♡

THE ONE WHERE JOEY MOVES OUT.
EPISODE SIXTEEN.

♡

It was a Saturday morning and Zara was eating breakfast with Phoebe and Monica. They were currently waiting for Rachel, who was still getting ready.

"Are you still keeping your book to yourself?" Phoebe questioned.

"I'm still reading through it myself at the moment," Zara confessed. "And then Chandler gets to read it first."

"That's so unfair," Monica complained, frowning. "I was your friend first."

"But you're not Chandler," said Phoebe, grinning brightly.

Zara frowned, staring down at her plate. "Can we not talk about Chandler."

But, of course, Chandler chose to come into the apartment then with Joey following behind. The two guy's greeted them, joining them in the kitchen.

"Oh, look at you fancy lads," Phoebe said while pouring a tea for Monica. "What's the occasion?"

Opposite Zara, Chandler helped himself to a glass of orange juice. He wore a cardigan over a white top as Zara averted her gaze, still frowning.

"Well, you know the guy on my show that's in a coma?" Joey told them as they nodded. "He's having a brunch."

"Hey," Rachel finally joined them. "Ready when you are?"

"Okey-doke," said Phoebe. "Zara, you ready?"

Zara grinned. "You bet I am."

"I can't believe you guys are gettings tattoos," Monica said.

"Excuse me," Chandler was too interested. "You guys are getting tattoos?"

"Yes, but you cannot tell Ross," Rachel answered. "'Cause I want to surprise him."

"Wow, this is wild," said Joey. "What are you going to get?"

"Um, I'm getting a lily," Phoebe confessed first. "For my mom 'cause her names Lily."

"Wow, that's lucky," said Chandler. "What if her name was big ugly splotch?"

"So where you getting it?" Joey asked.

"I think on my shoulder," Phoebe said.

"You should get it on your ribs like my rose," Zara said.

"What rose?" Joey questioned a little too quickly.

"Have you not seen it?" Zara replied as Joey shook his head, eyes wide. "Hang on, I'll show you."

Lifting up her top and the strap of her bra, Zara revealed her delicate rose tattoo that ran down the side of her ribcage. The tattoo had come as a little dedication to herself; Zara loved deeply (well, she tried), but she still had her thorns.

"You didn't have that when..."

"I got it two years ago," Zara told him, ignoring where his mind went. "It was Chandler's weakness."

"What's Chandler's weakness?" Ross questioned, entering the apartment as he joined them.

Chandler cleared his throat. "Still is."

Zara's eyes fell on him, knowing he was forcing his eyes to stay downcast. If they were still together, then she would have teased him by leaning down to whisper something suggestive in his ear just to enjoy watching him scramble to compose himself.

"My tattoo," Zara answered Ross, lowering her top again as she forced herself to ignore Chandler. "I'm getting another one today."

"A tattoo?" Ross questioned. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because I want to," said Zara, eyebrows furrowing at the question.

"Hi," Rachel kissed her boyfriend. "You don't think they're kind of cool?"

"No, sorry," said Ross. "I don't. I mean, why would anyone pay someone to scar their body for life. And what if it doesn't turn out right, Zara? And it's like having a bad haircut all the time."

"I think my rose looks pretty good," Zara defended her decision.

"Oh, it does," Chandler and Joey mumbled.

Zara smirked. "See?"

However, everyone was staring at Ross, where they all knew that Rachel planned on getting the tattoo too. After his reaction, Zara hoped that Rachel got the tattoo even more.

"Why is everyone staring at me?" Ross asked.

"Ross, come sign this birthday card for dad," Monica called him over. "Richard's going to be here any minute."

"Richard's going to the party too, huh?" Chandler questioned.

"He's my parent's best friend," Monica said. "He has to be there."

"Oh, is today the day you're going to tell them about you two?" Joey asked with a smile that matched the mug in his hand.

"Yeah, for my dad's birthday, I decided to give him a stroke."

"You know, I think you should tell them," Phoebe said.

