Ring
Screen
"SPEAK"
Roger just sat on the couch tuning his guitar because he didn't have anything else to do.
"Roger, this is your mother. Your sister is getting married, please answer the phone!"
Roger just looked at the phone like it was an alien.
"Please Roger, I need to talk to you"
This time he did go over to the phone, pick it up and put it up to his ear.
"Hello Mother."
"Hello darling. I wont be long. Your sister Beth is getting married and she wants a very grand one. She asked me to invite you and your friends, but no more the eight friends at the wedding. Ok Roger. The wedding is in three weeks and I would like you down here in two. Goodbye."
Classic. His mother spent less then a minute when she was speaking directly to him, but she would leave fifteen minute long messages.
Roger had three sisters, and they were all older then him. Beth was the second oldest. Always a show off always had to be better then everyone else, so it didn't come as a surprise when his mother told him she wanted a big wedding. She was probably hoping for a lot of presents... or she wanted to show off her "little brother" who she didn't like before or even know anymore. Roger's band, Well Hungarians had finally gotten the gig they had needed to make it to the big times. They now had a contract and a record deal... not to mention money.
As Roger knew his family, he knew he would never get out of this... how was he going to break this to the gang?
Angel was irritated. It was raining outside, she was really cold, and Collins was busy teaching class. It was nice for his lover to have a steady job with a steady paycheck and medical insurance, but Angel missed having Collins around all the time. She still drummed, but only for fun, even though Collins promised he had no problem supporting Angel.
He told her that he loved to do that. He loved to buy her new clothes and makeup, to be able to have a car and immediate medical help when needed.
But to get all of those things, Collins had to work, and to Angel those hours made it feel like he was working 24/7.
Anyway, Angel decided to go over to the loft, just like everyday. She knew Roger would be there, sitting on the couch, playing his guitar. Mark would probably be over at Maureen's filming her new protest or at the Life CafŽ. So Angel pulled on one of her jackets, then one of Collins', the walked over to the loft.
Mark and Maureen were walking into the loft as Angel climbed the last of the stairs.
"Angel!" Maureen yelled, as if to a deft person a mile away.
"Hey girl!" after a quick hug the walked arm in arm into the loft.
There was no strumming of a guitar.
There was no sound at all... as well as no Roger.
He may have come out of the house, but his hermit tendencies were still there. Roger hardly ever went anywhere without someone else.
"Rogerrrr" Mark called over the silence.
"Roger!"
"Where do you think he went?"
"Did you try his bedroom?"
"No."
"Well go on then!"
"Ok, ok I'm going!"
Mark looked at Roger's door apprehensively. The last time he attempted to go in there, Roger and Mimi were... not playing checkers, that's for sure.
He knocked on the door and slowly started to open it. The room was dark, meaning there were no lights on and it was still raining outside there for dark clouds were looming over-head.
Roger was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling.
"Yes..." Roger said when Mark's eyes spotted him.
"There you are! We were calling for you... want to come to the life with us?"
"Sure."
Collins last class for the day had finally let out. He only has two classes today, so he was going to head over to the Life CafŽ, pick up some food for Angel, and then laze around with her for the rest of the day.
Although Collins knew this was going to be impossible. In this lifetime, nothing ever went as planned or how you wanted it to. Something was always going to happen and there was no way to stop it.
Joanne needed a break from her work. She had three new cases and co-workers who never did their work right. A lunch break was beyond needed. To the life it was.
She decided to pick up some food for Maureen. She had been rehearsing a new protest and probably forgot to eat.
Joanne buzzed the secretary and told her she was heading out to lunch and to clear everything until one.
Mark, Roger, Mimi, Maureen and Angel were all sitting at a table by the window when Collins came in. Angel waved him over and Collins sat down next to her, kissing her softly.
"How is your day going baby?"
"Let's just say I am thankful it's over"
"That bad huh?" Angel put her leg behind Collins on the bench and scooted closer to his side. "What do you want babe?"
"You"
Angel giggled and lifted a menu that they had all memorized, holding it out in front of him. "For lunch!"
"My answer has already been said"
"GUYS! Save it for home. YOUR home!" Mark yelled with his face bright red.
"Aww, poor Marky, no one to love" Roger teased as he pulled Mimi into his lap.
"Leavemealone" Mark grumbled, causing the others to laugh.
"POOKIE!" Maureen leaped out of her chair as Joanne came through the door.
'Great... I should just tell them and get it over with now...' Roger's inner battle raged.
Well it was now or never.
"Hey guys, my mom called today," Roger announced over the commotion and yelling of the gang.
"Yah, how much tape do we have left in the message machine?" Mark sat up straighter. He knew Roger must have talked to her; otherwise he wouldn't have brought it up.
"I talked to her" See Mark was right. Score for the best friend. "My sister is getting married"
"Oh cool... which one?" Although Mark had never like any of his sisters, he still needed to sound semi-interested.
"Beth" Roger paused and looked at them all in turn, "All of us are required to be there"
Ok, so that went quick. I promise not to leave it for too long. Leave me a note. Like it? Hate it? Let me know!