Alright guys, sorry I haven't updated as frequently, but I'm starting to lose interest in writing this story because I feel like no one is reviewing! I only got like, 5 on the last chapter. You really are my inspiration to write, so please let me know if this is worth finishing!
But still, thanks to those of you that have reviewed.
Monica reached out beside her, but her fingers grasped only empty, cold sheets. She opened her eyes that had been crusted shut by tears shed last night. The sight she saw accompanied her touch, empty white sheets. She sat up and pulled her hair out of her face and into a ponytail. She leaned her head back onto the wall. She felt nauseous, like she had just awoken from a nightmare. But, it was no dream. No figment of her imagination, this was real. Her brain felt fried. She groaned softly, then the door creaked open. It was Rachel.
"Hey, hon. How you doing?" She carried in a plate of steaming eggs and sausage. "Want some?" she offered as she sat down on the bed next to Monica.
"No thanks. I'm not really hungry." Monica said quietly.
"Oh, Monica." Rachel moaned as she moved over and wrapped her up in her arms. Monica practically bit her lip off trying to fight back tears. She sniffed hard, but she couldn't fight it anymore. The feelings went where they wanted to. She wasn't even crying for Chandler anymore, she was just finished. It was hard enough just being Monica. Seeing the world through her OCD eyes, only wanting to clean and fix things up, never really being happy with who she was or what she was doing. Only when she was with Chandler did she feel confident in just being… Monica. But him running off like this, made her think. Overthinking was the one uncontrollable problem that hindered Monica the most. Her mind was overflowing with thoughts. Scary thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I'm just… Sorry." Monica sniveled as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose into the napkin on the plate.
"Don't be sorry! Chandler's the one that ran off! He's the one that should be sorry!" It pained Rachel to see Monica like this. She hated seeing any of her friends like this. But she knew exactly what to say now. "Well, speaking of Chandler, I've got some good news. Joey found him."
Monica shot straight up. "What?"
"Yes, honey, yes. In Toronto. They'll be back by Monday!" Rachel grinned eagerly, expecting that in return, but instead she got spat on.
"He's coming back? He has the god damn nerve to come back after what he did?" Monica sputtered angrily.
"Well, I thought, yeah! He's… Aren't you happy?" Rachel stammered, clearly shaken.
Monica shook her head slowly. "Oh God, oh God. I am. Maybe. I don't know! I'm just… Ugh. I don't know. I just don't really know what to think at this point." The resentment faded from her face.
Rachel stroked her hair softly. "I know, it's been hard. But he's going to have to come back at one point. Maybe it's best he come back now. I have to go to work, but I want you to just relax. I know it's hard for you to do, but don't clean. Just clear your mind! You took the week off work for your honeymoon, so don't waste it sitting around this rotten apartment. Go out; go to a spa or something! I love you, and so does everyone else. Remember that." She smiled a pathetic smile and rubbed her back for another minute before getting up and retreating from the room, leaving behind the breakfast that went untouched.
Monica got up on two shaky feet and dragged herself to the bathroom. The face she saw in the mirror was almost unrecognizable. Not just because her hair was unkempt or her make-up was smeared, but her face was just hollow. Her cheeks were sunken in and her eyes were filled with despair. She sighed and bent down and scrubbed her face with cold water and soap. She straightened up and wiped her face with a towel as she exited the bathroom.
As she collapsed onto the couch, she felt the air from the air vent blow against her shoulders and gave her a chill. The leftover pizza was still sitting open on the coffee table, along with a few beers that weren't sitting on coasters, but she didn't care anymore. Who did she have to clean for? Who did she have to do anything for anymore? Her eyes fluttered shut as her brain geared up to create another nightmare that would haunt her sleep. But who would save her now…?
~.~
Joey impatiently watched out the window as the plane lowered in the sky until it finally touched down on the tarmac and slowed to a stop. The pilot spoke roughly through the speakers that they could now exit, and reminded them to pick any luggage that was stored overhead. As soon as they were released, he was the first to jump up and dash off the plane, despite the fact he was seated in the back.
It had been a rough flight, after hearing Chandler's message he was too anxious to sleep. Not to mention that the seats were too uncomfortable to even sit in.
Joey maneuvered through Pearson Airport, searching but not actually seeing what he was looking at. He hadn't slept all night, nor eaten except for that pathetic bag of unsalted peanuts the flight attendant had given him. All he wanted was just to be back home, in bed, eating a hot, delicious, mouthwatering sausage and onion pizza. He practically salivated at the thought. But he was snapped back into reality when someone bumped his shoulder.
"Chandler?" He shouted on impulse.
"No, it's Betsy." The tall, female brunette said uneasily.
"Oh, sorry, it's just…" Joey looked up and right into her eyes. "Hey, how you doin'?" He said in his usual seductive voice.
"Alright, I guess, until I got mistaken for a dude…" Betsy said boldly, raising an eyebrow.
