L Stands for Friends
Author's Note: Chapter 2… not much else to say other than please review.
Previously…
"It's perfect, Bette."
"We'll take it."
"I'm Joey Tribbiani, by the way."
"Bette Porter."
"Hi. I'm Tina."
"Oh, you're a lesbian!"
"Guess who just moved into your old place?"
"I'm telling you, they're really amazing people."
It had been two days since Bette and Tina's encounter with Joey and the Italian actor had wasted no time informing his friends of the new couple that had recently just moved in. Now, Joey was at Central Perk once again talking to Ross Geller and Rachel Green about his two new neighbors.
"I mean I looked up one of them and…"
"Hold on," Joey glanced at Ross who was staring at him, an eyebrow raised, "You looked them up? Joey, that is crazy. That's sort of…" Ross glanced at Rachel and asked, "What's a nice way to put it?"
Rachel paused for a moment, her daughter, Emma, sitting comfortably on her lap, "Stalking?"
"Yes, thank you," Ross turned his attention back on Joey, "Dude that is stalking them."
"I only stalked one of them," Joey said in an attempt to defend himself, "But honestly one of the women, Bette, has done some really amazing things. She ran her own gallery… she worked at the California Arts Center… she was the dean of a college… and…" Joey trailed off, "Why are you two staring at me like that?"
"Nothing, nothing," Rachel murmured, exchanging a small glance with Ross who gave her a small smile.
"So Joe, when do we get to meet these new neighbors of yours?" Ross asked.
"I don't know… I haven't really seen them since the night they moved in," Joey sighed, glancing quickly towards the entrance and his eyes lit up, "Actually; you can meet one of them right now." Joey stood up, "Bette!"
Bette glanced towards her new neighbor and gave him a small smile, Angelica in her arms, as she made her way over to them.
"Joey," She said with a small, polite nod, "It's good to see you again."
"You too," Joey smiled and instantly jumped out of his chair offering it to Bette and Angelica. She sat down, murmuring a 'thank you' before staring awkwardly at Ross and Rachel who were waiting for Joey to introduce them. Joey jumped again, suddenly realizing that, and gestured between Bette, Ross, and Rachel, "Bette, these are two of my best friends, Ross Geller and Rachel Green. Guys, this is Bette Porter."
"Hello, nice to meet you," Bette shook Ross and Rachel's hand before returning her attention back to little Angelica who was nervously staring at the group of strangers.
"Is that your daughter?" Rachel asked, smiling, "She's adorable."
"Yes, she is," Bette returned Rachel's smile and pressed her lips to the top of Angelica's head.
"She looks a lot like you," Ross offered.
"Thanks," Bette smiled; remaining silent, that she in fact had no blood relation to Angelica.
"So where's Tina?" Joey asked.
"Working," Bette answered, "I'm just here, waiting for a couple friends."
"I'm going to get coffee," Rachel announced, handing Ross Emma, "Do you guys want anything?" Joey and Ross shook their heads, no paying much attention to Rachel, "Bette, do you want anything?"
"No, thank you," Bette murmured with a smile before turning to stare at Ross, her brow furrowed.
"What…?" Ross asked, slightly nervous.
"I just realize where I know you from."
"Oh," Ross gave a cocky smile, "Well I have written two books."
"No," Bette shook her head, smiling softly, "You used to be married to Carol Willick." Ross blinked in surprise and Bette explained, "I went to Yale with Susan. I was at their wedding."
"Wow," Ross laughed, "The world just got so much smaller."
"So what time are your friends getting here?" Joey asked and Bette glanced at the watch that hung loosely off her wrist.
"Now actually, but they have a reputation of being late."
"What's up, New York coffeehouse?" A voice suddenly shrieked and Bette, Joey, and Ross all turned around to see a blonde walking through the doors, followed by a darker woman who mouthed something along the lines of 'total embarrassment.'
"God, don't let that woman have anymore coffee," Rachel muttered as she took a seat next to Ross. "Who is she?"
"I don't know," Ross, murmured, staring at the blonde-haired woman, "She seems like she could be a lot of fun." Rachel gave Ross a pointed stare. "I mean crazy. She looks completely insane."
"Those are actually my friends," Bette announced and waved them over, "Alice, Tasha." As Alice and Tasha approached them, Bette gestured between her gay family and her new straight friends, "Al, Tash, this is Joey Tribbiani, Ross Geller, and Rachel Green."
"Ooh straight people," Alice laughed, plopping down next to Rachel while Tasha sat on the couch's arm, rolling her eyes.
"Sorry about, Alice, she thought it would do her good to have a couple of margaritas for breakfast," Tasha apologized before turning to face Ross and Rachel, "I'm Tasha, by the way."
