Thanks to Just-Met-A-Girl-Named-Maria and MidnightDreamer73 for your wonderful reviews. I love to see them and thanks for sticking by this story. Thanks also to Notamarshmallowanymore for calling me out on any Tess issues and for helping me keep her original. Your encouragement really helps me keep this story going! I haven't heard any constructive criticism in a while...I guess that's a good thing :) Enjoy the chapter and then tell me all about how you LOVED it!

Chapter 14

Two weeks later found Collins pounding on her door. "Tess, baby girl, you have to let me in. You can't hide in here forever. Open the door."

She covered her head with a pillow and turned the radio up higher. Socializing was not on her list of priorities. It hadn't been for a couple of weeks now, but people still found the need to come and bother her. She shut her eyes tightly and tried to picture herself somewhere else. Anywhere but here.

"Hey!" She sat up to see who had ripped the pillow off the top of her head. "How'd you get in?" She glared at Collins when he shut off the radio and showed her the pocket knife he'd used to pick her lock. "Go away Collins. I want to be alone."

"Too bad," the larger than life bohemian said as he sat down on the bed next to her, "you're all out of alone time. Pout all you want, but you ain't getting out of this visit. It's long overdue."

She rolled her eyes at him then looked away, forcing him to take her chin in his hand and make her look into his eyes. "There is a life out there. Roger or not, you have to get back in it."

"What's the point? It's not worth it."

"Life is the point. You live and learn, Tess. Don't let one asshole ruin everything that is out there for you, girl. Take it from me, you need to appreciate EVERYTHING life hands you, even the heartbreak, before it's all gone."

She nodded. "I don't want to see him. I don't know what I'd do if I did. I'm so angry and hurt that he would leave just like that. Mark hasn't even seen him."

"Roger's an asshole, baby girl, you know that. I love him like a brother, but he doesn't handle shit well, and people get hurt when they get too close. That's something he's going to have to work on. But you need to forget about him and live for you. He'll come back when he's ready. I have no doubt about that. You'll deal with it then, but right now, we're all going out on the town. Go get dressed and let's go!"

She didn't feel much like celebrating, but she couldn't stand staying in for another night. "Okay!" Maybe a night out was just what she needed to lift her mood.

"Good. Come on, let's go see what's in your closet."

She chose a red plaid mini skirt with black tights, red knee socks, combat boots and a black sweater that hung off her shoulder. Her hair was hopeless as usual, especially now that it was freshly washed, so she tied it into a French braid and finished her look off with silver hoops and bangle bracelets. Collins whistled when he saw her come out of the bathroom.

"Looking good, T. The men are going to eat their hearts out tonight."

She rolled her eyes at his use of the nickname, no one around here used people's actual names. "I'm really not looking for male attention. I just want to get out of this apartment, have a night out. You know, get out of my head for a bit."

They headed out the door and met with Joanne and Maureen.

"Tess!" Maureen hugged her as soon as she laid eyes on her. "I'm so glad to see you. How are you? Roger still being an asshole?"

Joanne took pity on her and placing her arm through Maureen's she pulled her away. "Don't bother her, honey bear, just let her enjoy herself."

"I wasn't bothering her. I was just asking how she was doing."

"I'm fine, guys. I just want to have a good time. Forget about what's been going on for a bit. Is that okay?" Tess didn't want to hear Roger's name for the entire night if that was at all possible.

Just then Mark and Kevin walked up to the group who'd been standing on the sidewalk outside of their apartment building. Tess smiled widely when she noticed his hand entwined with Kevin's.

"T, you made it! I'm so glad." The grin on his face spread from ear to ear and she had the feeling that it had nothing to do with her presence.

"Mark! You look good, happy. And Kevin, it's nice to see you again."

Kevin nodded. "You too, Tess."

"Ahem." Collins cleared his throat as he gestured toward Mark and Kevin's joined hands.

"Care to share?"

Mark blushed. "Oh sorry, Collins, this is my boyfriend, Kevin. Kevin, this is my good friend Collins- Tom Collins…"

"You can call me Collins. Everyone else does." He looked at Mark and said, "Guess I'm the last one to find out. Judging from everyone's lack of reaction."

"No. That's not true. I didn't know you guys had made it official."

"I haven't seen you in a while." Mark ignored Maureen's comment as he apologized to Collins.

