Chapter Eight: Food of Love, Emotion
Love is friendship set to music. – Unknown

A month or two earlier, April would have sworn she'd never go out to a place like this of her own free will, without Maureen dragging her along or something of the sort. And yet… here she was, without even Mark or Maureen to keep her company. But… Roger was playing. And he'd asked her to come. That was reason enough.

In the month or so since she'd first seen him perform, April had almost forgotten his stage presence, the way he automatically drew every eye to him when he was on stage—not even singing, just standing there. When he was actually singing…

She'd barely taken her eyes off of him all night, just watching the way he leaned into the microphone, his absolute confidence, the cocky smirk… April could see why Maureen had first taken him home. Not that she hadn't before, but she could see it so much more clearly when he was performing, the fire, the light in him…

As he finished his song, he looked up, seeking out April across the bar. She was alone at her table, and when he found her he caught her eye, and smiled…

For a second, April lost track of the entire world, everything but his eyes, and his smile.

"April?"

"Huh?" April and Maureen were lying on the futon, April almost asleep, Maureen apparently not so much. The boys were already in their rooms, presumably asleep, but Maureen still spoke quietly, as if trying to make sure they didn't overhear her if they were awake.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Maureen, it's late, I'm tired, and I have to go to work fairly early tomorrow, certainly earlier than you are ever awake barring extreme circumstances."

"So…"

"Make it quick." When Maureen hesitated for too long, April sighed. "Maureen, whatever it is, just ask, okay?"

"Are you sleeping with Mark?"

"What?"

"What about Roger?"
"Maureen!"

"Hush, you'll wake them up!"

"Well… I just…" If she hadn't been awake before, April certainly was now. "What on earth would make you ask that?" She sat up to glare at her friend in the dark.

"I just thought that you're really friendly with them and—"

"Oh my God… Maureen? I'm friendly with them because they're my friends. That does not mean I'm sleeping with them. It's the same with Benny and Tom and you."

"It's not the same. Mark and Roger are guys."

April stared at her. "So are Tom and Benny."

"Well, yeah, but Collins is gay and Benny's… Benny." April could only blink at Maureen, unable to comprehend what had gotten into her. Maureen studied her for a moment, and then added, "If you're going to sleep with one of them, make it Mark. Roger's just… a bastard. You don't want him."

"That's what I've been telling you," April snapped in annoyance. "Look, what about you? Why don't you have a new boyfriend yet?"

That took Maureen enough by surprise that she remained silent for some time. "Huh?" she asked at last.

"I haven't seen you single for this long in almost a year, I think. So what is it?" Now on the attack, striking back for Maureen's questions, April asked, "What's stopping you from trying to seduce Mark or Benny? God, even Tom? For all that he's gay, I wouldn't put it past you to try… What's the matter with you? Are you sick?" She put a hand to Maureen's forehead as if feeling for a fever, and Maureen smacked it away.

"I'm not sick, you idiot. It's none of your business, so stop."

"Then you stop asking insane questions," April retorted. "Can I just go to sleep now?"

"Fine," Maureen said with a sigh. "I'm just… I'm trying to help, okay? Just… be careful, 'Ril. I don't want you to get hurt."

April rolled over, turning her back to Maureen, and shifted her pillow a little. "I'm a big girl, Maur. I can take care of myself."

April stretched out on the couch, cradling the phone to her ear. Since getting home from work some time in the afternoon, she had the loft mostly to herself, and so she took the opportunity to make a phone call she'd been meaning to for a long time. She listened as, on the other end of the line, the phone rang once, twice…

A young woman picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Jessi-love! It's me." April brightened immediately upon hearing Jessica's voice. They'd been best friends since high school, and not even living on opposite sides of the country could change that.

Jessica squeaked happily. "April, my star! How's it going, baby? I haven't heard from you in a month! You still alive in the Big City?"

April giggled. "Yes, I'm alive. I moved."

"What, out of your apartment? Did you have a fight with your roommate or something?"

"Maureen? No. We were just… having trouble paying our rent, so these guys we know offered to—"

"What guys and why haven't I heard about them? You're holding out on me, April-baby."

April smiled. "I am not. I just haven't had the time to call you yet."

"So tell me, then. How'd you meet them?"

"Roger was Maureen's boyfriend at the time, and—"

"Was?"

"Well, you know Maureen. But Mark and Roger asked us to move in, and the other two didn't argue, so…"

"The other two? So there are six of you?"

"Well… yeah. But it's a big loft, so we manage."

"Okay, you need to tell me about your new friends. All of them."

"You're nosy."

"No, I just want to know who these people are if you're living with them, April-star. Need to make sure they're looking after you."

"What, I can't look after myself?"

"…Sure you can, honey. Just tell me."

"Well, there's Roger…"

"Maureen's ex-boyfriend?"

"Right. Are you going to let me talk, or interrupt every three words?"

"Oh, right. Sorry. Continue."

April grinned, amused by Jessica's bubbly attitude. As annoying as it could sometimes be, she'd missed it. "Alright. So there's Roger. He's a musician… a rock star." She smiled to herself at that before she went on. "He's… as stubborn as Maureen, and arrogant, but… he's a nice guy. Even if Maureen hates him now."

Jessica paused. "Is he good-looking?" she asked at last, and April sighed. She'd known that was coming.

"Jessi, he's Maureen's ex. And my roommate. I can't—"

"Avoiding the question. Is he?"

"…Yes, he is. Very."

April could almost hear Jessica's satisfied smirk. "Hah. At least I got you to admit it. So what's your problem?"

This was starting to sound uncomfortably like her conversation with Maureen last night. "I don't have a problem. I just live with him. And he's Maureen's ex. It would be weird if I—"

"Honey, from what you've told me, half of people in the East Village are very likely Maureen's exes. You shouldn't let that stop you."

Realizing that this was a wholly pointless argument, April sighed and changed the subject. "And then there's Mark…"