Karen and Chandler walked into the popular coffee spot known as Central Perk. When they left, they decided that it was best for Chea to stay. No sense having the guys wonder where two girls and a guy might have gone.
The guys were surprisingly open to the idea of a complete stranger taking Karens place as the guitarist for the mixed band competition, which was now only three days away. Karen slightly burned her hand on a pan, but it was bad enough of a burn to prevent her from playing. Since Chea was going to be the backup singer, they needed to find another girl. Thats when Chandler thought of Phoebe Buffay, a friend of his from his world. After getting the guys approval, they went off to the far end of the beach and activated the device. As long as they guys don't know that they were techinically going to the "future" things were gonna go great.
Now all they had to do was convince Phoebe to come with them.
It was around noon when they entered Central Perk. They had set the device for them to arrive a day after they left. So according to Chandlers friends, he had been gone only a day.
Ross Geller and Rachel Green were being entertained by Phoebe, who was playing her guitar on the "stage" at the front of the coffee shop.
"Do you really think she will come?" Karen asked.
"Like I said, Phoebe is looking for the chance to play with a band. Just once." Chandler explained.
"Thats what we got, one chance." Karen said. "A thousand bucks is the first prize."
"Thats a lot of money back...now." Chandler said.
"It would pay for a lot of things for them for a long time. They got a nasty landlord." Karen said. "I'm willing to anything to help the guys out."
"Ok." Chandler said. "Look, Phoebes done with her set."
"Oh hi guys!" Rachel said getting up from the big couch. "We were just about to leave."
"Where have you been bud?" Ross asked.
"Oh out of town." Chandler said.
"We gotta go now." Rachel said. "I promised to help Ross here redecorate the apartment." She said. They walked out the door.
"Chandler!" Phoebe putting her guitar in its case. "Karen, nice to see you!"
"Hiya Pheebs." Chandler said. "Can we talk somewhere?"
"Sure, I was just on my way home." Phoebe said. "Where have you two been?"
"Oh around." Karen said. She nudged Chandler. He gave her a "I know!" look.
"Phoebe what is your current dream?" He asked her.
"To play with a band." She said. "Just once to see how it feels."
"Well guess what?" Karen said.
"We did something for you." Chandler said. "We got you a chance to play with a band just once for a contest in three days."
"Really?" Phoebe asked. The duo nodded. "Wow! Thanks guys, when can I meet them? Whats their name?"
"Whoa. Hold on." Chandler said. "The gigs out of town, you will need another dress."
"I'll go up to my place and get another one then." Phoebe said leaving her guitar. She practically bounced out the door. "I'll be back in a few minutes! I love you guys!"
"At least the best about Phoebes clothes is that she will fit in, in the 60's." Karen said.
A few minutes later Phoebe came back. They grabbed the guitar from the shop and went into an alley.
"Where are we going?" Phoebe asked.
"Phoebe, do you believe in magic?" Karen asked as she set the timer, out of view from Phoebes prying eyes.
"Yeah." She nodded.
"Well take Chandlers hand, and mine, and close your eyes." Karen said. "We're going for a surprise trip."
"Ooh, I like surprises." Phoebe said as they trio vanished from view.
Ross came around the corner. Thats funny, he thought he saw something. Must have been his imagination.
A few seconds later...
Chea greeted the trio as they came in the back door.
"The guys are waiting for you. Peter had to go on an errand." Chea said.
"Hi," Phoebe said. "I'm Phoebe."
"I'm Chea." Chea said. "Let take that for you." She took the guitar case from Phoebe.
"I love your name!" Phoebe said.
The guys came in from the kitchen.
"Guys." Karen said. "This is Phoebe Buffay. Up and coming folk rocker."
"Hi." Phoebe waved.
"This is Mike in the hat." Karen said. "And Davy." Davy looked over Phoebe. This was the first girl he had met that he didn't instantly feel something for. I hope I'm not losing me touch! He thought.
"And Micky." Karen continued.
"Hey guys, I'm back." Peter said coming in the back door. "The post office closed when I got there." He looked up at Phoebe. "Hello." He said.
Phoebe smiled and looked at him. Their eyes met.
"Hi." She said.
"I'm Peter." He said taking her hand. She clasped it, shaking it lightly, her eyes not leaving his face.
"Phoebe." She said.
Karen looked at Chea. Chea seemed a little sad. It seemed like she was liking Peter more than Micky, her original fave, but now that he met Phoebe it seems like she changed her mind again. Karen made a mental note to talk to her later.
"Phoebe is here to take Karens place in the contest." Mike explained.
"Great." Peter said with a wide smile on his face.
"Oh yea, I think we got approval here." Micky smirked.
"Micky!" Davy muttered.
"What?" Micky said.
"So whats the song?" Phoebe asked. Everyone looked at her. "Come on, let's hustle, I only got three days to practice and times a wastin'!"
Karen and Chea looked at Phoebe shocked. She really was serious about her music. Mike got her the music sheets and she brought out her guitar.
"All right, people." She said. "If we don't get this right, we'll be burning the midnight kerosene!"
"Oil." Mike said.
"Oh no thanks, I've eaten." Phoebe smiled.
Contest day
Four other bands were set to perform that night. Chandler had reserved a seat in the front row.
"I've never seen these guys perform before." Chandler said. "In our time, these guys are old enough to be our fathers!"
"Well yours anyway." Karen smiled.
"Oh man." Chea said sitting with Micky. "I'm so nervous."
