And I Feel Home
by Tina
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"Where are you going?" Sandra Green looked away from the t.v..
"Out"
"Out where?"
"None of your business"
Leonard Green finally looked up from the newspaper.
"Rachel Karen Green, is that a way to speak to your mother?"
Rachel ignored his hard words, picking up her car keys and approaching the main door.
"Rachel, where are you going?" Rachel's mother's tone was firm.
"Aparently we don't need explanations in this house." She raised her eyebrows, cocky "Don' wait up!"
Her father's expressioned turned to a scary one, which almost made Rachel imediately freeze and apologise. But, instead, she held her peace and sighed.
"I'll be with the Gellers"
Rachel remembered the way she left so abruptedly after that and wondered if she should expect a new lock on the door when she finally returned home that saturday. 'Nah, they're probably over it by now', she concluded as she remembered much worse arguments she'd had with them in the past. Or any other night Amy had a fit about how controlling they were, despite the fact she never even seemed to listen to their parents.
After handing the keys to Valet parking, Rachel entered the Hotel. Not too big, not too small. Right at the lobby there was a sigh concerning Monica's cooking event, so she proceded to the restaurant. At the door, her ticket was asked and she was told where she was meant to be seated. Following the instructions, she easily found a round table with four seats, three of which had already been taken.
"Oh, Rachel" Judy greeted her "sweetie, you look lovely!"
Rachel smiled and they shared a brief hug.
"Goodnight Judy"
"Our little Harmonica will be so glad you could make it!" Jack Geller also hugged her. "It's not like she has any other friends to be here for her, you know?"
"Dad...!"
Rachel turned and faced Ross.
"What? I'm just saying!"
"Hey"
"Goodnight, Rachel"
Unsure about how they should greet each other, they awkwardly shook hands. Rachel sat down.
"So... when does this start?"
"It's scheduled to begin in like ten minutes, but I've just been told they've decided to call in some students from music school too, so they might delay that for a little dancing"
"Oh"
"I could use the warm up before dinner! I've had nothig to eat all day, I'm sure gonna make up for that tonight!"
"Jack!"
"It's a free dinner! And I'm telling you, after all we're paying for Monica's education, a little left over from her classes is the least we should get!"
Judy shot him a deadly look across the table Rachel spotted imediately. However, all Rachel could do was smile. Jack was such a funny man.
"Oh, here it is"
They turned and looked at a band set on a little stage, beginning to play a lovely song.
"That's nice" Judy commented.
They noticed as couples started rising and approaching the dance floor.
"Judy, would you give me the honor?" Jack asked, getting up and picking up her hand.
"Well, of course"
With smile on their faces, they left. Rachel watched, wishing her parents could ever be so sweet to each other like that. She breathed loud and clear before she realised she was alone with Ross. She turned to look at him and thought he looked rather uncomfortable. His eyes were travelling around the room, uncertain about where to land still. He was biting his lower lip and she could notice his leg was shaking like mad under the table cloth.
It made her smile.
"So, Ross... How's hm, how's college going?"
"Good. Just good, very good. Hm, yours?"
"Fine"
She noticed the leg shaking stopped and he kept looking at her.
"No more changing majors?"
"Guess not. As long as I have my parking space, we're fine", she joked and he smiled.
"Right... That uh, that's nice then"
He had nice eyes.
"Yeah, yes, it is"
Nice lips too. 'Wonder if they're as soft as they look'
"How's your roomate? Hm, Chester, is it?"
"Chandler, actually. He's fine."
"Still hating Thanksgiving?"
"Pretty much"
Rachel quickly looked at Jack and Judy sliding across the dance floor and smiled.
"Do you wanna dance?"
Ross looked speechless.
"Hm, sure"
They stood up and approached the dance floor. He uncertainly laid his hands on her waist, while she rested hers on his back, getting a lot closer than he expected. A part of Ross was telling him 'whoa, if this had happened about a few years ago you sure would be going crazy right about now my man, huh? Thank God we're over her!' while another, the major part, just laughed and replied 'who do you think you're kidding? Still, just don't get too excited'.
