"Roger wake up." Cass pushed at him with her cast. "Turn your watch off."
"Sorry." He hit his alarm on his watch.
"How do you sleep through that thing?"
"I don't. I just don't always move all that quick when it goes off."
"I see." She told him as she rolled over and snuggled up next to him. "How was work? Were you busy last night?"
"Not real busy. I only made $150. But school just started. Izzy said we need to wait another week or so till classes get going. Then they start hitting the bars harder. Tuesday nights are usually slower anyway. Thursday will be a better nights. Always is."
"So you play tonight or bartend?"
"Band plays tonight. So I'll be home earlier than last night." He was twisting her hair around his finger.
"Hey are you guys awake," Mark said as he pounded on their door.
"Yeah come on in Mark." Roger yelled to him.
Mark opened the door to Roger's room. "Here." He threw the pill bottle at Roger. "And so you know the cable guy is here. He needs to know where you want the modem hook up or something Cass."
"Okay, okay I'm coming." She told him as she sat up in the bed for a second before letting out a low moan and lying back down.
"You okay Cass? You don't look so good." Mark asked worriedly.
"Yes." She said slowly. "My head is just killing me is all. I'll be okay." Cass dragged herself out of the bed and went to the counter and sat down.
"You want some coffee Cass?" She nodded and Roger poured her a cup and fixed it. "Here. You want something to eat? You want some toast?" Without waiting for a reply he dropped two pieces of bread into the toaster.
"God, I'm so tired. Where are my cigarettes?" She laid her head back down on the counter as Roger went back into the bedroom looking for cigarettes. While she was sitting there the cable guy knocked on the door. "Mark, somebody's at the door." She called to him.
"I got it." Roger said as he lit two cigarettes and handed one to Cass. He opened the door and let the cable guy in.
"Hey how you doing? Um, I've got your line run to the building, but because you guys were never cable ready, I'll have to send a different crew out to run it in the walls and all. So you know, that costs more." He told them apologetically.
"Don't worry about that right now. Just run the lines. We'll have them capped on the walls instead of run inside them."
"Okay, I can do that, but it's not all that pretty."
"Look around you, does pretty seem overly important at the moment?" She laid her head back down on her arms as Roger put the plate of toast in front of her. "Let's just go for functional. Okay?"
"Are you sure?" He looked from Cass to Roger.
"If that's what she says, that's what she wants." Roger told him.
"Alright. Where do you want the cable modem installed?"
"How about in that corner? Is that okay Roger? If I put the desk and computer stuff over there?"
"Whatever you want Cass. That's fine."
"Okay put a cable hook up in each bedroom, the living room and Mark's office. Wait you guy might move that. Just put one in all four rooms and the living room with the modem in the corner."
The cable guy was about to ask her something else but he looked at Roger first who shook his head. "Um, yeah sure." He set to work getting everything hooked up.
Mark came back out and walked over to the counter and sat down next to Cass. "You don't look so hot Cass." Mark put his hand on her forehead. "She doesn't have a fever." He said to Roger who was still standing in the kitchen watching her as she smoked.
"I'm okay I just have a migraine. Will you make me another cup of coffee?" She handed Roger her cup.
"Why don't you eat something." Roger told her.
"Ewww. No. I just want some more coffee." She started scratching at her neck.
"Why don't you go back to bed Cass?" Roger asked her.
"I can't. I've got too much to do." She laid her head back down on her arms.
"Like what?" Roger asked her.
"I have got to get that stuff set up. I'll never get caught up if I don't start working soon. Mark, scratch my back. I'm gonna be swamped for the next three weeks. I need to put that desk together, set up all the computer equipment, load up the systems, and log into the main frame. God, how did I get so far behind? Where's the Tylenol?"
"Here." Roger gave her two Tylenol's, which she took with her coffee. "Now go back to bed. At least for awhile."
"I can't. I don't have time."
"It doesn't matter. First of all you can't put that desk together anyway. Not with a broken arm. Not by yourself. And we're not helping you. Not right now. Besides, you said you can't hook anything up till the electrician comes out so you aren't blowing fuses every five minutes."
"But I don't have time."
"Give it up Cass. He's the only person I know more stubborn than you." Mark told her.
