Chapter 20: The New Year's Approach
I spent December 28th taking inventory of my progress.
Three and a half months since waking up in this world. Ninety-seven days of making coffee, testing powers, and slowly becoming visible.
The notebook came out during my lunch break. I sat in the back room of Central Perk and reviewed what I'd documented:
Powers Mastered:
Blue, yellow, green, orange, pink lights (all five colors confirmed working)Color combinations up to three at oncePassive Glimpse: 3 uses per day, 24-48 hour rangeRefined Presence: passive, gradual improvement ongoing
Business Network:
Caroline Walsh (Merrill Lynch VP)Marcus Chen (Senior investment banker)Patricia (casting director)Theater owner Marcus Steinberg (arts patron)Two gallery ownersOne lawyer
Gang Status:
Ross: knows my name, asked for help multiple timesMonica: thanked me repeatedly, gave me lasagnaChandler: accepts coffee I make him during stressJoey: called me "good people"Phoebe: watches me with knowing curiosity, invited me to sitRachel: acknowledges my existence, grateful for small kindnesses
Emotional Status:
Completely over Rachel obsessionReady for actual romantic relationshipConfident in abilitiesPatient with long-term plan
The last item made me pause. Romantic relationship.
I'd been in this world for over three months and hadn't pursued romance at all. The Fateful Encounter power sat dormant—one guaranteed compatibility meeting per month, and I'd let September, October, November, and most of December pass without using it.
Jessica from October had been the activation, but I'd never followed up. Let the opportunity expire unused.
Why? I asked myself.
Fear, maybe. Uncertainty about juggling a relationship while building everything else. Focus on the gang and the business plan.
But those were excuses. The real reason was simpler: I hadn't been ready.
Now, looking at my progress, reviewing how far I'd come—I was ready.
December 29th. Tomorrow was the 30th, then New Year's Eve. The gang had their no-date pact planned. I had one more day to use December's Fateful Encounter before the month ended.
Time to be intentional about it.
She walked in at 2:47 PM on December 29th, and I felt it immediately.
The Fateful Encounter activation wasn't dramatic—no glowing lights, no time stopping. Just a subtle pull in my chest, like recognizing someone important before consciously knowing why.
She was maybe twenty-six, twenty-seven. Dark hair pulled back in a messy bun. Paint-stained jeans under a heavy winter coat. Carrying a portfolio case and looking at Central Perk's interior with an artist's assessing gaze.
When she reached the counter, our eyes met and the pull strengthened.
"Hi," she said, smiling. "Can I get a latte? Soy milk if you have it."
"We do." I started making her drink. "You're an artist?"
She glanced down at her paint-stained clothes. "That obvious?"
"The portfolio case was the real hint."
She laughed. "Fair. Yeah, I'm a graphic designer. Just finished a project nearby and needed coffee before heading home."
"How'd the project go?"
"Exhausting but good. Client wanted a complete rebrand in two weeks, which is insane, but I pulled it off." She accepted the latte I handed her. "I'm Sarah, by the way."
"Gunther."
"Interesting name. German?"
"Dutch."
"Cool." She took a sip and her expression brightened. "Okay, this is really good coffee. Like, unexpectedly good."
"We aim to please."
"Well, you succeeded. I work a few blocks over—I'll probably become a regular."
The conversation flowed easily from there. We talked about her design work, the challenges of freelancing, how Manhattan had changed in the last few years. She mentioned loving Central Park in winter. I mentioned working here long enough to memorize every customer's order.
Twenty minutes passed like five.
When she finally stood to leave, pulling her coat back on, she paused.
"This might be forward," Sarah said, "but would you want to grab coffee sometime? Like, not here. Somewhere where you're not working."
"I'd like that."
She pulled a business card from her bag and wrote a number on the back. "Call me after New Year's? I'm visiting family for the holiday but I'll be back January 2nd."
"I'll call."
She smiled—genuine and warm—and left.
I stood behind the counter holding her business card, feeling the Fateful Encounter power confirm the connection. This was it. The monthly romantic opportunity, activated and successful.
Sarah. Graphic designer. Easy conversation. Genuine interest.
Not Rachel. Not pining. Just a normal, healthy potential relationship.
Progress, I thought, tucking the card into my wallet.
Chandler - 3:17 PM
Chandler Bing had witnessed the entire exchange and was honestly impressed.
Gunther—quiet, efficient, perpetually-behind-the-counter Gunther—had just gotten a woman's number. Not by being aggressive or fake-charming, just by being... himself. Making good coffee and having an actual conversation.
"Did you see that?" Chandler asked Joey quietly.
"See what?"
"Gunther. The barista. He just got that girl's number."
Joey looked over at the counter. "Good for him. Why are we whispering?"
"I don't know. It feels weird to discuss his love life."
"He's a person. People have love lives."
"I know, but I've never thought about Gunther having... anything. He just exists here making coffee."
Joey frowned. "That's kind of messed up, man."
"I know! That's what I'm saying. We should acknowledge him more. Actually learn about his life."
Monica overheard and leaned over. "Did Gunther just get someone's number?"
"Yeah," Chandler confirmed.
"Good for him!" She called over to the counter: "Nice work, Gunther!"
Gunther looked up, slightly embarrassed. "Thanks."
The whole gang was watching now. Ross looked confused. Rachel seemed surprised. Phoebe smiled like she'd expected this all along.
"Didn't know you had game," Joey said, loud enough to carry.
"I don't know about game," Gunther replied. "She just... we talked. She gave me her number."
"That's game," Joey insisted. "Classic game."
Chandler watched Gunther navigate the attention with awkward competence. Not preening or showing off, just accepting their acknowledgment and going back to work.
He's more interesting than I thought, Chandler realized. And we've been ignoring him for months.
He made a mental note to actually talk to Gunther sometime. Learn his story. Be less of an oblivious regular customer.
Small steps toward being better.
The rest of my shift passed in a blur of congratulations and teasing.
The gang wouldn't let it drop. Monica wanted details about Sarah. Joey offered dating advice. Ross tried to give relationship guidance based on his one failed marriage. Chandler made jokes about baristas and their surprising game.
Rachel was quiet about it, which I noticed but didn't analyze. Phoebe just kept smiling knowingly.
By closing time, I'd been acknowledged more in four hours than in the previous three months combined.
Terry had watched the whole thing from the office. When I locked up, he clapped me on the shoulder.
"Good for you, kid. It's about time you had a life outside this place."
"Thanks, Terry."
"You working New Year's Eve?"
"No, you said I had the day off."
"Right. Well, enjoy it. You've earned it."
He left, and I cleaned up thinking about how much had changed.
December 29th. Sarah's business card in my wallet. A date planned for January 2nd. The gang actually seeing me as a person with a dating life.
Three and a half months from invisible to visible. From background to acknowledged.
I walked home through December cold, the city already preparing for New Year's celebrations.
Tomorrow was the 30th. Then the 31st—New Year's Eve, the gang's no-date pact party at Monica's apartment.
I wasn't invited, obviously. Still on the edges of their group, not part of the inner circle.
But I had my own plans now. A phone call to make. A relationship to start. A life that existed independently of their storyline.
Canon Gunther had spent every New Year's alone, pining for Rachel, watching the gang celebrate without him.
I'd spend this New Year's planning my first real date in two lifetimes.
Not a bad trade.
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