Venus
by Tina
Yes, it's been a long time :)
---
Michelle and Gwen sat together on a table at Burger King. Both were silent, seeking for distraction any way they could think of. Michelle was observing a tiny ketchup bag while Gwen played with the remainings of the milkshake she'd just had. She was facing the door and looked up just in time to see Cameron and Jason entering together.
"Oh shit" she mumbled.
"What?"
Michelle followed her sight and her eyes met her boyfriends'. He smiled.
"Hey" he said, approaching. Jason followed.
"Hi" Michelle replied. Gwen only shook her head slightly, as a greeting sign. Jason stared.
"Gwen, can I have a word with you outside for a sec?"
Gwen stared back.
"Sure"
She got up and together they made their way out. Michelle watched them leave and Cameron surprised her with a kiss. She softly rested a hand on his cheek. When it ended, he sat next to her.
"Have you had something to eat yet?"
"No, I was waiting for you"
He smiled wider.
"What do you want? I'll go get it for us."
She smiled back.
-
Gwen crossed her arms tightly across her chest when they stepped outside. The chilly weather made her cheeks turn pink almost instantly and Jason couldn't help but smile at that. She shifted her weight, uncomfortably noticing his eyes on her.
"So..." she began, eager to get this over with.
"Gwen, I..." he trailled off. "The other night, I just... I just wanna say I'm sorry, I guess, for rushing it and, I don't know, I kinda get the feeling I scared you off or something"
She chuckled.
"What is it with some guys? Girls aren't victims, Jason, and I'm aware of that. We did it because we both wanted, you shouldn't apologise, really."
He smiled at the cool way she said all that. Her arms finally loosened up and she gesticulated a bit. She even gave him a smile.
"It's just... I like you" her expression changed again, to a worried on. But he continued. "You're not like most girls, who, you know..."
"Yeah, I know." She didn't know how to begin... But while she thought about it, he surprised her when he stepped closer and she quickly held her breath, almost scared he would kiss her right away. But seeing that's not what he was about to do, she exhailed slowly, uncletching her shoulder muscles.
"So listen, do you wanna, maybe, go out sometime?"
She kept looking into his eyes.
"I- I don't think that's such a good idea, Jason"
"Why not?"
"Just because..." she looked away and crossed her arms again.
"Gwen, I don't know about you, but I don't go around parties sleeping around with random girls" The hostility that only half showed in his tone hit Gwen.
"Well, I'm sorry, Jason, but aparently I still have plenty of guys to screw around in parties, as you seem to believe. So why should I bother wasting my time with you, right?"
She exhailed, frustrated, and left.
-
Back inside Burger King, Cameron had returned with a tray full of food for Michelle and himself. He sat next to her again and got his sanduich, letting Michelle have the tray.
"Here you go, a chicken Whopper and a diet coke to the lady"
"Thanks" she smiled and started eating the fries.
He unwrapped his sandwich and glanced at her quickly. She looked back quickly aswell. She clutched her cup tight and had a few more fries. A small yet palpable tension was building up. It was their first time out together and alone since they had started dating.
She repositioned herself on her seat, sitting up straight and unwrapped her sanduich.
"Could you pass me the ketchup over there?" he asked her in a rather small voice.
"Here, have them all. They're really caloric"
He chuckled and shook his head.
"Why are you girls always worried about that?"
"'Cause we wanna look nice. Guys like the skinny ones"
"Oh, no we don't. At least I know I don't"
She shot him a look, and she couldn't really tell if it was playful or if she was really that upset by his statement.
"Are you calling me fat?"
"You're perfect"
She cracked up a smile.
"Is this a way of making up for what you've just said?"
"No. Just a way of letting you know I think you're beautiful the way you are. And so much more"
Michelle looked at him deeply, knowing that, if this was a movie, that would sure be one of the lines she'd remember and repeat later, complaining she didn't have anybody to say them to her.
