Hey Mister, She's My Sister
Chapter 1:
"Hey Rog, I'm going down to the Life. I'll be back in a little while," Mark Cohen said to his best friend Roger Davis who was sitting on the couch smoking and talking to their friend Collins. The women had all gone out for a women's day out, leaving the three men to fend for themselves all day long.
"Okay, see you later," Roger replied before taking a long draw from his cigarette. Mark grabbed his camera, and began to walk down to the Life Café.
Mark took a seat in the back of the Life, and ordered himself some lunch. He pulled a book out of his backpack, and began to read while he waited. He was so wrapped up in his book that he didn't see a beautiful young woman with wavy dirty blonde hair come into the Life and talk to a waiter. She and the waiter talked briefly before he pointed her in the direction of Mark.
"Umm, excuse he," the woman said quietly as she stood at one end of Mark's table. Mark looked up. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I asked one of the waiters how to get to Avenue A, and they said that you could help me." Mark put his book away.
"Yeah, I live there. Why don't you join me for lunch, and then I'll make sure you get to your destination safely," he replied. The woman sat down across from him.
"I'm Taylor," she said.
"Mark Cohen. It's nice to meet you, Taylor. Would you like something it eat?" Taylor shook her head.
Mark kept an eye on Taylor while they ate. She had on jeans and a beat up sweatshirt, despite the fact that it was mid-July. She also wore dark sunglasses the entire time. Mark didn't question her fashion choices; he figured that it wasn't any of his business. Mark finished his lunch quickly, paid the bill, and led Taylor out of the Life.
"So, what brings you to Alphabet City?" he asked. "It's not the kind of place you take a vacation to." Taylor smiled.
"I'm looking for my twin brother," she replied.
"What's his name? Maybe I know him."
"Roger Davis." Mark stopped walking, and Taylor laughed.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize you, Tay! You look great!" Mark gave Taylor a hug, and noticed that she stiffened at his touch even though she returned the gesture.
"You've been spending too much time with Roger. You picked up his slowness. I recognized you right away. You haven't changed one bit. Still have that camera too." Mark blushed.
"Come on," he said. "This is our building."
Roger was in his room playing his guitar. Collins had gone back to the apartment he shared with Angel to grade some papers from the summer course he taught at NYU.
"Hey Roger! There's someone here to see you!" Mark called from the front room. Groaning, Roger put his guitar to the side, and went to see who was visiting the loft this time. He froze when he saw Taylor looking around. He would recognize his twin anywhere.
"Tay? What are you doing here?" Taylor smiled weakly as Roger gave her a huge hug, but she didn't reply. "Are you alright? Come on, you're not the kind of person to just stop by unannounced. What's wrong?' Biting her bottom lip, Taylor removed her sunglasses revealing a faded black eye.