A/N: YAY! CHAPTER SIX! Thanks for all of the reviews. The cliffhanger made you guys crazy, huh? LOL! R&R please.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except the person who...well...you'll see.

Mark Cohen gulped, glancing at the woman standing beside him. She was too pretty for him and he knew it, but he supposed she would have to do in this last-minute situation. Taking her hand, he led her to the table at which his friends were sitting.

He could sense the utter awkwardness in the air as he pulled a chair out for her to sit in before sitting down himself. "Guys," he said, "This is Stephanie." The woman waved and smiled brightly. Her teeth were flawlessly straight.

Mark looked at everyone at his table. Collins and Roger's mouths were open in shock. Maureen was staring down at her Diet Coke. Joanne was blinking rapidly and darting her eyes back and forth, something she did when she was in utter shock or surprise. Angel and Mimi were, of course, smiling like fools.

There was total silence for at least two minutes before Angel finally spoke up. "Hi! I'm Angel!" She leaned over and shook Stephanie's hand. "Nice to meet you. Mark talks a lot about you."

"Does he?" Stephanie asked, smiling and resting her head on Mark's shoulder. Mark felt like he was going to vomit from nervousness as he stiffly wrapped an arm around Stephanie. She sat up and tossed her light brown hair. Mimi and Angel began picking up conversation with Stephanie, who seemed open to answering every single one of their questions. Roger and Collins were talking quietly amongst themselves.

I hate her, Maureen thought, grinding her teeth angrily. I hate her with a fiery, burning passion. Who does she think she is? I bet she bosses Mark around. I bet she treats him like crap. I might have to kill her before this evening is over. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and she felt Joanne put a hand on her leg reassuringly.

"So you and Mark met while he was filming, huh?" Mimi inquired.

Stephanie nodded. "Yeah. We're both interested in that kind of thing. Although I'm not as talented in film making as Mark is," she replied.

Mark shrugged. "I'm not that good..."

"Oh, please, yes you are!" Stephanie argued. "Isn't he great at what he does? Someday he'll end up directing something on the big screen!"

Roger was giving Mark the evil eye. "Oh, yeah. I definitely agree," he said, raising an eyebrow in Mark's direction. Mark tried to ignore it.

"So," Collins began in his I'm-so-not-convinced tone, "How long have you guys been together as of now?"

Stephanie glanced at Mark. "How long, babe?"

Mark quickly did the math in his head. "About three and a half weeks," he said.

"How cute!" squealed Angel, "You guys make an adorable couple."

Mark sighed in relief inwardly. Things weren't going as badly as he thought they would be. Everyone seemed to like Stephanie. Or so he thought.

After dinner was over, Mark pulled his date aside when everyone was leaving.

"Hey, Michelle, thanks a lot for doing this for me."

Stephanie—now Michelle, replied, "Haven't seen you since we were, what, sixteen years old in Chemistry class? You look different."

Mark smirked. "So do you. A lot different."

Michelle laughed. "I was the nerdy one with the glasses and the braces, if you recall. Just goes to show you what a few years of braces can do. And I wear contacts now."

Smiling, Mark stuck out his hand. "I owe you a lot. Hell, if I hadn't ran into you today I would be really screwed."

Michelle shrugged. "It was really fun. A lot of practice for my rising acting career!" She chuckled again and so did Mark. "But, Mark...I'll be honest with you."

"Go ahead."

"I really don't know what you're trying to prove by doing this. Why can't you just tell your friends and Maureen the truth?"

Mark looked down at the ground. "I'll be honest with you too, Michelle," he said quietly, running a hand through his hair, "I have no freakin' idea."

Mark got home to find Roger already sitting on the couch, his arms folded.

"Hey, Rog," he said, hanging up his jacket and scarf. Roger did not reply. Rather, he stood up and walked over to the refrigerator, rummaging through it until he found the container of milk he needed.

Mark followed him. "You okay?"

"I just think you're pathetic, Mark. But that's about it." Roger pushed past his best friend to pour the milk into a glass he'd set out on the table.

"Come on, Rog, I did what I had to—"

Roger let out a dry laugh. "What you had to do? Why did you have to get some random woman you don't know to pose as your non-existent girlfriend?! Why was it necessary to pull the wool over everyone's eyes?! Are you that desperate, Mark? Because it's pathetic. It really is."

Mark blinked. "Roger, I knew Michelle from high school and I ran into her today, so I figured that maybe..." He trailed off and let out a sigh. "I know I'm a screw up, okay? But I don't know how to fix this!"

"Then figure it out, Cohen, because after this, I'm sure as hell not gonna help you out. Did you see the look on Maureen's face? She looked like she was gonna cry." He glared at Mark, refusing to avert his cold stare from him. "She loves Joanne and you damn well know it. But this whole thing made her feel like shit; don't you get that? Nice job." Roger took his glass of milk and headed into his room, slamming the door behind him.

Just as he left, the telephone rang. Mark let out a groan and went to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Mark, you're an idiot."

Mark closed his eyes. "Collins, if this is all you called to tell me, then I suggest you hang up before I personally come over there and bash your face in."

Silence on the other line. "I was just trying to help, man. And for the record, I didn't plan on telling Angel about it because I figured you still wouldn't want her to know."

"I suggest you still keep your mouth shut," Mark retorted.

"You know what, Mark?" Collins' voice was rising and Mark was getting nervous. "I think you need to learn to accept things for what they are. You're screwing up. Fix it. Now, before you start threatening me again for whatever reason, I'm going to hang up. Sorry I interrupted you feeling sorry for yourself." Click.

Mark cursed under his breath as he hung up the phone and flopped down on the couch, burying his face into a pillow, wondering if maybe he'd unintentionally suffocate and maybe get away from everything.

Maybe he was better off that way.

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