Disclaimer: still don't own it.

To Know How It Feels

Maureen walked down to the cafeteria, to look for Mark. She entered the small room, only to find Mark sitting with the nurse.

The young nurse was laughing at something he was saying, while holding his hands and examining his shirt.

"My dad has one just like it," the girl was saying. She took her fingers and walked them up to his shoulder.

"Pookie?" Maureen asked loudly.

Mark turned around. "Hey Maureen," he exclaimed in a flustered tone.

"Who's this Marky?" the nurse asked.

"I was just going to ask you the same question," Maureen said glaring at the girl.

"I am Nicolletta Pascal," she said. "Marky and I were just chatting."

"Well I am going to-"

"She is Maureen," Mark said interrupting his girlfriend. "We are visiting our friend Mimi."

"Oh," she said. Nicolletta began examining her nails. "Can we help you?" Nicolletta asked, looking at the diva.

"Mark," Maureen said grabbing her boyfriend's arm. "We need to go. Bye Nicorette."

"Nicolletta," the young nurse corrected.

"Like it matters," Maureen snapped. Once the couple was outside Mimi's room, Maureen stepped in front of the door and stared at Mark.

"Maureen, that wasn't what it looked like."

"Why would you do that?"

"Now you know how it feels," Mark mumbled.

"What?"

"You heard me. I never get looked at. Girls always look at everyone in the group, but me. No one cares about the dorky camera kid. It felt good for someone to like me for a little."

"Hello? What about me? Your girlfriend!"

"Like that is going to last long. Maureen, you never stay with anyone for long. You don't take love seriously. You never will."

"How do you know? How do you know I don't take it seriously?"

Mark pushed past her and went into the hospital room.

Roger was sitting on the bed, holding Mimi in his lap. Collins was sitting next to Maya on the chairs. The four of them were laughing.

"Mark," Mimi cried. Roger nodded at his best friend. Maureen went to the corner and sat down. Mimi noticed the tears in her best friend's eyes and offered a look of sympathy.

Roger saw the anger on his best friend's face and gave him a quizzical look. An awkward silence settled down, as Maureen and Mark avoided each other at all costs.

The doctor walked in to break the silence.

"Excuse me," he said. "Miss Marquez, you can leave tomorrow morning. On another note, all visiting hours are over, so if you would all kindly leave."

The group all got up and said goodbye to the young girl lying in the bed.

"Mr. Davis," the doctor said. "A word?"

"Oh," Mark interrupted. "I am going to be covering the costs."

"That is good to know, but that is not why I need to talk to Mr. Davis," the doctor said.

Roger followed the doctor outside.

"Miss Marquez is doing much better, but it is you I am concerned about," he said.

"Me?" Roger said.

"Both you and Mimi are only positive, correct?"

"Yes," he said.

"Your symptoms are pointing towards AIDS," the doctor said. "I was referring to your records and would it be possible to take a few blood tests?"

"I guess," said Roger skeptically.

"Firstly," the doctor said. "How did you extract HIV?"

"My first girlfriend left a note saying, 'We've Got AIDS.'" Roger said.

"I doubt that you would have acquired AIDS that early on. The note probably only implied you were HIV positive. By being positive, you are putting yourself at risk for AIDS."

Roger nodded irritably. This seemed like his millionth "HIV lecture." He knew that he was HIV positive and he knew that HIV could later turn into AIDS. He was never a fan of details, so he always just told the doctor, "I have AIDS," just like April's note had said.