Mark
"I know your films are time consuming, but you've been gone for three hours. And in all the years we've been friends, I've never known you to film for that long. What gives?"
I wasn't going to admit to him that I actually went out searching for Anne, because then Roger would think I actually followed his advice. For once. And the last thing that boy needs is an ego stroke.
"I wasn't filming the whole time," I protested. "I went and got coffee and ran into a nice girl. Literally."
"And Mark Cohen finally finds someone to raise his temperature… among other things. Should we bust out the vodka in celebration?" Roger always knew the right things to say to make me want the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
"You can, but I'm going to opt out and edit some film." I shrugged my coat off and tossed it onto the nearest surface. "So if you need anything, I'll be in my room."
"One last thing, Mark. Details on this mystery woman you barreled over." Roger smirked and hoisted himself up onto the kitchen counter. "She has to be remotely interesting if she kept your attention for three whole hours!" His voice was dripping with sarcasm, typical Roger. But I could tell that he was happy for me because he never really gave people the third degree unless he was interested.
"Her name is Anne. She's a year younger than I am and she moved to the city a few months ago." I gave him as few details as possible in the hopes that I could escape to where everything was black and white and made sense.
"Fat or skinny? Tall or short? And more importantly, blonde or brunette? Come on Mark, there has to be more than that."
"She's about my height, maybe shorter because I think she had heels on. Definitely on the skinnier side. Blonde hair, blue eyes and a few freckles." I obviously wasn't going to get out of this as easy as I originally thought.
"She sounds like a female version of you. Good work, Cohen. You'll make your mother proud. But what does this Anne chick do for a living? Is she an artist like you?" Roger made those horrible quotation mark gestures when he said 'artist'.
"Anne's a CPA. Want some tea?"
"A CPA?" Roger Laughed. "Jesus Christ, Mark! I think you've found someone who's a bigger geek than you are! A CP-fucking-A! I cannot wait to divulge that little tidbit of information to Maureen. She's gonna die!"
I gave him a quizzical look. "Tidbit? Since when have you said that? Maybe Mimi's insistence of an attitude adjustment is finally taking place."
"Shut up, Mark. At least I didn't date a lesbian." Even though there was no malice in his words, there was still the perpetual bite that occurred when Maureen's sexuality was brought up.
"Fuck you." I said, quietly retreating to my room to edit my film.
A loud knock disrupted me from my reverie. "You know I was only kidding," He protested through my door an hour or so later. "Can we just skip to the part where we both laugh about this?"
Roger knew Maureen had, and would always be, a sore spot where I was concerned. Sure, we were still friends but our relationship was usually mentioned when he needed a good laugh or, in this case, a comeback. It wasn't Maureen that I had an issue with, but imagine having to tell your parents that the woman you had been in a serious relationship with left you… for another woman.
"It's late, Roger," I sighed and started packing my camera and projector away. "Can't you just catch up with Mimi and call it a night?"
"She's not home yet." The door creaked under his weight. "And I do feel bad for saying it. You know I only do it because it gets a rise out of you."
"Goodnight." I stashed my equipment under my bed and pulled on a pair of flannel bottoms and a sweatshirt. The heat had been acting up lately and neither of us felt like dealing with Benny.
When I heard his door shut, I knew it was safe to go sleep without another interruption, at least until Roger needed someone to cook him breakfast the next morning or some menial task along those lines.
As I filled the kettle and put it on the (illegal) wood-burning stove, I realized that the loft was unusually quiet. I couldn't hear the fuzzy TV reception or even Roger playing his guitar. I noticed a Post-it on the counter.
Breakfast at IHOP with Mimi and Collins.
I'm sorry about last night.
-Roger
I was a little bit surprised to see the note. Roger isn't one to share the details of his whereabouts, usually coming and going as he pleases without a word. Maybe he was just looking for a reason to apologize again, which makes me think that he's being genuine for a change.
I glanced at the wall clock. Noon, as I expected. They were either going out for a late breakfast or had been out since it was actually the right time to eat pancakes and waffles. I sighed and got a tea bag out of the cabinet and busied myself finding the sugar and a clean spoon.
Taking my tea back to my room, I went out on the fire escape to check the weather. It was cold, as I expected, but there was a little bit of yesterday's snow remaining.
"Mark! What are you doing out on the fire escape?" I heard Mimi call from below.
"In your pajamas, nonetheless." Collins chimed in.
I shrugged. "Just thinking, nothing more too it."
"Well get inside, you idiot kid, before you get sick. We'll be up in a minute." They all hurried up the stairs, meeting me back inside the kitchen.
"Roger tells us you have a girlfriend." Mimi sat down and batted her eyelashes at me.
"If having coffee with a member of the opposite sex qualifies as a relationship, than I have a girlfriend. Roger needs to get his story straight." I said, sitting down in a huff.
"Everyone needs an ego stroke every once in a while." He shrugged, wrapping his arms around Mimi.
"Speaking of which, we decided over breakfast to throw our pal Roger a birthday party next week," Collins laughed and mussed Roger's hair. "so you can invite your friend over for drinks and old stories."
