Crazy Love Chapter One, a friends fanfic

Crazy Love

A/N: Hello! My other Friends fics have died a death, but I really am going to seriously try to keep this one up, mainly because I like the concept and actually have a proper idea of what's going to happen! So yeah basically at some points you might have to suspend disbelief a little to join my world of Friends-land, but it's all good. I like AUs and this is one. All the gang are it in, but Rachel and Monica aren't living together and don't know each other – at least, not very well. Other than that it'll all become pretty clear as you read!

The title of the fic is a song by Van Morrison (covered by Thea Gilmore, whose version I am using in my head for this fic!) and I thought we'd start with a sing-along to get us in the mood.

I can hear her heart beat from a thousand miles

And the heaven opens every time she smiles

And when I come to her that's where I belong

Yet I run into her like a river's song

She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

Fine sense of humour when I'm feeling low down

And when I come to her when the sun goes down

Take away my trouble, take away my grief

Take away my heartache in the night like a thief

She give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

And I need her in the daytime

And I need her in the night

And I want to throw my arms around her

Kiss and hug her kiss and hug her tight

And when I'm returning from so far away

Gives me some sweet lovin' brightens up my day

Yet it makes me righteous, yes it makes me whole

Yet it makes me mellow down into my soul

We'll have chances for more singing later. Right now though, on with the fic!

Chapter One

Rachel wrinkled her nose as she followed her best friend Phoebe into the dingy club. The term 'dive' would be much too kind for this place, Rachel mused as she squeezed past people, clutching Phoebe's hand to ensure they didn't get separated. Usually the two of them would be sitting in their flat watching cheesy sitcoms and dodgy quiz shows, but for some reason Phoebe had decided it was time they went out and did something else. Rachel didn't mind that idea – she thought it might do her some good – but she felt she had to question the wisdom of coming somewhere that looked as if it might have died in the past week without anybody noticing.

"Hey, Pheebs!" Rachel had to yell over the combined din of thumping music and buzzing voices, and it wasn't until they'd finally pushed their way to the bar that Phoebe heard her name being called.

"I'll get us drinks!" was what she shouted in reply, and Rachel rolled her eyes. "This is cool, isn't it! There's a live band on soon too!"

Rachel opened her mouth to protest back, but she found she didn't have the heart, especially when Phoebe handed her a vodka and Diet Coke. It wouldn't hurt to give the club a chance, and anyway they didn't have to stay long if it turned out to be worse under the surface of its charmless exterior.

"Seats!" Phoebe grabbed Rachel's free hand five minutes later and pulled her over to a small table situated right next to the even smaller stage set up a few feet above what Rachel supposed was the dancefloor area. It was good to sit down, Rachel thought, as they sipped their drinks and began a shouted conversation about the following weekend, when Rachel was going to her parents' house, and Phoebe was invited to come along.

About half an hour after they arrived, the music dulled to a much quieter hum, and the lights came up a little. Rachel gave Phoebe a quizzical look, which was refracted with one of knowledge.

"This will be the band coming on," she said, nodding. "No idea who they are, but Molly says there's always live music on in here on Saturday nights. Might be good," she added hopefully, and Rachel agreed.

"Yeah, probably!" She smiled at a man who she noticed staring at her from the other side of the bar, and then there was movement on the stage as three guys and a girl appeared from behind a shabby-looking curtain, all clutching either instruments or microphones. Rachel was surprised four people could even fit on the minute stage, but apparently this wasn't a problem as they set up quickly. The sole girl was adjusting her microphone at the front of the stage, and as she glanced around the crowded club, she caught Rachel's eye and smiled.

"Wow, she saw you!" Phoebe exclaimed, sounding far more excited than the occasion merited, in Rachel's opinion. Still, she thought the three accompanying men all looked pretty good. The one with the second mic was, as far as Rachel could tell, sort of Italian, with dark features. The two at the back with the instruments were also cute, in entirely different ways. One was taller with nice dark eyes, and the other had a really friendly, attractive face. From her seat next to the stage, Rachel was able to watch them carefully until she decided that, given the choice, she wouldn't say no to any of them. After all, it had been way too long since her last date.

