A/N: Hey, I changed my mind. Mark is coming in on this chapter! Yay for Mark! I decided it is better if you get both of their perspectives, so here you go. Yea daddy! Wink wink nudge nudge Marit!

Disclaimer: Mark, Roger and Maureen aren't mine, but Carrie definitely is. XD

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Mark's POV

My chin rests firmly on my palm, the only thing keeping me upright. My eyelids threaten to close several times, until I remember I am in class. Who need geometry anyways? I've always liked science better than math. I don't understand why I need any of this if I'm going to be a filmmaker.

"Mark? You alive over there?" I hear a soft voice call from the front of the room, and I'm snapped out of my thoughts.

"Oh yea Ms. Berg. I just didn't…"

"Never mind that. Just pay attention." She snaps at me, and I sigh in anguish. No one ever listens to me. She continues to teach as I drift in and out of consciousness. All the sophomores are probably staring at me now. I hate being the only freshman in my class. I always get punished for being smart. I should have just taken Algebra again with Maureen. At least then I would have someone to talk to.

Random numbers are thrown on the board, and I watch as the rest of the students take them into their notes. I avoid this, as I know I will never look in my notebook again. What's the point of writing something down if you don't need it? I get good grades on tests; all the information just seems to soak in when I hear it. I don't need to study. That may be the most arrogant thought that has ever struck my mind.

The bell sounds sharply in my ears, and I'm finally free from this hellhole. Now I have to get through an afternoon of shopping with my mom in the city. She always drags me there to get new clothes, as if I don't have enough. When I move out I am staying in one outfit for the rest of my life. Well…that might be a little disgusting. Then I definitely will never find a girlfriend. I've never really worried much about girls, as I assumed that Maureen would always be my back up. She would never leave me, as I would never leave her. But if someone came along, what other choice would I have but to?

My camera tightens around my chest, constricting my shirt to my body. The cold air stings my face, leaving my lips unable to move underneath the pressure of the wind. Then I see Maureen about to get on her bus.

"Maureen! Hey!" I scream, trying desperately to get her attention. Maybe she can help make my trip with my mom more enjoyable. They will have a fun time while I'm left alone to do whatever I want. I can always count on Maureen to distract my mother. "Maureen!" I run to the door of her bus, right as they fold up. Maureen looks innocently out the window at me, and smiles. Before I know it, she is at the doors, persuading the bus driver to open them. When he finally does, she jumps into my arms, pounding the metal knobs of my camera into my skin. "Ouch." I whisper, trying to let out my pain without Maureen feeling too bad about it.

"What is it? Something wrong? You need a ride? Cause I can't really help you there." She slaps the side of the yellow bus, and giggles at her own humor.

"No, no. I was just wondering if you wanted to come to the city with my mom and me. We're going shopping and I don't really wanna be alone with her." A second passes by, and Maureen contemplates her afternoon.

"Sure why not Marky. But you owe me." She adds, and I let a small smile creep across my face.

"Of course. But don't you owe me like…"

"Mark! Shut up." She stops me before I can prove her wrong, and grasps my hand to pull me down the sidewalk. I try to spot my mom's car, when I hear a horn honk. I look down to see a line painted underneath my feet. We are in the middle of the road.

"Holy crap!" I yell, dragging Maureen to the grass patch on the other side. "We almost got killed. What the hell Maureen!" Anger explodes from my mouth, and all I hear in response is a sigh, and a small beep from my mom's car.

"Oops. Sorry Marky. Come on, your mom awaits." Maureen gets out of that one, and I hope to death that my mom didn't see our stupid display. Then I'd be in for a whole lecture on how to look before you cross the street. "Hey honey?" Maureen turns to me before we reach the silver van my mother occupies.

"Yea?" I answer to honey, even though I despise when she calls me that.

"Do you have a girl in your life? Anyone special?" Her questions come out of the clear blue, as if this had been our topic of conversation for several minutes. I'm confused at first, then decide to answer with caution.

"Not really. Why?" Her dark brown hair blows gently in the wind, and she brushes it out of her face every few seconds.

"I was just wondering. You know, with the dance coming up and everything. Maybe, we could go together?" She avoids eye contact with me, and I can tell she is nervous. Whenever Maureen is being sincere, she never looks me in the eye.