She leaned close and rested her cheek on his chest. She could see Judy and Jack perfectly from where they were dancing. He spun her around and Judy laughed. But soon a waiter passed by and Jack let go of her to pursue some food. Rachel chuckled and closed her eyes.
Hmmm, Ross smelled good.
'You know...' a little voice inside of her spoke seductively, not for the first time on the past few days 'if you two were to be together, you'd be like family. Truly'
She felt herself tighten her grasp on him. She never thought she'd actually go on board with that crazy idea of hers, but now...
She looked up at him.
It just didn't seem like such a bad idea.
He looked down at her and they shared a look. She unwrapped one of her arms from around him and played with her hair. He had to know about the flirting hair thing, right?
But then again, it was Ross. Maybe being a tad subtle wasn't going to help, here.
Before she had the change to figure out another move, she saw his gaze shifting from her.
"Hm, mom and dad are calling us" he snapped her out of it.
-------------------------
"Rachel, hi, you came!!"
Monica dropped the plates she was holding on the table and hugged her best friend.
"Of course I did, I promised"
"You look great!"
Rachel smiled at her.
"I like your hat!"
Monica touched her chef hat and smiled.
"Anyway, I gotta get going, but I'll be back soon with the main corse! Bon apetit!"
"Thanks!"
And so Monica came and went many times, bringing food back and forth. Rachel was getting stuffed quickly, but didn't mind. The food was delicious and the company was pleasant. Looks were shared with Ross here and there and she had to admit he looked rather confused. It wasn't untill after the desert was served they had a chance to talk.
"Well, that's it, I feel like I've eaten an entire horse by myself!"
Jack threw his napkin across the table. Rachel looked at Judy, but she too looked too stuffed herself and tired to scold him.
"Feel like burning some of that on the dance floor?" Jack smiled at Judy.
"Well, okay"
Once again they excused themselves and left. Rachel looked down at her desert and had the last spoon full of it.
"Don't tell anyone, but I too feel like I've eaten an entire horse by myself!"
Ross looked at her and laughed.
"Yeah, this was great" he commented.
"Hm, should we dance again?"
"Oh, of course, let's" Ross was kicking himself for not asking her. Again.
They repositioned themselves like they were dancing before, but it didn't take long before Rachel got bolder.
"Don't you ever miss High School, Ross?"
He looked at her and pondered. He had to admit he enjoyed seeing her everyday, even though pretty much everything else about High School sucked.
"A little. What about you?"
"Yeah, me too"
"I can imagine" he chuckled.
She ignored his remark, not even considering what it meant.
"Don't you ever... miss me?"
Ross stopped dancing. Rachel followed. They were standing for about a couple of seconds so he could get his thoughts together.
"If I ever miss you?"
"Yes"
"Like" he nervously chuckled "like how?"
"Like do you miss seeing me everyday?"
She could feel his body tensed up, dancing like a hard stone block.
"Hm, yeah, I- I think I do"
"You think you do?" she broke their "hug" and smiled at him, flirting shamelessly "What do you mean you think you miss me? I'm very disapointed, Ross Geller"
She was a little relieved to see a geekish smile curling up at the right corner of his lips. Though she trusted her shots, specially with such an easy target like Ross Geller, things were not going how they usually went. She always got the guy she wanted to kiss her after the second line.
"Well, okay, I guess you could say that's what I miss the most..."
He was blushing, but still continued dancing in silence. Rachel was confused. Wasn't he supposed to play back and make an actual move? Get bolder?
Or did he just think they were flirting for the sake of it?
She brought her hands to his shoulders and caressed the back of his head, getting a serious look on her face. He did nothing but stare back at her with big brown eyes. She leaned closed and rested her forehead on his, closing her eyes.
"Hmmmmm" she softly let it scape from her lips, half parting them when she was done.
"What are you doing?"
She opened her eyes and found him standing a few feet away from her. 'What the fuck? What are YOU doing?' she wanted to shout back. She held it in, frustrated. Didn't he know anything about those things??
