It's been a week since Ross told the group about Carol's 'girlfriend'. Monica had initially been shocked, and then she eased into the idea, and suddenly Carol being a lesbian wasn't all that foreign to her. Upon hearing, Chandler almost giggled, Joey's girl-on-girl inquiries weren't helping his attempts to stifle his laugh either. Phoebe, as Monica had suspected, was overly endearing and sympathetic up front. She was nearly coddling Ross, respectfully. Until now, when the four of them had a chance to talk about Ross's upcoming divorce. Then, she mentioned her psychic who has supposedly been training her for 40 bucks an hour; and how she helped Phoebe predict this prophecy a while ago.
Chandler and Monica shared a look, even a small smirk, but never verbalized their doubt in her statement.
"I kinda want to meet her." Monica thought aloud. She looked to the room for a separate input, one that didn't involve porn jokes or spirituality. "My psychic?" Phoebe clutched her mug with two hands, looking up at Monica from the rug with slight excitement. "No," Monica chuckled, "Susan." All talk about psychics and certain herbs shifted the rails of the conversation from Ross, Carol, and her lesbian lover, making them forget what they were talking about in the first place. "Carol's girlfriend?" Chandler looked at her.
"Nice," Joey commented in a sultry voice, nodding slowly with a smirk from the chair. "I'm just curious," Monica scoffed, attempting to ignore their newest companion's dirty commentary. "That's good. That's good, Monica," This time he winked at her, making Monica stand up and roll her eyes. "Joe…" Chandler's voice was barely a threat, and both girls sighed.
"I mean, I remember when she first mentioned Susan. I was excited! I thought we'd have another girl apart of our little group, me and Phoebe are outnumbered now," Monica decided to continue, refilling her mug in the kitchen. "I just wonder what it would be like if Susan became a part of our girls group." She looked to Phoebe, happy to be met with a smile. "Y'know, I would have liked that!" Phoebe nodded, thinking about them going out shopping or bullying the boys.
"Glad it didn't get to that." Chandler let out another joke. "Well," He got serious momentarily, pulling himself upright. "If we were to meet her, would we get personally executed by Ross…?" He shrugged at Monica, who was making her way back around the couch to sit. "Except for his sister, of course."
They sat silently for a moment, knowing that going out of their way to see Carol and her new girl toy would upset Ross. As per-usual, curiosity got the best of them, especially Joey, and their silence was a result of them searching for an excuse that could justify going to meet Susan.
"Carol is our friend, just because we're closer with Ross doesn't mean she deserves neglect after the divorce," Pheobe concluded and Chandler agreed. The idea floated around the living room, the atmosphere thick with doubt from only one person, Monica.
"Come on, you're the one who originally brought it up!" Joey didn't need much convincing, to anyone's surprise, and was game since the word 'Lesbians'. Reluctantly, she came forth and agreed: "Okay… but I don't want Ross to know!" Monica's conditions seemed fair, and soon enough the four of them were meeting with Carol and her lesbian lover.
Upon arrival, it was obvious Monica wasted her breath calling for a reservation, as the restaurant that won the majority vote was practically empty. She sighed, partially out of concern for her brother, mostly out of annoyance with everyone's eagerness. Sure, she was the one to bring it up, but it seemed like a much brighter idea in theory rather than practice. Although, that was only because the boys were immature once out of the house.
Chandler, because he's only ever stuck listening to Ross mope since the divorce, and Joey, because porn does wonders to a young man's imagination and libido.
In her peripheral vision, Monica noticed Pheobe and Chandler joking about something, not looking in front of themselves. She stuck an arm out, hitting Chandler's midsection. "Jeez, Mon, at least let me sit down before suggesting I order the salad," He chuckled, understanding her movement was a product of slight concern for his safety. Monica scoffed, her eyes still searching for the Girls. "There-" She pointed to a table with Carol, and the brunette, Susan. She squinted her eyes at both, a tinge of contempt rising to the top of her spine through the zipper of her dress.