"Of course. Who else would I want to go with, Mo?" At last I see her gleaming eyes staring giddily back at me. She pecks me on the cheek, no doubt leaving a lipstick stain on my pale white skin. "Is this your mom?" She points to the car directly in front of us, and I nod.

I open the door, allowing Maureen in first and soon following. My mom smiles at us from the driver's seat, and gives me a questionable look.

"Would it be all right if Maureen came with us? I mean she likes…"

"Sure Mark. That would be just fine. Hello darling." She greets Maureen, and forgets I am even in the car.

"Hello Mrs. Cohen." Maureen answers, in her high tone of voice she uses with my mother. She speaks as if she needs to impress her. I think she did that the first second my mother laid eyes on her chubby, joyful face. My mother has always wanted me to date Maureen, but I could never comply with her wishes. Something about Maureen and me just doesn't mix together. Something's missing.

"So, should we head out? Where to first?"

"Uh…can we get some coffee? I'm dying for a caffeine buzz." Maureen answers back speedily, and I nod in agreement. I've been falling asleep in class all day.

"Sure. If you'd like." My mom replies, and the car begins to excel forward. Maureen puts her hand on my thigh, and leans her head lightly on my shoulder. I see my mom look through the rear view mirror at us, flashing a cheesy smile in approval. Great, now she thinks that Maureen and I are together.

The car comes to a jolting stop, and Maureen jumps out before I can even get unbuckled. I doubt she really needs more caffeine in her body. Maureen is always hyper. We run quickly across the street, dodging a blue van that blows wind against our backs. My mother gives me a concerned look again, as we laugh at our close call. Our second one in nearly a half hour.

"A hot chocolate please?" I quietly ask the lady at the counter, as Maureen glares at me. "What?" I ask, feeling her big eyes on me.

"Hot chocolate? Why not coffee?"

"I've never really liked it much." I answer, and she scoffs.

"How can someone not like coffee?"

"I don't know, I just don't."

"Here ya go, kid." The old woman hands me a steaming hot cup, and I can smell the chocolate already. Maureen cringes at me, and then takes her cup cautiously. We sit down at the nearest table, and I wipe off some of the crumbs left from the previous occupants.

"You two going to the dance?" My mother asks, as she crosses her legs and takes a sip of her drink. I look over at Maureen and see her swallow eagerly, trying to answer.

"Yep! Can't wait! I need a dress!" Maureen yells, and then hesitates. "Well…I don't know if I really want a dress. Maybe just some nice clothes. I'm not a dressy kind of girl." She holds her cup up to her lips again at the end of her comment, and sips slowly, so she doesn't burn her mouth. Something I have already done several times on my hot chocolate. I could never manage to sip without singing my tongue.

"Mark we should get you some nice clothes to wear for the dance. And shoes, you need new shoes." Maureen plays with my feet under the table, a game of footsy that I refuse to partake in.

"Mom, I don't need new shoes. I like mine. They're comfortable."

"Oh, Mark. Comfort is not always that important." My mom sighs, and I roll my eyes at her. She's always worried about looking your best, not feeling your best. At times she is supportive, and other times not so much.

Twenty minutes later we walk down the street again, my mother and Maureen ahead of me, chatting up a storm. Maureen looks back at me every few seconds to see if I'm still there, and I flash her a small smile before she turns back to continue her conversation. Cars fly by us, and I glance down at my feet. My shoes aren't that bad. They are actually quite nice looking. I think my mom just wants to spend more money. My eyes stay focused on my sneakers, until I come to a halting stop. I run into my mom's back, and look up, irritated. I see Maureen running down the street towards a girl. A confused look overcomes my mother's face, and I hear Maureen yelling something that I can't make out. The girl runs towards Maureen too, and they eventually join in a hug. A guy with blonde hair, wearing a leather jacket and jeans, follows the girl closely; wrapping his arms around her waist every chance he gets. He looks confused by Maureen's presence, and scowls at her slightly before digging his face in the girl's hair. All three of them walk towards my mother and I, and I can finally make out what they are saying.

