#pheobe buffay

You met Monica at her first chef job, you were the restaurants hostess. You’ve since drifted from that career to try find a way to make money from your art.

You’d always been a creative person. Your apartment was normally a little chaotic with unfinished projects all over.

The point was you’d been part of the gang for a while. You lived in Phoebe’s building too.

The 7 of you were all talking in the coffee house.

Chandler was smiling at you “So just to recap — you tried to bake a cake, set off the fire alarm, and somehow… painted a giraffe?”

You laughed “It was supposed to be a tree! But then you know the cake batter went everywhere and I tried to clean it off the canvas and it looked like a giraffe, and I just went with it. Art is about improvisation.”

Joey very seriously agreed “Yeah, like when I forget my lines and just talk about sandwiches.”

You nodded “exactly.”

Rachel laughed “Honestly, y/n, I don’t know how you survive a single day.”

“It’s easy? Just invest in good paint and a fire extinguisher.” You joke.

At that moment, the door opens. Dave — tall, athletic, charming if you didn’t look too closely — walks in. He strides over and kisses you quickly but firmly.

Dave mumbled “Hey, babe.”

“Heyy,” you smiled. You’d been dating for 6 months.

Chandler suddenly mutters under his breath “And here I thought this day couldn’t get any worse. I stand corrected. Standing… corrected.”

Ross awkwardly greeted Dave “Uh, hey, Dave.”

Dave nodded at them.

You were oblivious to Chandler’s pained sarcasm, and turned to him brightly

“Chandler! Did you ever finish that weird painting you started?” You asked

Chandler grinning weakly “You mean the one where I accidentally glued my hand to the canvas and called it modern art? Yeah, it’s hanging in my apartment next to my dignity. Oh wait—that’s gone too.”

Phoebe perked up “Ooh! We should all do an art night again! But no super glue this time.”

You smiled and nodded.

“Can we paint naked ladies?” Joey spoke up

Rachel: “Joey!”

You nodded.

Everyone laughs lightly, but Chandler’s smile falters when he sees how tightly Dave grips your waist, and how you flinch slightly.

[Later that night — y/ns Apartment.]

Chandler hesitates outside her door, a pizza box in hand. An excuse, really — ‘dropping off the leftovers.’ He raises his hand to knock but hears muffled arguing inside.

“Why do you have to act like such a spaz in front of everyone? It’s embarrassing, y/n.” Dave yelled

Your voice sounded small “I was just telling a story, Dave… I didn’t mean to—I was just having fun with my friends-”

“You never think. You just act. Maybe if you shut up once in a while, people would actually take you seriously. People would probably like you more if you talked less- I mean how embarrassing do you think it is for me being with you-“ Dave spat

There’s a loud noise — like something being shoved off a table. Chandler stiffens, heart pounding.

Your voice was soft and scared “I’m sorry.”

Chandler’s jaw tightens.

“That was my vase for the art show next week.” You say sadly, as you pick up the pieces of the shattered vase. It had taken you two weeks to make.

“Oh right, the art show. Because you’re the next Picasso, huh? Get real, y/n. It’s a hobby. Grow up.” Dave yelled.

“It’s not just a hobby. It’s what I love—” your voice was broken.

“Yeah, well, maybe if you loved something that actually made money, you wouldn’t be stuck in this dump.” Dave was awful.

There’s a loud clatter — like a chair being knocked over or thrown Chandler flinches.

Without thinking, he bursts in- you never lock your door despite everyone telling you to.

You were on the floor next to a broken chair and were holding the bruise now forming under your eye.

Chandler spoke in a sarcastic tone “Special delivery! One large pizza and an even larger sense of concern!”

You were trying to hide your face and your tears.

Dave was pissed and his voice gruff. “What do you want?”

“Dave I think you should leave…” Chandler said.

You rushed to try smooth the situation “Chandler, it’s fine. Really. We were just… talking.” You were afraid Dave would hurt Chandler.

Chandler was shocked, eyebrows raised “Ah yes, talking. That classic conversation style where you verbally body slam someone you’re supposed to love.”

“Maybe you should leave.” Dave spoke through gritted teeth.

“Look Dave, I’m gonna give you five minutes to leave this apartment. And don’t think about coming back. You don’t get to treat her like shit…I’ll call the police you psycho.” Chandler spoke.

You’d never seen him so brave. And to your surprise Dave left.

Immediately you hugged chandler and broke down crying.

Chandler held you. He didn’t speak. He just let you be.

“You don’t deserve someone like that.” Chandler whispered.

[Later — Central Perk, after they leave together.]

