by Tina
OK, before we begin, a few notes... first, Rachel did not kiss Nick on the previous chapter. I know how what she did might still be considered very wrong by some, but she pushed him away before they even got to kiss. I was that nice to Rachel's alibi. lol. Second... It was never said Mindy and Rachel actually kissed. Was it? I mean, it said Mindy taught her how to kiss, but you can do that verbally, can't you?
Oh well... I know the whole Jack and Judy thing was weird, but I'll develop more of it now. I was also aprehensive about that storyline, but I guess it might get by. It's just important to the story, I think. Anyway, here we go.
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Rachel looked out the window and madly shook her leg. She felt Mindy's eyes glance at her and stopped. She was clearily showing just how nervous she was. But she couldn't help it.
She started biting her nails.
"You'll regret that later" Mindy was the one to break the silence.
Rachel stopped as a little innocent girl who tried to cover up, as if she wasn't doing anything.
She kept on looking outside, at the buildings that passed by, the people, the lights. She was still rather dizzy, but her concern for her boyfriend and his family brought her down to Earth. Damn, she wanted to be there as fast as (un)humanly possible to comfort him and find out what the hell was going on. This couldn't be happening. Not to Judy and Jack.
Rachel was actually beginning to question her own sanity. Maybe it was the alcohol. Ross must'd said something different but her brain was too messed up to process the information correctly.
'Yeah, that must've been it.'
Hm, who was she kidding?
"You really do like him, don't you?"
Rachel turned and looked at Mindy. She took a while to answer it. Not because she didn't know the answer already. She just pondered whether Mindy deserved hearing such heartfelt confessions from her, those days.
"I do"
Mindy sighed.
"I'm sorry about the other day"
"That's..." Rachel didn't know what to say. She was still mad about it, but what was she to do? She was tired for arguing... She just wanted one thing less to worry about in her mind. "That's fine, Mindy. Here, turn on the next one to the right"
"Ok"
Rachel quickly gathered her things and ran a hand through her hair one more time as a wave of dizziness reached her yet again.
"It's that house over there" Rachel pointed. Mindy pulled over and Rachel quickly left, looking back just to say goodbye. "Thanks a lot, Mindy. Bye"
Mindy smiled weakly back and watched Rachel leave.
Rachel ran up to the front foor. She took a deep breath and rang the bell. After a few seconds, Monica opened it. The girls just looked at each other for a couple of seconds. They broke the distance between them by hugging. Monica wasn't crying, but she was wearing the saddest look Rachel had even seen on her face.
"How are you?"
"Holding up"
They broke and Rachel stroked Monica's hair.
"He's upstairs" Monica simply told Rachel.
Rachel looked into the livingroom and spotted Chandler in there, obviously waiting for Monica. Rachel hugged her one last time and kissed her hair. She didn't have to say anything.
Silently, she made her way upstairs. When she finally stood outside Ross' room, she leaned on the door and closed her eyes. She felt so guilty, so low. But she was there to make it alright. To try and be the person he deserved. She so wanted to be the person he deserved...!
She softly knocked.
"Come in" it pained her to hear just how sad his voice was.
She slowly opened the door. He was lying on his bed, guitar on his arms.
When he saw her, she noticed how he managed to smile, even if it didn't look too happy.
"Hiii" he cast away the guitar.
"Hey" she whispered back, smiling a bit.
"Come here"
She aproached the bed and sat down next to him. He turned to face her and they kissed softly. They kept looking at each other for a while. As if their eyes were doing the talking for them.
"Have you been drinking?"
She raised a hand to her lips, self-conscious.
"Just some wine..."
"Oh"
She came closer to him and they cuddled, leaning against the headboard.
"So... tell me what happened"
"It's... hard to explain, really. They didn't say anything to us, but there was some shouting and dad left with a suitcase. Mom's been locked up in their room ever since. They'd told us he had a business trip to go to, but please... " he shook his head.
"But they..." Rachel trailled off. "I mean, how could this happen to them? I never thought they... had problems or anything"
"I know. Me neither"
Ross looked down. Rachel lifted his chin.
"Maybe this was just a misunderstanding."
Ross kept looking at her and she could tell he didn't believe so. But he still nodded, just to please her.
"Maybe"
God, she would do anything to make him feel better. She tenderly rested a hand on his cheek and kissed the other.
"It's gonna be okay"
They hugged each other and laid down on his bed. Minutes went by. Silent minutes so full of understanding, of supporting. All they needed was each other's presense. That was enough.
Rachel ran a hand up his stomach and chest, watching it as it rose with his breathing. It fell. Then it rose again.
She reached higher up to his neck and found him looking down at her. She moved her head and laid it on his pillow, right next to his. She couldn't help but smile. Inappropriate, but...
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure" he replied, looking at the way her hair shone in many different shades under the weak lights of his lamps.
