Sorry for the wait. I...well, no excuses other than the fact I didn't feel like editing, not that iever do. Anyways, not TOO much drama here, but a fair amout. And the next chapter is going to be almost unrealistically drama-ful. I'll apologize for it now, but hey, its long, its a roleplay, and i'm easily bored, So you should have seen it coming. xD
Also, I get that certain characters aren't being portrayed very nicely. That all changes in the NEXT CHAPTER. So no more complaining, okay. Maureen learns to acknowledge others, Mimi becomes friends with the group, Roger learns he actually has to deal with his problems...kinda. Oh, well, Benny becomes sort of 'yuppie-scum' like, but oh well. Anyways, yeah. Theres you preview.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own. (To lazy to write a story disclaimer but thanking SPEEEAK (i'm sure thats spelled wrong, sorry) for an awesome idea xD)
CHAPTER SIX –I JUST CAN'T HANDLE
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Another time -- another place
Our temperature would climb
There'd be a long embrace
We'd do another dance
It'd be another play
Looking for romance?
Come back another day
Another day
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A few hours passed and everyone was at break. Benny and Alison stood outside the lunchroom. "Benny, I'm kind of worried about meeting your friends." She admitted, looking paler than usual.
"It'll be fine." Benny assured. "They're really....well, Mark is really nice, and so it Collins. No promises about Roger and Maureen though, especially since they're at the same table."
"Oh!" she looked happier. "I've already met Mark and Roger."
Benny nodded. "Alright then." he smiled at her and led her over, silently begging for this to go smoothly.
At the table Roger was the first to notice them and nod a greeting before whispering something to Mark. Collins and Angel glanced at the two boys in slight confusion but Collins knew better than to question it.
"Hey guys." Benny greeted, taking a seat and motioning for Alison to sit next to him. "This is my girlfriend Alison."
"Hi." Alison smiled broadly.
Maureen found herself staring. This wasn't what she expected. She was thought Alison would be some sort of statuesque tart in a mini skirt and high heels. Not a short blond girl wearing a three quarter sleeve top and jeans with sneakers and crutches.
"Hey Maureen, it's rude to stare." Roger informed teasingly, snapping her back with the others.
"I'm guessing I'm not what she expected?" Alison laughed.
Mark smiled. "That's one way to put it."
Roger shook his head towards Maureen. He looked at Alison. "So Muffy-"
"Wait....Muffy?" Benny looked at him skeptically. "Roger, her name is Alison."
"Yes. And her nickname is Muffy."
"Don't call her that."
Alison smiled playfully, touching Benny's arm. "Awww I don't mind. It's cute."
"See?" Roger smirked, looking at Benny.
"Rog...." his voice was all warning like.
Collins butted in. "Oh will you two shut it!....Come on, must we all find something to argue about every day?"
"Well....yeah, pretty much." Roger honestly responded.
"So you're…?" Alison looked hopelessly at Collins.
"Collins." he nodded. He'd given up on the whole 'Tom Collins, just go by Collins' thing way before.
She repeated his name, committing it to memory.
"Well I'm Maureen." The self proclaimed diva started, followed by a very long winded and more-then-just-a-little-bit-vain monologue that left Alison speechless.
"Just how long have you had that prepared?" Roger asked with a raised eyebrow. "And it wasn't very good either.... You could have just said" he did his best imitation of Maureen's voice, "Hi, I'm Maureen Johnson and I'm extremely vain and egotistical." he went back to normal and grinned. "See, shorter and to the point."
Angel was trying not to laugh, Collins openly was, and even Benny looked extremely amused.
Ali hid behind her hair to avoid laughing in Maureen's face. Mark on the other hand laughed out loud, something he never usually did when it came to Maureen, who was now glaring at him.
"Come on Mo, he's just kidding." Mark said, trying to hug her but she shrugged him off.
Maureen glared and pouted at everyone, "You guys are mean."
Angel frowned. "Oh sweetie, we weren't laughing at you. We were-"
"Ang, laughing with you really doesn't work in this context" Collins interrupted.
"I was going to say laughing at Roger's impression of a girl." Angel lied, although that was funny too.
Benny sighed. "Maureen, we really didn't mean-"
Not being good at lying, a few sharp glares turned to Roger.
"Hey, not fair! It was all funny till she got upset and now its my fault again!?"
Alison turned to Angel, trying to avoid tension. "So you're Angel?" she confirmed, shocked how little the drag queen's appearance surprised her.
"Yep" Angel replied with a small smile, seeming glad Alison had no tension towards her. This was her first time with the group too, so she was feeling a bit more out of place than normal.
They spoke for a few minutes until there was another interruption. April came over, sighed, and flung herself into the opened chair on one side of Roger. "Sorry everyone, that bitch that teaches English held me back." Then she noticed Alison. "Who's she?"
"Hey April. Oh, and that's Benny's new girlfriend Muffy." Roger answered.
