A/N: Big stuff here as Rachel discovers what she can be truly capable of. Enjoy.

5: Letter 4

September 6 2017

I almost was late for a second day in a row and when I came into the building I looked over into the attendance office to see Ross talking things out with Ms. Litman.

"What's up…"

Ross hugged her tight and then exited the office.

"Ross…"

He blew past me and managed to exit the building quickly. Nothing else I know happened throughout the day but when I got home that night I decided to check the letter just to make sure there wasn't something else I missed.

"Oh Crap…"

What I found out was even worse.

ROSS WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE HIS MOM TO THE HOSPITAL FOR DIALYSIS TREATMENTS

SHE DIED ON ROUTE WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER ALTHEA

ROSS COMES CLOSE TO DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL

"You got to be kidding me…" My phone grab was immediate, and a quick search of the local obituaries showed the name of Judy Geller. The look on my face went from fear to shock within seconds.

"We killed her…" Now I sent a text to Joey asking if he had gotten Ross's number before he left yesterday but he sent a quick response back that dashed my hope.

"Ross…" Now I was concerned but one detail of the letter was a bit off.

"He considers dropping out of school…"

Why would he want to consider doing that? My fear continued to grow as Ross somehow would not be at school for nearly 11 days. The only memorable thing that would occur during that time would be Monica mentioning to me something about her dad being the lone person to attend a wake that was being held near town. All this going on just didn't add up.

September 22 2017

By this point I was all set to consider Ross a lost cause, I knew that Joey had found his Grandmothers place, but Ross didn't want to see anyone and made sure to tell Althea not to allow anyone in. Other matters than took center focus Homecoming was within a week and the powderpuff game that night was something I was not looking forward to be a part of.

That morning before school when I got the letter out from its spot, something new picked my interest.

SEPTEMBER 22

POWDERPUFF GAME '18 SENIORS v '19 JUNIORS

ROSS RETURNS FROM ABSENCE HE CLAIMS HE WAS DITCHIN

JOANNE GARCIA TWISTS HER ANKLE IN FINAL 3 MINUTES OF GAME PHOEBE AND MONICA BEG ME TO REPLACE HER

. I REFUSED AND REGRET IT LATER. PLEASE DON'T TURN THEM DOWN THIS TIME

My eyes went wide. I was never the best athlete, yet somehow 2028 Rachel is asking me to do something out of character for me.

"Not this time…"

The bottom of the page put one other detail into clear focus. One that threw a curve ball right at my unmentionables.

"I Fall in love with him?"

As the game was being played right after the football team got done with practice we'd be able to see Joey beforehand. Over the years Monica and Phoebe have developed into a really good tandem each can somehow predict or react in a near twin like state.

"so no one told you life was gonna be this way. Your jobs a joke and you are broke your love life's doa."

That song was all on their head as we passed along the fenceline.

"It's like your always stuck in second gear, when it hasn't been you're your day week month or even your year."

Through the fence Joey looked like he'd been out of it and just wanted a quiet moment to himself. Chandler was nearby walking when someone came up his way.

"Guys is that?"

The player got near Joey then removed his helmet and I couldn't believe what I now saw.

"ROSS!"

Monica and Phoebe broke formation to pound on the fence to get the guys attention all 3 turned and noticed.

"Hey!"

"Where've you been…" Monica broke the tension while Ross set his helmet down.

"Ditching…" Ross barley got that out while Joey and Chandler hopped all over him saying he was lying like crazy. As we met up 10 minutes later and found out, Ross had been seen kicking soccer balls by some of the teachers and had been asked to be the Football Teams Kicker.

"No Way…" My letter surely didn't mention this.

The game went on as about what you'd expect. The seniors ahead of us always got the better of things in the school's rivalry games over and over for the past 2 years. But now we knew a bit of what to expect from a glorified flag football game.

"Ok, I'm enjoying this." Ross was having a blast from the sidelines as we could see. I'm not the most gifted athletically as I sat on the bench alongside 14 other Junior Girls. Some I knew, others I wish I didn't. But Monica and Phoebe were gifted as we built a nearly 21 point lead heading into the final part of the game.

"Ok, Rach last 5 minutes all you have to do now is watch…" Monica lounged next to me on the bench while we saw the other girls go to work. Phoebe was behind us talking with the guys and that allowed me to get a chance to ask Monica a quick blurb. We didn't notice but the lead evaporated before our eyes and I knew that if I had to mention the letter it had to be now.

"Hey Mon?"

"Yeah…"

"You don't believe in destiny, do you?"

"That stupid video game that Chandler keeps trying to get me to join?"

"No, something else see I got a…"

But screams suddenly popped over the field and we all turned to notice the situation.

"MEDIC!" The screams of Chole bellowed over the crowd as we all went silent.

"Oh, crap!"

Now I could see it. Joanne Garcia down as the letter predicted but with a much worse injury than anyone could have foreseen.

"Her leg bone is sticking out." Phoebe could see that from a distance and we could here Joey audibly puking in the stands. The whole field went dead silent for nearly 10 minutes as medics and the girls all checked on her. There was a part of me that wanted to get up and leave the scene right now and as I turned to go Phoebe stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Rach, we need you in…."

"What the…" Monica now joined Phoebe and I was now really wanting to get out of there.

"Guys I can't, I'll blow the game…"

Suddenly the last voice I wanted was now behind me.

"Rachel…You can do this…" Ross was now within earshot and the words of the letter now emboldened me. If he could honestly see my ability better than even I could, maybe he is worth investing my effort in when it came to saving him from a grizzly fate.

"I'm in…"

As I ran out to the jeers of everyone that wasn't in my circle I didn't remember much of what transpired in that huddle as all I kept hearing were the words, go long over and over again. But as that ball got hiked and I went the distance suddenly I could see Franny the built 6'1" volleyball captain head my way.

"Letter, you'd better be right about this…"

My view back saw the ball get lobbed into the air as our QB took a pounding trip. But as now the ball inched nearer my face Franny leapt for the flags I barley had contained on my waistline. Without knowing it I front flipped over hear leaping body making a one-handed catch beneath my arm.

The roar of the crowd followed suit and I heard the collective gasps of the guys screaming at me to run and somehow, I galloped the last 15 yards to the end zone without losing the ball.

As that meant the game was out of reach my fellow juniors and the patrons in the stands rushed the field in jubilation. My four peeps somehow lifted me up into the air in unison but had trouble keeping me aloft. Ross somehow balanced me perfectly and at that moment when I could hear the crowd chanting my name Ross gave me a humble i knew you could look and that allowed me to take stock of the situation.

"I am in love with him…"

A/N: Chapter 6: Letter 5 Coming Soon. As Always Subscribe for more.