Chapter Five

Roger and Collins returned to the loft at about 1:00 in the morning, expecting to find Mark fast asleep beside him camera. But instead, they came home to find their roommate fast asleep beside quite a few beer bottles...and Maureen Johnson. They both stopped in their tracks, exchanging glances. Collins was obviously trying hard not to laugh, and Roger was out and out confused. He went over and tapped Mark on the shoulder, Collins tip-toeing behind, stifling his laughter.

"Hey! Buddy! Wake up!"Roger hissed.

"Wha...?"Mark muttered, rubbing his eyes as he woke up. He sat up, fixing his glasses... then jumped up when he realized where he was. "Whoa! I...she...we..."he stuttered frantically. He quickly turned to Maureen, tapping her.

"Maureen! Maureen! Wake up!"he hissed. Maureen turned over, grunting a little. Mark sighed, continuing to poke at her. "Maureen, come on! Get up!"He shook her arm a little...and she swung her fist up, socking Mark right in the nose.

"OW!"Mark hollered, falling backwards. Roger and Collins both broke down with laugher. Maureen sat up immediately, rubbing her eyes and looking around. She saw Roger and Collins laughing hysterically across the loft.

"What the hell...?"The she spotted Mark lying beside her, cringing and holding his nose, which was now bleeding. She gasped.

"Oh my God! Mark! What happened?"

Ten minutes later, Mark sat on the couch, leaning his head back and holding tissues to his nose. Roger was sitting in a chair across from him, holding his guitar and strumming quietly, and Maureen and Collins sat on either side of him.

"How do you feel?"Maureen asked.

"I think the bleeding's slowed down a little,"Mark said. "You know, you hit pretty hard for someone who's half asleep..."

"I'm so sorry Marky! It's just a reflex, I guess. Y'know, a defensive thing. I don't like being touched in my sleep,"Maureen explained.

"Apparently not,"Collins commented. "What were you two so busy with that you passed out together anyways?"Mark and Maureen both stopped. They didn't want to tell Collins about the scrapbook.

"Er...just a little...plan,"Mark invented.

"What kind of plan?"Roger asked curiously.

"A plan...for Joanne!"Maureen said quickly. "Yeah. Uh huh. Mark's helping me get her back."

"I am?"Mark asked without thinking. Maureen stamped on his foot, but Collins didn't seem to notice.

"You and Joanne broke up again?"he asked.

"You make it sound like this happens all the time!"Maureen cried.

"Well...it does,"Roger pointed out. Maureen scowled at him.

"Was I talking to you?"she snapped. Roger merely sighed, strumming on his guitar again.

"So you're helping her win back her woman, huh Mark?"Collins asked, grinning rather teasingly. Mark frowned, still holding a mass of tissues to his nose.

"Yes I am! Because that's what friends do. They help other friends, and do friendly things for them!"he declared, leaning towards Collins. Maureen suddenly grabbed his head, yanking him back.

"Keep your head back!"she ordered. Mark sighed, leaning backwards again obediently.

"Wow. I guess sometimes friends can be real suckers for each other too,"Roger commented, as he and Collins exchanged grins. Mark frowned, as Maureen ignored them. She looked at her watch.

"Oh, it's pretty late. I'm gonna go try and get some sleep in my own bed! I'll talk to you tomorrow, Marky!" Maureen said, getting up and walking to the door.

"Bye Maureen!"Mark called through the tissues, waving with his free hand. Maureen giggled a little and strutted out the door. Roger and Collins immediately turned to Mark.

"What is going on? Last time I checked, Maureen hated you!"Roger pointed out.

"I know, it's just...she came over and we...we talked, and we...and...it's not what it looks like!"Mark insisted.

"This is TOO funny!"Collins snickered.

"I see you're feeling better..."Mark said, frowning at the now hysterical Collins.

"I am now!"he laughed.

"Mark...what's going on?"Roger asked, still confused.

"Maureen came over to apologize. She and Joanne just broke up, so she was upset, and we just had a few beers, and we were uh...working on our plan...and then we must have fallen asleep while we were working," Mark explained. Roger and Collins were both looking at Mark, grinning.

"Did you guys...?"Roger made a motion with his hands.

"No!"Mark shrieked.

"Okay! Relax! I was just making sure!"Roger said defensively.

"So you're really helping her win back Joanne, huh?"Collins asked.

"Yeah. What's so bad about that?"Mark asked.

"Well...I just thought it might be kind of difficult considering, you know...the situation," Collins continued.

"I am not still in love with Maureen!"Mark insisted.

"Then why do you do everything she says?"Roger asked.

"And come running whenever she calls?"Collins added.

"And take her in no matter what she's done to you?"Roger continued.

"And listen to her whenever she comes crying to your door?"

"And go along with all her crazy ideas?"

"And-"

"I do not do all of those things!"Mark cried. Suddenly the door burst open again, and Maureen came walking in.

"Hey Mark, I just remembered, I'm protesting plastic bags in super markets tomorrow, and since I fired Joanne, I have no production manager. Will you do it for me just this once?"She pouted her lips, looking sad and innocent. "Please pookie?"

"Sure Maureen,"Mark said, nearly melting. Maureen smiled.

"Super!"She walked over to Mark...and pulled his head back again. "Now head back, you need to be healthy by tomorrow at 7:30, okay? I want you at the studio by then at the latest!"And Maureen walked back out the door happily. Collins and Roger were both looking at Mark, shaking their heads.

"...that was just once! She really needed me!"And the two burst out laughing.