It was almost midnight when everyone left the Life Cafe. For her first night out of the loft, Stacy felt right at home. She made new friends and reluctantly joined a band with Roger. She knew he could play and he knew she could sing, so they were a perfect fit. She had to be at the diner in 8 hours, so she couldn't hang out longer in the loft.
"Thank you so much for inviting me. I had fun." Stacy said smiling at Roger and Mark.
"Thanks for coming." Mark said looking up at Roger who was smiling.
"We'll see you tomorrow?" Roger asked smiling down at her as they approached her apartment.
"Yeah, I have to be at work at 8 and I get off at 3. Come get me when you get home from work. We'll start rehearsing." she said smiling up at him as she opened her door with her keys in hand.
"OK. I usually get home around 5:30. We'll go up the roof and rehearse." he said smiling at her.
"I'll see you around 5:30 then." she said going into her apartment.
"Do you like Stacy?" Mark asked as they entered the loft.
"No, she's my bandmate. That's it. I haven't even told her about my HIV yet." he said flopping down on the couch.
"Don't you think you should. You can't keep hiding in the john when you have to take your meds." Mark told him putting his bag on the metal counter.
"I will. But it's not like I'm getting involved with her or anything." Roger said sweeping his fingers through his hair.
"I know, but you really should tell her." he told him getting a glass of water
"I will Mark. I gotta go to bed. I have work tomorrow." Roger said getting up and going into his room.
"Good night Rog." Mark said dumping a half a glass of water down the sink before going into his room to look at the film he had taken from the Life Cafe that night. He paid close attention to the film he took of Roger and Stacy. Roger smiled and laughed more than he had in over 2 years. They looked so good together too. He couldn't wait to hear them sing together. He turned off his projector and went to bed. The next morning he could hear Roger already up for work. Mark went out to make the coffee when Roger was in the shower as usual. He heard a knock at the door, so he went to answer it.
"Good morning Mark. I hope you didn't already make the coffee. I heard footsteps up here and wanted to make sure I got up here before you had the chance." she said holding a pot of steaming hot coffee.
"No, that was Roger. He's getting ready for work. Come in. I'll get the mugs." he said opening the door wider for her.
"Well I figured I owed you from yesterday." she said smiling at him as Roger came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist just like the morning before.
"Oh sorry. I didn't know you were here." he said rushing to his room.
"I should be going anyway. I have to go to work. I'll pick up my coffee pot later. Bye." she said blushing as she rushed out of the loft.
"OK. See ya later Stacy." he said before she shut the door.
"Where did Stacy go?" Roger asked coming out of his room in a white tank top holding his work shirt.
"She had to go to work. She brought coffee." Mark said as Roger stared at the door.
"I gotta stop coming out of the bathroom half naked. I'm just not used to anyone else being here but you." Roger told him sitting at the counter running his fingers through his wet hair.
"Yeah well if it makes you feel any better, I think she was as embarrassed as you were." Mark said sipping his coffee.
"I wasn't embarrassed, I just didn't know she was here. She caught me off guard." Roger said drinking the coffee.
"Yeah, OK Rog." Mark said smiling as he looked up at Roger.
"Shut up. I gotta go. I'll see you later. Remember, me and Stacy are rehearsing on the roof after work, so we'll be down afterwards." Roger said taking another sip before throwing on his work shirt and rushing out the door. He knocked on Stacy's apartment door taking a chance that she was still there. He started walking away when the door opened.
"Roger, I'm sorry I was getting ready for work. What can I do for you?" she said pulling her hair back into a tight pony tail.
"I was wondering if you wanted a walk to work? I mean, I'm going that way and we have to leave at the same time, so there's no reason for either of us to walk to work alone." he said nervously looking down at his feet.
"Just give me a second. I have to get my pocket book." she said smiling at him.
"OK." he said smiling back at her before they left the building.
"So what kind of songs do you want to do?" she asked looking up at him.
"What?" he asked confused.
"When we sing. What kind of songs do you want to do?" she asked smiling up at him.
"Oh, right. Um, I wrote some new stuff with your voice in mind." he said smiling back at her.
"That sounds great." she said smiling at him as they reached the diner where she worked. "Well, this is where I get off." she said looking up at the diner.
"Well good luck at work. I work around the corner, so maybe I'll come in for lunch. I'm friends with one of the waitresses." he said smiling at her.
"Oh really? Who?" she asked lifting her eyebrow.
"You, Stace." he said laughing as she looked down embarrassed.
"Right. Sorry. But in my defense it's early. I'll see you later Roger. Thanks for walking me to work." she said going inside. She felt so stupid. He probably thought she was such a flake. She couldn't wait to see him at lunch. She was gonna put her lunch break off until he came in. She wanted to eat lunch with him.