He laughed and wrapped his arm around Mark's shoulders. "No worries man. As long as you're happy, I'm glad."

Mark and Kevin shared a look, then Mark looked back at his friend. "Yeah, I'm happy."

"Good! Now, let's get this party started!"

They made their way to the Life Café where they spent a good deal of the night eating and drinking.

"What's the matter, Tess?" Maureen asked at one point in the evening. "Don't you want to let loose? Stop drinking water and have a vodka tonic or something."

Tess shook her head. "No, I'm trying to be good about not drinking. I tend to use that kind of stuff to escape, and I don't think having a drink right now would lead to any good."

"Suit yourself. At least you're smiling."

Mark walked over to them and leaned over Tess' chair to place a kiss on her cheek. "Of course she's smiling. How could she not with this crowd around her?"

They went barhopping after dinner, and Tess found release in dancing. She let out all of her anger and frustration to the sounds of punk rock music. She had no trouble letting the men down. They came at her like moths to a flame. At one point Collins had to step in and inform a very persistent young man that she was taken. They spent the rest of next couple of hours on the floor together until she decided it was time to call it a night. Kissing Collins on the cheek she whispered good night and left despite his arguments that she should let him walk her home.

She almost made it to the door before Mark blocked her. "Are you leaving already?" His face was flushed from the heat in the small space.

"Already? It's almost three in the morning. I need to get some sleep."

"You've been sleeping the days away for the past two weeks."

She caught the worried look in his eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine Mark. Tonight helped- a lot."

"You sure? Let me walk you home."

"Yes, I'm sure. Don't walk me. Stay here with Kevin. Our apartment's just up the road."

"He's coming home with me." Now she knew he must have had a few drinks. This wasn't information Mark would share under normal circumstances. He was weird about sex.

"Really! That's great, Marky." He rolled his eyes and she laughed. "I'm really happy for you."

"I'm sorry things couldn't be the same for you."

She smiled at him. "So Roger wasn't the one for me. It's okay, there's plenty of fish in the sea."

"I noticed. You were fighting the men off out there."

"Yeah well, thank God for Collins."

Mark nodded. There was an awkward silence before she said, "Hey, it'll be okay. Honest. Don't worry about me, Mark. Go. Be with Kevin, enjoy your new romance. There's nothing better than a new relationship."

He hugged her. "Thanks," he whispered.

"No problem. See you tomorrow." She gave him a small wave and left the bar.

On her walk home she reflected on her life. She never thought she'd be here living this life filled with friends. She was still miserable, but that was her own fault, and at least this time she had people around her for support. He heart ached for Roger; she hated herself for having been so stupid and not having been honest sooner. But if there was one thing she knew, it was that heartache healed. This excruciating pain she felt would eventually dull out and go away. It had tonight, at least for the time she'd been out with her friends. Someday she'd be able to look at Roger and not fall into tiny pieces, provided of course, that he ever made an appearance. She was worried about him. What if he'd gone back to using, or what if he was sick and couldn't get any help? She was so involved in her thoughts that she failed to notice The Man walking toward her and ended up bumping into his chest.

"Well, well." His voice gave her chills. She never thought she'd see him again. "Look who we have here. How've you been Tess? I've missed you, honey."

"Don't call me honey."

The Man placed his hand on her cheek making her shudder and pull away, her eyes closed in disgust. "What's the matter baby, you too good for me now? Moved out of Tent City, got yourself a few friends and now you don't need me or the good stuff anymore?"

"That's right. I don't need you or your shit anymore. I've moved on- I'm straight now so FUCK OFF!" She stepped to the side and began walking away but he grabbed her upper arm and forced her to turn and look at him.

"You'll never be done with me, honey. You'll be back. Trust me –they always come back. Do you know why?"

She struggled against his grip but he just held on tighter and pulled her in close enough that she could feel him rubbing up against her. He leaned into her ear and whispered, "Because you'll never get it as good as I gave it to you. Trust me, soon enough you'll come begging for a good fuck and a high like the good little whore you are."

Finally managing to pull out of his grasp, she slapped him and walked away. He allowed it. "That's right baby, you know I like it rough. I'll be waiting for you. Don't take too long coming back."

She cried all the way home, walking as fast as she could without looking obvious. She refused to run; she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing how scared he'd made her.