Chapter 5

So Roger finally got his band together. Usually they practiced at Mark's or Antonia's every other day. Antonia and Roger grew closer as they shared their love of music.

"I cannot believe you don't like the Beatles." Roger informed her one day. "It's like you can't even call yourself a music fan if you don't like the Beatles."

Antonia shrugged. "I just don't buy into their music." she replied. "They're a good band, but nothing compared to like Led Zeppelin and The Who."

"That's because they have two different genres." Roger argued. "You can't even compare the Beatles to Led Zeppelin."

Mark and Maureen sighed. Everyday at lunch it was the same thing. Roger and Antonia arguing about bands. Finally Mark tuned them out and turned to Maureen. "So I have to do a project for my film class about strong forces."

"What's that?" she wanted to know.

"It's like we have to pick a force of nature like a earthquake or hurricane and compare it to a person we know. Then we have to make a silent film about that person."

"So you have to get that person to convey their nature like strength without them saying anything?" Maureen asked. Mark nodded. "Ooh you could film me!" Maureen exclaimed.

"I was thinking about it." Mark responded shyly. "Maybe I could compare you to a hurricane."

"Is that really how you see me Mark?" Maureen asked with a strange gleam in her eye.

Mark blushed suddenly. "Uh well, you are kind of fierce like a hurricane and when you get dead set on something then you go after it, sometimes leaving a path of destruction in your wake."

"Aw that's sweet." Maureen replied with a giggle. "I would be proud to be a hurricane for you film project." Just then the bell ending lunch rang loudly. "Well I'm off to class. Bye Rog, bye Ant. See ya Pookie." she waved at her friends and hurried off.

Roger looked at Mark in confusion. "Pookie?" he asked.

Mark shrugged, his blush deepening. "I'd better get to class too." he said and quickly walked away.

Roger turned to look at Antonia. "Mark and Maureen?" she asked him.

"No way in hell." he replied.

Antonia giggled. "I don't know, they seemed kind close to me." she said and poked Roger in the arm as they left the cafeteria. "Maybe you're just jealous."

"Jealous of what?" he asked her. "Mark and Maureen?" Antonia nodded and Roger snorted. "Not likely. Maureen's like my sister and don't even suggest Mark. Besides I like someone else." He gave Ant a dazzling smile and turned the corner to go to his class. She stared after him for a moment, then spurred by the ringing late bell, she too headed off to class.

At the end of the day, Roger, Mark, and Maureen met up at the front of the school to wait for Antonia. "Roger why don't you just ask Daddy and Mama Warbucks for a car so we can stop walking home?" Mark asked his friend.

"A, I don't want their charity. If I'm going to get a car I want to have earned it. And B, how does me having a car solve your walking problem?"

"Ha ha Roger." Mark retorted. "I think you missed your calling. You should have been a comedian instead of a musician."

"Your sarcasm is so appreciated dearest Mark." his friend said back. "Maybe you should…" The words died in his throat as he looked over and saw Antonia walking towards them with some guy. "Hey Mo, who is that guy with Antonia over there?" he asked.

Maureen looked over. She knew just about every boy who went to their school. "That's Michael Adams." she replied. "He's the captain of the chess club and the debate team. He could give Mark a run for his money as head nerd too."

Mark was used to being called a nerd by his friends so he ignored that part. "I know Michael. I'm on the debate team too, remember? He's also a really good photographer." He stopped talking as Michael and Antonia came up to them.

"Hey Mark, hi Maureen." Michael greeted them. "And you're Roger Davis right?"

Roger grunted. "Yeah."

"I'm Michael Adams. I heard you guys are putting a band together. My sister is in charge of planning the entertainment for prom this year. She'd never forgive me if I didn't ask your band to audition." Michael told him. A horn honked and he looked towards the sound. "That's my sister. Think about it okay?" He nodded at Mark. "See you in debate Cohen. Bye Toni." then he ran off to the car.

Antonia waved at him and then turned to her friends. "We ready to go?" she asked. Mark nodded and they started down the street.

After about five minutes of Roger not saying anything Antonia looked up at him. "Roger are you okay? You've been really quiet."

"I'm fine." he replied quickly. "Look I got to go home right now. We can have band practice tomorrow." he turned and walked away toward his street.

Antonia looked at Mark and Maureen. "What's with him?" she wanted to know.

The two exchanged a look. "He's just very angst-y." Mark answered. "It's hard being a teenage billionaire."

Maureen elbowed Mark in the side as Antonia glanced at him sharply. "Roger's a billionaire?" she asked in disbelief. "How?"

"Well technically he's not a billionaire. More like a millionaire." Maureen explained quickly. "And it's his parents' money anyway. He hates that his family is so loaded. It makes people get fake around him. That's why he doesn't tell anyone, and we're not supposed to either." she gave Mark a stern look.

"I'm sorry." he apologized. "It just slipped out. But she was bound to find out anyway. I mean with Roger liking her and all." Mark slapped his hand over his mouth. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that either."

Maureen threw her hands in the air. "Tell his whole life story why don't you?" she said in exasperation. They walked on to Mark's house and went up to his room.

"So I don't understand." Antonia commented. "Why does Roger like me?"

Mark turned red and shrugged. He was uncomfortable with those kind of questions. "Sweetie Roger's a guy." Maureen answered for him as she looked in the mirror at herself. "And you're really hot. It's only natural."

"But Mark's a guy too and he doesn't like me like that. Do you Mark?" Antonia protested.

Mark mumbled something and grabbed his camera. Maureen giggled. "Mark's different. He doesn't look at girls like Roger does. Girls don't look at him like they look at Roger either for that matter."

"Thanks a lot Maureen." Mark said. "You make me sound like some gay loser or something."

"I'm just saying." she responded and winked at him, making him go red again. She turned back to Antonia. "Plus it helps that you're into music like Roger is. In his eyes you're probably like his personal goddess." Maureen snapped her fingers. "That's why he clammed right up when he saw you with Michael. Because he wants you for himself."

"There's nothing going on with me and Michael." Antonia told her. "We have the same science class last period and we just started talking."

"Well Roger doesn't know that." Mark spoke up. "He has a horrible jealous streak. If I were you, I'd call him and work it out. Leaving me and Maureen out of it of course."

"No, you can do better than that." Maureen said. "Go to his house and talk to him. That way he can't get all quiet on you." She smiled slowly and Mark groaned. He knew that look.