"Whoa! That was a great show!!"
Mark blinked. "You liked it?"
"Sure did," said Roger as the two of them exited the hall where La Boheme was performed. Mark raised an eyebrow at him. Roger sighed.
"Alright, so the music kinda put me to sleep a little. But the plot was really something. I love how even though Rodolfo and Mimi kept falling apart because of her illness, they still came back together and rebuilt their love. Sad she had to die though. And I loved how cunning Musetta was when she was trying to win back Marcello. She's a feisty little one," he said with a giggle.
"Yeah. She reminds me a lot of my ex-girlfriend Maureen," said Mark with a slight shudder.
"Ex-girlfriend?" Now it was Roger's eyebrow that lifted.
Mark shrugged. "Yeah. We dated for a couple of years until she dumped me for a lawyer named Joanne because she realised that she swung the other way."
Roger giggled ever so slightly, but restrained himself. "Whoa, tough break, man. Sorry to hear that," he said.
"Oh don't worry. We're still good friends though," added Mark brightly. "Say, would you like to have a drink now?"
"Sure!!" piped Roger, who never missed an opportunity that involved alcohol.
So the unlikely pair sat at the opera house's bar, where Mark ordered a dry martini while Roger ordered a cold beer.
"But you know what I liked best about the whole show?" asked the rock star suddenly.
"What?" said Mark, picking up the toothpick with the olive on it.
Roger leaned forward and gazed directly at Mark. "I loved how strong the friendship is between Rodolfo and Marcello and how they always stick together throughout the hard times. Especially when Mimi's dying. Rodolfo may be alone, but at least he and Marcello still have each other. I think their relationship is the most constant one on the whole play…..don't you?" he whispered.
Mark gasped softly, his cheeks blushing a deep pink as he felt Roger's breath so close to his face. Never had he allowed a total stranger to come this close to him. He had half a mind to tell Roger to back off, but since that would be too rude he just mumbled, "Oh yes, yes. Of course," and then stuffed the olive quickly into his mouth, savouring the sour, pungent taste on his tongue.
Roger's face slowly spread into a huge grin and he said, "There. Not only did I watch an opera with you, I even learnt the storyline. I am now, officially, a cultured indi-vi-du-aal." He winked naughtily at Mark, and earned a chuckle from the young Jew.
They spent the next hour just drinking and chatting about whatever they could, until Mark suddenly looked at his watch and said, "Hey Roger, I'm sorry to do this, but I really have to go home. I have a very early start tomorrow at the hospital."
"So soon? What about dinner?"
"I would've loved dinner, but I just lost track of the time and now it's really late. I'll just have to eat something at home and then hit the hay straight away." He got up from his chair and straightened his jacket.
"Hey, thanks for coming with me on such short notice, Roger," he said graciously.
"Hey, no problem Doc," said Roger, draining the last drops of his beer.
"No really, I mean it. Thank you," said Mark once again, as he pulled out his wallet and slapped a few bills on the bar table. "This one's on me."
Roger walked beside him as the two of them exited the opera house. "Then it's only fair that I drop you home."
"Oh no, Roger. You don't have to do that. Really. I'll be fine," urged Mark, who was eager to get away from him.
"Okay, if you say so," relented Roger. He stuck his hand out to Mark and said, "Have a good night, Doc."
"You too, Roger. Thanks for your company," replied Mark, shaking his hand warmly.
"Anytime, Doc."
The two of them stood there on the sidewalk, their hands slowly moving together, as they gazes lingered. Finally, Mark broke the gaze. "Alright, I really have to go now. Take care, Roger!!"
"You too, Doc!! Seeya!!" The two of them waved goodbye, then slowly turned around walked their own separate ways home. Mark hailed a cab, opened the door, and glanced quickly at Roger's back before sliding into the car. Ok, that wasn't so bad, he thought to himself as the cab took him home, his heart pounding softly.
The next morning……
"Yes, Mrs. Thompson. Get the tests done at your nearest X-ray centre, and bring the results back to me, and we'll go from there, okay? Have a good day, Mrs. Thompson. Goodbye!" said Mark into the phone. He hung up the receiver, then took in a few deep breaths while he rubbed his eyes and massaged him temples. He had an early start that morning at 5.30, to check up on his latest patient; a young girl who had a few deficient nerves in her brain and so was unable to move normally. She'd been complaining – more like crying - over the immense amount of pain she was feeling due to the new medication that was being administered to her, so that that kept our dear Dr. Cohen busy for a good 4 ½ hours that morning. Now finally, he was able to just sit in his own office and do some paperwork before his next surgery at 11.30. He just sat at his desk, his head bowed, while he massaged his temples, when he heard a knock on his door.
"Who is it?" he mumbled, not bothering to look up.
"What? Oh come now, Mark. Won't you even lift your head to look at me?" said a deep voice from the door. Mark finally lifted his head and tried to focus his eyes on the figure n his doorway: a young 27-year-old man, dressed sharply in a black Armani suit, white shirt with a striped green and black tie, his hair perfectly slicked onto his head and his face perfectly shaved, and his shoes so shiny, it could have served a mirror.
Mark smiled sleepily. "Sorry Alistair, I'm just really sleepy. Come on in. Have a seat," he mumbled, gesturing to the empty seat in front on him, and then yawned.
Alistair grinned and cantered into the room, but instead of sitting at the seat, he leaned over the side of the desk and whispered, "Hey, I'm really really sorry I couldn't make it last night, babe. Jerry got food poisoning that afternoon and I was dumped with all his work. I got you somethin' though." He slipped a long, velvety box towards Mark.
Mark picked up the box and opened it slowly while Alistair waited, an anticipated smile on his face. Inside the box was a gold chain with a tiny Star of David hanging, with miniature diamonds adorning the lines of the star. The diamonds caught the light in the office and threw hundreds of light speckled light reflections across Mark's face. Mark smiled sleepily at the little jewel.
"Thank you, Alistair. It's really beautiful," he gushed, turning the star around and admiring the tiny but sparkly diamonds. He slipped it over his neck and admired it some more.
"Glad you like it," said Alistair confidently, before leaning forward and planting a kiss squarely on Mark's lips. Mark kissed him back, then pulled back to smile at him. "Did Collins enjoy the opera?" he asked.
Mark's face suddenly went pale as he tried to fumble for an answer. "Oh um…uh….yes!! Yes, he did. Although he….umm….he's seen it before, but ya know……it's his favourite opera so yeah, he didn't mind seeing it again," he mumbled, making a mental note to ask Collins to say the same thing should Alistair ever bring it up with him. He loosened his collar briefly.
Alistair hugged him close and kissed his temple. "So, how about some brunch?"
"Oh, I know know, Alistair. I have a surgery later."
"Oh, come on Mark! That's not for two and a half hours! It'll only be a quick one, I promise. Please??" Mark opened his mouth to answer, but Alistair was already pulling him to his feet. Mark sighed. Suddenly the phone rang.
"Alright, I'll come. Just let me take this call," he said, releasing himself from his boyfriend's grip. He picked up the receiver and answered, "Hello?" But the voice on the other end suddenly made his throat tighten.
"Hey, mornin' Doc!!"
Mark gulped, then glanced over at Alistair, who was waiting in the door, his foot tapping and his forehead crinkling in impatience. Oh my God, it's Roger! And Alistair's right here! What am I gonna say?
Ok, I know, that was a terrible ending. I'm really sorry. I promise I'll make it more interesting later on. Read and review please?? Thank you!!