Rachel woke uneasily from her sleep. She had tossed and turned all night long. She had no idea what was keeping her awake. When she finally did submit to slumber, it was a long and deep sleep.
A loud bell woke her up. She opened her eyes slowly. As she turned over she identified the loud noise as a bell ringing. Like a telephone or something. In this case it was an antique alarmn clock that was on her bedside.
"Thats funny. I don't remember having an alarm clock." She said picking it up. "Except at home." She looked up and around her room. She rubbed her eyes free of the grainy material that gathers in the corner of your eyes when you sleep. She couldnt believe what she saw.
She was in her own room. As if it had never changed.
She got up and walked around. She stopped in center of her room. There was a long white wedding gown hanging on the door. The date on the calendar finally told her what was going on.
"Oh my god. Rachels wedding? 1994?" She sat down. "How is this possible? I'm supposed to get married to Barry tomorrow!"
A few minutes later Rachel was still in her room. A knock sounded at the door. It was her mom.
"Sweetie. Are you going to get dressed?" Her mom said. "We have that lunch with Barrys family today." She said.
"I'll be ready in a few minutes." Rachel said.
"Ok honey." Rachels mom came over and put her hands on the side of Rachels face. "My baby is getting married. It's still too good to be true."
"I can hardly believe it myself." Rachel said.
"I'll be back in a few." Rachels mom said closing the door.
"Oh my god. It's six years ago and I'm still getting married to Barry. What kind of mightmare is this? Calm down Rachel. This is a dream! A phooey dream! Pinch yourself, and you'll wake up." She reached out with two fingers and pinched her arm. "Ow!" She said putting her hand over her mouth. "Oh! Why did I do that?"
Rachel sighed. She pulled on a small summer dress she had picked out for today."I gotta talk to someone." She decided. "I remember now. I didn't invite Monica to the wedding. I wonder if shes still in town. She'll give me some good advice!"
Central Perk
Monica Geller sat down at a table outside the coffee shop. It had recently been a bar but it had changed to become a successful coffee house. It even had its own kitschy brand of folk music, provided by song bird Phoebe Buffay. She was singing at that moment about her grandmother, and a popular song about a smelly cat.
Rachel took in the scenary. It was as if it hadnt changed that much. The coffee place was still new. She spotted Monica.
"Monica!" She said loudly.
Monica looked up. "Rachel?"
"Hi." Rachel sat down. "You have got to help me. "I'm marrying Barry tomorrow."
"I know. I don't remember getting invited to this, you know." Monica pointed out.
"I know. I'm sorry. We were only allowed so many of our friends. Barrys folks are very wary of strangers."
"Sure, that makes a lot of sense. Whats wrong?" Monica said.
"I don't want to marry Barry, yet I don't want to walk out and make myself look like a boob for the next six years. What can I do?" Rachel said.
"Wait, whats this about the next six years?" Monica said.
"I'm from the future. Six years in the future. In my past, here today, I didn't marry Barry. It looks like some kind of cosmic accident has given me a second chance. To do something else this time around. But I don't know what."
"Rachel are you sure this isnt some kind of cold feet?" Monica asked.
Rachel stared at Monica.
Ross then showed up with Carol. Rachel looked at them.
"Hi Carol." Rachel smiled. She stopped herself. This was when they were still together.
"Hey." Carol said.
"Hi sis." Ross said touching Monica on the shoulder.
"Hi." Monica said. "Anything new?"
"Not much. I just got a promotion at work. I'm with the woman I love, and who loves me." Ross said looking into Carols eyes. "What more can I ask for?"
Rachel looked at her watch. "I gotta go. I have a rehersal lunch or something to do."
Monica watched Rachel walk away.
"Theres something up with that girl. I don't know what though."
The lunch
Barry greeted Rachel at the door.
"Hi sweetie." He sid moving to kiss her.
"Hey." She said slightly moving so his kiss ended up on her cheek. "Are you ready for lunch?"
"Sure." Barry said. "I've been thinking about us."
"What a coincidence. I've been doing that too." Rachel said looking around.
"Both of our parents think its time you have your first job." Barry said. "So we have this plan."
"What plan?" Rachel asked.
"As soon as we get back from our honeymoon, whenever that may be that is, I was thinking we could put you in school."
"Why?" Rachel asked hesistatingly.
"So you can be my dental assistant. We will be together all the time. At work, at home, at fun." He said chortling.
"I'll have to think that over honey." Rachel said. "Can we have lunch now? I'd had to be your dental assistant on an empty stomach."
"Sure." Barry said leading her by the hand to their table.
"Oh man, I'm not even sure I have an appetite anymore."Rachel thought as she was seated.
The next day
Ross walked into Central Perk.
"Hi." He said.
"Hey." Monica said. "Whats wrong?"
"Whats wrong? My life, thats whats wrong. Carol has left me." Ross said.
"Oh my god." Monica said. "Another man?"
"Another woman." He said. "I dont know. Freaky things. I guess. Wasn't Rachel here?"
"She was yesterday.I think you were wearing that same outfit too." Monica said.
"Where is she now? I have to say something to her." Ross said.
"You better hurry. She's marrying Barry in a half hour."
"The dentist?" Ross said. "I gotta hurry."
The church
Rachel looked into the mirror. This wedding thing was for real. She went back to sleep hoping to reawake in her own time and place. It looked like she was here to stay. She had just gotten dressed in her wedding dress. Unless something happened, it looked like she was gonna get married to Barry, for real.
There was a knock at the door.
"Rachel," Mindy her bridesmaid came in. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah." Rachel said. "I guess so."
"Rachel if you don't want to marry Barry just say so."
Mindy said.
"What? Then you can marry him?" Rachel burst out, remember that Barry had married Mindy.
"What?" Mindy said. "Rachel are you sure you didn't tuck into that champange yet?"
"No." Shesaid. Mindy left. "But I wish I had."
Rachels father came in. "Are you ready?"
"Everyones asking me that!"
"Everyones waiting." Rachels father said extending an arm.
"Ok." Rachel said. "Here goes nothing." She thought.
Rachel barely remember the walk down the isle. She didn't remember seeing it either, cause her veil was so thick. Barry turned to her and lifted the veil. She looked at him. They then turned to the priest.
"Dearly beloved, we come on this day to witness the marriage of Rachel Karen Green and Barry...uh whats your name son?"
Barry looked at him.
"Where was I? Oh yes. If anyone has anything against these two fine upstanding people getting married, please speak now or forever hold your peace."
"I do." A voice called out.
Rachel turned.
"Ross?" Rachel said.
"I had to come. I had to tell you that I'm in love with you. And you can't get married to Barry." Ross said.
"Ok. I won't." Rachel said throwing her bouquet. Mindy caught it. She ran up to him. "Where do we go?"
"I don't know. Maybe some coffee somewhere." Ross said.
"Whats going to happen now?" Rachel asked as they left. "Am I going to wake up now?"
"I guess so." Ross said kissing her on the lips.
Rachel woke up. She looked around. She had crashed on the couch in the living room. Ross looked at her.
"Good I was wondering when you were gonna wake up." He said.
"I had a dream that you came and stopped me from marrying Barry." She said. "It felt like it really happened."
"It could have I suppose, if I knew you were getting married, I would have at least held the bathroom window open for you."
"True."
"Guess, we'll never know." Ross said.
"Theres always next time."