"No," Monica replied. "I don't even know how serious he is about me. Until I do, I'm not telling them anything."

"I don't know," said Ross. "I don't think mom and dad would mind. Remember when you were nine and Richard was thirty? How dad used to say: 'God, I hope they get together'?"

There were a few laughs at that.

♡

In the tattoo parlour, Zara was looking at the artist's work on the walls, still not completely sure what she wanted. All Zara knew was that she wanted it to be related to completing her book, but also something cool and meaningful.

"Hey, guys," said Phoebe, catching their attention. "Which...which lily?" Her finger rose, starting to point at the sketches. "This lily or that lily?"

"Well—"

"I like this lily," Phoebe decided. "You know, it's more open and that's like my mom. She had a more open, giving spirit. Oh, forghorn leghorn! Oh..."

Zara smiled at Phoebe, adoring her.

"Dark-haired girl, you're in room one. Blonde girl, you're in room two," the tattoo artist told them. "Not-so-blonde girl, you're with me."

"Here we go," Phoebe said with a grin.

"Let's go," Zara encouraged.

"Uh-huh," Rachel agreed, freezing.

Sensing her hesitation, the two turned to face her.

"You're not going?" Phoebe questioned.

"Uh-huh," said Rachel again.

"Rach, it's okay," Zara reassured her.

"Is this 'cause of what Ross said?" Phoebe asked.

"No," Rachel answered, running a hand through her hair. "Well, yeah, maybe."

"I don't believe this," said Phoebe. "Is this how this relationship's going to work? Ross equals boss? Come on, what is this, 1922?"

"What's 1922?" Rachel questioned.

"Just, you know, a long time ago." 

"Rachel, what Phoebe's trying to say is that it's your body," Zara told her. "If you want a tattoo, then get a tattoo."

"Do you want to get this tattoo?" Phoebe asked.

"Yes," Rachel told them. "It's just that Ross..."

"Screw Ross," Zara said.

"Is your boyfriend the boss of you?" Phoebe questioned.

"No," Rachel answered.

"Who is the boss of you?" Phoebe demanded.

"You two?" Rachel guessed.

"No," the two replied. "You."

"You are the boss of you," Phoebe stated. "So you march your hiney in there and get that heart tattooed on your hip. Go!"

Not arguing with the two any further, Rachel sped-walked towards the tattoo room.

Zara needed no encouragement herself as she headed straight into the tattoo room, figuring out what she wanted. By the time she returned, Zara was excited to show her friends the small feather tattoo on her collarbone and the outline of a ruby on her finger.

"You got two?" Phoebe exclaimed.

"I got a little greedy," Zara confessed.

"Oh, I love them," said Phoebe.

"They're so cute," Rachel agreed. "Let me show you mine!"

Rachel pulled her skirt down a little to reveal her hip, where the tiny red heart was. It was cute, something too sweet for Zara, but it suited Rachel.

"Oh, it looks so good," Phoebe told her. "Oh, I love it."

"I know," said Rachel. "So do I."

"It really suits you, Rach," Zara told her.

"Doesn't it?" Rachel grinned with Zara relieved that she decided to get it done in the end. "Guys, I'm so glad you made me do this. Okay, let's see yours, Pheebs."

"Yeah, let's see!" Zara encouraged.

Phoebe just grinned at them.

"Okay," said Phoebe. "Let's see yours again."

"Pheobe, we just saw ours," Rachel said.

"We want to see yours," Zara told her.

"Oh, okay," Phoebe said, pulling at her top for there to be no tattoo. "Oh, no! Oh, it's gone. That's so weird. I don't know how...where it went."

"You didn't get it?" Rachel questioned, appearing annoyed.

"No," Phoebe answered.

"Pheebs, you were so excited," said Zara.

"Why didn't you get it?" Rachel demanded.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," said Phoebe.

"Phoebe, how could you do this to me?" Rachel complained. "This was all your idea."

