Chandler moaned."Is it too late to fake sick on the wedding day?"
Rachel turned to her. "Come on, lets see your dress!" Rachel twirled so the ruffles on her dress created quite a breeze and it blew some curtains on the dressing rooms open.
"Patience." Monica promised.
"Yeah right." Rachel looked at Chandler said. "I've known her long enough to know that way she talks. She hasnt made a choice yet."
"I did too." Monica yelled from around the corner. "It's white!"
Later that night
Chandler and Rachel whizzed around the apartment at lighting speed trying to get ready for the dinner date they had set up with Ross and Linda. Linda would be meeting Ross for the first time so it was bound to be quite a treat. Chandler fluffed a pillow and sat on the couch for a second.
"Linda's been really distant for a couple of days." He thought to himself. He wondered why. He kept her happy and they went about everywhere. She went to his hockey games and he went to her symphonies. Chandler smiled to himself. It must be his imagination. It was probably nothing.
Rachel looked at Chandler sitting by himself.
"Hey!" She said aloud.
"Hmm?" Chandler looked up.
"Are you all right?" Rachel asked. "After all we're almost done and Monica was nice enough to leave us her recipe for Chicken Piccata when she moved out."
"She didn't leave it." Chandler smiled. "I photocopied her choicest recipes."
"Smart man." Rachel said. "And I let you get away from me." She said off hand.
Chandler and Rachel looked at each other.
"Oh well. It was fun while it lasted." Chandler admitted. He got up to say something else when the doorbell rang.
"Gee I wonder who that is." Rachel said going to the door.
"We got a fifty-fifty chance on who it is." Chandler said.
Rachel opened the door. It was Ross and Linda.
"Hey!" Rachel said hugging Ross and kissing him on the lips.
"Oh you must be Ross then." Linda said off hand. She smiled letting Chandler know she was kidding. "I met Ross on the way up here. He seems like a good guy."
"I know." Rachel said. "Come on in."
"Thanks." Linda said.
Linda and Ross came in to the apartment. Linda started to sit down at the kitchen table but Chandler pulled out her seat for her. Linda thanked him and sat down. Ross did the exact same thing for Rachel.
"So what are we having tonight?" Ross said. "Another recipe stolen from Monica?"
"Chicken Piccata." Chandler said looking at Rachel who shrugged.
"I know you too well." Ross said. "You always need Monicas help with the food. But you are a pro with everything else." Ross said kissing her on the cheek. Rachel smiled.
Linda seeemed a little tense at the mini love fest between Ross and Rachel. She shifted a bit in her seat and looked at Chandler. He gave her a "they do that all the time" look.
"So how bout them Bulls?" Linda asked. "I heard they lost the last game."
"Oh yea." Chandler said. "But they are one game away from winning the whole thing."
"Ah." Linda said. "Hey, how long you guys been together?" She looked at Ross and Rachel.
"Oh you know." Rachel said smiling. "On and off for years."
"Really?" Linda said. "Thats fascinating. Why couldnt it just stay on?"
"Linda?" Chandler asked. "What are you getting at?"
"I dunno." Linda said. "I have no idea."
"Ok." Chandler said taking her hand. All the muscles in Lindas hand were tense, very tight like a rope. He rubbed it for a second. She turned to him.
"You got any booze here?" Linda said. "Cause I need something a little harder than pineapple juice."
"Actually we don't." Rachel said looking at Chandler. Linda got up and got some water.
"Never mind. I've had a rough day today." Linda sighed.
Ross looked around. He didn't know what quite to say.
After dinner
Rachel walked Ross down to his car.
"That was a bizarre experience." Ross admitted leaning on his car and pulling Rachel to him.
"Yea." Rachel said. "It must be what she said. A rough day even when I've had a rough day I didn't go off weird all like that."
"Yeah." Ross kissed Rachel on he lips. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"I love you." Rachel said as she went inside.
"Not as much as I love you." Ross said getting into his car.
Rachel waved to him from the door and waited for the tail lights on his car to go out of sight. She started up the stairs. Rachel stopped halfway when she heard discussion in the hallway.
"I'm so sorry about tonight Chandler." Rachel heard Linda said as she finished her ascent up the stairs.
"Theres something wrong isnt there?" Chandler asked her. She turned from him. There were tears in her eyes.
"I've been transferred." Linda said to him. She turned back to him.
"What?"
"I've been transferred to San Fransisco. I've been given a high paying job in a division out there."
"Are you going?" Chandler asked.
"I have no choice Chandler." Linda said. "This is where we say goodbye."
"Why goodbye?" Chandler asked. "I can come out and see you anytime. I can get vacations, days off." Chandler offered. "I want to be with you."
"Oh Chandler. You won't come out there and you know it even more than I do." Linda said wiping her tears.
"Linda..."
"Don't make this any harder than it has to be Chandler." Linda said. "I'm leaving New York tonight." Linda turned and went down the stairs. She encountered Rachel on the second story where Rachel had gone to. She pretended to check her mail.
"It was nice knowing you Rachel." Linda extended her hand.
"Leaving so soon?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Linda said. "Goodbye." And with that she went down the stairs. Soon she was out the door. Rachel went up the flight of stairs. She fouhnd Chandler by the window.
"Shes leaving." Chandler said as he watched her leave. "I know."
"What can I do? Shes being transferred to California and I'm gonna be left alone...again."
"Go after her." Rachel said.
"What?"
"Try and beat her to the plane. Convince her to change her mind." Rachel said. "Go now!"
"Rachel you are such a good friend." Chandler hugged her. He ran down the stairs.
"Don't fall!" Rachel chided him halfway down. He smiled up and then went out the door. Rachel went back inside and shut the door.
Chandler drove very fast and made it to the airport.He went inside the departure area and looked around. He read the screen above him.
He was too late. Lindas plane left five minutes before he got there. Apparently Linda had the plane tickets long before she told him. She expected to be promoted or transferred. She had always been ready to leave but she had no idea she would fall in love. Chandler sat by the window to the runway for a while before deciding to go back home.
