“Ugh, maybe we should just take a break.” Rachel exclaims in exasperation.
“You’re right. Let’s get some frozen yoghurt or something” Ross answers immediately, agreeing this fight is getting out of hand. He does understand Rachel’s frustration, but he can’t help it. That Mark guy is just bad news. How can he not be jealous?
“No,” Rachel says softly, “a break from us.”
It feels like the floor disappears from underneath Ross’ feet. Did he hear that correctly?
“…from us,” he echoes. “What… what… what does that mean, Rach?”
She just stares at him with sad eyes.
“Do you… do you want to break up with me?”
Ross steps closer to her, wanting to understand what she means.
Rachel sighs. “No, Ross. I don’t want to break up. I love you. But you’re smothering me right now and I can’t deal with it any longer.”
She runs her hand through her long hair. “I just want to be with myself for a couple of days.”
“Huh.” Ross is baffled. “I didn’t know we could… do that.”
“What do you mean, you didn’t know?” Rachel says. “It’s our relationship. We make the rules. And my rule is that I want a little space if I feel overwhelmed. Is that okay?”
Ross doesn’t really know how he feels about a break like this. He’s still pissed about Mark being in Rachel’s life so much.
“Will you be seeing…” he starts, but he stops himself just in time, because he knows finishing this sentence might push Rachel off the edge and into a definitive end to their relationship.
“…my sister?”
“Of course, Ross, I live with her.” Rachel answers, a bit annoyed.
“You will be going to work, but you will not be seeing me,” he states, more for his own comprehension.
“I will be seeing you, but I will not be seeing you. Just for a couple of days. Or even one day,” Rachel explains. “I want some time alone to cool off and think of ways to fix this.”
“I love you,” Ross offers honestly.
“I love you too, Ross, but that’s not always enough.”
“I’ll… I’ll… I’ll make it enough, Rach. I don’t want to lose you!”
Ross can feel tears welling up in his eyes. He comes closer and drops to his knees, hugging Rachel’s hips. She gently strokes his hair.
“You’re not losing me, okay? Ross? You’re not losing me. But I need this now. Is that okay?” Rachel looks down, into his eyes. He stands up and hugs her tightly.
“Okay, honey. I’ll… I’ll be going home now and waiting for you to… call me. I’ll… get some frozen yoghurt myself, or something.”
They break apart.
“You don’t like ice cream, it’s ‘too cold’,” Rachel snickers.
“Last time I was eating an ice cream was with Marcel, but I just had the one lick and then he had a lick and I threw it in the garbage. It was too cold. And, you know, Marcel had licked it.”
Rachel grinned.
“I’ll try it in a couple of years.”
Ross kisses Rachel softly and walks to the door.
“Sleep tight, Rach. I’m sorry about tonight.”
She smiles.
“Thanks, Ross. I’ll call you soon. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Ross looks at Rachel one more time and steps into the hallway, closing the doos behind him. They would be okay, he knew it. He would háve to be less jealous, though. Or rather, act less jealous. He’d figure it out.
7/6/25