Andrew slowly lowered his phone, his expression hard to read.
He had just gotten a call from Monica Geller. He'd met her at the first subscriber meetup, and she was the same girl he remembered from his past life, the one from the show Friends.
Only this wasn't the '90s, and she was his age. Of course, if he was in the world of Modern Family, why couldn't another sitcom come to life too?
After exchanging numbers last year, Andrew had only spoken to her once. He'd given her feedback on her protein snacks, saying they were delicious and asking if she could share the recipe so he could make them himself.
After that, they never talked again. It wasn't for lack of desire, after all, it was Monica Geller, but he had a girlfriend. How did he explain to Pippa that he was talking to a pretty fan who asked him for his number personally and he agreed to give it to her?
To her credit, Monica had been respectful. Once she got the feedback she needed to improve her cooking, she never messaged him again.
But the girl who had just called wasn't Monica. It was a different female voice who introduced herself as Monica's best friend.
'Could it be…?' Andrew thought.
He didn't quite recognize the voice, but in Friends, Monica only had one best friend back in high school:
Rachel Green.
Everything inside him screamed yes.
"Everything okay?" Leonard asked, raising an eyebrow at Andrew's face.
Andrew nodded and snapped back to reality. "Yeah…" he replied, as he sent Monica the location and then put his phone away.
"Who was that?" Haley asked, stirring her iced coffee with a straw, leaning comfortably against the chair back.
"Remember the black-haired girl who gave me healthy food?" Andrew asked, looking at Howard, since he was the only one here who had been there that day.
"Oh, yeah! The one who came with her brother and dad," Howard said instantly.
Andrew looked at him, a bit surprised he remembered so quickly. Then again, considering Monica was attractive, maybe it wasn't that surprising, especially coming from Howard.
"Yeah, that one. She's from New York and came here with a friend, but with all the crowd chaos they couldn't find me… so I told them to meet me here," Andrew said with a nod.
He then told Leonard and Haley a bit more about how he had met Monica.
Leonard frowned slightly, visibly nervous about two girls suddenly coming to have coffee with them, especially since he was still missing a shoe. Howard smiled and fixed his hair, checking himself in his phone's screen reflection. Haley said nothing, but raised an eyebrow, as if reading the room.
A few minutes passed. Then Andrew saw two girls come up to the café's second floor. One had dark hair, wearing sporty black and white clothes: Monica.
And next to her… a figure impossible to ignore.
He recognized her instantly: Rachel Green.
Yes, it was her, in her teenage version. But not with the 80s clothes or the big hair from the show's flashbacks. She looked completely updated to the current year.
She wore a tight white short-sleeved shirt with "USA" written in black letters, high-waisted black shorts, sheer black tights, and low boots. Straight hair with curled-in tips, just the right amount of volume. Effortless glamour. She radiated confidence… and heat. She looked a bit flushed, probably from the walk and the chaos earlier in the mall.
Haley raised an eyebrow at Rachel, scanning her from head to toe. She didn't look impressed, but definitely assessing. Like someone recognizing another girl of equal status in the social jungle.
Howard stared in silence while Leonard sat up slightly, clutching his coffee cup like he suddenly needed emotional support. He seemed to have forgotten how to blink.
Rachel walked with that natural haughtiness that didn't need to be forced. Every step was confident, grounded. Monica, on the other hand, looked like she'd entered a different atmosphere the moment she saw Andrew raise his hand to wave.
She stopped. Literally.
She froze in place, as if unsure whether to run toward him—or in the opposite direction.
Rachel huffed, placed a hand on Monica's back, and gave her a gentle but firm push.
"Come on, soldier. We didn't come all this way to freeze up now," she muttered under her breath.
Monica resumed walking, though her hands were a bit tense at her sides.
As they reached the table, Andrew was already standing, giving up his seat next to Haley. He walked around to the other side, sitting beside Leonard and Howard to make space for the newcomers.
"Hey, I'm glad you made it, please, sit down," Andrew said kindly.
"Thanks," Rachel replied with a soft smile, settling into the seat next to Haley and placing her shopping bags to the side. Monica sat down next to her, a bit more stiffly.
"Sorry about all the chaos earlier. Not the best way to host a subscriber meetup… I'll keep it in mind for next time," Andrew said with a sincerely apologetic look.
He hadn't expected that many people to show up this time. If last year there had been maybe three hundred people at most, today, with the fountain area completely packed, it looked like the number had easily reached six hundred. And with the second wave coming in… maybe a thousand?
He was sure Monica wasn't the only one who had traveled from another state to see him. But sadly, he wouldn't be able to have this kind of conversation with everyone.
Monica quickly shook her head, trying to downplay it, though she couldn't quite find the words.
Andrew then turned toward the other girl, the blonde with the intense gaze who didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable.
"And I'm guessing you were the one who used Monica's phone to call me," he said, with a half-smile.
Rachel crossed her legs and held his gaze without blinking.
"I was," she confirmed. "Seemed like a waste of a trip not to take a bold step."
Andrew nodded, amused. "And what's your name?"
"Rachel. Rachel Green."
