Diclaimer: Again, don't own. Not affiliated with. Love them however.

Notes: Okay, first of all, thank you to all of you who've taken your time to read and review. You guys are the best.
I did some research on Bar-Mitzvahs so I could give Marky one. I hope not to offend anyone, I did my best to stay true to all of it. I found the words to the blessing on a really cool website called Vitual Jerusalem (I think that's what it was), so it should be pretty acurate.
I'm having a slight case of writer's block so bare with me. If any of it sounds repetative, I'm sorry. I'm trying. Again, please read/review. I appreciate hearing from all of you who do so. Every time I turn on my aol, I cross my fingers in hopes of reviews for any of/all my stories. Thanks again everyone. Especially to my faithful readers. You know who you are. And if you don't, shame on you. J/k. I love you guys very much.

Okay, now on to the story. Thanks for being patient with me. I should have the next chapter up in the next couple days.

Bar-Mitzvah

It's my birthday. I can't believe I'm officially a teenager. My parents are really excited too. It's my Bar-Mitzvah today as well. Well more accurately I am the Bar-Mitzvah, meaning 'son of the commandment.' And what's awesome is that it falls on the Shabbat (which is one of our holy day) so I don't have to wait to receive an aliyah. Which is also known as an ascension. It's when I'll be called up to the to read the Torah. I'm so excited.

I've been awake since before sunrise to prepare. I have to get all dressed up for the ceremony. Black slacks and a plain white, stiff shirt. It's very uncomfortable. I've also got my tallit (which is basically a prayer shawl), and my kippah (or commonly known as a yarmulke), and am now on my way to the temple. Roger said he and his mom were gonna meet me there. It's so great I get to share this special time with Roger. I think I might be more eager to do this than my parents are.

I've been practicing my pronunciation as well as the emphasis of the words I'll be singing from the Torah. Actually I've been practicing for a long time. It's part of my training and studies for this special day. My palms are sweating some. I'm a little nervous, but when aren't I, right?

Finally we arrive at the temple, and everyone else is just arriving. I don't see Roger or his mom yet, but I know they'll be here. Roger wouldn't miss my big day. He knows how important this is for me.

The service begins, and the rabbi approaches the pulpit. That's when Roger makes his grand entrance. Better late than never right?

I wait patiently for the rabbi to usher me up to the front. I keep turning around and looking at Roger who was constantly flashing me that cute smile of his which helps calm my nerves. This is the first time I've ever seen Roger truly quiet. Then again it's required he be. Still it's sorta funny. Although he keeps mouthing something to me I can't quite make out. Oh well.

The moment of truth. I hear the rabbi call my name. "Marcus Cohen." Marcus is my Hebrew name. I hate being called that. Thankfully this'll be the only time anyone will ever call me this. He gestures me up front and I close my eyes a moment and take a deep breath. Here goes.

I have to give a speech first before reading the Torah. This part is more nerve-wracking than the actually reading of the blessing. "Today, I become a man..." That's how it begins. The speech is somewhat long, but my mom wrote it, so what can I say. But it goes well... surprisingly.

I hold tight to my tallit the whole time I read the speech, then out of respect and holiness, I touch the tzitzit or fringes of the tallit to the first letter of the first Torah blessing. Then as a second act of respect and holiness, I kiss the fringes before beginning the reading.

"Barkhu et Adonai hamevorach."

"Barukh Adonai hamevorach lo'olam vaed!"

"Barukh Adonai hamevorach lo'olam vaed!

Barukh ata Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher bakhar banu mikol ha-amim, v'natan lanu et torato. Barukh ata, Adonai, noten hatorah."

"Amen."

The way the first part of the blessing works is I start, then the congregation responds. Then I continue until the end, and the congregation says Amen. I look up at Roger who smiles at me once again. That was difficult to do, but seeing that smile shows me it was all worth it. I can image how hard it was for him to speak the responses. I at least had practice to say these words.

I sit back down, allowing the rabbi to continue the service waiting once again to read the second blessing. I feel tongue tied. I'm honestly surprised I didn't screw up on the blessing. My dad keeps smiling at me. I can tell he's proud of me. My mom's grinning from ear to ear too. Her baby boy is finally becoming a man.

