❝ You could've yelled that that was your life and it would've been true. Those brief seconds of complete forgetting, with only one thought drumming inside your ears and pulsing in your blood: that's what it feels like to be alive. ❞

(  In which your friend group (Joey, Phoebe, Rachel, Ross, Monica and Chandler) decided to rent a chalet to celebrate Christmas together in the countryside, but first you need to get there safe and sound.  )

Music: Happy New Year, ABBA

"Guys, I'm not going to make it."

A yawn followed Joey's sentence, the young man's head wearily pressed against the car's windowpane while he was internally battling to keep his eyes open.

"Don't worry sleeping beauty, I'll blow you a kiss when we reach" Chandler scoffed, but you guys knew his sarcasm wasn't meant to be offensive. You couldn't resist laughing at his remark.

"I'll prefer a kiss from Y/n," the ravenette mumbled, opening an eye to meet your gaze in the rear-view mirror. "How you doin' ?" he gave you his best, drowsy Joey grin which you chased away with a chuckle.

"I'd be better if you weren't how you doin' me."

"Whatever, goodnight" The actor disappointedly shook his head, curling up in the corner of the backseat. "Someday, you'll regret having missed the opportunity to kiss Joey Tribbiani."

"Oh, we're crying already" Chandler responded dramatically, then smiled at you.

You two shared a complex relationship. If your other friends were around, you'd always interact with each other, your complicity being undeniable. Nonetheless as soon as you found yourselves being alone in a room, some kind of internal shyness would prevent you from acting like two normal friends.

The truth was, both of you were falling for the other but had no idea that it was happening on both sides. Chandler had told Joey though, and so had you a few weeks later, but the Italian actor hadn't had the opportunity to tell either of you what was going on yet. That was where you had left things.

Not even five minutes later, Joey fell asleep, quietly snorting from time to time as the car moved slowly on the snowy road. You had to drive very carefully — the asphalt being particularly slippery on this winter evening — so the vehicle's throbbing was rather calming, even entrancing. Its lullaby had appeared to be rather effective on the ravenette.

As usual, sudden silence took over the car as both you and Chandler became totally aware of the fact that you were alone. You did your best to concentrate on driving instead, pondering whether to turn on the radio to dissipate this timid atmosphere.

"Joey could really fall asleep anywhere, huh?" Chandler spoke after a little while, glancing at his sleepy best friend. "If a fire ever breaks out at night in our apartment, it's over for us."

"You could carry him out?" you suggested, your stomach getting warmer from the brunette's attempt to start a conversation. More than anything, you wanted to work things out with him.

"It's over for the chick and duck, then" Chandler sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips in less than a few seconds. You knew how much these two loved each other despite always squabbling — the chick and duck were their own kind of little family.

"I can take care of the chick and the duck if you scream loud enough" you offered, smiling back as you met his grayish blue iris in the rear-view mirror.

He looked joyful, and really cute. And you really, really liked him. Maybe all you had to do is keep talking as if everything was normal to keep timidity away; it seemed easier now that you had started.

Indeed, you kept on talking for a couple more miles, tension progressively dissipating between you two. It felt great, being yourselves with each other. Not that you needed to pretend to be someone you were not when you were together, but it just seemed easier when the rest of your friends were around. You knew nothing could happen while they were there, so you'd stop worrying about the way Chandler was seeing you.

However, fate got in the way.

A creak suddenly shook the car from wheels to headlights, causing Chandler and you to shudder in surprise. Joey groaned sleepily, hugging his chest tighter.

"What was that?" asked the brunette, anxious. He took a look at the windows, trying to figure out where the jolt came from.

"Let's drive to the closest gas station to check" you suggested, beginning to drive faster. Running the risk of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere wasn't a good idea, especially considering the fact that the sky was turning darker.

"Okay, and I'll keep being useless and watching Joey I guess."

