That Summer-Chapter 8
AN...Hey guys, remember me? Remember this story? I bet yall thought I had forgotten about it. I had this chapter saved on a floppy disk and I had to find a drie to transfer it to one of those USB things...long process. But it's here...finally...cause I was bored and decided to do that stuff and update. I wrote this chapter a while ago and personally, I love it lots...so I was eager to post it. IDK when I'm gonna write the next chapter, but I think I leave it open for another one so when I get in the mood to write I'll try. But yeah, we'll see. Just enjoy this (for some of you) long-awaited update! erin
"Wow." Rachel broke the kiss and touched her index finger to her now slightly swollen lips. "That was……" "…totally amazing." Ross finished her sentence. He smoothly glided his hand through her soft locks, emitting a contented sigh from Rachel. "You know, I've wanted to do that for years now." Rach rolled her eyes and playfully smacked his shoulder. "Yeah, I know Ross; ever since the ninth grade. Frankly, I cannot imagine how you could've started a crush on me when I was 13." "Well, you're a very pretty girl Rach." This comment made Rachel blush all the way to the tips of her ears. The guy she loved thought she was pretty. She sighed with contentment once more. "And plus…" he added, "you were the only one who saw past Monica's…size. I liked that about you. That's what initially made you attractive to me." Rachel crossed her arms across her chest and blew out a puff of air. "Well, that, and……"
Rachel reached over and took Ross' hand. She didn't intertwine their fingers, just cupped his hand casually. "Hey, you wanna go up and watch the fireworks from the deck? I can't really see them over here." She asked. "Um, sure." Ross replied, and followed Rachel up on the deck. The pair sat down next to each other on the steps. "Now finish hon. Why else were you attracted to me?" Rachel prompted, interested to see where he was going with his earlier speech. "Well," he started. Rachel leaned her head on Ross' shoulder and readjusted her hand so it was laced in his fingers. "Yeah?" she questioned. "I began to see other things over the years that made you attractive. But I liked the way my sister was when she thought about you or hung out with you. You made her genuinely happy. I liked that a lot. You don't know how hard it was for her as a kid, well you probably do, but…it just, it was hard for her. You're a good person." Her heart skipped a beat. Now just wait a second here. Did I just hear what I thought I heard? He thinks I'm a good person? Rachel smiled and blushed, very touched by Ross' words. She leaned over and, on impulse; kissed his cheek. This in turn made him blush. "What was that for Rach?" he asked, turning to face her. "I just wanted to thank you for saying that about me. That was very nice." She offered, laying her head back down on his shoulder.
"Would you just look at them?" Rachel gazed out onto the pier. Chandler and Monica were sitting out on the edge, in very much the same position as her and Ross. "I am so glad I got to set them up, Ross. Your sister looks very happy and peaceful. I think she really likes Chandler." Ross smiled. "I think so too. Good job with them." "Thanks. And Mon was really ecstatic when I told her about him too. I'd never seen her that happy." Rachel sighed in contentment once again, and felt her chin being lifted up to meet chocolate brown eyes. "Rachel?" Ross asked her, looking in her eyes. "Yeah?" she asked, having a feeling as to what was coming. "Okay, I admit it, my last relationship was kind of disappointing. I went out with a freakin' lesbian, for goodness sake." Rachel laughed for a moment, then gave Ross a sympathetic squeeze on the shoulder. "It's ok, it's actually quite funny to me too." Ross said, letting out a little chuckle himself. "Anyway, what I was wondering is……are you ever gonna turn lesbian?" Rachel cast him an odd look at that remark. "What, you don't think Susan's good enough for Carol?" Ross chuckled once again. "I'll take that as a no. Anyway, it's not that. Since you aren't gonna change your preferences anytime soon, I was wondering if you'd be…" "Wondering if I'd be what?" Rachel looked directly into his eyes as she said it. He looked nervously back as he stuttered, "my girlfriend."
Rachel's eyes immediately went wide, and gained back a little of their earlier sparkle. "So, what's it gonna be Rach?" He asked her. She just smiled at him and captured his lips in another kiss which made her melt inside. She broke it and looked deep into his warm eyes, which were now filled with passion. "Of course I will. I thought you'd never ask." They sat back and watched the rest of the fireworks show, each of them wearing a smile wider than the lake.
Rachel woke up Sunday morning to the sound of birds chirping. She rubbed her eyes and cast them over to the side of the bed. 8:45. Well, I'm up early for being here. She thought, bouncing out of bed. She was in a very good mood, and knew the exact reason why. She wondered if last night had really even happened. It was way too good. I must've dreamt it. Her heart started to sink a little at the possibility that it may very well have all been a dream. "Oh well." Rachel opened her door and walked out to greet the morning.
