What If Chandler Bing Didn't Exist...? [F.R.I.E.N.D.S]

Chapter Seventeen: Why?! Why Would You?!

'It’s like ... like she’s the princess and I’m the stable boy ... Why are you doing this, huh?' -  Joey Tribbiani, The One With Phoebe's Rats

---

At first I just stood there, not knowing what to say. Mixed feelings ran through me, bewilderment,  anger, shock and what the hell is happening?! This is not right. In just so many ways. I mean Ross wants to be with Rachel but still with Julie and Rachel wants to be with Ross, I think?  And then Joey is just in there just cause he loves women. Come on, let's face it, when Joey and Rachel were going out, it was just so painful to watch Ross suffer.

I just looked at them, not knowing what to do. They did the same when I was just standing there. Rachel doesn't know me besides the fact that I was the guy who thinks he's Monica's husband. And if I have to say this again, I am.

Rachel was the first to break the whole awkward silence. I could tell that she too was startled. She made a bit of a nervous sound with her voice but then managed to speak. "Well, uh, I guess, I uh, better get going," she looked over at Joey. "Joey?"

"Joey." He gave her a strange look, a confused look to be honest, but she was already starting to leave.

"So  I'm gonna go Joey…" She said his name anxiously as if she was going to say a different name. After she left, I looked Joey with wide eyes. I held my two hands out anger and frustration written all over them. My whole body was quivering with rage and the vein on my forehead was almost as big as Monica's.

Joey stood up cautiously and looked at the door on which Rachel just left and pointed towards it. "Can you believe it?"

"Um, NO." Can he not see that I was angry?

"She didn't know my name." He said that with his face just not believing that it just happened. I edged my head closer to him. That's what he thinks is the bigger picture?!

"What's wrong with you? What did you just do?"

"What? What?" Joey was now confused and angry at the same time. "Nothing. It was just that girl, Rachel. She didn't even know my name. I mean, I am very memorable."

Wow, to be honest, I didn't know he actually knew that word… "Jo, I already told you not to go for Rachel." I was just so close to hitting him. But it's Joey. I could never do that to him.

"Yeah, I know… but after you left I could tell that she was feeling upset or depressed or something and I told her to come here after dinner. And plus you left, so then I thought it was okay."

"No. No. It is not okay. It is definitely not okay." Both my hands were on the side of his shoulders and were grabbing them very tightly. "I already told you not to be with Rachel. Why didn't you listen? And also, I already told you that Ross and Rachel were supposed to be together. I swear to God I am so angry with you right now. Why Jo why? Why did you do this to me?"

"Woah, man, calm down. The only reason I did this was because I've seen Ross, okay. He is definitely going to be stuck in the friend zone forever. I mean have you heard him talk? And he obviously does not seem like he's good at the flirting thing." That is true. I can't really argue with that. But still, this is another step. Not forwards, but backwards. Literally. Am I going to get out of this world? This crazy mixed up world?!

"But oh my God, Joey. You know that I've been trying to make Ross more confident to get Rachel. And that was the biggest reason why we went to visit Phoebe!"

"Phoebe… Phoebe…" He was trying to remember where he had heard that name from. When he did, he clicked his fingers and pointed them towards me. "Phoebe! That hot girl that massaged me right?"