Chapter 4
Dallas:
Ross, Vikram and Theodore met at their regular coffee shop for some breakfast. That coffee shop was their hangout almost had the vibe of Central Perk but it didn't mean the same
"Dude, how was your date with Meghan?" Vikram asks him out of curiosity
"It was okay." Ross was nonchalant
"Who is Meghan?" Theodore got confused
"I arranged a date for Ross yesterday, that girl we met at the movies."Vikram replied."What happened now?" Vikram pointed towards Ross
"She is not interesting man." Ross dismissed
"Dude, we have put you on many dates and you say none of them are seriously interesting." Theodore tells him."You either say either she is too fat or too thin or too short or too tall. Any girl who sees you, they will drool over your hunky looks." Theodore ends his monologue
"Thanks for your sound byte. But to say frankly, I don't want to be dating right now" Ross replied
" Okay, your wish." Vikram gave in.
...
Meanwhile, the guys decided to go to Dallas to surprise Ross. The flight to Dallas was an uneventful one. First, when they were going to board the flight for Dallas,some psycho called up the airport authorities saying that there was a bomb that lead to the delay of flights for almost three and a half hours. And on top of that, Joey went missing and that lead to the delay of the flight to Dallas by another 10 minutes. Luckily, they caught the flight to Dallas in a nick of time.
The plane ride to Dallas was a long and tedious one. Those were the longest 4 hrs of Rachel's life on that plane to found out the hard way that airplanes bought the worst out of her friends. Be it Monica's obsession pertaining to cleanliness, Joey's obnoxious snoring or Phoebe's 'cleansing aura' one only whom she would prefer to talk is Chandler with exception of his lame jokes. For most of the flight to Dallas, she was lost in her thoughts.
Things were going fine until the time they landed in Dallas. But Joey's luggage was rerouted to Seattle due to a mix up between Seattle and Dallas flights from New York had to wait in the airport for another four and a half hours and they all ended up eating burritos from Chipotle.
Almost a wait of four and a half hours, Joey's luggage arrived. It was almost 4:30 in the evening according to Dallas time. They were so tired that they debated whether first to see Ross or to go to the hotel. They decided to have a the end, Rachel's vote decided that they would go to see him , they all go to visit Ross.
They all took a cab from the airport and go Ross's place. Monica pulled out a paper which Ross gave her when he left for a drive of 45 minutes from the airport, they reach to Ross's house. It was beautiful house with a porch and a garage. They all stand in front of the house no 98, Cedar Hill Drive.
Throughout the trip, Rachel thought what she wanted in her life and the people who made it worth her thoughts drifted towards him. Their first year together as a couple and how she would come to him whenever she had a tough time, she knew that he would be there for thoughts turned negative. What if he didn't reciprocate his feelings towards , it wouldn't matter as they both love each other.
Ross moved to Dallas because of a bad break up between him and Rachel. But there was another reason he moved. He didn't want to hurt Rachel as he did and therefore by moving to Dallas, he could forget Rachel and move on.
Monica turned towards is it Rachel. "Are you ready to see him?"
Rachel gave a weak smile and she could give only that.
Monica rolled her hand into a fist and knocked the door of house no 98.
knock knock.
"Maybe he doesn't want to see us" Joey concluded.
"No Joe, it's too late." Monica replies in a no nonsense manner
There was no response from the home.
Meanwhile, Vikram sees a group of 5 people near Ross's home and thought that they might be from the University and they both approach them
"Hey, are you guys from the University?" Vikram asks while approaching them
"Who are you guys?" Monica asks him."If by any chance, do you guys know about Ross Geller?". Monica inquired
"We are his neighbors." Theodore answered.
"How do you know him?" Vikram scanned them all
"We are his friends from New York and I'm his sister." Monica added.
"I never heard him say about having any friends in New York but I know that he had a sister." Theodore raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah.I'm his sister and and I'm Monica"Monica introduced herself to them.
"Oh,I forgot to introduce myself.I'm Theodore." Theodore introduces himself."And this is Vikram." he introduces them to Vikram
"Nice to meet you guys."Vikram smiled at them
"I'm Rachel." Rachel introduces herself and shakes their hand
"I'm Phoebe."she introduces herself and she follows the suite
"I'm Joey" he introduces himself and also follows the suite.
"I' m Chandler"he introduces himself and follows the suite
"Enough of introductions." Vikram tells them."Why don't you guys wait at our place until he comes." Vikram graciously asks them
"Uhm.." Monica
"Why don't you guys come into our house and stay until he comes." Vikram asks them
"Thanks for the offer." Chandler thanks them.
They all go into Vikram and Theodore's house. They try to make themselves comfortable.
"Guys, please make yourselves comfortable." Vikram advised them.
"Want to have some water?" Theodore asks them.
"Thanks." Rachel replied."How did you guys meet?"
"It all started with me." Vikram beamed."Ross was at a restaurant and he ran out of money. And I paid for the rest and then, I was surprised with the fact that he was living right next door. After that, Theodore was transferred from Detroit to work with Comerica Bank as one of their attorneys. And the rest is the way." Vikram ended.