The service is finally coming to an end and I anticipate my final reading. The rabbi once again calls me up to the front. "Marcus Cohen." I really hate that name. I advance to the front once more to read the second blessing.

"Barukh ata, Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher natan lanu torat emet v'chayei olam nata bitokheinu. Barukh ata, Adonai, noten hatorah."

"Amen."

After I read the Torah, the rabbi lifted the sacred scroll very carefully, then wrapped it back up in the cloth sack. I couldn't help but smile brightly after I finished reading. Everyone in the congregation was smiling too. Especially Roger. Well, I noticed his smile more than anyone else's. Hey, what can I say? Aside my family, he's the only one I care to know about. Well, his mom also. She's like a second mom to me so she counts too.

The entire family including Roger and his mom, and some family friends head back to my house for my birthday bash after the service. Now technically we're not suppose to 'celebrate' the Bar-Mitzvah, but hey, it's also my birthday, so I deserve this celebration.

"Happy birthday Mark." A surplus of voices announce when I come downstairs from my room after changing into more comfortable clothes.

A huge grin covers my face. "Thank you everyone." That's when Roger takes the opportunity to walk up to me.

"Happy birthday Marky. How does it feel to be a 'man' now?" He wraps his arms around my neck in a bear hug sorta thing, patting me quite roughly on the back. Ow!

"Well at least I am a man." That's more than I can say about you. I glare at him after he pulls away, and he just sneers. How rude. That's when he winks at me. He thinks he can get away with it by being cute? Well, he's right. But that's not the point.

Before anyone else at the party has a chance to talk to me, Roger's dragging me by the arm upstairs.

"Roger, I have to stay here and mingle with the guests."

"No you don't." He continues to pull me up the steps. "C'mon, let's go make out in your bedroom."

"SHHH! Don't say that so loud." I slap him on the arm. "Do you want me to get in trouble?"

"You won't get in trouble. Not if we lock your door." He smirks. What a brat.

"You're hopeless Roger." I sigh then yank my arm back from him and head down the stairs.

"Alright fine, go back downstairs Marky. But now I'm not gonna give you your birthday present." Roger pushes his way passed me then snubs me. Fuck calling him a brat, what a bitch.

I roll my eyes as he passes and give him a little shove to help him along down the steps. He trips, as I hoped he would, nearly falling to the floor, but catches himself. I laugh at his expense (for once), but that only pisses him off. Oh shit, now I'm in for it. He eyes me with this wild look like he's gonna pounce me right there. I shoot straight up the stairs before he has a chance to 'attack', but since I'm short, and so are my legs, he catches up to me.

"Oh now you're gonna get it Cohen." His wild look turns into more of a crazed look. I think... no wait, I know I'm in trouble now.

I run into my room and hold my door shut, but he's much stronger and heaves his way in. I back away from him, expecting him to hit me or something, when he closes my door and locks it. I should have known.

"This was your plan all along wasn't it?"

Not a word comes out of his mouth. He inches closer to me, a mischievous smile plastered across his lips. I continue my backwards walk trying not to knock anything over, and I end up falling on the bed. Damn him.

"I told you I knew you to well Marky. I knew you'd try to push me down the steps. Which by the way I owe you for. I actually almost fell. I knew you'd run up to your room, and I knew I'd frighten you onto your bed by 'acting' pissed." He's still creeping towards me, a smug smirk on his face.

Why I outta... "You are such a bitch Roger."

"I know. But I got you up here didn't I?" He crawls atop me, and no matter how pissed I really am at him, I can't help but smile at him.

"How do you do it?" I ask him curiously, staring up into his beautiful eyes.

"Because I'm cute, and you like me." He kisses me on the cheek, as my face reddens. "And I knew you secretly wanted to come up here too." He kisses my other cheek. "You're so cute when you blush."

That just makes me blush harder. I contemplate sticking my tongue at him, but I remembered what happened last time and decide against it. Instead I give in to him. What else can I do? I lift my head closer to him and press my lips against his.