Self-deprecation was another one of Chandler's ways to deal with situations, to which you responded by giving him a solicitous look.

You kept driving, the car still trembling from time to time, until a sign indicating the closest gas station arose in the distance. After making sure that you'd be able to find your way back to the highway, you switched to the smaller road which led to it. You then pulled over, parking the vehicle next to a few other cars near the gas station.

"Joey," Chandler whispered, shaking the black-haired young man's shoulder. "Joey, wake up. We had a little problem."

The latter mumbled unintelligibly, sweeping his friend's hand away.

"Joey" the brunette insisted. "Wake up!"

"Mmh, yeah.." Joey grumbled, blinking with difficulty. "Have we reached the chalet?"

"As Chandler said, we had a little mishap" you explained, reassuringly rubbing his thigh not to make him nervous him right away. As Joey was fully emerging from his nap, you proceeded to tell him all the rest of the details.

Your best friend's face fell as soon as he realized what was going on.

"Get out of the car before it explodes!"

Before Chandler even had time to find any comeback, the ravenette pushed him off the backseat and hastily opened the door, rushing out as you followed them. Lead by Joey, you started to sprint through the empty gas station, too busy running to even acknowledge the cold wind lashing your faces and the heavy grey clouds strewing the dark navy sky above your heads.

At some point, Chandler screamed and Joey — whose first panicky reaction had faded away — and you laughed along, now feeling strangely liberated from the sprint. Your feet were loudly pounding against the ground, your sight was blurry, and all you could be certain of was that two familiar bodies were right beside you.

For a few heartbeats, you had no idea where you were going and that didn't matter. You could've yelled that that was your life and it would've been true. Those brief seconds of complete forgetting, with only one thought drumming inside your ears and pulsing in your blood: that's what it feels like to be alive.

Then at some point Chandler exclaimed half-breathlessly "coffee! There's still hope for us!", which Joey topped with "and there's the garage!", so you decided in gasps that the boys would wait for you inside what appeared to be a coffeehouse while you'd get the car fixed.

There was no need for it, but you kept running to reach the shop until you stumbled in the entrance. Your cheeks flushed from the exercice and your throat sore, you leaned against the door to ease your panting.

"How can I help you?" A sixty-year-old-ish man appeared in the back, smiling curiously at you. That kind of surprising entrances were probably not part of his routine.

You managed to breathe out a "hello", returning him a sheepish smile.

"I think my car is about to break down."

*

"Hey, look who's back."

Joey beamed, squinting to keep track of your silhouette sliding in the coffeeshop you had agreed to meet in. That warm-illuminated place painted in brown was giving off a strong coffee whiff in which you could also smell gingerbread.

"You came back at the right time, Joey was missing you so much he was about to go outside looking for you" when Chandler smiled, his dimple popped up. He went on to meet you, gently touching your back to make you follow him to their table. "Got you some coffee. I hope you like hazelnut macchiato."

His fingers were barely brushing against the fabric of your jumper but the skin underneath was dying for something to make them press against it, shivers waiting to run along the places where he would've touched you. 

"I think I do" you smiled back at him, an effervescent feeling squeezing your chest as your eyes lingered on Chandler's face. The look Joey gave you when you sat down at the round table they had chosen was openly saying: how cute and obvious.

"How's the car?" asked the brunette, not having noticed the interaction. He carefully made your cup of coffee glide closer to you. 

"Mr Peterson, the man working at the garage, said he'd do his best to fix it" you responded. "He was very sweet. He told me that this coffeehouse is family business, most of his family works here! That sounds so nice, doesn't it?"

"I believe my parents have some other kind of family business going on," Chandler sighed bitterly, taking a long sip of coffee. His face softened when your eyes met. "But it does sound nice."

"I'm sorry" you briefly touched his forearm in a comforting gesture. 

"Wait to ruin the fun" Joey rolled his eyes, friendly making fun of his best friend to distract him.

