Chapter 10 – Bouncy Beds and Slamming Doors

"JOANNE!"

I always knew I should have become an actor. Aye god, what is this? The day from hell? God damn it. "How ya doing?" Aw, here I go again, pretending to be a nice guy, I used to be such an asshole, why can't I go back to that?

"I'm good, and you? You coping okay Rog?"

Yeah.. heh. That's one way to put it. "Oh definitely! I couldn't be better! Best I felt all year" Damn it. How long before I can get away with out being a total snot.

"Well that's good. Hey! Why don't you come back to mine and Maureen's place for a bit? We'd love to have you. Stay for dinner. I'm cooking - I banned Maureen from the kitchen."

Shhhhiiiit. Can't really say no, because I haven't seen them in a long time.. but.. Collins... but... but... but... Shit. Oh! "Sorry Joanne, I was just running out to get some groceries, I have to get back to the loft to help Mark out."

"Where's Collins? Isn't he there?" Damn, I have to nod don't I? Nodding. Condemning. "Then it's settled. Mark will be fine. Don't worry." And now she grabs my arm. God Joanne, I love you to death, but at this moment I want to stab you in the eye with a ice pick.

And twist.

And twist.

And damn it.

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Yes! Yay me! Ooo Baby I want to do a happy dance. Yay me! Yay him. Yay Collins!

It's my birthday, It's my birthday! Go Mark! Go Maaarrrk! It's your birthday. Its my birthday!

And he scores! And the crowd goes wild!

AHHHHHHHHH

Hell ya!

Bouncy Bed!

Ooo, this bed needs some WD-40.

Squeak.

Bouncy! Yay!

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"So…" Roger looked at Joanne, and shifted in his seat, he was only ever so slightly uncomfortable.

"So Roger, what the hell is going on?" Maureen repeated, she of course had noticed something odd in his behavior immediately. Roger continually cursed his luck and himself for caving into Joanne.

"Um… Well you see… um…" He was desperately trying to stall, hoping to find some way out of there. He wanted to go apologize to Collins. The way he figured was he had one of two options, to either cave, tell them, or just make an excuse and run. He was leaning towards the second.

"The sooner you tell us the sooner we'll unblock the door." Roger mentally cursed Joanne. Knowing she was right. They had blocked the door which a large table that required two people to move. There was no way he could do it by himself.

He was reluctant, but he caved, and so he summed it up as succinctly as he could. "I like Collins."

Maureen looked at him as if he had grown another head. "Well duh. He's your friend. We all like Collins."

Roger looked at her, perplexed at her misunderstanding, but he quickly decided to take advantage of it. He ignored Joanne's look of shock. "Yes Maureen. I like Collins and I'm ashamed at myself for taking advantage of his friendship for so long, and I want to find a way to make it up to him. Make him feel more appreciated by his friends."

She looked at him skeptically, and then moved to the table. Roger stood and helped her move it slightly before she put it back down. "But Roger, whats the big deal about that?" Roger looked at her and then Joanne. Joanne had long since caught on, he looked at the door and tried to figure out if there was enough room to slip through the door, it wouldn't open all the way yet because of the table. 'Fuck it, I'll go for it.'

Roger slipped through the door, both girls staring at him, and slammed it shut in their faces.

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Wow. I am so confused now. I'm lying here, in Marks bed on my back. Staring at the ceiling. Nude. Just thought to throw that in there. Nude.

Way to go Collins.

Lets review today: Argued with Roger. Kissed Roger. Screwed Mark.

Lovely.

Could life suck any more or be anymore confusing? Hm... I think not.

So now the question is: What the hell do I do?

Lets look at my options now shouldn't?
1) Let things lie, say nothing.
2) Let things progress how they will.
3) Tell Roger, get everything in the open.
4) Run away.

As tempting as my fourth option sounds, I'm thinking...

"Hey Mark, lets not tell anyone about this yet. Okay?"

"mmhhmm"

"Good. Thanks."

"Mmhhmm"

I guess I should roll over and say something more. Chit chat a bit I guess. Or I could get dressed. Meh, not yet. I remember how pissed Angel would get if I got out of bed too soon.

Oo... Damn. Angel. Oh man. I think she'd be okay with Roger... But Mark? Damn it.

Okay, rolling over now. Damn him, he's grinning like a Cheshire cat. Is he ticklish? Oo theres a thought to follow up on. Where to try first. Lets try his side.

Ooomph. He's got good reflexes. That kick in the stomach defiantly hurt. Guess he doesn't like being tickled.

Too damn bad. He's gonna be.

ooo.. his plan is so much more pleasurable.

Lets go with his plan. He's a little horn dog...

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Roger walked hurriedly down the street, trying to get back to the loft as quickly as he could. As he left the building he had heard Joanne and Maureen calling after him, but he ignored it. He figured he could always claim he had never heard their yells for an explanation.

Once he reached the building he hurriedly climbed up the flights of steps to get the loft and quietly let himself in. He looked around and briefly thought it odd that he didn't see anyone in the common areas, but he disregarded it. He went in his room and threw his coat on the bed, and then went and knocked on Collins' door. He didn't get any response, and was briefly afraid that Collins had gone out. He wanted to get his apology done and over with while he still had his courage screwed up. He didn't know where Collins could have gone, but he decided to knock on Marks door to at least figure out if they went out somewhere together- after all, he thought, Mark could have had an appointment he had forgotten about.

He knocked on Marks door, and while he didn't hear a "come in" he did here some sort of movement in the room. He went ahead and opened the door and the site that greeted him made him calmly looked at the two of them in bed for a moment. Then he grabbed the door knob, said "What the fuck?" before closing the door.

As he crossed to his room, he could hear Collins saying "ssshhhiiiiet" through the thin walls. He opened his bedroom door, walked in, and ever so carefully slammed it shut prior to turning on his stereo very loudly.

Very very loudly.

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A/n: Theres chapter 10. I finally got motivated again. Yay me!

Chapter 11 when ever I can swing it. Hopefully within a week. Gotta write it first. I hate the formating thingie.