Chapter Four
When Roger opened his eyes the next morning, he saw Mimi and Collins sitting on the floor, tossing something back and forth, as a little brown figure dashed between them. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Hey Roger!"Mimi greeted, tossing the rolled up sock at Collins, who was then attacked by Jesse. She sat down next to Roger. "Sorry for keeping you up last night. You look exhausted."
"Don't worry about it,"Roger said kindly. "You really didn't keep me up that late last night anyways."Mimi grinned, leaning against Roger.
"I know, I just...didn't feel as sick last night. It was like, I could finally control things. I could stop being sick when I wanted,"she explained.
"That whole thing with the dog really seemed to comfort you,"Roger commented.
"It did!"Mimi said happily. "I don't know what it was about that dog but...everything Collins was saying, the way it licked my hand...it all seemed to make things feel better. It made me feel better. It was amazing."
"It sure was,"Roger agreed. "How are you feeling now?"
"Best I've felt in a long time!"Mimi replied, giggling a little as she stood up. She got back down with Collins. "Watch this Roger!"Collins tossed Mimi the sock, and Jesse went running after it, bouncing at Mimi, who pulled the sock away, laughing. "It's like monkey in the middle, with a dog!"Roger grinned, also getting down on his knees.
"Let's see if he can handle three people!"he teased, as Mimi threw him the sock, which he successfully kept from Jesse. Collins laughed.
"Man, this is something I'd never thought I'd see!"he said.
"I know! I never pictured you as the dog type,"Mimi agreed.
"What? You can see me with cats?"Roger retorted.
"No...I could never see you with pets at all,"Mimi admitted. "You didn't seem like the pet type of person."
"Oh, he is all right!"Collins assured her. "He hasn't stopped playing with this dog since we found him yesterday."Roger just laughed, throwing the sock at Collins, and sending Jesse running after it.
"Where's Mark?"he asked.
"Out filming. He left early this morning, I was still asleep when he was heading out the door,"Collins replied.
"Yeah, he's been fanatical about the filming lately. I guess he's having a hard time coming up with inspiration, so he's convinced he's losing his touch,"Roger explained.
"Mark? No way! That's a gift from above, he could never lose that!"Mimi insisted.
"Yeah, try telling him that,"Roger snorted. Then there was a knock at the door.
"Coming!"Collins called, standing up. Suddenly the door opened, and Benny walked in. Collins frowned.
"Don't you understand 'Coming'?"he asked.
"Oh. I thought you said 'Come in',"Benny replied.
"What do you want?"Roger demanded. Benny had spotted Mimi. There was no way he was leaving any time soon now.
"I told you I'd be back, didn't I?"he replied coldly. He suddenly turned gentler, as he turned to Mimi. "Mimi... how have you been?"
"Fine, thanks,"Mimi replied.
"Really? You don't look too good..."Benny admitted.
"Well giving up drugs isn't exactly a picnic,"Mimi snapped back.
"I know! But if you need any money for rehab, or hospitals..."Suddenly Roger's guitar fell over. That's when Collins, Roger and Mimi remembered that they had left Jesse to wander the loft, unsupervised...while Benny was there. Roger leapt up, rushing over and snatching it. Jesse was sitting behind the couch, looking at Roger happily.
"What was that?"Benny asked.
"Uh, I didn't prop it up right...it must have slipped,"Roger lied. He twitched his head a little to Collins, motioning to show him where Jesse was. But then Jesse began to walk away. Roger took a deep breath...and purposely dropped his guitar again.
"Whoa! There it goes again!"he cried, quickly bending down behind the couch. He grabbed Jesse by the collar, dragging him back...and Jesse let out a yelp.
"You okay, Roger?"Benny called over.
"Yeah! I uh...got a splinter!"Roger called back, trying to force Jesse to sit. But Jesse jumped up, trotting away...Roger leapt back up, holding his guitar. Jesse was about to walk out in front of Benny...
"Hey guys, I'm back!"Mark came walking in the door, and Collins dove down on the floor to catch Jesse as Benny turned.
"Ah, Mark. Where were you so early?"he asked, keeping his back turned to Collins who was rolling across the floor, struggling to keep Jesse from running off. Mark saw him, and frowned slightly, but managed to stay focused on Benny.
"I was just filming a little,"he replied.
"Are you working on a new documentary?"Benny asked.
"Not exactly...I haven't really had any inspiration lately,"Mark admitted.