She imagined that if it ever happened to her, she would be blown away. Fireworks would go off in the background. It would be everything she would ever want to hear in her life. What else could matter that much? After all, "all you need is love", right?
But that particular moment was... numb. Michelle reacted with a small smile.
"Thanks", she politely answered.
She didn't know quite what she felt. It seemed unreal. Surreal. Whatever...
"Michelle?" a voice called out. Michelle raised her sight and spotted a group of 3 girls, all wearing her school uniform.
"Hey, Melinda" she unexcitedly replied.
Since the two words they ever exchanged to each other were hello and goodbye, after a second Michelle looked back up, surprised the girls were still standing near.
"What's up?" Melinda asked.
Michelle raised her eyebrows, confused.
"Not much..." she paused. "You?" she added, uncertainly.
"We're good", she replied quickly, almost as if she was getting unpatient.
"Aren't you gonna introduce us to your friend?" one of the girls standing behind Melinda asked. Michelle looked at Cameron and everything finally made sense.
"Is he a cousin, or...?" the third one added, just as giddy.
"No, uh..."
"I'm Cameron" he picked up and put an arm around Michelle. "Michelle's boyfriend. Nice meeting you"
Michelle smiled at the way the girls' faces fell in disapointment and then flinched with surprise.
"Oh..." Melinda mumbled. And Michelle could read behind her lines and see beyond her eyes. She was jealous.
Oh, what was the big deal? Michelle stared at them confused, not being able to understand why she would be envyed by those girls for such thing.
Huh.
Funny, she used to be one of those envying this...!
"Hey you guys!" Rachel's cheary voice brought Michelle out of her thoughts.
"Hey Rach" Michelle said, watching as Rachel and Ross, hands on each other's, made their way through the girls.
"Are these taken?" Rachel gestured towards the two available seats in front of Michelle and Cameron.
"No, go ahead"
Ross and Rachel sat down.
"Hey Cameron, hey girls" Rachel greeted them all, not able to control the toothy smile she bore. They greeted them back. "This is Ross, my boyfriend. He arrived today from New York."
"Hi, what's up" Ross shyly said, nodding his head, smiling as brightly as Rachel.
The three girls didn't look so amused. They quickly came up with an excuse and left the two couples by themselves. As soon as they left, with very fake "buh-bye"s, Rachel and Michelle looked at each other, giggling.
"What was that about?" Rachel asked.
"No idea!"
"What? What happened?" Ross asked.
"Nothing, they just... are not very good people. Think my chearleader friends from back home"
"Say no more"
"So, Ross, how are you liking England so far?"
He looked at Rachel.
"Enjoying every second of it"
They kissed softly and held hands, staring at each other lovingly. Michelle leaned back on her chair. Maybe there really was something to be envyed, after all.
"Where are Gwen and Helen?"
"Oh." Michelle frowned, confused. "Gwen left to talk to Jason outside" she turned around and tried to peek. "Did you see them out there?"
"No"
Michelle turned back to face them and smiled.
"Well, maybe they wanted to be alone for a while"
"Maybe" Rachel smiled back.
"God, I hope so" said Cameron. "He's been talking about her nonstop since we've met you girls. I hope things work out so he can finally shut up."
"And where's Helen?"
"She's out with Jackie and some other girls, I don't really know where they went"
"They've really hit it off, huh?" Rachel asked, full of naivety.
"Yeah" Cameron mumbled.
Ross turned to Rachel.
"Do you wanna get something to eat?"
"Thanks, I'm good." Ross shot her a concerned look, only partly playful. She smiled in return. "OK, I'll have some fries and some of your coke. But don't eat too much, remember about dinner"
"OK" he stood up.
"Diet and with a lot of ice" she shouted after him.
"I know" he said, rolling his eyes.
"See, Ross doesn't care about that eiter" Cameron pointed out to Michelle.
"What?" Rachel asked, lost.
"Nothing, he was just picking on me because women like to watch their weight"
Rachel shifted on her seat, a little uncomfortable. Yet, she smiled a little.
