I didn't take too long this time right? Hope not! Anyways, here's the next chappie:
Mark shut the door behind him quietly the following morning, hoping not to wake Roger up. He knew when Roger woke up, confrontations were to ensue. He wanted to postpone that as long as possible.
"Morning."
Mark looked up in surprise when heard the voice. When he did, he saw Joanne sitting dutifully at their kitchen table, drinking some coffee and reading the Village Voice.
"Morning!" Mark whispered, suddenly quite cheerful.
She hasn't left…I have to admit, I'm quite surprised. I'd expected her to be long gone by now…
"Coffee?" Joanne offered, pointing towards the hot plate where some coffee resided.
"I would love some actually." Mark smiled, strolling happily over to the coffee pot.
Joanne just stayed silent, smiling in the slightest at Mark's excitement.
After retrieving some yummy coffee (Our coffee has been bitter for the past few months…maybe Jo brought her own stuff) Mark took his time to walk over to his usual seat at the table. The reason he took his time was…he knew the moment he sat down, she'd most likely want to talk. Or worse, ruin the sudden good mood he had somehow acquired.
But this wasn't the case; all she did was pass him over a piece of her Village Voice and a piece of a bagel he hadn't noticed before.
For this Mark was thankful.
And for the next half an hour—as the room brightened with the day, as they sipped their coffees, as they read about what was going on in Alphabet City, as they nibbled on their halves of the bagel—they both sat in uttermost peace.
Mark almost found his mind going back to the good old days, where they did this often.
It felt so good after such a long and hard time in his life. To go back in time and feel the peace he did then, with all of his best friends alive and well and with a clean bill of health…
This mood was shattered however when Joanne suddenly spoke.
"I've missed you."
Mark looked over his newspaper and saw Joanne had put down everything and was staring at him intently.
"I have too." Mark whispered, putting down the newspaper reluctantly.
"I've missed all of this…the loft, Alphabet City, the Life Café, you both…" Joanne listed, looking like she truly meant it.
"I understand…I would too." Mark answered, feeling the awkwardness beginning settle in.
"Mark…aren't you angry at me?"
"What?" he asked, the question catching him off guard.
"Aren't you angry at me? I mean, if you're as angry as Roger is, you sure aren't showing it." Joanne explained, crossing her arms.
"I guess I am…I mean, you should've stayed long enough to say goodbye at least. But…I can't hold a grudge. Not anymore. I just want to live my days in peace and happiness now." Mark said unapologetically and truthfully.
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking completely confused and put out.
Not knowing how else to break it to her, he simply went with, "I'm dying."
Now, he didn't know why he told her. After all, out of all the people he knew, he knew his new friends should be told. They after all cared for him and would want to know if one of their best friends were dying.
Yet it was Joanne of all people he told first (outside of Roger).
He guessed it was because he knew she wouldn't tell any of his friends. Maybe it was because he was caught up in the mood of the past, maybe he felt open and truthful because of it.
He didn't know why…but it didn't matter all too much, since it was already too late to take back.
"I…I…Oh." Joanne whispered, sounding heartbroken.
"I'm sorry to be so frank. I just needed to tell somebody other than Rog—"
"It's okay Mark. I'm fine. I-I just hadn't expected it," Joanne whispered, her eyes shining for the first time in front of Mark, "What-What are you dying of?"
"AIDS ironically enough." Mark chuckled, even though it was far from funny.
"Of all things…" Joanne agreed, her eyes thankfully dulling until there was barely any shine.
That's…that's goo—great actually. Because…I'm so tired of being that guy. I don't want to be the rock anymore. Maybe Joanne will do it now…Take the torch so to speak.
"Are we okay, Mark?" Joanne suddenly asked.
Mark frowned and stared at the table. Were they okay? After all…she did leave. And I'd be in my right mind to be angry at her and shun her back. But…I'm not Roger. I'm not good at keeping grudges and being mad—even if I should be. I've always been a sucker for my friends…Besides, what I said before is true. I have no time left in my life to hold grudges.
So with a genuine smile Mark said back, "We're okay, Joanne."
She grinned back and in an uncharacteristic fashion she jumped off her chair and went to hug Mark tightly. It was definitely strange (even in the good old days, Mark didn't hug Joanne all that often) and kind of awkward…but Mark happily hugged her back a few seconds later.
And as they held each other in the middle of the loft, Mark couldn't help the smile on his face and the thought, We really are all okay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~::~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roger rubbed his tired eyes gingerly, giving a great yawn in protest as his mind told him to get up.
It's not fucking fair…I barely slept before all of this as it was. Now I barely survive on a couple hours a night. Mark, why do you do this to me? He thought to himself, bringing himself to his feet.
His stiff limbs gave protest but his racing mind knew he wasn't sleeping anymore. Not after waking up to the loss of Mark in his arms.
