Chea woke up the next day. She went to wake Karen, it was Saturday and Karen always liked to sleep in. Chea looked into the bed and then remembered. It had been two days since Karen decided to go. Karen hadn't been happy so Chea gave her the opportunity to go and change that. It wasnt until that morning that Chea realized she wasnt back yet.
Its not because she wasnt paying attention, the last few days have been chock full of fun and practicing for the band contest the next week. The band almost had the new version of "I'll be there for you" down pat. They had been working hard so Chea didn't really blame herself when she finally noticed that Karen had failed to come back yet.
Yesterday Peter took her to one of his fave clothing store so she could have more things to wear. She had been wearing the same clothes since they arrived with only the clothes on their backs. Mike had told Peter all about the airplane luggage story. He had asked her if thats where Karen had gone. She then said they found out their clothes were history. Chea made sure to get some things for Karen too, if she ever decided to come back. Also she had to remember to tell Karen her "Airplane" story was kaput now.
Chea yawned. "Oh she'll be back when shes ready. She wouldnt just abandon me and the band project!" She thought.
Chea had a sudden thought. Since the shopping trip the things in the room have been moved around a lot. Is the time gadget still in its safe place?
Chea moved a secret panel she had discovered the first night they were there. She quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching. She then put her hand in and felt around.
"It can't be." Chea said.
She felt around some more. She looked inside the best she could. It was a tight space. The gadget was the size of a remote control, it was a miracle that it even fit in the first place. But now it seemed that it was gone.
"Oh my god." Chea said. "I wonder if Karen knows..."
Karen, she thought. Had she taken the device? Did she go back to real time? Was she now here alone? Chea never once considered that Karen would take off with the device but now it seemed a real possibility.
"I had encouraged her to go make herself happy. It looks like did just that!" Chea thought. "What do I do now? If they discover that Karen is gone, will they let me stay?" Suddenly she was really scared of that prospect.
"Then they can't know shes gone." Chea decided. "I just hope she comes back!"
Chea stood out on the beach. She looked up and notice some clouds were starting to roll in.
"I guess it rains here. Major bummer." She said. She turned and almost ran into Mike.
"Are we both just plowing into men lately or what?" She thought. Karen told me she had done the same thing the other day.
"Have you heard from Karen yet?" Mike asked her. He looked at her skeptically.
"No, I havent." Chea said. "I'm sorry."
"Thats ok." Mike said. "Oh by the way dinners almost ready." He said as he went into the house.
"Coming." She said.
"Hey!" Chea heard something behind her. She turned to see Karen walking up the beach with a somewhat familiar looking man. They were holding hands.
"Karen!" She called. Karen let go of the guys hand and ran up to her. They shared a brief hug.
"I hear dinners almost done. I hope we have enough for a guest." Karen said as the young man joined them.
"Oh yeah, we probably do." Chea looked at the man, she squinted. "Do I...know you from somewhere?"
"Oh, my manners!" Karen said. "This is Chandler, Chandler Bing."
Cheas eyes grew wide, now she recognized him. "Karen you didnt!"
"Didn't what?" Karen asked.
"Come over here." Chea waved her hand. "Stay!" She told Chandler. "Very obedient."
"What do you think I did?" Karen smiled at her.
"Ok, does duh answer your question?" Chea said. "You so obviously went over to his world and kidnapped him."
"And he was so willing to come." Karen nodded.
"Aarrgh." Chea said.
"Hi girls, I was within earshot." Chandler said.
"Hi." Chea said. "Again."
"Oh and I know about the thing, the time thing." Chandler said.
"I hung around Central Perk for a week, before he came and introduced himself." She leaned in close ."He wasn’t with Monica yet so it was fine." She whispered. "Anyway one night we wanted to do something fun, so I told him about this, and we left like two seconds later." Karen explained.
"Incredible." Chea said. "And you like did it in two days?"
"Well two weeks." Karen said. "We just came back early. Oh and by the way, we never said there was any like rule about going to other places and bringing back friends." Karen reminded her.
Chea thought. She’s right. What am I complaining about?
"Ok, your can stay. Just behave and try to keep the 90's references to like nil." Chea said. She was actually proud of herself, taking a little charge like that.
"Mike is gonna wonder where we are." Karen said as she pointed out Mike standing on the deck. He had a lint brush, he was going over his hat, trying not to look nosy.
"Ok." Chea said. Karen took Chandlers hand and walked with him up the the deck stairs.
