He sat up, letting Benny's jacket slide to the floor.
He brought his watch into his line of vision, taking in the time.
It was only six in the morning.
Two hours past when Benny and he were at the bar.
He groaned as his headache enlarged.
He let out a sigh as he leaned back onto the couch.
"Fuck, Roger. You didn't even say goodbye." he said.
He slammed his fist onto the coffee table, the noise echoing through his brain.
"You didn't give me a fucking chance!" he cried out, growling.
He stood, no longer able to keep still.
He paced from the end of the couch to the kitchen and back again.
Looking down at his watch, he realized he had been doing this for a full hour.
There was a knock at the door, disturbing his thoughts.
"Pookie? Are you up?" Maureen's voice drifted through.
Mark sighed, cringing at the effect his moves had on his brain.
"Just get in here." he said with a sneer, falling to the couch, covering his eyes as Maureen ran over to the window, pulling the shade open, letting in the bright sunshine.
"My little ray of sunshine." she cooed, reaching out to ruffle Mark's hair.
Mark pulled away.
"Don't." he pleaded, falling to a lying position.
Maureen narrowed her eyes.
"What's wrong, Pookie?" she asked, forcing herself space on the couch next to him.
Mark rolled his eyes.
"I'm not in the mood for visitors today, Mo." he replied tortily.
Maureen ran her hand along his left leg.
"We need to get you packed, I thought." she whispered.
Mark groaned.
"Benny's coming later...I think." he retorted, frowning.
Maureen pouted her lips.
"Joanne invited you to brunch at the Cafe." she stated.
Mark snarled.
"No flow." he replied.
Maureen frowned.
"Marky, you're hungover." she whispered.
Mark flushed.
"No, no I'm not." he lied.
Maureen sighed.
"Mark, I know you, and you're hungover. You went out drinking last night!" she exclaimed.
Mark rolled his eyes.
"So what if I did?" he queried testily.
Maureen just shrugged.
"It's not like you to get drunk." she commented.
"I needed it, Mo. When I drink, the world around me melts. The negativity disappears." Mark argued.
Marueen snorted.
"No, when you drink, the world becomes nothing but false colors." she hissed.
Mark sighed.
"Well, Mo, I'd rather see false color than deal with reality right now." he hissed.
Maureen patted his leg softly.
"Come with me and Joanne to the Cafe." she pleaded.
Mark sighed, bringing his hand to his head and rubbing at his temple, a sign of succombing.
Maureen squealed giddily.
"Up, up!" she exclaimed, pulling Mark up quickly, despite his objections.
"Maureen, lower your voice." he cried out, cringing.
Maureen chuckled.
"What? What, you're going to have to speak up!" she yelled, winking.
Mark growled at her.
"Oh, sexy." Maureen teased, linking arms with Mark and leading him to the door.
"You are in for a treat! Joanne said anything you want is on her." she said, throwing open the door and literally dragging Mark out of it.
Upon reaching Joanne's car, Mark flinched away from Maureen's grasp.
"Oh, the sun." he groaned, watching as Maureen opened the back door for Mark, moving to the side as he climbed in.
He slid comfortably in the seat, rubbing his head as Maureen shut her door, the sun glaring off the window.
"Hey, Mark." Joanne said nimbly, glancing at Mark through the rearview window as she pulled from her spot and began the drive.
Mark nodded at her.
Joanne narrowed her eyes as she caught the tired expression on the filmmaker's face.
"Maureen, you woke him?" she exclaimed pointedly.
Maureen blushed.
"You said by all means." she retorted.
Joanne rolled her eyes, tapping her fingers lightly on the steering wheel.
"I didn't mean wake him from slumber, honey." she said through gritted teeth.
Mark looked up at the two.
"Didn't even acknowledge my hang...oh." he said, pausing as he realized his words.
Joanne only smiled.
"Hangover, honey? Here, have some water." she said, reaching into the cup holder, grabbing the bottle of water that sat in it, and offering it back to Mark, who took it, popped the top, and sipped at it graciously.
"You sure you're up to eat?" Joanne questioned as they pulled into the Life Cafe parking lot.
Mark shrugged.
"Maureen can deal with the mess." he said with a wink.
Maureen's jaw dropped.
"Excuse me!" she screeched, causing Mark to cover his ears with his hands, groaning.
"Maureen..." Joanne warned.
Maureen sighed.
"Whatever." she said, opening the door and exiting, slamming it shut behind her.
Mark cringed.
Joanne exited her side and opened the door for Mark.
"Sorry." she apologized for Maureen.
Mark shrugged as he stepped out of the car.
"You sure you're okay with this? God, Maureen should have just let you be. She doesn't think!" Joanne exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration.
Mark laughed as he began to match her pace.
"No, that she doesn't." he said.
Maureen looked back at Mark and Joanne.
"C'mon, hurry, hurry! Brunch starts!" she exclaimed loudly.
Mark narrowed his eyes in disgust.
"Seriously, what goes down will come up, and she's cleaning it." he insisted as Joanne and he slipped into the Cafe.
Joanne chuckled, patting Mark lightly on his shoulder.
"With a toothbrush." she said with a wink.