"Go lay down and we'll put the computer desk together for you." Roger pulled her off the barstool. "And what are you scratching at?"
"I don't know, something must have bit me." She stood up wit her coffee and followed him back into the bedroom. Roger came back out about ten minutes later and sat down next to Mark on the couch.
"She okay?"
"I guess. She says she just feels like crap. Let her sleep awhile, it will go away. She said she's just got a killer migraine."
"Just don't let her get you sick."
"I'll be fine."
"Is she doing okay Roger?"
"You mean as far as all that other stuff? Yeah, I guess. She doesn't seem to mind going to see Elizabeth. And she's relaxed a lot since she first got here. She's still got a way to go though."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, like last night, when I got home, she was sitting on the couch watching TV. Trying real hard to stay awake."
"So?"
"I don't know. I mean she was so tired I asked her why she didn't just go to bed. She said she was waiting for me. She didn't want to bother you last night so she waited up for me."
"For what?" Mark was confused.
"I don't know. To go to sleep I guess. I mean think about it, has she gone to sleep by herself since she got here. Even just now, she made me lay down with her till she fell asleep."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"And another thing," Roger continued, "have you seen her answer the door once? Even when she's right there by it? I mean yeah, this morning she doesn't feel good, but any other time? She yells to one of us that somebody's at the door."
"You know, now that I think about it, you're right. But that day, when she got all up set, when her father was here, didn't she just keep saying something about opening the door?"
"Yeah she did." Roger's eyes went down to his coffee. "That's kinda what happened you know. She thought it was Giavanna that night, at the door, but it wasn't."
"Oh." Mark didn't know what else to say. He wasn't sure he wanted to know anymore. "Maybe, maybe we should tell Elizabeth that stuff."
"Yeah, I was thinking that." Roger sat there for a moment and played with his coffee cup. "She um, Elizabeth, wants me to go with her next Monday."
"You always go with her."
"No, to see Elizabeth, like while they are talking and stuff. Like sit in there with her."
"Oh. Are you okay with that?"
"I guess. I mean she already told me what happened, which is part of the reason Elizabeth wants me to go I think."
"I don't think I want to know." Mark said softly. He couldn't look at Roger.
"No, you don't want to know." Roger told him.
"Well then it makes sense why Elizabeth wants you there."
"Yeah, but that wasn't what Elizabeth said to me."
"What do you mean?" Mark looked up at him.
"What she said was because I was her boyfriend she wanted me to come with her."
"Oh," Mark grinned, "is that all."
"What do you mean 'is that all'? Don't you think that's kinda, extreme?"
Mark laughed at him and the more he laughed, the more upset and confused Roger seemed to get.
"What is so damn funny Mark?"
"Okay, okay. How can I put this without you wanting to beat my skull in?"
"You're running a bigger risk by giving me a hard time Cohen."
"Um, right. Kay let's just say, hypothetically of course, that perhaps you're a bit, well, commitment phobic."
"What? You're crazy! You don't know what you're talking about Mark!" Roger was getting defensive.
"I don't huh? How about the first two years with Mimi? Or the first year and a half with April? Then there was the string of groupies, all of which would disappear as soon as they started talking anything, more than super casual. And before that was Amy, Lauren, Crissy and Nickie in high school. You do remember the huge scene and catfight at the homecoming dance between Crissy and Lauren cause both of them thought they were dating you. And all of it stems back to your problem of just committing. Plain and simple."
Roger just glared at him.
"Believe what you want, but as favor to me, let me take my glasses off before you hit me."
"Do you really think that?"
"Well, yes. I mean for somebody who has a self proclaimed and extremely wide jealous streak, a lot of your problems would be solved if you didn't have so many commitment issues."
"What makes you think you have any clue as to what you're talking about Mark?"
"How about the fact that I've had the same conversation with like everyone of your girlfriends, or whatever you want to call them, since like tenth grade!"
"Seriously?"
"Yes seriously. They just never sort of knew where they stood I guess, so they were always asking me. Like I had some clue as to what was going on in your brain or something."
"Can we just get back to Cass please?"
"Okay, what about Cass then?" Mark asked him.
"Well, I mean, what would you call it?"
"Honestly," Mark looked at him. "The same thing Elizabeth called it. What would you call it?"
"Um, I, I don't know. I guess."
