Wednesday

"Rach, I'm introducing James to you tonight."

"What? But we've already been introduced. And I think I'm backing out… I mean, the guy hardly knows me and-"

"Rachel I asked him he wanted to go out with you, he almost kissed me when he agreed."

"Good kisser, right?" she joked.

"Okay fine, we went out a couple of times but it wasn't serious. You just broke up with Chip then… I couldn't tell you."

Rachel chuckled, sitting beside Monica on the park chair, "It's fine Mon… I knida figured it out!"

"How?"

"You wouldn't kiss a guy you haven't dated for more than once."

Monica smiled, "Well he adores you… and believe me, and he's much hotter now with his car."

"Okay, you've been hinting about that car… what is his car anyway?"

"A Porsche!"

"Oh…" The car that crashed with Ross'…


Of all things that could happen, Rachel got a call from Monica while training with her dance troupe. She slowly broke the news that Ross got into a car accident.

Apparently, he and this drunk driver slightly collided on a university street. They were both going at a fast speed, but the Porsche went to the left and hit Ross' car which caused him to spin. The pressure he exerted hitting the breaks made his right foot twist. He then banged his head on the airbag and lost his consciousness. In the end, he didn't have any major concussions but his right leg was broken, which made him stay in the hospital for three days.

Since Rachel was the sole captain of the squad, she didn't have the time to visit him… she just tried to call every minute she had off. But when she finally went to the hospital, he was already sent home.

Rachel didn't have the courage to face Ross. She felt so bad and she knew that Ross wouldn't understand. True enough, he got mad as soon as he saw her in his apartment.

Stressed physically and emotionally, as well as mentally because of her final exams, Rachel just cried. She cried listening to his harsh words… she cried going home, and cried herself to sleep.

Since then, things between them just worsened. As much as she wanted to give him everything he asked for, her life apart from him forbade her. They fought almost every night on they were together and on the phone… and it was painful.


"Where are you taking me, Mon?"

"I told him to meet you at Central Perk," she replied, dragging her out of the bed.

"I thought you said tonight?" "Well, it's already 5 o'clock. You still have to get ready."

"Monica I'm only gonna meet him, not go out with him."

Monica guiltily pressed her lips together.

"Oh my gosh, you told him I'd go on a date with him tonight?"

"Yeah."

"Monica!"

"It's just a date Rach! At least you'll know stuff about him before Saturday comes."

"Ugh, fine."


Soon after getting ready, Monica and Rachel went to Central Perk. To their surprise, Ross was there hanging out with Chandler and Joey.

"Hey!" Ross greeted them both, making the other two turn to them.

"Wow Rach, you look hot. Where are you going?"

"Rachel has a date tonight," Monica announced.

"With?"

"James Harris!"

"Oh that dude? He has a nice car!" Chandler told them.

"You're going out with him?" Ross asked, sipping his coffee.

Rachel just nodded, pretending to ignore the tension.

After a while, the door flung open and in came a handsome man, dressed formally with a rose on his hand.

"Rachel, this is James," Monica excitedly introduced, standing up from the armchair as she saw him walk towards them, "James this is Rachel."

He went past Monica and handed the rose to her, "Hi."

Rachel stood up, accepted the flower and shook the hand he offered.

Ross, Joey and Chandler, who were coming from the bathroom, didn't notice them until James greeted Joey.

"Hey Trib!"

"Harris? You're going out with my friend? I didn't know your first name was James! I always thought it was Jay Harris!" pertaining to the class list he had.

Chandler sarcastically commented, "So would yours be."

Joey stood up and shook his hand, "Hey man! How are you?"

"I'm alright. You haven't been attending class, have you?"

"Nah, I'm thinking of dropping it!"

"What class?" Rachel butted in.

"Joey's my classmate in Sociology."

"You're taking Sociology?" Monica asked Joey.

"To learn how to 'socialize'," he replied and left them all dumbfounded.

"By the way, this is Ross, my brother," Monica said, "and this is Chandler."

James smiled at them then turned to Rachel, "I think we should go. Our reservation at Sorrentino's is at 7:30."

Rachel nodded and got her bag from the sofa, "Bye guys!"

James waved, "Nice meeting you both. Trib, see you in class. Bye Mon!" and they left.

"Rachel's going out with Harris?"

"Yup," Monica replied, leaning on the armchair.

"Where did she meet him?" Ross asked.

"He's Chip Matthew's friend."

"Was he the guy you dated?"

"You dated him?" Chandler questioned.

"Why is he such a big deal? I went out with him thrice… and he likes Rachel now, not me." The conversation ended.


Rachel waited for James to open the door for her. She obviously had a pleasant evening with him. Very polite and enthusiastic, James made sure Rachel enjoyed every minute of the night.

James smiled at Rachel as he kept the door ajar for her to exit. He lent his hand, guiding her back to the dorm. "Thanks James, I had a wonderful evening."

"No Rach, thank you," he sighed, "it was my pleasure to take you out. And before the night ends, I just wanna say that you look even more beautiful tonight." Rachel blushed as he kissed her hand.

"I," he cleared his throat, "I have this potluck dinner thing with my friends tomorrow and I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me?" he rubbed his hands, "If you're not busy or anything."

She slightly chuckled at his shyness and gazed into his eyes, making him quiver, "That sounds great."

He couldn't express how he felt; he wanted to hug the gorgeous woman across him. Seeing Rachel shiver in the cold weather, James decided to let her in. In reply to his courteous manner of opening the door, Rachel touched his arm and smiled, "James, thanks… really." Trying to hide his smitten smile, he looked down.


"Geller, what's up?"

"Kev," Ross greeted his friend approaching the bar.

"Here," Kevin handed him a drink.

"What are you doing here alone?"

