Author's Note: Here is the conclusion of this story. Thank you for the reviews and please review on this chapter. I don't speak French but I tried to translate Monica's poster as best as I could. I also borrowed a line from Casablanca.
The next day Phoebe went over to meet Monica and check out the apartment. Phoebe found apartment number 20 and knocked on the door. Monica opened the door.
"Hi, Monica? I'm Phoebe."
"Come on in." Monica moved aside and closed the door after Phoebe. Monica saw she had a guitar case with her. Phoebe was hoping things would get musical.
"Wow, this is a great place. I definitely feel a positive energy here." Phoebe was looking around and waving her arms all about.
"Uh. Thanks. Can I get you something to drink? Water? Coffee? Tea?"
"Sure, I'll have some tea."
"Ok. Well make yourself comfortable."
Phoebe sat on the sofa. Monica got the water going on the stove and prepared two cups with tea bags. "So tell me about yourself."
"I'm originally from upstate New York. I've lived in the city since I was fourteen, after my mom killed herself and my step dad was back in prison. I lived on the streets till I was 18 and got a job bartending at Madame Sahara's."
"Wow that sounds like a tough life."
"Yea, but I am a survivor and living on the streets certainly taught me a lot of things. Now I am a full time masseuse and on the side I write and perform songs. Wanna hear one?" Phoebe picked up her guitar and set it in her lap.
"Sure," Monica kind of got the feeling it would be a kooky song.
"The pizza boy was carrying a burger,
He asked me for a bun.
I was surprised I even had one."
"That's all I have so far. I was writing it on the way over."
"Sounded good." Monica was surprised she actually liked it.
There was an awkward silence. Thank goodness the teakettle started to whistle. Monica went to pour the tea and bring it over with some of her homemade cookies.
"So tell me about yourself."
Monica put the tray down, "I'm from Long Island. This used to be my Nana's place. I've lived here for three months. I'm a chef at Iridium ."
Monica and Phoebe continued to talk about the apartment, the neighborhood and such. They ended their apartment tour on the balcony where they finished their tea. Phoebe read Monica's tealeaves, which had a positive, promising reading that said she would make a new friend very soon. Phoebe left with the feeling it went well. Monica still wasn't sure. Phoebe seemed too kooky. She wasn't sure how well they would get along in the long run and she wanted a roommate who would live with her for a long time. She didn't want to go through this search process again anytime soon.
"So how's the roommate search going?" Ross asked taking a bite of lasagna.
"Not well. I still don't have a roommate." Monica passed a plate of lasagna to Carol. Chandler came in from the balcony after smoking a cigarette. His friends have been trying to get him to kick that nasty habit for years.
Carol spread some graded cheese over plate and asked, "What about that girl you met with yesterday?"
"Phoebe? She seemed cool. She's like a modern hippy and she is a surprisingly happy person for someone who had such a hard life. She kept coming up with songs about the apartment, and the pizza boy, and the gum she stepped in on the way over."
Ross was thinking about his days coming up with songs on his keyboard, "So she makes up strange songs. She's probably really creative. She sounds like the best possible roommate so far."
"Yea, but, I don't want her to make up a song about everything around her, like me taking bubble baths or," Monica paused to think, "my phone pen."
Chandler chimed in to make a joke, "I'd like to hear a song about a phone pen."
Ross and Carol laughed and after a few seconds Monica did too.
Two weeks later Phoebe and Monica ran into each other at a poster shop. Monica was looking for a poster to hang over her television. Phoebe was just walking in the neighborhood and stepped in to take a look around. Monica was at the back of the store flipping through stacks of Art Nouveau posters. Phoebe was walking around the store, not looking for anything in particular. As she made her way to the back of the store she saw Monica and started to walk over to her. Monica pulled out a really cool poster by Jules Cheret that said:
Aux Buttes Chaumont
Jouets
et
Objets pour Etrennes
Phoebe came up to Monica and said, "That's a really cool poster. You should defiantly get it."
"I know. I really like it and think it would look great over-"
"-the TV" Monica and Phoebe said together. They smiled at each other.
"You know I speak French," Phoebe said. "It says 'On the hills of Chaumont toys and things for New Year's gifts.'" Monica nodded in amazement.
"So did you find a roommate yet?" Phoebe really wanted to be Monica's roommate and get out of her stinking apartment. She felt the interview went well and told Jasmine and Madame Sahara that her chances looked good. Phoebe had played some of her best songs to break the ice and win Monica over. However, after over a week of not hearing an answer she wasn't so confident.
"Actually not yet." Monica was hoping she wouldn't ask but knew that that was impossible.
"Oh 'cause, I think if we lived together it would be really fun. You seem like a really cool person and your mint chocolate chip cookies were the best I ever had." Phoebe was hoping this meeting would change Monica's mind.
"Really? Thanks!" Monica loved hearing complements on her cooking.
Phoebe continued to point out, "Yea, and I think we would get along great. We obviously have the same taste in art and both thought I would look great over the TV. And I don't think it's a coincidence that we bumped into each other here today."
"Maybe you're right." Monica thought about it. She was certainly the best candidate she's met so far and who knows, she might even grow to love Phoebe's kooky songs. "You know what? If you are still interested in moving in I'd really like for you to be my roommate."
Phoebe's face broke out into a huge grin, "Really? I would love that. Thank you!" She hugged Monica with much excitement and startled her a bit.
"You can move in this weekend." Monica knew she made the right choice. On some level they both knew this was the start of beautiful friendship.
