And I Feel Home
by Tina
-----------------------------------
Rachel threw the countless shopping bags on her bed and smiled in satisfaction. Quickly, she opened a few and scanned through the shirts, dresses, skirts and many other itens she had bought on her afternoon away at the city with Judy. It was great! The whole afternoon was just great! Judy was so sweet and so caring and funny too! She'd asked to see everything Rachel tried on and had a new flattering comment to say each time she came out of the dressing rooms.
After making room for her new stuff in her already stuffed closet and putting the bags away, Rachel threw herself on her bed and sighed. She was exausted. Damn that exam the next day! She looked at the books resting on her bedside table and groaned. 'Better leave it up to luck, by now.' She just wanted the hollidays to come and enjoy some time off school.
Next to her books, stood the new pictures she'd had framed. Her family's was still the same, but the Gellers' was a much more recent one. She was in it. She sat proudly next to Ross, who had an arm around her waist. It was taken at Jessica's sweet sixteen party, they all looked very nice. Picture perfect!
Then... Rachel remembered about Monica's little scene a few days before. They had talked it out, but Rachel knew there was still resentment on her best friend's voice. It would fade. Rachel knew Monica's relationship with her mother had always been rocky and she did not want to get herself in the middle of it. She hoped her bonding with Judy wouldn't make things worst... But, to be honest, she knew that, if it did, she wouldn't do anything about it.
A third picture bore her and Ross. Rachel looked at it for a while and closed her eyes. She thought of him. She had to talk to him.
She took her phone and called him. After a few rings, his sleepy voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Ross?"
"Rachel?"
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Don't worry about it"
"Oh, I'm so sorry"
"I told you not to worry..."
She sighed.
"Did anything happen?"
"No, not really... I just wanted to talk to you"
She could hear him chuckle in this adorable way he did sometimes when he smiled. She smiled too.
"I'm all ears"
"I went shopping with your mother today"
"Yeah? Did you have fun?"
"A lot"
"Good"
"I bought you something"
"Really?"
"Yeah, but you'll have to come and get it"
"Oh, I will"
She chuckled.
"I miss you"
She said it without thinking.
"I miss you too"
But having it said back, she felt this reasurance that it was okay. It was okay to feel that way and say it to him.
It was Ross.
"So how was your day?" she asked, changing the subject.
And so they talked till practicly the time Rachel had to go get changed for school.
---------------------------------------------------
Before Rachel knew it, friday had arrived. She came down the stairs of the main builting of her university chatting with some friends as she spotted something she didn't quite expect. Mindy was standing beside her aparently brand new car, with a smile on her face. Rachel smiled and rushed over. Both girls squealed and hugged, jumping up and down.
"Oh, Min, it's so good to see you!!"
"It's been such a long time, Rach!"
"Yeah, hey-" Rachel broke the hug "How have you been?"
"I've been great! You?"
"You wouldn't believe it"
"What do you say we go over to my place to chat so you can update me with all the news?"
"Sounds like a plan"
"Are you driving?"
"Yeah, I'll be right behind you"
After another quick hug, Rachel rushed over to her car and drove to Mindy's house.
----------------
"Sooooo" Mindy picked Rachel by her hands and sat her down beside her on her bed. "Tell me everything! How are things with Pete?"
"I wouldn't know"
Mindy eyed her with confusion clear in her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"We broke up"
"Oh, why?"
"Well, it wasn't working...! Pete's too... intense for me"
"Still with the crying thing?"
"Everytime!"
Mindy chuckled.
"The poor guy"
"Yeah, I actually feel bad for him"
"Oh, but anyway, single now?"
Rachel smiled shyly.
"Not quite"
"Oh, who is it??" Mindy practicly bounced, beaming at Rachel. "Barry? Is it Barry?"
"Nope"
"Then who? C'mon, tell me"
Rachel looked at Mindy and for the first time imagined what her friend's reaction would be. So Ross wasn't like the ideal type Mindy always pictured her with...! She didn't exactly know him well though. She'd just seen him a few times, God, so many years ago! The last, what a disaster! Ross had spent the intire evening surrounding the girls and Rachel still remembered all the remarks Mindy had made on his behavior. And his looks. And everything about him.
She shook it off.
"Are you seeing someone?"
Egocentric she was, Mindy didn't even notice the change of topic. She jumped at any oportunity to ramble about herself.
"Ho-ney, you're not gonna believe this! His name's Jim and guess what?"
"He's a doctor?"
"No, he's a drop out! But his dad is!!"
Rachel chuckled.
"He's so gorgeous you wouldn't believe it! He's tall and blonde and he's got these gorgeous green eyes!"
"Good for you, Min"
"Okay, now back to your mistery man!"
Mindy's comments on her boyfriend had done nothing but disencorage Rachel to tell Mindy about Ross.
"Well..."
"Oh, honey, did you sleep well last night?"
