Natalie sat across from Rachel, sipping the coffee Rachel got her while Joey and Ross berate Chandler about his smoking habit when Rachel decided to ask Natalie something, “Do you think I’m a bad waitress?” She asked as she watched the younger woman pause, putting down her cup of coffee.
Natalie pursed her lips before she spoke, “Well, honestly.” She started, “I ordered hot chocolate and a croissant, and you gave me black coffee and a scone.” She bit into her top lip as she stared over at Rachel.
Rachel let out an embarrassed sigh, knowing she had messed up the order which wasn’t out of the ordinary. “I guess I need to work on remembering orders better.” She said sheepishly.
“It’s fine, this is better than what I wanted.” She gave her a warm smile, looking at Rachel through her sunglasses.Â
Rachel smiled back, feeling relieved that Natalie wasn’t too upset about the mix-up. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” she said before noticing the sunglasses Natalie was wearing. “Are you going for a mysterious look?”Â
“No, I’m just still depressed about Lacy.” Ross was right, it was just one date and it didn’t even end that well but for some reason Natalie still couldn’t get over it.
Rachel leaned in closer, her expression becoming serious. “Natalie, it’s been weeks. How are you still so hung up on a one-date relationship?” The younger girl sighed, “But you don’t understand, I have to see her every day in class.” Natalie slid her sunglasses up to her hair, “Do you know how hard it is to see someone you like every day and now they just don’t feel the same way about you?” Natalie’s face softened, the light seeming to enhance the rich green color of her eyes.
There was a slight pause to the conversation as Rachel swallowed, feeling something heavy getting stuck at the back of her throat. She reached a hand out, placing it on top of Natalie’s as she spoke, “I get it,” Rachel said with a sympathetic smile. “It hurts when the person you like doesn’t feel the same way. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
Natalie’s mouth opened as she let out a soft chuckle, “Who would ever reject you?” She tilted her head back, her eyes now focused on Rachel, a slight disbelief in her tone. There was this dreamy look in her eyes, it was something Rachel hadn’t ever seen before but it was nice, it felt good to have Natalie look at her like that.
“You’d be surprised.” Before Natalie could say anything the phone near them rang and Rachel answered it, “It’s for you, Chandler, it’s Allan.” Chandler rushed off his seat to rush to them, taking the phone from Rachel as he listened to what Allan had to say before he put the phone down and smiled as he killed his cigarette. He let out a happy sigh as he walked away and Natalie frowned to herself, a little confused by the whole thing.Â
“He’s really great.” Ross said as he walked up to Rachel and Natalie, pointing at the phone. Natalie was suddenly very upset that she never met Allan because she was too busy having a great date with someone who would reject her. “If only he was a girl.” Ross added, sighing to himself as Rachel nodded along, “Yeah.”Â
“What the fuck?” Natalie mouths to herself as Ross and Rachel awkwardly stare at each other past her before they both walk away, leaving Natalie by herself. “What the fuck?”
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