Hi everyone, I hope you liked the story. I am sorry that I was late in publishing this story. I'll try to be regular as possible or update once or twice a week and being honest, I have severe writer's block. But I assure you that I will publish this story. Please read and review. I hope you all liked it.I hope this chapter is worth the wait. Without any further ado, I present to you this chapter.
Disclaimer: Friends characters don't belong to me. They belong to NBC and Warner Bros.
Chapter 5:
It's been almost a day since the gang arrived from New York to see Ross. Ross was pleasantly surprised to see Monica and others. Deep down,he was happy to see her but at the same time, he was angry with her as she ended things without any clarification and ripped his heart.
In order to get out from his mental hell hole, he goes into the backyard and lays his yoga mat and sits deep in meditation. He started to practice some meditation techniques and started doing yoga since he came here and it helped him to keep calm and make him better and focus more on his work. He was a focused man.
Rachel was observing him from the backyard door which was from the kitchen. She observed him dreamily, a side of him which she never knew and she was lost in her reverie. She dreamt of she and Ross playing with their kids and a pet in their own backyard once they got married. But again, she was bought back into harsh reality. She hoped that they would get back together but the hopes were bleak owing to the current scenario. Just then, Ross finished of his meditation and then rolling the yoga mat. He sees Rachel
"Good morning Rachel." Ross greeted her nonchalantly. It didn't sound like his old self.
"Good morning Ross." Rachel greeted his nervously.
"Did you sleep well?" Ross asks her
"Yeah. I could sleep on that bed forever. It was comfy."
Ross looked like a tough guy with his chiseled body and with the hard exterior, there was pain which was hidden deep within. Ross never let that become an impediment to his emotions. But now it was happening. He was trying to push all thoughts of Rachel aside while Rachel was going gaga for him
Meanwhile, the others all have woken up and see Ross holding a yoga mat.
"Good morning everyone." Ross greeted them
"Good morning." Everyone chorused.
"Since when did you start doing yoga?" Chandler sarcastically questioned him
Ross deadpanned at him. He was taken aback by Ross's reaction. Ross didn't care much about Chandler's comment. He was trying to practice the art of letting things go but the timing through which he was starting that was at the wrong time since it was a blast from the past.
Monica went into the kitchen to cook for the gang.
"Ross, you ran out of groceries." Monica noticed his fridge
"That's fine Mon" Ross assures his sister. "We'll go to shopping today." Ross tells her
"Wanna explore Dallas?" Ross asks them
"Yea sure." Joey seemed all up to it
"But you have a bike which can seat only two persons." Phoebe questioned.
"No need to worry Pheebs, I've got a car which I use it on subscription basis." Ross assures her
"What are there to visit in this boring city?" Monica mused
"You have a farmer's market in Irving, we can visit the place where JFK was assassinated. We could have gone to see the tulip blossoms at Dallas Arboretum, but they only happen from February to March." Ross countered
"Mon, I think you will love this farmer's market." Ross tells her
"Really, is it better than home?" Monica excitedly squeals.
"You'll love it." Ross assures her
Monica seemed to buy that idea. Others were skeptical about it but they agreed.
"We can go to bowling in Grapevine in the evening " Ross tells them
"Yeah baby." Joey fist pumped
"I'll defeat you." Monica challenged
"Here we go with Monica's competitiveness." Chandler added
"I'm up." Phoebe added.
...
A few hours later, the group found themselves at the farmer's market which Monica wanted to visit.
"Seriously, this is damn good. Better than New York." Monica admired the Farmer's market
"Yeah, I come here to get some of my groceries from here. " Ross tells her."I know a place which serves the best Mexican cuisine you've ever had in your lives." Ross tells them
"Really?" Chandler incredulously tells him
"Yeah buddy. You'll enjoy."
"I'm so hungry that I can eat up an 3 pizzas in a row."Joey mused
"The hungry guy of all time." Phoebe taunted him
"They have a food challenge here. If you finish their 5 pound burrito and a 20 tacos within 45 minutes, you'll be on the wall of fame." Ross advises Joey." And till date, very few people have succeeded in finishing the challenge." Ross warned
"I'm in. Challenge accepted" Joey confidently accepts the challenge.
After all the shopping they have done in the farmer's market, they all go to Papa Felipe's Mexican restaurant.
"My favorite customer is here."Felipe recognizes Ross and a group of people
"Good to see you Felipe." Ross greets him."Okay Felipe, one of my friend here is a big foodie. So I challenged him to finish your famous food challenge within 45 minutes."
