Author's Note- I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their support, it really means a lot to me. I'm sorry it took so long; school's been hell this week and I'm pretty sure my teachers hate me.

As always, italics show whose point of view you're reading from.

Roger

I'll admit it, things have been really awkward between Mark and me lately. In fact, we've basically stopped speaking to each other all together. We're not fighting or anything, it's more like we don't know what to say to each other.

A few days ago we decided to attempt a relationship. We agreed to take things slow when we decided to try and have a relationship, but instead of going slowly, we're at a complete standstill. We're not even in the same room half the time. The most I can get out of Mark is a grunt hello or goodbye. This has got to stop today.

"Hey Mark, can I ask you something?" I inquire as he enters the loft. He looks shocked for a second but then makes his way over to the couch.

"What is it?" Wow, he seems really nervous.

"Well…you see, I was wondering…maybe you'd like…" God, now I'm nervous too. I'm even starting to sound like Mark.

"Are you okay?" Mark asks worriedly.

"Doyouwanttogooutwithme?" I blurt out. I sound so stupid right now.

"Out? Like a date?" I don't think his eyes can get any wider.

"I just thought, since we're going slow and all, that maybe you'd like to hang out. A first date kind of thing." This was a stupid idea. He probably thinks I'm crazy.

"I'd like that," he says softly.

""Seriously?" Am I imagining things?

"Yeah, that…would be nice.

"Good. So um…how about tonight?"

"Okay, that's fine," he says as he gets off the couch with a smile and disappears into his room. Well, I have a date with Mark. Wow.

Wait, I don't even have any money. Think Roger, who can you borrow twenty bucks from? I guess it's time to visit Collins.

(Collins' apartment)

"Hey Collins! Open up," I call out as I knock on his door. I hear a string of curses before he finally opens up.

"What could you possibly want right now?" he asks as he glares daggers at me.

"I really need to borrow 20 dollars."

"For what?" I'm pretty sure he's losing his patience with me.

"I've got a date tonight and I'm totally broke."

"A date? But I thought you and Mark were…you know?"

"Give me some credit man. Who do you think I'm going out with?"

"You've got a date with Mark? I'd like to see that."

"Collins, can I borrow the money or not?"

"Not. Sorry, I'm broke too," he says as he glances towards his bedroom door. I wonder what's wrong with him.

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know, you could do something that doesn't cost money," he offers.

"This is New York, nothing's free here."

"Can I make a suggestion?" asks a third voice.

"Angel? I uh…I didn't know you were here."

"You didn't ask, now did you honey?" he asks as he walks over to Collins and slips his arm around his waist.

"You heard?" I ask, embarrassed

"Every word. But I'll never tell."

"So you've got a suggestion? I'm open to just about anything right now."

"Do you think you can get Mark out of the apartment from 4 to 7?" He asks after thinking it over.

"Probably, why?"

"I think I can set something up if you want. You know, call in a few favors."

"You'd do that for me?"

"You and Mark are my friends, I'd be happy to help." Collins turns to Angel with a look of pure admiration and softly kisses his lips.

"He's something, isn't he?" Collins asks as I stand there suddenly feeling out of place.

"I um…I guess I'll talk to you guys later," I say as I begin to back away from the suddenly amorous couple.

"Bye Roger," they call out right before the door closes.

Well, this day may turn out to be very interesting.

Mark

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. In fact, I don't think I've ever been this nervous before.

I guess I shouldn't be feeling this way, I mean it's only Roger. He's only my best friend, roommate, and potential boyfriend. Boyfriend? Well, I never thought I'd use that word to describe my relationship with him. Let's see, Roger is my boyfriend.

"Roger is my boyfriend." I say out loud, sort of testing the waters.

"And here I thought we were going to keep it quiet," Roger says as he walks into the room. I look around for possible exits before he smirks and closes the door.

"I uh…I didn't…I mean…" I stutter. God help me now.