Like she suspected, no one was up. Not even her dad, who was known to get up and go out fishing at wee hours in the morning. Her mom sometimes got up early, but not always. And today seemed like a day that was included in that "not always." Her parents' bedroom door was still closed. Rachel walked a quarter of the way up the staircase leading to her sister's bedroom, and heard what definitely sounded like snoring. "Jill." Rachel whispered to herself and rolled her eyes. She folded her arms across her chest and quietly walked back downstairs. All the sudden she heard a knock on the door. She went to open it, knowing full well the only person it could be. She just wondered why Monica would be down here so early, much less up in the first place. She was known to sleep half the day away.
"Mon, hey." Rachel greeted her friend, opening the door for her. Monica was already dressed and looked wide awake, whereas Rach herself was still in her pajamas and looked half asleep. She felt wide awake, but her eyes were a little droopy still. "Rach, what's up? Did you sleep good?" Monica had a big smile plastered on her face. "Oh, who am I kidding? I know you slept fantastic. You must've!" Rachel still held a confused frown on her face. "Why?" she wondered, which made Monica smile even more. "I saw you kissing Ross last night, that's what! Oh my god, something totally happened, didn't it? I knew it! Watching fireworks across a lake as smooth and undisturbed as glass, the sunset over the water, me going off with Chandler and leaving you two by yourselves, I just knew something was gonna happen! And it did, didn't it?" By now, Rachel had almost an exact copy of Monica's smile on her face. "Yeah, and you know what Mon?" she cooed, and Mon giggled a little. "Yeah?" "He asked me to be…his…girlfriend! Like oh my total gosh! It's my dream!" Rachel fell down on the couch and buried her face in a pillow, giggling with glee. Monica sat down next to her friend, matching her giggles. By now, after talking about him for some time, Rachel was now looking fully awake. "Rach?" Mon asked, and Rachel looked up from her place in the pillow. "Yeah girlie?" she giggled again. "Why don't you go get dressed, then we can go down to my place and I'll tell you what went on with Chandler and I." "Oh, right, you and Chandler. I feel so selfish to have forgot. Yeah, I'll go. And brush my teeth too. If Ross is down there, don't want to have bad breath, you know, in front of my new boyfriend." Rachel happily sauntered into her bedroom and put on her bikini, covered by a cute green spaghetti strap over a yellow tank top, and jean capris. She slipped on a green pair of flip-flops that matched her shirt, and grabbed a puka shell choker necklace off the side table. She then emerged from her bedroom.
"Wow, cute outfit!" Monica gushed, and Rachel rolled her eyes. "Just a little something I threw together Mon, thanks." She said, then went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Rachel and Monica walked out of the house not 10 minutes later. "Really nice weekend it turned out to be Rach." Monica sighed. "Something happened in your department last night too then, huh?" Rachel turned to her friend, getting caught up in the guy gossip that was going on between them. "Not exactly. When Chandler and I were sitting out on the pier, I thought he was gonna ask me out, I really did. I saw the way things worked out for you and my brother, and I kinda wanted that to happen for me too. But then I thought some more, and I told Chandler I just wanted us to be friends for the rest of the summer, so we could get to know each other a little more. I mean, we just met. I really didn't think anything would happen that soon to tell you the truth." "Oh," was all that came out of Rachel's mouth after hearing that. She really thought she would have started something for her friend. "I see. So, things didn't exactly work out for you then." Rachel's earlier smile had faded, and Monica saw that. "No, sweetie, yes they did! You introduced me to a fabulous guy. Even if we didn't get as far as you wanted us too, we will. I'm pretty sure of it. Chandler's just great! I really like him, and I think he really likes me back. I had a fantastic time with him. And I'm pretty sure I'll have a boyfriend by the end of the summer too if things work out the way I have them in my mind. Thank you!" Rachel gained back her smile. "Hah, I do play a good matchmaker, don't I?" Rachel laughed. Monica joined her. "Yeah Rach, I have to admit you do." They then began the walk down to the Geller's.
