Please Come to Boston

Chapter 4

Here's the next part! I'm not all that thrilled with this part, which was originally going to be two parts, but it's a stepping-stone to the next two parts, so it is necessary. I wasn't going to update this until next week, but…too much alcohol last night is preventing me from enjoying the beautiful day outside, haha. And…no, that's all I've got.

Chandler rolled the window of the cab down, enjoying the cool night air on the way to the airport. He had almost called Monica six more times in the past few hours. Six. He had turned his cell phone off very early in the night, afraid he would give in if she called. But he couldn't do that. He couldn't hurt her again, any more, ever. He was done.

And he couldn't be in that city anymore. With her. He couldn't see anyone else. He couldn't let them be the next "Ross and Rachel." Although, it didn't seem like they would ever be able to go back to the "friend-zone." There had always been that extra spark between them, and they had gotten in way too deep to get over two broken hearts and go back to being "just friends."

So, he was running. He was doing the only thing he could think of. He was getting the hell out of New York as fast as he could. Getting as far away from Monica as he could. He couldn't hurt her again.

And, truthfully, he couldn't take anymore hurt himself.

As he powered on his cell phone, he saw the two dozen voicemails left in the hours his phone had been off. He sighed, torn at what to do. Finally, he made his decision, throwing it out the window as hard as he could, wincing as he watched it shatter on the pavement behind him.

"What the hell are you doing, man?!"

"Sorry," Chandler apologized to the cabbie, not sure if he should regret his last move.

No, he decided. Not something to regret.

At least not yet.

_._._._._._._

"Mon," Rachel said quietly, peeking her head into her room. Monica hadn't been out in almost 24 hours. "Monica, you need to come out. Eat something. Shower. Maybe you'll feel a little better?" She walked over, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Maybe I don't want to feel better," Monica mumbled, her back away from Rachel. She was staring at Chandler's side of the closet, remembering the fight that ensued over the closet the night he moved in. Who got how much space, why were her shoes on his side, oh, but now his work shirts were squished and wrinkly, no, he's not going to iron every morning, why can't her stuff be squished instead? It had ended in a tickle fight, both of them falling to the bed in tears of laughter, the fight never mentioned again. However, they both silently took over the other's side every time laundry was done—a bit of a silent war between them.

It now looked sad and half empty, although Chandler hadn't taken much—a couple of suits, maybe a sweater or two. She would throw all of her clothes on the floor and give him the whole closet if only he would come home.

"I don't deserve to feel better. He's gone because of me. What the hell is wrong with me?!" Monica sat up. "I mean, I can see him freaking out, and playing this stupid game with the plan to throw me off, but," she shook her head, "What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I do it back? Why did I go to fucking Richard's? Why did I wait? Why did I mess with his head? Why would I do that, to Chandler of all people? I know he is insecure, I know he has all of these issues and hang ups about relationships. Why would I do that to him?"

"Mon, you wanted to surprise him," Rachel whispered, placing a hand on her back. "Just like he wanted to surprise you. He'll be home in a few days, you'll see. He just needs some time to cool off."

"He's not mad, Rach," Monica sighed, swinging her feet off the edge of the bed and standing up. "He's hurt," she looked down, shaking her head. "I just broke his heart."

_._._._._._._

"Hey, man," Tom smiled, waving Chandler over to where he was standing. "God, you look like hell," he laughed as Chandler approached. "Woman, or alcohol?"

Chandler laughed as well, shaking Tom's hand. "A little of the latter, mostly the former," he answered truthfully as Tom handed him the cell phone he had been promised, as well as his plane ticket.

"Well, we should be in Boston by 7, presentation is at 8, should be done by 10," Tom grinned. "And that's it for today! We have 6 tickets the company bought for a Red Socks game, if you want one, something to take your mind off of this girl? Anyway, for the presentation…"

Chandler was only half-listening to Tom. He knew he really should listen, since he really wasn't 100% sure what they were doing, but he figured he would just watch and listen today, maybe be ready for whatever was planned the next day. His heart was racing as they neared security.

What the hell was happening?

He was nervous, for some reason. Not to fly. Not to start a new position in his company. But…to leave. Sure, he would be back for a few days in a week or so, but…he was leaving. He was leaving his Monica.

No, no, he shook his head. She left him. Because he screwed up. This was his fault, but she had already left, he was just making it easier for both of them to move on.

­_._._._._._

"Just because he thinks you left, doesn't mean you really have to leave!"
Joey whined, watching Monica pack. "Please stay. I already lost him, I can't lose you, too," he looked down, scuffing his feet.

"Joey, I'm not leaving-leaving," Monica smiled at him. "Well, I am, but only for six months. I'll be back before you know it!'

"But, why, Monica?"

"Joe," she sighed. "I just can't be here right now. This opportunity couldn't have come at a better time! A week ago, I would have said no, but now," she forced a smile. "I'm going to Paris!" Joey didn't return her smile. "Look, Joe," Monica sighed. "I know this sucks. But this culinary school is…amazing. And, if this is what it takes to get this new job I was offered, and they are paying for it, I can't not go. I know it's short notice, but…"

"It's just easier not to be here right now," he finished for her. "It just sucks, I already lost one of my best friends. You better come back," he moved to hug her. "And, you better be sending home samples of everything you make!"

_._._._._._._

Rachel sighed, looking around Monica's apartment as she threw a stack of mail on the table. She had moved back in while Monica was gone. The familiar apartment had never seemed so empty and lonely. Her orders were to pack up Chandler's stuff. Not get rid of it, just get it out of sight. She was to make it so nothing would remind Monica of him when she got home. They had stopped saying his name around her before she left. Always just saying "him." Never Chandler. They had all sworn not to mention him when she called home.

Truthfully, though, they were all hurting. Two of their best friends had just left. How could they not be hurting? No one else openly acknowledged this, however. Well, other than Joey. They knew that Monica was hurting so much more than anyone else, and no one wanted to make her feel worse about it.

Not sure where to start, Rachel decided to start with the mail. She had gotten a shoebox she planned to put Monica's mail in, and started sorting it, throwing anything that wasn't junk into the box, stopping when she came to a letter-sized envelope with no return address. It was addressed to Monica, and Rachel couldn't be positive, but would bet money on the handwriting being Chandler's. Rachel laughed; it was post-marked on Friday. Monica left on Friday.

Sighing, Rachel threw it in the box as well. Monica didn't want to hear from him or hear about him. He had dropped out of their lives completely, with not so much as a phone number, so she wanted nothing to do with him. Wanting Monica to get the most of her time away, and, more importantly, wanting her to move on, Rachel pretended not to recognize the handwriting.

'Could be from anyone,' Rachel shrugged, grabbing a few boxes and heading into Monica's bedroom, deciding to tackle their closet.

To be continued….

Review, please :) cause, ya know, it makes me happy. AND because I have the next two parts pretty much written, so the more, um, inspiration I have to finish them, the sooner they will be up ;)