Mark's POV

I slept as restfully as I could in the night chilled loft. Benny had one again managed to turn of our heat. It was so cold I actually was glad our phone had rung anything to get me out of bed. I let the voice mail take over before I would answer the call. The last thing I wanted to do was get stuck on the phone with my mother, listening to her nag for hours about how I never call, and New York is not the place for me, and to come home and live with her. I shuddered at the thought. Then the answering machine rattled out a loud Speak!!! And the voice of my lovely ex-girlfriend Maureen came on the phone

"Hey Mark, it's me, Maureen, get your ass out of bed…."

"Hello" I picked up the phone not wanting to keep her waiting.

After a short conversation about how shitty her sound system was I caught the hit that she needed my help fixing it for the umpteenth time. I threw on so cloths that I hoped were clean my brown jacket, and striped scarf on top. I swiftly grabbed my camera and was out the door and on my bike headed towards her new performance space. As I peddled along the streets of New York I began to ponder the thought of why I always come back to Maureen's aid. She broke my heart, left me for a woman, but I still run at her every beckoned call like a lost puppy. Damn, I was whipped. Was it the thought that she would take me back? Hell no! Why would she want me? Now that she has….Joanne.

As I reached the space that I was all too familiar with I caught sight of Maureen carrying in one of the large TV's she uses, all by herself. I hopped of the bike and grabbed the other end of the television.

"Hey, buddy this is my TV don't you dare try to take cause I will beat your ass." She yelled as she pulled back.

"Hi, Maureen nice to see you to!" I mumbled letting her know I was trying to help her, not rob her.

"OH, hi Mark, I didn't see you there!" she laughed that musical laugh that I missed hearing so much.

I then helped her load in all of her crap that she apparently needed to put on a good show. It took a good hour or two, and as I did this I wondered where Joanne was. I had seen neither hide nor hair of her. Maureen didn't even bring her up in the conversation. It was like old times….the good times. I fixed Maureen's broken amplifier that she had dropped trying to carry it alone. As I fixed the busted speaker, I couldn't help but fall for her harmless flirting. We dabbled in this for a few mere moments until the moment was ruined. Joanne… the bane of my existence, entered the room. On her face was a look of pure disdain, her dagger eye's pointed at Maureen. I looked over at Maureen she too seemed to be confused by her lover's expression.

"Maureen, what in the hell are you doing. I ask of you one simple instruction, and that was to wait for me to help you, but did you do it no. Instead you call Mark, your superman." Joanne boomed

"Pookie, it's just Mark, he likes to help. Plus I couldn't wait for you we are on a schedule here. So I just called Mark." Maureen said in her defense.

"Really, Maureen, really? You called Mark because he likes to help or because you want him to help." Maureen was silent "exactly what I thought, I was right and I have always been right, you still have feelings for Mark."

"No, Joanne it's not like that Mark is my best friend!" Maureen replied with truth shining in her voice.

"Sure Maureen, and so was the stewardess on the plane ride back from Wisconsin. I am tired of all the lies and sleeping around. I have given you numerous chances to redeem yourself but you have failed me every time! Maureen, were done, it's over!"

Joanne then turned around and began to walk out the door. I was waiting for one of Maureen's smart remarks that she used to cover up her lies. The one's that could make anyone squirm in anger. She was good at throwing them down…I would know! However, nothing came out of Maureen's mouth. She just stood there for what felt like eternity. Then a muffled sobbed broke though her lips as she sat on the ground.

The strongest woman I have ever known was crying. At first I didn't know exactly what to do, but then instinct took in and I pulled her into my arms and held her close. Then I realized she was never on this end of a break up. She had never been dumped before and for such a stupid reason like that. I could even tell Maureen was telling the truth! I sighed and rubbed circles on her back trying to sooth the pain that stings like a 1,000 mosquito bites. She looked up at me, her brown eyes full of tears, and my heart broke. I took my thumb and gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks and she the laid her head back on my chest.

"It'll be alright Maureen, I promise it will." I said trying to ease her tension. Then for once sense our break up, I actually felt as if Maureen truly needed me. So maybe I wasn't all that whipped, maybe, I did still have feelings for Maureen. Fuck, why does love have to be so confusing.