"Hey margaritas for breakfast are always fun," Rachel laughed, shaking Tasha's outstretched hand before turning to Alice, gesturing between Bette and the two newcomers, "So… how do you all know each other?"
"Well…" Bette began, but Alice cut her off.
"Bette and I used to date, but then she told me that there was some straight girl she was 'in love' with who she had already started seeing behind my back so our relationship went down the crapper," Alice grinned, "But we're still real tight, right Porter?"
"Sadly that is true."
"Shut up, you know you love me," Alice laughed, "And Tasha's my partner and we have amazing sex."
"Alice," Tasha moaned with embarrassment while Ross and Rachel began cracking up, Joey chuckling slightly before noticing mortification that appeared on Bette's face.
"Well, I think that's my cue to take you guys to the airport," Bette said, picking up Angelica as she stood up.
"Airport?" Rachel asked, "Where are you two going?"
"L.A." Tasha explained, "We came here to help Bette and Tina get settled in and drop of that little angel." Tasha smiled at Angelica who waved at her most responsible aunt.
"Yeah," Alice exclaimed before turning to Bette, "But why are we going to leave now? Our plane doesn't leave for hours."
"Yes, but the sooner I get you at of my hair, Alice, the saner I'll become," Bette teased and was rewarded with a glare from Alice, "Besides, we still have to pick up Tina and actually drive to Newark."
"Well I guess this is goodbye then straight people," Alice laughed, "But I'm sure you'll being seeing us again real soon. Bette will soon be crying because she misses us so much."
"I can't miss you until you leave, Alice, so time to go," Bette teased and Alice gave a sigh before jumping to her feet, Tasha following her blonde girlfriend.
"Again, I'm sorry about Alice," Tasha apologized and Alice shot her partner a good-natured glare.
"It's okay," Joey, grinned, "She is rather charming."
"I think you have confused charming with annoying," Bette muttered before getting ready to leave, "Well, we're off. See you later."
Joey, Ross, and Rachel watched them leave, Joey with a small grin on his face that vanished as soon as he noticed Ross and Rachel staring at him, their eyebrows raised. Even Emma seemed to be staring at him with curious, dark eyes.
"What?"
They exchanged a glance before Rachel grinned; clasping her hands together and said in a singsong voice, her eyes bright as she teased her friend, "Joey Tribbiani is crushing on Bette Porter."
"Definitely," Ross laughed.
"What?" Joey stared at them, his face darkening, "That's insane. I think she could be a good friend. If I did ever have feelings for her, it would be as a friend."
"You totally are," Rachel, said with a nod, "You have all the signs."
"Signs, really Rache? Give me one sign."
"Let's see… you haven't stopped talking about her since she moved in."
"You've told practically everyone you know, including Gunther," Ross said, glancing at the bleach-blonde man behind the counter.
"When she walked into the coffeehouse, you eyes lit up and you practically screamed at her to come over."
"I said name one," Joey snapped, his cheeks still a dark pink, "And besides she's gay, why would I feel any attraction to someone who isn't even interested in guys?"
"I was attracted to Carol even after I knew she was a lesbian," Ross said.
"Joey, it's not something to be embarrassed about," Rachel said gently, "Just… don't act on it, okay? Bette and Tina are together and if you were to tell Bette that you were attracted to, her it would only make it impossible for you two to have a friendship. And believe me you don't want your neighbors to hate you." At that, Rachel gave Ross a stare.
"What? It's not my fault my neighbors hate me."
"You couldn't have just paid the hundred dollars?"
"That was like five years ago. I can't believe you even still remember it."
Joey listened to his friends' banter for a couple more minutes before standing up, telling them he was going home, but really he just wanted to be out of 'couple city' as he called them. He was the only one of his friends still single: Ross had Rachel, Chandler had Monica, his other friend, Phoebe, had Mike, and now if Bette and Tina were to join their group, they would have each other.
There was only thing Joey really hated and that was being alone.
"You know, I think Joey likes you," Alice murmured from the backseat of Bette's Lexus as she drove them towards Tina's work.
"What?" Bette asked laughing. "Are you insane? He knows I'm gay and even if he didn't, he was just being friendly."
"Oh come on, Bette, whenever you were talking he couldn't keep his eyes off of you."
"Tasha, will you please tell your girlfriend that she is being ridiculous?"
"Actually, Bette, I saw it too."
"What?" Bette exclaimed, "Not you too."
"It's not a big deal, Bette, that he likes you," Tasha said with a shrug.
"Yeah, I mean you don't have to worry about an affair because you aren't really attracted to dicks, right?"
Bette glanced at Alice through the mirror and rolled her eyes, "I'm also in love with Tina."
"Right, right. How could I forget that?"
And so another round of playful banter between Alice and Bette continued once more with Tasha rolling her eyes at their child-like behavior, but smiling softly. They were so immature, but she loved them both.