The beginning may suck. But hopefully the end makes up for it.
She could smell a hint of his Orbit Mint Gum he loved so much. Every few minutes the smell would get stronger as if it was just being exposed from it's thin plated foil wrapper it spends days in.
Lying upon the comfort of her bed, she hugged her pillow close to her chest, wishing it was him. It seemed like just last night she was pulling the gum out of her hair in the airport bathroom. Now it was two months later and she hasn't heard from him in almost three days. As the phone sat close by, she waited for a call, a text, anything.
Twenty seconds went by and she couldn't take it any longer. Snatching the phone in her hand, she began to dial his number. On the second ring, he picked up. Or someone picked up.
"Hello?"
Monica's face winkled when she didn't recognize the voice on the other end. "Um..hello."
"Can I ask who's calling?"
Sitting up in bed she tucked her knees into her chest as she leaned back against the headboard. "This is Monica. Who is this?"
"I'm his mother-"
There was a paused as she heard some ruffling going around in the background then another voice appeared through the phone speaker.
"Hello darling, sorry about him. He can't figure out his sexuality." She said in annoyance
She struggled to hold back her chuckle until she found the words to reply. "Um, is Chandler around? I haven't heard from him in a few days."
When she didn't hear a sudden reply she figured she was searching for him or handing the phone off. But when her voice rang through again she knew she called at the wrong time "He is up in his room. Hasn't been out all day." She said sadly
"Do you mind if I-"
She wasn't able to finish her sentence when Nora spoke again "I think he would love that."
Chandler's room was trashed. Clean clothes were on the floor while dirty clothes were thrown over the opened drawers. His bed was unmade and his wastebasket was overflowed. He didn't care though. All he cared about was the one person he hasn't seen in days. This whole time he was thinking about himself, not even worried what Monica might be feeling right now.
He sat at his desk with his laptop on and the scores from the placement test up on the screen. This test determines what level of classes he would be assigned in college. It was all he could think about which caused everything to be pushed aside, including the wedding invitation he received a week ago; not touched since then.
"Chandler, open up. You're father wants to speak with you."
"Well I have nothing to say to him." He answered back through the closed door that separated them. He could hear whispering out in the hall. The faint sound of them arguing made him want to call up Monica and listen to her sweet, calm voice. But after his dad showed up that morning he didn't think twice as he went upstairs and locked himself in his room, not remembering to grab his phone on the way.
As his thoughts wandered back to reality he noticed the talking had disappeared and he wasn't being bothered any longer.
Shutting the laptop screen, Chandler moved over to his bed where he would stay until his dad left.
It sucked. Everything sucked.
Up until he heard a knock on his door and a small voice on the other side.
"Chandler."
Jumping out of bed he took two steps to the door and swung it opened to where he had enough room to pull Monica in.
"What's going on?" She asked as he pulled her by the arm and she took a seat on his bed.
He began pacing in front of her with the look of worry on his face. "Did you speak to my dad?"
She hesitated as she took her eyes from him to his room, then back again "You need to go to your fathers wedding." She answered softly
"Mon, you don't understand. He ruined my life, he ruined every big moment in my life." He started to choke up and Monica waited for him to continue when he wanted. "He leaves whenever he wants then he shows up unexpected and-" He shook his head "I'm not taking it anymore."
She pats the bed next to her and he walks over slowly before plopping down next to her.
With her arm around his body and her hand running through his hair, she tried to console him. "Tell me another story."
His head rest on her shoulder "What story do you want to hear?"
She leaned her head against his "An exciting one." She answered
Chandler smiled "All my exciting stories began with London." He pulled away and kissed her cheek.
Monica tired to suppress her grin that he created.
"Don't smile." He teased her "You know you don't want to smile."
Letting it escape, she shoved him back on the bed so he was further away from her.
His hand rested behind his head for support as he lay there on his back looking up at his beautiful girlfriend. Her eyes were wandering around but he didn't mind. His eyes were too busy fixed on her. He couldn't believe it. Any of this.
And the question that he has wondered for the past couple months filled his thoughts again. Why hasn't he noticed her like this before? Just the sparkles in her eyes make him ache. He loved her so much it hurt.
Knowing that she wanted to help him with his father made since. All women want to help their boyfriends. But the truth was, he didn't want help. Yeah, it's been almost a decade since his father left and he should get over that. But that wasn't the only reason he can't go to his wedding. Let's make a list, shall we...