"Rachel!" Judy Geller enveloped her in a hug the moment her and Monica set foot in the house. "Hey Mon." "Hi Mrs. Geller, how are you?" Rachel began to make small talk with her friend's mom. She hated trying to make small talk, thought it was so awkward. "Mom, Rachel and I are gonna hang out in my room for a bit if it's ok." "Ok Mon, Rach. But hey, I just made quiche, try some?" Judy held out a plate of what Rachel took as disgusting slop. "No, no thanks." Rachel tried not to, but ended up crinkling her nose at the wretched smell. "Rach, let's just go outside. I think I kinda changed my mind." Monica took Rachel's hand and led her out to the back porch. "They're mm, mm, good!" Judy said, taking a huge bite of one. "You girls sure?" Monica looked back and wiggled her finger from side to side, signaling no. "Ok then, you girls have fun outside." Judy listened as the back door slid shut at her last comment, then turned away and sighed.
Rachel and Monica sat down on the steps out back. "You know, this is the exact spot Ross and I sat last night." Rachel sighed dreamily. Monica giggled a little. "You know, speaking of him, is he still in bed? I didn't see him." Rach questioned. "No, I think…" she looked down across the dock. "yeah, he did. He took the jet ski out already. Speaking of Ross and his precious toy…" Monica pointed to a spot on the lake not too far from the shore. "There he is, see him?" Rachel cast her eyes out on the lake and smiled. "Oh yeah, I sure do." She licked her teeth. "Let's see what kind of tricks he's got for us today." She loved that she didn't have to hide her feelings for Ross from his sister anymore. "Ok, Rach, let's not make the gestures, I know what you mean. And frankly, it's not too pleasant for me to hear." Rachel giggled at that and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Hey baby." She yelled out to the lake. The figure that was Ross lifted his head and waved, then the Jet Ski did a 360. Rachel whistled. "You go boy!" Monica looked at her friend unbelievably. "Now that you're officially together, you just can't get enough of him, can you?" Rachel smiled slyly at Mon and said "Nope!" She looked on eagerly as Ross did more tricks out in the water on his wave runner. She even strayed down the dock from the porch to get a better view of him, whistling and hollering at him in the process. Wow, this is like, total fun! He looks so hot out there, She thought. And he's finally mine. Rachel sat down on the dock in complete bliss and waited for Ross to get back in.
A little while later (about 15 360's later), the Jet Ski found it's way back into its dockside port. "Hey you." Rachel cooed as Ross lifted himself off the wave runner. "You were pretty great out there." Ross slid up against his new girlfriend. "That's all I was babe? Come on, I've got to have been more than just 'pretty great'." "Oh yeah." Rachel leaned up and kissed him. "Good morning." She whispered. "Good morning to you too. And don't you look great!" Rachel blushed at Ross' comment. "Oh, thanks, but you know, just something I threw together." "Yeah, well, great combo. I'm likin' it." Rachel took Ross' hand and the two walked up the dock and to the porch and Monica.
"You two are just so cute." Monica gushed when she saw them together. Rachel blushed and Ross laughed. "Thanks Mon. I know that's hard to say about your brother, but I'm glad you feel that way." Ross sat down by his sister, pulling Rachel into his lap. "Whoa babe, you're totally wet." Rachel said when she sat on him. Ross laughed and playfully slapped her. "That's because I was out in the water; what is wrong with your mind?" "Sorry Mon, just had to say it." Rachel giggled, and Monica rolled her eyes. "So, what do you guys have planned today?" Monica looked from her best friend to her older brother. "Ah, nothing really," he responded; "we were actually gonna see what you were doing." Ross and Rachel looked at Monica. "We could go see Chandler." Monica offered, and the couple shrugged. "That's a possibility. Or we could go out on the water and tube and ski and stuff. Just hang out." Rachel said. "My dad would be happy to take us out. We could pull my sister on the tube; she's been bugging all weekend about it." Monica and Ross gave Rachel weird looks. "Oh come on you guys, I know you think Jill's like, super annoying, but she can be cool; sometimes." "And that is a very big sometimes." Monica added, and Ross nodded. "You guys…" "Well sweetie, my friend Joey from college's got a younger sister. She's Jill's age and she's not nearly annoying as that thing you gotta live with. Actually, Gina's kinda cool. I've hung with her once or twice, when she was up visiting Joey."
"Guys, Jill's not that bad." Rachel said. She gave Ross puppy eyes to convince him to go out in their boat later. "Alright, I'll come." "Yay." Rachel hugged Ross around the neck. "What about you Mon?" Monica rolled her eyes. "Well, since you and Ross are going out with Daddy Green and Jill in the boat, I don't want to be stuck here alone while you two are having fun. I guess." "Good. Then I'll go down and tell my dad that we can pull Jill 'cause you guys are coming so we won't make a special trip just for her." "Oh, Rach hun?" Ross called after her retreating form. Rachel turned back around. "What babe?" "Can I bring my wakeboard on the boat?" "Sure Ross. And I didn't know you did that, wakeboarding is so cool!" Rachel giggled. "That fine jet ski display, then this? Well bring it, cause this I gotta see!" She excitedly turned back around and walked down Elm Point Road toward her house.
