The New Beginning - The Story of Ross and Rachel

The One With The Morning After

Today is their last day in Los Angeles. Rachel couldn't wait to finally take off and leave this place. The fun and happy trip just turned into her worst nightmare last night. The fresh memories from last night keep coming back and she couldn't stop reliving it. Things are getting normal with her and Ross after they cleared it up last night even though now it made her eyes all puffy from all the crying. But she couldn't possibly know how to act around Joey anymore. She knew Ross is still mad at Joey, but she couldn't do anything about it. She wouldn't even dare to say his name in front of Ross. She just wanted to avoid all the drama and come back home. She was packing their stuff but then she started to bite her fingernails and lost in her thoughts instead. Ross suddenly greeted her with a kiss in her lips, snapping her out from all her thoughts.

"Are you done?" Ross asked her

He knew what happened last night still bothered Rachel. It's not the first time he caught her bitting her nails as she stares blankly today. He knew her habit. She will start to bite her finger nails whenever she feel anxious or when she have a lot in her minds.

"Yeah, I just need to put this in." She put her makeup pouch in and close the suitcase.

"I'm done!" She waved both her arms to her side and smiled proudly.

He can't help but giggled at her childish act. Though he slightly relieved things weren't awkward between him and Rachel after what happened last night.

"Alright, let's head downstairs. Monica will be pissed if we're late again"

He helped her stand up from the floor, then drag their suitcase in one hand, and wrapped his other arms on her waist as they walked downstairs.

........

"That's them!" Phoebe waved her hand toward Monica and Chandler's as they got out from the elevator.

Yes, catching anyone by surprise, Monica and Chandler were late today.

"Well..well..well..Looks like you lost your touch, Mon." Rachel teased Monica.

It maybe nothing, but Rachel love to teases Monica whenever she make a simple mistake that she rarely do.

"Thank to someone, we have to look for the camera all over the room and even the hallway. Only after two hours looking for it, it turns out someone borrow it to his friend, and forgot about it." She pinched Chandler's stomach and he flinched.

"A aa aaaww.." he shouted

"You mean this camera?" Mike asked as he pulled out a camera from his bag.

Monica simply nodded, but clearly still very annoyed at her husband.

"That 'someone' is me by the way. Let me reintroduce my self, I'm Chandler, soon to be divorced by his wife." Chandler joked as he left a small laugh.

His joke clearly wasn't amuse Monica as she glared back at him as if a laser is shooting from her eyes.

The gang just smiled looking at the married couple's quarrel.

"Alright the car is here. Let's go to the airport." Joey came after he pulled out the car from the parking lot.

As soon as he arrived there is this awkwardness between the three of them.

"Alright, let's go." Monica grabbed Rachel's arm and they walked to the car.

Ross is the last one to leave. Joey hesitated, but he decide to confront Ross.

"Do you need any help?" He asked nicely with a slight smile on his face.

"No, thank you." He answered coldly and rather quick as if he already knew he's gonna ask.

"Look Ross, just punch me." He grabbed Ross' arms and made it into a fist.

"You don't get it do you?" He quickly snapped as he removed his hand from Joey's

"Get what?" He asked as he had no idea on what Ross was referring to.

"Okay" he dropped his luggage and continued, "How is it feel when you found out that your best friend, who happened to be his wife's ex boyfriend by the way, still secretly in love with her? And not just that, he conffesed his love in front of you, your wife, and all of your friends. Do you still think a punch gonna make it all better?"

"But I wasn't Rachel's ex boyfriend!" He whined, "We only went out for a week, we didn't even sleep-" he stopped talking as he realized he only make things worse. Ross was staring at him in disbelief.

"Look, Joe, it would be best for us not to talk right now. I just can't deal with this right now. I have much more important things going on in my life."

Ross walked inside the car and sat next to Rachel who was curious about their conversation but didn't have the courage nor the urge to ask him. Soon later Joey hoped on into the car and they went straight to the airport.

Joey was driving, Chandler sat next to Joey. Phoebe, Mike, and Monica sat on the middle seat, and Ross and Rachel sat on the back seat. The ride to the airport was awfully quite. No one said a word as soon as they got into the car.

Joey would sometimes stole a glance at Ross and Rachel's from the driver mirror and saw Rachel feel asleep into Ross' chest as Ross wrapped his arm around her. He couldn't help but being envious. His heart aches every time. It only reminds him of what he could never possibly have, Rachel. Sometimes he would regret his decision on letting her go and not pushing through with their relationship. But it all disappear every times he look at her smiling, looking perfectly happy in Ross' arms. He's genuinely happy for them, for deep down he knew she belong only to Ross.

.........

They finally arrived at the airport after a dreadful ride that seemed like has no ending.

Joey thanked each of them including Ross and Rachel as they said their goodbye. Rachel slightly smiled at him when he thanked her. She actually felt really bad for him, but at the same time she couldn't even say a thing nor looking at him in the eyes. While Ross was being quite all the time, also avoided eye contact with Joey.

As the gang walked up toward the check in booth, Monica left behind to comfort Joey. Last night, Chandler told her everything about Joey. She couldn't help but feel bad for him. She can't say a thing to Ross because she's afraid she'll hurt her brother feeling and it is also a delicate and private topic between the three of them that she gladly choose to not be a part of it. She gave Joey a big hug for the last time.

"Are you going to be okay?" She asked

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just hate this awkward atmosphere between us." He whined

"Us too honey.. Just give it a time and let time heals."

"Okay. I guess I'll see you guys on Christmas. Although I'm not sure I should come."

He looked down, sad.

"We'll work it out. I promise." She smiled at him and walked inside.

After a few steps, she quickly turned body around and said, "You know you can always call us, right? Anytime." She smiled at him

He nodded and smiled as he mouthed the word "Thank you"

Joey always have a special place in Chandler and Monica's heart. He's like a little brother Chandler never had. Of course Ross is also his best friend, no need to question that. But Joey and Chandler always have this bond they share between them, maybe because of the time they spent years living and struggling together.

Their plane took off and that wrapped up their short weekend gateway to Los Angeles. Despite all the drama, it was a wonderful and surely a memorable trip for them.