[Joey x Chandler] COMPILATION OF SHORT STORIES FROM AO3

the one with the blackout

You're running late, you know this, but this goddamn ATM machine is taking for-ever. You're trying to simply withdraw some cash, to buy some coffee of all things, and watch Phoebe sing 'smelly cat' to a crowd of twenty. Oh, and to top off running late, the power decides to go out. Great, just your luck.

You were heading to the door, ready to open it, walk out onto the New York streets and bam! You're shrouded in darkness and stuck inside an ATM vestibule of all things.

You let out a groan, holding the dollar bills in your left hand and right now you could really use a cigarette. Damnit. Turning to your side, you're met with—no, that can't be—can it?

Fuck. It really is. It's fucking Joey Tribbiani, the Victor's Secret model. The same model whose billboard only makes you drool every morning on your way to crunching numbers.

Damn, he's looking at you, trademark sideways grin as he drops down to the ground, getting comfortable, as if he had nowhere to go. You return his easy smile with a, not-so-easy smile and he looks like he's holding in a laugh. You turn around, unable to face that beautiful specimen and run your hands through your hair. It's gonna be a long night.

*****

Honestly, getting stuck inside a small room in near darkness on a Friday night wasn't the worst thing to happen to you. Best? No. Worst? Definitely not.

You're on the phone with your mom and she's nagging you as if you're ten again ('joey! do you have a coat on? are you alone sweetie?' 'no mom, some guy is here too') and after you make an offhand mention about said guy, he does this cute almost victory dance that he must think you didn't catch, and it's really cute. He's really cute. Not the worst night by far.

After assuring your mother that yes you're ok, and no you don't need her to come break you out of an ATM vestibule, you turn to the guy (who's currently standing awkwardly, after doing some dance walk around the room).

"Phone?" You motion the mobile device towards him and he looks shocked that you're making 'conversation'. God, it's endearing.

He points to his chest as if to say 'me?' before clearing his throat and accepting the phone with a whispered 'sure'.

Definitely not the worst night you've had by far.

*****

You dial Monica's number in a frenzy, figuring they've left Central Perk and are cozied up in her living room like usual already. Luckily, you're right, and she picks up on the second ring shouting out 'it's chandler!' to the rest of the gang.

"Are you okay?" She asks, underlying and shrill panic meeting your ears.

"Yeah, fine." You sneak a glance at Joey Tribbiani and whisper into the line, "I'm stck in an atm vstbl wth jy trbbni."

A second passes before she lets out a high pitched, "What?"

"I said, im stck in an atm vstbl with jy trbbni."

Said man then glances over to you from the small table in the room and you're convinced he's convinced you're crazy.

"Chandler, what are you saying?"

"Put Rachel on the phone!" You half-shout, and oh yeah he definitely will think you're crazy now, as you run your hands through your hair.

"Hi sweetie. What's up?" Rachel says from the other line, finally.

"I'm stck in an atm vstbl with JY TRBBNI." You angrily whisper through the receiver, hoping she'll understand.