Chapter 9
It's almost a week since the Thanksgiving holidays were done and they all went to Corpus Christi. Still, Ross mentally felt disconnected from the gang and was feeling lonely even though everyone were with him
"Ross seems to be lost these days," Phoebe tells everyone after observing his behavior.
"I know," Monica replied in a somber tone instead of her energetic high pitch I KNOW!
"He has been completely disconnected from everyone since we came back." Chandler was also equally concerned for his best friend of almost 10 years.
"Maybe we need to give him some space," Joey suggested.
"Joe, that's not the point. He's been through a lot and maybe he needs to still process his emotions." Monica replied. She knew her brother so well that even when Rachel was around, he used to behave differently around her
"It's really overwhelming for us to see them not together," Chandler added
"Let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst," Phoebe concluded.
...
Meanwhile, Rachel was completely smitten by Ross and hoped that Ross would notice her but it wasn't happening at all. Meanwhile, all the girls were out shopping in Grapevine mall while the guys were casually just sitting in the backyard of Ross's house where lawn chairs and table was laid with beers and some food.
"Looks like you are smitten by seeing Rachel." Theodore noticed
"I am not." Ross denied
"You are Ross. We can see it." Chandler noticed his behavior around Rachel.
"You want to know that I have feelings for Rachel." Ross tells them with some hint of anger in his voice. This was it. He was unable to hold his emotions any more. The emotions which were bottled up since past nine months, they were about to explode. Ross couldn't take it anymore
"Come on. Tell us." Theodore pestered him. Chandler and Joey were prepared to listen to the story
"I had a crush on Rachel since 9th grade. But she never noticed me in high school. But I'd always be thankful that she was my sister's best friend. " Ross sniffled. "Chandler and I were in college, my feelings for Rachel increased ten fold and when she was going to her prom, I could've taken her but her then boyfriend came and they went. And then, I realized that Rachel is way out of my league and I accepted my fate that she and I would never come together. Then I started dating Carol." Ross ended
"Then what happened ?" Theodore was curious
"Then Carol and I started dating each other and we got married. While she was living with her parents and I thought that she would be married to a rich doctor. But the opposite happened. She ran away from her wedding and Carol revealed that she was a lesbian. All the old feelings were rekindled back when she ran away from her wedding and came into the door of Central Perk in her wedding dress and I wished to be married again." Ross said.
Theodore whistled.
"That's not it. " Ross calmed him down. "It took me almost a year to ask her out and I had to break up with Julie because of her." Ross angrily tells them
"Who the hell is Julie?" Theodore was confused
"Julie was the chick whom he dated when he came back from China," Joey interjected
"It took me a year to ask her out. It took me a list to finally break up with Julie because I realized that I always wanted to be with Rachel and she came to know my feelings from an old prom videotape. It was kind of weird for me as I was dating my high school crush who was way out of my league. I was celebrating in my mind as if the Giants winning the Super Bowl or the Yankees winning the world series or the Rangers winning the Stanley cup or the Knicks winning the NBA championship." Ross continued. "It was going fine until this guy Mark came along and I was jealous and like any guy, I was extra jealous because admit it guys, she was a girl way out of my league and I was an average-looking guy." Ross continued. "That was the final straw. The moment I called from the payphone, whatever I thought, the future, was just down the drain and I don't want to tell what happened next." Ross narrated.
"Do you still love Rachel that you can't date anyone?" Joey asked.
"No, I don't".Ross adamantly tells them
"When he sees the lady, he might melt easily like butter," Theodore said aloud
"See Theodore, I am a hard guy to crack and I will not fall easily for her. Now that I know my mistake, I won't repeat my mistake knowing what happened before. It took me a year to ask her out but for her, it just took a second to call it quits." Ross ranted.
Just then, the girls were hearing Ross's rant about Rachel. Monica was seething with anger after hearing these words from her own brother. Phoebe was confused because she knew that it wasn't anger but he was still hiding his feelings
"Ross, calm down." Chandler tried to get him off the red Ross mode.
"I can't. You guys are at fault too, Joe and Chandler. My tone might sound accusatory because after reflecting on these 9 months, I realized one thing, you guys suck at giving me advice or solving any problem or helping me with my problem. You sided with Rachel when you clearly knew that 'Jerk' Mark wanted to take her away from me. Instead of helping me out, you guys decided to go on the ski trip which I hope you had fun with and made me the bad guy while she committed the same mistake."
"Ross.." Joey tried to calm him
Ross stormed off the table and saw Rachel and the girls. Rachel was shocked at how much pain is he carrying on. Maybe, it might become his new personality.
"Hi girls." Ross nonchalantly greets them and exits to his room.
Rachel was crying so badly. She was hurt by what Ross said about her. She was disappointed to see him this hurting. Monica wanted to slap him so badly but Rachel held her hand and left it.