"Nervous? Try being the drummer!" Micky joked.
"I know. But I'm singing backup, something I havent really tried before." Chea sighed. "I'm just gonna throw this whole thing off-key."
"Oh don't worry." Micky smiled. "What worse could happen?"
"Yeah." Chea agreed.
Mike practiced his guitar while Peter and Phoebe were cozy in the corner.
A few minutes later the band before the Monkees played, to a less than stellar response.
"It's an omen." Chea moaned to Micky.
"I know. How are we gonna live down to them?" He said.
The man they met last week, Larry Silvers, went up to the stage.
"That was the Deutones." He said. Not many people clapped. "Here is our last act. A popular local group, The Monkees!"
The band started playing. It was decided at the last minute that Davy and Micky would alternate singing duties.
"Thank god." Karen said. "Phoebe is good at guitar but had a less than desirable voice."
But here, all of a sudden, Phoebe was a maestro at playing the song, and her voice completely blended in with the others as they started to sing.
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
The guys clapped four times.
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week,
your month, or even your year, but
I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
You're still in bed at ten and work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast so far, things are
going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like
these
But she didn't tell when the world has brought you down to your knees
I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
No one could ever know me, no one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like
to be me
Someone to face the day with, make it through all
the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you
Yeah!
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week,
your month, or even your year, but
I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
The audience got up and wildly clapped. Larry came back on the stage while the guys bowed. Karen lightly clapped, so not to affect her burned hand.
"I think we have our winner!" Larry said. "The Monkees!"
Everyone jumped up and down with surprise. Chandler and Karen got on the stage. Karen impulsively hugged Mike. He seemed weirdly uncomfortable with it but hugged back anyway. She pulled back and looked in his eyes.
"Isn't this great!" She said. "Now you guys won't have to worry for a while."
"Yeah." He said. Davy came over and hugged Mike and Karen.
"We did it!" He said.
Karen hugged Chandler and walked off with him. Mike stood by and watched. Micky and Davy watched him. He turned toward them.
"What?" He demanded.
"Nothing." Davy said. "I'm just looking for me maracas."
Mike took his guitar, put it in its case and walked of the stage.
"I'll be in the car." Mike said going up to Larry for the prize money.
Home
Karen and Chea got out of the car first. The guys insisted on giving some money to Phoebe but she turned it down flat.
"Chea, we need to talk." Karen said. She took Chandlers hand, unaware that she was being watched intently by Mike. Phoebe took her case and followed Peter in.
"What do we do now?" Chea said.
"Phoebe has to go back." Karen said. "That much is obvious."
"Yeah." Chea said. "But it looks like she really hit it off wityh Peter."
They both looked. They were talking in a corner.
"I know, but she can't stay." Karen said. She went over to Peter and Phoebe. It looked like Phoebe already knew she had to tell Peter that she had to go.
"I'm sorry." Phoebe was saying. "I never planned to be around after the concert." Phoebe said. "I need to go back. I only did this for a friend."
"Yeah, I had a feeling." Peter said.
"I'll miss you." Phoebe said. "You are the first guy I have ever met to talk to me, and I can understand you."
"Me too." Peter said. "Wait." He took off a strand of his beads.
"Your fave love beads! I can't take this." Phoebe said refusing it.
"I want you to have it." Peter said draping it over her head. "To remember me by." He said.
"Thanks." Phoebe said and kissed him on the cheek.
They looked over at Karen.
"Hiya Karen." She said. "Are we ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah." Karen said. Phoebe walked over with Karen to Chea and Chandler.
"Let's go." Phoebe said.
They walked out the door and down the beach to an area by a large cave. Once they were sure they were far enough away from curious on-lookers, they got ready to go.
"I discovered this wand today." Karen said pointing to the device. "You can send people with it."
"People?" Chea asked.
"Yeah, thats another thing." Karen said. She walked over to Chandler and grabbed his hands. "I'm afraid this is where we say goodbye."
"What?" Chandler asked.
"I've thought it over, and I can't keep you here." Karen said. "You belong in your world. With your friends. So when Phoebe goes, you'll go too."
"I don't want to." Chandler said. "I think I love you."
"Oh Chandler." Karen said with a tear in her eye.
"Please, let me stay." Chandler said.
"Just go!" Karen said. "Please!"
Chandler looked at her. His very heart of hearts was breaking.
"Ok." Chandler said. Karen took out the aiming device in the device. "Hold hands." Karen said. Phoebe clasped hands with Chandler. Karen programmed the time and place. They would arrive a few minutes after they left.
Karen looked at Chandler one last time. "Goodbye." She pressed the button. They were gone in less than an instant.
Later...
"I'm sorry about Chandler leaving." Chea said.
"Yeah, well so am I." Karen said as they came back into the house. It looked deserved. "He didn't belong."
"It's so sad." Chea said.
"Yes." Karen said. "But I will get over it. God, thats a lie, I will never get over losing him. I know he had to go but now that hes gone there is this sucking wound in my chest. It hurts so much." Karen sobbed. "It's times like this I wish we never used that stupid thing at all!!" She said.
"Used what thing?" A voice said. Karen looked behind Chea.
"What?" Chea asked. Karen pointed behind her.
"Oh my god." Chea said as she turned and finally saw what Karen saw. All four guys were at the front door looking at them.
"Oh no." Karen moaned sitting down.
"I think we gave the guys all the exposition they need for now." Chea said.