He had woken, barely five minutes earlier, to no handsome carrot-headed man in his arms; this gave him quite a start.
He damn well almost died.
He thought for a sure second that Mark was already dead and he'd been dreaming these past few months. He was just about ready to go track down The Man—
But then he heard Mark's soothing voice from the other room and his whole body had sagged with relief.
And now, he tried to get his ears to process the words being spoken properly, so he could figure out why his lover was out and about so early.
"I'm dying." Was the first thing he heard in Mark's frank tone.
Roger his angrily and flinched away from the door he was listening through. The words literally stung his very fucking soul, if he even had one.
And then he questioned…why was Mark saying these words? Why tell Joanne of all people instead of his real, true best friends?
"I'm sorry to be so frank. I just needed to tell somebody other than Rog—"
Roger frowned before trying to hear harder. What did Mark say? What did he think he heard Mark say? Because his Mark wouldn't insult him, or unintentionally insult him as it were. Tell someone other then me? What's wrong with me?
"It's okay Mark. I'm fine. I-I just hadn't expected it…What-What are you dying of?"
"AIDS ironically enough." Mark chuckled almost darkly.
It's not funny Mark.
"Of all things…" Joanne agreed, making Roger more angry then before. Why isn't she freaking? Why isn't she bawling? Why isn't she doing what Lisa would do or Benny would do or basically what a fucking friend would do?! Why was she being such an insensitive bitch?!
"Are we okay, Mark?"
"We're okay, Joanne."
And then, he didn't even have to look—he just knew, they had a bone-crushing hug that belonged in some cheesy blockbuster film. Normally it probably would've, except the filmmaker was currently in the shot.
Roger sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
So this was it…no turning back now. No getting pissed for no reason, no getting angry and holding grudges. The conversation that had just happened outside had just sealed the deal;
He was going to have to get friendly with Joanne.
He couldn't in right conscience hold a grudge against her, not with knowing he'd be angering his love.
…In short, he was screwed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~::~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark and Joanne were conversing happily, chatting about Jo's teenage niece and how easy teens had it nowadays when they heard a door creak open. Mark instantly turned with a smile, knowing that creaking door from anywhere.
He knew his assumptions were correct when Roger shuffled into the room. He was rubbing his eyes and yawning, as if he was just waking up, but Mark knew better. It was almost painfully obvious (to him anyways) that Roger had been listening this entire time. So he knew he might have to deal with a little bit of a storm later.
Overall though his love didn't seem all that peeved or upset…was that a good thing? Was it quiet anger or was he angry at all?
All of this was annoying and confusing Mark to no end.
"Good morning Roger." Joanne said hesitantly, obviously unsure about where she stood with Roger.
Please Rog, don't do anything stupid. Don't do anything petty. Don't do anything hurtful. Please please please—
"Good morning Joanne. Have a good sleep?" Roger questioned, immediately going to the coffee pot.
Joanne gave a surprised look to Mark, who shrugged. He was just as surprised and confused.
"Um…yeah. But that couch hasn't gotten anymore comfortable over—it's as comfortable as a forest floor." Joanne muttered, quickly stopping herself from bringing up the fact that she was gone.
Roger tensed for a quick second before it suddenly drain from him as if it was never there.
Mark frowned and gave him a questioning look…but Rog just shrugged it off.
Strange…
"It always has been that way. I remember having to bunk there when the band still lived here and I had to give up my bed so the drummer could fuck some chick. It wasn't pleasant." Roger muttered, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Oh…okay—I mean, interesting." Joanne said with a self-assured nod.
Mark frowned at her in confusion before saying, "Jo, you don't have to suck up to this guy." His bluntness made her cringe slightly.
"Mark…" Roger said with a roll of his eyes, clearly stating that she should suck up at least a little bit. She hurt us—you. I can't let her get away with it.
"Roger!" Mark cried back, clearly stating that that was a horrible thing to expect of her. All I want is for everyone to just forgive and forget.
Roger just sighed and gave Mark puppy eyes. I don't want to let this go…I can't.
Mark just gave an exasperated look. You're going to have to let go.
Roger just sighed once more and his answer showed in his sagging posture. Fine…but I don't have to like it.
Mark just smiled in answer and came forward. Without warning he came up and kissed Roger gently. He kissed back eagerly, a little fiercely and the slightest bit with frustration, but knowing it was Mark he was kissing he reined in most of his emotions.
It wasn't until they heard a small cough beside them. They pulled apart and looked straight into the face of a shocked and confused Joanne.
"Oh yeah…Mark's my lover. And I'm his." Roger said brightly, smiling like a moron.
Mark just giggled lightly before whispering, "Doofus. Don't put her into cardiac arrest."
Roger just smiled in satisfaction.
Reviews to spare my loves?