The band was introduced a few minutes later, once they'd sorted themselves out, but Rachel didn't catch the name over the roar the crowd was making. Not everyone sounded overjoyed to hear the first song, which was a cover of Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl, though Rachel liked it. The Italian guy was a really good singer and the girl was harmonising beautifully. Maybe they were too good for this joint. One look at Phoebe confirmed that she was thinking on the same lines, as she was shooting dirty looks at a couple of guys nearby who were jeering.

"That's pathetic," she spat, when she saw Rachel watching her. "They're a good band!"

Rachel nodded. "They're definitely good. I love this song!"

The band finished Brown Eyed Girl and performed a couple of obscure tracks before switching to a rocked-up version of Eternal Flame, which the girl sang brilliantly. Most of the women in the club were singing along or swaying rather drunkenly, and Rachel linked hands with Phoebe as they belted out the lyrics.

"Say my name, sun shines through the rain, of a life so lonely and then you come and heal the pain..."

Just as Rachel giggled at how off-key she had sung that line, she glanced towards the stage again and felt her stomach do a funny flip as her eyes met those of the guy on keyboards at the back of the stage. He held her gaze, without smiling, for a good few seconds before she made herself look away again, blushing. She didn't know why, but he'd made a shiver run right down her spine from a single look. Maybe it was his eyes – they were gorgeous and very intense, even from where she was sitting.

Rachel was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the absence of music until Phoebe touched her on the arm.

"Hey, you ok? The band's gone for a break."

"Yeah, I'm fine, just feeling tired and a bit hot." It wasn't a lie, particularly as the club really seemed to be heaving by now. Running a hand through her hair, Rachel decided she desperately needed some fresh air, and leaving Phoebe to watch their drinks, she headed for the nearest and most accessible exit. It turned out to be a side door, leading out to the back of the club, where Rachel sat on a low wall and took a few welcome deep breaths. The air was cool and crisp and refreshing, and Rachel closed her eyes, enjoying the way the breeze swept over her and made her feel ten times better already. She started dreaming about going back to the flat and snuggling in bed with a magazine and a mug of steaming hot chocolate...

"Excuse me."

Rachel's eyes flew open at the sound of the unfamiliar male voice, and she nearly fell off the wall when she realised it was the guy from the band, the one who had been staring at her not so very long ago. She couldn't help noticing how much cuter he was up close, before she remembered he'd said something and she ought to reply.

"Hi," was the best she could come up with, which annoyed her greatly. Where was her usual flirtatious banter?

The guy didn't seem to be bothered. "I was, erm, just wondering if it would be ok for me to sit here." He gestured to the wall beside Rachel, and without thinking she nodded in response. He smiled then, and she was unable to resist smiling back, as he sat down. "It's nice out here."

Rachel nodded again, before cursing herself for being so stupid. He was only another person, someone she didn't even know and who was probably just being polite.

"You guys were really good," she said at last, her voice sounding much louder in her own head. "Have you been playing long?" At least that was a decent question, she thought.

He shrugged. "Kinda. We messed around in high school, but we didn't consider taking it seriously until we got into college and auditioned for another singer. There's no way we could make a living doing this, but it's fun." He grinned again. "You look bored already."

Rachel flushed at this, realising she'd been watching him talk without really listening, especially because for some reason she had the inkling she'd seen him before. Where or when were unanswerable, but the possibility was in Rachel's mind.

"I'm not bored," she replied quickly. "I'm just amazed you kept something like that up. I don't stick with anything very long."

"Well, my sister's a bit of a slavedriver, so it's probably all her fault," he laughed. She decided she liked his laugh. "Hey, I never asked your name. Sorry."

"Rachel."

