Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN RENT!

A/N: Thanks to everyone who's reviewing! I'm going to try and keep the updates quick, but I'm not sure how long that will last. The reason why it's so quick now is that I have midterms and I'm getting out at 12:30, and I waived all but two of my hard ones. Also, I waived my first exam so I didn't even have to go to school yesterday. However, even after midterms I will try and keep the updates fairly frequent. My school is on block scheduling and on certain days, I rarely have homework. So I'm hoping to keep these updates frequent. Also, I apologize for any weird POV switches. Sometimes, when I leave my computer for a while my head is all messed up.

Now:

CHAPTER 6

When Marli woke the next morning, she was in an unfamiliar loft, in an unfamiliar red t-shirt. She instantly realized where she was: Mark's loft. Knowing she was there, she felt a rush of giddy excitement. She looked to side of her where Mark should have been. Instead there was a note that read: Good Morning, Beautiful! I'm making breakfast in the kitchen. You looked far too peaceful to wake up. Once you get this, come outside. Love, Mark :)

Following the notes directions, Marli headed out into the kitchen. There she saw another note. It explained that he was downstairs borrowing something from his friend and that he would be back soon. How sweet of him. The note also said for her to help herself to the eggs in the pan. Don't mind if I do, she thought indulgently. She reached up to get a plate, the shirt riding up to show just a tad of her lacy underwear. She didn't mind, it wasn't like anyone was there anyway. Or so she thought.

Marli, felt an eerie presence behind her. "Mark, babe, is that you?" She asked. She was horrified when she turned around to see that it was Mark's roommate, Roger.

"Oh, um, hello again," Roger said awkwardly.

"Um, yeah, hi."

"You spent the night?"

"Yeah, getting a town back uptown was absolute torture. I hope you don't mind." Marli decided it was better not to go into the details of last night. She didn't want Mark's roommate to think she was a slut. She totally wasn't.

"Nah, I don't mind. Mark is always unusually cool when Mimi spends the night. Don't worry about it. It was seeing a slightly unfamiliar girl in a red t-shirt that freaked me out just a bit."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Mark said not to worry about it because you'd probably be at Mimi's anyway."

"Well, I was," he started, "for a while, but then she decided to get into a phone fight with her mom and I took that as my cue to leave."

Marli and Roger continued to chitchat for a while. It was a tad bit awkward at first but soon she could tell that Roger was really nice. She hoped all Mark's friends were as nice as Roger. Not that she had got to meet many of his other friends like she had met Roger.

Eventually, Mark came back up. He gave Marli a kiss. "Hey, beautiful. Glad to see you awake. And Roger, nice to know you are in your own apartment for once. Are my two favorite people in the world being friendly to each other."

"Yes, Mom," Roger said with a chuckle.

"Very funny. Marli, would you care to join me for a little stroll?"

"Sure, except let's catch a cab to my favorite place to do so.

Mark wasn't sure where Marli was taking him. He assumed she was taking him to Central Park or someplace of that nature. He was very surprised when the cab pulled up to a very different kind of place to take a stroll. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of Barneys. The enemy of man, it was. But apparently it was Marli's favorite place to take a stroll, and he wasn't about to tell Marli no. Some things never change.

"I'm sorry if this bothers you. I just need a dress for a charity event. I was hoping maybe we could get you a tux as well." She said it in a way so divinely cut, he just smiled and nodded, but he was slightly perplexed.

"What do I need a tux for?"

"You, my love, are coming with me to the event. No questions. I can't show up alone. And besides, I need to show you off. Don't be shy, let's have fun, hun."

They wandered through the dresses, as Marli took special care in selecting the ones worth her trying on. She tried each one on and modeled them for Mark. To him, each one looked spectacular. She came out in one, though, that stood out especially. It was black satin and absolutely gorgeous. He couldn't resist giving her a kiss right there. However, in the process he heard a familiar voice.

"Pookie, I don't need a new dress. I told you, it is against my principals to go to a black tie gala, no matter what charity it's for. Now let's leave before someone sees me here, okay?"

"Maureen, sweetheart, I doubt anyone who you know will see you here or at the benefit."

"Oh my God! Mark Cohen is that you? I told you I'd see someone Joanne! And who's this with you? Oh wait, I remember you! Marli, right? The sellout."

"Nice to see you again Maureen," Marli said through tightly gritted teeth. If there was one person she had never expected to see in Barney's New York, it had been Maureen Johnson.

"Well it's nice to see you again, Marli." Joanne said this, and Marli immediately felt relieved. Mark could see it on her face. Apparently, she had discovered what he already knew. Maureen would never step out of line with Joanne there to patrol her."

"Nice to see you again as well. Mark, I'm getting this one. Then we can go get you your tux. Sound good babe?"

"Sounds great."

"It was nice seeing you two," Marli said with a completely fake smile. It turns out that, although she was a writer, Marli may be a better actress than anyone could have possibly expected.

After the whole Maureen fiasco, Marli wanted to get out of Barney's as quickly as possible. Woah, there's something she'd never thought would appear in her brain. So she dragged Mark to look at tuxes hurriedly. After finding out his size, you picked out three gorgeous Armani tuxes and a tailored Hugo Boss for him to try on. He looked extremely dapper in a tux. She gave him a cute little kiss. But apparently, people liked to show up when they were kissing. Roger and Mimi last night, Maureen an hour ago, and now someone else had made their entrance during a kiss. This person, standing in a tux identical to the one Mark had on at the moment, was Benjamin Coffin the Third. Someone Marli could just remember, and someone Mark would love to forget.

"If it isn't Mark Cohen. Who's your new girl Mark?" He took a closer look at Marli, trying to remember from where he knew her. "Marli, Marli Ryan?"

"That's me. I'm sure you remember me. After all, I have been told I am pretty hard to forget. Unlike you, I imagine. How has life been?"

"Same old, same old. And you?"

"Unfortunately, the same. Except you know, I'm dating Mark now. So, things are pretty great." She had become pretty used to dodging unwanted people in her lifetime. Bye, bye Benny! "Mark, take that off. We're buying it. It's looks the best out of all of them. It was cool to see you Benny. Running into you with Mark…talk about blast from the past!"

Marli bought Mark the tuxedo and they headed out of the great doors of Barney's. Marli decided that she had never been on a better shopping trip. Maybe it was too soon to really tell, but maybe, just maybe she really loved Mark. And maybe, just maybe, he really loved her back. He put his arm around her and she realized, she had never felt safer in her life. She remembered something her friend once said: A girl and a guy can be just friends. But eventually, they will fall for each other. Maybe at the wrong time, maybe in the wrong place, maybe forever. Somehow, this all felt right. And as a gentle breeze ruffled their hair, she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. Yes, things would be better… she could feel it.

A/N: Ladies and Gents. Chapter six. What did you think? Review as always!