"Okay, stop talking and just breathe," he says softly.

"I didn't know anyone was going to be here," I say, embarrassed by my reaction.

"It's no big deal, I was just joking around." I don't think I've been this uncomfortable around Roger since his drug days.

"So um…where were you? I didn't see you anywhere," I say, trying to make small talk.

"I had to ask Collins about something."

"Oh." For god's sake Mark, say something!

"I know this is weird," Roger says as he rubs a hand on his neck, "I guess I'm just a little nervous."

"I'm the nervous one, not you. I can barely spit out a sentence."

"We'll get better at this eventually. I mean we can't just stop being friends all together," he replies as he goes to sit on the couch.

"I've just…I've never been in this kind of situation before. I'm not sure what to do."

"I don't know either, but we can't stop talking to each other or hanging out. We've just got to get over all this awkwardness."

"I'm willing to try," I say as I make my way over to him and sit on the couch.

"Me too." I think I'd throw this whole slow thing out the window if he kissed me right now.

"So uh…Collins wanted to know if you could go over and help him with something around 4. Something work-related I think," Roger says, quickly changing the subject. Is he trying to kill me here?

"Oh sure, I'd be happy to help."

"Good, that's cool. Just remember to come back around 7:30." 7:30? What's happening tonight? That's right, our…date.

"No problem." I think I need to get out of here for a while, "You know, I think I'm going to go out and film a little."

"Have fun," he replies as I start to gather my stuff.

"I'll see you later," I say quickly before closing the door behind me. I just need to clear my head before tonight. That's all.

(Later that day)

Okay, it's now almost 8:00 and I'm officially late.

I really meant to be back in time, but after I left Collins' I ran into an old classmate from high school. She kept talking and talking and I couldn't get away. Now Roger is probably going to be pissed. I should've blown Crystal off, like she used to do to me back in school. Then I wouldn't have to be late.

"Okay, time to face the music," I say to myself before I open the door.

"Are you okay?" Roger asks right away.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry I'm late." Why isn't he mad?

"I was worried when you didn't show up. I thought maybe you weren't coming."

"I sort of ran into this girl from high school. She wouldn't let me leave. I uh…really wanted to be here."

"Yeah?" He asks, a little unsure.

"Yeah."

"So…I guess we should hurry up, I don't want to hold anyone up," he says as he takes my hand and leads me towards the window.

"Where are we going?" I ask confused.

"To the roof." The roof? He has to be crazy.

"Why are we going up there?"

"Just wait and see," he says happily before letting go of my hand. Huh, suddenly I feel colder. He's halfway to the top before I even begin to climb.

"Come on," he calls down. Well, here goes nothing.

"Wow…" I say taken aback as I step onto the roof. There's a projector set up in front of a white sheet, and a couch in the middle of them both.

"Welcome to your movie on the roof," Angel says with a smile before leading me to the couch. How in the hell did they get that up here?

"Where's Roger?" I ask as I look around.

"He'll be back, now enjoy your movie, honey," Angel replies with a wink before disappearing from view.

I continue to squint in the darkness for Roger, but I give up when I hear the projector turn on. Movie titles start to appear on the makeshift screen and Roger comes out of the darkness and sits next to me.

"Thank you," I say quietly as I turn to him.

"I was hoping you'd like it. Angel had to call in a few favors," he says with what looks like a shy smile.

"It's perfect," I reply before brushing my lips over his. How am I supposed to resist him when he acts like this?

"So are you," he replies after pulling away softly.

"We should probably watch the movie," I say as a blush begins to creep up my face.

"As you wish," he replies as 'Frankenstein' begins to play.

"Hey Rog?" I ask before I forget.

"Yeah?"

"How did you get a couch up here?"

"I really don't want to talk about that right now," he replies with a pained look on his face. I'll get him to tell me eventually. Right now though, I want to thoroughly enjoy my night.

And who knows, maybe we won't go so slowly after all.