To Be
DISCLAIMER: I do not own RENT or anything affiliated with it.
"You hardly ate anything for breakfast," Roger pointed out as he and Mark left the restaurant.
"God Roger, stop trying to be my mother," Mark said, walking back towards the hotel.
"Someone has to. You don't seem to be taking care of yourself," Roger told him. "Why didn't you eat?"
"I'm not used to eating a lot at breakfast. We don't normally have anything other than Cap'n Crunch," Mark reminded him. "I'm fine Roger, just drop it. The whole reason I invited you to come with me was to get your mind off of everything."
"I don't need to get my mind off of everything. I'm fine," Roger replied. "You're the one I should be worried about."
"I'm fine," Mark replied.
"You aren't eating."
"Roger, fuck off. I'm not your responsibility," Mark told him.
"If something happens to you, Maureen and Joanne would kill me," Roger told him.
"You've got to stop worrying about me, Rog. I can take care of myself."
"Just…" Roger began.
"It's cold. Let's go," Mark said, ending the conversation.
LINELINELINELINE
"Hello?" Maureen asked, picking up the phone.
"Mo? It's Roger."
"Hey! Pookie, Roger's on the phone!" Maureen called. "How are you guys doing?"
"Okay. It's so crazy out here. You would love it," he told her.
"How's Mark?" she asked.
"He's… he's okay," Roger replied.
"What aren't you telling me?" Maureen asked, hearing the pause in his reply.
"Did you know he hasn't been eating?" Roger asked her.
"What?"
"He isn't eating. He hasn't gained back any of the weight he lost when he was sick," Roger told her. "He keeps telling me he'll eat, or that he isn't hungry."
"Is he there? Let me talk to him," Maureen said.
"No, I went out, told him I was going to get something from the convenience store on the corner," Roger said.
"You know, he didn't eat a whole lot before he got sick. He's probably just too used to not eating," Maureen told him.
"I'm worried about him." Maureen could hear Roger sigh. "It's been almost a year."
"He's stubborn, Roger. If you're hounding him, you know he's going to do exactly the opposite of what you want him to," Maureen said. "Just like you."
"Yeah, I guess," Roger said, leaning against the wall next to the pay phone. "Let me talk to Joanne for a minute, okay?"
"Sure. Just a sec."
LINELINELINELINE
"Hey, Roger," Mark said.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry… about the other day," Mark said. They were waiting for their plane to start boarding to go back to New York.
"Don't worry about it. Just promise me you'll eat, okay?"
"Okay."
LINELINELINELINE
"You're home!" Maureen cried, throwing herself at the two men. They both stumbled under her added weight.
"Mo, you're going to knock us over if you aren't careful," Roger told her. She let go and moved away.
"Sorry. I missed you guys," she said. She put her arms through theirs and drug them over towards where Joanne was waiting with Collins. "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah," Mark replied. He forced a smile and went with her.
"Yeah. Let's get out of here," Roger said.
LINELINELINELINE
"Are you okay?" Roger asked, walking into Mark's room. His friend was sitting the edge of his bed, and Roger could tell he didn't feel well.
"I'm just tired," Mark replied, lying down.
"Are you getting sick?" Roger asked. Mark nodded and closed his eyes. "Want me to get Maureen and Joanne?"
"No. Just keep Collins out of here, okay?" Mark said. "You'd better stay away, too."
"Yeah, okay. You need anything?" Roger asked.
"Water. And the Tylenol, please," Mark replied. Roger nodded and went to the bathroom, bringing back the things Mark had requested, as well as a thermometer.
"You want me to just leave it here?" Roger asked, standing just inside the doorway. Mark looked over and nodded.
"Yeah." Roger put the items on the floor and started out. "You might better close the door." Roger complied, before walking over to Collins's bedroom.
"Hey, Mark's getting sick. He told me to tell you to stay away," Roger said, standing in the doorway.
"What's he got?" Collins asked, looking up from the papers he was grading.
"I don't know. He looks like crap, though," Roger replied.
"Should we call someone?"
"He said not to. I don't really know what to do," Roger told him.
"Just leave him alone for now, I guess. If he isn't feeling better in the morning, call Maureen," Collins said. "That boy's getting sick too easily."