"I'm flirting, Ross! Don't know what that is?" she was getting irritated.
"F-Flirting?"
"Yes! It's what you do when you like someone!"
His eyes were big with surprise. 'Damn, visibly not as easy as I thought. Wonder if it'll even be worth it'
"Rachel, you- you know I'm dating Carol."
Rachel's heart sank. 'What?!' She was certainly never expecting that. She had never been let down. Well, except once for that bitch Nancy Brenson. But still, it was Chip! Not-not... Ross Geller!
"Right. Okay, hm, sorry, I-"
She started walking away, but felt a soft hand stop her.
"No, wait, Rachel" she turned around and faced him again. "Hm, are you serious? About, well, liking me?"
"Yes"
"So you wanna like... be with me?"
She nodded.
"Wow."
She sighed.
"But that's fine, if you've got Carol, I-"
"No, wait!" she stopped talking and looked at him. "I- I'll talk to her! Tomorrow!"
His voice was getting excited and what Rachel could only describle as giddy.
"Okay" she smiled at him.
He kept looking a her, uncertain.
'Okay, let's get this over with', she thought to herself.
She approached him again and took his face on her hands. He smiled the biggest smile she'd ever seen before they sealed their lips together. Though he seemed reprehensive at first, she started feeling some more action from his part after a while. She felt him moving his hands to her waist, where they laid respectfully, while his lips brushed against hers... quite... nicely, she had to admit.
They parted. He was wearing a wide smile and she sighed in satisfaction. He took her hand, uncertain and so sweet, and kissed it tenderly.
"I just can't believe this..."
"I know"
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Yes, it's immature. It's supposed to be, really. I'll develop everything with time, don't worry, it won't be shallow like this. I just felt like I couldn't do it now, I like this feeling of superficiality right now. But trust me, I wanna work Rachel's feelings better. What she's feeling for him, what it will grow into, how she feels about everybody else and how she sees the world. Anyway... drop me a review, pretty please? ;) Bet things are starting to get more interesting for you now, huh?
by Tina
---------------------------------------
"Where are you going?" Sandra Green looked away from the t.v..
"Out"
"Out where?"
"None of your business"
Leonard Green finally looked up from the newspaper.
"Rachel Karen Green, is that a way to speak to your mother?"
Rachel ignored his hard words, picking up her car keys and approaching the main door.
"Rachel, where are you going?" Rachel's mother's tone was firm.
"Aparently we don't need explanations in this house." She raised her eyebrows, cocky "Don' wait up!"
Her father's expressioned turned to a scary one, which almost made Rachel imediately freeze and apologise. But, instead, she held her peace and sighed.
"I'll be with the Gellers"
Rachel remembered the way she left so abruptedly after that and wondered if she should expect a new lock on the door when she finally returned home that saturday. 'Nah, they're probably over it by now', she concluded as she remembered much worse arguments she'd had with them in the past. Or any other night Amy had a fit about how controlling they were, despite the fact she never even seemed to listen to their parents.
After handing the keys to Valet parking, Rachel entered the Hotel. Not too big, not too small. Right at the lobby there was a sigh concerning Monica's cooking event, so she proceded to the restaurant. At the door, her ticket was asked and she was told where she was meant to be seated. Following the instructions, she easily found a round table with four seats, three of which had already been taken.
"Oh, Rachel" Judy greeted her "sweetie, you look lovely!"
Rachel smiled and they shared a brief hug.
"Goodnight Judy"
"Our little Harmonica will be so glad you could make it!" Jack Geller also hugged her. "It's not like she has any other friends to be here for her, you know?"
"Dad...!"
Rachel turned and faced Ross.
"What? I'm just saying!"
"Hey"
"Goodnight, Rachel"
Unsure about how they should greet each other, they awkwardly shook hands. Rachel sat down.
"So... when does this start?"
"It's scheduled to begin in like ten minutes, but I've just been told they've decided to call in some students from music school too, so they might delay that for a little dancing"
"Oh"
"I could use the warm up before dinner! I've had nothig to eat all day, I'm sure gonna make up for that tonight!"
