Johnny wrung the water bottle in his hands as he stood behind the door. Days later, Denny's close call with the crazed repro still hung heavily around the building. Everyone was still on edge, and Johnny didn't want to be a burden. But he had a new problem he needed to discuss.
He listened intently for several minutes until he heard footsteps coming down the hallway. He looked through the peephole and saw a dispirited Mark walk past toward the stairwell. Johnny felt a pang of sorrow and proudly accepted it. It was all part of being so profoundly in sync with Mark. Johnny knew that his bosom friend liked to go to the rooftop to think, and he gave him a minute's head start before quietly following.
The topic ricocheted around Johnny's mind. A heinous accusation, so bizarrely out of character, and yet the rumour mill had accepted it. He knew Mark would believe him, and maybe he could help him control the damage. But dear, sweet Mark had troubles of his own. How could he broach the subject delicately, organically?
He pushed open the door and stepped out onto the roof.
"I did not hit her! It's not true! It's bullshit! I did not hit her! I did not!" he hurled his water bottle to the ground and feigned surprise when he saw Mark sitting a few feet away.
"Oh hi Mark," he added coolly.
Mark looked up at him. He had heard Johnny's tantrum, but pretended he hadn't.
"Oh hey Johnny, what's up?"
"I have a problem with Lisa. She said that I hit her," he blurted in a single breath, like a child tattling to Daddy.
"What?!" Mark replied. His world had turned upside down: Denny was messing around with repros; crazed gunmen were sneaking into the building; Mark himself had dragged that poor bastard in for...processing. It was all unraveling at the seams. Anything seemed possible.
"Well, did you?" he asked.
Johnny's heart was ripped in half. He thought the two of them had the ultimate bond. A friendship so powerful that it never needed to be stated. And Mark knew exactly what Johnny had sacrificed for Lisa. The toll of her unbirth– her salvation.
"No it's not true don't even ask!" he shouted. He found himself at the edge of hysteria, and scrambled to change the subject. To start scabbing the wound.
"What's new with you?" he asked.
They talked like they always did, but it wasn't quite the same. As they discussed women and infidelity, Johnny felt an unbearable ache within Mark. As much as he wished he could deny it, something was wrong. He took a deep breath and finally asked.
"What's bovvering you, Mark?"
Mark looked at him and paused meaningfully, then started for the roof access door.
"Nothin', man."
"Do you have some secrets? Why don't you tell me? Come on."
But Mark brushed him off. Johnny felt a saline twinge in his nose as Mark stormed away. Just before he reached the door, Denny popped out of it. Mark shoved that goddamned repro lover aside and disappeared into the stairwell.
Johnny was still shell-shocked as he and Denny chatted. He couldn't remember what movie they were going to see that afternoon. Life seemed meaningless without Mark's unconditional love.
Denny, too, had a problem, and he offered it to Johnny with great gravity. He confessed tenderly that he had feelings for Lisa and braced himself for Johnny's wrath. None came; everyone who knew Denny knew about his ravenous libido. It was only a matter of time before he wanted Lisa, too.
"Denny, don't worry about that. Lisa loves you too– as a person, as a human being, as a friend," Johnny lied. He continued into a half-hearted speech about love, feeling utterly defeated. He didn't believe his own words, and what did a deranged sex fiend like Denny care about love? Instead he turned the young-looking man's energy onto his latest quarry.
"What about Elisabeth, huh?" he asked.
"Well..." Denny began, licking his lips. "I love her."
"Mhmm," Johnny replied, unconvinced.
"When I graduate from college, get a good job, I want to marry her and have kids with her." Denny's loins burned as the image formed in his mind. By the time he finished college, Elisabeth will have finished high school. And then he would rejuvenate to meet her.
"That's the idea," Johnny said hollowly.
"You're right," Denny replied. "Thanks for paying my tuition." He thumbed his loose, gaping navel.
"You're very welcome, Denny," Johnny said, wrapping his arm around the boy's shoulders.