"No problem. Bye." he said watching her go in before walking to his job. As he worked on the cars, all he could think about was Stacy. He couldn't wait to see her for lunch. He was starting to like her, but still hadn't told her about his HIV. He knew Mark was right. Whether they get involved or not, he should tell her since they were friends. When the clock struck noon, he couldn't get out of there fast enough. He sprinted to the diner to see Stacy. When he walked in, he saw she was talking to another waitress. She was laughing. She looked so pretty the way she threw her head back when she laughed.
"Roger, hey. Why don't you sit down? I'll be over in a minute." she said walking to the door to greet him. He was wearing his work shirt with his name on the left side above the pocket.
"OK." he said taking a seat at a nearby booth. He watched her lean over the counter to her co worker and then she came over to the table.
"So what do you feel like? I get a really good discount, so order anything you want. On me." she said handing him a menu.
"I'll just have a cheeseburger." he said smiling at her.
"OK. Do you want fries with that?" she asked looking up at him.
"Yeah and a chocolate shake." he said putting the menu down.
"OK, I'll be right back." she said smiling at him as he put the orders in.
"So, why did you move from Long Island?" he asked looking over at her.
"Truth?" she asked looking up at him as he nodded. "I was living with my boyfriend who was the drummer for the band I was in and he was cheating on me, so I quit the band and left him." she said looking down at the table.
"I'm sorry. No one deserves that." he said looking up at him.
"Yeah, especially since he gave me HIV." she said putting her hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to tell him like that.
"Oh Stace, I'm so sorry." he said looking at her.
"No, I'm sorry Roger. I didn't mean to tell you like that. You must be really freaked out right now." she said looking down at the table.
"Um Stace, I'm... um, I'm HIV positive too." he said quietly as he leaned closer to her.
"Really?" she asked looking up at him surprised. He didn't look sick.
"Yeah, I was diagnosed 4 years ago. I got it from using heroine." he told her as he saw tears well up in her eyes.
"Some pair we are, huh?" she said semi smiling as a tear escaped her eyes.
"When were you diagnosed?" he told her reaching out for her hand.
"3 months ago." she said wiping her face before getting up to get the food.
"Stace, I'm really sorry." he said going over to help her.
"I'm fine Roger. Really. Let's just eat. I'm sure you have to get back to work." she said setting the plates down as Roger got the milk shakes Stacy's co worker made for them.
"Why didn't you go home to your parents?" he asked eating his fries.
"When I told them I was positive, they disowned me." she said putting her milk shake down.
"I'm so sorry, Stace." he said sitting back.
"Roger, you don't have to keep saying that. I'm OK really. I'm taking care of myself and I'm on my own doing what I love. I found great friends, I'm in a band again. I'm really fine." she said beginning to smile again.
"OK. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here." he said as he picked up his burger and took a bite.
"Thanks Roger. That means a lot." she said laughing as ketchup dripped down his mouth. She grabbed her napkin and leaned over the table to wipe it off.
"Thanks." he said laughing as he picked up his own napkin and wiped his mouth with it.
"No problem. We're friends, right?" she said putting a fry in her mouth.
"Yeah we are." he said smiling at her as they ate their lunch and talked. He told her about April, Mimi and Angel. She was easy to talk to. He hated that she was positive. She didn't deserve that. But neither did he, Collins, Angel and Mimi but it was something they have to deal with. When they finished their lunch, Roger dug through his pocket for money.
"Roger, I told you it's on me." she said reaching over to touch his hand.
"No, I'm not gonna have my friend and the lead singer of my band paying for lunch. I wanna pay. Really." he said smiling at her.
"Tomorrow, it's on me." she said smiling at him.
"Deal." he said smiling at her.
"I had a nice lunch, Roger. Thanks for coming." she said looking up at him as they stood outside smoking their cigarettes.
"Well, thanks for eating with me. Otherwise I would have eaten one of those toxic dirty water dogs." he said smiling down at her.
"Well good thing I came into your life, huh?" she said putting her left hand in her back jeans pocket.
"Yeah, it is." he said as he laughed.
"I gotta get back to work. I'll see you later." she said throwing her cigarette into the street.
"OK I'll see you later." he said standing over her as he awkwardly leaned in to hug her.
"Bye Roger." she said hugging him back.
"Bye Stace." he said smiling as he walked around the block back to work as Stacy went back into the diner.
"So is that your boyfriend?" her co worker Lianne asked as Stacy put her apron back on.
"No Lee, he's just a good friend of mine. We're in a band together." she said smiling.
"Well it looks like he's looking to make friendship into something else." Lianne said observantly.
