Rachel had just arrived in her hotel room. She had been there for a week. She called Ross after she found out that Chandler had been seeing someone new, some girl named Stacy. Thinking that she was going to be able to go back to Ross's place, she called and told him the news. That paranoid side of Ross resurfaced.
"Just cause hes dating doesnt me hes still not over you." Ross reminded her.
She nodded with the handpiece to her ear.
"Ok." Rachel said. "But what if this is more than a rebound relationship? What if he has really forgotten about me this time?"
"I guess we'll have to see. But things have to stay the way they are for a while longer." Ross said. "It pains me to be apart from you, if you want to know the truth. I'm gonna come over some time next week and we can talk or something." He paused. "Would that be okay?"
"Sure." Rachel said. "You know where the room is." She said. After that she charged some Krobel champagne to his bill and drank a little in celebration. In anticpation that a reunion for her and her husband was around the corner.
But time dragged on, and no Ross. Some days she would even ask the desk clerk if there were messages for her. Had he been there and she wasnt? No messages Mrs Geller. Not today.
That changed tonight. As Rachel collapsed on her bed, the door knocked banged, indicating a visitor.
"Who is it?" She asked while thinking. "Leave me alone! I'm dead!"
"Room service." Reported the other side in a bad german accent.
"I didnt order anything." She said.
"Are you certain?" The voice said as Rachel crossed the room. She opened the door. "I could have sworn you were expecting me." Ross said as she looked at him.
"Yeah!" She smiled. "Last week!" She said.
"I got incredibly busy. Actual dino emergencies if you can even believe that." He said pushing a cart on. "I hope you still like Ross ala ruebens." He said.
"I havent had one for so long, I feel like my stomachs going to rebel." She said as Ross uncovered the dish.
"This is half social visit, half serious." He said. "Remember the wedding?"
"Oh yes. The view, the ocean. The hurricane." She said as Ross served her some milk.
"Well guess what." He said. "We're not married." He handed her a letter. "This basically said that in the damage the hurricane caused, it also struck the records department, and in a bad way. So our marriage license is no more. Thus, you are not my wife." He said looking at her.
"Oh my god!"
"I know." He said quietly. "What do we do?"
"Obviously we get married again." She said then paused. "Oh wait, do you think that...I might use this as an excuse to run back to Chandler?"
"One of many thoughts actually. This is part of our thinking time. If you want me again, we can get married but in the end, it turns out that we were really never meant to be a married couple, then I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I don't weant to have bad omens looking over us or something."
"We either cross the bridge together, or we burn it down together." Rachel agreed.
"Maybe this was a good thing." Ross said. "I don't know." He got up. "But we can still hang out at least tonight. Our little dinner date, as what we really are, just friends now. Again."
"Yeah."
He lifted his glass of milk. "To Friends."
"To friends." She clinked her glass against his. They looked at each other as they sipped it.
Later
Chandler rolled the vacuum cleaner into the closet. He closed the door as he heard a knock at the door. He ran to it.
"Hello?" He said. He opened the door. It was Ross.
"Ross?" He said. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought you'd like to know Rachel and I arent married." He said.
"Why, why why would that matter to me?" He asked.
Ross sighed. "I dunno. I thought you would."
"Its not like I'm gonna ask Rachel out now or something." Chandler said. "I am involved with someone."
"Oh?" Ross said. "Its not like I don't believe you or something."
"I know." Chandler said. "I kissed your well uh girlfriend, so you should be allowed a little over the top paranoia stuff. I totally understand."
"Either way this goes Chandler, I want you to know that I will always be your friend. This whole thing shouldnt affect years of our longstanding friendship." He said. "It'll be hard but someday I think we'll see eye to eye somewhat."
"That'll only work if she stays with you." Chandler said. "You got to admit, you're a bit mad at me, and yourself for seemingly letting her slip away."
"I gotta go now." Ross said.
"Ok."
"Say hi to whats her name for me."
"Stacy." Chandler said. "Her names Stacy."
A day later
Chandler pulled the car up to the stoplight. Stacy was in the passenger seat.
"The concert was uh, nice, wasnt it?" Chandler said.
"Best sleep I got in three weeks." Stacy said. She jerked her head up. "I'm sorry, I know you mean well. But this whole concert thing wasnt me."
"Then what is?"
"Spontaneity. Spur of the moment changes!" She said. "Like now. Do you know what I feel like doing?"
"I dunno. Is it appropriate at a stoplight to...?"
"Not that! Oh!" Stacy said. "That bar." She jumped out of the car.
"Stacy!" Chandler shouted as a row of cars honked behind him. He pulled the car off the road and into the parking lot that Stacy had dashed. She stopped in front of the car and waved her arms.
"Here we are." She said opening Chandlers door. "I feel like playing a game of pool. How about you?"
"Spur of the moment?" He said. "Lets do it!"
"Great." She took his hand. "We can even bet if we want. Every time I win, I get a kiss. And everytime you win, you get a kiss."
"Sounds saucy." Chandler said.
"I'd knew you'd approve." She said. "Let's go. I hope theres a free table!"
Chandler let Stacy lead him into the bar.
A few games
Stacy leaned on her pool cue.
"Hey smart guy, you gonna move or I gonna get to look at your butt all night long?" She said from behind Chandler.
"I dunno." He said thinking. "Hows the view back there."
"Shift to the right and let me think it over." She smiled. She came to the table. "What are you gonna do?"
"I'll go when I'm ready." He said.
"How about we up the stakes." She said.
"We've already covered all the acceptable public displays of affection." Chandler said rising.
"Ok, if you win this game, you can take me to another concert." She said. "Or if you lose, we do something I like, maybe make a little music of our own?" She said looking into his eyes.
"Seems like we both win." He said aiming for his shot again. He made a nudge motion and the cue made a wild slip off the orange ball. The ball shot wildly into the corner pocket.
"Lucky shot." Stacy mused.
"You psyched me out!" He protested. "Wait, I won, what am I bitching about?"
"Okay." She said "So whens our next date."
"Next week. Same time...."
"...same bat channel?"
"Exactly."
"Concert?"
"Maybe something more exciting." Chandler said. "I have hockey tickets."
"Hockey?" Stacy oohed.
"Yes, with the puck and all that."
"I know what hockey is!"
"Oh good." Chandler said. "Then at least I wont have to tell you what it is."
"Great." Stacy said. "Do I get a ride home tonight?"
"Sure." Chandler said.
"I'll show you the way." Stacy said. "You only picked me up in front of the park."
Few minutes later
"Here we are." Stacy said as they pulled up to a posh hotel.
"You live here?" Chandler asked unbelieveably.
"Yeah." Stacy said. "Its just till the painters get done with my place."
"Oh ok." Chandler said getting out. He helped her with the door.
"Thanks for a fun evening." Stacy said kissing him on the cheek.
"Thanks for having it with me." He said.
She waved to him as she walked into the hotel. Far up above a woman stood at the window and watched him leave.
Rachel sighed and left the view of the window. Chandler then looked up himself and squinted. He shok his head and walked away.