Benny looked really annoyed. "Roger, how many times am I going to have to tell you that her name is Alison?"
"You've been calling her Muffy" April laughed.
"Yes, he has." Benny informed. "And it's extremely rude so coul-"
Collins laughed. "Are you actually trying to reason with him about this?"
"Really, Benny, I don't mind." Alison giggled. "Muffy's cute."
"Much cuter than what Rog used to call YOU" Collins reminded Benny, who merely gave Mark, Roger, and Collins that 'don't you dare' look.
"Ooh, what did you call him?" Alison wondered, a mischievous look in her eyes.
Benny shook his head. "You really don't want to know."
"Now I REALLY want to know." She informed.
"Ali...." Benny protested.
"I wanna know too!" Angel agreed. Collins was laughing hysterically.
"No, you really don't." Benny argued. "Besides, if Roger decided to tell you, then it would only be fair if I returned the favor." he smirked.
Alison turned to Roger. "Come on, fess up?!"
Roger looked at Benny. "Wait, what are you going to tell her?" then he realized. "No way! I was twelve and you guys got me drunk! That doesn't count for anything!"
"Yes it does."
Roger whispered to Alison, "I'll tell you later."
"Okay." She replied, "You know Benny will kill you right?"
"Oh well," Roger smirked. "He'll just have to take a number."
Alison looked at Roger, "One of many huh?"
"You could say that." he shrugged.
Mark watched them patiently. Alison really didn't know the half of it. It was nice to see someone who was so innocent. She seemed to see the best in people. It was easy to see that Ali had come from a posher school, mainly because she seemed surprised at almost everything that was going on. She seemed a good sport though. Actually she reminded Mark of Bambi; Very sweet with large blue eyes. You didn't see many people like her in this part of New York.
Joanne walked into the cafeteria glancing around. She saw a crowded table which she'd usually avoid under any circumstances, but Maureen was there and so was Alison, so she reluctantly walked over. "Would you guys mind if I joined you?" she looked at the two girls she knew best.
Before anyone could opened their mouth Maureen responded, "Sure, come on over!"
She sat down next to Maureen. "Thanks." Glancing at the table, she realized that she knew most everyone except Mark and April. Maureen smiled and batted her eye lashes.
"Do you mind?" Mark whispered.
"What?!" Maureen snapped, "It's nothing!"
"Of course it isn't" he said, playing heavy on the sarcasm.
Joanne looked at Maureen and then Mark before whispering to her, "Who is he?"
Collins didn't want Roger to get involved, so he introduced him and Angel. The two basically knew each other from classes, but within a minute they were in a serious discussion about something in music lab. Neither were very happy that their preferred instrument wasn't available.
At this, Collins laughed and joked that the two should start a band, an idea that they, Roger especially, actually seemed to take very seriously.
Benny had managed to change the subject about his old nickname and him and Alison were now on to something else.
While Joanne was occupied Mark took Maureen aside. "What's all this about? " He demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's nothing Mark." She said quickly, "just harmless flirting."
"Don't give me that shit!" he looked hurt. "I'm your boyfriend and yet I've never seen you give me looks like you give her!"
"Oh come on...I look at you li-"
"Oh come on Maureen. I'm not stupid. We hardly talk, and we haven't at all since you and Roger had that fight. Tell me!"
Maureen stalled. "It's just…."
"Just what?"
"I think I'm falling for her."
"You've only known her two days! You've known me for years!"
"Look I'm sorry but-"
"Sorry? You're not at all sorry Maureen. If you were, I wouldn't have had to force it out of you..."
"Why can't you trust me!"
"Because..." His voice raised in anger "Because this isn't the first, second, third...fourth...fifth time this has happened. If I didn't love you do you really think I'd keep taking you back? Even when you've sworn your in love with somebody else...God what a fool I am" he kicked a nearby chair...
"I really don't need this...Joanne-"
"Fine go see Joanne maybe she'll be just a big a fool as me."
"It's OVER Mark...I can't take your possessiveness!"
"You've just told me you love someone else!
"Well maybe I do...and maybe she'll care!"
"I did care" He shouted "Too much!"
"Good-bye Mark" She kissed him but he pushed her roughly away. He turned and he basically ran out of the lunch room.
Roger didn't take more than a second before going after Mark. That was just how it worked between them.
"I think that's a new record," Mark sighed heavily when he saw Roger. He patted the ground next to him.
Roger shook his head and sat next to Mark. "You alright?"
"No. I feel like shit." He sounded quite unlike himself. He drew his knees up. "I never thought this would happen again."
"It's gonna get better. You did the right thing. She was hurting you." Roger reminded, trying to be as assuring and comforting as possible despite himself.
Mark sighed. "Yeah, but it doesn't make things easier…. Besides, we've been through this a million times before."
"Yeah..." Roger sighed as well.
"Why aren't you taking the piss?" Mark asked solemnly. "Maureen did just dump me for a girl."