"Okay, I shall warn you, you have to finish this platter in 45 minutes."Felipe warned.
"I'm in .Where is the challenge?" Joey was excited
"Are you the guy from Days of Our Lives?" He asks Joey
"Yeah." Joey beamed
A few moments later, Felipe brings all the food for the gang and Joey his is horrified to see the plate. He was sure that he wouldn't be able to finish it in 45 minutes. Joey starts to panic but he doesn't stop eating
"Do you think would he finish?" Phoebe mused
"If he doesn't, I pay you 50 bucks." Monica challenged
"You're on." Phoebe said.
It was almost 40 minutes on the clock. Joey was almost finished with his food challenge. He showed his eating prowess. Everyone were shocked that Joey finished a 5 pound burrito and was done with 20 tacos.
"Bring on more." Joey sarcastically joked.
"I see that you have finished the challenge." Felipe noticed."Congratulations."
"Thanks pal." He thanks him
He later took a picture of Joey and he obliged to give his autograph and Felipe put his autographed picture in his restaurant's wall of fame.
"I love it." Monica agreed.
...
Later in the evening, as promised, the guys decided to go for bowling in Grapevine. They were joined by Vikram, Theodore, Natalie and a few other friends who Ross knew.
"Hi guys." Ross greeted them.
"Hey man." Theodore greeted him." I see the others have also come." Theodore noticed the contingent from New York.
"Good to see you guys." Monica greeted them
'Up for the challenge." Vikram challenged Monica.
"Yeah, I'm going to defeat you all." Monica chimed.
"Let's see." Theodore mused
"This is Bruce and Chris." Ross introduced themselves them to the gang.
"Yeah nice to meet you all." They both greet the gang from New York
"Can you get a bowl of nachos and onion rings and beer for all." Theodore asks the waiter
They all started playing a round of bowling. It has been almost 6 games and Monica was defeating was going so badly that Rachel missed most of the bowling pins and she was eliminated. Ross almost lost in the last round of the game to Vikram and Monica defeated everyone including Theodore. Vikram and Monica were the finalists and it was a nail biter. But Monica won the game
"I won!" Monica revelled in victory
"You won Monica. You played awesome." Vikram sincerely congratulated Monica.
They both shake hands and go to the table.
"Man, your sister is very competitive." Vikram tells Ross, referring to Monica's grit."
"That's is the most competitive one."
Meanwhile, two girls approach Ross.
"Hey there stranger." A girl greeted
"May I know who is this?" Ross asks her
"I heard a lot about you in the gym. You are Ross Geller." The girl asks
"Yeah. You are?" He asks her
"I'm Stephanie." The cinnamon haired girl introduced herself.
"I'm Mona." The blonde girl introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you girls." Ross replied them
"What a gentleman." Mona cooed
"I try to be one." Ross giggled
Ross was openly flirting with the two girls. Rachel was fuming to see Ross flirting with them and she wanted to go there and tell them to back off. But Ross remained wherever he was
"Wanna join us for another round of bowling?" Stephanie asks him
"See ladies, I am flattered, but I had a lot of bowling." Ross said with a smile.
The smiles on their faces disappeared.
"Please for one round." The girls begged.
"I have an offer for you see the two men there?" Ross suggested motioning them to Joey and both were caught off the guard
"Us?" Joey incredulously asks pointing him and Chandler
The two girls looked at the guys.
"Eh anyways."
Smiling, Stephanie and Mona sauntered towards Joey and Chandler and they both took them with their arms of each other. The guys whooped on getting girls for a of them smiled giddily.
"Have fun guys." Ross waved them
He goes to the position where Monica and Phoebe along with Rachel were sitting. Rachel sighed that he was not into them.
"Ross, why did you reject their offer?" Monica questioned him
"Even I have to admit that they looked hot Ross."Phoebe interjected.
Ross shrugged."Nah Pheebs, I'm just not interested in dating. And they are not my type."Ross simply said and got himself a diet coke
Rachel couldn't help but smile at his answer. But, Monica saw there was some reason but she didn't want to question him. The wound was still afresh in Ross's mind. Rachel felt that there was some hope for them but she didn't give up completely on them. She was going gaga over him. But he was not into her. It was going to be a long tough road for Rachel to get back to her Ross. She had the hope that they would but now, the things between them were awkward
...