"Fine, I won't ever speak again" Chandler mumbled, but you could tell he was smiling behind the coffee cup drawn to his lips.

While you were at it, you tasted the beverage the boys had got you as well. The hot flavoured drink exploded in hazelnut and vanilla in your mouth while ABBA and Queen were alternatively playing on the stereo, helping to warm up the atmosphere.

"I love this place" you grinned, looking around at the people slowly nodding along to Under Attack.

Something about this remote place, lost somewhere nearby a snowy highway, felt inexplicably magical. As if you got thrown into a Christmas movie.

"Do you think the others have arrived yet?" Joey revived your faraway look. "I don't want them to be worried."

"It's okay man, they still have an hour or two on the road, depends on the traffic" Chandler assured.

"You should call them anyways to be sure, come on Chandler!" Joey pulled the brunette out of his seat, shoving him towards the counter where was located the telephone. "Tell them we said hi!"

Leaving his stunned friend behind, the young actor quickly got back to his seat.

"Okay, we don't have much time" he whispered hurriedly. "I've been dying to let it out! Listen, Chandler likes you too, he told me before you did. Wait wait wait there he comes again, pretend I said something funny!"

As astounded as you were, you mimicked laughing, still eyeing Joey with insistence as to be sure you understood correctly.

"Joe, I told you they're not home y-" Chandler frowned, his gaze passing from the black-haired young man to you. "What's so funny?"

"These coffee cups are hilarious" you hit the table, portraying unstoppable laughter. "You tell him Joey."

"Yeah, look..." the ravenette held his stomach, cracking up. "They're round!"

Joey, indeed, was a terrific actor.

At this point, you started laughing for real because of how stupid you must look. Or maybe the coffee cups were a little funny?

"Anyways," Joey took a deep breath in. "As I was telling you, coffee and cookies are meant to be together. Coffee itself told me." He nodded suggestively.

A look of utter confusion spread on Chandler's face.

"If coffee itself told you, then coffee and cookies might indeed get along" you smiled, still not quite able to process the news. Chandler liked you too. Now, this evening definitely felt like some kind of Christmas movie.

But before any of you had time to say anything else, the coffeehouse's front door snapped open.

A woman got in, her cheeks red from the cold and practically half of her long maroon coat covered in snow. A man followed her, then another one, and another woman, and then the hall overflowed with people.

A waiter came running, surely surprised by such an important amount of visitors coming in all at once.

"We're really sorry, our train stopped because there is just too much snow now. It ran out of electricity" explained the first woman, rubbing her freezing hands together. "Is it okay if we stay there for a while? Or for the night, maybe.."

She finished her sentence hesitantly, as if she was afraid it would be too much.

"It's alright, of course you can stay" kindly responded the waiter, inviting everyone to come in. "But... We'll need a bit of help if we want everybody to be warm and dry in the next ten minutes" he added louder, looking at the previous costumers. "Any volunteers would be more than welcome."

Within seconds, the entire clientele of the coffeehouse stood up to give a hand to the newcomers. Half of it helped getting rid of the snow on their clothes while the others were carrying hot drinks and food, everyone doing their best.

Someone had put We Are The Champions on, which was one of the most motivating things by far. People found themselves singing, mouthing at first, then happily chanting the lyrics. It was incredible, and you were so caught up in the moment that you didn't have time to linger on it. You carried hot chocolate and coffee, blankets and sandwiches while singing quietly.

Everything today was unexpected, which turned out to be the greatest thing that could've ever happened. How often would you see people coming all together to help one another? That was pretty damn beautiful.

"Looks like we're not the worst incident today" Chandler showed up beside you, a red blanket pressed to his chest. He was smiling brightly so you immediately looked out for the dimple.

"That's true" you smiled back, recalling Joey's words. "Chandler, can I talk to you when we're done ?"

"Yes, sure" a mixed look of concern and unconfessed hope flooded over his blue iris.

