Roger and Mimi walked with Mark down to the Life Café, where Candace would
be meeting him.
"You nervous?" asked Roger, punching Mark on the shoulder. Mark rubbed his shoulder silently and nodded, pulling at his collar nervously.
"You'll be fine," Mimi assured him, "It's only for one night. What's the worst that could happen?"
Mark smiled weakly, and shrugged his shoulders. Suddenly, his smile dropped. "Oh my . . ." Roger and Mimi turned to see what he was staring at. It was Candace. Clad in only a tiny jean skirt, and a faux fur halter top, she strutted towards them, her high heel boots clicking loudly on the sidewalk. Her long blonde hair bounced against her shoulders, and she pursed her lips into an amused smile as she reached the three of them.
"Well, well. What have we here?" she looked at Mark, like a predator observing its prey. Mark gulped.
"This is my friend Mark," Roger said, quickly. "You remember, he's been to a couple of our gigs?"
"Right, right," Candace said, slowly. She turned to Mimi. "Who're you?" she asked, rudely.
"I'm Mimi," Mimi replied, frowning.
Candace raised her eyebrows. "YOU'RE going to be doing my song?" she exclaimed, looking down at Mimi with distaste. She stood a good foot taller than her.
"It's not YOUR song, Candace," Roger snapped. "Karmine wrote it. Besides, you agreed that you wouldn't bring up the subject, remember?"
Mark sighed. He didn't know WHAT Roger and Candace had decided.
"So," Candace said, linking her arm through Mark's. "Are we gonna have a good time, or what?"
"Sure," Mark said, shakily, looking back at Roger, who gave him the thumbs up sign.
Candace waited until Roger and Mimi were down the street.
"C'mon," she said, tugging at his arm.
"But aren't we going to the Life?" he protested, holding back.
She smirked. "Forget that dump. I'll take you to someplace MUCH hipper."
"Hipper . . ." Mark's voice trailed off. As Candace dragged him down the street, Mark wondered what he had gotten himself into.
***
"What are you staring at?" Frankie teased, glaring at Collins over her wine glass.
"Me? Um, nothing . . . It's just- you're really beautiful." He blushed.
"Why, thank you. You're not so bad yourself," laughed Frankie, taking a sip from her glass.
"So," Collins said, slowly, "Did you have any other relationships before? I mean, besides us- I mean that is- if you want to consider us a couple now," Collins realized he was babbling, and clamped his mouth shut.
"You mean, are we a thing?" said Frankie, smiling.
"Yeah."
"Would you like to be?"
"Yes," he admitted. "I like you a lot Frankie. And I haven't had a real relationship in a long time . . ." by that he meant a real BOY/GIRL relationship. But of course, Collins didn't mention this.
"So would I," she said, giggling. "And yes, I was going out with someone before I met you. His name was Todd. He was a bit of an ass. Actually, he was a TOTAL ass. But that's besides the point. We broke up. Well, I broke up with HIM. Well, you know . . ." She stopped, looking to see if Collins was getting bored. When she saw the intrigued look on his face, she laughed. "So what about you?" she asked, placing her chin in her hands. "Did you have a girlfriend before we met?"
"No, I didn't." It wasn't really a lie- Angel didn't really count as girl- or did she? Collins wasn't quite yet to tell Frankie about Angel anyway.
"So I'm your first then?" she teased.
"Yup. You're my first." He smiled. "Frankie, I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away."
"Well, tomorrow night my friend Roger is having a gig with his band, The Well Hungarians at CBGB's. His girlfriend, Mimi, is singing for the band. I was wondering, maybe, if you'd like to come with me?" he looked to her, a hopeful look in his eyes.
"Wow, two dates in a row? I must be the luckiest girl in NYC," Frankie laughed. "I'd love to go. I've never been there, but my friends go there all the time. When are you going to introduce me to YOUR friends, anyway?"
"Tomorrow," Collins promised. "They tend to be at a million different places at once- but I know for a fact they'll all be at the gig tomorrow."
"Okay. I can't wait." She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Collins blushed.
***
"So was Candace any trouble?" Chad asked Roger, swinging his bass-strap over his shoulder.
"Nope," replied Roger. "She was unusually tame. I hope Mark's not suffering TOO much."
"Hey, you never know- maybe he's having a good time," Mimi piped up, walking in between the two.
"This is MARK we're talking about, Meems," Roger laughed.
"You know, I don't think he brought his camera with him," Mimi commented.
"Well, that's a first. Maybe he's turning over a new leaf," laughed Roger, pulling Mimi towards him.
