The real aftermath of a storm is on November 1st, when everyone is hungover as fuck and can't remember what happened last night. But, you stock it up to "But it was Halloween" and you leave it at that. It's not until you wake up and have to deal with the aftermath of the storm, where you truly regret it. That's what Mark was dealing with. His new apartment was completely trashed and so was his head. At least he got to wake up next to the one person who made him happy, Evan- wait what?! Mark jumped up quickly, knocking Evan out of the bed in the process. Had they...? Did they...?
"Evan?!" Mark screeched but regretted it instantly. It made his own head hurt but it also earned him a chorus of groans from all the people who had slept over last night. There on the floor laid Daithi's group, Parker, Jonathan, Craig and Tyler, and finally the person he had been searching for, Sean. "Why were you in my bed Evan?!" Mark still at a high volume, growled out. The boys groaned once again.
"I said he could sleep in the bed." Sean told him.
"Yeah, because I have a bad back." Evan sniffled. Jonathan scoffed.
"Like a grandpa!" He shot back.
Some of the group snickered while others groaned in pain. After the initial pain of their hangovers subsided some, they all got up and decided to help Mark assess the damage done to his apartment. As they walked throughout the apartment, they all quickly got the feeling of "Holy shit" wash over them. They knew they had their work cut out for them. It wasn't until about five o'clock that they decided to start giving up. They had taken breaks in between but they were completely wiped and still had a ton more work to due. All while everyone could tell that a certain somebody's mind was elsewhere.
"Okay, Parker what gives." Craig asked, putting on his worried dad face. Parker sighed.
"I guess it's about that guy from last night. I keep thinking about how I'm never going to see him again and it makes me sad." Sean clasped a hand on Parker's back.
"Well you don't know that you'll never see him again. You know what, why don't we help you find him?' Sean told him.
"Yeah!" Mark smiled widely at him. I have the guest list. Once the apartment's all clean, we can start calling everyone on the list and asking them if they know a-"
"Kodi." Parker told him.
"A Kodi." Mark finished. Parker smiled brightly. "Thanks guys. You're the best." The group went back to cleaning but Mark and Sean slipped away for a second. They sat down on Mark's, now clean, bed. Mark took Sean's hand into his and brought it into his lap and held it gently as they sat.
"What did you want to talk about?" Sean asked, finally breaking the silence. He was smiling, but he looked concerned. The last time they had a talk, Mark was convinced that Sean was going to break up with him and now the tables were switched. Nobody in a relationship ever just says 'I want to talk' without it being bad.
"This morning when I woke up and you weren't next to me, was one of the saddest I have ever felt." Mark explained. Sean frowned. He didn't know Mark felt that way. "I want to be able to wake up next to you my entire life. I don't have anything yet, but I do want to get you something soon to symbolize what you mean to me, so Sean will you m-" Sean jumped up quick and ran out the door. "Sean wait!"
"Hey, Sean! Where are you going?" Jonathan asked as Sean sped past him. Sean ran and he didn't stop running. Mark tried following after him but he lost him. He begrudgingly walked back up to the apartment.
"What was that all about?" Daithi asked Mark who looked lost and sad. Mark flopped down on the couch and held his head in his hands.
"I was going to ask him what we talked about last night." Mark told Daithi and Daithi got a knowing look on his face.
"Oh, ouch. Party foul. I guess he didn't take it well?" Daithi asked.
"He ran out of the room before I even got a chance to finish asking." Mark explained and groaned.
"Wait what's going on?" Craig asked, clearly not in the loop. Mark explained to the rest of the group what he was going to ask Sean and they all felt for poor Mark but got back to picking up the apartment.
Sean had taken the bus back to his dorm. When he got inside he collapsed onto his bed. He stared up at the ceiling, breathing heavily. Mark was going to ask him to Marry him. He couldn't get married. Not now.