"Mark. Mark are you in there?" Oh shit. My mom's knocking on my door, jiggling the handle. I practically fling Roger off of me, jumping off the bed. I straighten my rumpled clothes and race to the door. Roger sits up on the bed and grabs the nearest book on my nightstand pretending to read it.

"Mark, open this door. What are you do..." I swoosh open the door and smile tensely at my mom.

"Uh, hi mom."

"Mark, what are you doing up here? You should be downstairs interacting with your guests." She spies beyond me into the room like she's looking for something that would explain why I'm not downstairs.

"Uh, Rog and I were just..."

"Reading, Mrs. Cohen. He was showing me this really cool book he'd been reading. And I got so into the book, that I completely forgot about the party. I kept asking Mark questions about the storyline 'cause I couldn't quite understand it. So it was my fault he wasn't downstairs."

Damn, he's good with making excuses on the spot. I better be careful. I may never know if he's doing that with me. My mom seems to buy it, for the most part, but I don't think she truly believes him. "Well, you boys should come downstairs." She turns to walk away but turns back to me and speaks quietly to me. "Now." She's so demanding.

"Okay mom. We'll be right there." She stares down at me with squinted eyes. "I promise."

She rolls her eyes in disbelief and heads back downstairs. Whew! That was close. "Reading?" I turn to face Roger after watching her leave. "Reading? What the hell was that?"

"Well I was reading. See?" He holds up the book for me to see.

"Rog, it's upside down."

He glances at the inside of the book, peeks at the front cover, then bursts into laughter. "Oops."

"C'mon, let's go."

The party goes great. I got quite a bit of money for the Bar-Mitzvah as well as my birthday. I also got some really neat gifts. Roger got me the best gift though. He had his mom make it for me. It's this great looking black and white scarf, which reminds me of my tallit. So it'll forever remind me of the day I became a man. I'll treasure it forever.

"Roger we have to get home now." Mrs. Davis announces to Roger in a sort of urgency.

"Why, what's wrong?"

"I just got off the phone with your father and..."

"WHAT? How the hell did he get this number, let alone where to find us?"

The crowd didn't take to lightly to Roger's tone or his language. My mom ushers them into the dining room leaving Roger, his mom, and me in the living room.

"Roger! Lower your voice. And watch your language." She calms herself and continues. "Your father is at the house right now and... ah," She raises her hand to hush Roger, who was about to let out another outburst. "and he found this number by the phone."

Still agitated, Roger composes himself. "What the he..." He bit his tongue, so to speak. "What is he doing here?"

"He says he wants to see you. Wants you to go back with him to the city."

He explodes. "WHAT?!! There is no FUCKING way in HELL I'm EVER going with him!"

Then next moment is a complete shock. Roger's mom slaps him across the face. I gasp, she gasps, and Roger stares her down. Holy, fuckin', shit.

She stands her ground however, staring back at Roger speaking calmly, but firmly. "Don't ever yell at me like that again Roger. I am your mother. Not one of your little friends you can just fuck around with. Is that clear?"

He's breathing heavily, but backs down. She continues. "Now, we will leave here quietly, without any fuss, and discuss this at home."

I feel real bad for Roger, and his mom. I wish there was something I could do for them. I walk Roger out to their car while his mom and my mom have a few words. I try talking to Roger, but he didn't want to talk. He didn't even look at me. He just walks to the car in silence, sitting there waiting for his mom. I wait with him just so he knows he's not alone. That I'm here for him. I'll always be here for him.

A/N: Can you believe it? Roger yelled at his mom. But it's okay, she sets him straight. So what do you think? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it worth reading still? I know where I'm going with this story, but the problem is putting it into story form. If anyone has any ideas to make it better, or editorial notes, feel free to email me. I'm all ears. Well, all eyes anyway.
And thank you again fraulein for the review on my other story. I was so ecstatic to receive it. And again thank you to everyone else who bothers to take the time to read this. It's a constant surprise to find that anyone even reads this, so thank you. You make me feel really special.