Andrew took just a second to mask his reaction. His smile didn't falter.
"These are my friends, Howard and Leonard. And this is my cousin, Haley," he said, gesturing with his hand to introduce everyone.
Leonard raised a hand. Howard nodded confidently and said, "Hello, ladies."
"Hi," Monica greeted politely. She couldn't risk making a bad impression in front of her idol's friends.
Rachel gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
Haley, on the other hand, looked at the shopping bags beside her with more interest than she had shown during the introductions.
"Is that from Hollister Co.?" she asked, recognizing the logo of one of the most popular fashion stores at the moment.
Rachel seemed to light up. Finally, someone who appreciated her sense of style.
"Yes! After escaping the apocalypse, I figured I deserved some new clothes as a reward. Look at this skirt," she said, already digging through her bags with enthusiasm. Haley leaned in a bit, intrigued. They seemed to have found a shared language.
Within seconds, they were exchanging comments about textures, tones, and whether that pale blue blouse would go better with a certain color or skirt.
Monica watched them with a mix of surprise and resignation. She couldn't believe they were the same age.
She cared about her appearance too, of course she did, but her approach was completely different. Sportswear, functionality, brands like Nike, Adidas, or anything that could withstand workouts and long walks. She liked to match colors and look presentable, but had zero interest in flowy skirts or blouses with delicate details.
'Whoa… that was fast,' Andrew thought, watching his cousin and Rachel.
Then Monica turned to him, her voice soft, "I'm sorry about Rachel calling you. If you want to block my number, I'd understand."
Andrew let out a small, genuine laugh. "It's really not a big deal. You did the right thing. Would've been a shame if you came all this way and left without getting to talk."
"Thanks," Monica murmured, visibly more at ease.
Andrew nodded and asked, "Did Rachel say you're on vacation in San Diego?"
"Yeah. My parents rented a hotel near the beach. They let me bring Rachel… and my brother came too."
"Ross, right?"
Monica looked at him, surprised. "You remember his name?"
'Of course,' Andrew thought, glancing briefly at Rachel as he remembered Ross. Those two had one of the most controversial love stories in his old world.
Were they on a break or not?
"Yeah… last year, besides you, he and your dad came too," Andrew said, sipping his chilled fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Monica nodded. "We're taking a few days to relax at the beach… and well, I could come to the meetup, and Ross wants to go to Comic-Con in San Diego, so we split the schedule."
At the mention of Comic-Con, Leonard straightened in his seat like someone had just said his name.
"San Diego Comic-Con?" he asked, eyes lighting up as he sat up excitedly.
Howard looked up too, just as thrilled. "We're going too! Not today though… we're going on Sunday. There's a Battlestar Galactica panel I'm not missing for anything."
The conversation quickly shifted to exclusive panels, rare collectibles, and which celebrities were signing that year.
Monica tried to follow along, but didn't really get most of it. She just smiled from time to time, noticing that Andrew, judging by his comments, wasn't just a casual fan, he had deep knowledge. Even Ross would be impressed.
Meanwhile, Rachel and Haley continued exchanging opinions about outfits and accessories, even comparing fashion apps on their phones.
Monica and Rachel took the opportunity to order something cold to drink.
A few minutes later, with their drinks in hand, Monica found herself unable to join the hyper-detailed, nerdy conversation Andrew, Howard, and Leonard were having. She also couldn't quite jump into the fashion talk between Haley and Rachel.
'He'd get along so well with Ross...' Monica thought, watching Andrew passionately discuss how the future DC cinematic universe should be structured more like what Marvel was building.
After a few more minutes, Monica gathered her courage and spoke, "Hey, Andrew."
Andrew stopped mid-sentence, he'd been debating with Leonard about timeline inconsistencies in the X-Men movies, and turned to her, a bit of guilt showing on his face.
"Yes?" he replied, giving her his full attention.
"How's your new high school? I know you transferred, you mentioned it on YouTube… but you haven't said anything else. Are you training already? Have you met your team or anything?"
Monica liked football, but she didn't really know the details of how it worked in schools, when preseason started exactly, and all that.
Before Andrew could answer, Haley jumped in proudly, "He already started preseason. He won the starting spot… took it from a senior who has a verbal offer from USC. All that in less than a month, and he's going to be the starter in a summer tournament."
"USC?!" Rachel exclaimed, eyes wide. Even Monica blinked in surprise.
"University of Southern California…" Monica said, as if processing it out loud. "It's private, insanely expensive… super hard to get into. One of the best in the country."
"And with a huge football tradition," Rachel added, still surprised.
"You know about football?" Andrew asked, curious, looking at Rachel. She didn't exactly seem like the kind of girl who'd know the football legacy of USC or different college programs.
Rachel held his gaze, as if the question was almost offensive, "Of course. I'm a cheer captain at my high school," she said with confidence, though without arrogance. "Sadly, we barely make the playoffs... And also, my dad and my sisters are football maniacs. I learned from them."
'The Green family…' Andrew thought, vaguely remembering what he knew about them from his past life. They weren't the focus of Friends, but the episodes where they appeared were intense. If his memory was right, the dad was a doctor obsessed with his boat. Or something like that.
