Mark sat quietly in the corner, working on his film. It was around ten on a mid September night and it was utterly silent, aside from the sounds of the film editing machine.
After the fateful Christmas where Mimi had almost died, Collins moved back in, not needing a job because of the ATM in the mall.
The following fall, true to her New Years resolution, Mimi started going back to school. The school wasn't too far, but far enough to cause her to get a dorm. She still visited at least one weekend a month.
However, between those visits, Roger slumped back into withdrawl and depression. He was always snapping at everyone and glaring. He hardly snapped at Mark but the fustration was easily picked up and Mark would immediatly back off.
Tonight, Collins had finally succeeded in persuading Roger to leave the loft. Even though Collins told Roger that they were just going to get a few groceries, he confided in Mark that he wasn't sure of the destination but not to wait up.
As he reviewed the tape, an elderly couple walking through the park, hand in hand; a dirty, old, homeless women smiling; a young girl bending over to peck a young boy on the cheek; he wondered what exactly it was that he was recording for.He wasn't working on anything specific. Not like the documentaries or short films that he actually had had a goal for. No, these were just recordings. Aimless, pointless, but beautiful none the less.
Since he started working for Buzzline, he had been making enough money to keep up with the rent and the bills. Collins took care of the groceries and the little extras. Little extras like being able to eat at the Life Cafe at least once a month (usually the weekend Mimi was here), and they had saved up enough money to get a decent T.V., a little DVD player, and a few DVD's. A year ago, this would have been a luxury that they would've killed for.
As soon as he finished, about an hour after Collins and Roger left, he had put on a movie. About a half-hour later, the loft door was flung open and in stormed Roger and Collins. Mark, who had fallen asleep about five minutes in, flew off the couch and landed on all-fours. Living in a neighborhood like this gave you instincts like that.
"I cannot believe you!" yelled a very angry Roger.
"What?!" Collins questioned, equally as loud, "Are you mad that I though that it's unhealthy that you spend 24/7 in this loft?!"
"Guys, what's going on?" Mark questioned tiredly and annoyed that his sleep was disturbed. He was still on his knees, eyes closed and wiping the drool of his cheek.
"He dragged me to a club. A club!" Roger turned back to glare at Collins, "I was inforrmed that we were going to get groceries!"
"Well, pardon me if I thought you needed more social interaction than me and Mark!" Collins returned the glare.
"I talk to other people!"
"Like who?"
"Guys."
"Mimi for one!"
"Oh that's so much more! Especially since she only visits ONCE A MONTH!"
"Guys."
"And what about you?!"
"What about me?"
"Guys!" Mark sighed. He hated it when they got like this. It happens once or twice a month. They would fight until one of them storms off to a door, whether it be to a room or the one to leave. They'd stop talking for two days and then somehow, without Mark noticing, make up. And, in all honesty, he was getting really tired of this.
Tonight was a little worse then usual, normaly Mark could get a word or two in. He felt he should bow out gracefully and let them settle it on their own. He grabbed his coat and scarf and hurried out the door. Only a few blocks down, a similar event was taking place
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" the speaker was a medium height brunette with blonde highlites, scuttling around, getting ready to go out.
"Yes, Kailey, I'm sure." the second speaker was sitting on the couch, thoroughly annoyed, as this was the sixth time she was asked.
"Come on Katie, you never go out with us!" the third voice, belonging to Jess,
floated through the bathroom door.
"I bet you don't even have a good reason for not going out with us." Kailey said, preoccupied with her necklace.
"Your right," Katie replied with false defeat, "I've got two. One, you know I hate clubs. Two, every time we go out, you both find guys and I feel like the third-er, fifth wheel."
"Well, if your sure," Jess said, stepping out of the bathroom. She was about an inch taller than Kailey with blonde hair. They were both dressed in semi-short skirts and tank tops, even though the weather was far too cold for that.
Katie was taller than both of them, with dark brown hair and equally dark eyes. She was dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a blue zip-up sweater over a white spagetti-strap.
"Anyways, I need to finish my article." said Katie standing up. She was a journalist for a newspaper. She started walking towards her room. Her room was the smallest and it suited her quite well. In her room there was a single bed, a simple dresser and a desk. Her room also connected to the only bathroom. Both Kailey and Jess shared a huge room because they have more stuff and because they both snore.
"Okay, we'll probably be back around two or three, so don't wait up." Jess said searching through her purse.
"We might not be alone, so. . ." Kailey added on a flirty note. Katie just stared at them with the 'how did I end up with you two?' look.
"Okay, I think I'm just gonna finish up my article, take a bath, and goto bed."
"You are such an old-fart!" Jess replied in mock disgust.
"Uhh number one, I'm younger than both of you by like three months. Number two, I get barely any sleep so I'll catch Z's whenever I can. Now if you don't leave, I'm going to kick you out."
"Alright, alright. See you in the morning." Kailey said through a closing door. Katie sighed. She's been friends with those two ever since middle school, since third grade for Jess, and she loved them, but everyone needs thier alone time.
About an hour and a half after they had left, the article was finished and ready to type when she got back to work (they didn't have enough money to buy a computer). The bath water was running and music was blaring from a small boombox in the far corner of the bathroom. She didn't like anyone knowing it, but every now and then she took one of those long, hot, bubble bathes. Aroma salts, bath milk, the whole nine yards. The tub quickly filled and she got in.
Around twelve, the phone, which was barely audible over the music, rang. Katie sighed, paused the music and answered.
"Hello?"
"Katie, we need a favor."
"What?"
"Well we met these really hot guys and we kinda wanted to bring them back to our place and we were wondering if you could..."
"No. You two are just going to have to deal because I am not leaving just so you two can--"
"If you don't, then you'll just have to listen to us with our really hot guys." Katie immediatly caught the hint and growled something like 'I hate you' and sighed.
"Just give me another half-hour to finish washing my hair and get dressed and get as far away from here as possible."
"We absolutely owe you one and we love you."
"You owe me multiple. Just take your time getting here."
She quickly finished her hair and erased any evidence of a bubble bath. Then, she change into her old clothes, thinking 'Who could I possibly run into at midnight in the middle of September?'
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OK!!!
First chappie done!
I'm in the middle of the second and I know its kinda vague concerning Katie but it gets more detailed in the upcoming chapters
Plzzzz review I'm kinda insecure about this :-\