"What?"
"Just now I'm noticing your eyes! What the hell happened?"
"Hm"
Mindy gasped and smiled.
"Was it him? Did you spend the whole night awake with him?"
Mindy winked at Rachel, who smiled.
"I did, actually."
"How was it?"
Rachel smiled.
"Good"
Very good indeed. The recollection boosted up Rachel's courage.
"You know him, actually. Can't say you know him well, though"
"Tell me, you're killing me!"
"It's Ross Geller" Rachel stated simply, with a smile on her face.
Mindy stared back for a few seconds.
"Ross Geller? Okay, I don't think I know him. I mean, I know A Ross Geller, but it's not THE Ross Geller!"
"Monica's brother?"
"Yeah"
"That's the one!" Rachel still wore the same cool smile.
"You- you're dating Ross Geller?"
"Yes"
"What?? WHY?"
"Why wouldn't I? He's cute, he's sweet, he's funny...!"
"Whoa, okay, who are you and what have you done to Rachel??"
Rachel tilted her head.
"Mindy, c'mon, you haven't seen him in a long time!"
"So? I know enough, Rachel, that guy is a pathetic excuse for a guy!"
The smile finally faded. Mindy had gone too far.
"Mindy, stop it! You don't know what you're talking about, okay? He's changed!"
"Oh my God, and you're in love with him!"
"What if I am?"
"Rachel, what the hell's happened to you?"
"What's wrong with me dating Ross?"
"Everything!"
"God, I cannot believe you're saying this"
"Okay, I know what's going on. I know you're with him because he cherishes you and stuff, he sees you as a Goddess and you like it! But Rachel, that's not enough!"
"Oh, really, Min? And what is enough? Being with a guy because his dad's a doctor?"
Mindy shot her an angry look.
"You've always done it, Rachel"
"Not anymore, now, am I?"
"Wow... and what's he like in bed, huh? I bet he can't even contain himself! How many times has he come in your pants?"
It took all of Rachel's strengh not to hit Mindy. She simply stood up and sighed.
"Yeah, nice taking to you, Min. I'll see you around"
---------------------------------------------
Rachel finally parked her car in front of the Gellers' residence. Still buffing, she hopped off and ran up to the door. After a knock, Monica quickly opened it.
"Oh, hey Rach"
"Do you know the way to Ross' college?"
"Yeah"
"Care for a little road trip?"
---------------------------------------------
Yeah... Reviews? :)
by Tina
-----------------------------------
Rachel threw the countless shopping bags on her bed and smiled in satisfaction. Quickly, she opened a few and scanned through the shirts, dresses, skirts and many other itens she had bought on her afternoon away at the city with Judy. It was great! The whole afternoon was just great! Judy was so sweet and so caring and funny too! She'd asked to see everything Rachel tried on and had a new flattering comment to say each time she came out of the dressing rooms.
After making room for her new stuff in her already stuffed closet and putting the bags away, Rachel threw herself on her bed and sighed. She was exausted. Damn that exam the next day! She looked at the books resting on her bedside table and groaned. 'Better leave it up to luck, by now.' She just wanted the hollidays to come and enjoy some time off school.
Next to her books, stood the new pictures she'd had framed. Her family's was still the same, but the Gellers' was a much more recent one. She was in it. She sat proudly next to Ross, who had an arm around her waist. It was taken at Jessica's sweet sixteen party, they all looked very nice. Picture perfect!
Then... Rachel remembered about Monica's little scene a few days before. They had talked it out, but Rachel knew there was still resentment on her best friend's voice. It would fade. Rachel knew Monica's relationship with her mother had always been rocky and she did not want to get herself in the middle of it. She hoped her bonding with Judy wouldn't make things worst... But, to be honest, she knew that, if it did, she wouldn't do anything about it.
A third picture bore her and Ross. Rachel looked at it for a while and closed her eyes. She thought of him. She had to talk to him.
She took her phone and called him. After a few rings, his sleepy voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Ross?"
"Rachel?"
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Don't worry about it"
"Oh, I'm so sorry"
"I told you not to worry..."
She sighed.
"Did anything happen?"
"No, not really... I just wanted to talk to you"
She could hear him chuckle in this adorable way he did sometimes when he smiled. She smiled too.
"I'm all ears"
"I went shopping with your mother today"
"Yeah? Did you have fun?"
"A lot"
"Good"
"I bought you something"
"Really?"
"Yeah, but you'll have to come and get it"
"Oh, I will"
She chuckled.
"I miss you"
She said it without thinking.
"I miss you too"
But having it said back, she felt this reasurance that it was okay. It was okay to feel that way and say it to him.
It was Ross.
"So how was your day?" she asked, changing the subject.
And so they talked till practicly the time Rachel had to go get changed for school.