A few hours later; Rachel, Ross and Monica walked together into the Green's backyard. Mr. Green was putting the tripod up in the back of the boat, and Jill was in the shed getting out one of the tubes. "Daddy, should we take this one?" Jill came out with a green thing that didn't look like any ordinary tube. It was totally flat, had six handles and was big enough to fit three people on it together. "The Super Screamer? Yeah, let's use that one." Mr. Green shifted his attention back to the tripod. "Good, cause I want to anyway." Jill took the tube over to the boat and tucked it in between two of the seats. "Daddy?" Rachel spoke up. Mr. Green hadn't even noticed the three. Leonard looked up from the boat. "Hey Rach." He greeted his oldest daughter. "Hey Mon." He then paused and surveyed the man next to his daughter. "Hi Ross. I see and hear that you're together with my Rachel now." Ross stood up and smiled nervously. He had forgotten how protective Rachel's father was of her, and how he acted with her boyfriends. "And what's that you've got under your other arm that's not being used to hold my daughter's hand?" "Oh, yeah, this!" Ross brought it out with a smile on his face, dropping Rachel's hand in the process. "It's a wakeboard. Have you ever heard of the sport?" "I think so." Leonard looked skeptically at the board. "Dad, I think it's really cool." Rachel spoke up. "Well, I guess if you want to bring it, we'll see." Leonard took the wakeboard from Ross and placed it in the boat. "Do you all have sunscreen on?" He changed the subject and looked at the four teens. "Yup, we put it all on at Mon and Ross'." Rachel smiled for a split second as she thought about how Ross massaged the sun lotion into her back. "Well, then, get in." Leonard instructed. Everyone got in, Monica and Jill in the back, and Ross and Rachel went up front. Leonard guided the boat out onto the lake for a good 3 hours worth of fun.
"Ok, so who's going first?" Leonard asked, and Ross immediately called first wakeboarding. Mr. Green rolled his eyes, but attached the ski rope to the tripod. Ross stood up in the front of the boat and stripped off his shirt. Rachel watched his muscles flex in amazement as he did so. Wow, that's sexy. I'm not gonna believe it for a second if he ever denies working out. Ross slipped off his sandals, fastened on a life jacket, and tossed his dark blue muscle tee aside. It landed right on Rachel's bare stomach. She giggled. "Thanks for the shirt babe." Rachel whispered. She had left hers back at the house, so she slipped his on. She smiled more as his scent surrounded her. "No prob, I thought you'd like wearing it for a while." He took note of Rachel's wide smile and chuckled as he walked back to get in with his wakeboard. His spot was shortly after being occupied by Monica.
Hey Rach." Monica said. "Hey Mon." Rachel said back. "Wow, I can't believe he gave you his shirt!" Rachel smiled again. "I know, and it smells so good too. I like it." "See, I knew things would happen eventually with you guys, I guess better sooner than later, right?" Monica gave Rachel a smile. Despite how disgustingly cute her and Ross were acting around each other, they were still cute. And Monica loved seeing Rachel this happy. She thought about what had happened between Rachel and her only other serious boyfriend, Chip Matthews, just last year. They were juniors, and seemed really happy with each other. Then Chip went off and slept with another girl, named Amy Welsh. Rachel had found out about it from another friend a couple days later, and immediately called Monica to relieve her devastation. Monica was crushed as well, and really felt bad for her. She thought, of all people, Rachel absolutely didn't deserve that kind of pain. And Monica knew in her heart that Ross would never do that to her.
"Oh my god! Daddy!" Rachel screamed as the boat took off at about full speed. "Sorry sweetheart, just trying to give Ross a good start." Leonard smiled through his sunglasses. "Yeah, well. I don't know a lot about wakeboarding, but I really don't think you're supposed to go that fast to start out." "Actually, no you're not." Monica added. "Oh, sorry, just got carried away is all. I'll go back and get him." Rachel rolled her eyes and turned around with the boat. "Oh my god, Ross! He probably did a faceplant at that speed!" Rachel ran to the back of the boat. "Honey!" Rachel screamed out to Ross. "Are you ok?" Ross swam up to the side of the boat with his wakeboard. "Yeah, just, sweetie, your father drives like a maniac." Ross said as he slipped his feet back in the bindings. Leonard turned around and shot a scowl toward the two. "I don't think he liked that babe." Rachel replied. "He's actually quite fond of the crazy driving, so watch out." "Don't you worry your pretty little head dear, I'm actually quite good at this stuff." Ross stretched up as Rachel leaned down and they met in a quick kiss. "I'll bet you are stud. Go out there and kick some serious wave." Rachel gave Ross a quick smile. He blew her another kiss and paddled back out to the ski rope. Rachel clutched a fist in the air to catch the kiss and giggled. She then walked back up to her spot in the front.
