[Joey x Chandler] COMPILATION OF SHORT STORIES FROM AO3

The One with Ross' Ex-wife

The One Where Chandler Can't Catch A Break

"Chandler, dude, you're really freakin' me out," Joey says from the barcalounger while Chandler paces anxiously in front of him.

"I know, just— give me a second. This isn't easy," Chandler mutters, running his hand through his hair. Joey furrows his brow and looks uneasy.

"Chandler, you'd tell me if somethin' was wrong, right?" Oh god, does Joey think he's dying or something?

"Yeah!" Chandler says, a little too quickly. "I'm fine! It's just... Joey, I think— I think you're... swell."

What the fuck?

Did he really just call Joey swell? Does anyone even use that word anymore?

"Thanks...?" Joey looks beyond confused and Chandler can't blame him at all.

"Wait! Forget I said that! Can I start over?" He tries to backtrack but the damage is already done. "I— I meant... uh...." He babbles on for about 30 more seconds before Joey puts an end to this tragically embarrassing scene.

"Chandler listen, this has been great and all but I really gotta get to this audition," He says with a nervous smile while moving to stand. Chandler's pretty sure he might actually die. He really needs to get his shit together and get this horrible secret off his chest.

It's now or never.

"I love you!" He blurts out and Joey stops in his tracks. Slowly, he turns around so they're facing, keeping his expression guarded.

"You...love me?" His voice is barely above a whisper and if Chandler was unsure before, now he definitely knows he's going to die; he needs to get out of there now.

"Well I hope your audition goes well have a good day bye Joe!" Chandler's already halfway to his room before he finishes the sentence, ignoring Joey's cry of 'Chandler wait!' . Once inside the safety of his bedroom, he slams the door shut and locks it, his heart pounding in his chest.

He can hear Joey wiggling the doorknob, knocking on the door and calling out his name, but theres no way in hell Chandler's facing him now. He'll willingly starve to death in here if it means he'll never have to see his roommate again.

Carefully, he presses his back against the door and slides down into a sitting position, hanging his head between his knees. His eyes burn but he blinks back any unwanted emotions and buries his hands in his hair.

He waits until he hears the sound of the front door close and waits another 20 minutes before peaking his head out to find the apartment empty.

Chandler sighs and stumbles out of his room, all while tossing around the idea of packing his stuff up and moving out before Joey returns from the audition. He's pretty confident he could be out of the country before Joey even knows he's gone.

In the end, Chandler settles for dragging himself over to the girl's apartment, in need of advice and possibly some food. He's about 2 seconds away from walking into the apartment before a very scary thought hits him like a freight train. What if Joey's audition was actually just an excuse to get out of the awkward conversation and he's actually inside the apartment right now, telling Monica and Rachel about Chandler's horrible, horrible confession.

What if Joey's in there right now, telling the girls he never wants to see him again?

He might throw up, right here, in the hallway of his apartment complex.

Chandler takes a shaky breath before knocking nervously on the door; he can't actually remember the last time he knocked before entering the apartment. It takes a few seconds before the door opens and Monica pokes her head out, looking surprised.