Chapter One

"Mark? Can you come over here, Pookie? I need to talk to you real bad."

"Sure, no problem. Be there in a few."

As Mark left the loft that he shared with Roger and now Mimi, Roger asked where he was going.

"Mo called…she asked me to come over…I don't know when I'll be back, Rog."

"Ooh la la, how romantic." Roger teased.

"Shut up, man. I think she and Joanne might need something repaired. Why Jo couldn't handle it I don't understand"

As Mark boarded the subway with some money that mysteriously appeared in his pocket, he examined the outfit he had selected for that day. Blue and red striped sweater….an article of clothing that looked like all the rest of his wardrobe, khaki pants, his blue and white scarf, non matching socks (that part drove him nuts), and brown shoes. He decided he was nice enough looking to go out in public. "Hmm…I probably should have done that before I left, but oh well. I look alright, anyway." The old woman sitting across from him looked at Mark like he had escaped from a mental hospital because he had been talking to himself out loud. He laughed a little to himself for this.

"Stop 24 on the Blue line, please exit the car if this is your stop. Thank you, have a nice day." The voice on the speaker above his head broke the daze Mark had gone into during his wardrobe analysis. He departed the subway car and headed down the street in the direction of Maureen's apartment.

As he climbed the stairs to the apartment, the small blonde realized something. He remembered a conversation that he and Maureen had a few days earlier.

"Marky? The tone of the Maureen's voice told Mark that something was wrong. "Are you busy, baby?"

Mark had told her no, and then asked if she needed anything or if something was the matter. Maureen's only reply in between sobs and hiccups was: "She left….she went to California…I need you, Marky."

It took him a minute or two to comprehend what Maureen had said. Joanne had left her! But they had always been so happy, aside from the few arguments that glued couples together.

Mark scratched his head, very puzzled. "I can't come over right now, Mo, but how bout I send Mimi and Angel over?"

"Okay." The response came from the drama queen almost inaudibly.

"Wait!" Mark exclaimed. "I'll come over in a few days, I promise."

All he could hear was the buzz of the dead phone line.

Since then, Mark had completely forgotten about Maureen because he had been so wrapped up in his camera. When she had called earlier that morning, nothing hit Mark that made him remember about the new drama in their tight little family that had formed. But something was missing now. There was a significant hole in the circle of friends and in Maureen's heart, as well.

Mark was at the top of the stairs, in front of Maureen's door. There was a little wooden sign on the door, nailed on crooked by Roger and Collins, while Mark had "supervised." Mark's version of supervision was watching the boys try to nail the sign onto the door while laughing his head off because they couldn't get it on straight. Angel had made the sign herself. It said "joanne and maureen's apartment. go away." The fact that Jo really had left was more apparent now that her name was crossed out with purple crayon. Apparently the only writing utensil Maureen had.

Nervously, Mark took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Maureen came to the door quickly, looking terrible. Her eyes were bloodshot, but it was a healthy looking red tint. "Thank God, she hasn't turned to alcohol. She's just been crying." Mark said to himself. She also had no makeup on, a definite sign that she wasn't doing well. After he and Maureen had broken up, they were both quite shaken, Mark more than Maureen. She had gone back to wearing makeup at the most a day later. This had been almost a week. This was really bad.

"Oh, Mark, thank you so much for coming." The young woman ran at him, and pulled him into a hug stronger than Mark thought she could have mustered, as Maureen was much smaller than he was. As he held her, the girl suddenly went limp.

She was suddenly unconscious in Mark's strong arms.