"Well, maybe you ought to figure it out." Mark got real serious on him. "Before somebody else gets hurt. Because the somebody in question this time has been through enough crap. And isn't just some 19 year old band groupie. And this one happens to be a real good friend of mine, kinda like you dork. And I kinda think the two of you might actually be good for each other. Provided neither of you decide to do your usual shit and sabotage your own relationship."
"Are you done?"
"Yeah, I guess I am." Mark realized he had been preaching at him. "Look, I know you, and how you are. Both of you. And I just don't want to see either of you screw something up. Something you'll both regret later on. You understand?"
"Yeah." Roger told him slowly. "I understand." He paused. "Fuck!"
"What?" Mark flinched as Roger yelled.
"I hate it when there is even the slightest inkling of a possibility you may have some clue as to what the fuck you're talking about."
Mark grinned, but turned away so Roger wouldn't see his face. "As usual, thank you so much for appreciating my brilliance."
Normally a conversation like this would have completely rubbed Roger the wrong way. He would have flung down his coffee cup and stormed out of the room. But for some reason this time he didn't. What the hell is wrong with me he thought. My brain is totally whacked. How the hell does Mark do this to me? Damn it Mark. Roger looked at him. Somehow he couldn't be mad at him. Somehow, Roger kind of knew he was right. "Oh shut up and come help me put this desk together." He told Mark as he stood up and walked over to the large box on the floor. Mark was still turned away from him with his head down. Damn you Mark. "And get hat stupid ass grin of your face too!"
******
After a fair amount of difficulty, they got the desk and chair put together. The cable guy finished up all the hook ups and capped the wires. Roger got the new TV out of it's box while mark hooked up the DVD and VCR that had been deliver earlier in the week.
"Damn." Mark said shaking his head back and forth.
"What?" Roger asked as he flipped through channels on the remote, trying to figure out how to work the picture in picture feature.
"I really hate that she bought all this stuff."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I told her not to do it."
"Yeah well," Mark got a small grin on his face. "I hate that she did it, but God, that TV looks good in here."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Roger laughed. "Real cable, no snow, no fuzz and look at this," Roger started flipping channels, "not only all the HBO's, but Cinemax! Which just so you know Marky, is only a step or so down from the porn channel."
"Yeah?" Mark asked. "Really? Cool. Porn and Independent Film Channel. Not to mention now we can actually rent videos and DVD's and watch them here. Instead of sneaking into Jen's place while she' at work and using her VCR."
"Um, Mark, you may want to remember to not broadcast that last part, you know, about Jen's."
"Oh, good point."
"Okay, I'll flip you for who get to put the old TV in their room. You want heads or tails?" Roger asked as he took a quarter out of his pocket.
"Un uh."
"What?''
"No. I get the TV." Mark told him, surprised at his own boldness.
"Why do you get the TV?"
"Well, because." Mark looked at him and knew that wouldn't cut it with Roger. "Because, well, why do you want a TV in your room?" He asked Roger with the slightest of grins or his face.
"So I can watch it?" Roger just looked at him.
"So I can watch it where?"
"In bed?" Roger was confused.
"So you want to lay in bed and watch TV?"
"Yeah Mark, seems like a plan."
"Okay," Mark told him. "If all you want to do is lay in bed and watch TV, but aren't you forgetting something?"
"What?" Roger was starting to loose patience in this.
"What about your," Mark paused to drive the point home from their previous conversation as he turned toward Roger's bedroom door, "girlfriend?"
"What are you talking about Mark?"
"All I'm saying is, you need to consider your girlfriend." He stressed the word. "If it was me, and she was my girlfriend, sleeping in there with me, I'd be more inclined to give up the TV. Especially considering my best friend and roommate is sleeping alone in the other room. But hey, she's your girlfriend." Mark got a cockeyed grin on his face.
"You're an ass you know that?" Roger laughed. "Fine, take the TV. You know, my life would be easier if I just found you a date. Or got you laid." He grinned at Mark. "Yeah, take the TV, you need the Cinemax movies way more than I do Marky."
"Oh thank you very much."
"No really, you're right. I don't need a TV, because I've got," Roger paused and looked to make sure his bedroom door was still closed before looking Mark straight in the eye, "my girlfriend." Roger smirked at him as he picked up the TV and took it into Mark's room.
