It was a typical day at the Avenue B loft. Roger was sitting in a corner, guitar in hand, trying to write a new song. Every so often you would hear strains of music come out of his guitar, mostly " Your eyes", and "Musetta's Waltz". Although he had written many songs since Mimi's near-death experience, those were the ones he felt most emotionally attached to, and therefore the ones he played the most. Occasionally you would also hear a couple of random chords accompanied by bad lyrics, such as:
I love you/ Mimi/you/ were my/ Song/ you changed/my lifeHe was stuck in a rut right now. Not only was he having trouble writing a new song, he had been trying very hard to get his old band back together, but was having a lot of trouble. Him and Mark really needed money. He had managed to get back his drummer, but his back up guitarist had yet to call him regarding the band.
Mark was also trying to get his work done. He was sitting at a table trying to organize film clips. He was in the middle of creating a new documentary. Since they desperately needed money to pay for AZT, food, and heat ( it was extremely cold that winter), Mark had went back to Buzzline. Temporarily, he had said, just until they got back on their feet.
He hated Buzzline. He was still working for Alexi Darling. Once she had got over trying to get him to join, he treated her like his slave. When he was at the office, he spent 50 percent of the time doing work, and the other half running errands for Alexi. She was a nightmare of a boss and he just wanted her to quit already.
But seriously, they had to get their jobs done. Benny had stopped being friendly again (it seemed that he changed his mind every other week), and had threatened to turn them out if they didn't pay the rent soon. To make matters worse, a new medication had came out that worked with the AZT. It would prolong Roger's life, but it cost much more.
Just while they were in the middle of work, the phone rang,
" SPEAK"
" Man, this is Collins" said a deep voice.
" And Angel" said a slightly higher one"
" We're just calling to invite you to the Life with us tonight. Maureen and Joanne are both also coming. Well, if you want to come, meet us at out apartment around 7."
Mark and Roger quickly agreed to go. They always liked hanging out with their friends, and needed a way to keep their minds off the everlasting load of work dumped on them. Angel and Collins were getting the new medication also, but they had a much easier time of it.
Then Roger's beeper went off.
" Take your AZT" Mark said instinctively. He had never stopped saying it, even though Roger no longer needed reminding and would take it on his own.
Roger knew that Mark meant well, but the stress was getting to him.
" I know okay? Just get the fuck off my back! I'm not 2!"
That was an overreaction, Mark thought. I was only trying to help.
Just then the phone rang again.
"SPEAK"
" Hello this is Jared from Roger's former band? I'm just calling to say that I can't come back because I have a band of my own now. Sorry, good luck finding someone to replace me"
" Crap" Roger kicked the couch angrily. " Where the hell am I going to find a new background guitarist?"
" It's not that big of a deal" contributed Mark. " I'm sure that there are plenty of guys who are just like you and want to join a band."
" Oh shut up Mark you have no idea what your talking about! Just get back to your camera and leave me alone! "
He spent the rest of the day calling everyone he knew that could possibly know how to play the guitar and could join his band. After 3 hours, though, it was clear he wasn't having much luck. Nobody was free anymore. Nobody decent, anyway!
" Shit!' He yelled in frustration after yet another prospective band member turned down his offer. " I'll never find anybody!"
" I'm sure you will" said Mark, but Roger ignored him, too caught up in his huge problem.
The phone rang once again.
" SPEAK"
" This is Arnold Karveii calling in regards to the new band that Roger Davis is setting up. I'd like you to come to my studio, Kablam studios, for a demo tape on Thursday. If you don't show, the deal is off!"
Roger groaned. He had 2 days to find someone new. He picked up the phone and starting dialing. First. He informed Collins that he would not be at the Life. Then, he called more people, even Maureen to see if she knew anybody from theater who could play the guitar decently.
Meanwhile, Mark wasn't having much luck himself. He had this random piece of footage that didn't fit in anywhere. And Alexi the nightmare was insisting on having this particular bit of footage in the documentary. If it wasn't, she said, Mark would not be paid.
" Oh crap! This is too hard. It just doesn't make any sense! Anywhere!"
Roger, in an unbelievably bad mood, replied with a sarcastic " Boo Hoo"
Mark got so mad! " Stop! You have no idea what it's like to be me! Working for the devil herself, pressure, Hard Work- You think my life is just prancing around holding a camera!"
" Well, you have no idea what it's like to be me! I'm constantly worrying about my girlfriend-"
" at least you have a girlfriend! Yours didn't leave you for another girl!"
" Who does drugs even though I beg her to stop- stress- running a band isn't easy!
" Your so clueless!" Both yelled and ran into their rooms at the same time, slamming their door behind them.
