A/N: The Course of events begins to shift as a Halloween night begins to change the fates of everyone here. Including a major revelation. Enjoy

11: Letter 10

October 31, 2017 5:40 P.M.

Ross of course didn't play in the playoff game, but Joey shown through that glaring weakness and our team advanced with barley a blip that he wasn't there. The same could be said the following week and Ross once again played his heart out in a defensive battle that saw him kick 7 field goals to win by 2.

As the semis loomed on the 4th we had literally only one day that we could all have another session together. That was Halloween and this time we moved over to the lounge at the Panda Express, Phoebes bakery owned by her grandparents. In what seemed more like a Starbucks then a family owned bakery, tables and customers stood abound in the lounge.

"Y=8…" Joey was having trouble with Geometry so that was the primary focus of our session and on the orange couch we've come to call dibs whenever we were there, the smell of candy and pumpkin spiced bagels wafted over us.

"I can't be that hard…" Phoebe complained about her skills while sipping the ever-familiar pumpkin spice smoothie.

"Please, the girls who run cross country wished they had the speed you do." Monica mentions pointing at the Gamora dressed little girl nearby us. "Hell, the coaches have repeatedly begged me to get you to join them, and I'm not even in track."

"How is your style fast?" Ross pondered while I saw him correct a mistake on my sheet without breaking stride.

"Ross, you've seen six million-dollar man, right?" the words could barley get out of Chandlers mouth without him gagging. Phoebe bopped him and the gave all of us a chuckle.

"They say I run the way Kermit the frog claps when introducing a guest on the Muppet show." Her tone was mixed as she did not feel that comfy bringing it up again. "When we did 40 Yard Dashes in 8th Grade PE, that style made me beat the best guy in our class by a full 0.85 seconds. I call it worthy."

"Well I call it seizure…" My two cents were given and that allowed us to focus back up on our work. As we headed out an hour later we could see the kids in costumes with their buckets of sugar-coated goodness. The lament was felt on all of us knowing that we were well past our costumed days. As Phoebe broke away with Monica and Chandler for a little mischief, I made the turn with the boys onto our block. They both looked at me with longing eyes and that caused me to sigh as I thought about the lone detail written for Halloween.

OCTOBER 31

QUIET DAY BUT JOEY AND ROSS BOTH ASK YOU OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE WALK HOME

Strangely that did not give off an alternative suggestion. So Now I was completely in the dark as we neared Althea's but just as Ross broke away he quickly turned back.

"Rach are you free on the 17th?" Joey turned in complete shock and I just shook in place completely speechless.

"No…"

"Well why, if we have the championship on the 11th then what are you doing?"

"Well…"

"Ross, she already made plans with me to decorate my family's place for Christmas."

Now I was shaking worse. "I did…"

"Well let me help, I'm great at these type of things, plus I can bring my Grandma over."

"Ross, I have a large family I think we can do just…"

"Joe, I'll do it, but only if Ross and Althea can be there too."

The two of them smiled big wide-eyed smiles and while that got me off the hook beforehand. They looked at each other with uncertainty.

"See you guys later…." Ross broke off and that led me and Joey to head back to our street. Once we were away, that made the conversation switch focus.

"Joey, why did you do that?"

"Cause Rach, it seems like he wouldn't know that much."

Now I was a bit livid. "Joey, you know I don't think of you that way."

"Then why were you seriously considering his offer of a date?"

"Well, he had a rough few weeks, I'm sure he could use a break." As we saw the lights from Joey's house come into view he was just as livid as me.

"Please Rach, he had the hottest girl in school other than the three in our group right on his finger and he gave that up how would his last few weeks have been…"

"CAUSE WE KILLED HIS MOM!"

Joey stopped dead in his tracks and I let out a small squeal at the realization. I shook in complete disbelief while Joey could only mouth out one word.

"How?"

"First Day of school he was supposed to take her to the hospital, but we kept him with us. Althea took her, and she died en route." The tears we're now falling from my face. "Joey, we killed her, just like that guy in baseball who killed a fan who wanted a souvenir for his son."

Joey hugged me to calm me down, "Rach it's not your fault…"

"Yes, it is…That's why I want to do stuff with him, and if your feeling jealous cause of…"

"No, not at all. He's part of our group now. We're playing for a state title because of him. Rach, he's been a gift. That won't change."

One larger hug followed, and Joey broke off to wipe the tears flushed on my cheeks. "You have a goodnight Rachel Green."

I saw him Walk inside and I smiled happily.

"I made the right choice didn't I."

As I got to my room the letter was now shown on my bed with the date circled. One simply thought was on my mind.

"I made the right choice, didn't I?"

The envelope in Bright blue and white letters reflected in the night.

JOSEPH TRIBIANNI

A/N: As Championship day arrives the gang heads to Syracuse for a game changing few days in Chapter 12: Letter 11. As Always Subscribe for more.