[Author notes-sorry it took so long for me to update this story. I've had a really hard time deciding where the story should go, still am slightly unsure. I went back and added/changed some important things to chapter 4 go back and decide if you like the additions. Once again all these characters belong to Jonathan Larson but I decided to twist them to my own liking. If you don't like what I'm doing to them- you don't have to read the story. Comments and reviews are always appreciated.]

[Mark]

"Oh my god…" I groan as my body fights to stay asleep for a few hours more. There is a pounding in my head that gets increasingly worse as my body awakes. I slowly open my eyes only to be blinded by the harsh light of the sun. What the hell did I do last night? Everything comes back to me at once; Roger playing at the bar, stopping at the liquor store, turning on the stereo only to get royally drunk, Roger coming home, me telling Roger I'm gay…What the fuck? Holy shit- I told Roger I was gay…

After several minutes of groggy muttering on my part, I finally force myself to move. My body groans and shifts screaming at me for sleeping in such an uncomfortable position. My arm grazes the bottles on the table and they clatter against one another as I try to prevent them from falling to the floor. How the hell did I get myself into this mess? On one aspect I'm glad that Roger knows the truth, but I know he's going to be pissed that I didn't tell him sooner. As I stand up, my bones crack and ache like a man my age shouldn't. Before I can decide what to do with myself, I feel that familiar taste rising up in my throat along with the distinct retching that comes along with it. I barely make it to the bathroom, before I make my tribute to the porcelain gods. The pain and burn in my throat stings like a bitch, and I fight like hell this shitty feeling inside. 'It's my own fault for drinking on an empty stomach…' is the last thing that crosses my mind before I pass out once again.

[Later]

"Come on, Mark. You can't sit here with your head on this disgusting toilet forever." A voice says attempting to pull me up from the floor. Opening one eyelid reveals that the voice belongs to the one and only Maureen. Her face was masked with a slight grin as she pulled me to my feet.

"Hey Maureen." I mumbled, trying to make my feet cooperate with what my brain was telling them to do. The pounding in my head, had become several decibels worse if that's even possible.

I leaned on Maureen's shoulder as she helped me walk into my room, before laying me down on my bed. Flopping down on the bed, I now remember why I don't like drinking too much; damn hangovers are just too annoying. Closing my eyes, I rub my temples with my non-sticky hand attempting to relieve the pressure in my head. "Oh you poor thing," she coos. Several minutes later, Maureen places her hand on my shoulder. Peering beneath my eyelids, I see her for the Angel that she is; PAINRELIEVER along with a huge glass of water. There is a god.

"What's this?" I ask, popping the pills in my mouth.

"Two Motrin 800's. It'll knock that hangover out of your ass. I managed to convince my doctor to prescribe them to me for my migraines and cramps. Marky, you look and smell like shit. What can I do to help?" After she gave me the medicine, she began to massage my temple. That woman is just too skilled with her hands, if I don't say so myself.

"I thought you weren't talking to me? Mmm…. don't stop." I moan, but still remembering that last time I had seen her she had been shouting obscenities

"Well…I've been meaning to talk to you about that. IamsorrythatIcalledyouallthosenameswhenyoutoldmeyouwere

gay,butIcouldn'tbelievethatthemanIlovedforsolongsuddenlydecidedhedidn'tlikewomenmore…"she rushed out, so fast that all the words strung together.

"What was that, again? The only words I could really understand were I'm sorry, and I know from previous history that Maureen Johnson does not apologize."

"Shut up, Mr. I'm too drunk to get my head out of the toilet. I am honestly really sorry that I called you all those names. It was just a complete surprise. Well maybe not complete, cause the way you looked at guys sometimes was really creepy. But anyhow…I just couldn't believe that someone I was with for so long, suddenly wanted to be with men. Made me feel like complete shit, even though you aren't mine anymore, anyways."

"How do you think I felt, when you told me you wanted to be with a woman more than me? I mean, for months all I could think about was that I must have failed somewhere as a man for not being able to satisfy you… Is that anything like what you're feeling now?

"I guess…."

"But it's okay, I accept your apology. The feeling will go away after a little while. We all do stupid stuff quite often; it just seems to be a regular occurrence around you. Where's your other half?" I tease looking for Joanne, who always seemed to be in Maureen's presence around me.

"She's back at the apartment."

A smile broke my face and I asked, "What she let you come alone? She's not afraid that I'll ravish you and convince you that you really do like men better?"

"Ah, she doesn't worry any more now that you've decided you like playing for the same team too."

"Yea, well anyways…what has she been up to the past couple of days?"

"She's working. God help me Mark, I think I'm turning into a housewife. I don't even have time anymore to prepare scripts or audition, because I have to be there to support her. And god forbid, something I do messes up her oh so great reputation. I'm suddenly turning into a 'yuppie scum.' We're always getting invited out to dinner with the partners of her law firm, and we're meeting with the Senator next week. She mentioned something about them trying to convince her to run for office. Can you imagine- I'm Congresswoman Jefferson and this is my wife Maureen. I mean we'd be expected to attend campaign dinners, hang out with people like Benny; to support the mainstream for god sakes…" her face was all red and she had begun to pace the room, throwing her whole body into her rant.

"Maureen as much as I love you, the way I feel right now I really don't want to hear you rant about your love life right now." She stuck her tongue out at me and once again sat down on the bed. Her hand resumed rubbing my forehead as the throbbing finally started to ease.

There was an awkward silence for several minutes. I had no clue what to say next and who knows what was going on that little head of hers. Before I could ask about something stupid like the weather, Maureen finally spoke, "I can't believe that you're gay. I mean, what about us? Was I just someone to screw or did we actually mean something?" Her smile disappeared and was replaced by her familiar pout, as she questioned the motives behind our relationship.

"Maureen I loved you more than words could describe. Still kind of do in away… Nobody can ever take away what we had, but I just want something else right now. I am new to all this stuff…I just know the way I've been feeling when I look at certain guys. Gone is the 'he looks good, must get laid a lot' feeling and I now have the 'damn, I wouldn't mind getting with him.'

"Have you…you know?" she asked, gyrating her hips back and forth on top of the bed.

"God, Maureen! Don't get too horny now dear." I chided back

Her face got all red, much like the innocent girl that I first fell in love with, "Ha ha, Mark. I was just asking. I mean doesn't it…hurt?"

I can't believe she just asked me that. Now I know my face was bright red, as I tried to turn my face away before she noticed. But she kept poking me in the side, making me giggle. When I finally managed to get myself under control I spoke, "I wouldn't know…haven't done it yet. But I can tell you when I get that far." I burst out laughing again, at the shock playing across her face.

"Ewww…How do you know that you're gay then? I mean if you haven't tried it then how do you know you like it?"

"Don't have to buy the tool at the store, to know you know how to use it or that you want it…" before I could even finish my statement she was giggling like a schoolgirl.

[more to this chapter will come tonight, 6/25. does anyone have any comments?]