"Yeah, Ross is always worrying about my diets too..."
"They can be very unhealthy, you know? Plus, there's all the psychological damage you can put yourself through"
Rachel supported her elbon on the top of the table, looking around, not wanting to be a part of that conversation. After Ross came back, they ate and chatted for over an hour, hitting it off, having a good time. When they stepped outside to leave, Ross turned to Rachel.
"Is there any pharmacy around? I forgot to pack a few things"
"There's one right around the corner."
"Alright, I'll run by. It'll only be a sec, OK?"
"I'll join you" Cameron offered.
"OK, thanks"
"Honey, we'll be waiting at that store right over there, OK?" Rachel informed her boyfriend.
"OK"
They kissed and parted ways.
-
Ross picked up a basket as they entered the pharmacy, Cameron right at his side.
"So, how long have you and Rachel been together?" Cameron started with the small talk, very needed to fill the silence.
"We dated for like, hm, a week some time ago... Then after a while we got back together and that was when her parents decided to move here. So we didn't get to be together much...!"
He put an after shave lotion into the basket.
"Wow, and you still managed to get that attached?"
"Well, we've known each other for years... She's my little sister's best friend and we got to hang out a lot, you know? I've always had a huge crush on her. She was a chearleader and I was in the Science club."
He smiled and picked out a pack of cotton swabs.
"Oh, OK then..."
"How about you and Michelle?"
"Only a week."
"Still very recent then?"
"Yeah"
Ross stopped in front of the condoms shelf. Cameron looked at him, surprised, and watched as Ross picked out a few boxes. Cameron smiled and picked out a few himself.
"So how did you guys meet?" Ross naturally went on with their conversation.
---
Helen entered the tiny two bedroom apartment with Jackie. There was a big sofa on the livingroom right in front of a tv and a counter that separated the kitchen. Two guys and one girl were sitting on the sofa, chatting. The girl was laughing uncontrolably. Helen recognised her, it was the girl Jackie was kissing at the party, the previous week. At the counter, Gabrielle, the host, was mixing some drinks.
Jackie closed the door behind her and threw her keys on the coffee table. Gabrielle looked up and smiled at them.
"Hey!"
They all greeted one another. Helen was a little aprehensive, but looking around she actually calmed down a bit. It was definitely not what she was expecting, everybody was behaving quite friendly and not undressing her with their eyes, as she had imagined.
"Here, it's not too strong. It's only to loosen yourself a bit" Gabrielle offered Helen a drink.
"Thanks"
Jackie pulled out two chairs and passed one over to Helen. They sat down.
"Nice place" Helen told Gabrielle.
"Thanks. It's small, but at least it's all mine"
"Yeah, Jackie told me about your parents"
"They're having a blast in Paris, but I didn't want to leave just yet. I like it here"
Helen politely smiled.
"So, guys, this is Helen. Helen, these are Ryan, Josh and you know Paula"
"Hey" Helen nodded with her head.
"Hey Helen / Welcome / Nice meeting you"
"So how did you meet Jackie?"
"At Burger King, a couple of weeks ago"
"Helen's friends with Michelle and Gwen. You know, Jason and Cameron's girlfriends"
"Oh, I don't know about Gwen being Jason's girlfriend..." Helen said, sipping her drink.
"Really? I thought everything was settled there."
"Nothing's really settled when it comes to Gwen, I think. She's... complicated. I don't think she knows what she wants"
"I guess it comes with the teenage package"
"Well, she takes it too seriously, maybe that's the problem" Helen said feeling wise, feeling more and more comfortable there, as a part of the group. Accepting each passing second more the idea that what she was doing there was alright, was acceptable and cool. Foolish would have been to not experiment.
They drank and talked for a long time. The guys lighted up a joint, but Helen refused it with surprising naturality. It was not for about an hour later that Gabrielle and one of the guys retreated to one of the bedrooms. Helen watched after them and looked around.
