A Player's First Love (F.R.I.E.N.D.S/ Joey Tribbiani Fanfic)

Shopping Part 2

After we had talked for a little bit, Chelsea insisted that she had to finish getting ready since the girls were going to be over in an hour. As she began to stand up from the bar stool I quickly gestured towards her with my hand to let her know I had to say something.

"Hey just so you know..." I hesitated to find the right words, "it was really nice getting to talk to you." I finished smiling at her softly. She smiled back and her cheeks flushed pink. She said nothing and finally made her way to Chandler's bedroom to get ready.

I don't know how to explain it but it made me happy that she was feeling more comfortable with all of us. I felt bad for being so frustrated with her earlier and even judging the way she looked. I smiled to myself and walked over to my chair to watch some TV.

I dropped quickly into my chair and groaned "Oh yeah!" this chair is the best chair in the whole world. I flipped on the TV to watch for awhile.

1 Hour Later

Chelsea emerged from Chandler's bedroom and I smiled at her "Hi" she said in a friendly way. She was still wearing the overall shorts and light blue top but she had added some white sneakers and her hair was dry and straightened. She had added natural makeup and I had to admit she looked pretty cute.

"How you doin?" I said jokingly as she made her way into the chair next to me to sit down. She giggled softly and said "Stop" clearly embarrassed. I smiled to myself satisfied.

       Finally Rachel opened my apartment door and smiled at us, "You ready Chels?" she asked. "Yup I'm coming." she said getting up from the chair, "See ya later Joey" to said to me. Man I'm gonna be so bored today. With all the girls gone and Chandler and Ross at work I'll be all alone.

      As if she read my mind Monica peeked her head in the door and asked, "Hey Joey what are you gonna be up to today?" I fully swiveled my chair around to face the door and answered nonchalantly, "Nothing I guess, Chandler and Ross won't be back for a couple hours" I shrugged carelessly.

      "Wanna come with?" Monica offered smiling. "Watching you girls try on clothes for hours? Yeah no thanks." I laughed to myself. "Yeah come on it'll be fun Joey!" Pheobe exclaimed. I smiled at her enthusiasm, "Nah you girls have fun. It'll only be a couple hours I'll be fine on my own."  "You sure?" Rachel added concern on her face. I smiled and got up from my chair to usher them out the door, "Go on!" I said laughing.

        I locked eyes with Chelsea before I shut the door all the way and she smiled warmly at me before following the girls down the stairs.

                
                              Later in the Day

     I had been watching TV and eating for hours. I was so bored I felt like I had been held in a trance by the TV all day and I couldn't look away. I had only gotten up to get food.

     Finally I heard the apartment door open an without turning to see who it was I called out, "Who goes there?" "Umm it's just me buddy" I recognized Chandler's voice, so I finally grabbed the remote and turned the TV off and turned my chair around to face him. "Hey dude!" I exclaimed smiling.

      "You have no idea how happy I am to see you I've been sitting here all..." Chandler cut me off, "She's shopping with the girls?" Chandler asked, worry plastered all over his face. " Yeah they left before lunch." I replied furrowing my eyebrows at him. I don't understand why he's still so concerned about her hanging out with the girls when he's not there. She was great the other night when we went to dinner.

     "Oh" he said simply as he put the note she had left him back on the counter. I shook my head to myself, working up the courage to talk straight with him. "Look Chandler," I said getting up and walking towards him, "She's fine with the girls okay? I know she seemed all freaked out and stuff at first but I think she's starting to get more comfortable hanging out with all of us even with you not around." I placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

     "Really?" Chandler asked still a little doubtful. "Yeah sure!" I answered smiling to reassure him. "I mean she made plans with the girls to go shopping together didn't she? And when you were gone this morning, me and her talked for like a half an hour." "Really?" He said again this time with a smile. "Yeah! And Chandler she's 26, you don't have to worry every time she does something without running it by you first." I continued trying to make him feel better. I really wanted him to start acting like himself again, all this worry and stress is not normal Chandler behavior.

     He gave my arm a quick pat as he said, "Yeah I guess you're right. Thanks buddy." I opened my arms motioning for a hug. "Aw do we have to?" Chandler whined.

     "You know you want to." I said raising my eyebrows at him. Chandler laughed as he muttered, "Fine." and hugged me patting my back roughly.

     Before we could pull apart a timer I had set in the kitchen dinged and we both pulled apart excitedly, "BAYWATCH!" we both exclaimed as we ran to our chairs and flipped on the TV to our favorite show.

                                5:00 p.m.

     Baywatch had ended but we kept the TV on to whatever had come on next as we talked, just have some background noise.

      Suddenly we heard a loud thump on our door and Pheobe yell, "HELP HELP!" We looked at each other worriedly and jumped up running towards the door.

      We opened the door to see Pheobe smiling and the rest of the girls standing behind her holding their shopping bags. "Well hello boys." Pheobe said smiling widely. "Mind giving us a hand?" Me and Joey looked at each other and glared at Pheobe. But eventually we sighed and grabbed some of the bags from the girls and brought them into our apartment.

       "You really shouldn't have." Chandler said sarcastically eyeing the pile of shopping bags on our floor. "Relax" Rachel said grabbing for a couple of bags, "We just had to rest our arms before me and Mon put our stuff at our place." she finished, her arms full of bags again.

       "Oh right you need to rest at our place... before walking...ALL the way... to yours." Chandler exclaimed sarcastically motioning across the hall. Well Chandler's back to himself I guess. "Shut up." Monica sneered. They had obviously realized the error in their judgment.

        Monica and Rachel carried their bags across the hall to their apartment and I closed the door behind them as they left. "Is alright if I keep my bags here till later?" Pheobe asked politely. "Aw sure Phebs." I said putting both hands on her shoulders. She smiled and said "Thanks" I looked over at Chelsea grabbing for some of her bags to put them in her room.

           Me and Chandler both rushed towards her with open hands and said simultaneously, "Need a hand?" We both looked up at each other awkwardly and I backed away, smiling awkwardly. "Uhh sure thanks." Chelsea said with furrowed eyebrows at the encounter as Chandler grabbed the rest of her bags. She looked at me too as if to say "Thanks anyways" and I nodded at her in return.

        Chelsea and Chandler walked into Chandler's room and Pheobe turned to me smiling like she was up to something. "Oh sweet sweet Joey." She said smiling wildly. I looked at her confused and slightly scared if I'm being honest, "What Phebs?" I asked. She laughed tilting her head back slightly, "All in good time my dear boy" she said patting my cheek softly. I smiled nervously at her. Pheobe was always very eccentric and just...weird sometimes, but she was one of my best friends and I loved her weirdness.
    
       Chandler and Chelsea walked out of his room just as Monica opened our door and peeked her head in, "Guys come over! I made dinner!" She said smiling excitedly. Monica LOVED being the hostess. We all walked casually out of my apartment and across the hall to Monica and Rachel's where we noticed Ross already sitting at the table.