Here we go...
-Material used to protect fragile goods, especially in transit.
-Material used to seal a joint or assist in lubricating an axle.
She shook her head "What does that even mean!?" Getting frustrated while looking up 'Easier ways to pack a suitcase' was not helping Monica's time.
"You leave tomorrow." Ross sat on her bedroom floor "And you have one box packed." He looked up from the bottle of lotion in his hands "Your bathroom bag."
Monica's eyes stayed sealed to the screen of her computer.
"Here's a helpful hint..." He paused "You pack your bathroom bag last!"
She was upset, sure. Maybe even depressed. But what is done is done. The fact that he kept something from her is what made her upset. How are they suppose to be with each other when one of them is hiding behind lies?
"You need to talk to him."
"I don't want to talk to him right now." Monica slammed down her laptop screen, making a louder noise than intended.
"What the hell happened between you two anyway?" He was leaned up against the wall with his arms resting on top his knees. "I thought you guys were inseparable?"
Rolling her eyes she felt like this question came up everyday she didn't see Chandler. And that has been six days in counting...
"Look, everyone has fights. We'll get over it and move on." She began folding her articles of clothing to fit perfectly in her bag. "Things get easily forgotten...isn't that right?"
Remembering one fight in particular when she was twelve and Ross was thirteen. It was a Friday night and the new Exorcist movie just came out. She and Ross have been dying to see that movie ever since it previewed on television. Of course she was too young and her parents didn't allow it. Being Rated R you had to at least be 18 years of age. Soon she got over it, knowing it was a long shot. But the thing that struck her most was when her parents caved in thinking he was mature enough to go see the new film. They bought his ticket and he joined his friends at the movies. Monica argued with her parents from the time Ross left to the time he arrived back home.
That night she was sound asleep when he entered her bedroom asking if she was still awake. Seconds later she felt her covers being pulled back and him joining her in her small bed. Monica was sure glad she didn't go to the movies that night. She'd known after seeing Ross' reaction she'd be scared straight!
"Yeah. But is this just a fight?" Ross asked knowing this had to be more than just another stupid argument like when they were kids. Things change when they get older. They become more mature therefore fights get more serious.
Whenever he tries to help it gets to be too much for Monica to get a handle on. Whether it be with her packing or just relationship issues, it all ended up with the same sentence. "I'm just telling you something you already know."
"Hey Mon, is this suppose to reduce wrinkles?"
Rachel walked through her bedroom door from examining her bathroom cabinets, returning with only a cream in her hands
"Rach, what are you doing with that? That's my moms." Irritated with her brother was one thing. Annoyed by her best friend was another. "You guys are suppose to help me pack."
Most of every family friend or relatives don't go to the same college. Wanting to get away and venture out was on most teenagers mind. But this particular trio of friends were almost inseparable. "It's not our problem you are so behind in packing." Ross squeezed some lotion on his hands before closing the cap and setting it back in the bag. The only bag.
"What happened to you. You use to pack weeks before you leave. Now we are lucky if we get you ready in the next 24 hours." Her friend commented
Shaking her head she sighed. "I just got a lot to think about right now."
They gave each other the look before turning back to their friend "Does one of those things so happen to be, Chandler?"
They saw right through her. But there was only one way to get them on the same page in her book. And that was telling them the truth.
"I told you about that guy, Tyler, right?" Monica pointed up to Rachel as she took a seat in the desk chair opposite of her.
"You mean the mystery guy?" She grinned
"Yeah, so I tried to meet up with him a few times in London but it never worked out." She reached out to grab her water on her desk top "But each time he would finish texting me, Chandler would show up...suddenly..." Monica explained slowly, hoping Rachel would catch on. And fortunately her friends thoughts were in order as she connected the final piece of the puzzle.
"Nora Tyler Bing!"
Monica's eyes grew wide as she nodded knowingly.
"I can't believe he would do that." Rachel's head shook, disapprovingly.
"Do what?" Ross decided then to join the conversation.
Just like any other teenage girl, Monica ignored her brother in order to continue her conversation with her friend.
"But how did he manage to keep up with those texts?"
Shrugging, she replied "I don't know. But I wanna say Joey Tribbiani was in on it too."
"You don't think-" Pausing, Rachel waited for her friend to cut her off.
"Think what?" Ross tried a second time to join in on the gossip.
"They spend an awful lot of time together."
"But Chandler would never do that to you." Rachel's eyes narrowed as she didn't believe what she was hearing. "Chandler was Tyler this whole time?"
Rolling her eyes Monica held out her water for Rachel to place back on the table "Yes, we've established that."
"I know, I just felt like it needed to be said again." She shrugged
The urge to cough as the smoke went in made his lungs feel a little bit tipsy but alive. The taste of it disappeared over the years as this one dragged out, it felt more delicious on the tongue and the smoke more delightful. It all rushed back to him. Why he quit he couldn't remember? Being most of the way through the second stick, the feel became calmer. More relaxing as his eyes slowly closed and he felt like he was floating.
"I don't get it."
"It's been years?" His fingers came down from his mouth, the warmth of the burning end traveling through his body "I think I deserve one every once and a while."
Joey got frustrated. He yanked the cigarette out of his friends hand and threw it on the gravel before smashing it under his shoe. "Not that. Monica?"
He flashed his lighter with his thumb and forefinger. "I lied to her." His voice softening "I lied to her to get closer and it just drew us apart."
