Sunday
Lunch at the Geller's, dinner at the Green's… that's what Monica, Ross, Rachel and Chandler were accustomed to since they were teenagers during Sundays. Although they hardly stuck to that tradition, eating at the 'oldies' saved them money. So they would visit Long Island whenever they needed a parental 'fix.' It wasn't that bad anyway; even Joey and Phoebe sometimes joined them.
The family man that he was, Jack Geller had the barbecue grill se up for his kids and their friends. He was grilling the burgers and steaks when they arrived. Judy Geller, on the other side of the lawn, was preparing the plates.
"Hi mom," Ross greeted.
She squeezed the hell out of him when she saw her only son. "Rossy!" she announced, making him turn red in embarrassment, "you haven't visited for months! Monica and Chandler have been here the past few Sundays!"
Chandler glared at Monica and Rachel, afraid that Ross might get a hint.
"I've been loaded with school work lately."
"Liar… he's been going out too much mom," Monica squealed as she kissed her mother's cheek.
Rachel looked even more uncomfortable when Judy hugged her, "And you my dear Rachel, where have you been? I missed you so much!"
"Aw Judy," hugging her back, "fashion wasn't as easy as I thought it would be… it's much harder than dressing Barbies up!"
Judy smiled at her, cupping her cheeks, "Well I'm so glad you're here. You're one of my favorite people in the world."
'Way to go ma, I'm totally uncomfortable' Ross thought.
Chandler glanced at Ross, then at Rachel, then at Monica who was then glaring at him. "Will you please keep your eyes to yourself," she whispered, "stop glancing at all of us."
"Why hello there!" Jack chided, joining in the conversation.
"Hey dad," Ross greeted.
"Rachel! It's been quite a while since we last saw you here!" he said, approaching her and giving her a hug.
"Hi Jack," she managed to say while being squished.
"Let's go and have lunch!" he finally said after they've all greeted each other.
"So Ross, Monica said you've been going out too often," Jack said, making them four feel uneasy.
"Um, not too often… but yeah, often."
"Just don't let go of your studies. You can be a nerd and still go out, son." Rachel and Chandler laughed at this, realizing how high their hopes still are for Ross, and Monica just rolled her eyes.
"I believe that's what he's been doing lately," Rachel said, finally saying something in the table.
"What about you Rachel, how have you been doing? You know, with Chandler here often, there's nothing left to ask. But you, I haven't seen you for quite a while!"
Chandler began glancing at Monica again, this time eying Ross.
"Dude, you're here often? Why?" Ross wondered.
Monica and Rachel watched Chandler panic… "Um- well, I-"
"I do need a ride to get here right? So I always ask him to come with me since you're busy 'studying' all the time," Monica saved him.
Ross nodded, satisfied with her answer. Then silence filled in…
Jack was still waiting for Rachel to answer. "Well, I've been busy with schoolwork. And since my parents were in Europe, I haven't been going to Long Island," she lied.
"When did they get back?" Judy asked.
"The other day..."
"Are they still getting divorced?" Jack frankly asked.
"Jack!" Judy scolded.
Rachel smiled at them, assuring them that it was okay, "So far they're still together. I guess the trip did them good," shrugging off the nuisance.
"Are you seeing someone?"
'Sure, torture me piece by piece will you!' Ross said to himself, glaring at his dad.
"Um…" Rachel began, wanting to just disappear, "not exactly."
Monica stood up, attempting to change the flow of conversation, "Mom, can you please pass the corn?"
'Thank you Monica' Ross and Rachel silently thought.
"Ross, what happened to you? You've changed since you were with Rachel."
"Mom, people change," Ross replied, handing Judy the dirty plates.
"Ross, it's obvious that you still love her and she's not dating anyone… just get back together with her!" she suggested, turning on the faucet of the sink.
"Ma, it's not that easy. And besides, I get to do what single men do now…" he stated, trying to sound right.