"So there's a summer tournament?" Monica asked with the enthusiasm of someone emotionally building her schedule around the answer.
"Yeah. Tomorrow kicks off a 7-on-7 tournament at Dana Hills," Andrew explained, leaning back against his seat. "It's pretty well-known. One of the most competitive this time of year. I'm starting. And if I play well, I'll be locked in for the official season starting in September."
Rachel didn't say it out loud, but the thought was bouncing around in her head: He took the spot from a senior with a USC offer in less than a month, and he talks about it like he just bought a loaf of bread.
She watched his gestures, his pauses when speaking, and that calm tone, totally lacking in arrogance. He didn't seem to be performing for anyone. In fact, his cousin Haley was bragging more than he was.
A YouTuber with two million subscribers, starting quarterback at one of the best high schools in the country, and still… here he was, having coffee with two fans, no ego, no flexing, no act.
"I knew it! I knew your talent wasn't ordinary, even if you played in lower divisions!" Monica said with an excited smile, like someone seeing her blind faith confirmed.
"Thanks…" Andrew replied with a slightly shy smile at her enthusiasm. "Still, let's not celebrate just yet. I could get injured tomorrow, or have a heart attack on the first throw, and there goes the season."
Monica looked horrified. "Don't even joke about that!"
Haley burst out laughing, and Rachel did too, though she tried to hide it. She hadn't expected that kind of dry, deadpan humor from someone like him. Somehow, it cracked her up.
Leonard laughed as well, and Howard added, taking a sip of his drink and flashing a gallant smile at both girls, "You can come if you want. You'll get to see me in action, recording Andrew's best plays," he said, looking specifically at Monica, trying to impress her with his camera work.
"Really?" Monica asked, excited like someone had just offered her VIP tickets.
Leonard frowned at Howard, thinking: Why are you inviting people like you're the one playing in the tournament...?
"Oh, that's true," Andrew said, realizing he hadn't thought about it. "The tournament is open entry. It's at Dana Hills High School's stadium. It'll probably take you about an hour to get there from San Diego, maybe a bit more," he added, glancing at Rachel with a mix of logistics and subtle humor.
"The stadium holds over two thousand people, and it never fills up for these kinds of tournaments. They sell food, drinks, snacks. It's meant to be a whole-day event," he added.
Monica wanted to jump out of her seat. She could watch Andrew play live. Not through videos. And this was his debut game at Mater Dei, the elite program.
She turned toward Rachel with a mix of pleading and hopeful expectation. She didn't need to say a word, her eyes said it all.
Rachel sighed theatrically, looking at her friend, "Alright, alright, we'll go… I'll miss another beach day. And we'll have to wake up early," she said, taking another sip of her iced drink.
"Great, thank you!" Monica said enthusiastically.
Relaxing on one of San Diego's best beaches or driving over an hour to see Andrew's game in the middle of summer? For Monica, the answer was obvious.
"Actually, it's two days… The first day is group stage. If we advance, the eliminations and the final are on Saturday," Andrew explained.
Monica looked at Rachel again, this time with even more exaggerated puppy-dog eyes, "We can't miss the most important games on Saturday," she said, as if it was a given that Andrew would make it that far.
"Alright, we'll go then! But stop making that face," Rachel replied, resigned, but internally, she wasn't as annoyed as she pretended. She was curious.
After all, she was a cheerleader at her school, and she did like football.
Seeing someone their age play for a school like Mater Dei, especially someone Monica wouldn't stop praising, wasn't an everyday opportunity. Even if it meant losing three out of the four days they had to enjoy San Diego's beaches.
The conversation continued for a while longer. Between laughter and fashion talk between Haley and Rachel, the atmosphere became relaxed and comfortable. The girls finished their drinks, and after promising to come to the tournament, they finally said goodbye.
Monica left happy. She'd achieved far more than last year: having a conversation with Andrew for more than fifteen minutes, giving him her protein snacks again, taking pictures with him, and best of all… getting invited to watch his Mater Dei debut.
Rachel didn't have a bad time either, except for those few minutes of chaos and crowds at the mall.
After that stop at the café, Andrew felt re-energized.
He decided to head back toward the mall area to see if there were still any fans hanging around. Even though he had only been there for about an hour, it didn't feel like enough, especially if he just disappeared after such a short time. Leonard, Howard, and Haley understood and agreed to go with him.
As expected, there were still fans. They had spread out a bit. Since it was outdoors and the temperature had dropped to something more tolerable, it was easier to walk around, chat, sign jerseys and footballs, receive gifts, and take pictures.
He stayed there until nearly 7 p.m. Eventually, they headed back. He dropped off Howard and Leonard at their places, said goodbye to Haley, and finally got home, where his parents were eager to hear all about it.
While eating dinner, he told them everything: the chaos, the crowd, the escape, the conversation with Monica, the protein snack fan, and the return to keep taking pictures and meeting people.
Eventually, he went to bed early, since the next day he had to wake up early for the tournament and the trip to Dana Hills High School.
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