---------------------------------------------------
Before Rachel knew it, friday had arrived. She came down the stairs of the main builting of her university chatting with some friends as she spotted something she didn't quite expect. Mindy was standing beside her aparently brand new car, with a smile on her face. Rachel smiled and rushed over. Both girls squealed and hugged, jumping up and down.
"Oh, Min, it's so good to see you!!"
"It's been such a long time, Rach!"
"Yeah, hey-" Rachel broke the hug "How have you been?"
"I've been great! You?"
"You wouldn't believe it"
"What do you say we go over to my place to chat so you can update me with all the news?"
"Sounds like a plan"
"Are you driving?"
"Yeah, I'll be right behind you"
After another quick hug, Rachel rushed over to her car and drove to Mindy's house.
----------------
"Sooooo" Mindy picked Rachel by her hands and sat her down beside her on her bed. "Tell me everything! How are things with Pete?"
"I wouldn't know"
Mindy eyed her with confusion clear in her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"We broke up"
"Oh, why?"
"Well, it wasn't working...! Pete's too... intense for me"
"Still with the crying thing?"
"Everytime!"
Mindy chuckled.
"The poor guy"
"Yeah, I actually feel bad for him"
"Oh, but anyway, single now?"
Rachel smiled shyly.
"Not quite"
"Oh, who is it??" Mindy practicly bounced, beaming at Rachel. "Barry? Is it Barry?"
"Nope"
"Then who? C'mon, tell me"
Rachel looked at Mindy and for the first time imagined what her friend's reaction would be. So Ross wasn't like the ideal type Mindy always pictured her with...! She didn't exactly know him well though. She'd just seen him a few times, God, so many years ago! The last, what a disaster! Ross had spent the intire evening surrounding the girls and Rachel still remembered all the remarks Mindy had made on his behavior. And his looks. And everything about him.
She shook it off.
"Are you seeing someone?"
Egocentric she was, Mindy didn't even notice the change of topic. She jumped at any oportunity to ramble about herself.
"Ho-ney, you're not gonna believe this! His name's Jim and guess what?"
"He's a doctor?"
"No, he's a drop out! But his dad is!!"
Rachel chuckled.
"He's so gorgeous you wouldn't believe it! He's tall and blonde and he's got these gorgeous green eyes!"
"Good for you, Min"
"Okay, now back to your mistery man!"
Mindy's comments on her boyfriend had done nothing but disencorage Rachel to tell Mindy about Ross.
"Well..."
"Oh, honey, did you sleep well last night?"
"What?"
"Just now I'm noticing your eyes! What the hell happened?"
"Hm"
Mindy gasped and smiled.
"Was it him? Did you spend the whole night awake with him?"
Mindy winked at Rachel, who smiled.
"I did, actually."
"How was it?"
Rachel smiled.
"Good"
Very good indeed. The recollection boosted up Rachel's courage.
"You know him, actually. Can't say you know him well, though"
"Tell me, you're killing me!"
"It's Ross Geller" Rachel stated simply, with a smile on her face.
Mindy stared back for a few seconds.
"Ross Geller? Okay, I don't think I know him. I mean, I know A Ross Geller, but it's not THE Ross Geller!"
"Monica's brother?"
"Yeah"
"That's the one!" Rachel still wore the same cool smile.
"You- you're dating Ross Geller?"
"Yes"
"What?? WHY?"
"Why wouldn't I? He's cute, he's sweet, he's funny...!"
"Whoa, okay, who are you and what have you done to Rachel??"
Rachel tilted her head.
"Mindy, c'mon, you haven't seen him in a long time!"
"So? I know enough, Rachel, that guy is a pathetic excuse for a guy!"
The smile finally faded. Mindy had gone too far.
"Mindy, stop it! You don't know what you're talking about, okay? He's changed!"
"Oh my God, and you're in love with him!"
"What if I am?"
"Rachel, what the hell's happened to you?"
"What's wrong with me dating Ross?"
"Everything!"
"God, I cannot believe you're saying this"
"Okay, I know what's going on. I know you're with him because he cherishes you and stuff, he sees you as a Goddess and you like it! But Rachel, that's not enough!"
"Oh, really, Min? And what is enough? Being with a guy because his dad's a doctor?"
Mindy shot her an angry look.
"You've always done it, Rachel"
"Not anymore, now, am I?"
"Wow... and what's he like in bed, huh? I bet he can't even contain himself! How many times has he come in your pants?"
It took all of Rachel's strengh not to hit Mindy. She simply stood up and sighed.
"Yeah, nice taking to you, Min. I'll see you around"
---------------------------------------------
Rachel finally parked her car in front of the Gellers' residence. Still buffing, she hopped off and ran up to the door. After a knock, Monica quickly opened it.
"Oh, hey Rach"
"Do you know the way to Ross' college?"
"Yeah"
"Care for a little road trip?"
---------------------------------------------
Yeah... Reviews? :)