How We Gonna Pay? Chapter Two
Mark leaned back against Jimmy's chest as Jimmy played with his hair. Mark didn't understand where he and Jimmy stood, but being wrapped in Jimmy's strong arms made him feel safer than he had in a long time.
They sat silently for a few hours, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. There were no words that really had to be said.
After awhile like this, Mark looked up at the clock hanging on Jimmy's wall.
"Fuck. Is that clock accurate?"
Jimmy nodded.
"Shit. I have to go. Roger's going to be so pissed…." Mark untangled himself from the other man and started heading back to the fire escape.
"Hey." Mark turned back. Jimmy motioned for him to come back. When he was close enough Jimmy gently pulled Mark by the front of his shirt to give him a soft kiss. "Come by anytime you want."
Mark smiled. "Thanks."
Mark prayed that Roger would still be asleep, but of course he had no such luck.
When Roger saw him come through the window he jumped up of off the couch where he was sitting.
"Where the fuck were you? You just left without a note or anything; your camera was still here. Fuck! I thought you were fucking kidnapped or something!"
Mark stayed silent until Roger was finished yelling. "Roger, I'm fine. I just went downstairs. I thought I'd be back before you woke up."
"It's fucking one in the afternoon!"
"I lost track of time!"
What's that on your neck?" Roger growled.
Mark raised a hand to his neck, realizing he hadn't remembered his scarf, leaving a hickey on his neck revealed.
"Did that drug dealer do that, huh? You let him fuck you, too, I bet!"
"Roger! Stop being stupid! Jimmy didn't give me the hickey and I sure as hell didn't let him fuck me!"
"Then where the fuck did you get it from?" Roger challenged.
"I-I can't tell you," Mark stuttered.
Roger stared at Mark for a moment before storming off to his room and his beloved guitar.
Mark sighed. It hurt him that his best friend didn't trust him, but he understood. He was becoming friends, and more, with a dealer; one of the things Roger was most afraid of.
Mark went to his room, wrapped his scarf around his neck, and headed back downstairs.
Jimmy answered Mark's knock with a smile that Mark weakly returned.
"That was fast," Jimmy said and leaned down to kiss the blonde. "Not that I mind, of course."
Jimmy gently pulled Mark over to the couch and pulled him so that Mark was resting between his legs.
"I hate having to lie to Roger…" Mark confessed finally.
"About how you're paying?"
Mark nodded. "He'd hate me. He already hates when I spend any money on him more than the necessaries. But letting a guy fuck me so that he can be happy…"
"You could just pay..." Mark opened his mouth to argue, but Jimmy cut him off. "I know you don't have the money, but I do. I have enough to cover both the rents."
"I couldn't ask that of you…"
"It's no problem. The drugs bring in a good profit. I really live here for convenience."
"How could I pay you back?" Mark asked tentatively.
"Since we've already seemed to have taken the first step, just be my lover. No sex necessarily. Just love."
Mark turned around so he could look at Jimmy. "Really?"
Jimmy kissed Mark again. "Yep."
Mark smiled and hugged Jimmy tightly. "Thank you. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The sat like that for awhile until Mark decided he should probably go up and apologize to Roger.
Mark knocked on Roger's door. He knew that Roger hated to be interrupted when he was with his guitar, but Mark really wanted to talk.
"What?" Roger yelled from inside.
Mark opened the door. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Roger sighed and put down his guitar. Mark walked in and sat on the bed next to his roommate.
"I'm sorry, Roger. I hate keeping secrets from you, but sometimes I have to, you know?"
Roger nodded a little.
"But I don't want to keep this part a secret. Promise not to hate me?"
"Mark. I can get mad at you and wanna punch you until you're black and blue, but I could never hate you."
"Jimmy, uh, I'm dating Jimmy now," Mark said softly.
Roger just stared at him for a moment before exploding. "What? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Why him of all people?"
"Because he doesn't expect the same support from me you do!" Mark yelled back. "I need someone to support me, too!"
"Mark, dru-"
"This has nothing to do with drugs. I had to watch you go through hell with it. There's no way in hell I would let myself do the same. I can take care of myself."
Roger took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. "I'm just worried about you, Mark. I don't want to see you get yourself into a position where you'll get hurt."
Mark warped his arms around Roger's shoulders. "I know. I'll be fine, though. I know it."
