FRIENDS Til The End

Chapter 17 - The One With What's Really Going On

                “You killed me??” Rachel burst into Monica and Chandler’s place which almost shocked everyone. She was talking to Chandler who didn’t seem surprised at all.

                “If I did, then how on earth are you still here?” His sarcasm has not faded. He of course knew what she was talking about. And it only meant one thing.

                “I cannot believe that you killed me in your book. It could be Phoebe! Or Monica. Or you should’ve just killed you! It’s your book, you should’ve been the one who suffers. But me! It’s unfair.” She slumped in their couch like a child.

                Chandler smiled. “So, you’re finished with it, huh? Like it?” Chandler was now a renowned writer known almost by everyone in the whole America. It all started when Ross told him how terrible a writer he was. He knew he was joking but he still wanted to prove him wrong. He tried to write a short novel, which was made easier by the fact that he had written the story based on his and the whole gang’s life, and had it published. He wasn’t expecting anything about it but his first novel was accepted really well. He wrote another one, and another one after that, and another one after that, all of which were still based on his life.

                The first novel he wrote was about two best friends who were so different with each other but through some silly game played by someone called “Cupid” fell in-love with each other, started a life together, and created a family together. His second one was about a struggling actor who made it big after having done almost everything he could to be successful. The third one was about three guys’ life in a city and how they managed to go through it all, together. This time, he made Rachel and Ross the center of his novel but gave it a bit of a twist. He thought Rachel would like it, but with her reaction, it seemed like he was wrong.

                “You didn’t?”

                Rachel sighed. “I did.” She paused. “But I died!”

                Chandler and Monica looked at each other then chuckled. Rachel was 42 but she still was that same Rachel everyone knew. Sometimes child-like. Sometimes annoyingly self-centered. But always the friend who’s sweet and adorable and charming and painfully beautiful who’ll be there for you when you need one.

                “Honey, that’s okay.” Monica, who was at that time cleaning the dining table for like the thousandth time now, chimed in. “At least you weren’t some freaking bitch who jumps into conclusions just because of one single thing she hears.”

                Chandler sighed. “There’s another complaint.” Monica was also still the same Monica he knew and loved. Yes, a bit high-maintenance but for sure would never let you down. She could put herself in a fight just for a friend and she’d do anything NOT to lose. And hey, maybe that was a good thing. If you were at her side, that is. “Is there anything likeable about what I wrote?”

                Rachel and Monica both answered at the same time. “None.”

                “Wow, that’s sweet. Could you BE any more supportive??”

                Rachel and Monica laughed. Of course, they were kidding. It amazed them how Chandler could get a reader so much. Maybe because it was them who he was writing about and writing for but still. He was good. And it was something they never thought of before because the Chandler they knew was all about jokes and sarcasm and all that. Well, he was still all that. But on a very much different angle now. And somehow it was better.