(A/N) Yay, two updates in two days! This is due to the fact that I felt bad; after I reread this chapter, I realized it was one of those "filler", "plot-advancer" type chapters that I dislike writing, heh. But I actually enjoyed writing it! I hope you guys enjoy it, too. Big thank you's to BluEyes, say what now, friendsfan101, and BundyShoes for the kind, motivating reviews! :) Didn't know there were so many enthused Randler fans out there. Haha, makes me happy! Thanks again. :) On to the chapter!
Saturday afternoon found Rachel and Chandler standing in Central Park, at the Ralph Lauren Employee Retreat (or rather, as the banner nearby sorely overstated, "Employee Extravanganza"). They were listening to a droopy-looking man with a clipboard describe the trust game they were supposed to be playing – which apparently involved two groups of employees having to find a way to transport each member of their group over a piece of string tied to a tree, about four feet off the ground.
"The first team to get all their players on the other side of their string without touching it wins," the man finished.
Chandler stared disbelievingly at the string, then back at the man. "Uh, excuse me," he raised a hand.
At his side, Rachel slowly buried her face in her hands. "Oh God, here we go…" she muttered.
The man directed his gaze at Chandler. "Yes?"
"I don't understand."
"Well, the rules are quite simple – "
"No, no, I understand the rules," Chandler interrupted. "I'm just a little fuzzy on the whole concept, in general. Like, what lesson is this supposed to be teaching? How to fatally injure a group of adults in an game more fit for people about twenty years younger than us? Because if it is, this is a perfect choice of activity."
Droopy Man looked taken aback. "Well, uh, it's supposed to teach us to trust, um, our fellow employees to carry us to success…"
"You know what?" Rachel piped up, one hand still on her forehead. "It's okay, Jack. Really. You don't have to explain." She managed a thin smile. "See, my pal Chandler here has this problem where he becomes rude around men he's intimidated by."
Chandler made a noise to protest, but was immediately silenced by Rachel's stiletto heel jamming into his left toe.
Jack smiled, looking pleased with himself for a second before replying, "Oh. It's okay."
Chandler gave a mocking grin, then glared at Rachel. She smiled back and patted him lightly on the back. "It's okay, honey," she cooed.
He would've retorted, but at that moment, they were interrupted by Jack's shrill whistle. The game had begun.
"Okay, team!" a thin brunette woman on Rachel and Chandler's team immediately yelled, clapping to make herself heard. "Now! I have a plan to beat the other guys, and it's a great plan!"
"Oh my God. Monica?" Chandler joked. Rachel chuckled.
The woman, luckily, didn't hear, but kept yelling instructions at the group. Apparently, her idea was for two people to lift one person at a time over the string, where one person on the other side would be waiting to carry him to the ground.
"That sounds like a great plan," Chandler said loudly. Everyone turned to stare at him. "However, I see some major faults."
The woman looked slightly defensive as she crossed her arms. "And what faults would those be?"
"How are the last two people going to get over?"
The group fell silent as they realized the qualm.
The woman waved a dismissive hand. "Well…" she started uncertainly. "I guess they'll just have to jump. You can jump over the string, can't you?"
Chandler raised his eyebrows. "Oh, you mean the string tied four feet off the ground?" he asked, sarcastically. "Of course, seeing as I was quite the pole vaulter back in high school."
Unfortunately, the Ralph Lauren employees didn't seem too quick with the sarcasm. "Great!" the woman chirped. "So it's decided. Rachel's friend will jump last." She moved on, and the group broke out in conversation before Chandler could even make a noise of protest.
As the first people began being lifted over the string, Chandler grabbed Rachel's shoulder frantically. "Rachel!" he hissed. "There's no way I can jump over that. I'm going to break my neck! You have to tell them I can't do it."
"What are you talking about?" Rachel furrowed her brows. "You're the one who was a pole vaulter in high school."
Chandler exhaled in disbelief.
But before Chandler could make a joke at her expense, Rachel was grabbed into the group and pushed towards the two people with outstretched arms.
"Wait, wait!" Rachel cried, slipping off her stilettos. "I can't possibly jump with these on. Chandler, can you jump over with them for me?" She stuffed the shoes into Chandler's arms and turned to climb.
"Sure, why not?" Chandler muttered to no one in particular. "What's a couple of sharp stilettos stabbing into my sternum when I'm going to have 33 broken bones anyway?"
Cheers broke out as a flustered Rachel was roughly transferred to the other side of the string. She grinned and brushed the dirt off her jacket.
"All right!" the woman in charge yelled. "Let's go, let's go! The other team has one more person over than us right now! I will not have us lose!"
I should seriously give this lady Monica's number, Chandler thought. I wonder if she likes label makers too.
Before long, the only two people left on the original side were Chandler and a small, lanky guy named Dave.
"All right," Dave said, turning to Chandler. "Can you crouch on the ground so I can climb over you and over into Larry's arms?"
Chandler paused. "Wow. Is that a line from Dad's show?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Nothing." Chandler sighed and began positioning himself in the grass. Dave stepped onto his shoulders and was quickly lifted over the string by the crowd on the other side. There were cheers, and then encouraging cheers for Chandler to jump. Soon, they were united in a rousing chant of "Jump! Jump!" (Except for the leader woman, after she realized that the other team was catching up. That was when she began screaming, "Hurry up! What are you waiting for? My arthritic cat could move faster than you are!")
Charming, Chandler thought acerbically, while contemplating simply turning on his heel and fleeing the scene. He caught Rachel's eye in the crowd. She was smiling and waving with such unabashed enthusiasm that he couldn't help smiling himself. All right, fine. I'll do it. It's now or never. God help me.
With a determined gleam in his eye, Chandler got a small running start and leapt towards the thin string. In the air, he noticed that all the arms that had been outstretched and prepared to catch him before he jumped had suddenly retreated back to their respective bodies.
Well, this is going to hurt.
(A/N) How was it? I hope you enjoyed it. Don't worry - Chandler won't be put through too much pain, haha. Feel free to leave a comment/review/question/anything! They are great motivational tools. :D Thanks for reading, and I'll update very soon!