"Look." Joey stopped the rocking of the porch swing they sat upon "I'm going to get sentimental so don't get all choked up and shit. Okay?" He paused, waiting for his friends word.
Chandler motioned for him to go on as he looked out at the passing cars.
"You two are meant for each other. We all look around and when we see you together...I don't know, it just fits." Chandler's head moved back to Joey as he spoke "And you just know...it's going to last forever."
The ache in his stomach of wanting another drag, returned. Maybe it was the cause of quitting for so long or maybe it was just feelings for Monica resurfacing. Whatever it was, he begged for it to cease. He didn't need this now and he didn't need the extra pressure it brought to his day.
With Monica probably on her way to campus at this time, Chandler's affection towards his love for her and his decision with choosing PSU to make her happy, his time with her was coming to a standstill.
"Go after her." Joey's words returned his thoughts to reality.
"She is probably already packed into her dorm room by now."
He shrugged not caring if she was halfway to China at this moment. Why should he still be here mourning over this? "Does that mean you can't see her again?" He said sarcastically "Look, she isn't an immigrant waiting to be married into the country. She's your girlfriend waiting to see how you truly love her."
Everything he has been questioning up until this moment was forgotten. Tyler was history, his dad was married, his prom night was a memory, dusted go karts were washed. But Monica stayed Monica. She was his until someone said otherwise. And 'til that day comes, he will always love her like another day in the rain.
God, when did Joey become so smart?
Jumping up Chandler grabbed either side of his face, planting a kiss on his cheek "I love you man." He rushed off the porch and sprinted to his car.
"Got everything?" Jack shut the trunk, praying nothing would fall out in the process.
"Everything I'll need." Monica announced, throwing her pillow in the middle seats. Her hands settled in her back pockets of her jeans, her hair was slightly curled for her big first day of college.
When her phone began to buzz she took it out only to look at the Caller ID.
"You ready Sweetie?"
She put her finger up "Can I have a couple more minutes?"
Her mother nodded, accepting the fact she needed to double check and make sure she had everything.
"Chandler, I can't talk now." Her voice was low as she started to walk back towards the house. The phone was held up to her ear not exactly waiting for his answer back "I'm about to leave."
"I know. I just needed to hear your voice." The sound of horns echoed through the speaker. His driving with one hand not helping with the speed bump ahead. "I need to tell you something."
She looked back at her family getting in the car "I really gotta go."
"Then I'll tell you now." There was a letter he wrote her. One that expressed everything. The whole Tyler thing, the acceptance to PSU and most importantly, this past summer. Pulling the crumpled out paper from his pocket, he held the phone in the nape of his neck. "A life isn't worth living if it's perfect. Some have struggles, some have emotions, but mine I would describe in one word. Complete." The letter was folded opened in front of him on the stirring wheel as he read his words out loud to her "And you are the reason I feel that way. Because being with you is all I need in life. I don't need the perfect job or the perfect family. All I need is you." His car came to a stop right outside of her house and he got out slowly watching as her back faced him.
Her voice started shaking at the sound of his voice, the expression he had in his words. "Chandler..."
He could sense the tears forming. "Life is short...we all gotta smile before we have no teeth." He paused for dramatic affect "And the only way I can do that is if I'm with you."
Turning around she heard his car door shut and watched as he made his way towards her. Stopping right in front of her he brushed his thumb over her jaw line "I'm not leaving. Not unless it is exactly 79.7 miles from you." Knowing that was how far he would be from the campus she was staying on. "I don't want to leave you." His tear lines matched hers "But for the next semester, I'll be sure to stay in contact so you don't leave me."
"I won't leave you even if you had...zits covering your face." She said off the top of her head.
He chuckled "What if I had warms?"
She cringed "We won't be lacking lips for a while. That's for sure."
His smile slowly faded "I'm going to be attending PSU. But next semester I expect a spot on your tour list." He told her "Because I won't know where all my new classes will be."
Monica didn't care what people said or what they saw as she leaned in and made her lips one with his. "Just don't be one of those jack-ass freshman." Her hands stayed around his torso when she pulled back slightly.
"Since when do you have a potty mouth?" He teased, not once hearing that kind of language come out of her mouth.
"Since I've been going out with you." Her face inches from him she awaited his kiss.
To which he gladly excepted "By the way babe. I'm afraid your freshman-ass is in the same boat as mine."
She gasped as she pulled back "Did you just call me an ass?"
His features matched hers "Are we really going to play this game now?" He turned the cards on her.
Shaking her head she smiled "I'll see you later?" Giving him a peck on the cheek she watched as her family grew impatient. "I really gotta go now."
Chandler gave her one last quick kiss "I'll come by once everything settles?"
"Sounds perfect."
And that is my attempt at a chapter! I'm almost done with the next one. I'll update again tomorrow morning before I leave. That is unless no one wants to read the chapter that is graphic and more detailed...
I think we should take a vote, smut? no smut?
Just repeat after me "I...(state your name)...will not judge Mondlerfan101 or Rylee whichever you prefer...for writing smut in chapter 20."
P.S. Mia, monbonbing, I changed like half this chapter so that you won't hate me for giving Chandler cancer ;) You can thank me later! Oh and I'm leaving for Southern Thursday! I'll be passing you! I'm totally going to leave a secret message in the nearest Mc Donalds for you to read. (All words will be spelt backwards..shhh!) My family is going to hate me when I tell them the last place I wanna eat before I'm stuck with college food is Mc Donalds :)