I lie back and stare up at the ceiling. There are 52 tiles, same as 2 minutes ago, but I have to check anyway. They might have moved or something, you know? It's way too hot, and I'm trying to create a semblance of a breeze by jerking my shirt back and forth as fast as I can. It's not really doing anything, but it's reminding me that I am still a solid person and haven't melted just quite yet.

Maureen's hand brushes my scalp and it tingles all down my spine. She's laid across the couch and is fascinated with the light beam shining through my hair and onwards to the floor I'm sitting on.

Collins is sprawled on the kitchen table, pressing his body to the cool metal and humming something in his head. Probably some music to a beat Angel was playing earlier.

It's quiet, and as I count the tiles again the same old question runs through my head, and I decide to ask it out loud.

"Hey guys?"

I stop. I feel Maureen prop herself up on her arm, and Collins turns his head to glance at me glassy-eyed.

"Do you…" I swallow, not sure how to continue, and Maureen's hand pushes on my shoulder. "What, Marky?"

"It's just…" Oh hell, I'll just come out and say it.

"Do you ever wonder why we break out into song once in a while?"

"What?" Collins asks me as he rolls onto his side, "Boy, are you stoned?"

"No! Well… yeah, but that's not the point!"

Maureen's harsh giggle grates into my ears and she falls onto me. "Marky's stoooned! Marky's stoooooned! Hey Marky, what do I sound like in your head?" She rolls over me and lands on the floor, giggling hard. Collins chuckles and pulls a joint out of his pocket. "Boy, if you're gonna be talkin' that crazy, I need to smoke some more."

"Guys, come on! This is serious!" I'm whining, and I know I'm whining, but I don't care. I KNOW we've sung before. Hell, one time we even danced. But I can't seem to get it across to them in the right way.

"Sure it is, man. Sure it is. Here, have a drag." He passes me the joint and blows a sticky cloud at me. I shake my head at the giggling Maureen in front of me and glare up at Collins' amused face. "You guys suck, you know that?"

I hand it back to Collins and storm off to my room. There are only 13 tiles in here, but through the door I can hear Maureen still giggling and Collins coughing through his exhale and… wait… is that music?