So I guess I'm continuing?
Just so everyone knows, I have never been to London, have never really learned about the historical location around and how far they are from one another. So for those who actually live in the beautiful city I apologize ahead of time if any of my information is wrong.
Thanks for reviewing!
ladover - Thank you so much! I'm really glad you like it so far
NoOne - I hope your feelings are right :) Thanks for your review!
miacarretto17 - Are you trying to make me smile? Because I have family around and smiling at a review doesn't look suspicious...thanks!
WHOviangirl0508 - I hope this update is soon enough? I was going to wait longer but I couldn't do that to you :) It means a lot that you like it
dancer cherrybug - Of course I'm going to continue! Can't leave you hanging ;)
macie41 - I'm excited about the next part too! I think you are going to like it. Young Mondler will always be the best!
MeganLucy26 - You loving it just by a few paragraphs means so much. Your stories are so great as well that it makes me smile each time I get a review from you. Thanks!
hugefriendsfan00 - Thank you! The only reason I uploaded this story already is because of you :) You PM me all the time makes my day and I'm really glad to write stories with such a talented writer.
OldMondlerLover - It is the best story line isn't it? It just sets up so much more :) Thanks for reviewing!
alexr301 - THANK YOU! I love when you write in all caps, haha :) It makes me feel like you actually like my stories. I hope you do anyway...
Guest - I have a few great ideas up my sleeve for this story, I think you may like it if you think the whole 'Monica hates Chandler' scenario is good. Thanks for reviewing!
Phoebe (Guest) - don't you hate when people say you're on your period? It's like they have nothing better to do. My mom does it to me all the time if I'm in a bad mood "Rylee, is it your time-" "No mom!" Anyway...thanks for reviewing! It means a lot!
friendsandrizzles15 - Chandler does seem like a jerk to me too. It's hard writing such a loving character like that. But it's different and it makes you wonder if Monica will forgive him and they will start trying things soon ;) Thanks for your review! It was nice reading your thoughts.
Guest - Thanks for taking the time to review, it means so much!
Ambywamby98 - I'm glad you like the idea I'll try to keep up with my updates :)
Prof-the F.R.I.E.N.D.S fanatic - Last but certainly not least...thank you for your fantastic review! I really enjoy reading your reviews. You give so much great input and...well I guess that's it :) Thank you!
It took over twenty minutes in the bathroom to get that gum out of Monica's hair. With the mint flavor still hanging with her in the air around and the fact that she was about thirty hairs less than what she came with, she just ignored everyone around her and waited for the flight to land. The seat belt light lit up for the final five minutes.
Grabbing her belongings when the plane was set to get off she made her way through the doors and into the airport.
Monica sat patiently watching for her luggage at the baggage claim. She noticed how much her classmates were being so loose and inattentive that it seemed they were oblivious to the fact that they were in London. London! The city where love happens. Her parents fell in love in London, they went on their honeymoon in London. Even her grandparents celebrated their anniversary of 43 years in London. It wasn't a city where you just sight-see, it was a city where the magic seemed to appear and the romance sparked.
Which brings her back to her Senior class. The class she just so happened to be stuck with. She disliked every single person on this trip. Well except for Mrs. Emerson, she hasn't done anything wrong. But everyone else she disliked. They don't take in the moment, they are too busy getting busy with other things. Take the beauty queens for insistence, they went straight to the bathroom to 'freshen up', then there are the jocks in the food court playing with a stupid hacky sack; the nerds and science geeks over by the window as they watched the planes take off. Like they had nothing better to do. Get your luggage! Looking over she spotted Janice Hosenstein. She felt bad for Janice. Like her last name wasn't bad enough she had the most annoying laugh. If you were blind and didn't know anybody's face, you could easily spot Janice just by her famous laugh. People say they try not to say anything funny just so they didn't have to hear it, but Monica thinks it's not that they try not to say anything funny, they are just that boring.
And finally the famous Chandler Bing, the one she had to deal with since kindergarten, was hitting on two blonde 'supermodels' over to the side that he spotted just as he got off the plane and onto solid ground. God, did she need Rachel's intentional spirits to finding the one she was meant to be with and her unwitty claim that she already found love. Her love for shopping.
If it wasn't for the loud bang from the person next to her grabbing their bags, Monica may still be day dreaming into another century and miss her luggage coming up next. She quickly grabbed the handle with her one hand before she missed it. But that one hand didn't help bring it over and off the conveyor belt because it was now pulling her along for the ride.