"I know, I know," Phoebe said. "I was going to get it but then he came in with this needle. Did you know they do this with needles?"

"You didn't know that?" Zara questioned.

"No..."

Rachel was clearly angry as Zara sighed, not feeling annoyed with Phoebe's decision. After all, they just told Rachel to be her own boss, so Phoebe was just doing that for herself.

♡

Back home, the three walked into Monica and Richard sharing a kiss. Hearing them, Monica pulled away with a wide grin.

"Well, did you get it?" Monica questioned.

"Is Ross here?" Rachel asked.

"No," Monica answered. "He went out to get pizza."

"Okay, really quick, okay," said Rachel.

Being first, Monica moved closer to see the small heart tattoo. Seeing it, Monica gasped, having most likely thought that Rachel would chicken out.

"Oh, that's great," said Monica.

"Very tasteful," Richard complimented.

"Zara, what did you get?" Monica questioned.

As Zara met Monica halfway, she showed her finger first to Monica and Richard.

"What is it?" Richard asked.

"A ruby," said Zara. "Well, an outline of it as I'm not a fan of coloured tattoos — no offence, Rachel, yours looks great."

"Oh like Ruby," Monica realised. "That's so cute."

"Ah, your book," said Richard. "Very nice."

"And then I got a feather on my collarbone," Zara told them, pulling down her top so that they could see the delicate tattoo. "It means freedom and wisdom, which is me."

"I love it," Monica confessed.

"Looks like it was on the bone," Richard noticed. "Did that hurt?"

"It wasn't too bad," Zara told him. "My finger was worse."

"Want to see mine?" Phoebe asked them, getting excited. "Want to see mine?"

"Yes!" Monica replied.

"What?" Rachel responded. "You didn't get one."

"Okay, well, then what is this?" Phoebe questioned, pulling her top for them to see, but there was nothing there.

"What are we looking at?" Richard asked as Phoebe pointed to a tiny dot on her skin. "That blue freckle?"

"Okay, that's my tattoo," Phoebe explained.

"That is not a tattoo," Rachel insisted. "That is a nothing."

"It's a start of a tattoo," Zara said.

"I finally got her back in the chair," Rachel told the two. "He barely touched her with the needle, she jumped up screaming and that was it."

"Okay, hi," said Phoebe. "For your information, this is exactly what I wanted. This is a tattoo of the Earth as seen from a great, great distance. It's the way my mother sees me from heaven."

"Oh..." Monica and Zara responded.

"You know, it works," Zara realised. "It's cute."

"Oh, what a load of crap," Rachel said. "That is a dot. Your mother is up in heaven going 'where the hell is my lily, you wuss?' Okay, Phoebe, that is not a tattoo," then Rachel turned, flashing her tattoo at Phoebe. "This is a tattoo!"

The front door closed as Zara turned, spotting Ross. Already her arms folded across her chest, silently daring him to cause a problem. Rachel, though, had frozen.

"You got a tattoo?" Ross questioned.

"Maybe," said Rachel, standing as she was quick to hide the tattoo again. "But just a little one. Zara got two and Phoebe got the whole world."

"Well, let me see," said Ross.

Rachel showed Ross as Zara waited, expecting Ross to start kicking off.

"Well?" Rachel questioned.

"Well, it's really..." Ross carried on looking at it before meeting Rachel's worried gaze. "Sexy. I wouldn't have thought it would be, but..." Ross rubbed the tattoo. "Wow."

"Really?"

"Yeah," said Ross. "So, uh...is it sore, or can you do stuff?"

"I guess," Rachel said, starting to grin.

"Hey, save us some pizza," Ross told them.

They were all smiling as the giggling two disappeared into the bedroom. Watching after them, Zara's mind tumbled back into the past, back to when Zara and Chandler would act exactly the same in secret together.

Zara's heart ached as she forced herself to look away.

With everyone occupied, Zara had decided to head down to the coffee house to finish reading her first draft before she found the confidence to start handing it out. Though, as she left the apartment, she caught Chandler leaving his place too abruptly with his jacket.