"Sorry." He hit his alarm on his watch.
"How do you sleep through that thing?"
"I don't. I just don't always move all that quick when it goes off."
"I see." She told him as she rolled over and snuggled up next to him. "How was work? Were you busy last night?"
"Not real busy. I only made $150. But school just started. Izzy said we need to wait another week or so till classes get going. Then they start hitting the bars harder. Tuesday nights are usually slower anyway. Thursday will be a better nights. Always is."
"So you play tonight or bartend?"
"Band plays tonight. So I'll be home earlier than last night." He was twisting her hair around his finger.
"Hey are you guys awake," Mark said as he pounded on their door.
"Yeah come on in Mark." Roger yelled to him.
Mark opened the door to Roger's room. "Here." He threw the pill bottle at Roger. "And so you know the cable guy is here. He needs to know where you want the modem hook up or something Cass."
"Okay, okay I'm coming." She told him as she sat up in the bed for a second before letting out a low moan and lying back down.
"You okay Cass? You don't look so good." Mark asked worriedly.
"Yes." She said slowly. "My head is just killing me is all. I'll be okay." Cass dragged herself out of the bed and went to the counter and sat down.
"You want some coffee Cass?" She nodded and Roger poured her a cup and fixed it. "Here. You want something to eat? You want some toast?" Without waiting for a reply he dropped two pieces of bread into the toaster.
"God, I'm so tired. Where are my cigarettes?" She laid her head back down on the counter as Roger went back into the bedroom looking for cigarettes. While she was sitting there the cable guy knocked on the door. "Mark, somebody's at the door." She called to him.
"I got it." Roger said as he lit two cigarettes and handed one to Cass. He opened the door and let the cable guy in.
"Hey how you doing? Um, I've got your line run to the building, but because you guys were never cable ready, I'll have to send a different crew out to run it in the walls and all. So you know, that costs more." He told them apologetically.
"Don't worry about that right now. Just run the lines. We'll have them capped on the walls instead of run inside them."
"Okay, I can do that, but it's not all that pretty."
"Look around you, does pretty seem overly important at the moment?" She laid her head back down on her arms as Roger put the plate of toast in front of her. "Let's just go for functional. Okay?"
"Are you sure?" He looked from Cass to Roger.
"If that's what she says, that's what she wants." Roger told him.
"Alright. Where do you want the cable modem installed?"
"How about in that corner? Is that okay Roger? If I put the desk and computer stuff over there?"
"Whatever you want Cass. That's fine."
"Okay put a cable hook up in each bedroom, the living room and Mark's office. Wait you guy might move that. Just put one in all four rooms and the living room with the modem in the corner."
The cable guy was about to ask her something else but he looked at Roger first who shook his head. "Um, yeah sure." He set to work getting everything hooked up.
Mark came back out and walked over to the counter and sat down next to Cass. "You don't look so hot Cass." Mark put his hand on her forehead. "She doesn't have a fever." He said to Roger who was still standing in the kitchen watching her as she smoked.
"I'm okay I just have a migraine. Will you make me another cup of coffee?" She handed Roger her cup.
"Why don't you eat something." Roger told her.
"Ewww. No. I just want some more coffee." She started scratching at her neck.
"Why don't you go back to bed Cass?" Roger asked her.
"I can't. I've got too much to do." She laid her head back down on her arms.
"Like what?" Roger asked her.
"I have got to get that stuff set up. I'll never get caught up if I don't start working soon. Mark, scratch my back. I'm gonna be swamped for the next three weeks. I need to put that desk together, set up all the computer equipment, load up the systems, and log into the main frame. God, how did I get so far behind? Where's the Tylenol?"
"Here." Roger gave her two Tylenol's, which she took with her coffee. "Now go back to bed. At least for awhile."
"I can't. I don't have time."
"It doesn't matter. First of all you can't put that desk together anyway. Not with a broken arm. Not by yourself. And we're not helping you. Not right now. Besides, you said you can't hook anything up till the electrician comes out so you aren't blowing fuses every five minutes."
"But I don't have time."
"Give it up Cass. He's the only person I know more stubborn than you." Mark told her.
"Go lay down and we'll put the computer desk together for you." Roger pulled her off the barstool. "And what are you scratching at?"