Monica hung on for dear life as she hurried with it. "Excuse me...excuse me..." She ran into people that were waiting for their luggage "Sorry." She took her chance before it went through the tunnel and grabbed it with her other hand "Ugh!" She pulled it off with all her might.
The heavy bag caused her to lose balance and fall backwards. Without hesitating and giving the people around her a show to laugh at; Monica quickly stood and brushed herself off, looking around to where Mrs. Emerson might be located.
Without luck, she grabbed the rest of her things before heading outside to where the bus was to be in five minutes in order to bring them to their hotel. The Ibis Hotel in London City.
Walking up to the side of the curb Monica scanned the crowd looking for any sign of her group. She got strange glances from people passing through. "Why did I choose the most comfiest outfit to ride on a plane for 6 and a half hours? Gosh, what were you thinking Monica, that people would be doing the same thing? That would be madness!" She rolled her eyes and tried to fix her pony tail so it wasn't so messy.
"Hey bookworm. Lost again?" Chandler stride by walking up to Joey Tribbiani. Joey and Chandler are what some best friends might call 'each other's bitches'. She still wondered what interested them into taking this educational trip to the place where Shakespeare grew up and became a well known author throughout the world? The last thing Monica ever thought she'd see: Chandler Bing standing next to Joey Tribbiani holding a historical landmark guidebook while touring London's most magnificent museums. She needs to get her camera...
Searching in her bag frantically for her digital, Monica scurried after them before she got lost again.
"Lincoln High!" Mrs. Emerson called out, standing in front of the tour bus they would be taking each day.
Monica hurried on right behind Kathy Sharp and found a seat just three rows back.
"Alright Lady's and Gentleman, find a seat. We are just waiting on a few others." The teacher said before walking back out to try and spot them among the crowd.
Monica watched as Chip Matthews walked up the stairs and started down the row. She always had a thing for Chip. Had; past tense. He would always wink at her as he passed by in lunch with his hamburger and salad. She would give a sly smile as if to say 'hi' back. But of course nothing ever happened because, well, he was Chip Matthews! He was also going out with Susan Bunch at the time but then Susan turned and came out of the closet. People say Chip only came on this trip because he needed to get away from that. But Monica believed he actually had an interest in the Global Theater and the Holy Trinity Church.
Chip neared her seat and she placed her purse in her lap, giving him room to sit. He looked over and winked at her before carrying on further back and taking the seat next to Kip. She was about to just leave her bag where it was safely in her lap, but when she saw Janice walk on next she quickly put it back.
She did not need Janice Hosenstein to be her bus buddy.
Mrs. Emerson came on and sat in the front seat. She looked over her attendance chart and counted heads. She sighed frustrated. Something that did not go unnoticed to Monica.
She watched as two heads bobbled past her window and soon was seen standing in front of the door. "We're here." Chandler grinned looking over at the teacher who sat in the very first row "You can cross our names off the almost got lost list. Thanks for holding the bus Mrs. E."
"Mr. Chandler Bing, do I need to assign you a map already?" Mrs. Emerson said not thrilled with his close call and almost missing the bus
Monica rolled her eyes as she shook her head and turned towards the window.
"I think I'll pass on the offer, but thanks." He smirked "It's nice knowing you have them ready." He made his way towards the back as Joey Tribbiani went to sit next to Kathy Sharp.
It was just her luck when he stopped right in front of her seat looking around for anymore empty spots. Monica quickly tried to space out as if that seat was full. But she thinks she made too much movement because when Chandler looked down at her; she tried to avoid eye contact.
"Is this seat taken?" He asked
Monica looked up "Um..yeah, actually it is." She told him
"Great." Chandler pulled his bag from behind his back and threw it at Monica's feet before plopping down in the seat across from her and lying back while he moved his hat over his eyes for a quick nap.
Monica picked up the bag and threw it at his opened gut.
"Ugh!" Chandler groaned and uncovered his eyes.
Turning back around to face the window, Monica tried to ignore him.
Mrs. Emerson looked through the attendance sheet and saw that everyone was here now "We are all ready." She announced to the driver
Monica looked out over the city they were on their way to entering in. It was out in the distance but from that seat on the bus she could see how beautiful it was. From her travel size guidebooks, Monica already has an idea of where the excellent features are placed and where to find the best fish and chips. It was just getting there that was going to be the tricky part.
