VI

Aaron

"So Cute!"

Where is he? Come on, where is he? He's late! Okay… well, technically he's not late, since we don't exactly have a date or anything, but still! I'm supposed to see him here… I want to talk to him again! Okay, I really need to calm down, when I get upset I get all red and that's not attractive. But where is he?

I finally catch sight of Mark standing by some blonde by the bar. The blonde gets her drink and walks away, leaving Mark looking totally approachable. Awww… could he look any more adorable? I smile to myself and straighten out my shirt then stride over to the bar. "Hey Mark," I say, so proud of my voice for listening to me and not going all squeaky.

Mark jumps slightly as he hears his name, then turns around and smiles when he realizes that I'm someone he knows and not some random crazy kid. "Hi Aaron!" He seems so happy that someone's talking to him. I guess he feels kind of odd… he really does look out of place. Don't get me wrong, I think the sweater looks good, it's just… a sweater in a club? Oh well, he's offbeat. I like it.

"So… uh… I guess you're here to see Roger, huh? I came because Lisa wanted someone to come with her and, you know, Roger asked her to come and so yeah, I figured she'd want some company, but she hooked up with someone so I'm here-" I break off and turn bright red as I realize I'm rambling. I don't usually get this flustered; I wonder what it is about this guy? "Anyway, so, uh… are you and Roger friends?"

"Yeah, we went to high school together." Mark smiles and blushes a little, looking down. "He's my best friend in the world." That's so sweet, I love it when guys are loyal to their friends! "We-"

Just then the band starts up and I lose the rest of what he was saying. Damn, for once I don't want to dance, I really want to talk to him. "Hey, do you wanna find somewhere quiet so we can actually hear each other?" I nearly yell, moving my face closer to his. He nods and I smile happily. "Kay." I resist the urge to take his hand and instead just lead him around to the back of the club. I know the owner and I'm sure she won't mind. "So… tell me about you and Roger?"

"Well… I dunno, we went to high school together and one day after school these jocks were, uh… were…" Mark frowns and looks down. I kind of get the idea that this is a touchy subject for him, so I reach over and tap his shoulder then smile reassuringly. "Were beating up on me, because I was this wimpy little loser and… and Roger stood up for me and so… I don't know, we just kind of bonded after that. We're the most unlikely friends though, honestly."

"Ohmigosh, that's like me and Lis!" I exclaim, totally forgetting my original plan to just be a good listener. "Because, I mean, we met in this gay bar, right? I mean, it's not like we were trying to pick up each other or anything- cuz that's yucky- but anyway, she was sitting there bitching to some chick about how she didn't have anyone to work at her tattoo place she was opening and I overheard and then when the chick got disgusted and left, I went over there and-"

"Aaron?" Mark interrupts gently, almost like he's not sure if he should or not. Awww… that's so cute! Okay, I really need to stop finding every little detail about him so adorable. "Ummm… just a question… but how did that relate to the story about me and Roger making friends?"

"Because me and Lisa are totally not the type of people you'd expect to be friends and we met under really strange circumstances, but we're still best friends?" I am being really giddy and babble-ly, that's so unlike me. I really need to stop scaring this poor boy to death. "So… uh… that girl in the club? Is she your girlfriend?" Wow, that was blunt.

"Who? The one who was by me at the bar? Nah, I don't even know her." Mark blushes a little and looks down again. I am totally overwhelmed by the urge to hug him- he's so damn adorable- so I do. He looks back up at me and smiles. "Thanks. Anyway… I don't exactly have the best of luck in the romance department… I'm not exactly a Casanova or anything."

I laugh, looking at the expression on his face. I know he's being serious but he just looks so… oh, I don't even know how to explain it! "Awww… I'm sure you have good points. You seem so sweet… people are just idiots." Why is he giving me that look now?

"Uh… thanks." Awww man… I didn't mean to make him uncomfortable. "So… what about you? Romance-wise?"

"Me? Ugh. There are no good guys in this city, you know that? They're all straight." I cross my arms and stick my lip out, realizing that that's the typical "girl" whiny thing. 'All the good ones are gay.' "Or macho. Ugh, I hate those guys who are overly macho. I like the nice, sweet, cute ones." I look over at him and grin. Why is he shifting around like that?

"Oh… uh… oh oh!" Mark randomly exclaims, getting all excited as he thinks of something. Ooh, he's such a cutie when he's excited. "I know the perfect guy for you! His name's Tom, but we all call him Collins- he's the greatest, he's one of my best friends too. He's big, but he's not really macho or anything… he's totally what you were looking for. He's, like, 6'4" and has these long dreadlocks, he's pretty thin and he's so nice and smart, he's an anarchist but he teaches philosophy at NYU…"

Mark keeps talking, but I just block him out. Don't tell me I read him wrong!?! I'm never wrong. Ever. And I totally thought he was into me too… why is he trying to set me up with his friend? I'm confused… I really really thought he liked me. I mean, I'm sure his friend's great but… I want hiiiiiiiim! My Marky! He's so cute and adorable and… ugh, I can't believe I was wrong.

"So…? What'd you think? It's not late or anything, I could take you back to the loft and you could meet him. I honestly think you two would be great for each other. Oh… ummm… his last boyfriend, he… died… so, I'd be careful… he gets sad sometimes but…"

I start to tune him out again, partially… I don't want his depressive friend, I want him! Although from his descriptive… this Collins guy seems pretty… not bad. I guess it couldn't hurt to have a possibility… And maybe I could move onto Mark if things don't work out between Collins and me. Not that I'm going to plan for things not to work out, I just… I'm honestly not going to plot! Okay, maybe Mark's descriptive made him seem like a little more then not bad. I have two types of perfect guys and this Collins guy could totally fit one of them. Most guys I've been with are such idiots; it'd be nice to meet a smart one. And we can always be friends or something if there's no sparks, I totally need friends in different groups of people- my friends right now are all the same. I smile brightly at Mark. "Sure, I'd love to meet this guy. So to your loft?"

"Yep, to my loft." We both stand up and he smiles back at me. Awww… he's so cute. I don't think I'm ever going to get over that. Adorable.

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Ummm… yeah, that was only *slightly* filler-ish. Don't worry, the plot's moving along. And everything will come together eventually. (Everything being the storylines.)

Disclaimer: Everyone except Aaron and Lisa (I guess) belongs to Jonathan Larson.

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