"I love you"
He looked straight at her, surprised.
"You don't have to say it back" she joked.
He chuckled.
"Whoa, I-" he didn't know what to say.
"Sweeps you off your feet, doesn't it?" she sincerely told him. And he understood what she meant. She might've been freaked out on a good way the past few days... She loved him too. It was just a lot to digest.
He nodded.
"It does."
"It's the first time I mean it. I'm a bit freaked out...!"
"Me too."
He leaned closer and kissed her a bit deeper than before. She knew he'd definitely know just how much she'd had to drink then. The alcohol taste was hidden in every corner of her mouth and she was a bit... clumsy... kissing him. But he didn't say anything. After they broke, they just kept on cuddling, cherishing that moment.
And she knew that was where she wanted to be. Just by his side, helping him through his days. And she so wanted him to be there for her too. After a hard long day, bad news or just PMS. He'd make it all better.
Despite their families. She loved him as a singular person. The rest was extra gaign.
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Her head was pouding madly as she softly opened her eyes the next morning. She barely had enough strengh to do such simple act. She let them inspect the room. It was dark, Ross had aparently shut all the drapes and doors. And was no where to be seen. She turned around and closed her eyes again.
'Hang overs suck.'
The previous night came rushing into her mind. The party, the drinking, the flirting, Melissa's kiss. His phonecall.
God, she'd need to pick up her car and come up with a really good excuse to why she didn't come home or even call before to tell her parents. And his parents... What was gonna happen to them now?
Hm, the 'I love yous'...
She smiled softly.
They'd spent the whole night talking. He'd opened up to ber, she'd opened up to him. Well, more than she'd ever done with anyone before, anyway. She'd never been more honest before. Or willing to listen to someone else. It's always been about her, the rest was plain boring. But... not him. She was interested on him. What he thought and how he felt was important too. It mattered, now.
The door opened slowly and she turned to watch who it was. Her hearing was oversensitive that morning. It was Ross.
"Goodmorning" he whispered.
"Morning" she motioned for him to join her. He did so. She wrapped her arms around him. "You might aswell wanna hide for the next few days, my dad must be furious 'cause I didn't come home last night"
"Oh, about that. After you fell asleep last night, I had Monica call your mom and tell her you were sleeping over."
Rachel smiled.
"She did?"
"Well, figured they wouldn't be too pleased if I called them myself. Plus, it was really late."
"Smart"
They smiled at each other and kissed softly.
"How's your mom?"
"Acting as if nothing had happened. She's making a stack of pancakes downstairs, so if you're in the mood for breakfast..."
"Nah... I feel sick"
Ross protectively held her and kissed her forehead.
"Just some wine, huh?"
She chuckled.
"Right..."
They were in silence for a while, nestled in each other arms again, as if that wasn't what they'd just done the previous night.
"We should decide what we're gonna do for New Years" she commented.
He smiled at the way she said "we".
"As long as we're together..."
She giggled and broke their embrace to ruffle his hair.
"You're so adoringly corny"
"It's why you love me" he smiled at her.
"It is..." she felt so pathetically in love with him... but it was such a nice feeling.
They kissed softly.
"Seriously, what are we gonna do?" she tried again.
"Well, I don't know..." he looked down. "Guess the anual Geller party's off now" he looked down and she supportingly took his hand. He looked up at her and tried to look more upbeat. "That may be for the best though, I'm sure you wouldn't stand both Monica and I watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve"
She smiled weakly at him.
"I guess you're right"
Silence filled the room for a while.
"Well, there are a few parties we could go to..." she offered.
"Such as?"
Rachel looked aprehensive.
"Well, a few of my friends are throwing big parties and invited us. We could go if that's okay with you" He looked unwilling. "You said as long as you with me..."
"I did say that, didn't I?"
"You did" she smiled. "But that's okay, we don't have to go if you won't be comfortable" she smiled weakly at him. "I just wanted them to see you and understand why I love you"
He smiled at her. How could he deny anything to her?
"Okay, then I guess we're going"
"Really?"
"Wouldn't want to be the one to deprive such pleasure to your friends"
She laughed.
"Right"
She kissed and hugged him. Her so called friends would eat their words. Mindy had probably spread the news that they were all supposed to be okay with it now and being the little puppies they were Rachel knew they'd smile, be nice and aprove. Their friends had mastered the nodding along technique. It was a pre-requirement to be a part of their little group.
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Ok, yeah... a day later than I thought this would be posted, but that's fine because my trip has also been post-ponned on a day. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, yay. Wish me a good time, will ya? lol
This part... I don't know, yay for the RRness More to come when I come back. End should be approaching too and I'm confused as to what fic to write next. Many options. Man, you won't get rid of me any time soon Thanks for being so great and please post more reviews!!
P.S. Thank you Vero who posted last chapter for me!!! and this one too!!