Ross took his helmet and his biking accessories to go for a long ride as he preferred to go on some trips where he could find some of his feelings or unrequited thoughts came, he would go on such trips without informing anyone and leave his phone at home.
...
Flashback:
"Look, I did a mistake. Okay. I wish I could take it back, but I can't Rach. " Ross begged for forgiveness.
"I can't Ross. You cheated on us. You were the one who bailed on us." Rachel feigned ignorance.
"Rach. Please listen to me." I'm Sorry " Ross pleaded
"You expect me to take all those things back that you had done? I can't Ross." Rachel cried
...
Just after a few hours, Monica was growing restless. She was equally worried for Ross and was surprised to see his angry avatar. He wasn't that vengeful towards anyone let it be Rachel. But, after hearing what his opinions were, she was angry and at the same time, she was disappointed in him. While Rachel was heartbroken upon hearing this, she cried a lot. She was feeling bad about what she did and on top of that, she was equally hurt as Ross was. She needed some more time to sort her feelings towards Ross. Monica was sitting in the living room of Ross's house. Just then, the garage door opened, and within a few seconds, he entered the house. He put his keys in the bowl and was surprised to see Monica in the living room
"What the hell were you thinking Ross?" Monica angrily confronted him
"What do you think Mon. I am frustrated Mon. I can't be the guy I was before. And I'm pretty much sure that she would hate me with all force. And on top of that, she thinks whatever she wants, she would get. Mon, she is not the kind of friend whom you had in high school. She is a malignant narcissist. She wanted me to get the hell out of her sight and you guys. " Ross angrily ranted.
"Ross, are you out of your mind?" Monica angrily questioned. Ross stormed out of the living room and made his way into his bedroom. He was tired of all of them, he felt some kind of a sensation in his chest that was looking like a heart attack
"Monica, Leave me alone. And I order it." Ross angrily said.
"I want my answers, Ross." Monica adamantly said. "I wouldn't go until I get all answers."
"Mon. I don't have the right to answer you as you support that narcissist".Ross grunted. He was patting his chest and was feeling uneasy. Within seconds, Ross collapsed on the floor. He slipped into some kind of cardiac disease. He exercised as if there was no tomorrow along with a lot of, that helped him to cope with all his internal demons including Rachel and his family. But soon, he knew that he was experiencing some pain in the chest, and within seconds, he collapsed on the ground.
"Ross" Monica tried to resuscitate him. Everything was hazy around him. He was feeling that he was about to die. Monica went outside his bedroom and tried to wake the others while she saw Joey and Chandler snacking on the kitchen island.
"Joey, Chandler, come in." Monica coaxed them
"What happened Mon?" Joey asked he
"Ross,.." Monica choked
"What happened to Ross?" Chandler was a bit worried as he noticed Ross was a bit uncomfortable when he patted his chest before and while they all were sitting, he particularly avoided beer and had some yogurt parfait and some apple juice. With that, they all enter in the room. Ross was slipping into a state of unconsciousness.
"Joe, we both need to hold Ross on the shoulder, and Monica, you wake the others and we'll head to the hospital." Chandler took control of the situation
"Okay". Monica agreed.
"And Mon, you guys come by cab," Chandler ordered.
They both took Ross into the car and adjusted him. Joey was all beside him because he was a person who supported him at his good or bad times. But at that incident of the ski trip where he unknowingly blamed Ross for the problems in the group, he wanted to redeem himself for what he did
...
They all arrive at the hospital where Ross was hurried to the ER. Chandler was worried that what was happening to Ross. He was his best friend throughout his entire college life. Before that, he didn't have many friends and throughout the unbearable college life, Ross was the one constant who helped him through his frustrating times. Just then, Monica and the girls arrived.
"How is Ross?" Rachel asked him with all tears in her eyes.
"We don't know Rach, he is still in the operation theater," Chandler replied. Just then, a doctor arrived at the room
"How is Ross?" Monica asked the doctor
"He suffered a minor heart attack." The doctor told them. "He is still in stable condition, the next few hours are going to be very crucial and we are doing our best" The doctor assured them. By hearing the response, Rachel's heart constricted. She was feeling anxious that Ross might leave her forever. She wanted to tell him that she had forgiven him. She realized that because of her, he had to move from New York, and maybe it was because of her, he had a heart attack. She was sobbing uncontrollably. Even Phoebe also felt a pang of sadness in her heart. He was like a brother she never had. They all needed to stay until he recuperates.
...
Hours passed on and Ross wasn't showing any signs of recovery or any indication that he would come into consciousness. The doctor again came out of the room.
"How is he?" Rachel asked anxiously.
"He is still unconscious but stable. Otherwise, he should be better in a while. " The doctor replied
"What are his chances of surviving right now?" Monica asked the doctor
"It is really tough but should be fine in a while. All we need to do is to wait and watch. It's better you guys leave right now. He needs to rest. Only one can stay ." the doctor told them.
"Okay, I'll stay," Rachel told them. And they all left.
...