"What do you mean?" Stacy asked smiling at her.
"Well the way he was looking at you and he kept touching your hand. And it looks like you like him too." Lianne said smiling at her.
"We're just friends." Stacy said blushing.
"OK, if you say so. He's cute though." she said starting to go about her business.
"Yeah he is." she said quietly thinking about him. His green eyes really struck her. She loved the way he looked at her. As Stacy went about her day, she thought about Roger. She couldn't wait to get home from work so she could rehearse with him. As the clock struck 3, she gathered her things and left.
"See you tomorrow." Lianne said smiling as they left the diner.
"OK see you tomorrow." Stacy said smiling as she began to walk home. As she came into the building and began towards her apartment. As she unlocked her door she sat on the couch. She was tired from not being able to sleep the night before. She had been thinking about Roger and really could use a nap. Roger was gonna be home in an hour and a half so she had a little time before she had rehearsal.
"Stacy, are you home?" Mark asked knocking on the door.
"Yeah, I'm coming Mark." she said sitting up on the couch and walking to the door.
"Did I wake you up?" he asked looking down at her.
"No, I was just laying down for a little while before Roger came home from work so we could start rehearsal." she said opening the door all the way for him.
"I'm sorry. I just thought since I heard you come in I'd bring your coffee pot back." he said handing her the coffee pot.
"Thanks Mark. Do you want to come in?" she said smiling up at him.
"Yeah, thanks." he said coming into the apartment.
"So can I get you anything?" she asked bringing the coffee pot into the kitchen.
"No, I'm fine. Do you want to go to the Life Cafe tonight? Maureen, Joanne and Collins wanted to hang out again." he asked sitting at the breakfast bar.
"Yeah, I'd like that. Me and Roger shouldn't be long." she said smiling as he looked at her pill bottle.
"What's this?" he asked picking it up. He saw the name on it. Zidovudine. "Is this AZT?" he asked knowing the answer to that.
"Yeah. Mark, I'm positive. Roger knows. And I know he is too." she said looking down at the counter.
"I'm sorry Stacy." he said looking at her.
"Mark, I'm OK really. I got it from my ex boyfriend who cheated on me. I take my meds and take care of myself." she said as he put the bottle down.
"Well good. I'm glad you're taking care of yourself. I"m sorry you have it though. No one should have to go through that. None of you deserve it." he said looking up at her.
"I'm OK Mark. I just don't want to talk about it right now, OK?" she said taking the bottle off of the counter and putting it in the kitchen cabinet.
"OK, I'm sorry. I'll drop it." he told her smiling slightly at her.
"No, I'm sorry, Mark. It's just that I've only been positive for 3 months. It's still sinking in, you know?" she said smiling at him.
"I understand. Roger was in denial for a while. It's not a death sentence anymore." he said touching her arm.
"I know. I'm fine, really Mark. Um, Roger'll be home soon, so I have to get ready for rehearsal. Can we meet up with you at the Life Cafe?" she asked smiling at him.
"Oh yeah, sure. I'll see you at the cafe." he said as he left the apartment so she could get ready. She felt bad for acting like that to Mark. It was hard enough telling Roger. She sat on the couch and cried. She didn't even hear Roger knock on the door at first.
"Stacy, are you here? Stace." he called out knocking on the door.
"Um yeah, Roger I'll be right there." she said wiping her face before opening the door.
"Are you OK?" he asked seeing her red eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Really." she said going into her apartment.
"Why were you crying?" he asked following her as he put his guitar case down.
"Nothing. Mark found out about my HIV. It was my own fault. I mean, I left my prescription out and he saw it when he came down to bring my coffee pot back. He was really nice about it, but I could tell he was feeling sorry for me. I mean, I know his heart was in the right place, but I wasn't ready to tell him." she said beginning to cry as he wrapped his arms around her to comfort her.
"Stacy, it's OK. Mark knows the deal. With me and Collins, he's a pro." Roger told her rubbing her back.
"It's just that I haven't told that many people about my HIV and it was hard enough telling you. I didn't want Mark to find out the way he did." she said crying into his chest.
"Stace, you're our friend. We're here for you no matter what. HIV is probably the one thing we're good at handling." he said as he leaned down to kiss her head.
"I'm sorry Roger. I'm being really emotional. It's just my HIV is so new to me still and I just don't know how to handle when people find out about it." she said wiping her eyes looking up at him.
"It's OK. You're allowed to have a meltdown." he said smiling down at her.
"Thank you." she said leaning up to kiss him. She pulled back quickly and covered her lips. "I'm sorry Roger. I shouldn't have done that." she said turning her back on him.
"Stace." he whispered taking her arm and spinning her around he took her face with his hand and kissed her tenderly.