"The guy is seriously awesome." Theodore reminded them about how he and Ross enjoyed a lot.
And just then Natalie knocks the door of their home. And she is surprised to see 3 girls and 2 guys in their company.
"Hey, Natalie." Vikram gives her a peck on the lips
"Hey Vikram." Natalie greets him."Who are they?" Natalie pointed out to them
"Oh, they are Ross's friends from New York."Vikram replied.
"Oh."Natalie replied."He never told me that he had friends in New York."She raised an eyebrow.
"Guys, this is Natalie. She is my girlfriend." Vikram introduces her to them
Natalie goes to meet Monica, Rachel and Phoebe. They all hit it off. Natalie was curious why Ross never told him that he had friends from New York or he never mentioned about it.
Just then, a bike is parked near the garage of Ross's then, Ross approaches the door to Theodore and Vikram's house. He doesn't know that Monica and the others are here in Dallas to see basically had no idea that they were all there in here. Vikram opened the door.
"Ross, you have a surprise man." Vikram nonchalantly tells him
"It can't be my birthday because it's already over. Who would it be?" Ross thought for a while.
"SURPRISE." Monica and the other three shouted.
Ross was shocked as if though he was hit by the force of a neutron star."Monica, h..how come you guys are here?"Ross stuttered with shock.
"We wanted to surprise you bro." Monica replied.
Ross got tried to control his emotions which ranged from shock to hugs her and the others.
"Good to see you guys." Ross tells them
"Good to see you too. We all missed you." Chandler hugged him tightly. After all, they were roommates from college and they were best friends.
"Where's Rachel?" Ross noticed that Rachel wasn't present.
Vikram wanted to tell but refrained after Natalie nudged him.
"She couldn't come Ross. She had a lot of work." Monica lied. The truth was Rachel was inside the room and was scared how would he react on seeing her.
Vikram served champagne to everyone and they all were having. Suddenly someone comes out of the was none other than Rachel. He saw her and couldn't say anything. He was angry with her but didn't say anything. He silently crushed the glass of champagne with his anger and was surprised to see her.
"Ross?Ross?" Monica tried to gauge his anger.
"Ross, you need to have blood spilling all over your palm." Natalie quickly rushes to get him first aid.
Natalie wraps his hand with was turned on seeing his hunky body. They all have dinner at Vikram and Theodore's home and then they all leave to Ross's place.
...
Ross's House:
They all admired Ross's house. It had a porch, a garage and a backyard. It was
"Dude, the bike looks awesome." Joey noticed the motorbike."Which model is it?"
"It's a Triumph Tiger T100. Good for long drives"
"You look so ripped man." Chandler notices his body."Are you working out"
"Yeah." Ross answered
"You look like a Greek god. Your body is so chiseled." Joey added.
"Thanks man." Ross was a bit flustered."Mon, how many days are you guys staying?" Ross asked her changing the topic
"We would be staying for at least up to New Years eve.. Thanksgiving is also coming so we all decided to surprise you." Monica tells him
"What about your jobs?" Ross asked them
"We all put our leaves of absence for at least 6-7 weeks,so we are good." Chandler tells them
"I'll be a lot busy. It would be a waste of time for you guys." Ross warns them
"Nah, we can enjoy." Chandler dismissed
"By the way, I shall warn you that Dallas is a boring city."Ross warned them.
Meanwhile, the girls are in the backyard admiring the place. Monica was surprised to see the beautiful backyard. Meanwhile, Rachel was lost in her thoughts on what to do with Ross. She wanted to go and talk to him but after seeing him breaking a glass with his anger, she started to have her own doubts.
"What'up Rach?" Monica asks her
"I don't know Mon, I don't know how to talk to him. He is still angry with me about all that happened."Rachel twiddled her thumb nervously.
"Rach, he will come along. All you need to have is some patience." Monica advised
"I wish it wasn't that complicated Mon." Rachel sadly sighed
Rachel knew that it wasn't going to be easy. She hoped that she and Ross would come back sooner. Rachel terribly missed him. Even though he was near her, she didn't feel like he was the same guy whom she dated almost 21 months ago. He was a completely a new Ross who had a serious outlook.
Later everyone came in the living room to discuss about the sleeping arrangements
"Joey and I would take the that bed room." Chandler tells him
"We three will share the empty room." Monica replied.
"I guess you are all set." Ross replied."Good night everyone."
"Good night." Everyone reply and sleeps.
Ross tried to push aside any thoughts of Rachel. Those bad memories of their break up haunted him now. He wanted to get to sleep but was unable to sleep. He just didn't want to hurt her but he was equally angry at her for not accepting her mistake by not being specific. Even though, he didn't want to sleep with the copy slut, he was forced and he was drunk. She never saw his point of view and asked him to take the blame. He remembered the moment where she slapped him tightly and he slammed the ring at her face. He didn't know how to deal with these emotions which were hitting him like a freight train. He just didn't want to see her