The small club was packed with people. Mark sat at the table, marveling at the turnout, feeling half proud – all of these people were here to see his boyfriend – and half resentful – all of these people were here… to see his boyfriend. It wouldn't even matter to Roger if Mark had shown up at all. The band had built quite a following. Go two towns over and mention Korean Mitochondria, and you'd be guaranteed to get at least one group of girls squealing. "Oh, I love them! Their lead singer, what's his name? Ricky? Yeah, that's it. That guy Ricky is so cute!" And Mark knew why. For what was essentially a garage band, they were pretty freaking good. Though, Mark had to admit he generally only listened to the demo Roger had given him to hear the sound of Roger's voice, and not, as he'd once heard a male fan of theirs say, for the "killer tunes."

The band was a couple of songs into their set when Roger said into the mic, "This next song is for someone special. The most beautiful person alive." And as the opening chords of "As Lovers Go" began, Roger locked eyes with Mark, letting Mark know he was singing just for him. And that's when Mark realized he'd been wrong. It didn't matter to Roger that all those other people had shown up. He only cared that Mark was there.

Listening to Roger sing, the lyrics of the second verse struck Mark. He couldn't believe Roger was dedicating this to him.

I said, "I've gotta be honest.
I've been waiting for you
All my life."
For so long I thought
I was asylum-bound
But just seeing you
Makes me think twice
Cause being with you here
Makes me sane, I fear
I go crazy if you leave my sight

Sweaty hands covered Mark's eyes as a low growl was emitted into his ear. "Hello there, Stranger."

Mark flinched, pulling Roger's hands off him. "Gross. You're all… sweat-tastic."

"Sweat-tastic?" Roger asked, laughing at the extreme adorableness of his boyfriend's comment as he took a seat next to Mark at the table. "That's a new one." Energy still rushing through him from the show, Roger tapped his foot absentmindedly on his chair. "I'm pumped! Dance with me?" He looked at Mark hopefully, covering Mark's hand with his.

Mark frowned. "Rog, you know I can't do that. Look around you. Being in this crowd is no different than being at school."

"I know. I need to do something, though. Being on stage is such a rush."

"Jesus, your heart is beating a mile a minute."

"Only for you, darling. Only for you."

"You cheese ball. It's beating from the adrenaline."

"Heh. That, too. Exactly my point, though. Let's get out of here. Let's go run in the streets or something. Naked."

"Naked?"

"Yeah, of course naked! Or let's…drive to Connecticut. And…check out the gay clubs!"

"…Because Connecticut is so well-known for its gay clubs?"

Roger shrugged. "Well, at least nobody would know us there."

"Rog, my parents went to a late movie. And Cindy is, well, here."

"So you're saying…"

"My house is completely empty." Mark said, smirking uncharacteristically.

"…Are you trying to seduce me?"

"No. But I am trying to get you some place where we can get a little closer…and possibly make out enthusiastically."

"Damn. I was hoping I was being seduced."

The next day, Mark was eating a late breakfast in his kitchen around noon when the doorbell rang. He was expecting Roger in a half hour, but Roger didn't always have the best concept of time. He was generally really early or really late. However, when he heard his mom answer the door, she did not give her normal Roger greeting. Instead he heard a shocked, "Oh, hi dear! How are you?"

"Hi Mrs. Cohen. I'm fine. How're you?" Craig. What the fuck was he doing here?

"Oh, I'm fine, dear. Haven't seen you around in a while."

"Yeah, well, you know how it is. It's hard when you go to different schools, and with Hebrew school being over and all. Is Mark here?"

"Oh sure, dear. I'll get him." She turned her head towards the kitchen, calling, "Mark, you have a visitor!"

Mark came out of the kitchen. "Oh, hi Craig." He said, unenthusiastically. "Mom, we're just gonna be on the porch, okay?"

"Okay, dear." Mark walked out, closing the door behind him.

Rid of his mother's presence, Mark greeted Craig with a cold, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see you. I miss you."

"Well, I don't miss you."

"Oh, come on, Marky." He stroked Mark's cheek. Mark stiffened, flinching away from Craig's touch. "I made a mistake, okay? I love you."

"Oh, please. You're just here because what's-his-name broke up with you."

"You can't truly believe that's why I'm here, Mark. I miss you." He stepped closer to Mark, forcing Mark to back up, trapping Mark against the railing. "You can't tell me you don't want me anymore. We had something special."

Tears welled up in Mark's eyes as painful memories came flooding back to him. "Stop. Please just stop. You hurt me, Craig. Please just leave me alone."

Craig cupped Mark's chin, bringing his face in close, lips almost touching Mark's. "No. I'm not going to let you go. I want you back." He kissed Mark, ignoring the other boy's obvious distress. "You have to miss this."

"Craig, I have a boyfriend."

"I don't care."

"Exactly why I don't want you back."

"Come on, Marky. Remember the good times we had? Remember all the things we did in the temple bathroom?"

"Not all of those are good memories. Some of them are painful." Roger's car pulled into the driveway just then, but Craig didn't move.

"Don't pretend you didn't like it. We always had fun."

"You always had fun."

