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Disclaimer: same as last time. JL owns rent, I own my characters. BAM
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Chapter 3: Excited Together
Marks POV
I was wrapping my scarf around my neck when there was a knock on the door, I opened it to see Rachael, right on time. We were all heading to the Life for lunch since Collins was back in town.
"Hey Rachael! You can come in, Roger should be done soon."
"Did he say that?" She asked, checking the clock.
I nodded and she just laughed, "That means he'll be out in a half hour."
And she was right, a half hour later Roger finally came out. During the waiting time, small talk had ensued, and casual gazing. I tried so hard to look at her too much and make her feel uncomfortable.
"Oh hey Rachael!" Roger said grabbing his coat at slow poke speed. She went over and gave him a hug, which although I knew they were just friends still made me feel a tinge of jealousy.
"You know we were supposed to leave a half hour ago?" She said with a smile.
"Really? Oh well, I didn't exactly get my beauty sleep last night." He said, joking around, smiling right back.
This Roger was so different then the cynical one I knew, he was acting more like himself before April, it was a nice change. I hoped it would last.
I grabbed my camera on the way and filmed them as we walked to the Life. The rest of the Bohemians were all waiting when we got there. All except Collins, he was late too, which was a relief to me, we weren't the last ones to get there. I hated being late.
Maureen ran over, her curls bouncing with how fast she was, tackling me in a hug. "Marky!!!"
I swear we hadn't seen in each other in week and she acts like its been forever. "Hi Marueen." I said, hoping my tone of voice would make her get off.
She understood and backed away smiling then saw Rachael and gave her a big hug to her to, which caught Rachael off guard. "Hi I'm Maureen. Who are you?"
Rachael laughed at how excited Maureen was, who was literally jumping up and down at the thought of a new bohemian to join us. "I'm Rachael, I just moved in across from Mark and Roger. I've known Roger since we were kids."
Joanne came over and shook her hand, being as professional as she could with the kids hanging off her. "Hi I'm Joanne. Its nice to meet you Rachael."
"Likewise." She said. Then bend down to Ryan, "Hello kind sir." She said beefing up her accent for effect.
He just stared at her, then Mo whispered into his ear and he replied, bowing, "Hi miss."
She smiled and told Maureen and Joanne, "Your kids are adorable. " Ella was asleep in Joanne's arms.
"Thank you." said Joanne. "You guys ready to go eat?"
"But Collins isn't here yet." I said quietly.
Joanne nodded, "I know he called, he's on his way. He'll be here soon."
We all entered and got our regular table, or tables, connecting them with the tables with other bohemians, leaving a seat for Collins.
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I lifted my camera filming the scene around me, everyone getting a little rowdy, but waiting to start anything till Collins got here. He came in with his finger on his lips, wanting us to be silent. We all saw him, all of us except Rachael. He crept behind her slowly, then as she was taking a sip of water, he put his hands on her shoulder and whispered, "Hey Wetz!"
She jumped, spilling her drink all over then laughed. Getting up to give him a hug she said, "No one has called me that since grade school. How are you Thomas?"
He smiled, "I'm good. You."
"Good. Well except now I'm all wet thanks to you." He smiled, grinning cunningly and sat down in his reserved seat.
Roger looked in deep thought for a moment then said, "Oh my god, Wetz! I completely forgot about that." He laughed really hard.
I panned to Rachael, wanting to catch this random moment on film. She was bright red, "It should stay forgotten."
Maureen asked, playing with Ryan in her arms, "What's the story?"
Rachael glared at Collins before explaining, "One day when I was high school." At this point, she was trying to keep herself from laughing, "I was in art class, and I got too excited and…" She couldn't even finish because she was laughing so hard.
Roger took the liberty, "She peed in her pants." We all broke in what had to be the biggest laugh ever. She was now beet red, her head in her hands, still laughing at herself.
She reminded me of myself a little, I however got excited in other ways.
Maureen stopped laughing suddenly a wide grin on her face then whispered in Joanne's ear. I knew that grin, with Maureen, it normally wasn't a good thing, she was defiantly planning something.
Maureen and Joanne whispered a bit more before Maureen addressed us all, "I have an amazzzinngg plan!" She was obviously excited. "Let all go out dancing next week! There's a new club opening just the street." She pointed at Rachael and me, "Now you two can be excited together!"
I just about died right there, both of us turning bright red. I banged my head on the table, "Oh my gosh Maureen I'm going to kill you."
I couldn't believe she had just said that. I got up to go tickle her or something, which she hated, "Not unless you catch me first!" She said dashing around the restaurant and so began a chase around the restaurant, while everyone just laughed at us, for maybe 5 minutes before I got too tired and sat down, fuming. Maureen rolled her eyes and grinned at me cheekily.
Rachael's POV
I watched as Mark chased her around the restaurant, a smile on my face. Was it really that obvious? I thought. Was it really that obvious that I liked him? If all his friends could see it, why couldn't he?
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The last couple days I have been going over to their loft when Mark is out to ask Roger questions. And after some long explanations I was finally starting to understand their family.
"So Mark and Maureen dated, then she left him Joanne?"
Roger nodded, playing his guitar, "What about you, have you been dating anyone?" He asked.
I shook, not wanting to think about it, "I broke it off with my boyfriend before I left for England."
"Didn't want to the long distance thing?" He asked, looking more interested in his guitar.
"No…he wasn't a nice guy. After a terrible 2 year relationship, I couldn't take it anymore." I said softly, hoping I wouldn't have to elaborate.
He looked up at me, his attention on me, asking in a questioning tone, "In what way?"
"He never really treated me like girlfriend more like his pillow."
"Pillow?" He asked confused
"You know when you get really mad you take your pillow and throw it around the room in a fit, punching it and stuff. I was his pillow." I explained quietly, wishing he hadn't asked.
He put his guitar down and looked at me, his eyes wide, "H-he hit you?"
I nodded, trying to keep from crying, I didn't like to think about him. I hopped off the counter, "I'm going to go draw a bit."
I heard him call after me as I ran over to my loft, "Rachael!" I closed the door then went over to my bed. I wrapped my arms around myself, pretending it was Mark holding me, and cried myself to sleep.
Marks POV
I closed the door, "I'm back."
Roger was sitting on the counter in deep thought. I set down my camera and walked over to him. He turned to me, his eyes wide and sad, "Mark, if you date Rachael, you have to make me a promise."
"Sure." I asked a little worried at how scared his voices sounded.
"Don't hurt her."
"Of course Rog." I couldn't even imagine hurting her.
Obviously still distressed he went back into his room and shut the door. The happy Roger no longer, the sad Roger was back.