Author's Note: Wow, it's amazing how awful I feel today. I get way too attached to my characters. (Just ask AimlessGirl, we're writing a book together and we're stuck at a sad part. I can hardly stand to think about it!) : ( On the up side, I feel way less guilty updating this since I probably drove away all my Mortal Malls readers with that terrible excuse for a new chapter. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I just realized that this actually might not be the last chapter! YAY! I don't want it to end!

Disclaimer: "And when you're living in America…" Check, "At the end of the millenium…" Sort of…give or take 10 years? "You're what you own…" Oh, in that case, I'm not literally a 'RENThead'.

Mark's POV (Friday, 2 days later)

I thought I was going to scream. "Mom, please I just…" I'd called my mother back after a not-so-peppy pep talk from Roger and Collins. Again, they had requested speakerphone, but this time it was for moral support instead of sick kicks.

"Mark! I already told you, it's not going to work! She's not Jewish!" My mother sounded furious. I looked at the guys.

I sighed trying to regain control of the conversation. "Okay, Mom, look, I love Symphony, so I'm not sure what your problem is! She's a Christian, anyway!"

I heard my mother sigh. "Mark, listen honey, I was in that situation before, you're not in love with her. It's a phase. Like Maureen."

I opened my mouth to speak but Roger cut me off. "Mrs. Cohen, I can honestly say that I've never see Mark look at anyone the way he looks at Symphony, and I've known him how long?"

Another sigh. "Mark, she's different. I-I don't see how…"

I almost screamed. I almost ran. I almost blew up. I almost did so many things. But what I did do surprised even myself. I cried. "Mom?" My voice broke. "One chance. One. That's all I need. One."

The next words filled me with hope. "Bring her to dinner Monday." She hung up.

I leaned against the couch almost in shock for more than one reason. For one I'd completely gone against my mother's wishes. I'd always been the rule follower. Even when I was with Maureen I'd been weary of bringing her home. Number two, I'd completely broken down. Even now I could feel my eyes burning. I pushed the heels of my hands against my eyes.

I felt someone sit beside me. "Hey," Roger's voice came from my right. "Mark, you know you don't have to listen to her, right? You don't have to let her control your life."

I shook my head. "I know, Rog, but if it were me I was worried about we'd be fine. Sym's…not taking it as well as I'd hoped." I sighed, completely stressed out. "But I can't blame her. Can you? I mean, her parents…are...well, you know, so obviously it's going to be important to her that mine don't…" I looked up.

Roger nodded his understandings and Collins said, "Hey, man, I know what you mean, but you'll get through it. Besides, when they see how good you are together they'll have to…"

I leaned back against the couch. "I wish Collins, I wish." I stopped. "Shit," I thought aloud. "How the hell am I going to do this?"

How do you take your not Jewish girlfriend to meet your Jewish parents and your sister who thought you were gay?

Roger chuckled.

I glared at him. "I see nothing funny about this."

Roger chuckled again. "I have an idea—"

"Oh God," Collins muttered.

"—but it's risky"

Of course it was.

Sym's POV (Mimi's Loft, Same day)

What was I going to do? The…situation we were in didn't seem to bother Mark as much as it did me. So why did it bother me? Was it because I had no parents of my own and I wanted to make a good impression on Mark's? If it was I certainly didn't do a good job of that.

"Hey, Sym?" Mimi asked from the doorway.

"Mhm?"

"They're all here, minus Mark."

I sighed. Of course they were. "Okay." Within moments my friends surrounded me. They all looked at me sympathetically. It made me wonder what they had planned.

Roger sat in the chair and propped his feet up on the coffee table. "So Symphony. I have an idea and it's brilliant if I do say so myself."

Collins chuckled. "Not the word I would use to describe you, Rog, but sure let's go with that."

Roger blinked once and went on, ignoring his friend. "Anyway, I think it would be good idea if you went. Then they could see how good you are together and see how nice you are. Get it? FYI: Mark agreed already."

I nodded. "Seems pretty straight forward. But what if I make a fool of myself?"

Roger sighed. "That's the problem with it."

Mimi glared at the musician. "Roger! She will not! She's so nice and sweet and kind! There's no way they could think differently!" She smiled at me.

I smiled back. "Thanks Meems."

"Anytime."

I looked around. "Well, I guess it can't hurt to try. No day but today am I right?"

Roger groaned. "Do you know how many times I've heard that in the past two years? I mean come on people! Get a new motto!" He complained, but I could tell he was doing it for my benefit.

Mimi grinned. "Roger you do realize I'm standing right here, right?"

Roger smirked. "Yep." And he high-tailed it back to his loft.

Mimi laughed. "I'll be right back. I have to go teach my boyfriend a lesson. Speaking of boyfriends, someone should probably tell Mark."

At that moment the filmmaker in question walked through the door. "Um…hi?"

I looked up at him nervously. "So…we're planning on Monday? Which means I have about two and a half days to figure out what I'm going to do, right?" I swallowed. What was I going to say? What would I wear? How was I going to plan all of this in sixty hours? I'd never been so stressed.

Mark shook his head and sat next to me, smiling slightly. "Calm down, Symph. I don't see why you're blowing this all out of proportion." He sighed and put his arm around my shoulders. "You know that whatever happens isn't going to change anything for me right?"

I looked down, embarrassed. It sounded to silly when you put it like that. "I know, but I'm just so nervous. How am I—"

He held a finger to his lips. "Shh…it's already taken care of. Angel and Mimi are going to get you ready, I'll try and soft up my mother by wearing that sweater she made me a few years ago."

Maureen gasped. "You mean that red, orange, and brown one? With the stripes?"

The filmmaker nodded.

Maureen looked at me. "He must really love you if he's wearing that thing."

I laughed, grateful that with everything factored in, my friends were still by my side. Through heartbreak, ugly sweaters, and all.

Author's Note: Okay, so I'm not really sure how much longer this is going to be. I'm assuming the next chapter will either be the last or the second to last. I don't really like the ending on this chapter, but if I went on it'd be like a six page chapter and I wouldn't be able to stop writing! (Not that stopping now is easier, but whatever.)

Peace, Love, Iggy.

Kierstin