"Hopefully. Live life- don't watch it!"
"Some more wise words from Mimi Marquez," he teased, kissing her on the cheek.
Chad rolled his eyes. "Well, whenever you two are done assaulting each other, you think you can pull away from each other for five minutes so we can practice the song one last time before tomorrow?"
"Hmm. Do you think we can do it?" Roger asked Mimi.
She frowned. "I'm not sure. You wanna try?"
"C'mon guys, don't be jerks," Chad sighed.
Roger pulled away from Mimi. "Don't worry, Chad. That's YOUR job, Roger teased, picking up his guitar."
Chad ignored him.
"Alright, once more from the top," Chad shouted to the band, but Andy had already started up the drums, and the music became louder and louder.
***
"Favorite movie?"
"Reefer Madness."
"Favorite band?"
"Um . . . The Beatles?"
Candace sighed. "Favorite sex position?"
"Um, I don't really know the names," Mark said, slowly. Candace made an exasperated 'HMMPH!' noises, and continued walking with him.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Mark asked her.
"Just a place I know. Much better than that hippie joint that Roger had planned for us."
"I go there with my friends all the time," Mark argued, "It's not a hippie joint."
"Whatever you say," Candace replied, rolling her eyes. "You know, you may be cute, but you're totally naive." She lit a cigarette, and then motioned the package towards him. "Want one?"
"No thanks, I'm uh . . . trying to quit."
"I see," Candace said flatly. Then suddenly, she perked up. "We're here!" she sang, pulling Mark up to what looked to be an abandoned warehouse, besides the neon sign out front that screamed 'The Cat's Meow.'
"Any relation to The Cat Scratch Club?" Mark asked, quizzically.
"Yes," Candace answered, missing her sarcasm. They entered a dimly lit room, where a stocky looking guy stood planted in front of the main door. "Hey, Candace," he greeted her. He looked at Mark, strangely. "You got a new boyfriend?"
"He's just temporary, Ryan," Candace laughed.
"Well with you, you never know." He moved aside so that they could enter.
"Keep an eye on her," he whispered to Mark, as Candace dragged him inside.
The place was packed, with hundreds of perspiring bodies dancing against each other, bright flashing lights, and dizzying techno music.
"Jesus," Mark muttered, as they squeezed through the crowd.
"Do you dance?" she asked him, throwing her coat aside.
"I tango," he said, trying not to smile.
"Well, it's not all that hard. Just let yourself go." She moved violently to the music, which didn't even have a steady rhythm. Mark gaped at her, and watched. She stopped. "C'mon, don't just stand there-DANCE! You know, not just anyone can get into this club."
"How'd you manage to get in?" he asked, afraid of the answer.
"I've got my connections," she replied, coolly. "Now, quit screwing around. Just try it."
"Alright," Mark sighed. He imitated what everyone else was doing, and bounced, and thrashed wildly to the music. Candace watched him, her mouth open in awe. "Christ, you never have learned to dance, have you?"
"Why, you don't think this is any good?" he asked, as he went into a couple of pelvic thrusts.
"Okay- STOP," she hissed, grabbing his arm. "You win. We won't dance." Mark held in a smile of victory.
"Let's head over to the bar."
Mark's smile dropped.
"What do you drink?" she asked him, as he pulled up a chair for her. It was the least he could do.
"Um, root beer-seltzer?" he guessed, trying to find the right answer.
Candace flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "On the rocks for him, Jai."
The bar tender who looked pretty young and scrawny-looking whipped around, a glass in each hand. "You'll be having the usual, then?"
"Do you have to ask?"
"Right-O. I'll be right back," he said, winking at Mark.
"Damn, does EVERYONE here know you?" Mark exclaimed when he'd left.
"Only the ones who've slept with me."
Mark's mouth dropped open.
"I'm KIDDING, jackass!"
Mark's face turned bright red.
"Here you go, sweetie," said Jai, breaking the uneasy atmosphere. He set plopped to drinks in front of the two of them. "Stirred with love," he declared, and sauntered over to another customer.
"Cheers," said Candace, clinking her glass against his.
Mark took a sip of his drink, and made a face at the bitter taste.
"Aw, don't be afraid of it. Embrace it!"
Mark took another sip, and let it settle down his throat this time. He swallowed. "Not bad," he croaked.
"Great," she smiled, flashing a shockingly white set of teeth, lined by neon pink lipstick. "We'll make a drinker out of you yet!"
"Sounds exciting," he managed. He downed the glass, and gave in to the blast of the music, and the flashing lights.