"The fun doesn't last for long, dear." Ross paused, thinking of what she said. He knew she was right. "
Rachel will forever be exceptional ma, but we do have to move on. Things change, people change… And besides, ever since we broke up, I'm different to her already."
"Because you are. I like the old you better… I just want the right things for you Ross. Look at Monica- she may have grown, but she's still the same old harmonica we raised. You…you're just losing your own personal touch. Are you seeing anyone now?"
"Sort of…" "Is she nice to you?" "She's a great person mom, you'll like her." Judy smiled sadly at Ross, trying her best to look supportive.
"Bullshit!" Jack screamed while playing a card game. Judy and Ross were approaching them, carrying plates of apple pies.
"Stop playing for a while, here's some pie," Judy announced.
Ross found a seat right beside Rachel. She smiled at him, and so did he. "I'm sorry about my parents," he whispered.
"Hey, it's alright. I've known them for too long to be affected," she replied.
"Well, I'd still want you to come back here you know," he smile smirked.
'Did he just flirt?' Rachel pondered.
The rest of the afternoon went well. Before sunset, they transferred to Rachel's parents' house. It was a bit less than a ten-minute drive away but of course, with Ross on the wheel, it seemed longer.
"Hi Ross" Jill, Rachel's youngest sister, greeted him by the door.
"Hi," he replied, knowing her admiration for him.
Since he and Rachel broke up, Jill has been bombarding him with sweet quotes on the internet. Although she was only in the 11th grade, she acted as if she was in college.
"Hi Jill," Rachel snapped, "Are they home already?" making her sister move from the doorway.
"Yeah, they're in the kitchen." Leading the way, Rachel suddenly stopped and looked around their house. Her mom had it renovated- again. "Wow… a month ago, that couch was maroon," she said, pointing at the beige sofa, "My mom must really be bored now. She just had the living room redecorated last year."
"Well, it looks nice," Monica added.
Rachel's house is a mansion and almost twice as big as the Geller's abode. Though it had several rooms, there is hardly anyone in the house. Rachel lives in a dorm in NYU; Amy, Rachel's younger sister, along with Jill are out all the time; Dr. Leonard Green, the man of the house, is a 24/7 on-call doctor; so that leaves Mrs. Sandra Green, who is either at the county club with her friends or at the parlor with her friends. Only Harry, the butler, and Lila, the maid, who have been employees as long as Rachel could remember, are always in the house along with their staff.
"Miss Rachel!" Harry greeted, "Miss Monica, Sir Chandler!" Then finally, he saw Ross who trailed behind, still being stopped by Jill, "Mr. Ross!"
"Harry!" Ross said, high-fiving Harry and finally escaping Jill's force.
"How have you all been? I have not seen you for quite a long time. Whenever miss Rachel would come home cr-"
"Harry, where are my parents?" Rachel stopped the old man from talking.
Scratching his head, Harry replied, "Oh they're in the kitchen!"
"Thanks," she said, leading them. "Crying?" Monica whispered to Rachel.
"Shhhh…"
"Rachel darling," Judy screamed as she saw her daughter and company come in, "Hello all of you!"
"Mom," "Hi Sandra," "Hi Mrs. Green," all their assorted greetings.
"My gosh, Monica you look so different today! Like a woman in love! Is there anyone I haven't heard about?"
Ross looked at her, in question. "Um…" she nervously began, "I'm not really seeing anyone right now."
"Did you have an augmentation somewhere? I swear, you look really different now… so radiant!"
"Mom," Rachel scolded.
"Thanks Sandra," Monica replied, looking down in embarrassment.
"Sweet pea!" Leonard greeted.
"Hi daddy!"
"Ross," he sternly said.
"Dr. Green, it's great to see you again," Ross tensely said.
"Have you been cheating on anyone lately?"
"Leonard!" Sandra reprimanded, "Oh Ross, don't mind him. How are you, dear? Rachel's been telling me that-"
"Mother."
"I think he got hotter mom!" Jill chided in.
