Roxie Bing | she's the one

(1.11) The One With Mrs Bing

"Oh, she's coming up!" Rachel announced happily, grabbing the TV control to turn the volume up.
Chandler stepped forward first. "We don't have to watch this." He said as he picked up the remote that Rachel had put on the coffee table.
Rachel quickly snatched it back from him.
"Come on, she's your mum." Joey encouraged.

Chandler ignored them and walked back to the kitchen table where I was sat. We both looked at each other with sulking expressions.

Ross turned around from the sofa. "Come on, guys. I love your mum. I think she's a blast."
I scoffed. "Well, that's because she's not your mum."

"Hey, she's on!" Phoebe announced as Rachel was welcoming Paolo in.
"Hey!" He exclaimed, pointing at the television. "Nora Bing!"
Chandler and I exchanged an unhappy look and both rolled our eyes.

I listened as the interviewer on the television questioned our mother about being arrested in London.
"Your mum was arrested?" Phoebe asked.
Chandler shushed her and shot her a sarcastic smile. "I'm busy beaming with pride."

Our mum proceeded to tell the interviewer that to explain that incident, they should know that after she's had sex with a man, she gets a craving for Kung Pao chicken.
"That's too much information!" Chandler yelled at the television screen as I gagged dramatically.

Next, she was questioned on her new book.
"It's fine. I leave for New York tomorrow - which I hate. But I get to see my kids - who I love."
"This is the way we find out." I rolled my eyes as I spoke to my brother.
"I know. Most mums use the phone!" It was clear he was just as impatient as me about this.

***

The group of us (minus Rachel and Ross) were gathered around a table in a restaurant with our mum who'd joined us.

"What do I want?" She mused.
"Please, don't let it be Kung Pao chicken." I cringed.
"Oh, you guys watched the show!" She exclaimed, leaning over to embrace my brother and I.

Ross walked in soon after. "What is this dive? Only you could've picked this place." He pointed at my mum.
"Oh, come on. It's fun. Give me a hug." She smiled before embracing him.

"Well, I think we're ready for shots. Who's in?" My mum suggested.
There was a chorus of "me".
"Definitely me." I muttered.
"Ross?" My mum questioned.
"I'm not really a shot drinking sort of guy." Ross shrugged.
At that moment, Rachel and Paolo stumbled in.
"Sorry we're late, we just kind of, lost track of time." Rachel giggled as Paolo continued to kiss her neck.
"But a man can change." Ross grabbed a shot glass.

***

Chandler and I were sat on opposing chairs in our apartment staring at each other shocked.
"I can't believe it." Chandler muttered.
I looked up at Ross who was standing in front of us. "Paolo kissed our mum?"
Ross nodded. "Yeah. I mean, if you didn't notice, he had a lot to drink. You know how he gets when he's dr -" Ross cut himself off and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I can't do this. It was me, I did it. I kissed your mum."
"What?" Chandler and I stood up simultaneously in shock.
"I'm sorry. I was upset over Paolo and Rachel and I had too much tequila, and she was just being nice."
"I cannot believe this!" I yelled.
"I know, I'm sorry. But nothing else happened, ask Joey!"

I immediately spun around to face Joey who was in the kitchen and glared. "You know about this?" I yelled.
Joey looked frozen and unable to speak.
"I spent the entire day with you. Why didn't you tell me?" Chandler quizzed him, clearly upset as well.
"You're lucky I caught them when I did!"
"Thanks man, big help." Ross said sarcastically.

"What were you thinking? Of all my friends, no one knows the crap we've been through with our mum more than you." Chandler turned his anger back to Ross as I stood silent feeling betrayed by Joey not telling me.
"I know -" Ross started but Chandler had already started storming towards the door, an action I happily followed.
"Me neither!" Joey tried to side with us but I stopped in my tracks just before the door.
"I'm pissed at you as well!" I yelled.
"Look, Rox -"
"No, Joey! It was a stupid mistake nearly kissing you at New Years. You'll always be an ass." I snapped.
Chandler and I slammed the door as we left.

***

Chandler and I were sat in the coffee house both still frustrated from the incident we'd just found out about.
"So, elephant in the room." Chandler started. "Did I hear you right back there? Did you nearly kiss Joey?"
I chuckled. "Don't go all big brothery on me. We were just drunk." I assured him.
Chandler furrowed his brows. "From how upset you were with him, it seems like more than that."
I knew he was probably right, but I couldn't admit it, especially not to my brother. "Don't be ridiculous." I shrugged him off. "Now let's go and wish our liability of a mother a good riddance."

***

Our 'goodbye' with our mum has turned into a slight confrontation but it was really nice to get some stuff off our chests.

We waved goodbye to her outside our apartment door as Joey and Ross showed up and awkwardly waved her off as well.

When it was just the four of us left, Chandler spoke first.
"Hey." He smiled at Ross.
Ross smiled a relieved smile. "You mean that?"
Chandler nodded and he began filling Ross in on the confrontation with our mother as they walked into the girls apartment, leaving Joey and I stood alone in the corridor.

"Hey." I smiled.
"You mean that?" He joked, mimicking the conversation Chandler and Ross had had seconds before.
"I'm sorry I -" Both of us said in unison and laughed.
"I'll go first." Joey said. "I'm sorry, Roxie. I should've told you the second I knew. Your trust does mean a lot to me."
I smiled as I saw the emotional look in his eyes. "It's okay. And hey, I'm sorry I lashed out so bad. I guess I just have issues with my mum that surfaced and you had to take the brunt of it."
"I deserved the brunt of it." He shrugged.
There was a moment silence before I spoke again. "And Joey? I was probably right about the fact that nearly kissing was a mistake, right?"
Joey's expression looked pained and disappointed for a second before he quickly nodded. "No, yeah. Of course. A mistake."

Next chapter next Tuesday!