He held out a hand. "Nice to meet you, Rachel. I'm Ross."

She shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too, Ross." No, she couldn't place the name, but maybe it would come in time.

"So, uh, do you live nearby?" he asked, after they spent a few moments eyeing each other up shyly.

"Yeah, pretty much. I live a few blocks away with my friend Phoebe. We share a flat. How about you?"

Ross nodded. "Yup, not too far. My sister's even closer. Mind you, her apartment is way better. She has the most amazing views over the city. I spend most of my time over there these days." He stopped talking suddenly, and frowned. "Are you cold?"

Rachel hadn't even realised she was shivering a little until he mentioned it, but now she felt it. The refreshing breeze had turned into something closer to a chilly wind, and she wasn't dressed for the cold, wearing as she was a short black skirt and quite a thin top. Before she could confirm or deny his query, however, he'd taken off the blue shirt he wore over his T-shirt, and was placing it around her shoulders.

"Here, this might help," he said kindly. "I should probably head back inside soon."

Snapping out of the trance created by his closeness, Rachel agreed. "Oh yeah, of course. I should too, I guess. Phoebe will be wondering where I am."

He smiled again. "Ok. Well, uh, it was really nice meeting you, Rachel. I'll see you later." And with that, he disappeared back into the club, leaving Rachel sitting on the wall alone, lost in thought until the frosty air got the better of her and she too went inside.

"There you are!" Phoebe looked exceptionally glad to see Rachel when she returned to the table. "These girls came over and tried to make me move. I really had to put my foot down!"

Rachel laughed, imagining what Phoebe might have done. She was about to ask when Phoebe said, "What's that you're wearing?"

The shirt! It was so comfortable that Rachel had forgotten she still had it on. It was definitely too big for her but in a good way, and it smelled great. It smelled of him, the mysterious guy she'd only just met. This was so unlike her. Rachel never usually found herself wondering what it would be like to kiss a man she didn't know, but something about this was different. She couldn't put her finger on it, and she certainly wasn't going to tell Phoebe, who would think she was crazy.

"Oh, erm, I got cold outside so some guy said I could have his shirt," she explained, looking down at the garment. "I'd give it back except I can't remember what he looks like." That was, of course, a complete lie, because she could remember exactly what he looked like, and in particular, the way he'd looked at her when he was draping the shirt around her. As if he felt it too. Rachel laughed shortly. Now that idea was bordering on crazy.

"Rach, are you ok? You look a bit weird." Phoebe was peering at her with friendly concern, and Rachel nodded enthusiastically.

"I'm fine! Probably just pale from being outside."

And that was that. The band came on stage just then and began playing some more songs, which made Phoebe's attention to Rachel waver and then cease altogether. This was fine by Rachel, who took the opportunity to study Ross as he contributed to the band's music. He didn't seem to sing much, but that didn't matter. He looked so intense, concentrating on what he was doing, that it made her shiver again.

When their final song was finished, the band thanked everyone for listening to them and then retreated from the stage, taking their equipment with them. Rachel wondered what it was like to be part of something that had lasted from high school. Sure, in high school she had been in all the clubs and societies, as well as being as cheerleader and all that stuff, but none of that meant anything beyond graduation. It was different when you had to grow up and realise it hadn't really meant anything.

"Come on Rach, let's go before the crush starts." Phoebe grabbed her friend's hand again, and pulled her to her feet before they made their way the side door, slipping out before anyone else could move. Once outside, they started walking slowly, Rachel unable to help turning her head every few minutes, just in case there was any sign of Ross. By the tenth time, he evidently wasn't coming and Phoebe was asking questions, so Rachel gave up, heading home still wearing the shirt of a guy she didn't know.

A/N: So did you like? Yeah the suspending disbelief part was that they would ever be in a band and that Joey's a great singer. But hey, it's my fic world and it's gonna be a good plot, I reckon! Remember, reviewing makes you happy! Well actually it probably makes me happy too!