-The next morning, Mark and Jake are in bed-
Jake: what are we going to do today?
Mark: after work? I donno…what do you want to do?
Jake: we can go to my place for a change.
Mark: your place? Sure, I've been wanting to see it…
Jake: okay, so it's settled! Six o'clock tonight! So, I'm starving. What's for breakfast?
Mark: …whatever, as long as you make it!
Jake: what's your order?
Mark: pancackes?
Jake: you got it. What's the filling? How about chocolate chip?
Mark: sounds perfect!
Jake: -puts on a black jacket and goes to cook-
Roger: -sprawled on the couch- morning.
Mark: morning…
Roger: boy, you look tired. Someone get a little action last night?
Mark: …oh shut up.
Roger: I know you didn't, I would have heard after all -grins and goes to grab the first pancake-
Mark: -grabs the second- I'll let that slide 'cause I won't have to take any more today.
Roger: and why's that?
Mark: I'm going to Jake's place after work -eats and grins-
Roger: -chokes on his pancake and glances at Jake- REALLY?
Jake: Yes! –grins-
Roger: -lifts his eyebrows at Mark- maybe tonight someone will FINALLY score?
Mark: wouldn't you like to know.
Roger: ….Jake, I need a new bed.
Jake: What?
Roger: my bed's all lumpy and old. That's why I'm sleeping on the couch and it gives me the worst aches in the back. Do you maybe have a spare bed at your place?
Mark: well, why don't you sleep in my bed tonight.
Roger: no, I already tried it. It sucks.
Mark: it's new and it's great and that's all you're going to get! And anyway- when did you try it?!
Roger: umm –
Mark: yes?!
Roger: -turns back to Jake, ignoring Mark- so do you have a spare bed?
Jake: umm, sure, I guess you can stay in the red room.
Mark: …forget the colour for one second- he is NOT coming!
Jake: why not? -oblivious to the possible danger-
Mark: why not? Alright- FINE! He can move in with you for all I care!
Jake: why does it bother you so much? The red room is on the east wing, he won't be anywhere near us.
Mark: …where the hell do you live, Buckingham palace??
Jake: oh? No. just some old house my uncle left me. Anyway, you won't even see him.
Mark: it's ROGER! He just wants to come because he's a pervert!
Jake: I'll soundproof the bedroom.
Mark: -blushes- FORGET IT! I'll come another day when his bed isn't miraculously LUMPY!
Jake: …Roger, you may have to stay here.
Roger: oh but –
Jake: there you go -ignores Roger- he's not coming
Roger: Hey!!!
Mark: I donno….this whole thing ruined my mood
Jake: come on! He's not coming!!!! And I've got some surprises for you… I've really worked hard on tidying up and everything… please?
Mark: …you just asked me a couple of minutes ago!
Jake: I did it yesterday!
Mark: you were so sure I'd say yes?
Jake: I was hoping you would...
Mark: well…
Jake: please… -comes closer-
Roger: please spare me from seeing this!
Mark: you don't want to see but you want to hear?!
Roger: it's different! I just want to know if you're sleeping with him!
Mark: get a HOBBY!
Jake: please Mark? You can bring Scarfy. AND Roger RIP.
Mark: well…I guess…
Roger: -scowls-
Jake: yay! Now let me take you to work!
Mark: that'll be great- thanks! -grabs his things-
Roger:
Jake: -wraps an arm around him as they walk out- Bye Roger! Sorry again!
Mark: take your AZT
Roger: please hit a car on the way. Please hit a car on the way.
Mark: you know you'll be sorry if it happens.
Roger: I should think not.
Mark: see why I say you're not nice? -gets out-
Roger: I hope you score tonight! -yells after them, then grabs the phone and calls Maureen- Hey Maureen! Listen, I need you to convince Joanne to take me to Jake's apartment tonight. Mark is going to spend the night there and I have to know what happens between them
Maureen: …sure. I guess it will be fun to find out if he still talks during sex.
