One Night Stand - Friends

Welcome Back

Holly: Joey? What are you doing here?

Joey: I live here. What are you doing here?

Holly: I came to see Chandler. Is he here?

Joey: Yeah, he is. Come on in.

She walked in and saw Chandler sitting on a chair, sipping a beer and watching Baywatch. He turned around to see Holly in her coat, messed up dress with her hair all scrappy.

Chandler: Holly! What brings you to Manhattan?

He noticed that she didn't have any bags, just her purse and her Walkman.

Chandler: I can tell this trip wasn't exactly planned.

Holly: I had to run away from George.

Chandler: That's a little more dramatic than usual.

Holly: He asked me to marry him!

Chandler: What?!

Joey: What?!

Chandler: But you only just turned 21!

Holly: I know! So I ran out of there and came here because New York is the only place I can think of where I'm safe from anything.

Chandler: Well, that was crazy what you did. Mom could be worried sick about you!

Holly: She doesn't care about me. She said herself that the only reason she likes me being with George is because he has money. I was gonna break up with him later tonight if he hadn't proposed to me in front of everyone! And I came here because I knew I could count on my brother to help me.

Chandler: Aww, you still know how to emotionally manipulate me! Come here.

They both shared a nice hug.

Chandler: You can always count on your brother.

Joey joined in on the hug too.

Joey: And you're pal, Joey.

Holly quietly: Come on, you know you're more than a pal to me, Joey.

Joey: I'm gonna like you staying here.

Chandler: Don't forget, you can stay here as long as you need.

Holly hugged Chandler once again.

Holly: Thanks so much, Chandelier.

Joey: "Chandelier"?

Holly: Oh crap.

Chandler: It's just Holly's nickname for me. Her nickname is Hollywood!

Joey: Dude, you're Chandelier. I gotta tell Ross.

Holly: Ross is here too?

Chandler: Yeah, he doesn't live too far away. C'mon, I'll set you up on the couch.

Joey called Ross on the phone while Chandler got some blankets on the couch for her.

Ross: Hello?

Joey: Hey, Ross.

Ross: Joey, why are you calling me? It's the middle of the night.

Joey: Chandler's nickname... *snicker* is Chandelier!

Ross:... Holly's back in town?

Joey: Yeah! Wait, how'd you know?

Ross: She used to visit us every weekend when we were in college, yes before she met you, and I had a-! I shouldn't tell you about that. But her nickname for Chandler was Chandelier. Anyway, she's here?

Joey: Yeah!

Ross: I'm on my way over.

Joey hung up and turned to see Holly laying down her coat and cape on top of the few blankets and towels they had.

Chandler: Who was that?

Joey: Ross. He's on his way over.

Holly: I'll just make myself at home.

She sat down on the couch and let out an almighty groan of pleasure, similar to the boys whenever they'd put up their feet and lean back in their chairs.

Holly: Oooohhhhhh! Ohh, that's good.

She took off her small, pinchy, high-heeled shoes and let out another relieved groan.

Holly: Ohh, yeah!

She lay down on her pile of blankets and substitute blankets before realising Joey had an uncomfortable look on his face and Chandler was facing the other way.

Holly: Oh god! I'm so sorry! It was just that-

Chandler: Don't worry, it's fine.

Holly: Is it though?

Joey: Yeah! Me and Chandler do the same thing whenever we sit in our chairs!

They demonstrate and let out similar sounds as Holly just did. Unfortunately, while they were, Ross walked in, unbelievably confused.

Ross:... I'm sorry, this must be the wrong apartment.

Chandler got up and said hello.

Chandler: Hey, why are you here?

Ross: Joey told me that Holly was here so I came over as soon as I could!

Holly: Hey Ross!

Ross: Holly! What brings you back to Manhattan?

Holly: Hoo, boy. Um, I had to run away from my boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend, because he proposed to me when I was going to break up with him.

Ross:... I'm sorry, I thought this was an apartment, not the set of a soap-opera. But this guy proposed to you?! Aren't you only... 21?

Holly: Yeah! See, if you guys get it, why can't upscale Philadelphians?

Ross: But wasn't it a little irresponsible of you running away from your mom and all your friends and your ex?

Holly:... It's not like they really care about me anyway. Mom just sees me as a mannequin she can dress up in poofy dresses and parade around, waiting for any freak with a few thousand bucks under his belt to take me and imprison me in their eternal misogynistic prison as their housewife!

Ross: Wow, what did Philly do to you?

Holly: It turned me into a soap-opera star!

Joey: (under his breath) You've got the looks for it.

Holly: (under her breath) Careful, Chandler might hear.

Ross: So, how long are you staying here?

Holly: Probably until my mom stops trying to marry me off to George so give it maybe... 10 years? And sorry to cut the pow-wow short but I've been running through dirt and snow and slush in heels so I'm gonna get a shower and go to bed.

Ross: Understandable, have a nice night.

Shortly after her shower, Holly had put on one of her brother's hoodies and fallen asleep on the couch. Chandler was going into his room but Joey couldn't stop looking at Holly. He hadn't realised how nice it was to have her back since she left all those years ago, until now. And now, she was there to stay.

(A/N: If you wish, you can consider this a prequel to TNUTHB (my other book) and start reading that from here.)