Tenth birthday his father breaks the news to his mom in the middle of the party and they fight the rest of the night. Junior High he shows up at his swim meet and drops his fruit hat in the pool, causing him to lose the race. Prom night, he decides he wants to get back in his life after six years of solitary and ignorance. He missed his prom because of that. And now, he wants to get married on his and Monica's 2 month anniversary. There was no way in hell he was leaving her that day for a wedding he didn't want to happen.
"Did you go to your prom?"
Monica turned her attention from the posters on the wall to Chandler lying beside her. "No." She shook her head "I was busy with other things." She dropped her arms that were holding her up so she could lie next to him.
"Homework?" He guessed
Raising her voice she defended "I had a big exam the next day."
"You missed your prom for homework!" He switched over so he was lying on his side and facing her. "Not a good enough reason."
"What?" She tilted her head up a little so she could look at him
"Everyone should go to their prom." He couldn't let her skip her Senior Prom "I'm taking you to your prom."
"Chandler-" She began to stop him but his words cut her off.
"There is nothing you can do that will change my mind." He told her
His elbow was resting on his pillow and his legs were crossed at the end of the bed, but she couldn't say no when his hand rested on hers.
"Just promise me you'll go to your fathers wedding and I'll go to prom with you." She answered softly knowing it would be hard to convince him.
"Ma, it's tight."
Nora slapped his hand away from the tie she was working on getting straight. "Stop being a baby. This is a big event, nothing is suppose to be loose."
It was on the tip of his tongue as he tried to hold in the sarcastic remark from his mother's statement.
"Perfect." Nora ran her hands over his tux to smooth out his jacket. "You remind me so much of your father."
"Thanks mom."
"Is that suppose to be sarcastic?" She remarked
"Well being recognized as gay isn't really my thing." He looked down to where his hands fixed the red flower on his chest.
She rolled her eyes "That's not what I meant-"
"When he was straight. I got it, mom." Chandler leaned down to the height of his mother in order to place a kiss on her cheek. "You should have started with that, though." He teased before hurrying upstairs to grab his wallet.
"Where's Monica?"
She waited for his answer until he hurried back down the stairs "I told you, I'm picking her up."
"Oh that's right." She slapped her head for forgetting "I'm old. I forget things." Before he got too far out the door she added one last reminder "Don't sit in the car wearing your jacket! It will wrinkle before you get there."
Chandler took it off and placed it flat in the backseat before climbing in. Rolling his window down he made his way out of the drive "Don't wait up." He shouted just as he gunned it and the motor sounded.
"Always do!"
The strapless Persian red dress carried down to her ankles. It was Rachel's idea to purchase a strapless in order to show more cleavage. But as she spent a countless time pulling up from the top, she regretted that decision.
"Monica, Chandler is here." Ross called as he passed her door on his way to his room.
With one final look in the long length mirror and a deep breath, anyone who saw her would think she was about to walk down the aisle; but she wasn't. She was on her way to her boyfriends-fathers-wedding. Accompanying Chandler is something Monica didn't miss a heartbeat thinking about. He told her he wanted to take her to prom on their anniversary, but Monica wouldn't let him since it was on the same day of his fathers big event.
Chandler didn't want to fight with her, not in the middle of the park. So he simply paused and thought of a solution. "What if prom was at the wedding?" He had asked "It's the perfect place. Everyone will be dressed up and there will be a DJ. Even food and champagne."
Monica couldn't say no. After the way he tried to stage the perfect prom, (even though it was set up in front of their faces this whole time) she couldn't say no.
"Mon?" His voice rang out in front of her and she saw him in the doorway through her mirror. "Wow." He took a step further "You look-"
She turned to face him but he was still speechless "It's too much, isn't it?" Her smile dropped "I knew I should have picked out that blue one..." She started to mutter under her breath as she went to her closet "I should have never listened to Rachel."
"No, no, no, wait." Chandler quickly grabbed her arm in order to stop her from changing. "I love it."
"Am I going to stick out?" She asked
Being shy had it's moments. But one of them was to be behind a book instead of a strapless red dress. She could feel herself feeling flushed and nervous. Feeling his palm in hers, she knew everything was going to be fine. As long as his fingers was interlaced with hers.
"Only to me."
They pulled up and the first thing Monica saw were Drag Show Performers.
"Oh my God." She slowly unbuckled her seat belt and let it slip through her fingers until it was back in place.
"What?" Chandler questioned, still sitting in the car beside her.
"No-Nothing. I mean, I knew your father was gay but I didn't actually put the pieces together." She admitted as she watched well posered men walk into the reception.
Chandler nodded "It's just the beginning Sweetheart." He leaned over to kiss her cheek quickly before they were interrupted by the valet to come and take their car.
