Like I said previously, don't lose interest, it'll get good later on. This chapter's kind of short.
DISCLAIMER: I own the beer.
"Three's a crowd, not so much"
"Aww, don't feel bad, honey." Monica said as she put her arm around Pete. "You have a lot of work. We understand."
"Yeah." Chandler looked at his feet. "Right."
"Don't be so bummed, man!" Joey came and sat on the couch next to Chandler. "I mean, how do you think that me and Phoebe and Rachel feel?"
Chandler shrugged. "I don't know, Joe. You've lived in the same area and had the same jobs for the last eight years."
"Come on, man." Joey finished his beer and got up to get another one. "I mean, how would you feel," he grabbed a beer and sat down, "if you weren't able to see like half your friends in a whole year!" He opened the beer and took a swig.
"I haven't been able to see all of my friends in a whole year!" Chandler shouted.
"Well, then you of all people should know how I feel!" Joey pointed his finger at Chandler. "Look, man. You guys are the ones that left, that wanted to leave. We," he pointed between him, Phoebe, and Rachel, "never wanted you guys to leave. We miss you, man." He gave Chandler a hug.
"Joey! I'm right here!" Chandler shouted.
"But you weren't there for us before, when we needed you." Chandler's stomach churned. He wasn't there for them. They were supposed to be friends. "I mean, Phoebe, has a new boyfriend, now," Joey lowered his head to Chandler's, "who, I think, is a bit crazy."
"Joey, I can hear you." Phoebe said. "And he is not crazy. He's just a bit…different."
Rachel leaned her head over to Chandler. "Crazy."
"I can still hear you!" Phoebe yelled.
She was dating a guy she had met at work. He worked as a masseur because he believed in 'cleansing the aura', which obviously got Phoebe from the beginning. But it turned out that he was much more unusual than Phoebe. After a while, she became annoyed with him visiting all the time. That's when she realized she should move to a new place to further the distance a bit. She tried living with Rachel, but she was hardly ever there. That's when she was offered the beach house from her returning client who was moving to California. She thought it was a great idea because she could be closer to her mom and learn more about her family. It was lonely, but she enjoyed living next to the beach.
"Well, your lives aren't exactly perfect either!" She pointed to Rachel. "You have to live with Joey." Chandler laughed a bit.
She had to live with Joey. After Phoebe left, Rachel was forced to pay rent by herself and Joey also needed to pay by himself. After Joey's phone line was cut off because he was behind on the bills, he had the idea to move to Rachel's apartment. Phoebe lent him the money for the bills and his stuff was moved over.
"Man, that's got to suck. Having to live in a girl environment." Chandler patted Joey on the back.
Rachel crossed her arms. "And is that so bad? At least he has enough courage to even live with a girl. Oh, by the way, how's your love life?" Rachel said rhetorically, trying to prove a point.
"Alright." Chandler gave in. "But really how is it Joey?"
"Well, it's not so bad. I mean, she switched me over to light Mayo and my pants fit a lot better!" Joey smiled.
"That's great, Joe. Now you might be able to fit into the sweater that Ross gave you seven years ago." Chandler laughed.
"So, Rach, how's your life so far?" Monica asked trying to change the topic.
Oh no. She tried to avoid the topic, but she couldn't. All her girlfriends had boyfriends or fiancées or husbands. She had nobody. So many times she tried to get a date for Friday night, but it always ended after a few days. She even tried dating her boss, which, consequently gave her a promotion, but still left her lonely on Friday night.
"Um, it's great, you know." Rachel shrugged.
"So," Monica smiled, "any new guy friends?"
Rachel twiddled her thumbs. "Um, I've been, um, really busy."
"Oh," Monica took the hint, "how about you, Joey?"
Joey thought for a second. "I almost got a lead in a movie." Joey pointed out.
"Ooh, what movie?"
"Rosa Parks." Joey grinned.
"What part were you going to play?" Chandler asked, a bit confused.
Joey paused for a second. "Is it my fault I'm not a middle aged black woman?" Joey shouted.
"Sorry, Joe." Chandler calmed him.
He was still trying to get his big break. Once in a while, he did guest appearances because he was 'Dr. Drake Remoray.' But that was it. Almost every movie he tried out for, got canceled or he wasn't picked. It was a bit depressing. He was still succeeding in the romance area, though. Women almost every night, he couldn't complain. But where was his life going? Was he going to live like this for the rest of his life?
"It's okay."
"Well," Pete stood up, "it's about time to go." He looked down to Monica. "We should get going before the storm gets worse." Monica stood up.
Pete and Monica walked over to the door. He held the cold knob in his hand and turned it. Before he could pull it open, the gust of wind blew open the door and thrust millions of particles of sand into his face. He quickly struggled to close the door as the others ran to help him. The door reluctantly closed, as Pete fell onto the floor.
Pete rubbed the back of his head. "I guess we're staying here."