Yay! A chapter! Please take the time to review.

Mark could have sworn he was dreaming when, the next morning, he woke up next to Dar. He had been sure that he would never be with another girl ever again. And now, he was staring at this beautiful woman, watching her bare chest rise and fall with the deep breaths of a peaceful, dreamless sleep. Her astounding red curls fell onto the pillow like art and her mouth was open partly. Her eyes fluttered open and Mark observed again with awe the stark green color of them, contrasting with her pretty hair. She looked around gently, remembering where she was and what's she'd done the night before. Then her eyes settled on Mark, who had been staring at her in wonder.

"Mmmm," Dar mumbled. "Morning." She stretched and yawned and pulled the blanket over her modestly. He reached over and touched her hair, then her cheek; her skin was so soft and perfect. He pulled her in and kissed her warmly. She climbed on top of him and kissed him back with a sort of…passion…he'd never received before. She started giggling. "What is it?" Mark asked, smiling curiously.

"Nothing," Dar replied. "It's just…perfect."

"Really? No regrets?"

"Really."

"Well, good."

Suddenly, Dar hoisted him up. He 'accidentally' fell on top of her and kissed her again, making her laugh. He got up and reached for his boxers while she wrapped the blanket around her and sat on the bed. Mark went to his dresser and pulled out his large Cubs T-shirt. "Here, Dar," he said, tossing it to her, "Put this on." Dar complied and then padded over to him. She pressed her body against his, ran her fingers up his arms, along his shoulders, neck, into his hair, and pulled his head to hers. She kissed him and said, "Look at us, we're all sweaty."

"Way to kill the moment."

"Fine. Don't take a shower with me."

He grinned sheepishly. "Did I say 'kill the moment'? I meant to say, 'Hey, Dar, how about the two of us go take a shower right now because you rock and I am your slave.'"

"That's what I thought you said."

They left his room hand-in-hand, and just then, Mimi walked out of Roger's room. "Blehhh!" She cried when she saw them, and covered her eyes with one hand. "Naked, naked Mark! Yuck!"

"Oh, come on Meems, I've got shorts on."

"On my list of things I never wanted to see, you in your drawers is like the second thing, after a pile of dead babies being eaten by spiders."

"You actually put that on a list? That's fucked up, dear."

"Oh, never mind," she continued, eyes still covered. "Hi, you're a girl and I don't know you. I'm Mimi, and I'm sorry that you have to see Mark in this state."

"Hey!"

"Hi," Dar chirped. "I'm Darcy, I'm a…friend…of Mark's."

"Ah," Mimi murmured. "That explains the nakedness. Atta boy, Markie-poo."

"I'm not naked!" Mark cried.

Just then, Roger stepped out from behind the curtain that separated his room from the rest of the loft. "Ahhhhh! Naked Mark!"

Collins, who always had the most theatrical timing, pushed the front door open, took one look, and said, "You know, my friend Jim is going on a nudist retreat next week, and there's probably room for you if you want to tag along."

"SHORTS!" Mark shouted. "I'm wearing SHORTS! If you want me to be naked, I can take them off!"

Dar giggled. "You know, people would pay to watch this." She turned to Mark and said, "Is it alright if I steal your shower, or do these people have dibs? Because I can wait until I get home."

"Oh, no, help yourself," Collins told her.

"Yeah," said Mark. "The rest of us are going to have a little talk about bad timing and the meaning of privacy."

Dar nodded and looked a little confused, then made her way to the bathroom.

"I think I'm in trouble," Mark admitted when she was gone, schlumping on the couch.

"Why, didn't you use a condom?" said Mimi with a laugh.

"Not that kind of trouble," he sighed. "I really like this girl."

"And that's trouble because…?"

"I have no idea what to do, how to act, what to say. She's got a past, and not a happy one. This relationship can't end in cock-up like all my others."

"Well," Roger said, "As long as she's not a lesbian like last time…"

"Oh, trust me. She's not."

Roger smiled and put his arm around Mark. "Mark, Mark, Mark. If you're thinking that being good in bed means she's straight, you're quite wrong. The kinkier, the gayer. Or so I have read."

"Where the hell did you read that?"

"Yeah," Mimi chimed in, "and besides, I'm kinky, and I'm straight."

"No, no, Mimi," Roger told her. "You're beyond kinky."

"Ewwwwwwwwww," said Collins, covering his ears. "For the love of God, cut it out, crackers."

"Look," Roger went on with confidence. "If you're dealing with women, there's only one think you need to know."

"And what might that be?" Mark asked skeptically.

"Mush," he said simply.

"Oh, jeeze…"

"No, I'm serious. If there's one think chicks go crazy for, it's mush. Girls love mush. Bring the mush. Bring the mush in buckets.

"Oh, Roger…" Mimi sighed, covering her face in her hands.

"No, no, man, it's true, I swear. Mushy gooey romance is the one thing that keeps women from killing us men and living like one of those ancient tribal clans. Say things like 'You complete me,' and, 'my life meant nothing until I found you.' Girls go crazy for shit like that!"

Mark rolled his eyes. "You're disturbed."

"No." Roger whined. "Mush!"

"Oh, shut up, you big baby," Mimi snapped. "Mark, just tell her she's pretty. Girls love that."

"Not her," Mark interjected.

"Hey, Mimi," said Roger, "You're pretty."

"Oh, go fuck yourself, why don't ya," she laughed.

"Fine," he declared, standing. "If anyone needs me, I'll be masturbating in my room like Mimi said to."

"Hey, wait up!" she cried. She jumped onto his back and he cared her into the bedroom, giggling like a schoolgirl.

"Oy vey," Mark sighed.

"Amen," said Collins. "Well, bitches, if you need me, I'll be smoking pot on the fire escape."

Mark shrugged and went into the bathroom. He pulled back the shower curtain and peered in.

"AHH!" Dar shrieked. She put her hand to her chest and sighed. "Oh, it's you. Don't you ever do that to me again, Mark!"

"Uh…" he stammered. "You complete me?"

She giggled. "Get in," she said.

He was happy to oblige. He'd never been this happy before in his life. Dar was amazing. No matter what, he knew he couldn't let her slip away.

Sorry, I edited the last few lines…I forgot to add them before! Oops! Reviews are greatly appreciated.