"Karen, nice to see you again." Mike said. "Whos your friend?"
"Chandler." Karen said. "This is Mike."
"Nice to meet you." Chandler said.
"Yeah." He said looking inside. "Hey guys we got another guest."
"Another girl???" Davy popped up, with a hopeful look on his face.
"Whoa!" Chandler said. "Where did he come from?"
"England mostly."
"Ah." Chandler said.
"I'm Davy." Davy said.
"Chandler." Chandler said shaking his hand.
"This here at the drum kit is Micky." Mike said taking over for Davy, now a little down from finding out the new guest was not a girl. "And this is Peter."
"Are you guys in a band or something?" Chandler asked.
"Or something." Micky said giving himself a rim-shot.
"One of my friends is a musician." Chandler said.
"Is it a girl?" Davy asked.
"Ok we gotta hose this one down." Chandler said. "Yes she is a girl. Phoebe."
"Phoebe." Davy said. "Theres a song in there somewhere."
"I hope you find it." Chandler said uneasily.
Karen took his hand, and Chandler sighed. Mike looked over the two. He shifted a bit uneasily.
"Dinners ready." Mike said. "I think we have enough for everyone."
"Great." Chea said. "Let's go guys. Peter has this new chicken recipe hes been wanting us to try."
"Co.. I mean groovy." Chandler said as Karen gave him a pinch.
Micky put his drum sticks down. "Mike." He whispered. "Can I see you for a minute?"
"Sure." Mike said as they others started to serve themselves. "I hope they leave me something!" He thought.
He followed Micky outside.
"Is something wrong?" Mike asked.
"I oughta be asking you that." Micky responded.
"What?"
"I think you like Karen." Micky said.
"You think so?" He asked. "What makes you think that?"
"Cause of the way you act." Micky said. "Around any other girls, like Chea for example, you are fine. You know why? Theres no attraction there." He explained. "Now Karen, theres another story all together."
"Uhuh." Mike said.
"Right. You are suddenly aware of how you move and what you say. And you definitely changed since this guy Chandler showed up just now."
"She likes him?" Mike said. "It's only been two days!" His outburst surprised him. He adjusted his hat.
"See what I mean?" Micky said. "Why don't you tell her?"
"She's with that guy." Mike said. "Even if I had a chance, if I DID like her that is, I've lost it now."
"Whos says this thing with this guy will last. He seems like Davy, but dates less girls...and is taller." Micky said. "What I'm saying is be patient. If there is something there, it will appear on its own."
"You are very thoughty today Micky." Mike said.
"I know, is this thinking thing part of your job?" Micky joked.
"I know." Mike said. "Cut it out, it'll get creepy."
"Oh my god!" They heard from the kitchen. The guys ran in to see Karen holding her hand in pain.
"What happened?" Micky asked.
"I grabbed the pan in the wrong place." Karen said. "It was still too hot."
"Oh man." Mike said. "Let me see."
"Okay." Karen said wincing as she gave Mike her hand.
"Its not bad." He judged.
"It hurts so much." Karen said.
"How can we help?" Chandler asked.
"Go to the bathroom. There should be some gauze." Mike said. "Peter get some ice. Micky there is tape in the drawer over there. Davy..."
"I cant do anything, I'm looking for me Emory board!" Davy protested going to his room.
"There wasnt anything for him to do anyway." Mike sighed. "Okay. Does it hurt when I do this?" He said turning her hand gingerly.
"A little." Karen said.
"Its not that bad." He said reassuring her.
The guys soon brought him what he needed, he wrapped the ice around the burn.
"This is just great." Chea said. "We all worked together."
"Yeah but what this mean for the contest?" Karen said. "I'm not gonna be able to play the guitar for the song. Plus I havent even practiced it." Karen admitted.
"I have an idea." Chandler said. He took her unbandaged hand and led her away. Chea followed. "What about Phoebe?"
"Phoebe?" Karen asked.
"How would we do that?" Chea asked. "When you left you set it back on the gadget that you only be gone two days instead of two weeks."
"Well we can set it for the day after we left." Karen said. "But Chandler how are we gonna get Phoebe to come with us for the contest?"
"She’s been dying to play with a real band." Chandler said. "She would love me forever. What do you think?"
"Well..." Karen thought for a minute. She thought that it would be the only time she would cross over into another show. "You can promise she wont try to play any of her songs right?" Chandler nodded. "Ok." She said.
"Great." Chea said. "We'll go in and tell the guys the news!"
