Disclaimer: Nothing. Still.
While the three bohemians debated among themselves on whether to take Roger to a hospital or not, I was watching Roger. He slept so peacefully. That was one of my favorite things about him: how he slept. When he did sleep, which was not very often, he looked much younger, and pure too. I could go back in time then, to the first few months of our relationship.
We had met when I was 17 and sober. He was 20, and looked so mature and confident the first time I saw him, in a club performing. I was with Maureen, who had also noticed Roger and was trying to catch his eye. But he was looking straight past her, at me. His electric blue gaze seemed to bore into my eyes as he sang in a gruff but somewhat soothing voice. I didn't believe in love at first sight until I met Roger.
Maureen wanted to leave right after the show to go to another bar, one where she was going to meet her 'flavor of the week', Jeff. I convinced her to call him, say she'd be late, and promise to meet up with him later. When she asked why, I told her I just had to see Roger.
"Musicians aren't as great as they seem, 'Ril," Maureen said as I dragged her around the club, looking for those eyes. "Trust me. I've dated them, and they like their work more than they like you." I laughed, knowing that it was really Maureen who was too absorbed in her showpieces to pay attention to her boyfriends' music.
Anyway, I knew he would be different. Those eyes, that smile, that voice told me so.
Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. I swung around, and there he was, in all his glory. My hands started shaking, and he smiled again. He could melt me with his smile.
"Hi," he said, sticking out his hand. "I'm Roger."
I couldn't speak. I was just staring at his hand. It was a really nice hand, too, with long fingers perfect for playing the guitar.
"And she's April," said Maureen, after she finally realized I couldn't say anything. "April says hi." I stared at Maureen with shock on my face; she was making me look like an idiot.
"Hi Roger," I said, taking his hand and shaking it, his completely engulfing mine. "This is Maureen," I added to finish the introductions. "We live together. As roommates." I quickly added, knowing what Roger was thinking. I flashed him a smile, and to my delight, he flashed one right back.
"Well," said Maureen, figuring out that she might be the third wheel here, "I'll just run off now and join Jeff, and leave you two alone. 'Ril, I'll be back to pick you up in and hour or so, ok?"
"No," said Roger, "That's ok. I'll bring her home. Is that ok?" he asked me.
I was grinning from ear to ear. He was going to bring me home! "Yea," I replied, "That'll be great. Bye Maureen!" Maureen turned around to leave, and smacked right into someone.
"Shit!" a blonde-haired young man said. He was wearing a scarf, even though it was a pretty warm night for October, and had on glasses. He had spilt some beer on Maureen's light blue shirt. He went to wipe it off, but then thought better of it.
"I'm so sorry," he continued, handing Maureen a stack of napkins. "So sorry," he repeated.
"That's ok," Maureen said, checking the guy out like only Maureen could. "I'm all good."
"And that," said Roger, with a smirk on his face, "Is my roommate, Mark. He's a graceful one, isn't he?" Maureen and I laughed as Mark's face started turning red.
"Why don't we go sit somewhere else and leave these two alone?" Maureen suggested to Mark, who then started to blush deeper than anyone I had ever seen before, but nodded. Maureen winked at me before leaving with Mark.
"So," I said to Roger. "Um, do you play here often?" I felt so stupid asking a question like that – it was like asking about the weather. But I did want to know more about him.
"Yeah, we play here a lot," he answered. "I guess it would be pretty stupid of me to ask if you go here a lot then, right?" We both laughed a little.
Our conversation did get better after that, thank god. I learned that his band was called the Well Hungarians, and that they had been playing for a little over a year. He wanted to become a famous rock star, to write a song that people would remember. In turn, I told him that I didn't know what I wanted to do in life, but that it would be pretty damn important.
Time flew by so fast, that before we knew it, the club manager was telling us it was time to go. I figured that Maureen had already left with Mark, so I wasn't too worried about her. I asked Roger if he wanted a ride home, if Maureen hadn't taken the car already.
It was a plain car, 1975, my first car ever. I didn't know the kind, but it was dark green and ran, which was fine by me. Thankfully Maureen didn't take it, she must have gone home in a cab or something, so Roger and I went in and I drove him home.
At the entrance to his loft, which surprisingly was only a couple of blocks away from the apartment Maureen and I were staying in, Roger stopped.
"So," I said with a grin , "I guess you can't run away from me now that I know where you live."
Roger smiled. "I don't think I really want to, though," he replied, kissing me and closing the door behind him.
They were almost through debating whether to take Roger to the hospital or not. The debate was mostly between Mark and Collins, because Maureen was still groggy and didn't want to start fighting with anyone.
"We've got to take him to a hospital!" Mark urged. "They'll have the medicine for him, and what if it's serious?"
"Come on," Collins said impatiently, "Take it from someone who knows what Roger's going through: if you take him to a hospital he's just going to leave, and we can't afford it anyway!"
Before Mark could retaliate, however, a groan came from the couch.
"Roger?" Mark said, his attention completely focused on his friend. "Roger?"
Roger mumbled something incoherent on the futon.
"What?" said Mark. "Roger, are you ok?"
"No hospital," Roger managed to say. "I can't stand hospitals."
"See?" Collins asked Mark with a somewhat smug expression. "Don't take him." Mark sighed, but gave in.
So, did you like the flashback part? I wasn't too sure about that.
SATs this weekend, so I'll try to update on Sunday or Monday. Thanks for all the great reviews! They help so much! GM
