Author's Note: Sorry for the short update. The next chapter will be much longer, I promise.

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Chapter 13: Revelations

February 6th

5:54 PM

The Life Café

Mark stood outside the café, his hands in his pockets, shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably in the cold just-before dusk air. His heart was pounding and he suddenly felt like an intruder. He tried to look casual, to blend into the street, half expecting someone to come up to him and ask him what he was doing there.

Mark hadn't been on a date (he'd tried to convince himself that this wasn't one but his brain simply refused to obey) in nearly three years. Not since he'd broken up with Maureen. He wasn't sure he remembered how. What was there to say? He'd invited Aimee to dinner with him to talk, and now he had nothing to say. What would she do? Leave? Worse yet, laugh at him?

Poor little antisocial Marky, he doesn't know how to talk, Mark thought bitterly.

He had half convinced himself to save his pride and leave when he saw her. Her hair was curly tonight and loose, falling in long tendrils around her face and shoulders. She was wearing a long-sleeved crimson shirt and a floor length denim skirt. Mark felt his palms begin to sweat.

"What happened to you?" Aimee asked brusquely, stopping in front of him.

"What do you mean?" Mark stammered nervously.

"You look like you just got run over by a truck."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind." Aimee held out her arm for Mark to escort her inside. He stood there staring at it blankly for a moment, then snapped out of it and took her arm.

"You're late," he observed, looking at his watch.

"So? You're early. So on average we're both right on time."

Mark laughed.

"I'll have to remember that one."

They sat in one of the booths and just stared at one another for a moment.

"I feel like I'm back in high school," Mark said after a moment.

"Oh, I'm sorry for you then," Aimee said disgustedly, "Nothing like high school to make you feel inadequate." She paused for a moment, then added, "That and love."

Mark laughed.

"True."

"So. . .you invited me here to talk. Impress me."

"Umm. . .blah?" Mark said lamely.

"Oh that's great, Shakespeare."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Maybe."

"Every time I see you. . .it seems like you're always getting hurt. I know you can't be that clumsy so. . ."

Aimee eyed him suspiciously.

"Why should I trust you?"

Mark floundered for a response.

"Umm. . .because. . .I'm antisocial and I don't know how to talk to people, so therefore you know I'll never spill your secret."

Aimee laughed.

"True."

"So. . .?"

"You won't tell Tom?"

"Not if you don't want me to."

"Okay then. . ." she sighed, "I guess it's about time I told someone."

The waiter arrived and deposited two coffee cups in front of them. Aimee sat silently for a few moments, staring at her reflection in the dark brown liquid. It was the same color as her eyes, Mark noted thoughtfully.

"I used to live with my boyfriend, Jake. I mean. . .I still see him. We started going out in high school and got way too serious way too fast. I got pregnant and we ran away together," she paused for a moment, her eyes far off, lost in thought. "Then Jake started getting into alcohol. He was violent when he drank and he drank all the time. He threw me into a wall one night and I. . .I lost the baby."

"And you're still with him?" Mark asked incredulously.

Aimee nodded.

"He always apologizes. I know. . .that he loves me. He just can't help what he does. I'm afraid of what it would do to him if I left him."

Mark was just staring at her in shock.

"But Aimee. . .you can't let him keep doing this to you."

"He's getting better though!" Aimee protested, "And anyway, what would you know?"

"I would know that any relationship that lands you in the hospital is one you should get out of immediately." Mark said calmly.

"But it would kill him!"

"And what if he kills you first?" Mark asked softly.

"I—I don't know! But. . .how could I live with myself if he. . .If I knew it was my fault? And Mark. . .I'm afraid of him. Of what he would do to me. . ."

"Then there's no question about it. You should definitely end it now."

Aimee sighed.

"I know. . .I'm just not sure I can."

"Of course you can. You can do anything you put your mind to. You of all people should know that. You're always spouting philosophy. . .so. . .listen to yourself."

She looked at him uncertainly.

"You really think?"

"Yes. Look. . .if I can manage to talk to you, a complete stranger, and actually feel okay about it. . .I'm sure you can manage to stand up for yourself."

Aimee smiled at Mark.

"Thanks."

"Anything."

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Review please. And yes, I do still want random suggestions.