[Everyone’s gathered. Y/ns curled up next to Chandler on the couch, cradling a coffee cup. You’re quieter than usual, but safer. Joey is loudly arguing with Phoebe about the rules of “Sandwich Record Attempt.” A game they had just invented

You lean into Chandler’s shoulder, and for once, he doesn’t make a joke. He just rests his head lightly against yours, promising, silently, that you weren’t alone anymore.

[y/n’s apartment a few nights later]

The apartment is a mess — paintbrushes everywhere, half-finished canvases leaning against walls. You are on the floor, cross-legged in sweats, mixing colors. There’s a soft knock.

“Come in! It’s open!” You yell

Chandler peeks his head around the door, holding two mugs of hot chocolate. “I bring gifts. Also, a warning: if you drink both of these, you will immediately slip into a sugar coma.”

You laugh, wiping your hands on your sweats “Perfect. That’s how I want to go.”

He hands you a mug and sits down beside you without thinking — close, but not too close. Always careful with You now.

“So… I see the art hurricane has made landfall.”

You shrug slightly embarrassed “Yeah. Sorry. I know it’s a disaster.”

Chandler smiled “Hey, it’s your disaster. Which means these are all gonna be in a museum one day.”

You look at him for a long moment, something unreadable in your eyes. “Why are you always so nice to me?”

“Because if I’m mean, you’ll hit me with a paintbrush. And I’m very delicate.” Chandler jokes almost automatically.

You smile, but it fades just a little. You sets your hot chocolate down, fiddling with a paint rag in your lap. “No, seriously. You don’t have to… fix me.” Your voice is barely above a whisper. He was being so weird after the other day.

“I’m not trying to fix you, y/n. I’m trying to be here. You don’t need fixing.” He says.

The room feels smaller somehow, filled with all the things unsaid.

“You saw what Dave was like.” You whispered “and I did nothing…”

Chandler nodded softly“Yeah.”

You spoke up, voice cracking. “I thought… I thought it was my fault. That if I just tried harder you know. And maybe this is all stupid-“

Chandler cut you off immediately “It’s not your fault. None of it is. You’re a great artist and don’t need losers like that telling you otherwise.”

You swallow hard, your fingers curling in the rag. Chandler sets his mug down and leans forward slightly. “You deserve someone who sees the way you light up a room when you talk about your art. Someone who doesn’t make you smaller just so they can feel bigger.”

[A few days later — Central Perk.]

Monica, Ross, Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe are already there. Chandler and y/n walk in together, laughing quietly about something. Your cheeks are pink, and Chandler looks lighter, like a weight he’s carried for years is finally starting to lift. You stop to talk to someone and chandler goes to sit down with the group.

Phoebe is grinning immediately “Well, well, well. Look who’s walking two inches closer than normal.”

Joey smirks“Yeah, someone’s got a crushhh.”

Chandler speaks “Crush? No. What you’re seeing is just me… gravitationally falling into another human being. Very natural. Very dignified.”

Rachel then asks “Seriously, what’s going on with you two?”

“We’re just… spending time together.” Chandler shrugged.

[Later — Monica’s Apartment.]

The whole gang is hanging out, eating pizza. Chandler and y/n end up sitting next to each other on the floor, sharing a plate. At some point, Chandler feels your hand lightly brush against his.

He freezes — heart racing — but when he glances over, y/n just gives him this small, steady smile, like you’ve been thinking about it for a long time too.

Slowly, carefully, you link your pinkies together.

Chandler stares at your hands for a second, then looks up at you. You raises an eyebrow, teasing and smiling. “Problem, Bing?”

“No problem at all.”

[Scene: Your Apartment — Late Night.]

You and Chandler are sprawled out on the couch. A terrible old movie plays on the TV, forgotten. Your head is resting on Chandler’s chest, and his fingers are lightly tracing patterns on your arm without even thinking.

It’s quiet. Comfortable. Too comfortable, maybe — because Chandler’s heart is pounding.

“Sooo… hypothetically speaking… if a guy was, I don’t know, deeply in love with a girl… when would be the right time to tell her?” Chandler spoke nervously.

You smile into his chest “Depends. Is the girl smart?”

“Very.”

“Is she oblivious?” You asked.

“Painfully.” Chandler squinted as he spoke

You giggled not getting his hints “Aw, poor girl. I hope she figures it out.”

Chandler closes his eyes for a second, like he’s physically restraining himself from slamming his head into the coffee table.

“Yeah. Fingers crossed.” He says.

A beat. Then he shifts slightly so you’re looking up at him. He’s not smiling now — not really joking. “I’m not really talking about ‘a guy,’ y/n.”

You blinks at him, confused for a second — and then your eyes widen, everything slowly clicking into place.

“Oh.” Your voice is barely above a whisper, stunned.

