of their differences from childhood. In fact, Ross had helped her lose a little shed some weight after she'd graduated high school.
"So, how was the gig?" she asked, sounding more awake now.
"Well, being honest, we were awesome," Ross said, inflating his ego several notches.
"That's great," Monica replied truthfully. "But I thought your band sucked? Remember dad had to soundproof the basement and garage, so we wouldn't have to hear it."
"Okay, so we did suck, back at Lincoln when Will and I were in another band – it sucks that he left though. He was really good – but to hell with that bastard for being selfish."
"Ross, you may not like him right now, but Will is still one of my friends… so, what are you guys planning on doing about the situation?"
"Fine, you know how we both play the piano. And I suck at playing the guitar: either I learn to play or we find an established guitarist. Mike might be able to double duty until then."
"And how's Danielle?" Not a topic he wanted to talk about.
"She's, um, great. Everything's going well," he lied.
Too tired to care, Monica, more or less, accepted his response, "Anyways, I've got to get up in a few hours – night, bro."
"Night, Mon."
As Monica headed back into her room, Ross checked his cell phone. 3 missed calls and a new message on his voicemail. "You have one new message, sent yesterday at 11:37 P.M." the automated voice mentioned.
Danielle – again, he thought, obviously being able to recognize her voice on the message.
"Hey, Ross – sorry, I couldn't make it to your gig, but had to work," she said. "I'm sure you guys rocked tonight as always. Anyways, I'm gonna get some sleep, call me when you get this message."
XXX
The scent of bacon, eggs and pancakes floated across the room until Ross took notice, fully waking him up – that and the vomit as a result from a hangover waiting to burst. He ran towards the bathroom, hurling anything and everything into the toilet. He came out looking red, but felt slightly better though the slight headache wasn't helping.
"I hope you flushed the toilet," Monica reminded.
Ross answered, suddenly remembering one of sister's tics, "Of course," casually walking back towards the bathroom. Flush.
"That's better. Drink much, last night?"
"Not really, then again I lost count after awhile. There's no way I was more wasted than Kip though." Looking at the wall clock, he noted, "Shit, is it really only 7:30 in the morning?"
She laughed and then nodded, "You'll never guess who I ran into last night…"
"Who?" she asked, focused more on the stove in front of her.
"You know, it's not as fun when you don't guess, but you remember Rachel Green who went to the same high school, right?"
Monica did a double-take, almost dropping the spatula held in her right hand. It was almost as if she'd been punched in the gut and that had knocked the wind out of her, taking several moments to process her brother's words.
"Monica?"
She hadn't heard her name in awhile – probably since freshman year ended when Rachel had finally been accepted into some sorority that the name escaped Monica at the moment. Her best friend, as far back as when they were six year old girls riding their bikes in the same Long Island neighborhood, had slowly disappeared – and stopped hanging around her. "Oh, yeah," she admitted shyly.
"Are you alright, Monica?"
"Since when do you care about how I feel?" she fired back, not sure why she was on the defensive.
"Whoa, calm down, Mon. Just because I can be an asshole sometimes, it doesn't mean I don't care about you. I'm still your brother."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Ross. It's just that…"
Pretending to be oblivious, he replied, "Wait, is this the same Rachel you were friends with for a long time?"
She nodded again, "Oh, my fault, Mon – I guess I forgot."
"Don't worry about it. You didn't do anything. She didn't do anything either. We just drifted apart, I guess. It happens to a lot of people after high school. Anyways, how is she?" she noted, regaining her composure.
"Good, I suppose," Ross spoke, hesitant as to whether he should continue the conversation about Rachel with her. Trying to lighten the mood, he added, "Really attractive, too…"
"Ew, I'm still your sister," she laughed. "And I don't need to hear you thinking about hitting on one of my old friends even if we don't talk much anymore…"
"So, since rumors are swirling that we could be signed to a major label record soon, I suggested that you could do some back-up vocals for a song I wrote," Ross mentioned.
"Really, you would want me to sing for you guys?"
"I mean, why not? Remember when we were little kids, you had a really good voice," he affirmed, "Better than trying to find someone we don't really know."
"Enough with the mushy brother-sister stuff," she joked, playfully hitting her brother on the shoulder. "It seems like I'm still waiting for some sappy music to start playing right now."
He chuckled, "no pressure or anything, but I guess you could read the lyrics first. It's the second song, see what you think, then make a decision," he added, handing her the notebook. "And hey, it's totally cool if you're not on board with it."
"I'll think about it. So, when you driving back up to Syracuse?" she said, rubbing her temple with one hand, using her free hand that was placed on her hip to grab the notebook.
"I guess as soon as you leave. There's really no point in staying around if no one else's here. Plus, I've got to stop by Danielle's place. Oh, here's my copy of our current CD, see if you like it."