She always had a thing for Shakespeare artifacts and the idea of him standing in the same spot she would be was breath taking. It's not every day that a young girl from a small town in New York gets a chance to visit the famous and everything talented Shakespeare's grave sight.
Her thoughts were soon interrupted when Mrs. Emerson stood up and announced "Kids, I have just been informed that there has been a mix up at the hotel and all your rooms have been changed to single."
Loud cheering and high-fiving erupted through the bus. Surprisingly, Monica joined in. Now she didn't have to share with Kathy who takes hour long showers in the morning. It was about time this vacation started to turn around for her.
When the bus stopped right in front of the Ibis Hotel, the teacher stood up before anyone else and made a few announcements. "Okay, okay," She waved her hands to shush everyone. "Your curfew will begin at ten p.m. and everyone will go by it. I will be holding onto your keys during the night to be sure everyone is safely in their rooms and not..." She paused over thinking what will happen if she didn't have their keys.
And Monica knew what was running through her mind. The idea of half the bus getting arrested and the other half ending up pregnant. The other students were groaning and whining.
"That's not right-" She heard one say to the other
She bypassed the end of that sentence and continued "The only way to ensure that no one wanders off on their own and possibly getting lost, we will be doing the 'buddy system'." She smiled and clapped her hands together
Monica looked around to find everyone grabbing hands with buddies and holding tight. But being through many field trips and camp groupings, Monica already knew what was coming. And she got the aching feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Now, I've assigned partners for the duration of this trip-" She got out the forms "and you will be responsible for tagging with your buddy the entire time. You must bring your buddy along on all activities and assignments. Remember, this is an educational tour of the UK."
"Ugh," Chip Matthews groaned "Don't remind me." He reached in his pocket to fish out his cell phone.
"Oh, thank you Mr. Matthews."
He looked up wondering if he should say 'you're welcome' or not.
"I almost forgot..." Mrs. Emerson grabbed another bag that was set off to the side "I will be collecting all cell phones before you get off the bus."
Everyone's face crinkled and people around started to hit Chip.
"This. Will be your new phone."
Turning back to the front of the bus Monica saw her holding a silver flip phone that had an antenna pulled out from the top.
"You will only be using it for emergencies." She went around and started handing them off "I don't want to see you distracted or texting your buddy right next to you." She gave an eye in Chandler's direction "These phones have minutes. Those minutes aren't cheap and will cost you if you go over."
Monica was handed her phone next
"So don't be foolish with them." She made her way back to the front "And finally. You must be by your buddies side during all cultural hours. You're probably thinking, what are cultural hours?"
"Um, no." Janice got out her nail filer.
Mrs. Emerson ignored her "Cultural hours are free hours. Which will give you permission to explore London on your own. With your partner, of course!"
"Shopping time!" Kathy squeals
This does not go unnoticed and Mrs. Emerson gives her an evil eye before charging on "Cultural hours are to be spent exploring the wonderful culture of London." She says while making sure to emphasize the words "This does not include shopping."
Kathy rolled her eyes
"I will be keeping track of your hours from reading your reflection papers that you are to write at the end of this magnificent trip and all the British experiences you will have throughout the ten days we will be spending here." She finished
While getting out her list of partners her classmates continue their moaning. Monica didn't know what they expected. An easy vacation that they could wander wherever, whenever? This was for credit and Monica was planning on getting an A.
"Alright, as for your buddies, I will be starting from alphabetical." She began
"Chandler Bing your buddy will be..."
Alphabetical? Monica looked over 'Bing' That was pretty darn close to 'Geller' or maybe...
She started to look around Chip Matthews, Joey Tribbiani, Kathy Sharp, Janice Hosenstein, Kip Jones...no one was closer to Bing than-
"Ms. Monica Geller."
Her head wiped back to the seat across from her. Chandler Bing was stuffing another Orbit Mint piece of delicious in his mouth.
"Hmm?" He reached out to her and she violently shook her head.
Being paired up with Chandler was not on her agenda. They had completely different interested, they had completely different styles, and they were completely different people. For one, Chandler Bing is a rule breaker and Monica Geller was certainly not.
I'm not going to give you a long authors note like up at the top so all I've gotta say is that all reviews will be well appreciated!
I probably could have wrote this chapter a little better but oh well...