Note: Sorry this took so long. Bit of writer's block with this story. Anyway, I know this chapter isn't terribly exciting but I wanted to show more Maureen-Joanne and give you guys something. Please review! I'm almost at 100!
Maureen sat at the same window seat she was always at. She hadn't befriended the other girls who were in treatment. She was older than most of them. Besides that, she didn't want to befriend them. She wanted her old friends. Maureen wanted to just go back to the loft and hang out with Roger and Collins and Benny…and Mark. She missed Mark more than she'd thought she would.
"Maureen? You doing okay?"
She looked up. Joanne was there smiling at her.
"Hey, Joanne. Yeah, I just…wait, where's your sister?"
"Marie's got therapy for another hour."
"But you came here knowing that?"
Joanne smiled. "Thought maybe I'd chat with you for a little while."
Maureen smiled back and felt butterflies jump in her stomach. What the hell was that?
"You get any visitors yet?"
Maureen shook her head. "Not for another two weeks. Doctor said I should be focusing on me for the first month."
"Yeah. Marie hated that part of it."
"So did I."
"You mean so do you."
"Nah, did. This is my second go around. Last time I was seventeen."
Joanne sat beside her and frowned. "If you don't mind my asking, is there—I mean, I know there's no one event that causes an eating disorder but, well, you're a very attractive woman. What could possibly make you think…"
Maureen blushed. Joanne thought she was attractive? More butterflies. Maureen bit her lip. What the hell was going on with her? "For me, it's control. I need something to control. Last time it spiraled because my parents were controlling and trying to make every decision in my life for me."
"And this time?"
Why was it so easy to talk to this woman? This was all things she hadn't even told Mark until just recently. Mark. Mark was the one who gave her butterflies. Mark who she loved and who adored her.
Joanne misinterpreted the look on her face. "I'm sorry. That's really not my business."
"No, no it's okay. A couple months ago, my best friend's girlfriend killed herself. He tried to do the same and then we found out that he's a heroin addict and that he's HIV-positive."
"Oh, honey," Joanne sighed, putting a friendly arm around her. "That's…I'm so sorry."
Maureen shrugged, brushing some tears away. "Guess this is just how I've been dealing with it."
"What made you finally decide to get treatment?"
Mark. "I'm not sure. I just…I can't deal with everything. Anything. Mark suggested this and it sounded like a good idea. Plus, like I said, I'd been through treatment before."
"Is Mark the best friend who was there last time?" Joanne asked, arm moving from Maureen shoulder to hold her hand.
"Oh no. That's Roger. Mark's my…my boyfriend."
"Oh." Joanne dropped her hand. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—I didn't realize—"
Maureen blushed, feeling strangely guilty. Why the hell should I feel guilty? I didn't do anything. We're only talking and so what if I have a boyfriend? It's not like I was leading her on…was I? No, no that's ridiculous. She's probably straight anyway. No, no, straight women wouldn't react the way she just did. Rejected.
"Ms. Jefferson?" the nurse called. "Marie should be out in five minutes."
"Okay. Thank you."
Joanne stood up and turned to go. Maureen reached out and grabbed her hand. "Joanne?"
"Ye-yeah?"
"I'm sorry I didn't mention it before. I mean, that I have a boyfriend."
Joanne gave a small smile. "No big deal. You're a young, beautiful, intelligent woman. Should've realized you'd be taken."
"Will you, um, d-do you think you could maybe still come visit me? Just as a friend, of course."
"Of course. I'd like that."
Maureen stood and hugged her, not caring that the butterflies had returned.
"You should go," Mark told Benny.
"What? Why?"
Mark shook his head. "He gets…look, the withdrawals are gonna be bad. I can tell already."
"All the more reason I should stay then."
"Benny, I know you want to help but this is something that I—"
"Can't do alone. So unless you tell me Collins is comin' back, I'm staying."
Mark sighed. "Benny, listen to me. I know you're trying to help but I'll be fine with Roger. He wouldn't hurt me. I know how to deal with him."
"Like you knew how to deal when Collins walked in on you two beatin' the hell out of each other?"
"Does Maureen tell you everything?"
"Everything important," he said with a shrug.
"Well that's in the past. I can deal with this."
"Mark, this isn't about you."
"Benny, please. I'll call you if I need help."
"Promise?"
"Yes."
"And I want you callin' Allison's every night to let me know you're both okay."
Mark nodded. Benny stepped forward and hugged him. "Thanks, Ben."
"It's okay."
He moved towards Roger. "I'm, uh, I'm gonna get goin' now."
"Okay."
"That cool?"
Roger nodded. Benny noticed his hands shaking. He gave a small nod of the head and left, praying Mark would be true to his word and call if things got out of hand.