His hand was latched tightly around hers as men passed him by with curious looks on their faces.
"Chandler..."
Not until then did he realize he was squeezing Monica's hand a little too tightly. "Sorry." He let go and continued to look around the ball room.
"Is everything okay? You've been acting weird ever since we walked in."
"No, yeah." He shook his head trying to grasp his thoughts "I just see all these guys looking at you and I can't help but feel-" He stopped mid-sentence afraid to admit that he was becoming jealous. "I just want to make the stupid toast and get out of here." All thoughts of their perfect Prom vanished.
She nodded just as a slow song came on and couples gathered on the dance floor. She has only meet Charles once but she could tell he was happy as she watched him dance with his partner.
"You want to dance?"
Monica turned towards Chandler after hearing a higher pitched voice. But when Chandler turned his head also she then noticed the other man beside him.
A lump caught in his throat. A moment of true embarrassment was about to take hold when Monica broke the ice.
"Actually, he was about to do me that honor." She laced her arm through his and gave the man a friendly smile before dragging Chandler out to the middle of the dance floor.
He brought her around then back to him. The smile that stayed plastered on Monica's lips had Chandler carious "What are you smiling about?"
She shook her head "I think the guys you thought were looking at me, were really looking at you." She chuckled
With Chandler's hands wrapped firmly around Monica's small form and her head resting on his shoulder, they danced slowly.
"You think that they think I'm gay?"
She shrugged "He asked you to dance." She lift her head to look up at him
Chandler's head wiped around to find the dance floor occupied by mostly men. To which were all looking in his general direction. Unbelievable.
"Good thing I have a hot girl dancing with me."
She closed her eyes and placed her head back on his chest. She could hear his heart beat in rhythm to hers. The movement of her body swayed to the thump thump thump instead of the beat of the music. Closing her eyes she enjoyed the time they had.
The sound of his heart made her want to be closer. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally.
"Excuse me, but I believe this hansom man is my son."
Monica raised her head to find two set of eyes staring at them.
"Hey, dad." Chandler said with a hint of vexation to his tone.
"Chandler I'd like you to meet Walter." Charles said proudly "My new husband."
It took every ounce in his body to pull a smile and extend his hand "It's nice to meet you."
"And you as well." He smiled "Don't worry, son. You don't have to call me dad."
Laughing uncomfortable he said "Good" and put his arm back around Monica "And this is Monica." Chandler's smile returned "My beautiful girlfriend of two months."
Walter grinned "Aren't you a treat."
Monica's smile faded at the complement that she wasn't sure she should take as a complement.
"So Chandler, when would you like to make your toast?"
"The sooner the better." He muttered
Charles smiled and wrapped his arm lovingly around Walter "Well what better time then right now." He stopped a near by waiter and grabbed a couple glasses of champagne.
Looking around for a utensil to tap the glass with, Chandler thought back to the night in London where he was mixing Monica's drink with a spoon he found near by.
The high clink sound rang through the room and everyone soon got quiet.
"Uh..." Chandler looked around meeting a few eyes "I actually had a speech prepared but left it in my other pants." He joked but didn't get anything when crickets sounded from the DJ. "Okay, tough crowd." But again nothing "I'm the son of the..." He looked back to the guest of honor not sure which was the bride and which was the groom "I'm the son of Charles Bing. Or as some of you know as Helen."
Monica looked around and knew Chandler was feeling a bit out of place.
"I actually...uh..." He looked down at his glass and lost his words. He was about to shove his hand in his pocket, something he found himself doing to free his nerves, but his hand didn't make it there when he felt Monica take hold and squeeze; reassuring him that she was there for support.
He looked in her eyes and continued his speech "I actually didn't want to come tonight. Mainly because tonight is not just a special night for my dad, but for me as well." He paused and looked around the room "You might think that I could be a little over dressed for a wedding and my date maybe as well." He motioned to Monica, which caused her to blush "But the truth is that tonight was our two month anniversary." He paused "I don't know much about true love and I'm not entirely sure how my dad found Walter." He looked back at the both of them "I never went to my prom and I may never have the true feeling of prom night like most of you did. But tonight, I wanted to take my girl to her prom."
Monica had tears in her eyes when he called her his girl.
"This night is all about my dad and Walter." He raised his glass "I know you found your love. And I know that my prom queen is not far away." He softened his voice as he looked down at Monica "Cheers." He clinked her glass and everyone raised theirs.
I'm going to stop there and continue with their prom night in chapter 17. I really hope you like it still, please please please tell me in your reviews!