A/N: I know my other stories are feeling neglected, but this story takes much less energy to write. In this chapter, Mark reflects. All run-ons/lack of pronouns is intentional. AU, because it's after Goodbye Love, but Angel's alive. So basically, imagine that Roger left for no reason. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: No owning on my part.
Song to listen to: "Gotta Be Somebody" by Nickelback
Mark was Mark. Mark observed. Mark watched through a screen, a film, watching the world through glass. It was clear, but he was detached. Whether Roger was right, he couldn't tell. Maybe he really did hide from the world. Mark felt that it was better to stay an arm's length away from people, so that when they were gone, it would hurt less. But I digress.
The gang had settled in the Life Café again. Mark watched as he saw Maureen and Joanne laughing slipping each other tongue. It still made him uneasy to watch Maureen make out with someone else. But they were happy. Maureen was happy. And that's all Mark wanted. For her to be happy. That's all Mark ever wanted. For everyone to be happy. Mark craved happiness, order, so much that he would deny himself happiness for the sake of other's happiness.
Mark watched as Collins and Angel sat laughing, occasionally pecking the other on the lips, just talking otherwise. Angel's hospital stay had scared them all, but she had held on, for all surprising turns. The difference between Maureen and Joanne's relationship and Collins and Angel's was that since Maureen craved attention, staring at them felt natural to him. But Angel and Collins were a different story. Watching them felt like he was interrupting something so private, so personal, that he couldn't help but turn away after a few seconds.
Roger leaned against a beam, casually, while Mimi chattered excitedly in front of him. Their relationship was a turbulent one, but tonight seemed to be a better day. They were trying to recover from Roger leaving and then returning. Consistency had never been the strong suit in their relationship, but they were getting better. Growing together.
But where did this leave Mark? Alone. Not truly alone of course, but without his special someone. Some people are better off single but who wants to be that person, he mused. When all was said and done, there are some voids a friend, even a best friend can't fill. Some voids only that special someone could fill. So Mark waited. Mark always waited.
A/N: Despairingly short, I know, but this was particularly hard to write. For some reason it's hard for me to write Mark. Regardless of length, review!