Yea! New Chapter! :) It's been a while, since I've updated, but real life and a bit a writer's block are to blame. I'm having some slight issues (that just become major problems) at college and I'm crossing my fingers that something happens to fix it before I blow up. But, in the meantime, I am writing again :).

Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em. Still wish I did.

Chapter Four:
No idea

She was quiet for what was most likely the first time in her life. She wasn't sure how to handle it. Playing with her hair as she leaned back into the plastic chair, waiting . . .

Maureen wasn't sure of her feelings toward the situation. She would admit that she and April didn't exactly "get along." It wasn't because she hated the girl; she didn't. April just seemed weak and that pissed her off. For whatever reason, she backed away from her, especially lately.

She'd been the last to truly notice the drugs. In fact, if she hadn't overheard Mark and Collins talking about it one time, she most likely would have never known. She didn't pay attention to those things. She paid attention to her performances and to Mark and what she could get him to do. She once caught April staring at Mark and had immediately thrown a look in her direction. Yes, Mark was usually the jealous one and Maureen was the cheater, flirting with whatever cute guy came by. Still, she was very protective of Mark - he was hers.

A doctor came, looking for Mark, and Collins stood up, answering for him. God knows where Mark was, off looking for Roger in every place he could think of. She stood back. She didn't do hospitals. They scared her, something she hadn't told anyone. Her mother died of cancer in one when she was eleven. It was a weak spot of hers. Only Mark knew about it.

Which was why she didn't talk about it. Maureen has a weak spot? Yeah, right.

Collins returned. She looked up. "Well?"

"She's alive. The doctor said she lost a lot of blood. If Mark hadn't come home when he did . . ." He trailed off, not stating the obvious. "She'll be in a room soon. I'm going to try the loft, leave a message in case Mark goes there."

He headed toward the pay phones and Maureen stood there, unsure how to proceed. She decided to head toward Collins and wait him out. The waiting room was crowded and she was being to feel a bit claustrophobic. She flipped her hair and waited.

She felt so out of place.

She hated that feeling.

Maybe that's why she didn't like April. She felt uncomfortable around the girl and she didn't deal well with that feeling. She dominated, which was most likely why she with Mark. Yeah, he was her lapdog all right, a nice perk in any relationship, but she was completely comfortable around him. She could talk to him; he listened. She was close to beginning to convince herself to stop cheating and stay in a steady relationship - for even though Mark was easy to manipulate, he wasn't stupid. She'd hate to lose his friendship. She wasn't sure if she loved him completely (she knew he did - that made her guilty for cheating each time, though it didn't stop her), but she loved his friendship.

Shit. This was not the place to analyze her relationship with Mark.

"He found Roger." She turned at Collins' words.

"He did?" Collins' tone told that it wasn't a good thing.

"In the bathroom. He's out of it." Collins shook his head. "He won't come here."

"Why not? His girlfriend is in the hospital." She was confused.

"It's Roger, Maureen. Mark's trying. I should go and help. He shouldn't be there alone."

Where did that leave her? Shit, Roger again. She and Roger could get along, sometimes quite well, but a lot of times they fought. He hated the way she treated Mark; she hated the way he just was, especially when she learned of his and April's drug problem. And Mark dropped everything to help his best friend, even if it meant canceling on her. She strongly disliked being second in Mark's life, and even though it was a rare occurrence, Roger was usually the reason.

She was pissed and being a bitch. Two things she knew she did well. "What do we do about April?"

Collins stopped. "She's going to the psych ward. It will probably be a while before any of us can see her."

She looked at him. "She is going to be okay? The doctor said so, right?"

He was silent. "Alive, yes. Okay is a different word."

She'd never seen the message in the bathroom. She had literally run into Collins on his way out the door, so she hadn't even set foot in the loft. Instead, she followed him to the hospital, where they found Mark in the waiting room.

She knew April was messed up. Perhaps she knew that from the beginning. Yes, she could be the last to get the message, but she was no ditz. She just had other things to worry about.

Later, when she made it back to the loft, the first thing she noticed was that her lipstick was lying outside the bathroom door.

She had no idea.

Short chapter, I know. I'm coming out of a looong writer's block. Chapter five is written and in the editing process and should be up very shortly. :)