Ooo, she's feisty one! I like that… Joey thought. "Well, sorry, I was so distracted by your lovely eyes, I didn't notice your… boobs." Joey mentally slapped himself. Boobs? God, how tired did he have to be to forget how to flirt. "Sorry. I'm usually a little more smooth, I just…" Joey paused and thought. He couldn't get distracted now. He was so close now, he knew Chandler or Ross would do the same for him. Well, if they could even get a girl… He sighed, "I'm kind of… occupied right now. I really should go. Sorry for calling you Chandler." He turned and shivered as he walked away from a pretty girl for the first time in his life.
He stepped out of the airport and into the warm sunlight. There was only one problem. Where to go from here? Well that was simple, Pizza Hut. He couldn't think straight on an empty stomach. He hailed a taxi and slid into the back seat. The whole ride there he spent pouring over every aspect of information he knew about where Chandler might be. The only problem, he knew nothing. He wasn't even 100% positive that Chandler was in this city.
After he arrived and got his pizza, he pulled out his phone again. It was almost dead, but he had enough time to call Chandler one more time.
He held his breath and after each ring the tension rose, but as if by some miracle, an answer. "Hello?" Chandler's raspy voice rang through the receiver.
"CHANDLER!" Joey roared. "Oh my God, finally!"
"Hey Joe." Chandler said dejectedly.
"Dude, where the hell have you been?" Joey spat.
"Well, I caught a flight to—"
"I know, I know, Toronto. I talked to Walt and Mel, the guys you swiped the ticket from. Listen man, I know you were scared, but why'd you have to leave the—"
"Joey." Chandler interrupted.
"What?"
"I told you not to come looking for me."
"Well it was too late. By the time I got your message I was on flight headed up here. Why the hell would you do this man?" Joey asked desperately.
"I didn't know what else to do!" Chandler said urgently. "I couldn't breathe down there in New York. I just needed air."
"Well, Canada's air is better than New York's, obviously." Joey said sarcastically. "I mean I've only been here for twenty minutes but I already feel better, don't you? Just, where are you man?" Joey asked. He could hear Chandler sigh through the phone.
"I'm at a hotel on Hirshire Avenue, The Turner Inn. I'm room 416. Just come on over." And with that, Joey hung up, tossed a $1 bill on the table and stormed out the door. He spent the whole taxi ride contemplating what he was going to say. Should he grill him with questions or make him more comfortable first? He didn't have time to finish his thought because the cab pulled up at the hotel. He used the leftover change from his pizza to pay for the ride and hopped up the stairs to room 416.
As soon as Chandler opened the door, all of Joey's sense and focus seemed to drain and he shoved Chandler right through the doorframe. "Well hello to you too." Chandler spat sarcastically, stumbling backwards onto the bed.
Joey slammed the door behind them. "I said hello on the phone."
"Not really." Chandler said, rubbing his shoulder.
"Well, I'm sorry there's something else on my mind besides friendly greetings." Joey retorted.
"Oh really, and what could that be?" Chandler muttered sarcastically.
"Alright, that's it. If you can stop being a smart ass for two seconds you kind of owe me an explanation!"
"For what?" Chandler cried.
"Well, what about that message you left me about 'just let me cool down somewhere else, and I'll come home when I want'?" Joey squawked. His could feel the fury rise in his bones, his muscles becoming tense. He didn't know where this last surge or energy was coming from, but it was uncontrollable.
"Well, I—"
"That was just cruel, Chandler! You know, the whole 'just go back to your normal lives' thing. Who could go back to their normal lives not knowing where they're best friend is? Did you even think about how hard everyone would take this?" Joey was screeching so loud the lampshade was starting to vibrate. "You know I don't even care anymore! You can go do what you want. I flew all the way to Canada for you, I walked away from a flirty, pretty girl for the first time in my life to look for you. I spent my entire paycheck that I was going to use to pay the rent to buy a ticket up here! I don't even know how the hell I'm supposed to get back home, but that's A-Okay because Chandler is fine!" Joey screamed with one last burst of energy.
"Joey, did you grow up with my fucked up parents? Have you ever been out on more than one god damn date with a woman? Have you ever been in love? Or engaged? No. So how in the world would you understand what I went through at that rehearsal dinner? I tried, SO HARD to tell myself that I needed to stay. I knew I needed to stay! So I don't need any of your crap telling me what I did wrong. I know! I know I screwed up my relationship with Monica and I knew you guys would never respect or trust me again so I didn't come home because I was scared. So there! There's you explanation. You can go home now and pretend like I never existed and I wouldn't blame you. You've put up with enough of my bullshit already." Chandler whispered the last sentence. He was fried. His throat hurt, his jaw hurt, his stomach hurt, his brain hurt. The screaming was over. He had never seen Joey angry. Upset, sure, but never angry. And he knew every word he said would just screw things up more. Maybe the group was better off without him anyway.
After all, he was just Chandler.