-later that day-
Mark: ok, can I open my eyes now?
Jake: okay.
Mark: -opens his eyes-…can I move in with you?
Jake: huh?
Mark: this place is so cool! -walks around-
Jake: really? Well I would really love it if you move in… -blushes and gives him a key-
Mark: really??
Jake: sure?
Mark: thanks! Ah- but wait…what about Roger…
Jake: uh… I guess he could move in too… somewhere in the east wing… or the dungeon…
Mark: …you have a dungeon?!
Jake: you think he'll prefer the attic?
Mark: how big IS this place?!
Jake: pretty big. Anyway, you're really moving in?
Mark: well I'll have to talk it over with Rog…
Jake: -takes this as a yes- baby, that's great! -goes over and kisses him-
Mark: -blushes- it's not for sure yet…
Jake: you hungry?
Mark: yeah, a little…
Jake: I left something in the oven… let's see how good it is -pulls out an entire turkey that smells fantastic-
Mark: …-drools-
Jake: -gives him a piece-
Mark: -sits down and eats- wow Jake this is amazing!
Jake: so are you really movin' in?
Mark: yeah…I just gotta…talk to Roger…
Jake: -seems satisfied-
Mark: this is really delicious –gobbles-
Jake: -watches him eat-
Mark: aren't you going to eat?
Jake: I already ate at work.
Mark: really? Why- if you made all this…
Jake: -shrugs- anyway – want a tour??
Mark: -swallows- yeah, sure!
Jake: -takes him for a tour around the place- so, anyway. This is the living room. I usually like to have guests in there – but you're not just any guest… and this is the bathroom…
Mark: -looks around like a tourist-
Jake: …and this is the bedroom! -opens a door to a huge room with a huge bed with bedcovers with hearts- and this is my bed… -unnecessarily- and these are my bedcovers…
Mark: -stares- half of New York could fit in that bed…
Jake: yeah I guess…
Mark: -looks around-
Jake: this is the bed -points again-
Mark: yes I know, it's hard to miss-
Jake: yeah... -lingers in the bedroom as though waiting for something to happen-
Mark: what? -oblivious-
Jake: what? –dreamily-
Mark: …just- what?
Jake: nothing… -sighs dreamily- anyway… on to the east wing…
Mark: ok- -gets out- you coming?
Jake: -still lingers- I guess… -comes out and takes him to the east wing- this is the red room – it will be Roger's, I guess.
Mark: -stares- this room is too nice for Roger- you said something about a dungeon?
Jake: oh yeah… there's also a dungeon -takes him downstairs to a beautiful room with a pool table, DVD, Sony Playstation and a bowling alley-
Mark: -blinks- you have a…bowling alley? In your house?!
Jake: yeah –indifferently- I play it from time to time.
Mark: -turns to him slowly- ok- who the hell are you?
Jake: what?
Mark: are you like some kind of mafia member or something?!
Jake: -confused- no. why?
Mark: you have a bowling alley in your house!
Jake: and?
Mark: where do you get so much money from?!
Jake: I work… and my parents were rich and I was their first-born so… here I am with most of their money. –babbles- Joanne was kinda upset…
Mark: well- can you blame her?
Jake: what? I let her sleep over whenever she wants.
Mark: you have a BOWLING ALLEY in your dungeon!!!
Jake: yeah. And a collection of about two thousand films in the attic.
Mark: WHAT?!?!?! Why didn't you tell me?! -runs upstairs-
Jake: -follows- you wanted to see the dungeon! -they enter a huge attic with loads of films lying around and a huge TV set-
Mark: -blinks- I died and went to heaven…
Jake: uh… the bedroom is downstairs…
Mark: huh? -barely listening-
Jake: so… are you tired? -hopefully-
Mark: tired? Nop, I could stay up all night-!
Jake: that's another good idea! –hopefully-
Mark: -rummages through the piles of movies, not listening- yeah-oh wow cool!