"Well, good luck with that. I'm sure you'll find something. You always do,"Benny said, about to turn around, just as Jesse broke lose from Collins's grip. Mark quickly grabbed Benny, turning him around.
"Hey Benny...you're a very fashionable guy! What do you think of my new jacket?" Mark asked randomly, trying to come up with a reason to keep Benny's back turned. Mimi grabbed Jesse's legs just as he was about to walk over to Benny. She dragged him backwards, as he tried to dig his claws into the rug. Roger tip-toed over, as Collins crawled on his stomach, trying to reach Jesse.
"Uh...it's a nice jacket, Mark,"Benny replied awkwardly.
"Really? You think so? I thought maybe it looked too, er...brown,"Mark invented.
"No, I think the color is fine, really,"Benny insisted, about to turn around again. Roger, Collins and Mimi all panicked...but Mark suddenly wacked Benny in the face. Benny whirled around, as Roger, Mimi and Collins struggled to suppress laughter...and Mimi let go of Jesse. Roger dove on him, as Benny turned back to Mark.
"Mark! What the heck was THAT for?"he cried.
"I'm sorry! There was a fly on your cheek!"Mark lied. Benny scowled at him.
"If you're messing with me..."
"No! I'm not messing you! Really, there was a fly, right there!"Mark said, poking Benny's cheek. Benny slapped Mark's hand away.
"Okay, okay! I believe you!"he snapped. "Next time...tell me, don't slap me!"
"Sure thing,"Mark replied. Roger had managed to get Jesse back behind the couch, and Collins and Mimi were off the floor, as Benny turned around again.
"I--where did Roger go?"he asked, frowning.
"Tying my shoe!"Roger called from behind the couch. He made sure Jesse was trapped in between his ankles before popping up. "Here."
"Right...anyways, I just came by to see how you were. Mimi in particular,"Benny explained.
"Oh, don't worry about me. I can't take care of myself,"Mimi assured him. "Plus I've got a little extra help." She grinned at Roger and Collins, who grinned back...until Jesse wiggled his way out from Roger's ankles, then Roger's grin turned into a grimace. Collins saw this and immediately looked down for the dog. Mark saw their terrified faces, and caught a glimpse of Jesse popping out from behind the couch, and beginning to walk towards Benny...
"Are you sure, Mimi?"Benny continued, apparently not noticing Roger and Collins' horrified expressions. Jesse was making his way towards Benny, as Roger and Collins frantically waved at Mark to do something. Mark hesitated, trying wildly to think something up that would distract Benny...
"Hey Benny!"He spun Benny around...and kissed him quickly. Benny looked horrified, even more shocked than when Mark had slapped him. Mimi's jaw dropped, as Roger and Collins dove on top of Jesse, picking him up and rushing him across the room to Mark's mattress, where they threw him under the blankets and sat down, and both collapsed into each other, nearly biting their tongues in two as they tried not to laugh.
"...what was that?"Benny cried in shock, jumping away from Mark as if he had just attacked him. "Mark, are you...?"Mark paused.
"Er...yeah! Yeah, I um...just found out. Recently. Like, yesterday. Y'know, you never can tell when these things are just gonna...spring on you!"he invented awkwardly, trying not to look mortified. Benny was staring at him in bewilderment.
"Look, Mark, I know this must be weird for you, but I'm straight so..."
"Oh right! Right, of course. Yeah, I understand, no big deal. I'll get over it!"Mark insisted. Benny patted Mark's shoulder awkwardly, still standing about a foot away from him.
"Good. Good for you, Mark...um, well...good luck with your newfound...identity. See you later."And Benny quickly walked from the room, looking very uncomfortable. As the door closed, Roger, Collins and Mimi all burst out in fits of laughter, as Mark groaned, looking absolutely mortified.
"Oh my God...I can't believe I just did that! What was I thinking? Oh my God! Oh my God! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?"Mark quickly ran into the bathroom, and began scrubbing at his mouth with a toothbrush. Jess leapt from the blankets as Roger and Collins fell off the bed laughing, and went running over to Mark excitedly. Mark glared down at the dog.
"I am SO never forgiving you for this!"
Haha, sorry for that! Don't worry, Mark's not REALLY gay in the story...but Benny thinks he is now! This is mostly just because I wanted to throw in something really spontaneously and funny...and that's what came to mind! Let me know what you think!