"Chandler?" Zara questioned. "What's wrong?"

Pausing, Chandler's eyes fell on her as he came to a stop in the hallway.

"Did you get your tattoo?" Chandler asked instead.

Revealing her shoulder, Zara showed him. "Yeah, I got a feather."

"Oh," said Chandler, staring at the black tattoo. "That's... cool."

Zara found a soft smile on her face. "I got a second one too."

"Woah, don't get greedy," Chandler said.

"It's me," said Zara. "We both know I get what I want."

Though, when it came to love, Zara was cursed. If she had what she wanted, then those she loved would never leave.

"Where'd you get it?" Chandler asked.

Zara held up her right hand as Chandler stepped forward. Those gentle fingers touched her hand, holding onto it as he saw the ruby tattoo with a hint of a smile appearing.

"Cute," Chandler told her.

"You gonna tell me what's wrong now?" Zara questioned.

Chandler shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"It does," Zara admitted, twisting her hand so that she could keep hold of his. "Tell me. I get what I want, remember?"

His eyes dropped downwards to her hand, realising that he was still holding it too. Forcing himself to let go, Zara's heart cracked, already missing his touch again.

"Joey's moving out," Chandler confessed.

That was the last thing Zara expected to hear.

"Oh, Chandler," Zara replied.

In response, Chandler shrugged again, not handling his emotions well. There were no jokes this time to hide how he was feeling. Knowing that he was upset, Zara stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around him in the hope to comfort him.

"Joey's your best friend," Zara reminded him. "Nothing will change that."

But Chandler held onto her, resting his head on her shoulder.

♡

Sometime later, they were helping Joey pack up his belongings from the apartment. Rachel was comforting him while the others were sealing up the last boxes.

While she helped, Zara's gaze continuously flickered to Chandler, worried about him. He was sat on the counter, staying uncharacteristically quiet.

"Hey, you're still going to come visit me, right?" Joey questioned them.

"Oh, yeah, you got the big TV," said Ross. "We'll be over there all the time." Spotting Chandler's sad look, Ross added: "except when we are here."

"I know you're just moving uptown, but I'm really going to miss you," Phoebe told him.

"I know, how can you not be across the hall anymore?" Monica added.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Zara said. "But I'm actually going to miss you too."

Catching Joey's gaze, she watched his irises widen with shock, followed by a shy, happy smile.

"Yeah," said Rachel, hugging him. "Who's going to eat all our food and tie up our phone lines, and... is that my bra?" Rachel picked up her bra. "What the hell are you doing with my bra?"

"Oh, no, it's not what you think," Joey reassured her, holding onto one side of the bra to demonstrate what they were using it for. "We used it to fling water balloons off the roof." Then, Joey was pointing to Chandler. "Remember that? Those junior high kids couldn't even get theirs across the street."

"Yeah, I remember," Chandler said, but he sounded so sad.

Zara's face softened, eyes falling on him again. It only reminded her of their heartbreak; seeing those looks at the start had made it harder to accept that they were over. Now, here Chandler was upset again about his best friend leaving.

"Hey, let's bring the rest of these down to the truck," Ross suggested.

The five were quick to pick up boxes as they left the apartment, knowing that the two needed a moment to talk about what was happening. It felt strange watching Joey leave, where Zara realised that she truly was going to miss him being just across the hall.

A year ago, Zara wasn't Joey's biggest fan, but he had found a way to grow on her.

And now he was leaving, moving further uptown.

As everyone headed back into their apartment after, Zara picked up the draft of her book. Then, without saying a word, Zara left as she knocked on Chandler's door, not wanting to invade his privacy by just letting herself in.

Opening it, Chandler looked a little surprised to see Zara, where he had likely been hoping for Joey to return.

"Hey," said Zara.

"Hey," Chandler replied.

