A/N- Thank you guys so much for all the reviews! See, you got me up to fifteen! I'm sorry I had to do that I promise, I won't again. But seriously, your reviews are so great. I love all of them! Muah!- Stephanie

PS- See if you can find my little ode to Richie!

Chapter 4

So Maureen became my girlfriend. My girlfriend! We held hands in the hallway, sat together at lunch, went home together after school. I found myself changing, changing a lot. Maureen brought my confidence. I was willingly to do things that Roger and Collins had been trying to get me to do for ages. I was cutting gym to be with Maureen. Kissing Maureen. Being with Maureen. Hugging Maureen. Doing all sorts of boyfriend duties. I kissed her when we were alone and I kissed her in public. The last thing you would be expecting Mark Cohen to be doing, but Maureen strongly believed in PDAs.

"Why not let everyone know that we're together? Let them know we're off limits," She had told me.

We were each other's property, according to Maureen. Surprisingly, I was okay with that mentality. I was happy to wait on Maureen, to do anything she wanted me to.

One say, during our study hall, Maureen looked up from her math homework.

"I have to go back to Hicksville."

My head shot up. "You're moving back?"

"No, no, no," She took my hand in hers. "Just for a visit. For a couple of days."

"Oh, good," I felt my heart rate go back to its original pace.

"My parents want you to come along…" She added in a casual tone. My jaw dropped.

"They want what?!"

"For you to come along," She shrugged. "It's only for the weekend. You'd meet my parents and everything."

"Meet the parents?" I asked breathlessly.

"Not the parent," She frowned. "My parents,"

"Meet your parents?" I corrected myself.

"You don't want to go with me?" Maureen pouted. I mentally cursed myself. Along the way, I had found myself unable to fight that pout. I had become a victim to that pout. It won control over me.

"Of course I do," I reassured her quickly. "But what if they don't like me?"

"They'll love you," She smiled softly. "And even if they don't, I'm not like my parents."

I returned her smile. She leaned over and planted a small kiss on my lips.

"Okay, then," I said as she pulled away. "I guess I'm going."

"My aunt already talked to your parents. They have it all planned out."

"Well, gee, I'm glad you told me about it at all," I teased.

"Sorry," She said quietly. "I just wanted to make you sure could go."

"It's okay," I wrapped my fingers around her hand.

"I'm sure it'll be painless."

"For you," I muttered.

"I don't want to see my parents," She shook her head. "But they want me to visit once a month."

"Well, you are their daughter. I suppose they want to retain a connection."

"I hate them," Maureen replied flatly.

"I know," I sighed. I knew what her father had done to her. It was almost enough to make me hate him.

Maureen gave me another kiss. "Help me with my homework?"

"Of course, Maureen."

I was to meet Maureen in front of her house at 7am the next morning. I was missing a day of school, not that you would've heard any complaints from me. I had packed light, preparing for three days. I knocked lightly on the Hawke's front door and waited. Maureen opened the door a few seconds later. My brow furrowed.

"Hi… Maureen…"

"Hi," was her quiet response. She looked so unlike herself. She was dressed so unlike herself. She was wearing a blue collared shirt that made it look like she snatched it off the back of a little Catholic school girl. That's exactly how she looked like. A little Catholic school girl. Her usually long, wild, brown hair was pulled back into a braid. Her nose ring was gone. Her unique Maureen-ness was gone.

She must've noticed my confused face because she explained as I walked into her house. "My parents are very conservative people. My aunt and uncle don't want me causing more friction than necessary, so I have to dress like this."

"Oh," I replied. "Well, I still think you look beautiful."

Maureen blushed, which was a rarity and the first time I had ever seen such rosy color on her cheek. I couldn't help but give a tiny smile of triumph. "Thank you," She gave me a quick kiss. "Did you eat?"

"I grabbed a piece of toast before I left."

"That's not breakfast," She giggled. "C'mon. Aunt Sally made pancakes."

I was forced into a seat and Maureen placed a stack of steaming pancakes before me.

"Eat quickly, Mark," Mr. Hawke said as he came into the kitchen. "We're leaving in a half hour."

I nodded politely. The pancakes were delicious, but I couldn't help but notice that with even passing minute, Maureen became more and more nervous. When I was done, I quietly got up and put my plate in the sink. It made a small noise that made Maureen jump out of her skin.

"Maureen!" exclaimed Mrs. Hawke, who had entered the kitchen a minute or two earlier. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Maureen said, a bit flustered. "Really. I'm fine."

Mrs. Hawke eyed her niece skeptically but sighed, replying, "Right then. Why don't you and Mark go put your bags in the car?"

Maureen nodded mutely and I followed her out of the house, grabbing my bag at the front door. Once we were outside, I gently put my hand on her shoulder.

