Chapter 4:
"I'm going on a trip"
"I am going on a trip with Phoebe and Rachel, I'll be fine, don't worry about me". That was all the explanation I left to my parents in a note. I knew that it was a little bit mean to leave this way, without giving a better explanation, but that was the kind of escape I needed in that moment. I left my house with a suitcase that Sunday morning when my parents were still sleeping. I arrived to the place I was suppose to meet Phoebe if I decided to join her in the trip to L.A. and I waited for her until she finally showed up. I explain her my situation.
Monica- I just need I ride to L.A., if you decide to stay there permanently I will came back home by my self, I have no problems with that..
Phoebe- is ok honey (she saw a car approaching) Look!... There he comes! That is the boy that will take us to L.A. His name is Joey Tribianni... he is going to Los Angeles because he is an actor and she wants to find a job there.
I said hello to him and I founded him incredibly good looking and charming. I smiled. It seemed that this trip would be quite an adventure. Joey putted my suitcase inside the car. We were about to leave when we heard a very family voice.
Rachel- You thought you could go to Los Angeles without me?
We were all very happy to see her. Joey putted her suitcase next to mine and then the four of us finally left to Los Angeles. After traveling for eight hours, we arrived to North Carolina. Joey was already really tired and very sleepy. We decided to make the first stop in a city called Charlotte, where we went to a Coffey Shop to get something to eat and to discuss where we were going to spend the night. While we were eating I made a question that no one imagined. We were all so exited because of this trip that no one had even thought about the subject that I was about to bring up.
Monica- Guys... Has anyone made a plan for this trip?
Joey and Phoebe looked at each other in confusion. Then they looked at me looking for an explanation to what I have just said.
Joey- What? a plan for the trip?
Monica- you know... a plan... for example, Which roads are we taking? In which cities will we be making stops?
Joey- I don't know… I guess I don't have a plan… I just decided to take the car and go to L.A.
Monica- (panicking) How are we suppose to get to LA without a plan?
Rachel- guys… I have a more important question... how much money do we have?...
They all putted their money over the table, I desperately looked at the amount and then I looked at Rachel feeling very angry.
Monica- ¡¡¡¿You only brought 40 dollars!
Rachel- I'm sorry... is all I could save, I do have a lot of expenses. You know? And If you run away from home you don't tend to borrow your father's credit card.
Monica- ok... don't freak out... we all have made our contribution… so.. the total amount is 240 dollars... ok.. that is not enough to go to L.A. Does anyone has an idea for getting extra money?..
Joey- I do!... Lest go to Atlantic City... we can gamble the money and win enough to go to L.A.
Monica- (ignoring him) Does anyone has an idea? A realistic one...
Rachel- (looking at the map) I don't know ...
Monica- (having an idea) How many miles away is Miami?
Rachel- 900 miles… Why?
Monica- so.. getting there will only take one more day. Right?
Joey- yes..
Monica- Well... this is what we are going to do… we will rent a very cheap room for tonight and we will use the rest of the money to get to Miami...
Joey- But... What does Miami has that will help us to get to Los Angeles?
Monica- (smiling) my big brother
The rest of the trip went on according to my new plan: we spent that night in Charlotte, North Caroline, the next day we woke up really early and Joey drove 12 hours on a road (we only stopped for buying food and going to the bathroom) until we finally got to Miami. But getting to Miami was only the first pat of the new plan. The second part of my plan was to find Ross, beg him for money, and convince him not to tell our parents where I was. He would do that for me… Right? He had to help me. I would die otherwise.
Luckily I remember the name of the hotel in which Ross was staying with Carol and Chandler. So we went to that hotel and while the rest of the group waited for me outside I went to the hotel reception and asked for my brother.
Monica- (to the receptionist) Excuse me… Could you please tell me in which room is Ross Gueller staying? Is very important for me to find him..
Receptionist- Ok… I'll tell you in a moment (checking in her computer) Mr. Gueller did had a reservation for room number 155... but he cancelled it… he never stayed here.
Monica- That's impossible! Ross is very responsible and if he said he was staying here…
Receptionist- (interrupting her annoyed) I'm sorry but the computer says he is not here
Monica- Could you please double check? Please!