"No, I don't think that's a good idea," Roger said, putting his hands up. "Because we wouldn't want Mark's girlfriend seeing me and then realizing she fell for the wrong roommate."
Mimi punched his shoulder and feigned anger. "Excuse me, but which one of you is taken? I think inviting her is a great idea, Mark. You might want to call her now though, because it's a little rude to give someone less than five days to make plans."
"Five days? I only need five minutes." I shrugged.
"Mark, think of how long it takes me to get ready when we go out. And I'm relatively low-maintenance. You need to plan your outfit and stuff."
"Jesus, Meems. He's getting all pale now," Collins said, putting his arm around my shoulder "Do you think you'll be able to call her without passing out on us?"
"If he's getting like this before he calls, I can only imagine what he's going to do when he gets her in bed."
"Roger!" Mimi shrieked, hitting him again. "You be nice!"
I obviously had to call Anne. Right then, with everyone watching. I saw it as a lose-lose situation. I either didn't call her and get an earful from Roger about being a baby or call her and suffer through the awkward and embarrassing process of asking her out on a date.
I took the phone and now-crumpled napkin from Mimi's outstretched hand. After 3 rings, I was getting a little panicked. Even though Anne told me that she would screen, I began thinking that she only gave me her number because I asked. And that she used me for a free cup of coffee. God, I hate being used.
"Hello?" She sounded breathy and quiet.
"Hi, Anne. It's, uh, Mark. Mark Cohen." I stammered. Even though she couldn't see me, I could feel color coming to my cheeks.
"Hi Mark! How are you?" Her demeanor seemed to change instantly. Whether this was a good or bad thing, I don't know.
"I'm doing okay. And yourself?"
"Busy, but it's to be expected." She laughed a little bit.
"Yeah, I wish I could say the same for myself." Mimi elbowed my ribs and tried to hurry me along. "So yeah, my roommate Roger's birthday is next week and I was hoping, well not hoping but I was just thinking that you might want to come over and join us. We're just spending the night in with drinks and stuff, probably watching some old footage of Roger that he won't let see the light of day until he's drunk…" I rambled.
I heard her shuffling papers and switching of the phone. "Um, what day next week? It's not that I don't want to come or anything! I just need to make sure that everything's okay with work."
"I thought she was self-employed?" Roger whispered. His ear was practically on the phone anyway, I might as well had her on speakerphone.
"Friday night, so all our friends who have real jobs won't have to work with a hangover." I explained, trying to shrug Roger off.
"I guess I'll see you Friday then." Anne said.
After giving her directions to the loft, I managed to get a few minutes of conversation in without Roger and Mimi breathing down my neck. After hanging up, I looked around and realized that I'd have to start cleaning now if I wanted the place to look remotely presentable on Friday.
"Roger, is it at all possible for you to put your plates in the dishwasher, rather than just in a heap on the counter?"
"Yes, but then you wouldn't have anything to stress about every couple of months when you actually have a friend over."
Touché, my friend. Touché.
This is my longest chapter posted yet. I was going to cut it into two different parts and then do it from Anne's perspective from when she picked up the phone but that got too complicated and confusing so I ended up just condensing it into one. Besides, if it's from her point of view I can't write about how adorable I think an embarassed Mark would be. Le sigh.
It might take a while for the next chapter to be up. Because I've been so focused on getting out the crazy mess of scenes going on in my mind onto the computer in word form that I haven't had time to actually think of what I'm going to do for that chapter. I write everything out out of order. Always. I have the ending written already. And even part of the sequel! Yes, there will be another story with a different title and everything. Because I hate the cliche "Boy meets girl, they fall in love, have 1 fight, kiss and make up and then get married and live happily ever after" stories. I ask you: Where's the variation?
I promise things will get more interesting and less fluff in coming chapters. Do I have some drama planned for this story. Oh and ah, please.
And this is where people who review get mentioned. So if you want me to drop your name, review and you'll have a special place here and in my heart. Wow, that was cheesy. I'm sorry. But review anyway and you'll get a mention from little ol' me.
Harper's Pixie- Mark Cohen can bowl me down and ruin my groceries any day. Gladly. I'd even set it up if need be. I have a soft spot in my heart for the starving artist type as well. I digress... thank you for your kind words :o)
Subia Jasmine- Poor Mark is always neglected. I can see him stomping around the loft saying "Roger! Roger! Roger!" just like that Jan Brady.
PrincessSparkes CaptainOats- I hope I cleared it up. This is PostRent, in case you didn't catch on. Mimi wouldn't be in the picture otherwise.
countrybutterfly- I'm very honored that word of my story is being passed on. That sounded really fake, but I swear it's not. It's a compliment, really! I, too, am guilty of screening. So I added a little bit of myself into Anne in the hopes that maybe a good looking film maker will run (hopefully literally) into my life.
lost my rent- Thanks again for the reviews. I'll try to update as often as I can for those who review constantly hint hint nudge nudge