"You skipped? I thought you said you'd never do that!" Maureen scolds, and my mother turns to give me a concerned look.

"Yea, I know. But I couldn't stand school for another day. Besides, I got to spend time with my man for a day." The blonde girl turns to look at the guy next to her, and he smirks at her comment. His eyes meet briefly with mine, but I look away the first chance I get. Goose bumps run up and down my spine, as I awkwardly wait for Maureen to introduce us.

"Maureen?" My mom speaks up, probably waiting to meet the new kids as well.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to introduce us to your friends?" Maureen looks at both of them, then back at me.

"Oh, yea sorry Mrs. Cohen." She turns towards the girl and points her finger. "This is Carrie, she is a junior. We have drama together. Carrie this is Mark Cohen and his mother Mrs. Cohen." We all smile at each other, and my mom reaches out to shake Carrie's hand. She can always find a way to embarrass me, even if she's just being polite.

"It's nice to meet you." Carrie says shyly, and shakes my mother's hand.

"And you are?" My mother directs her attention towards the guy in the leather jacket, who has stayed under the radar until now. Well, from them at least.

"Oh…sorry." Maureen stutters. "This is Carrie's boyf…"

"He's not my boyfriend. We are just…friends." Carrie interrupts, and a red blush comes over her fair white face.

"Well, this is Roger. Carrie's…friend." Maureen finishes, and he nods at all of us. Roger. The name seems to fit.

"Are you a junior also, Roger?" My mom drills the new guy with questions, literally seconds after she has met him.

"Yea. I'm seventeen."

"Ah, well that's nice. Are you two going to the dance as well?" I snap my head towards my mom, but she pays no attention to me.

"Uhh…I'm not really sure yet." Carrie answers, and my mom sighs.

"Well, Maureen and Mark are going together. Maybe you two should join them. We could set up a little dinner. It would be fun."

"Mom, just let us figure it out okay? They probably don't even want to go." I say, giving an apologetic look to the three teens. Roger digs his hand in his pocket and leans his body forward slightly.

"Nah, that might be okay. I was gonna ask you anyway Car." He adds, and I can't help but smile. At least he doesn't think I'm a complete loser. My head fills with thoughts about a night between all four of us. Maybe Roger could connect me to some cool kids. He looks like one of those kinds of guys.

"Well, kids, we have to get going. We have lots of shopping to do. Unless…Maureen, you'd rather stay with these guys." My mom suggests, and I immediately clench inside. My stare shifts to Maureen who smiles at me. She knows I dread the thought of being left alone.

"I think I'll hang with Carrie and Roger. You two will probably get more done without me. Plus I never see Carrie anymore." Both girls nod and I sigh in anger.

"All right then, come on Mark." My mother pulls me across the street, as if she is rushing to get me away from them.

"Wait, unless Mark wants to come with us." I hear a voice say, and I turn around to see who. Roger has gotten away from Carrie's grip, and stepped forward just a little. His hands remain in his pockets, but a bright gleam comes from his face. Blond hair blows into his face, but he just ignores it, unlike Maureen.

"Can I?" I look back at my mom, hoping and praying for an acceptance.

"But, shopping. We have to…" She points dazedly at the car, prepared to leave any second.

"Mom, you know you'd just pick it all out anyway. What's the point of me coming?" I ask, and she gazes down at the front seat. I feel bad for leaving her, but I'm almost never invited to do something fun. This may be my only chance. I wait for her answer impatiently, grasping at the camera strap around my neck. I hope Roger doesn't notice my equipment, he might think lower of me if he knows I carry a camera around.

"All right, I suppose. I'll pick you up back here between five forty five and six."

"Okay."

"No later than six. Have fun, love you." I close my eyes in embarrassment, and slowly my feet pivot under me. I turn to see Roger smiling widely at me, then feel Maureen's grip pull me up onto the sidewalk with her. My mom's car drives sluggishly by us, and she gives me one final wave before she's out of sight. Finally, some time alone.

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Notes: Sorry that took me so long to write, but it's slightly longer than the last chapter so I hope that makes up for it! Hope ya liked the little Mark/Roger interaction! I thought it was cool to make Carrie and Maureen friends. So cute…anyways, later! Read and Review!