"I didn't like the thought of you being alone," Zara confessed. "If you need me, then I'm here for you, okay? I know things have been a little odd between us, but you're still my best friend, Chandler. Nothing will change that."

"Thanks, Zara," said Chandler. "I think I need to be alone, though."

"I get that," Zara smiled. "I have the first draft for you. No rush about reading it, but..."

Zara hated that she was rambling and awkward. Somehow, Chandler had gotten deep within her heart and was ruining Zara.

"Maybe Ruby's superhero adventures will help cheer me up," Chandler said.

"I hope so," Zara told him. "I hope you like it."

"You know I'll love it," Chandler reassured her.

Zara found herself lingering, but she forced herself to leave again.

♡

EPISODE SEVENTEEN.

♡

"So what do you think?" Joey asked. "Case de Joey."

The smile on his face was so blinding, full of so much joy and pride for his new place. Everyone — minus Chandler — had visited Joey for the first time, where the majority were shocked to see what Joey had done with the place; Zara, however, enjoyed the modern touches.

Though, the more she looked, the busier it seemed. With a place like this, Joey just needed a little steering in the right direction to make it work.

"I decorated it myself," Joey told them.

"No."

"Get out."

"It looks so cool," Zara told him, starting to walk around the apartment as her hand touched the red leather sofa. "I'm impressed."

Joey's smile widened. "Really?"

"Really," said Zara.

"Wow Joey," added Monica, touching an ornament. "This is..."

"Art," Joey finished, walking over to look at the piece with Monica.

"Art it is," Monica decided.

"Wow check this out," said Ross as the group carried on looking around, finding something new. "Is it a coffee table? Is it a panther? There's no need to decide."

"Hey," Rachel said, picking up a pink fluffy pillow. "Nice pillow. So, now, tell me: is this genuine muppet skin?"

"Hey, excellent," Phoebe continued. "Water-table thing."

"Thanks, yeah," said Joey. "I love this. But you know what? It makes me want to pee."

"Yeah, well, me too," Phoebe replied. "I think that's the challenge."

"Hey, how come, uh...Chandler didn't come?" Joey questioned.

Everyone looked at Zara as she sighed.

"Why would I know?" Zara questioned despite it being obvious why.

"Well, uh," said Ross instead. "It's 'cause he had a thing with...with with the thing."

"Right," Joey said, realising what was happening. "I get...I get it."

"So why don't you show us the rest of your casa?" Phoebe suggested.

"Yeah," everyone agreed.

"Oh," Joey tried to find his joy again. "Oh, the best part! Come on!"

Following Joey, they all crammed into Joey's bathroom, unknowing what he wanted to show them.

"Hey," said Rachel while everyone wasn't sure what they were looking at. "Nice toilet."

"No, no, no," Joey replied. "Behind it."

"Oh, you have a phone in here?" Ross realised.

"That's right," Joey grinned. "I have a phone in here."

"Joey, promise me something," said Monica.

"Yeah."

"Never call me from that phone."

♡

"Zara, Zara, Zara!"

Hearing her name fall repeatedly from Chandler's lips, Zara turned to see that he had perked up since Joey had moved out. There was a delightful smile on his face that caused Zara to raise her eyebrows.

"Have I done something?" Zara questioned.

Chandler held up the printed version of her draft with the pages crinkled, but thick too as Zara's heart swelled each time she saw her work.

"This is incredible," Chandler told her. "Seriously."

"You're just saying that because..." but Zara didn't know how to finish the sentence.

"Oh, I'm not," said Chandler, sitting down on the sofa with Zara while Ross was on the chair close by with Rachel working. "It's funny and brilliant and the characters, they're so adorably brave, it's ridiculous — in a good way. I seriously could not put it down."

"And the end?" Zara questioned, feeling her heart stop from the nerves, but she couldn't hide her excitement as her body twisted, leaning closer to Chandler. "What did you think?"

"Woah, woah, woah," Ross interrupted. "No spoilers."