"Jack!"
"It's a free dinner! And I'm telling you, after all we're paying for Monica's education, a little left over from her classes is the least we should get!"
Judy shot him a deadly look across the table Rachel spotted imediately. However, all Rachel could do was smile. Jack was such a funny man.
"Oh, here it is"
They turned and looked at a band set on a little stage, beginning to play a lovely song.
"That's nice" Judy commented.
They noticed as couples started rising and approaching the dance floor.
"Judy, would you give me the honor?" Jack asked, getting up and picking up her hand.
"Well, of course"
With smile on their faces, they left. Rachel watched, wishing her parents could ever be so sweet to each other like that. She breathed loud and clear before she realised she was alone with Ross. She turned to look at him and thought he looked rather uncomfortable. His eyes were travelling around the room, uncertain about where to land still. He was biting his lower lip and she could notice his leg was shaking like mad under the table cloth.
It made her smile.
"So, Ross... How's hm, how's college going?"
"Good. Just good, very good. Hm, yours?"
"Fine"
She noticed the leg shaking stopped and he kept looking at her.
"No more changing majors?"
"Guess not. As long as I have my parking space, we're fine", she joked and he smiled.
"Right... That uh, that's nice then"
He had nice eyes.
"Yeah, yes, it is"
Nice lips too. 'Wonder if they're as soft as they look'
"How's your roomate? Hm, Chester, is it?"
"Chandler, actually. He's fine."
"Still hating Thanksgiving?"
"Pretty much"
Rachel quickly looked at Jack and Judy sliding across the dance floor and smiled.
"Do you wanna dance?"
Ross looked speechless.
"Hm, sure"
They stood up and approached the dance floor. He uncertainly laid his hands on her waist, while she rested hers on his back, getting a lot closer than he expected. A part of Ross was telling him 'whoa, if this had happened about a few years ago you sure would be going crazy right about now my man, huh? Thank God we're over her!' while another, the major part, just laughed and replied 'who do you think you're kidding? Still, just don't get too excited'.
She leaned close and rested her cheek on his chest. She could see Judy and Jack perfectly from where they were dancing. He spun her around and Judy laughed. But soon a waiter passed by and Jack let go of her to pursue some food. Rachel chuckled and closed her eyes.
Hmmm, Ross smelled good.
'You know...' a little voice inside of her spoke seductively, not for the first time on the past few days 'if you two were to be together, you'd be like family. Truly'
She felt herself tighten her grasp on him. She never thought she'd actually go on board with that crazy idea of hers, but now...
She looked up at him.
It just didn't seem like such a bad idea.
He looked down at her and they shared a look. She unwrapped one of her arms from around him and played with her hair. He had to know about the flirting hair thing, right?
But then again, it was Ross. Maybe being a tad subtle wasn't going to help, here.
Before she had the change to figure out another move, she saw his gaze shifting from her.
"Hm, mom and dad are calling us" he snapped her out of it.
-------------------------
"Rachel, hi, you came!!"
Monica dropped the plates she was holding on the table and hugged her best friend.
"Of course I did, I promised"
"You look great!"
Rachel smiled at her.
"I like your hat!"
Monica touched her chef hat and smiled.
"Anyway, I gotta get going, but I'll be back soon with the main corse! Bon apetit!"
"Thanks!"
And so Monica came and went many times, bringing food back and forth. Rachel was getting stuffed quickly, but didn't mind. The food was delicious and the company was pleasant. Looks were shared with Ross here and there and she had to admit he looked rather confused. It wasn't untill after the desert was served they had a chance to talk.
"Well, that's it, I feel like I've eaten an entire horse by myself!"
Jack threw his napkin across the table. Rachel looked at Judy, but she too looked too stuffed herself and tired to scold him.
"Feel like burning some of that on the dance floor?" Jack smiled at Judy.
"Well, okay"
Once again they excused themselves and left. Rachel looked down at her desert and had the last spoon full of it.
"Don't tell anyone, but I too feel like I've eaten an entire horse by myself!"