"I don't know, something must have bit me." She stood up wit her coffee and followed him back into the bedroom. Roger came back out about ten minutes later and sat down next to Mark on the couch.
"She okay?"
"I guess. She says she just feels like crap. Let her sleep awhile, it will go away. She said she's just got a killer migraine."
"Just don't let her get you sick."
"I'll be fine."
"Is she doing okay Roger?"
"You mean as far as all that other stuff? Yeah, I guess. She doesn't seem to mind going to see Elizabeth. And she's relaxed a lot since she first got here. She's still got a way to go though."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, like last night, when I got home, she was sitting on the couch watching TV. Trying real hard to stay awake."
"So?"
"I don't know. I mean she was so tired I asked her why she didn't just go to bed. She said she was waiting for me. She didn't want to bother you last night so she waited up for me."
"For what?" Mark was confused.
"I don't know. To go to sleep I guess. I mean think about it, has she gone to sleep by herself since she got here. Even just now, she made me lay down with her till she fell asleep."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"And another thing," Roger continued, "have you seen her answer the door once? Even when she's right there by it? I mean yeah, this morning she doesn't feel good, but any other time? She yells to one of us that somebody's at the door."
"You know, now that I think about it, you're right. But that day, when she got all up set, when her father was here, didn't she just keep saying something about opening the door?"
"Yeah she did." Roger's eyes went down to his coffee. "That's kinda what happened you know. She thought it was Giavanna that night, at the door, but it wasn't."
"Oh." Mark didn't know what else to say. He wasn't sure he wanted to know anymore. "Maybe, maybe we should tell Elizabeth that stuff."
"Yeah, I was thinking that." Roger sat there for a moment and played with his coffee cup. "She um, Elizabeth, wants me to go with her next Monday."
"You always go with her."
"No, to see Elizabeth, like while they are talking and stuff. Like sit in there with her."
"Oh. Are you okay with that?"
"I guess. I mean she already told me what happened, which is part of the reason Elizabeth wants me to go I think."
"I don't think I want to know." Mark said softly. He couldn't look at Roger.
"No, you don't want to know." Roger told him.
"Well then it makes sense why Elizabeth wants you there."
"Yeah, but that wasn't what Elizabeth said to me."
"What do you mean?" Mark looked up at him.
"What she said was because I was her boyfriend she wanted me to come with her."
"Oh," Mark grinned, "is that all."
"What do you mean 'is that all'? Don't you think that's kinda, extreme?"
Mark laughed at him and the more he laughed, the more upset and confused Roger seemed to get.
"What is so damn funny Mark?"
"Okay, okay. How can I put this without you wanting to beat my skull in?"
"You're running a bigger risk by giving me a hard time Cohen."
"Um, right. Kay let's just say, hypothetically of course, that perhaps you're a bit, well, commitment phobic."
"What? You're crazy! You don't know what you're talking about Mark!" Roger was getting defensive.
"I don't huh? How about the first two years with Mimi? Or the first year and a half with April? Then there was the string of groupies, all of which would disappear as soon as they started talking anything, more than super casual. And before that was Amy, Lauren, Crissy and Nickie in high school. You do remember the huge scene and catfight at the homecoming dance between Crissy and Lauren cause both of them thought they were dating you. And all of it stems back to your problem of just committing. Plain and simple."
Roger just glared at him.
"Believe what you want, but as favor to me, let me take my glasses off before you hit me."
"Do you really think that?"
"Well, yes. I mean for somebody who has a self proclaimed and extremely wide jealous streak, a lot of your problems would be solved if you didn't have so many commitment issues."
"What makes you think you have any clue as to what you're talking about Mark?"
"How about the fact that I've had the same conversation with like everyone of your girlfriends, or whatever you want to call them, since like tenth grade!"
"Seriously?"
"Yes seriously. They just never sort of knew where they stood I guess, so they were always asking me. Like I had some clue as to what was going on in your brain or something."
"Can we just get back to Cass please?"
"Okay, what about Cass then?" Mark asked him.
"Well, I mean, what would you call it?"
"Honestly," Mark looked at him. "The same thing Elizabeth called it. What would you call it?"
"Um, I, I don't know. I guess."