'Help?' Ross said to himself, wanting to run away. Rachel looked at a really, really red Ross, "Sorry!"
He smiled, assuring her that it was okay. Although her father never really showed affection towards him, it was understandable for him to comment that way. It was just extremely awkward.
Dinner was fast. None of them wanted to stay long. Jill kept flirting with Ross, trying to catch his attention by staring at him. Monica and Chandler were secretly glancing and caressing each other under the table. Rachel, who was the most annoyed at the whole situation, was just chomping her food faster than you can say 'hello.' it was a mistake bringing the whole gang there, she should've just gone alone like she would during the past months. And Ross' eyes remained fixated on the plate… he didn't want to look at Jill or Dr. Green.
"Bye mom, dad," Rachel waved, escorting her friends out.
" Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Green!" they greeted.
"I am so sorry!" Rachel apologized as they walked to the car, "My parents don't change."
"It's alright Rach," Ross replied, being the most affected, "Your dad didn't kill me!"
"Rachel, can you sit at the front? My back hurts and I wanna-"
"Okay," she replied, sensing her friend's plea to be beside her secret beau.
They all got in Ross' BMW X5… Ross at the driver's seat, Rachel at the passenger's, and the two lovebirds at the back.
"Ross, I'm really sorry about my dad."
"Hey, I'm used to your father. He never really liked me."
"No it's not that. He's just, I dunno-" "Rach, it's okay," he smiled, and neither of them said a word again.
After 10 minutes of driving home, Monica and Chandler were already asleep at the back… and it was awkward for Ross and Rachel. For the first time since they broke up, they were 'alone' together. Either of them HAD to break the ice.
"It was weird coming back here," he chuckled, trying to ease the tension.
"I know… it was," sharing one of their infamous moments wherein they would just look at each other, filled with emotion, as if they were talking and expressing all the feelings they had for one another. "I had a blast at your parents' house," she said, looking away to break it. Ross remained fixated on her, enamored with her presence next to him… damn, he missed her so much.
"Yeah- that was fun. They missed you, you know," unsure if he was telling her the right things.
Rachel glanced at him, "I missed them too!" again sharing a 'moment.' 'Major flirting,' Rachel thought.
Ross looked back at the road. "Your sister never changed," he laughed.
She chuckled with him, thinking of Jill's attempts earlier, "She just likes you a bit too much." "
Where's Amy by the way?"
"Out, as usual. I swear, that girl- I don't even know what her college plans are. First she wanted to be a veterinarian, then a politician, then an actress… now, I don't know! My dad's helping her big time, but ugh- she needs to help herself." Ross smiled, 'Same old Rachel,' he thought. Rachel always cared about her siblings, especially Amy, the one she was closest to the most.
"One day, she'll wake up and realize what to do."
"I know… I just hope it will come soon!"
"So how was your date last night?" she asked, changing the topic.
Uneasy with divulging his 'new' life, he nervously replied, "It was okay, I guess."
"Sarah's very nice," she said, assuring him that it was fine talking about the whole thing, "There was this one time, before her injury, we had to make a dance-"
"Injury?" Ross queried.
"Yeah- she was my co-captain, remember?"
'Oh God…' Ross thought.
As Rachel trailed on with her story on how Sarah expressed her goodness, Ross was quietly scolding himself for the harm that he had done. He completely forgot that Sarah was Rachel's co-captain… there was a much deeper connection between them rather than just being teammates. She was the reason why Rachel had to work double-time with the group… which was why they always fought then eventually broke up. 'How the heck does Rachel feel about this?' he asked himself.
"Ross?" Rachel asked, getting his attention.
"Yeah?"
"You just missed the exit…"
Updated as promised! I'm still working on my other fics... currently waiting for inspiration to creep in so I can, once again, get going! I hope you enjoyed this chapter... this fic isn't too long and I'll surely be updating it as soon as possible!) Don't forget to leave a review! Comments and suggestions would greatly be appreciated