The receptionist was getting even more annoyed, and she was about to show me the computer's screen so I could se for my self what it said. But in that moment a voice I haven't heard in a while called my name and it sounded very amazed to see me there.
Chandler- Monica?
Monica- (very relieved) Chandler! Thanks God!
It was really happy to see someone that could help me… so I practically ran towards him and I pulled him into a huge embrace. Then he pulled me away, felling very embarrassed and gave me a very strange look.
Chandler- hey! What's up with you woman? The last time a girl was so happy to see me was because I owed her money…
I couldn't help laughing. That Chandler… always with his jokes. But I didn't have time for jokes, after laughing I went straight to the point.
Monica- Chandler, I really need to find Ross. Where is him? They say is not in this hotel… I really need to talk to him because I need to borrow some money from him… is urgent.. I need money to get to Los Angeles.
Then Chandler looked at me very concern.
Chandler- Ross and Carol decided to go to Vegas instead of coming here… it was suppose to be a secret…
Monica- What! they can't even gamble.. they are underage
Chandler- The thing is that Carol really wanted to go to Vegas because her best friend is spending her summer break there… so… She and Ross got fake IDs and they went to Las Vegas after telling their families that they were coming here…
Monica- (starting to cry) I cant believe this...
Chandler- I'm sorry Mon...
Monica- (in tears) I really needed to go to L.A. Chandler! I must go to go there to meet my biological mother who is dying…
Chandler looked at me in shock.
Monica- that's right! I just found out that I'm adopted and I had a biological mother in LA who is really sick and who wants to meet me before she dies..
By that point of the conversation, I was crying my eyes out, so Chandler hugged me really tight and offered me a tissue.
Chandler- I'm so sorry Mon!… I wish I could help you but I don't have much money my self… because The money I brought is not enough to go to Vegas.. I only brought my saving. I didn't ask any money from my mother.
Monica- Can you ask her money now?
Chandler- I can't... I already tried because I wanted to go to Vegas too… but she really hates Las Vegas and she said that if I wanted to go to "that horrible place" I had to paid for it with my own money… But I really don't have enough money.
Monica- (desperately) Really?
Chandler- I'm telling you the truth! I would had go with them if it had been up to me.. and I would go to Vegas right now with you if I could…
Monica- Do you really mean that?
Chandler- of course I do? Do you think I would miss my best friend's wedding?
Monica- (en shock) What!
Chandler- Before he went to Vegas, Ross told me that he and Carol got engaged and that they would get marry in Vegas during their anniversary… Because it is going to be one year since their started dating..
Monica- Now I have another reason to find him! I have to stop him before he does something crazy, I have to go to Vegas. When is their anniversary going to be?
Chandler- in two days... but How will you…?
Monica- my friends and I will find the way…
I left the hotel and went with the others. They were waiting for me next to the car, just in front of the hotel. I explained to them the situation, and they agreed to make one stop in Vegas before going to LA. Then, Chandler, who had followed me and overheard everything touched my shoulder and asked me to speak alone whit him.
Chandler- (very up set) You and Rachel are going to L.A. with two strangers?
Monica- they are not strangers! Phoebe use to be my best friend when we were kids and I have met Joey for almost two days now….
Chandler- (sarcastically) Oh sorry!… then they are not strangers… they are like family.
Monica- (annoyed) just.. back out!
Ok… now I know that it was very stupid to go on a trip with an stranger, without enough money, and without telling anyone… but back then it seemed like a great adventure and I was seventeen, so you can't blame for not had listened to Chandler.
Chandler- I can't let you do this…
Monica- Then you came with us...
Chandler- What?.. that's insane...
Monica- Just come to Las Vegas with us... you can help me to stop Ross.. and you've just said you wanted to go… so came with us.. please..
I looked deeply into his eyes, practically begging. Suddenly, I remembered how beautiful Chandler's eyes were. And he could tell how desperately I needed him to come, so… he could do anything but accept my proposition.
Chandler- If is ok with the rest of the group…
To be continued...
Authors note: So… what do you think of this story so far? Please…. Send me a review… any kind of review! I'm begging you guys!…. for those who are reading it: Thank you!