Marks POV

Soon Maureen's unending sobs became a few simple tears that she wiped from her face. Her cheeks were red and blotchy with streaks of mascara dripping under her eyes. I helped her up off the ground and she dusted herself off. Maureen glanced at the set up for her latest performance. She burst in to tears once again. I was immediately at her side soothing her like I had done moments before.

"I'm a mess!" she sighed sitting on the broken amplifier, "it's just that I'm realizing now I have no place to come home to! I mean the apartment is Joanne's and there is no way in hell she's let me stay there after this little accusation."

"Maureen," I began "You….can….uhh come and stay with us for a while, if you'd like." I felt partially responsible for the break up. I mean the fight was over me and I did dabble in her flirting. It was the least I could do.

"Really!" she looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"Ya, sure, you're always welcome. Mi casa es su casa!" I smiled as she let out a slight giggle. The two lovely arms wrapped around my neck. She whispered thank yous into my ear as she squeezed me tight.

The next thing I knew she was sitting on the handle bars of my bike while I peddled home. I couldn't help but look at her as she waved to the people she knew and as she hummed lightly to herself. She had bounced back so quickly to her old self again. As the loft came in to view she hopped off the handle bars and walked inside. I followed along carrying my bike. Mimi answered the door.

"Mark why did Joanne drop off all this chick shit here?" Roger's voice echoed from the other room. Tears formed in Maureen's eyes, but she didn't let them fall

"Cause the bitch dumped me, that's why!" She yelled back to Roger.

"Why'd she do something like that?" Mimi asked wanting to get in on all the information.

"Because she doesn't know what she's missing!" Collins replied as he strutted over to Maureen giving her a hug. He was Maureen's bet friend. Collins had also stayed with us after that Christmas realizing how much he missed home. So now the house would be packed full of people.

"You don't mind if Maureen stays with us then right? I asked

"No we don't mind" Mimi replied, "Girl the testosterone in this space was becoming unbearable!!!" They both laughed and that was all that was needed. Maureen was officially our roommate once again. However, there was one problem. Sleeping Arrangements. Roger and Mimi had taken one bedroom, I was in the other, and Collins was on the pullout couch. So Maureen took her old bedroom that she had while she lived with us the first time, which was mine, in my bed, with me.

That night we laid on opposite sides of the bed. I turned my back towards her to try to fall asleep on my own when I felt a finger tap my shoulder.

"Yes Maureen!" I sounded tired and exasperated.

"I can't sleep" She replied, "To much on my mind!"

So for the next half hour I listened to everything mind. It went from her show, to the outfit she was going to wear the next night to the fact that the show might not even go on because of the break up. That's when the conversation hit a sour note. Maureen stopped in mid sentence and was silent. She left me waiting for another famous Maureen Johnson come back.

"So you're not over Joanne?" I asked

"No" she retorted with fresh tears running down her face. "What would make you think I was over that already?"

"Well, you just seemed so normal with everyone else! I thought you might be over her. But now you're crying and sad with me so…why is that?" I said as I pulled her back in to my arms.

"Oh it's stupid you'll laugh if I told you!" She explained.

"Yes, I might, but you'll kick my ass if I do!" I smiled making her laugh for a brief moment. "So just tell me." She took a deep breath and wiped away the newly fallen tear.

"It's because I'm not afraid to be vulnerable around you Mark! I still feel safe when I feel so emotionally powerless!" she began, starting to tear up, "With you I can put down my sassy confident façade that I use to cover my emotions and become the shy weak little girl inside of me. I know stupid right."

"No not stupid at all." I hugged her tightly against my chest. "You just cry it out right, right here with me," then it started. I felt the sobs radiate through her body as she lat the "little girl" come out. Then from that moment on I was truly special in Maureen's life. Then that night she fell asleep in my arms just like old times and I enjoyed every minute of it. Maybe….just maybe I was still in love with Maureen.