-1My respects to Mr. Larson, who created this world and owns the people. Much thanks for letting me borrow them for a while to play in mine.

Ready For The Fight

(Mark's Perspective)

"Don't, Mark. I need you to leave me alone for a little while, ok? Just- just let me be." Roger told me, his voice muffled because his head was buried under a pillow. I could tell he was crying.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Just- yeah." Came the quiet response.

"Ok." I walked back into the living room, where Maureen was sitting on the couch watching TV. "Sorry about that." I said, sitting next to her and putting my arm around her.

"No problem." She said, flipping through channels quickly.

"Are you bored? We could do something else." I said, trying to keep her attention. I know she doesn't like just sitting around here all the time.

"No, it's fine. I know we can't go out." Pause, and then she surprised me by saying, "I wouldn't want to risk it. He's come a long way." She looked at me. "You helped him come a long way." I wasn't sure how to respond to it. It felt really good to hear her say that.

I smiled slowly. "Thanks. That means a lot." I told her, hoping that she would understand what I meant. Maureen leaned over and kissed me and my heart soared. This is what I love her for. For moments like this.

(Roger's Perspective)

I sat up in bed tired and lonely and upset, rubbing my face with both hands, wishing I had something to soothe me, hearing Mark and Maureen having sex in the living room, and feeling lower than low.

My hands were shaking. Whenever I think of April they shake. If nothing else, I cannot hold my hands still when she's on my mind. Which is almost always.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes again and fell back onto my pillow.

Out of our minds. We were both out of our minds. In love. In drugs. In each other. In the moment. In recklessness.

God, I loved her.

Everything just went wrong. We were both out of control. How did we get that way? We were so lost. She stayed lost. I didn't.

But I would have. No doubt in my mind. If it weren't for Mark and Collins- I don't want to think about how I would have ended up if it weren't for Mark and Collins. How I still might end up if I'm not careful. I will be careful.

I licked my lips, feeling the sting it generated and relishing it. Two months ago I wouldn't have felt that. Two months ago I was as good as dead.

Two months ago April chose to be that way.

Tears poured out of my eyes in a rush and I cried silently for both times I lost April. The first being the day I realized she had to be high just to be around me. The second being the day that we found her in the bathtub.

"Why do you have to go?" I heard Mark say, his voice slightly raised.

"I just do. Ok? I'll call you tomorrow." Maureen said. "'Night, Mark." Mark didn't say anything, and then I heard the door close. I waited a few minutes, trying not to get lost in my thoughts again, and got up to use the bathroom. I still have to prepare myself to walk in there.

"Hey. You hungry or anything?" Mark asked me when I came out of the bathroom.

"Uh, no. Not really."

"Ok."

"Did you and Maureen fight?" I asked him.

"Uh, no. Not really." He echoed me. I didn't press his issue and he decided not to press mine. Maybe it wasn't the best scenario, but for tonight it will have to do. Sometimes we both just need a little time.

(Mark's Perspective)

One Week Later

"Roger. Want to go grocery shopping with me?" I asked him. He looked up at me, surprised.

"What?"

"The grocery store. We need groceries again." I repeated.

"No, I'm sorry, I did hear you." His breath quickened and he pulled on his ear. "Do you… think I'm ready?" He asked.

"Do you think you're ready?" I countered.

"I- I- I- I don't know." He stammered. "I don't think so. No."

"Ok. No problem." I said, glad he's being honest with himself. And with me. "Is it Ok if I call Maureen to see if she can hang out with you while I go? Or to see if she'll stop at the store for us?" I asked him.

"Yeah. That's fine."

"Ok." I said, though I didn't know if she would do either. We haven't really talked since she was here last. I dialed the number of the apartment she's staying at and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" Maureen asked. Thank God.

"Hey, it's Mark."

"Oh. Hi." She said, sounding less-than-thrilled. I tried to ignore it.

"Hey. Um, would you be able to come over today? I need to go to the grocery store." I told her.

"I'm kind of busy, Mark. Can it wait?" She asked impatiently.

"Well, I guess I could wait until tomorrow, if that's better for you." I said, trying to accommodate her.

"Yeah. Tomorrow should be ok."

"Ok. Great. Thanks a lot, Maureen. Would you rather come here and stay with Roger or go to the store and I'll stay?" I asked her.

"I'll come to the loft. Ok? I need to go." She said.

"Ok. I'll talk to you later. Thanks Maureen. I love you." I said.

"'Love you, too. 'Bye." And she hung up.

"Why do you let her do that to you?" Roger asked me suddenly.

"What?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"That. Walk all over you. Ten to one says that she's not doing anything right now." Roger said, annoyed.

"Hey, don't say that. She wouldn't lie to me like that. She knows that stuff's tough around here right now." I defended her.

"Right."

"Don't, okay?" I said, annoyed. I went to the kitchen to see what was left. "Oh, shit."

"What?" Roger asked.

"We've got three slices of cheese, one beer, and a quarter of a loaf of bread." I said. Then, jokingly, "Tonight, we feast like kings."

"Really, really poor kings." Roger added.

"Displaced noblemen, really." I corrected.

"Indentured servants." He one-upped me.

"Peasants." I said.

"Peons." Roger shot back.

"Touche." And we laughed harder than we have in months.

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This was short, I know, but I just wanted to do a quick update. Next week I'll provide a longer chapter, I promise. And, hey- if the response is good, perhaps I'll update as soon as Sunday…That wasn't a bribe, I promise… Just… incentive? Heehee. Let me know what you think!

Anyways, I just wanted to say thanks for reading this and that I hope you liked it! And if you're reading my stories, please review! I hate soliciting reviews, but when I get them it's total motivation to write more chapters, you know? So- review! Good, bad, whatever- I want to hear feedback! Ok. Enough crazy talk.

My spring break is this coming week, so I'll have exorbitant amounts of leisure time with which to write more chapters… assuming you all want to read them!

-Morgan