Mark walked the four blocks to the Panda Pagoda in a fog. He wasn't going to the park. He just needed an excuse to get out and think. He automatically placed the usual order and sat down to wait. His fingers absentmindedly drummed on the table. He knew he should move on with his life. There were plenty of beautiful, intelligent girls out there. The only problem was he didn't want those other girls. He wanted Maureen.
Mark could still remember the first time he saw Maureen. She was sitting at a bus stop, shivering. It was late November and all she had on was a sweat jacket. Judging by the suitcase between her feet, she had just arrived. Despite her attempts to look aloof and collected, Mark could see that she was a little frightened.
He walked over and introduced himself. She smiled and returned the gesture. He offered her his coat since he always wore three layers in the cold weather. Maureen accepted it gratefully. They chatted for a while until Mark offered to walk her home. She sheepishly admitted that she hadn't found a place to live. Mark took her to the loft and cooked dinner.
Maureen started to cry once they had cleaned up the kitchen. She told him that she was sorry he was going through all of this trouble for her. They had only met that afternoon. All she had ever wanted was to be independent. It was the reason she had left home. Now she was back where she started.
Mark held her tightly and breathed in her vanilla scent. He told her everything would be all right. He didn't know what came over him, but he kissed her. Since that first kiss he has never been able to look back. Now Maureen had become too comfortable.
"Why are you so stupid, Mark?" he asked himself silently.
"One sesame chicken and moo shu pork to go!" yelled the man at the counter. Mark paid for the food and headed back to the loft.
"I thought you went to China for that food, buddy!" joked Roger.
Collins chuckled and playfully smacked Roger's head. "He's had a rough week. Give him a break."
"Nah, it's all right," said Mark.
He set the food on the chest in front of the couch. Roger dug in hungrily. Collins watched Mark slowly push his food around with a fork.
"Is there something on your mind?" he asked Mark.
"Huh? Oh, no I'm fine," Mark responded half-heartedly.
"A certain green-eyed she-devil has been ripping his heart out again," Roger said through a mouthful of pork.
"Could you at least swallow before you speak, man?" asked Collins.
Roger proceeded to make growling noises while devouring his food. Mark couldn't help but laugh.
"Please ignore our neanderthalic friend," Collins continued. "Do you want to talk about it?" Mark shook his head.
"What you need is a distraction," said Roger.
"Oh no! The last time you tried to distract me we went to a strip club, and I spent half the night being suffocated by the lap dancer's boobs!" Mark turned crimson at the recollection.
"You're hopeless," said Roger.
Collins looked at his watch. "I better hurry or I'm going to be late for work."
"What occupation are we engaging in today?" asked Mark.
"Tutor extraordinaire!" he responded, flourishing his arms and taking a dramatic bow. Roger and Mark applauded mockingly. "I'll come back around later if that's ok?"
"Sure," Roger answered.
With a smile and a wave Collins was gone. Mark threw out the now empty containers and rinsed their utensils.
"I'm going to lie down for a while," he said. Roger raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "I'm fine. I just have a slight headache, that's all."
Roger shrugged and picked up his guitar. Mark fell asleep to the sound of Roger tuning.