"You nervous?" asked Roger, punching Mark on the shoulder. Mark rubbed his shoulder silently and nodded, pulling at his collar nervously.
"You'll be fine," Mimi assured him, "It's only for one night. What's the worst that could happen?"
Mark smiled weakly, and shrugged his shoulders. Suddenly, his smile dropped. "Oh my . . ." Roger and Mimi turned to see what he was staring at. It was Candace. Clad in only a tiny jean skirt, and a faux fur halter top, she strutted towards them, her high heel boots clicking loudly on the sidewalk. Her long blonde hair bounced against her shoulders, and she pursed her lips into an amused smile as she reached the three of them.
"Well, well. What have we here?" she looked at Mark, like a predator observing its prey. Mark gulped.
"This is my friend Mark," Roger said, quickly. "You remember, he's been to a couple of our gigs?"
"Right, right," Candace said, slowly. She turned to Mimi. "Who're you?" she asked, rudely.
"I'm Mimi," Mimi replied, frowning.
Candace raised her eyebrows. "YOU'RE going to be doing my song?" she exclaimed, looking down at Mimi with distaste. She stood a good foot taller than her.
"It's not YOUR song, Candace," Roger snapped. "Karmine wrote it. Besides, you agreed that you wouldn't bring up the subject, remember?"
Mark sighed. He didn't know WHAT Roger and Candace had decided.
"So," Candace said, linking her arm through Mark's. "Are we gonna have a good time, or what?"
"Sure," Mark said, shakily, looking back at Roger, who gave him the thumbs up sign.
Candace waited until Roger and Mimi were down the street.
"C'mon," she said, tugging at his arm.
"But aren't we going to the Life?" he protested, holding back.
She smirked. "Forget that dump. I'll take you to someplace MUCH hipper."
"Hipper . . ." Mark's voice trailed off. As Candace dragged him down the street, Mark wondered what he had gotten himself into.
***
"What are you staring at?" Frankie teased, glaring at Collins over her wine glass.
"Me? Um, nothing . . . It's just- you're really beautiful." He blushed.
"Why, thank you. You're not so bad yourself," laughed Frankie, taking a sip from her glass.
"So," Collins said, slowly, "Did you have any other relationships before? I mean, besides us- I mean that is- if you want to consider us a couple now," Collins realized he was babbling, and clamped his mouth shut.
"You mean, are we a thing?" said Frankie, smiling.
"Yeah."
"Would you like to be?"
"Yes," he admitted. "I like you a lot Frankie. And I haven't had a real relationship in a long time . . ." by that he meant a real BOY/GIRL relationship. But of course, Collins didn't mention this.
"So would I," she said, giggling. "And yes, I was going out with someone before I met you. His name was Todd. He was a bit of an ass. Actually, he was a TOTAL ass. But that's besides the point. We broke up. Well, I broke up with HIM. Well, you know . . ." She stopped, looking to see if Collins was getting bored. When she saw the intrigued look on his face, she laughed. "So what about you?" she asked, placing her chin in her hands. "Did you have a girlfriend before we met?"
"No, I didn't." It wasn't really a lie- Angel didn't really count as girl- or did she? Collins wasn't quite yet to tell Frankie about Angel anyway.
"So I'm your first then?" she teased.
"Yup. You're my first." He smiled. "Frankie, I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away."
"Well, tomorrow night my friend Roger is having a gig with his band, The Well Hungarians at CBGB's. His girlfriend, Mimi, is singing for the band. I was wondering, maybe, if you'd like to come with me?" he looked to her, a hopeful look in his eyes.
"Wow, two dates in a row? I must be the luckiest girl in NYC," Frankie laughed. "I'd love to go. I've never been there, but my friends go there all the time. When are you going to introduce me to YOUR friends, anyway?"
"Tomorrow," Collins promised. "They tend to be at a million different places at once- but I know for a fact they'll all be at the gig tomorrow."
"Okay. I can't wait." She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Collins blushed.
***
"So was Candace any trouble?" Chad asked Roger, swinging his bass-strap over his shoulder.
"Nope," replied Roger. "She was unusually tame. I hope Mark's not suffering TOO much."
"Hey, you never know- maybe he's having a good time," Mimi piped up, walking in between the two.
"This is MARK we're talking about, Meems," Roger laughed.
"You know, I don't think he brought his camera with him," Mimi commented.
"Well, that's a first. Maybe he's turning over a new leaf," laughed Roger, pulling Mimi towards him.