Chandler watches her, his heart practically trying to escape his chest.“Yeah. Oh.”

You sit up and stare at him. “You…?”

Chandler then began his typical nervous ramble. “I just — I didn’t know it would happen. One day you were Monica’s chaotic artist friend who spilled red paint on my shoes, and then you were… you were this person. This incredible, terrifying, brilliant person who made me want to be… better. And I just — God, this is the part where I say something smooth, right? I’m supposed to say something smooth.”

You laugh slightly. “You’re doing great.”

Chandler was half laughing, half desperate “I love you, y/n. I’m wildly, pathetically, head-over-weird-socks in love with you.”

He looks like he’s bracing for you to run. Instead, you let out a small, shaky laugh — and then, very softly, cup his cheek. “Good. Because I’m wildly, pathetically, head-over-chaotic-mess in love with you too.” You smiled.

Chandler lets out a stunned, breathless laugh. You lean in, kissing him — slow, a little clumsy at first, but absolutely right. He kisses you back like he’s been waiting forever.

Chandler has a stupid smirk on his face when you pull away. “So does this mean I’m allowed to make you pancakes in the morning? Because I’ve been practicing my ‘artistic’ pancakes and they are… horrifying.”

You laugh “Only if you make one shaped like a giraffe.”

“For you? I’ll make a whole zoo.” He smirked

joey, in particular, catches your eye, his soft brown gaze locking onto yours as he flashes you a charming grin.

you make your way over to the group, exchanging hugs and hellos with monica, rachel, ross, chandler, and phoebe. 

as you reach joey, he jumps up, wrapping his arms around you in a tight squeeze. 

"uh, hi," you reply, laughing as you pull back from the embrace. "what's with the enthusiasm, joe?" 

joey shrugs, his eyes sparkling. "just happy to see my favorite person, that's all." he drops back down on the couch.

before you could even think about taking a seat, he reaches out and grabs your hand, pulling you onto his lap. you laugh and roll your eyes, but don't resist as he wraps his arms around your waist, and you settle yours around his neck.

it was a familiar, comfortable position, one you'd adopted countless times before. but today, it seemed to hold a different significance. but you were used to this kind of thing with joey. 

you'd been friends for years, and your affectionate nature had always led people to assume you two were a couple- which, of course, you weren't. 

the group's stares were noticeable, so when rachel's voice finally broke the silence it was evident it was laced with curiosity. "so, are you two finally…?"

you and joey exchange a look, both of you bursting into laughter. 

"what? no, no, no," you protest, shaking your head. "we're just friends, guys. don't get any ideas." 

joey nods strenuously, his face a picture of innocence. "yeah, we're just buddies. i mean, i love her, but not like that." he says, winking at you.

monica raises an eyebrow. "okay but...you two look very…cozy." 

you laugh. "i swear, we're just friends mon. you all know that. we've just known each other for a long time, that's all. we're comfortable around each other." 

"yeah, and I'm comfortable around my couch, but that doesn't mean I'm dating it." chandler inputs. as you both ignore his comment, you switch your focus on how hard it is to ignore the way you fit so perfectly in joey's lap or the way his arms seems to cradle you like you were his own personal treasure.

the others exchange skeptical glances but say nothing. as they continue to chat and get caught up, 

you can't help but notice the way joey's fingers drum against your hip- it was a touch that was both familiar and intimate, one that sent a flutter through your chest- you also took note of the way his breath tickled your ear as he breathed. 

it was all so… natural. so comfortable. and yet, despite your denials, the others couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more between you two. maybe it was the way you two seemed to anticipate each other's movements or the way you sometimes finished each other's sentences. 

as the afternoon wore on, you finally slid off joey's lap, giving him a playful pat on the chest. 

"i'm going to get a muffin," you say, as you stand up and stretch. 

joey grins, watching you leave. "i'll come with you," he says, hopping up from his spot to follow you to the counter. 

once you're both out of earshot, monica quickly turns to the others, her voice low. "you guys think they're telling the truth?" 

rachel shrugs. "i don't know. they've always been close, but… there's something different about them today." 

ross speaks up, "maybe it's just a matter of proximity. they're always touching and hugging each other. it's bound to create a certain… chemistry." 

chandler groans. "don't start talking about pheromones." 

phoebe who thoughtfully watches you and joey, order muffins at the counter says "i think they're telling the truth, but that doesn't mean there isn't something more there. maybe they just don't realize it yet."

as you and joey return to the table, muffins in hand, the others can't help but steal glances at you. you two were just so comfortable together, so at ease. and yet, despite your denials, there was a spark in the air, a sense of possibility that couldn't be ignored. only time would tell if you both would ever realize their feelings for the other.