Roger frowned. "You're upset right now." He smirked a bit. "I promise though, as soon as you're over it, I'll never let you live it down."
Mark couldn't help but laugh. "I can't wait…"
---
Joanne meanwhile, who like Roger, had listened to the whole thing, looked down. She had no idea, and was feeling slightly ashamed about making them break up like that.
"It's not your fault," April said to her. "Those two break-up and get back together at least twice a week."
The older girl looked a little bit more relieved, but not much. "Thanks.... Still....." she trailed off.
"Still what?" April asked, shoving her hands into the pockets of her large sweatshirt. Her short scarlet hair looked even more vibrant against her pale skin then usual. She hated break-ups even though she'd been though her fair share "It's honestly not your fault."
"I wouldn't have flirted with her had I known she was dating someone! Especially if they were right there!" Joanne informed, exasperated.
"Well you didn't know. It's not fair to blame yourself. If anything blame her. She should have told you. It takes two to flirt lie that…"
Joanne sighed and looked down. "I know...." she knew getting involved with someone like Maureen would lead to these things....but you can't control who you fall in love with...
"I'm April," she smiled "and because of all my boyfriend's friends I'm going to need millions to cover the cost of therapy."
"Joanne." she greeted. "And I can agree to that."
There was a bit of a relieved silence and April turned to the others. "So...What's everybody getting Mark for his birthday?" April had known Mark for a few years, but she never really remembered things like this. So it was odd for her to be the one asking.
Angel looked around. "Oh, nobody told me it was his birthday. I'm going shopping after school then!" she declared.
"Me too!" chimed in Alison. "Um, does anyone know what he'd want?"
"He won't be expecting a present. You both met him today." Benny informed.
Angel sighed with a grin. "And that translates to; you've known him for years but have no idea what to get him yourself."
"Nothing." He smile gave away the lie.
"It has something to do with filming." then he realized. "You're not seriously getting him a camera, are you?"
"Shhhhh...It was just an idea." Alison blushed a little.
Benny thought about it. "Its a good one actually." he admitted.
"He looks like he needs some cheering up" She said, looking worriedly towards where Mark and Roger had gone.
"Definitely." he nodded.
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "So don't tell."
"Alright," Benny agreed.
Suddenly a question randomly popped into Alison's head. "Benny, I don't mind but...why Muffy?"
"Hell if I know what goes on in his head." Benny started, but realized as he finished the sentence. He groaned. Knowing this, he was sure there was no way they'd stop calling her that for the rest of...actually, ever.
Alison laughed at his expression. "Your name must have been really bad..."
Benny shook his head in agreement. "You have no idea."
She laughed again at him as Maureen returned to the table. She tried to pretend nothing was wrong, but assumed the girl was laughing at her. "Is she still here?" she jabbed her finger at Alison who shut up immediately.
Maureen shook her head, feeling bad. Just because she was mad at Mark, she didn't need to act like a bitch to those she hardly knew.
"I should be going." Joanne spoke up, getting up from her seat. She smiled slightly towards Maureen. "I'll see you sometime later maybe?" she asked.
Maureen almost cried out with joy that Joanne didn't hate her. "Yeah...see ya," She smiled. Joanne waved a little and walked off.
Benny looked at Maureen with annoyance. He didn't see why everyone had to snap at Alison. Ali took his hand, already guessing. "It's fine." she whispered with a smile.
He shook his head. "Just for the record, this wasn't supposed to work out like this." He'd really hoped his friends would have been slightly less....themselves, for the day.
"It's fine, really. My old school looks so dull compared to all this...Full of posh snobs. It was boring...This is much more...fun" She smiled...and then thought....maybe fun was the wrong word...
Fun isn't how Benny saw it, but he wasn't going to argue with Alison. He smiled back slightly. "I suppose so."
"I'm going to find Mark and Roger," April announced. "Nice to meet you both" she nodded in Alison and Angel's directions. She grabbed her bag and headed to where she knew the two would be. Mark was a creature of habit. He always went to the third floor stair well when he had a Maureen problem. April walked quickly until she bumped into Mimi.
"Oh.." neither girl could look each other in the eye. April murmured a "sorry" for bumping into her.
"I'm sorry." Mimi had said at the same time.
April shook her head. "Its fine. I wasn't watching where I was going."
"Oh.." Mimi hadn't even thought about that. "The other…just sorry."
"Excuse me." Both girls uncomfortably hurried away.
April couldn't get it all out of her head until she neared the stairwell. Sure enough, there was Roger and Mark. "Hey." She joined them.
"Hey April," Mark looked up and smiled weakly. Roger nodded a greeting to her. This had all become too routine.
"So is it..." April stopped herself before saying the word "over"...it always was but never ended like that...
"Yes" Mark said, trying to force confidence. April sat on his other side and gave him a comforting smile.
After a few minutes of siting in silence the bell rang and everyone reluctantly went to there classes, continuing the day like nothing had ever happened....sort of.