"Thanks" you smiled benignly to show him that everything was alright. Your ways then split again as you carried a mug of steaming coffee to a young woman with damp shoes — you were pretty sure that Phoebe would've loved to write a song about it.

Not long after, Happy New Year by ABBA started playing, igniting a few excited cheers. Although it wasn't December 31st yet, it was an excellent choice to sum up the coffeehouse's current situation.

A strong feeling of connection with your surroundings filled you up when the chorus came on, almost everyone singing in unison. The ones who remained silent were nodding along while the ones who didn't know the words by heart were humming, everybody's voices joint together making the air crackle. It was festive, joyful, and just a bit melancholic as it always happens when a particularly moving song helps people to express their feelings.

Tonight, the words came from the heart and the deeds.

About twenty minutes later, all the train refugees seemed to have got warmer and more relieved. Most of their coats and shoes had taken over the radiators and the people had dispersed in groups, chatting and sipping their drinks with some of the other costumers. At least this situation was favorable for making new friends.

When All Is Said And Done was playing  on the stereo and Joey, who you had barely seen during the past minutes, was making small talk with a pair of young women. You could tell by their shy smiles that you friend was back at it with his charm.

It didn't take much time for you to spot Chandler as well, who had just finished delivering a beverage to a man sitting near a window pane. Once he saw you too, you refilled your cups of coffee together before getting back to your table.

The atmosphere in the coffeehouse had become appeased and quieter, the clock having turned nine and tiredness now meddling with bodies and minds. You wrapped your hands around your dark red cup of coffee, its warmth melting away the numbness of your digits.

"You wanted to talk to me" Chandler said in a soft voice, sitting right across the table.

"Yes" at this point you were fiddling with your cup's handle, timidity battling with the declaration you wanted to make. "I feel like this night is special in many ways" you stated, recalling flashbacks of Joey, Chandler and you running, of people helping each other, of music buzzing through the coffeehouse. "And it's Christmas tomorrow, so I guess it's the right time to do everything we were too scared to do before" you paused; that was it. "I like you, Chandler."

The brunette young man froze, staring directly at you. His eyes were beautifully, happily grey. Eventually, a smile progressively spread on his lips and he blinked, frowning from surprise.

"You... like me?" he got up, coming closer to you. You did the same. "As in "I like you, wanna go out with me"?" There was the dimple again.

"Yes," you smiled affectionately, feeling your heart beat right against your skin. "Exactly like that. Joey told me everything, but I was already feeling that way before. So Chandler, do you want to go out with me?"

"Yes," he grinned, affectionately putting his hands on your arms. "I've fantasized about this so much, you've no idea."

As soon as the confession was made, a group of people nearby started applauding, smiling at your newly formed couple — tonight's incidents had really brought everyone together. You also saw Joey standing a couple feet away, applauding as well with a moved beam stretching his lips. He had been the key for you two.

Chandler smiled back at him, eyes sparkling, and pulled you in a hug. He left a soft kiss on your head, to which you responded by raising it up and leaving a kiss on his lips. The young man's smile grew bigger, making your stomach sway even harder.

"You're my best first kiss by far," he joked lovingly.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, burrowing your fingertips in his hair and unable to stop smiling. Oh how much you adored Chandler Bing.

"I wanna be part of the fun too!" Joey complained, joining you.

"Anything for our best friend," Chandler gave him a fond only half-amused smile, inviting the ravenette to join the embrace. The three of you formed a tight hugging mass.

"Thank you Joey" you told the actor, slightly pressing your head against his in a thankful motion.

"You guys were so great for each other, I wish I could've told you earlier."

"But at least we're having a special Christmas Eve Eve now" objected Chandler, patting his best friend's shoulder. "Thanks Joe."

The brunette then kissed you on the cheek, closing his eyes and still smiling. He couldn't have wished for a better Christmas present, and as your coffees were getting cooler, you couldn't have felt any warmer.