Mark collapsed onto the couch. He and Roger had spent the entire day setting up a surprise for Mimi. Now, at long last, it was all finished. Roger and Mimi would be there soon and the surprise would finally be revealed.
Mark was startled when the ringing phone disturbed the silence in the apartment. It rang twice before the machine kicked in. Mark didn't bother to answer it. He figured it would probably be his mom making another one of her frequent check-ins.
"Speak!"
Beep.
"Hey, guys. It's me. Throw down the key."
Collins! Mark wasn't expecting to see him tonight. Mark got up from the couch, grabbed his key and walked out onto the fire escape. Collins was waiting below.
"Catch!" Mark called down to him as he dropped the key.
Collins caught the key. Mark went back inside and sat down on the couch again. A few moments later, the door slid open and Collins entered.
"Whoa," Collins said, looking around. "What the hell happened in here?"
"Roger's surprise for Mimi," Mark replied, getting up from the couch.
"Looks good," Collins said. Then he and Mark greeted each other with an embrace. He handed Mark the key, which Mark set on the table. "So, what's new?"
Mark shrugged. "Same old shit, different day."
Collins chuckled. "Yeah, I hear that." Then he sat down on the couch. "So, when can we expect Roger and Mimi?"
"Any minute now," Mark replied.