Ross looked around and spotted Joey, surrounded by women, "I'm with Joe."

"Are you alright? You don't seem okay."

"I'm just a bit buzzed," he somewhat lied, he was drunk and was attempting to act sober.

"Aw man, you don't look fine!" Kevin laughed, "don't get too drunk like the last time!"

Ross nervously chuckled, "I think we all learned from that."

Sipping more from his beer, Ross tried to forget what Kevin just said. But instead Kevin found it as a way to talk about Rachel, "Are you two still y'know….?"

"We're friends," he simply said, clearing his throat to express his uneasiness. Sensing Ross' irritation, Kevin changed the topic and continued to drink with him.

Ross, drunk and getting even drunker couldn't stop thinking about Rachel, giving half of his attention to Kevin.


"Hey," Chandler greeted as he noticed Ross entering their room, "I thought you were gonna be with Rachel tonight?"

"Yeah, I was. We broke up instead," he replied, plopping down on the bed.

"What?" Chandler stopped putting on his shoe.

"She broke up with me."

"What happened?"

"Same old… things just got out of hand."

Seeing how bummed Ross looked and how unhelpful his sarcasm would be at that point, Chandler sighed and asked him, "My friend invited me to a party tonight. Wanna come?"

"Is this the house party thing?"

Chandler nodded, "Yeah- Lucy Carlton's house. Do you know her?"

"No," Ross replied, lying down on his bed, "Kev just told me about it."

"Then come on man, I'm sure it'll cheer you up!"

Ross thought of it for a while then replied, "I'll just stay. Rachel might call," he rubbed his face, "or maybe I can just follow later."

Chandler smiled, "Okay. Just ring me or something!"

Before Chandler could leave the room, Ross called his attention, "Dude, if you wanna hook up with anyone tonight, you better take off that sweater you're wearing."

Chandler stopped and looked at his purple sweater… yeah he was dating Monica, but it was a party... he definitely had to trust Ross' fashion sense.

"Thanks man," he removed it.

Ross groaned hearing the door close. He looked at the nightstand where his and Rachel's picture stood. Frustrated, he got it and shoved it under his drawer, nearly breaking the frame. "Stupid," he banged his head on the pillow.

-

Almost two hours had passed and his phone hadn't rang except for a call from his mother, checking on his leg. He then realized that it wasn't worth wasting two hours sulking over Rachel when he could just get drunk and forget about the whole thing. 'Let tomorrow deal with it,' he said to himself.

"Chan?" he called with his cell, "How do you get there?

-

Right after Ross left, his phone started ringing. Little did he know that Rachel was at the other side of the line, hoping to hear his voice from the receiver...

"Pick up the phone, pick up the phone, pick up the phone…" she said to no one. She didn't know where he was, and his mobile phone was busy too. So after a dozen attempts of calling, she finally decided to just leave a message.

"Hey Ross," her voice was trembling, "it's me. I'm so sorry for tonight… God, I don't even know why I proposed a break. I don't want a break… I love you so much, I don't know what I'd do without you," she paused and looked at the wall clock. Breathing deeply, she continued, "It's late and I have to get up early tomorrow, and I'd really want to see you there. Please go? I know we can work things out … I love you sweetie."

And the tone beeped… that was all she could say.

For a while, she held the phone against her chest, wishing Ross would call her back and tell her that everything was okay again. But no such thing happened, instead she fell asleep being too tired of hoping and crying.

-

"Ross, we gotta go man," Chandler told his friend who was overly drunk at the porch of Lucy Carlton's house.

"Noooo. You wait there, my friend isn't done yet!" he replied, raising his beer bottle.

"Dude, you're too drunk. Come on!"

"Chan, you're a party-pooper. Get out of here!" he angrily screamed.

Chandler had no other choice but to pull him, shoving all the beer bottles that surrounded Ross.

"Let go," Ross said.

"Ross I have to get you home now, you're too drunk!"

"Look, I can go home alone if you wanna leave."

Just then, a woman came out of the front door and sat next to Ross.

"Chandler, what are you doing to him?"

"Lucy thanks for the great party. I have to get my friend home now, he's too drunk!"

"Are you?" she asked Ross.

Ross shook his head, "Is this your house?"

Lucy nodded and smiled, "Yeah."

"Dude!" Chandler interrupted.

"Chandler I think you should just leave him."

"Yeah, leave me. Go home and hug your purple sweater!"

"Fine," he yelled, annoyed at Ross. Lucy waved and he left.

Ross chugged his beer, "Aw, my friend's almost done."

Lucy giggled, stroking his arm, "Ross Geller, right?"

He nodded.

"Where's your girlfriend?" she asked.

"I don't have one!" Ross managed to say while his mind was spinning.

"Of course you do, Rachel Green?" He shook his head, placing his bottle down on the floor, "As of today, she's not 'nemore!"

"Aw," she cooed, stroking his arm.

"I have to go," Ross avoided her seductive glare, "Chandler's waiting for me."

"Chandler just left, Ross."

He looked at his watch, "I can't read the time, but I think I have to go… my friend's done," he kicked the bottle in front of him.

"You don't have to, you have more 'friends' inside," she giggled.

"Rachel might have called and," Ross set his eyes on hers, "and…"

Lucy came closer and caressed his lips, "What if she didn't?" she whispered.

She stood up and pulled Ross, "Come on sweetie, let's go get more beer."

He stood up as well and rubbed his face. Seeing that he was about to follow, she went ahead. Ross opened his eyes and saw a familiar figure in front of him, tying her golden hair into a messy bun. He smiled at the thought and struggled to go back in despite his bad leg, "Hold on Rach!"


Thursday will soon be posted! Thanks for all the reviews, they really keep me motivated! I hope you're still tuned to this fic of mine... and enjoying it as well:)