"Hey" Helen looked at Jackie. "You don't have to do anything tonight if you don't want to" Jackie told her.
Helen smiled and kissed her deeply.
"I really wasn't sure at first, but..." Helen trailed off and smiled again at Jackie. After a small silence, she nodded.
---
The palpable silence that fell upon the Green's household as they ate was almost unbearable to Ross. They were still serving themselves and not a single word had been spoken for nearly three minutes. Ross looked at Rachel across the table from him and she gave him a weak smile. She'd kept him informed about her parents' situation and now he could see with his own eyes just how bad it had become. It broke his heart to see what his girlfriend had to face everyday in her own home.
When they finally had been all served, they started eating quietly.
"Hm, everything is delicious, Mrs. Green"
Sandra Green smiled at Ross, a genuine smile he honestly didn't expect.
"Thank you, Ross"
He smiled back. It felt nice to think she aproved his relationship with her daughter. However, looking at the rest of the table, that good feeling could have easily faded. Dr. Green, Rachel's dad, was watching his every move, as if waiting for any sign that would confirm his beliefs that he was simply not good enough for his eldest. Meanwhile, Amy and Jill were oblivious to everything, too engrossed in their own little world.
"So what are you doing with your life, Geller?"
Ross could almost feel his sweat glans beginning to warm up.
"Well, Sir, I've just started going to college at NYU. I'll be majoring in Paleontology and I've already managed to get a job as an assistant-intern at the Museum of Natural Art."
Rachel smiled proudly at him and he smiled back, but Dr. Green didn't look amused.
The rest of the meal was rather unrelevant, being marked here and there by some small talk that unsucessfully tried to ease the tension. When it was time for Ross to leave, he asked Rachel how he could call a cab.
"No, we'll drop you off."
"I don't wanna cause any trouble, Rach..." he said upon seeing the look Leonard Green gave at Rachel's idea.
"Nonsense!" Sandra said, already picking up the keys to her car. "It's no trouble, Ross, we'll drop you off"
Ross smiled.
"Thanks Mrs. Green"
"Can I drive?" Rachel asked enthusiastically.
"Nice try"
As they started walking towards the main door, Ross followed, looking back at Dr. Green and nodding with his head, a little scared.
"Thanks for dinner, Dr. Green"
-
As the car pulled over right in front of the Hotel entrance, Ross said his goodbyes and stepped outside. Rachel followed him out and walked with him untill they reached the rotating door. Without a word, only a smile, she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him.
"Thanks for coming, Ross"
And he knew she didn't mean just to dinner.
He brushed away a strand of hair from her face and smiled back.
"It's my pleasure."
They kissed again.
"I'll see you tomorrow"
He nodded and watched as she skipped back into her mother's car, looking back at him once.
---
Helen got home late that night. She was exausted. She colapsed her sore body onto her bed and sighed. There she remained motionless for what it seemed like a whole century. After a while, she promped herself up as she remembered her cellphone was still soundless. When she picked it up from her bag, she noticed there were several unanswered calls, mostly from Gwen, and a voice message. She played it.
"Hey Helen, it's Gwen. Listen, call me and let me know when your next little meeting will be, OK? Thanks, bye"
Helen frowned and mumbled, staring at her cellphone.
"What the fuck?"
---
Hee, wanna hear something funny? As I was writing this, I went into a website to look up the word "cotton swabs". There, it says that Q-Tips' first name was actually "Baby Gays". Cracked me up )
Anyway... little note... I'm actually happy with this :) I was stuck for a long, long time. But I'm glad I managed to write this. I think I know where it's going now, which makes the writing process way easier, lol :) So see, these long pauses are sometimes good. I've also learned a lot on these past few months and I plan on encorporating a lot of that here. We'll see. Please review so I can know what you guys are thinking, if you're reading, if you're liking, if you have any suggestion, if you want me to get bolder on the sex stuff (must say I'm not gonna write smut though). I can't read minds yet, so we're gonna have to do it this way untill I master that :) Thanks for reading!