Lan Chu didn't know how long she'd been asleep; she only knew that the bed felt unusually soft today—and reeked, like a poultry shed.
She stretched lazily, and as her arm shot out, it bumped into something soft.
Baffled, she looked over and found her hand resting on a man's back—on a naked boy! She glanced down at herself in disbelief: she was naked too!
"Aaaaah—!" she screamed.
"Wh-what's happening?!" Joey catapulted upright, lost his balance, and tumbled off the bed in full view.
"What's going on?" Chandler, who shared the apartment, barged in without ceremony—and saw an overturned naked boy and a panicked naked girl.
"Oh my God!" He fled the scene at once.
Lan Chu hadn't seen him; she was covering her eyes. Joey scrambled into his clothes.
"What's wrong with you?" Joey grumbled.
Lan Chu slowly lowered her hands. Taking in his face and the room's decor… "Joey Tribbiani?" she ventured.
"Yeah."
"And just now… Chandler Bing?"
"Yeah!" Joey exclaimed—he hadn't introduced this girl to Chandler.
"I must be dreaming." Lan Chu flopped back and pulled the quilt over her head.
"Hey, hot girl, we're both up anyway, and I've got an audition later. Could you head home? I'll definitely call you."
Sensing something off, Lan Chu clutched the quilt to herself, sat up, and—at Joey's dopey grin—slapped herself hard across the face. Joey's eyes bulged; he clutched his own cheek as if he'd felt it.
Lan Chu cupped her stinging cheek, on the verge of tears. "Hurt…"
"I could've told you that would sting," Joey said defensively.
"Aaaaah—!" Lan Chu screamed again. What on earth was going on?!
"Aaaaah—!" Joey joined in, bolting from the room and nearly knocking over Chandler, who sat on the sofa looking resigned.
"Whaaat is it?" Chandler drawled.
"Hot girl's a lunatic!" Joey curled into a ball on his couch. Chandler patted him in consolation.
Once she'd calmed down, Lan Chu dressed quickly and walked out.
Joey didn't dare look; only Chandler watched her.
Chandler stood up.
"Hi—monster in there?" he asked.
Still stunned, Lan Chu forced herself to focus. She looked at the cowering Joey.
"Joey?"
Joey huddled tighter, muttering, "Can't see me… can't see me…"
"Joey, I need to ask you something."
Joey peeked out one eye.
"Did we… have… intimate relations last night?" Lan Chu asked awkwardly.
Joey quavered, "We could say we didn't…"
Lan Chu buried her face in her hands; the gesture made Joey shrink back further.
"Oh God, Joey—you slept with a girl who didn't even know what was happening?" Chandler cried, as though the family name had been disgraced.
Joey shot him a wordless glare.
"No! We met at the Coffee Shop! You know she's nuts."
Lan Chu could understand why he thought that.
"Sorry, I… I'm alone in a strange place and homesick; sometimes I lose control," she fabricated.
"Well, you sure don't lose it halfway," Joey muttered, scurrying to Chandler's side.
"Uh… girl, what's your name?"
Lan Chu wasn't sure what name to use here. Looking at Joey's clueless face, she knew he'd never remember a date's name.
"Ella Lan." She supplied her English name.
Just then, the door opened—Monica walked in.
"Hey, Mon, you're up early," Chandler said; a fleeting blush crossed Monica's face.
"Came to borrow milk. Oh, company—hi, pretty girl."
"Ella—not crazy," Joey interjected.
"Oh, Ella, I'm Monica Geller."
"I know—you're an amazing cook. Are you making breakfast? I'm starving… and you're really beautiful," Lan Chu batted innocent eyes.
Monica hesitated a beat, then beamed. "Of course!"
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