Chapter Four
"SPEAK."Roger and Mark's answering machine rang out.
"Hey Mark, it's Emily. I was just wondering if you were free to get together some time this week...I'll be around, my number is 306-5137. Give me a call if you want to meet. Talk to you later."Roger looked up from his guitar, as Mark began to blush.
"Who's Emily?"he asked his roommate curiously.
"Uh, no one. Just some nurse that I met at the hospital,"Mark said quickly.
"Really? Sounds like she's interested in you,"Roger said, grinning.
"Uh, no,"Mark said, laughing a little.
"Mark, she just called to invite you out to coffee!"Roger pointed out.
"She's friendly,"Mark insisted.
"Is she good-looking?"Roger continued.
"Yeah, she's pretty I guess. She's from England or something,"Mark explained.
"Wow, looks like Mark's finally got himself a date!"Roger teased.
"No Roger, it's not like that,"Mark assured him.
"Why? She just called and asked you out!"Roger repeated.
"She's pregnant, that's why!"Mark replied. Roger stopped.
"...oh,"he said. "Well...are you still gonna meet her?"
"Yeah. I still want to be friends with her,"Mark said.
"Cool,"Roger said, returning his attention to his guitar. Suddenly Angel and Maureen came bursting through the door.
"Marky! We're here to check on you!"Maureen called. Mark frowned.
"Check on me? Why?"he asked.
"Because you're disabled!"Maureen cried, pointing at Mark's strung-up arm.
"Maureen, for the thousandth time, I'm fine..."Mark insisted. Angel had happily sat down on the duct-taped couch beside Roger, playing with her skirt.
"So, what's new with you boys?"she asked.
"Nothing-"Mark began.
"Some nurse from the hospital just called to ask Mark out,"Roger jumped in immediately.
"Ooh! Mark has a little girlfriend, huh?"Angel squealed excitedly.
"Oh my God, Marky's found a girlfriend? That is SO cute!"Maureen agreed. They both giggled happily.
"Yeah, only she's knocked up,"Roger added. They both stopped.
"Oh...well that takes the fun out of everything!"Angel grumbled.
"What's her name?"Maureen asked.
"Emily Weston,"Mark replied. "She's an intern training to become a nurse. She's really friendly, and she seems to be from out of the country. I figured I might as well help her make some friends here."
"Great! So when do we meet her?"Maureen asked. Mark suddenly paused...
"Uh...soon,"was all he could come up with.
"You should invite her over to the Life Café!"Angel said.
"Yeah, we can have another dinner party, it will be great!"Roger added. Mark stopped, remembering the LAST dinner party they had held at the Life Café...which had involved Maureen pulling her pants down and Collins and Angel making out on a table. Though Mark was not ashamed of his friend's behaviors, he couldn't help but think what a normal, rule-abiding person's reaction might be to that crowd...
"You can show off some of your table-dancing skills to your new little friend!"Maureen teased. Mark laughed awkwardly, just imagining what Emily would think if she ever met his friends.
"Heh heh...yeah..."he muttered distractedly. "You know, I really don't think you guys want to meet her..."
"Are you kidding? No girl is dating our Marky without our approval!"Maureen insisted.
"I...I'll ask her about it when I meet her then,"Mark said.
"Oh, yay!"Angel cheered, clapping excitedly. Mark forced a grin and an awkward laugh. Deep down, he had no intention of even mentioning his friends to Emily.
"Hey, you came!"Emily looked up happily as Mark entered the small coffee shop they had agreed to meet at.
"Yeah, I made it,"Mark said, walking in awkwardly. He didn't exactly fit in with all the other, richer people who were there. Many people turned to stare as he walked over to where Emily was seated, sitting across from her. She pushed a coffee over to him.
"I got you a plain coffee. You can add whatever you like to it. I figured I'd save you from waiting in the line, it can get pretty long,"Emily explained. Mark looked at the two person line and understood that the real reason Emily had done this for him was because she could tell he had no money to afford a coffe anyhow.
"Oh, thanks. How much do I owe you?"Mark asked, though honestly, he had no money to pay her back with. Emily knew this, and replied:
"Don't worry about it. It's on me."
"Are you sure?"Mark asked, to sound polite.
"Positive. So...what's up? You're a little late, did you get held up by all your friends?"Emily asked. Mark sighed.
"Well, it's different having to get places without a bike. I guess it didn't really click that it takes longer to walk places than ride,"he replied.
"Is there any way to fix your bike?"Emily asked.
"I doubt it. It's sitting out with the trash now,"Mark explained. "But as long as my camera if safe, I'll be fine."
"Oh yeah, how's your documenting going?"Emily asked curiously.
"Pretty good. I've been getting a lot of good footage,"Mark said.
"That's great."That's when Mark noticed Emily had a notebook in front of her, and a pen in her hand.
"Were you writing something?"he asked. Emily looked at the notebook, and smiled.
"Oh yeah...I write sometimes. Well, actually, a lot,"Emily admitted.
"Really? What do you write?"Mark asked.
"Oh, lots of things. Short stories, fictions...I've gotten a few published in local newspapers. My father always told me to just forget about writing. He said there was no money in it, I had no talent for it, and it was a waste of my life. He said I should do something practical, like be a nurse. So here I am,"Emily sighed.
"Emily, you shouldn't just give up your dreams because someone told you to,"Mark said.
"Yeah well...right now I need the money more than my dreams,"Emily pointed out. "But I still keep a notebook with me. You know, as a hobby. It makes me feel like maybe there could be more to my life, someday..."
"Your life is what you make it,"Mark assured her.
"No. Your life is what you need it to be,"Emily corrected. "Circumstances force us to live lives we don't always want to live."
"But that doesn't mean we can't make the best of those lives,"Mark continued. Emily grinned.
"You've got a nice outlook on life, Mark,"she commented.
"Hey, take it from someone who's life hasn't been exactly perfect...it's always better to have a more positive outlook on things, no matter how bad the circumstances,"Mark said.
"I'll remember that,"Emily replied. "And I hope any bad circumstances in your life clear up for you too."
"Thanks."Then Emily looked at her watch.
"Well, I've gotta get over to the hospital. I have a late shift tonight. But maybe we could do this again some time?"Emily asked hopefully, grabbing her notebook and her pen and putting them into a backpack.
"Sure. Give me a call,"Mark said. Emily smiled.
"Great. Talk to you later, Mark!"And she waved as she ran out the door.