"Hopefully. Live life- don't watch it!"
"Some more wise words from Mimi Marquez," he teased, kissing her on the cheek.
Chad rolled his eyes. "Well, whenever you two are done assaulting each other, you think you can pull away from each other for five minutes so we can practice the song one last time before tomorrow?"
"Hmm. Do you think we can do it?" Roger asked Mimi.
She frowned. "I'm not sure. You wanna try?"
"C'mon guys, don't be jerks," Chad sighed.
Roger pulled away from Mimi. "Don't worry, Chad. That's YOUR job, Roger teased, picking up his guitar."
Chad ignored him.
"Alright, once more from the top," Chad shouted to the band, but Andy had already started up the drums, and the music became louder and louder.
***
"Favorite movie?"
"Reefer Madness."
"Favorite band?"
"Um . . . The Beatles?"
Candace sighed. "Favorite sex position?"
"Um, I don't really know the names," Mark said, slowly. Candace made an exasperated 'HMMPH!' noises, and continued walking with him.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Mark asked her.
"Just a place I know. Much better than that hippie joint that Roger had planned for us."
"I go there with my friends all the time," Mark argued, "It's not a hippie joint."
"Whatever you say," Candace replied, rolling her eyes. "You know, you may be cute, but you're totally naive." She lit a cigarette, and then motioned the package towards him. "Want one?"
"No thanks, I'm uh . . . trying to quit."
"I see," Candace said flatly. Then suddenly, she perked up. "We're here!" she sang, pulling Mark up to what looked to be an abandoned warehouse, besides the neon sign out front that screamed 'The Cat's Meow.'
"Any relation to The Cat Scratch Club?" Mark asked, quizzically.
"Yes," Candace answered, missing her sarcasm. They entered a dimly lit room, where a stocky looking guy stood planted in front of the main door. "Hey, Candace," he greeted her. He looked at Mark, strangely. "You got a new boyfriend?"
"He's just temporary, Ryan," Candace laughed.
"Well with you, you never know." He moved aside so that they could enter.
"Keep an eye on her," he whispered to Mark, as Candace dragged him inside.
The place was packed, with hundreds of perspiring bodies dancing against each other, bright flashing lights, and dizzying techno music.
"Jesus," Mark muttered, as they squeezed through the crowd.
"Do you dance?" she asked him, throwing her coat aside.
"I tango," he said, trying not to smile.
"Well, it's not all that hard. Just let yourself go." She moved violently to the music, which didn't even have a steady rhythm. Mark gaped at her, and watched. She stopped. "C'mon, don't just stand there-DANCE! You know, not just anyone can get into this club."
"How'd you manage to get in?" he asked, afraid of the answer.
"I've got my connections," she replied, coolly. "Now, quit screwing around. Just try it."
"Alright," Mark sighed. He imitated what everyone else was doing, and bounced, and thrashed wildly to the music. Candace watched him, her mouth open in awe. "Christ, you never have learned to dance, have you?"
"Why, you don't think this is any good?" he asked, as he went into a couple of pelvic thrusts.
"Okay- STOP," she hissed, grabbing his arm. "You win. We won't dance." Mark held in a smile of victory.
"Let's head over to the bar."
Mark's smile dropped.
"What do you drink?" she asked him, as he pulled up a chair for her. It was the least he could do.
"Um, root beer-seltzer?" he guessed, trying to find the right answer.
Candace flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "On the rocks for him, Jai."
The bar tender who looked pretty young and scrawny-looking whipped around, a glass in each hand. "You'll be having the usual, then?"
"Do you have to ask?"
"Right-O. I'll be right back," he said, winking at Mark.
"Damn, does EVERYONE here know you?" Mark exclaimed when he'd left.
"Only the ones who've slept with me."
Mark's mouth dropped open.
"I'm KIDDING, jackass!"
Mark's face turned bright red.
"Here you go, sweetie," said Jai, breaking the uneasy atmosphere. He set plopped to drinks in front of the two of them. "Stirred with love," he declared, and sauntered over to another customer.
"Cheers," said Candace, clinking her glass against his.
Mark took a sip of his drink, and made a face at the bitter taste.
"Aw, don't be afraid of it. Embrace it!"
Mark took another sip, and let it settle down his throat this time. He swallowed. "Not bad," he croaked.
"Great," she smiled, flashing a shockingly white set of teeth, lined by neon pink lipstick. "We'll make a drinker out of you yet!"
"Sounds exciting," he managed. He downed the glass, and gave in to the blast of the music, and the flashing lights.