"Ok, ready!" Ross screamed as he lay in position in the water. Leonard gunned the speed, although not killer speed like last time. Ross gently glided up to a full standing position on the board. Both Rachel and Monica clapped. Jill sat in the back of the boat in stunned silence. She obviously had not seen anyone wakeboard before, Rachel thought. Either that or she was still shocked by witnessing her and Ross' display of affection earlier. Either way, Rachel was glad to have Jill shut up for once. "Yeah!" Monica exclaimed as Ross jumped a wave. Rach gave him a whistle, and she got a thumb-up in return. Ross then got in a different position, and Rachel looked at him skeptically. What is he doing? She thought to herself. Just then, she saw the answer. Ross jumped and did a complete flip in midair. Rachel was beyond amazed. She'd seen others do that before, but to watch her boyfriend do it was just very cool. She gave a big smile in Monica's direction. "Oh my god, did you know he could do that?" Monica gave a little smile and nodded her head. "Oh my god Mon, why didn't you tell me!" Monica shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, surprise?" Rachel laughed with glee. "Hell yeah! That was awesome!" Rachel whistled out to Ross again, only to get another thumb-up.
A little while later, the Green's pulled the boat back into the channel. Everyone was dripping wet, and they all (at least for the three) had soaked up a lot of fun in the sun.
"Thanks Daddy." Jill hopped out of the boat and ran inside. "Jillian, you're dripping. Mom will be mad…" But he was ignored as Jill ran in and shut the door anyway. Ross got out first, and helped the two girls out, Monica first and then Rachel. He stayed attached to Rachel's hand after pulling her out. "Thanks for taking us Mr. Green." Monica said. "You're welcome. And Ross," he said, looking in his direction. "What?" Ross asked. "Even though I couldn't see you, seems the girls think you're great at wakeboarding." He gestured to Rachel and Monica. "Yes he is." Rachel joined in, rubbing up and down Ross' arm soothingly. "Um, thanks Mr. Green." "Call me Leonard." He said, and walked away inside the house.
"Wow, my dad asked you to call him by his first name Ross, that's definitely not a sign of hate." Rachel told her boyfriend as they walked back down to the Geller's. "Yeah, I'm just glad he didn't actually try and kill me that first time on the wakeboard. I'm just glad he didn't reach down into the water with his bare hands." Oh, he wouldn't have. My daddy's nice. You just have to get him to like you, which is tricky. You gotta know what he likes. And you obviously don't have to worry about that hun." Rachel laughed, and then smiled when she felt Ross' arm go around her waist. "Rach, your dad likes me." Monica spoke up. "Yeah, well, what can you expect? You've been my best friend for almost 8 years!" "Time sure goes by fast, doesn't it?" Monica asked, reminded of how long her and Rachel had actually known each other. "Yeah, it does." Rachel leaned her head on Monica's shoulder, and the three happily walked down the road together.
Rachel stood by her bed Monday afternoon, unpacking her bag to the sound of B96 (a Chicago land hip-hop station). Snoop Dogg's "Drop It like It's Hot" was just finishing up, and the B96 DJ came over the mike, announcing the next song: Frankie J's "Obsession". Rachel liked the song, so she smiled when it came on:
Now I'm thinkin' bout this baby, I'm tryin' to make it right,
Don't know what to do, can't get you out of my mind,
Baby if you'd let me, I was thinking maybe,
We could ride together; we could do this all night:
I don't care if I got it bad,
Baby I'll make you understand,
That no one else can love you like, quite like I can
It's 4 o'clock in the morning, and I just can't sleep
Thinkin' bout you baby, it makes me weak
I'm feelin' hopeless in my heart
Don't know what to do; I think I'm in love.
I want, oh yes I want,
Oh what am I feeling, what am I doing wrong?
I want, oh yes I want,
Is this an illusion that I have in my heart? Oh.
Rachel sang to the song with a smile. This had been the perfect weekend.