Disclaimer: Hey. Does it look like I own Friends ta you? Nuh-uh.

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A/N: I guess this is sort of an AU with Phoebe here, but I have a half- hearted little explanation here. Ahem. On with the story.

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THE ONE WITH THE STORY ABOUT THE CAMPING TRIP

Chapter Three: The Stream

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"So Ross, it looks like you know the most about camping, because you've 'read a little bit about it'. What do we do now?" Chandler asked.

"Um, I think we can do whatever we want, because it's still early. What do you guys want to do?"

Everyone shrugged. Then, from Phoebe: "Well, we're in the woods. We might as well go hike or something."

"Okay..."

"Okay."

"Sure."

"Why not?"

"Where do you want to go?" Ross asked. "I know there's a trails that goes up the mountain."

Again, the others agreed. Rachel could care less, really. She didn't hike much, but she didn't really do much that could be done at a camping trip. Shopping and hanging out with her boyfriend, for example. But then she thought of something.

"You know, Phoebe," Rachel began as they walked towards the trail. "I have a little question. I'm not trying to be rude, though."

"What's the question?"

"If you lived on the streets, how did you get into high school so quickly? I mean, you couldn't have been THAT young."

"I'm smart," Phoebe answered, not seeming offended at all. "Anyway, I'm a few grades behind, and I'll probably drop out and do something else with my life other than hang out with a bunch of fourteen-year-olds. Why?"

"I was just curious."

Phoebe shrugged. "If you were me and I was you I might have asked you the same thing you asked me so you shouldn't fell like you were going to offend me even though I might have offended you if I had asked you. Whew, that needed a lot of breath."

"Um... okay..." Rachel smiled uncertainly.

Rachel followed Ross and Monica (who seemed to know the way around best; they must have looked at maps or something) to this trail. It was thin, but fairly well trampled. She couldn't get lost on this.

"Well, this is it," Monica said, gesturing wildly. "Let's go hike!"

"We ARE hiking," Chandler pointed out.

"Well, it's not my fault I'm excited," Monica said. "I mean, who wouldn't be?"

Chandler raised his eyebrows doubtfully and the answer was somewhat obvious, but Rachel stuck up for her best friend.

"I'm excited!" she said.

They had been talking occasionally and hiking for about half an hour when Rachel decided that hiking just wasn't her thing. It was tiring, going up this whole time, and they never seemed to talk about anything interesting. And somehow, once they were on the trail, Ross had ended up behind her, and every time she turned around he was staring.

Also, it was too warm out, and gnats swarmed around her head whenever she was in a patch of sun. Like now.

Maybe she did complain too much. Her old boyfriend had told her that once, and then broke up with her. But she was going out with Chip now, so that was in the past. Ah, Chip...

"So, do you guys want to cross here?" Monica was saying.

Rachel looked down. She hadn't even realized that they had come to this stream. It wasn't that wide, but it was swollen by springtime and the only way to cross seemed to be a log that had fallen across the stream. Or possibly been placed across. Whatever; it was there. The path continued on after the log.

"Sure," Chandler said. He bounded onto the log, and managed to get across without falling in. Something Rachel was sure required a lot of talent. And she was also fairly sure she didn't have that talent.

"Ooh! I'll go!" Phoebe said, and followed Chandler.

"You know, I'd really rather not cross here," Rachel said. "I mean, sure, you guys are talented and all, but I think I'd fall in."

"We can go around and look for a better place to cross," Monica offered. "C'mon Rach, I'll go with you."

"I'll go too," Ross said, looking for a bit too long at Rachel.

"So do we meet you farther up along the path?" Chandler wondered.

They shrugged. "Sure."

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Chandler did not quite relish the thought of hanging out with Phoebe. She didn't seem bad, not at all, but he barely knew her. He'd much rather be hanging out with Ross, the one who'd invited him on this trip.

And he never knew what to say to girls.

"So, um, let's keep going," he said stupidly.

"Okay."

They walked along the path, not talking, until the silence began to bother Chandler so much he just had to say something. But what...?

"Hey Phoebe," he began. Okay, beginning was nice. Now he needed a middle and an end, all the elements of a short story. "Um, um, how do you like Lincoln High?"

She shrugged. "It's okay. But that one teacher, Mr. Bonnan, he teaches math... ugh."

"I hated him too." Chandler smiled. Wow! The conversation was still going! With a girl!

"He's so boring and he gives so much homework."

"I remember when I had him, he gave me about three projects due over spring break. All math. I agree. Ugh."

"How do you spell that?" Phoebe asked suddenly.

"Spell what...?"

"Ugh. Because if you're spelling it U-G-G, with two G's, or U-G, with one G but no H, then you're not really agreeing. And I had to make sure you were."

Chandler narrowed his eyes in some hybrid between thought and confusion. He'd been having a normal conversation with Phoebe and then... Ugh? "I guess I spell it U-G-H," Chandler said hesitantly.

"Good."

And then the conversation died down once more. When would Ross and the other meet up with them?

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Monica walked in the lead, Rachel behind her, and Ross in the back. She forced her way through the brush while Rachel tried her best to avoid the brush. She wasn't sure exactly what her brother was doing here, because he could probably cross the log perfectly fine. And that would be a nice opportunity to show off for Rachel.

Ah, Rachel, that must be it. Poor Ross. He really had no chance with her.

"Hey Mon?" Ross said, interrupting her thoughts. "We're going by the stream, but it looks like the path isn't. Once we cross, we might have some problems meeting up with them."

"It should be fine," she replied, but she was worried. He might be right. What if the path went up and around or down or sideways or something like that? But Rachel didn't want to cross the log. If she fell in she'd probably make the whole camping trip suck for everybody. And even if they did go back, they'd have to catch up with Phoebe and Ross' friend, and that would probably be too hard too. So maybe this was best.

"Hey! Maybe we can cross here!" Rachel exclaimed.

"As long as you can," Ross said.

This stretch of the stream was thinner and shallower than what they'd been trying to cross before. Rocks that made nice stepping stones spanned the width of the stream.

Rachel jumped onto the first rock and almost lost her balance. It must have shifted or something under her weight. But Ross caught her and pulled her back upright before she fell.

"Thanks," she said breathlessly, and continued somewhat more carefully across. Monica and Ross followed.

Now to find Chandler and Phoebe...

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Reviewer Replies

Freezyboncoolipants: Thanks! Here some of what happens... dun dun dun...

Chandler's the King: Thank you... here's an update... What do you mean by Monica being vulgar? Could you explain that a little bit more? I know I can write the characters how I want, but I'd like to keep them as close to the show as possible. Thanks...

less than three: Yay! You like it! I know I have a few details off (mostly Phoebe's existence) bu thanks for the review. Read on.

rachel greene: You probably won't be reading this because you didn't read chapter three, but anyway... I know that Phoebe didn't go to school with the others, but I wanted Phoebe there (so I guess it's a bit of an AU). Thanks for the bit about the ages, I had forgotten.

Iluvjoey4lyfe: Hey, thank you... and my apologies, I spelled you name wrong last time. :)

anonyme: Thanks... glad you like it...

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Wow... so many... Thanks...

Please review this time, too! :)