Ross looked at her and laughed.
"Yeah, this was great" he commented.
"Hm, should we dance again?"
"Oh, of course, let's" Ross was kicking himself for not asking her. Again.
They repositioned themselves like they were dancing before, but it didn't take long before Rachel got bolder.
"Don't you ever miss High School, Ross?"
He looked at her and pondered. He had to admit he enjoyed seeing her everyday, even though pretty much everything else about High School sucked.
"A little. What about you?"
"Yeah, me too"
"I can imagine" he chuckled.
She ignored his remark, not even considering what it meant.
"Don't you ever... miss me?"
Ross stopped dancing. Rachel followed. They were standing for about a couple of seconds so he could get his thoughts together.
"If I ever miss you?"
"Yes"
"Like" he nervously chuckled "like how?"
"Like do you miss seeing me everyday?"
She could feel his body tensed up, dancing like a hard stone block.
"Hm, yeah, I- I think I do"
"You think you do?" she broke their "hug" and smiled at him, flirting shamelessly "What do you mean you think you miss me? I'm very disapointed, Ross Geller"
She was a little relieved to see a geekish smile curling up at the right corner of his lips. Though she trusted her shots, specially with such an easy target like Ross Geller, things were not going how they usually went. She always got the guy she wanted to kiss her after the second line.
"Well, okay, I guess you could say that's what I miss the most..."
He was blushing, but still continued dancing in silence. Rachel was confused. Wasn't he supposed to play back and make an actual move? Get bolder?
Or did he just think they were flirting for the sake of it?
She brought her hands to his shoulders and caressed the back of his head, getting a serious look on her face. He did nothing but stare back at her with big brown eyes. She leaned closed and rested her forehead on his, closing her eyes.
"Hmmmmm" she softly let it scape from her lips, half parting them when she was done.
"What are you doing?"
She opened her eyes and found him standing a few feet away from her. 'What the fuck? What are YOU doing?' she wanted to shout back. She held it in, frustrated. Didn't he know anything about those things??
"I'm flirting, Ross! Don't know what that is?" she was getting irritated.
"F-Flirting?"
"Yes! It's what you do when you like someone!"
His eyes were big with surprise. 'Damn, visibly not as easy as I thought. Wonder if it'll even be worth it'
"Rachel, you- you know I'm dating Carol."
Rachel's heart sank. 'What?!' She was certainly never expecting that. She had never been let down. Well, except once for that bitch Nancy Brenson. But still, it was Chip! Not-not... Ross Geller!
"Right. Okay, hm, sorry, I-"
She started walking away, but felt a soft hand stop her.
"No, wait, Rachel" she turned around and faced him again. "Hm, are you serious? About, well, liking me?"
"Yes"
"So you wanna like... be with me?"
She nodded.
"Wow."
She sighed.
"But that's fine, if you've got Carol, I-"
"No, wait!" she stopped talking and looked at him. "I- I'll talk to her! Tomorrow!"
His voice was getting excited and what Rachel could only describle as giddy.
"Okay" she smiled at him.
He kept looking a her, uncertain.
'Okay, let's get this over with', she thought to herself.
She approached him again and took his face on her hands. He smiled the biggest smile she'd ever seen before they sealed their lips together. Though he seemed reprehensive at first, she started feeling some more action from his part after a while. She felt him moving his hands to her waist, where they laid respectfully, while his lips brushed against hers... quite... nicely, she had to admit.
They parted. He was wearing a wide smile and she sighed in satisfaction. He took her hand, uncertain and so sweet, and kissed it tenderly.
"I just can't believe this..."
"I know"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, it's immature. It's supposed to be, really. I'll develop everything with time, don't worry, it won't be shallow like this. I just felt like I couldn't do it now, I like this feeling of superficiality right now. But trust me, I wanna work Rachel's feelings better. What she's feeling for him, what it will grow into, how she feels about everybody else and how she sees the world. Anyway... drop me a review, pretty please? ;) Bet things are starting to get more interesting for you now, huh?