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?" Roger was now standing on the porch, staring at Mark and Craig, hands curled into fists and jaw clenched in rage.

Craig spun around, surprised. "You must be the boyfriend."

"Damn right I am. And what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Roger, calm down. It's not what you think." Mark interjected. "This is Craig, my ex boyfriend."

"Temple bathroom boy?"

Mark blushed. "Umm…yeah."

"You're telling me that the guy pinning you to the railing is your ex boyfriend and that's supposed to make me feel better?"

"Umm…yeah?" He bit his lip, feeling deflated. Though he was grateful that Craig wasn't pressed quite so closely to him anymore, he couldn't help but hold on to Craig, using him as support. Roger was frightening when he was angry, and his anger had never really been directed at Mark before. Mark could handle Roger when he was angry with his mom or their physics teacher or forced social rituals, but to have Roger angry with him? That scared the shit out of Mark.

"What is this, Mark?"

"It's the rebirth of a beautiful relationship, and the end of a flop." Craig said, smirking and pulling Mark close to him.

Mark pushed Craig off of him and finally stood up straight. "God, you just don't get it, Craig! I said no. I'm with Roger now, and you couldn't convince me to leave him with all the reasoning in the world." Roger looked confused for a second as his rage subsided. The confusion melted into a blushing grin as Mark's words sunk in. "He makes me happy; happier than I've ever been. And I wouldn't try anything either, cause I may not be able to beat you up, but Roger sure can."

Craig looked between Mark and Roger, clearly defeated, before putting on a confident smile. He began walking away, stopping for a second in front of Roger to declare, "This means war."

As Craig continued walking, Roger shot back, "War? What war? I think the boy's made his choice." He grabbed Mark by the waist, pulling Mark into him. Mark gladly obliged, relaxing into Roger and kissing his cheek softly. Craig turned once more to shoot them a glare, before leaving for good.

"I…uh…I'm sorry I got so angry," Roger said softly. "It's just, when I think –"

"It's okay. I know what it must have looked like." Mark snuggled closer to Roger, burying his face in Roger's neck. "I'm just glad you're here."

Roger felt a few drops of hot tears on his neck. With his free hand, he lifted Mark's chin up with his index finger, forcing the boy to make eye contact. "You okay?" Mark shrugged. "Listen, Mark, I'm really sorry I yelled at you. I just – I got so jealous. I'm a jealous bastard, I know. I was scared that – That's not it, is it?" Mark nodded.

"I kind of liked that you got so jealous. It made me feel special. Frightened, but special."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing for it. Really."

"Sorry, I –" They both laughed. "Okay, not apologizing anymore. But hey, I got you to smile. Do you wanna talk about what was making you so upset?"

"I…yeah, okay. Not here, though. Upstairs?" Roger nodded and they walked inside. On the way to the stairs they were intercepted by Mrs. Cohen.

"Oh, hi Roger, dear. When did you get here?"

"Just a few minutes ago."

"Where did Craig go?"

"Oh…he had to study." Roger said before shoving Mark up the stairs. He hated being rude to Mark's mother, but he had done it in Mark's best interest. If Mrs. Cohen realized Mark was upset, she would smother him, and it was just not what Mark needed right now.

Once in Mark's room, after securely locking the door, they sat Indian style on Mark's bed, facing each other. Silence ensued for a few minutes before Roger awkwardly started with, "So…"

"So…" Mark replied. "That was Craig."

"Mm, I got that part."

"We were friends for a really long time. Since preschool. I thought I knew him, you know? He'd been my best friend for so long, and when we started dating he was really sweet and caring and romantic. But I was starting to grow up, and I started to notice things." Mark closed his eyes, feeling tears welling up once more. "He's not really a nice guy. He's manipulative. He's so good at manipulation he can trick you into believing that what he's doing is sweet and caring; that he has your best interest at heart. But I thought I loved him. I thought I was making things up, being paranoid, you know? So I stayed with him. I did things with him. He was my first…everything. And I mean everything. He um, he sort of…forced me."

"Forced you?"

"…Into sex."

"He raped you?"

"No. He didn't – Oh, I guess he did."

"Oh god, Mark." Roger pulled Mark close to him, kissing him on the forehead. He held Mark as he cried. "I'll kill him. You are so wonderful, you know that? You don't fucking deserve that."

"He did it six times." Mark choked out. "Then he left me for someone more attractive and more experienced."

"You know I would never do that, right?" Roger asked, kissing Mark on the cheek. "I would never make you do anything you don't want to."

"I know. You're genuine. I love that about you."

"I love everything about you." Roger kissed Mark cautiously. Mark took him by surprise, deepening the kiss and thrusting his tongue inside Roger's mouth.

"You make me feel wanted. And giddy. And all that other good stuff."

"You are wanted." He gave Mark a chaste kiss on the lips.

Mark smiled. "Hey, remember that promise I made you the first time we hung out?"

Roger looked at Mark dumbfounded. "Uhh…"

"Think. My slutty sister. Dark theater…"

"That you wouldn't go down on me in the movies?"

"Yeah. I was thinking I could… break that promise."

"Wow. Fuck this sentimental shit. We're going to the movies!"