"Mark, I have work in like, 15 minutes." Allie spoke into the phone resting in between her ear and shoulder, as she grabbed her keys and wallet off the counter.
"I know, I know, but when are you going to move in?" Allie rolled her eyes and grabbed her coat.
"Anxious are we? Tell you what…I'll get the boxes from Jorge after work." There was sigh on the other end.
"You're still working there?" She checked the clock. 7:47. I'm late. Way late.
"I need to pay like, 3 months rent and utilities! I need this job for a while. Besides, I love it." Mark was silent, and Allie was really rushing. "Mark, I gotta go, Kay? I'll call you when I have a minute. Bye." She hung up and ran out the door, down the stairs, and out to the curb.
0o0o0o0o0
"You're late!" Jorge barked as Allie ran through the back entrance.
"I know!" She called, quickly thrusting her clothes on and tying up her hair. "What am I working tonight?" She asked him, quickly applying some mascara and lip gloss to her face. Jorge looked down at his clipboard.
"Hmm, looks like…bar…with…Gary." Allie nodded and headed towards the main room, when Jorge stopped her. "Oh…wait. Sorry. Roger's working the bar with you." Allie froze.
"Um, what?" Jorge nodded.
"Yeah, Roger and you, at the bar. Get to it, chica! You were already late." She took a deep breath and nodded.
"Sure, sure." She strode into the club and behind the bar.
"Hey, cutie." A middle-aged man leaned on the bar. "Can I get a drink?" Allie was used to sexist men, and it was part of her job to play along.
"Sure thing! What'll you have?" She purred, bending slightly to reveal cleavage.
"Just a beer is fine." His eyes remained fixed on her chest as she nodded and turned to fill a glass. Somebody brushed past her behind the bar, but out of fear, she refused to turn around, until she was sure he couldn't see her. She turned and glanced to see the rocker moving for the tequila. She shook her head. No use dwelling over him. It was just one sweaty night. She thought to herself as she brought the man his beer.
"Here ya go!" She spoke cheerfully, perhaps a little too cheerfully, because Roger looked her way. She gave him a half-smile, but he just shook his head. Well, I tried.
"Thanks darlin'." He glanced over at the stage, where several scantily clad girls were shaking their stuff. "Any chance I'll be seein' you up there tonight?" Allie laughed and shook her head.
"Sorry, I just bartend." The man sighed.
"Too bad." He turned to watch the dancers and focus on his beer, leaving Allie alone. She looked around to see all the customers were satisfied, and grabbed the phone. She dialed Mark's number, and he answered on the first ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mark."
"Allie! At work?" She nodded, and remembered she was on the phone.
"Oh, yeah. It's kind of awkward," she looked around, to see Roger entranced by the dancers, "Roger and I are both working the bar." Mark laughed.
"You remember he lives with me right?"
"He DOES?" Allie mocked, causing several people, including Roger, to turn and stare at her. She smiled apologetically as Mark continued to laugh on the other end of the line.
"Yeah so you should probably at least be on good terms with him." Allie sighed.
"I guess. Now, why don't you return to convincing me to move in sooner?"
0o0o0o0o0
It was easy to pretend to watch someone or something and eavesdrop at the same time. At least it was for Roger. Plus, Allie wasn't exactly a quiet girl. He didn't really understand why he was so entranced by her. It was one night, one stupid night. Sure she was pretty, outspoken, independent. But so were a lot of other girls. Why was she so special?
"Hey Mark." Called the girl his thoughts often traveled to. Mark, she was talking to Mark. I knew she would go back to him. He leaned back onto the island where they stored the glasses and liquor, his ears perked, listening to Allie.
"Now, why don't you return to convincing me to move in sooner?" Roger froze. Move in? Move in? Mark could be brutal at times, but not heartless. He could've at least told me! He thought to himself, trying to process this.
"Ha! No I am NOT sharing a room with you." This was too much. Roger picked himself up off the island and strode over to Allie, giggling on the phone. He pressed the button to hang up on little "Marky."
"Mark? Are you there? Mark?" She turned around to see Roger, with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"What the f-" Allie began, but Roger stopped her.
"Mark on the phone?" She nodded, a confused expression on her pretty face.
"Yeah, what does that have to do with you?" Roger laughed hoarsely.
"You're moving in with us?" Allie nodded again.
"Um, yeah. Mark didn't tell you?"
"No, he didn't. When did you two decide this?" Allie shrugged.
"About a week or so? I'm having money troubles, and Mark said you guys live for free…" Again, Roger's scratchy voice let out a deep laugh.
"It's not likely for long…Benny's turned into a tyrant. Met some girl, and sold out." He shook his head. "It's…weird, you know? Benny used to be this great guy, and now he's…not himself, you know?" Allie nodded. Was Roger actually opening up to her?
"Yeah, I kinda know how that is, I guess." Ok, so maybe Allie wasn't a very supportive person. Roger laughed.
"You have no idea?"
"I have no idea." They were silent for a long while, until Roger broke it.
"So, you're really gonna move in, Eh?" Allie nodded.
"I'm really gonna move in." Roger shrugged.
"I guess it won't be too bad. At least you're nothing like Maureen." Allie's curiosity got the best of her.
"Maureen? The lesbian ex-girlfriend?" Roger nodded.
"Oh yeah, total bitch. She lived with us for a while, it was all 'Maureen this,' 'Maureen that.' It was sickening. Plus, she was cheating on him with anything that walked. Actually, I think once she cheated with a guy in a wheelchair…" Allie stopped him.
"A little more than I needed to know." Roger laughed.
"Sorry," He apologized, scratching his head, "But I could go on about her. She was just…such a fucking bitch to him." Allie nodded.
"You guys are close, huh?" Roger smiled.
"We've known each other forever. I hate to see him hurt." Roger blushed after he said this. It was obvious to Allie he didn't cope with emotion well.
"That's so sweet! You're such a good friend to him." He blushed again.
"Thanks. I guess. But don't spread it around." The middle-aged man from earlier turned around.
"Too late kid, you just shared your feelings to the whole bar." Roger looked around to see most people seated at the bar were staring at him.
"Oh, shit!" Roger cried, hitting himself in the head. Allie laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
"It's gonna be ok, Rog. Most women like their men this way!" The man from the bar laughed.
"Yeah right!" He gulped his last bit of beer. "Pussy."
A/N: Sorry for the vulgar language guys, but it is rated T! Besides, for all you fans of Allie and Roger, this is the chapter for you, right? Oh, and for those who wanted to know, Roger does still have AIDs. Just instead of shooting up with April, he shot up with his band members. Sorry for all this crazy change! I love you all still!