"Well, maybe you ought to figure it out." Mark got real serious on him. "Before somebody else gets hurt. Because the somebody in question this time has been through enough crap. And isn't just some 19 year old band groupie. And this one happens to be a real good friend of mine, kinda like you dork. And I kinda think the two of you might actually be good for each other. Provided neither of you decide to do your usual shit and sabotage your own relationship."
"Are you done?"
"Yeah, I guess I am." Mark realized he had been preaching at him. "Look, I know you, and how you are. Both of you. And I just don't want to see either of you screw something up. Something you'll both regret later on. You understand?"
"Yeah." Roger told him slowly. "I understand." He paused. "Fuck!"
"What?" Mark flinched as Roger yelled.
"I hate it when there is even the slightest inkling of a possibility you may have some clue as to what the fuck you're talking about."
Mark grinned, but turned away so Roger wouldn't see his face. "As usual, thank you so much for appreciating my brilliance."
Normally a conversation like this would have completely rubbed Roger the wrong way. He would have flung down his coffee cup and stormed out of the room. But for some reason this time he didn't. What the hell is wrong with me he thought. My brain is totally whacked. How the hell does Mark do this to me? Damn it Mark. Roger looked at him. Somehow he couldn't be mad at him. Somehow, Roger kind of knew he was right. "Oh shut up and come help me put this desk together." He told Mark as he stood up and walked over to the large box on the floor. Mark was still turned away from him with his head down. Damn you Mark. "And get hat stupid ass grin of your face too!"
******
After a fair amount of difficulty, they got the desk and chair put together. The cable guy finished up all the hook ups and capped the wires. Roger got the new TV out of it's box while mark hooked up the DVD and VCR that had been deliver earlier in the week.
"Damn." Mark said shaking his head back and forth.
"What?" Roger asked as he flipped through channels on the remote, trying to figure out how to work the picture in picture feature.
"I really hate that she bought all this stuff."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I told her not to do it."
"Yeah well," Mark got a small grin on his face. "I hate that she did it, but God, that TV looks good in here."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Roger laughed. "Real cable, no snow, no fuzz and look at this," Roger started flipping channels, "not only all the HBO's, but Cinemax! Which just so you know Marky, is only a step or so down from the porn channel."
"Yeah?" Mark asked. "Really? Cool. Porn and Independent Film Channel. Not to mention now we can actually rent videos and DVD's and watch them here. Instead of sneaking into Jen's place while she' at work and using her VCR."
"Um, Mark, you may want to remember to not broadcast that last part, you know, about Jen's."
"Oh, good point."
"Okay, I'll flip you for who get to put the old TV in their room. You want heads or tails?" Roger asked as he took a quarter out of his pocket.
"Un uh."
"What?''
"No. I get the TV." Mark told him, surprised at his own boldness.
"Why do you get the TV?"
"Well, because." Mark looked at him and knew that wouldn't cut it with Roger. "Because, well, why do you want a TV in your room?" He asked Roger with the slightest of grins or his face.
"So I can watch it?" Roger just looked at him.
"So I can watch it where?"
"In bed?" Roger was confused.
"So you want to lay in bed and watch TV?"
"Yeah Mark, seems like a plan."
"Okay," Mark told him. "If all you want to do is lay in bed and watch TV, but aren't you forgetting something?"
"What?" Roger was starting to loose patience in this.
"What about your," Mark paused to drive the point home from their previous conversation as he turned toward Roger's bedroom door, "girlfriend?"
"What are you talking about Mark?"
"All I'm saying is, you need to consider your girlfriend." He stressed the word. "If it was me, and she was my girlfriend, sleeping in there with me, I'd be more inclined to give up the TV. Especially considering my best friend and roommate is sleeping alone in the other room. But hey, she's your girlfriend." Mark got a cockeyed grin on his face.
"You're an ass you know that?" Roger laughed. "Fine, take the TV. You know, my life would be easier if I just found you a date. Or got you laid." He grinned at Mark. "Yeah, take the TV, you need the Cinemax movies way more than I do Marky."
"Oh thank you very much."
"No really, you're right. I don't need a TV, because I've got," Roger paused and looked to make sure his bedroom door was still closed before looking Mark straight in the eye, "my girlfriend." Roger smirked at him as he picked up the TV and took it into Mark's room.