"Hey Maureen," I said softly. "You sure you're okay?"

She nodded again, not saying a word. She popped the trunk open and we both put our duffels in.

"You know you can tell me anything," I said gently.

"I know," She said. "I've told you more than anyone else."

"Does anything you've told me have something to do with this?"

Maureen stayed quite as she closed the trunk. Finally she answered, "Yea."

I sighed softly, pulling her into my arms. "He can't hurt you, Maureen."

"I know," She said into my shoulder. "That's why I wanted you to come with me. He won't do anything when you're there."

"Shush…" I soothed her as I rocked her side to side. "It'll be fine. I promise. I won't leave your side."

Maureen didn't make any sounds, but I felt a wet spot forming on my shirt. I rubbed her back and let her cry on me. When she pulled away, I wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and kissed her forehead gently. "I promise."

Maureen sniffled and hugged me tightly.

"You guys ready to go?" Mr. Hawke called from the front door.

I answered for us, since I didn't think Maureen could speak. "Yea, we're all set."

Just then, someone called from across the street.

"Mark! Hey, Mark!"

I peered over my shoulder. "Roger?" I said, confused. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"Never mind that," He said as he stood at my side. "I had to catch you before you left. See, you've never 'met the parents' before. So you might---will make an idiot out of yourself so…"

"Roger…" I groaned.

"SO! … I'm here to give you a couple of pointers."

"Go to school, Roger," Maureen rolled her eyes, smiling. I was more than relieved to see her smiling.

"I will!" He said. "Just give me a second! Now, Cohen," he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me away from Maureen. "When Mrs. Johnson asks you what you do in your free time, do not reply with, 'your daughter'."

"Roger!" I pried myself away from him. "If you're going to force me to listen to your advice, make it good advice!"

"Fine, fine, I'll give you the good-boy version. Be polite, answer all questions, compliment the mom, and keep kissing down to a minimum around the pops."

I gave him a small smile. "That's Rog."

"No problem, Cohen," He patted my back heartily. I turned to walk back to Maureen.
"And Cohen…?"

"Yea?" I turned around.

"Good luck," He winked.

"Thanks," I chuckled softly and waved him off as he ran down the block. I turned around and found myself face-to-face with Maureen.

"Jesus!" I exclaimed.

"Close," She replied with a smile. "But it's only Maureen."

"Only Maureen," I repeated, kissing her delicately.

"What did Roger say?"

"Stupid stuff really," I shrugged, not wanting to bring up her parents again.

"C'mon, kids," Mrs. Hawke called. "Time to go."

I put my arm around Maureen's shoulder, leading her to the car, and opening the door for her. She smiled and slid in, I followed.

"You guys ready? You're in for a long ride," Mr. Hawke said, looking at us through the rear-view mirror. "You're not going to fall asleep on us, are you Reen?"

"No, Uncle Richie, I won't fall asleep." She rolled her eyes.

She was snoring softly into my shoulder by the time we had reached the highway.

x Step On Me x-- Isn't it so fun to mock the Hebrew? I do it all the time with my Jewish friends! Hahaha, keep reveiwing!

RappAddict-- Thanks for the comments about Mark! I base him on my two friends, Bella and Richie. Both are Jewish (well, Richie was raised Jewish...) and both have the character of Mark down pack. Bella-- more the levelheaded-Mark and Richie-- more the awkward-spazzy-dorky-Mark. I love them both.

theatre-girl-86-- Haha, yea I tried to stay true to that. Probably the only movie-verse thing you'll see in here, though.

OnEtHoUsAnDsWeEtKiSsEs-- Oh honey, we'd ALL date him. Hehe... I'd, personally, be happy to get him out of his sexless funk. Hehe...

X-Kate-X- I know, right? I usually hate the HS fics that I read. So I thought I'd take matters into my own hands. They're all like.. 'Roger, Mimi likes you. You should date her instead of that druggie April!' I just want to yell 'MIMI IS TOO YOUNG TO BE IN THE SAME GRADE AS ROGER AND MARK! PLUS, SKDFJLASDJFS!!!' ... maybe a bit too angry, yes?

Bella Winter Rose-- Bella, everyone! Hehe.. Richie is totally the dork that Mark is. But you're a dork too. I loveses my two dorkies!

BohemianxChicaxo-- No, no, she is. I just meant that she has... experience with boys. You know, had a couple of boyfriends in the past. Maureen's just as much as a virgin that Mark is.

Divine Sally Bowles-- ... do I know you? Preeeeeeeeetty sure I don't. Nope. I have no idea who you are. Definitely not a nice, loyal, hey-lets-make-Steph-feel-good-about-herself friend. Heh... 3