One of the first things she told her brother when he came to her about Carol's 'experimenting' were words from her heart- that sexuality isn't a choice, and Carol liking girls was something she simply happened to find out later in life, rather than before her marriage (and that she was sorry for him, of course). But, looking at the two women, specifically the blonde, she felt an anger-filled solemnness at how happy she was compared to Ross. Poor Ross who, from what she knew, was in a relatively successful marriage. Chandler mentioned him saying he and Carol hadn't touched each other in months, but she immediately shot down the invitation to a conversation about her brother's sex life.
"Wow, they really do look good together," Pheobe tilted her head at the naturalness of their dynamic. Even from afar, it's clear they were a really good match. "Makes it all the more difficult, doesn't it?" Chandler's words were a product of kindness for once. He gently nudged Monica with his palm, knowing she was in a trance of thought about how deep she was in the pit of 'Ross betrayal'.
Not as deep as the newfound lesbian mere meters away from her.
"Yup." Monica sharply breathed in, shaking Chandler's fingers from the side of her arm to her hand. She dragged him forward with little warning, and as he regained consciousness of his legs, the four of them began striding towards the infamous couple.
Phoebe was the first to reach the table, her long legs equating to a faster pace. Carol and Susan stood up, Carol embracing Joey in a hug and Pheobe introducing herself to Susan by complimenting her hair. Susan thanked her with a slight blush, then made her way to shake hands with Monica. Carol exchanged the usual civil greetings despite the obvious tension of her divorce in the atmosphere.
Chandler didn't bother letting go of Monica's hand for Susan's and decided to make his first impression even more awkward than the implication by shaking with the opposite hand. Susan shrugged forward and laughed with him, pointing to his preoccupied limp wrapped with Monica's, understanding he had no obligations to let go of her.
Monica felt warmth spread to her palm in turn of his uneasiness and subconsciously gave him a squeeze of reassurance, one that failed to phase either of them. Susan's eyes left their embrace and moved to Joey's stretched-out arm awaiting her shake.
The now 6 of them sat down, the silence of the already barren restaurant emphasizing the awkwardness of their dry mouths. Monica dared to utter the first word, resulting in Joey picking up a menu and expressing his increasing interest in each item on it.
The night went relatively smoothly once they received the appetizers. All conversation was focused on Susan, what she did for work, her credentials, where she grew up, and her previous relationships- a question initiated by Joey. Monica muttered a couple of words, but nothing crucial to the conversation. Just simple, 'mhm's, 'yea's, and an 'oh, that's neat'. Throughout the evening, Chandler comforted her. Smoothing her skin when he noticed she hadn't mumbled in a few minutes, or drawing circles around her knuckles when she ate at an oddly heightened pace, a stress-induced habit she developed early on.
He admired her respect for her brother.
To Joey's dismay, the rest of them passed on dessert, and he was left to put his slice of chocolate cake in a to-go box. Phoebe was the first to get up and offered Susan a hug before departing. The rest gave in, feeling comfortable enough with the woman to hug her. Monica settled on a happy nod and her resilience was visibly noted by the rest of the table.
Susan awkwardly laughed as Carol pulled her in by the waist, then looked to Chandler in anticipation of one of his witty remarks. She was met with a mirrored vision of her and her girlfriend, Chandler with his arm around Monica's hips, gently caressing her love handle with affection to ease the tension.
Carol tilted her head, her finger's gentle stroke on Susan slowing to a questioning grip. Her lover looked at her, then took the same path her eyes did and narrowed down on Chandler and Monica. He was now taking her purse, tapping her shoulder and whispering something in her ear when she looked his way. She gave a gentle smile, then said something more audible.
"You don't have to carry that," She giggled, whatever Chandler said still lingering in her grin as they started to walk to the exit.
"You didn't mention they got together," Susan commented, remembering when she first met Carol and how she talked about her little group. Before leaving, Carol originally offered to drive, but Susan mentioned they wouldn't make it through the dinner sober, and Carol pulled out cash for a cab ride there and back. Now, they flagged a taxi and were halfway home when Susan brought up the slightest mention of Monica. Her behaviour had been reasonably quiet, and constrictive. They both agreed on that and held nothing against the woman for being nothing more than civil.
"I don't think they are…" Carol narrowed her eyes and focused her vision on nothing, simply racking her mind for signs of them being so close before the divorce. "Well, I bet on it," Susan giggled at her challenge. "They look cute together."
"They do…" Carol agreed.