A/N: God I hate Global Studies… I have this stupid paper about China to write, but I don't wanna write it! So I'm gonna update this! It's a brilliant idea!

On with the fic!

Slitting Her Wrists in the Bathroom?

Chapter 4

I sat in front of my computer, thinking about what to write. I had no inspiration, but my editors wanted me to come up with something. I tried to tell them that I could just write another cookbook, after all I still had more recipes, but they said that two was plenty and now it was time for me to write a real book. But what the hell is a "real book"?

My phone rang, and grateful for the distraction, I answered it.

"Hey, April," said the familiar voice of Mark Cohen.

"Hi, Mark. What's up?" I asked.

"I just feel bad about last night. None of us expected…"

"I know, Mark. I know. It's not your fault."

"But-"

"Mark, just shut up. It's fine."

He laughed. "Fine. It's so good to talk to you again. I missed you so much."

I blushed. "That's sweet."

"I'd like to talk more later. Wanna meet me at the Life for dinner?"

"You mean," I giggled, "like a date?"

"No! No, just to, you know, catch up." He sounded awkward.

"I'd be happy to, Mark."

"How about at, say, six thirty?" he said happily.

"Sure, Mark. See you then." I hung up and smiled. Judging by his reaction to the "date" thing, there wasn't going to be anything between us, thank god. I turned back to my blank computer screen, ran my fingers through my hair and sighed, still stumped. Maybe Marky could help.

Mark's POV…

Of course, Mimi had to hear me on the phone, at least the end of the call. She grinned at me mischievously.

"Ooooh, who's Marky going out with tonight?" she asked.

"Nobody…"

"Hey, Roger! Mark's going out with a girl tonight!"

Roger joined Mimi and I in the main room. "Oh, who?"

"Nobody!" I said, feeling my ears turn red.

"This 'nobody' is making you blush, Mark."

"Alright, fine, I'll tell you. This girl from… work… and I are going to the Life Café for dinner at six thirty. Happy?" I told them, thinking of an excuse fast.

"Thanks, Mark. I'm proud of you. You haven't lost the touch, after all," teased Roger. I scowled at him.

"Well, Mark, you should get ready. It's getting late," Mimi advised. "You want to look best for…"

"Jan," I finished, ignoring Roger's puzzled look. "You're right, it's five o'clock, and I should get ready."

Third Person...

April and Mark met in front of the Life at promptly six thirty. She was wearing a Phantom of the Opera tee shirt with a pair of jeans. Her hair was pulled in a high ponytail with a piece of black ribbon tied around the base of it. Mark was wearing his usual red long sleeved tee shirt, jeans, and his precious scarf. He smiled and held the door open for her. She nodded thanks and walked in.

The manager, usually so unhappy to see Mark, looked overjoyed. "M-M-Miss Erikkson! To what do I owe this pleasure?"

April blushed.

"Table for two?" he asked, leading her and Mark over to a table by the window that the manager only let his favorite people sit. "I never imagined I'd see you here, Miss Erikkson. My wife idolizes you; she forced me to use some of your recipes. You don't mind, do you?"

Mark had never seen the manager talk this much and this happily in his presence.

April shook her head. "No, of course not!"

"You are just too good, Miss Erikkson, but I think you can do better than him," he added in a whisper in her ear.

April backed away and grabbed Mark's hand. "I disagree."

Mark's heart skipped a beat.

"Well, here's your table, if you need anything don't be afraid to ask," he said, handing them menus.

April smiled politely and sat down.

Mark sat across from her. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Least I could do."

Meanwhile, the manager was still on a cloud when Angel, Collins, Roger, Mimi, Joanne, and Maureen came in. He led them to a table, still smiling.

Everyone was surprised that he wasn't swearing at them and telling them to get out.

They sat at their usual table, ordered their typical "wine and beer," and searched for Mark without looking obvious.

"I don't see him," reported Mimi, after going to the bathroom to reapply lip-gloss.

"Me neither," said Angel, who had pretended to leave her purse outside so she could check the front. "Any girls in the bathroom, Meems? Named Jan?"

"Nope. But April was retouching her mascara."

"April's here?" asked Roger, his fears confirmed.

"Yeah. Go figure."

"Mark's dating April?" asked Maureen, who had only started paying attention to the conversation at that moment.

"No…" said Joanne. "He's dating some girl named Jan, remember?"

"No, he's dating April," Roger snapped.

Everyone turned to him for an explanation.

Roger sighed. "April's nickname in high school was Jan."

Mimi, Angel, Collins, Maureen, and Joanne all clearly didn't believe him.

"I swear!"

Mimi rolled her eyes. "We could always just say we heard April Erikkson was here and we want an autograph."

"No way! If she's with Mark…" Roger started.

"Which I doubt!" added Joanne. "He would tell us."

"For some reason, I don't think he would," suggested Angel.

"Why not?"

"Well, he knew we'd probably stalk them or mock him forever, or something… which we would do."

Everyone sheepishly agreed.

"'Specially with April," added Maureen.

"But he's not with… APRIL! What a pleasant surprise!" said Joanne with a wide grin.

April waved and walked over. "I thought I saw Mimi. You applied your lip gloss about five times."

Mimi blushed. "Yeah. Mark's out with some girl from work. Jan."

April paid full attention to that. "Is he?"

"Yeah. I wanted to meet her."

April grinned. "If you do…"

"Yes?"

"Tell her that was my nickname in high school," she said, and she got up and left.

"Told you so," mumbled Roger. Everyone sighed.

"So…" said April to Mark as she sat back down. "Jan?"

"First name I thought of," he mumbled.

I sighed. "Roger made the connection, even if no one else did."

"So? Let them think things. I don't care."

April tried to figure out what he meant by that. "What are you saying?"

He changed the subject. "You know Maureen was my girlfriend before, right?"

"You dated a lesbian?" April giggled.

Maureen was watching where April was sitting and decided to see if Roger's theory was worth anything. She pretended that she was headed to the bathroom and walked by April's table in time to hear Mark say, "I had feelings for her until you came back," and see him pull a red-haired girl into a kiss. With a silent squeal, she dashed back to the table.

"So, wait, Mark kissed someone?" asked Joanne in amazement.

"Yeah! Couldn't tell you who, though. I never saw her face."

Everyone looked at each other in astonishment. Then, Mimi yawned. "Time to go home. We saw everything we needed to see to be able to taunt Mark for a couple years yet."

Maureen decided to keep the knowledge about him having liked her. She also purposely said that she didn't recognize the person, deciding, for once, to consider someone else's feelings. She didn't think April would like everyone knowing all that much.

April pulled away from Mark after one second and smiled. "Not yet, Mark. I'm not ready for this."

Mark looked hurt, but he nodded agreement. "I guess it's better that way."

"I should go," she added, and gave him a peck on the cheek in farewell, secretly thrilled about how the night had gone.