"The end was perfect," Chandler told her, finding himself leaning closer too with his arm along the back of the chair, fingers briefly brushing against Zara's arm. "I need the second book like right now."

Zara laughed at that. "That'll be a while."

"No, no," Chandler insisted. "Right now."

"If you get me a drink, then maybe I'll tell you what happens next," Zara offered.

Chandler laughed at that, but he was standing, proving his next words to be true. "Look at you getting what you want again."

"You should know," said Zara, smiling at him as he left.

Ross sniggered, hiding behind his paper as Zara's head flipped around to scowl at him.

"What's so funny, Ross?" Zara questioned.

"Nothing," said Ross, turning his paper. "Nothing at all."

But there was an annoying smile on his face.

"Ross, tell me," Zara insisted.

"All right, fine," Ross decided, closing the paper to give Zara his full attention. "Just... you and Chandler."

"What about us?" Zara demanded. "We're friends."

"Are you sure?" Ross questioned.

"Yes."

"Then what's with all the flirting?"

"That wasn't flirting—"

Ross started laughing again. "Whatever you say, Zara."

"Ross, you're annoying me," Zara told him. "Chandler and I are over."

"Are you?" Ross pressed.

The question was met with silence as Chandler returned with Zara's usual cappuccino, telling her that he had gotten her double the number of extra sprinkles. Staring at the drink, and Chandler's happiness, she started to worry that maybe Zara had crossed that line.

"Okay, here we go," said Rachel, coming over with Monica's drink, who had now joined the two on the sofa. "Honey, I'm sorry, they were all out of apple pie. Someone just got the last piece."

Then, Rachel was moving to sit on Ross' lap as he kept his arms around her.

"Oh my god," Phoebe repeated, coming over to join them. "You are not going to believe this. I have just been discovered."

"Now wait a minute," said Chandler, still keeping his arm on the back of the sofa with Zara now in the middle, very aware now thanks to Ross. "I claimed you in the name of France four years ago."

Phoebe laughed with the sound becoming strained. "Promise you won't freak out and say how great this is until I'm done, okay?"

"Okay," they all agreed.

"I just met this producer of this, like, teeny record company, who said that I have a very fresh, off-beat sound," Phoebe told them. "And she wants to do a demo of smelly cat."

They were already cheering, ecstatic for Phoebe.

"Okay, I told you not that yet," Phoebe silenced them. "Okay...and she wants to do a video."

Again, they all cheered.

"I'm not done yet, okay?" Phoebe continued. "Yeah. Okay, if that goes well, they may even want to make an album." At that, there was complete silence while they waited. "I'm done now."

With that, they all let out a little cheer in celebration with Phoebe smiling brightly over it. Zara was beyond thrilled for her as she leaned forward with Chandler and Monica, wanting to find out more about it.

♡

Chandler's happiness had evaporated overnight with Zara feeling bad. Even Zara found herself in a mood as she was fed up with Monica and Ross bickering, but she had made a vow to herself to stay out of that drama.

Now, they were at Chandler's place, trying to comfort him.

"I'm telling you, there's no way he's moving back," Ross insisted.

Sitting on the sofa, Chandler had a tub of ice cream while in his dressing gown with Rachel keeping a supportive arm around him. Zara sat on the side, not wanting to make things worse with Chandler getting the wrong idea.

"But we had one of the greatest talks we ever had last night," Chandler said with a hopeful glint in his gaze. "I mean, it was...it was like when we first started living together."

"Look, I know you don't want to hear this right now, but..."

"Honey, we've seen him in his new place," Zara told him, trying to soften the blow for him as she knew this would be hard for him. "Joey seemed happy."

"He's decorated," Ross added.

"Look, Chandler, he's moved on, okay?" Rachel said. "You have to too."

Zara's gaze remained on him, hating to think if he was like this after they broke up.

"But—"

"No, you're just going to have to accept the fact that you're just friends now, okay?" Ross told him. "You're not roommates anymore."

"This is worse than when you dumped me," Chandler told Zara as his head fell onto her shoulder.

