AN:

Hello! Is this a new story that isn't Mondler centred? Something must be wrong with me XD This story was a random idea that me and my best friend had one day. We've been having so much fun writing it, so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we had creating it!

For those who don't know, "Friends Like Us" was one of the proposed names for the show, before it was shortened to just "Friends". Since this story is based on the canon information from the show, but with a twist of AU, we decided that this was the perfect title for this fanfic.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the main characters, or the events that are described in the episodes. They belong to the writers of the show.

Monica checked her backpack twice to confirm that nothing was missing: New notebooks, a pencil case with all the writing supplies, and a big bag of M&M's. She had all she needed for her first day of high school. She felt excited but also scared about the new chapter of her life.

She was going to a new school, which made her feel nervous. She had seen enough movies to know that high school was a crazy period: popular girls became even more popular, and nerds were excluded. It was also about cheerleaders, football players, finding love, and having a broken heart. She knew that the next three years could be the most amazing or the worst of her life.

She also felt afraid. She had been left out because of her extra weight in the past. People could be mean, and they usually judged her by her appearance before getting to know her. And that was not a favourable factor for her first day at a new school. Knowing that she would not be alone brought her some comfort: Her older brother Ross went to the same school, and her best friend Rachel would also go with her.

While she knew her friend would support her, they were also the motive of her hesitations. She had been shadowed by Ross her whole life. Her parents were always bragging around about how perfect Ross was, and she felt ignored by them. She wanted desperately to make her parents proud of her too. Especially her mother, who always judged her for any reason she could find.

On the other hand, there was also Rachel Greene. As they both lived on Long Island, they had met when they started school and had been inseparable since then. However, Monica was fat and awkward, and Rachel was the opposite. She was beautiful and confident, and Monica was sure Rachel would become even more popular. And when she started dating every guy in the school and hanging out with her new friends, she would realize how lame Monica was and ditch her.

She had already brushed her teeth, but she suddenly needed a Kit-Kat bar to calm her nerves. She unwrapped the candy that she kept well-stocked on her nightstand and ate the bar, letting the taste of the chocolate treat replace her doubts. After eating the chocolate, she went to brush her teeth again, closed the light on her nightstand, and drifted to sleep.

The morning after, the doorbell rang while Monica was still finishing her second piece of toast.

"It's probably Rachel. We decided she would meet me here so we could go together to school."

Hearing his sister's words, Ross ran to the door, and as Monica had said, Rachel was standing on the front porch, holding a pile of books in her hand. She wore a green dress that fitted her body perfectly, and her blonde hair fell loose, with two clips on the side. He probably had been staring at her for too long because when he noticed, she was already entering the house, ignoring him.

Although Rachel was Monica's best friend and spent a lot of time at their house, Ross never hung out much with her. He wished it wasn't like that because he had had a crush on Rachel since he could remember. He hadn't told his sister about it because it felt weird to trust her with such personal information and because he also knew that she would use it against him.

The two girls ran to hug each other, and Ross watched them gossiping excitedly about the new school. At least he would be able to say hi to Rachel when he saw her in the school hallway, and maybe she would notice him more. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the school bus arriving at their street, and the three of them left the house, ready to face the day.

Rachel was thrilled by the environment around her. She always dreamed about going to high school, and so far, it was just like in the movies. The hallways were filled with students talking before the classes started, some reuniting with their friends and others arriving for the first time. Outside, a group of girls were laughing together and, in front of them, a group of boys played football.

While they walked by the lockers, Rachel saw a girl with a cheerleading outfit and imagined herself in a red uniform with pompoms in her hands. Mesmerized, she only stopped staring when she felt Monica pull at her dress.

"We're going to be late. I don't want to be late on the first day of classes!" Monica scolded Rachel with her characteristic tone.

"I can't wait to be one of them," Rachel said to her best friend while they entered the classroom.

They sat at a table together, and she felt Monica's judging look while she placed all of her colourful and glittery pens in front of her.

"What? My notes need to be pretty; otherwise, how am I supposed to study from them?" Rachel asked her friend as if it was an obvious question. She had never understood how Monica could take notes with only a blue and a green pen.

"Well…; if you use chocolates as a reward for studying, you can," Monica said. She then took a pause and looked at her notebook. "Unless you eat them all first," She added shyly. Rachel chuckled at her friend's response. She never knew anyone who enjoyed eating as much as she.

Then, the bell rang, and the class started, but instead of paying attention to the teacher, Rachel studied everyone in the room. She let her eyes linger on the cute black-haired boy at her left, whom she swore she caught staring back at her. She started to picture herself as a cheerleader, performing the complicated choreographs while everyone stared at her. And maybe, one of the older and cute football players could be her boyfriend.

Yes, high school was going to be amazing.