Sorry Collins really has been here much, but I need to show the bond between Mark and Roger. He's in this chapter some but not too much.
Oh and lots of candy for whoever finds the line from one of Dane Cook's acts in this chapter the Fight Club line in chapter 3 and the line from Life as a House in chapter 4...Enjoy!
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"Mmm..." Roger stretched and rubbed his eyes as he walked out of his room. Mark was on the couch messing with his camera, and Collins was in the chair reading the Village Voice. Roger walked over and collapsed on the couch next to Mark.
"Hey Rog. How you feelin?" Collins asked not looking up from the paper.
"M'not bad. Hungry." He answered.
"Want me to make you something?" Mark got up off the couch and walked to the kitchen.
"Sure what do we have?"
"I dunno, lots. Cereal, pasta, sandwiches, chips, mac and cheese."
"Oo I want mac and cheese." Roger answered perking up like an over eager young boy.
Collins chuckled from his spot in the chair at his friends surprisingly good mood.
"M'kay." Mark said pulling the box out of the cupboard and putting a pot of water on the stove to boil.
"Anything interesting?" Roger asked motioning towards the paper.
"No not really, same old shit." Collins answered honestly.
Roger laughed, and a moment later Mark emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of macaroni and cheese in his hand.
He handed the bowl and a spoon to Roger. "Here"
"Thanks Marky."
"Sure Rog. Don't eat it too fast your stomach has been really sensitive lately, I'd be careful if I was you." Mark warned.
Roger rolled his eyes. "Ok mother."
Roger of course ignored Marks warning and ate the food in no time at all. He sat for a moment before setting the bowl down and running to the bathroom. Mark laughed and followed Roger to the bathroom.
He was bent down over the toilet emptying the contents of his stomach. Mark walked over and pushed his hair out of his face. "You ok?"
"What do you think." He replied sarcastically and fell back against the wall.
"I told you."
"Whatever, help me up."
Mark took Rogers arm and led him back out to the couch. "I'll get you some water."
"Thanks Mark."
"Fuck Roger quit wasting our food." Collins poked sarcastically.
"Fuck you Collins."
Collins just laughed and went back to his paper. He was in no mood to fight with moody Roger.
Mark came back to the couch with a cup of water for Roger and sat down next to him. He rubbed his back soothingly. "Better?"
"Much."
"Good"
Roger leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. They sat in silence for a while until Roger sat upright. "I'm bored." He whined
"Well what do you want to do." Mark asked startled by the sudden breaking of the silence.
"I dunno, lets play a board game" The musician suggested enthusiastically.
"Rog I'm pretty sure we don't own any board games." Collins pointed out.
"Yeah we do. I bought Mark Monopoly a couple years ago." He stuck his tongue out at the professor.
Mark smiled and stood up. "I'll go get it." He came out of his room a minute later board game in hand.
Roger and Collins moved onto the floor as Mark began to set up the game. Roger reached for the dog piece, and stuck his tongue out at Collins who had reached for it at the same moment.
"Your such a baby." Collins chuckled.
"Stop it you two." Mark said as he pulled out the money.
They began to play and the game went good for a while before Collins decided he was bored and it was taking to long.
Collins let out a sigh. "Where'd you get the pink fifties you cheating whore?" He said with a laugh at Mark.
"Hey I'm not cheating." Mark said innocently
Collins stood up. "Well boys, I'd love to stay and play but Marks a cheating whore and this game takes way to fucking long." He laughed as he walked towards the door.
"Ok, but where are you going?" Roger asked.
"I dunno for walk or something. Have fun!"
"Bye Collins!" They yelled after him
They immediately went back to there very enjoyable game of Monopoly. Roger was doing well and having fun, and Mark was enjoying him. Not too long after Collins left though, Mark began to notice him sending longing glances towards the door. He knew immediately that Roger needed a hit. He could read Rogers body language better than anyone else.
He moved from his spot and walked over to him. "Come on why don't you go lay down in your room." He grabbed his arm and tried to pull him up.
"No!" Roger said pulling him back down. "Look Mark," His voice became shaky and his breathing unsteady. "If I go in there I'll be alone with my thoughts and the need will only grow. You have to keep my mind off of it. Please." He begged.
"Oh ok Roger sure." He sat down next to him.
Roger pulled his knees to his chest and began to lightly shiver. Mark reached over and pulled Roger into his arms. He was the only one who knew this, most likely from knowing Roger most of his life, Roger liked to be held. Under his bad ass rocker exterior he really just loved to have someone hold him. He didn't care who, but it gave him a sense of security and always calmed him down.
Sure enough the rockers shivering began to subside as he settled into Marks grip.
"Whose turn is it?" He asked still slightly trembling
"Yours Rog, go ahead."
Roger picked up the dice and rolled them. They continued the game with Roger in the filmmakers arms.
Finally after about a half hour Roger began to wiggle out of Marks grip. He turned around and faced Mark. "I'm ok now."
"Good."
"But I'm done playing this game. Collins was right it takes to fucking long! And I'm pretty sure you cheated" He laughed as he walked over and laid down on the couch.
"Finally, I've only been waiting for you to be done for a fucking hour. And I was not cheating!" He sarcastically shot back.
Roger looked down from the couch at Mark. "Hey, thanks for distracting me Mark."
"No thank you." Mark replied.
"For what?" Roger looked confused.
"For meeting me half way." He said with a smile.
Roger just smiled and closed his eyes. Mark looked up at him and knew they were finally making progress.