Zara's eyes widened, not sure what to do with that. Still, though, she patted Chandler's head, sharing a look with Rachel.

"That was supposed to be a joke," Chandler mumbled.

"It wasn't your best one, Bing," Zara whispered to him. "But I'll let it pass this once."

Though, Zara wasn't sure if she had made things better or not. Unsure what to do, Zara stayed for a while with Chandler as her hand remained on his head, running her fingers through his hair.

But, as they had after their breakup, Chandler found a way to move on again. Chandler had found a new roommate with a man called Eddie moving in with Zara not sure what to make of him.

"I can't believe he has a new roommate," said Monica. "Who is this guy?"

"Eddie something," Ross answered. "He just met him."

"It'll never last," Rachel insisted. "He's just a rebound roommate."

"Eddie better be good for Chandler," said Zara.

"Or what?" Ross questioned. "You'll have a word with him?"

"I might threaten him a little," Zara decided.

"Hey!" Phoebe came in to greet them, running into the room with a videotape. "Oh, check it out! Check it out! It's smelly cat the video!"

They all cheered at that with Zara leaning forward in her seat, more than ready to watch the video.

"Now, okay, I haven't seen it yet," Phoebe told them, putting the tape on. "So if you don't like it, well, so what? None of you have ever made a video."

Clicking play, the video started with Zara grinning, over the moon for her friend. As Phoebe appeared, she looked incredible like a true superstar. However, as she started to sing, Zara's smile vanished in shock — the person singing was not Phoebe.

"Oh my God," said Phoebe after a while.

"I know," Ross said.

"I sound amazing," Phoebe decided.

Looking away from the screen, all eyes fell on Phoebe. But, nothing else was said as they continued watching the music video again.

"I've never head myself sing before," Phoebe told them. "I mean, except in my own head. Oh, this is so cool. Now I can hear what you hear."

"Pretty different, huh," Rachel said.

"I am so sorry," said Phoebe. "But I am incredibly talented."

No one had the heart to tell Phoebe.

♡

On a Friday night, Zara felt awkward about the loss of Joey. For the first Baywatch night, she had remained home, knowing the two needed space. Tonight, though, she felt split between the two.

Zara thought about ditching altogether, but they had only just gotten back to being comfortable again, and now Zara was staring at the clock, unable to decide.

"Just go," Monica told her.

"What?" Zara questioned.

"To either Chandler or Joey's," said Monica. "Just because they don't live together, doesn't mean you can't hang out with them."

"But...I don't know who to go to," Zara confessed.

"Go to Chandler's this week and then Joey's next week," Monica suggested. "Or, next week, maybe everything will be back to normal."

"I don't think there is a normal," Zara mumbled.

"I thought you and Chandler were good again?" Monica asked.

"I don't know how to be friends with him," Zara said, placing her head in her hand with her elbow leaning on the sofa. "How do you be friends with an ex and not overstep or, I don't know, not feel anything."

"I haven't done that before," Monica confessed, sitting down opposite Zara. "But I can see how hard it is simply just watching you both. I guess it's great that you value your friendship so much and, in time, maybe you'll find that balance again when things get easier."

"When the feelings disappear," Zara guessed.

"I guess so," said Monica, reaching over to touch Zara's arm in comfort. "Why don't you come down to the coffee house with us?"

"I don't know," Zara admitted. "I think I might stay in tonight."

"You want me to stay?" Monica offered.

Zara shook her head. "No, you go. I'll be okay."

Monica smiled at that, squeezing Zara's arm gently in a silent promise that she was there for her. Then, Monica left with Zara having the apartment to herself.

So, Zara helped herself to the emergency tub of ice cream in the freezer as she turned on Baywatch, realising that it wasn't the same watching it alone now.

♡

At least Zara's not looking out the window watching the rain like the other two😂! So there are a few chapters left for season 2 and the drama shall be starting. BUT I'm also so excited for Zara's growth and her journey getting published! Lots to come!