Jake: you wanna watch something? –sadly-
Mark: can I?
Jake: I guess…
Mark: yay! -kisses him and starts the movie-
Jake: -looks happier sits down next to him on a huge sofa and wraps an arm around him-
Mark: -leans on him, smiling-
Jake: -seems to be on cloud nine-
Mark: I don't care what Roger says- I'm moving in.
Jake: yay! -embraces him-
Roger: -at the window with Maureen- you think he'll let me stay in the red room? -whispers to Maureen-
Maureen: how should I know? And why should I care? Look, they're hugging, so cute!
Roger: I'm a genius!
Maureen: hello? I was the one who set them up!
Roger: yeah, but I was around to help them get it on!
Maureen: excuse me?!
Jake: do you hear something?
Mark: …couldn't be-
Jake: oh I guess it's nothing. -goes back to watching the film-
Roger and Maureen: -hide-
Roger: why aren't they going to bed already?!
Mark: this is great, thanks for inviting me…
Jake: anytime… -stares at him-
Mark: what? -confused- do I have something in my teeth?
Jake: no, nothing. Are you tired yet? Wanna go to bed???
Mark: ammmm…ok….
Jake: -runs downstairs and puts rose petals all over the bed and the bedroom-
Mark: -follows him- ammm…Jake?
Jake: yes? -huge smile with a lot of white teeth-
Mark: what are you doing?
Jake: -smiles- just setting up the mood for us. -turns on some romantic music-
Mark: …the mood?
Jake: yeah!
Mark: amm Jake…last time I checked- rose petals?
Jake: you don't like them? -makes them all disappear at once-
Mark: look Jake- you're sweet and all but you're trying too hard- we said we were just going to let things happen when they happen remember?
Jake: yes and… I was thinking they could happen…
Mark: …there's really no nice way to say this-no.
Jake: no?
Mark: n. o. no.
Jake: okay. -gets into bed looking enormously depressed-
Mark: look, I don't like it so planned, ok?
Jake: meaning…?
Mark: that I think it should be spontanious- spur of the moment and all that crap!
Jake: oh okay… I guess that might also be nice… -kisses him- g'night.
Mark: -lies down next to him and kisses him- good night. And sorry.
Jake: that's okay. I know I will have you some day. You'll see (boys).
Mark: we'll see.
Jake: yeah. We will. –grins-
Roger: damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maureen: -chews gum- what? Maybe they need more time. They want to get to know each other first.
Roger: you're talking?! You sleep with people – not guys! People! – on the first date!
Maureen: and? -chews-
Roger: and… Mark should learn something from you! have you taught him nothing?!
Maureen: it's Mark! He's not discovered his inner-gay personality yet. Give him some time!
Roger: -pouts-
Mark: amm…do you hear Roger?
Jake: it's the TV upstairs.
Mark: I could have sworn I turned it off…
Jake: it must be the TV upstairs.
Mark: I guess you're right- no way he could be here…
Jake: Roger? –dismissively- how could he be here? I locked the door.
Mark: you don't know him…
Jake: -shrugs- it's the TV.
Mark: right. I'll go turn it off then. -gets up- be right back.
Jake: okay.
Mark: -goes upstairs and returns looking extremly pale- it's off!
Jake: the neighbors next door are kind of noisy. Maybe it was them.
Mark: I hope so…
Jake: good night Mark.
Roger and Maureen: -argue in whispers outside the window-
Mark: -crawles into bed and into Jake's arms- 'night…
Jake: night sweetheart.
Roger: sweetheart?! snorts
Mark: did you hear that?!
Jake: hear what?
Mark: that! -gets up and opens the window- I KNEW IT!
Roger: uh… hi Mark.
Maureen: what's up?!
Mark: -blushes in fury- what are you doing here?!?!?!?
Roger: we… umm…
Maureen: you know, you're REALLY slow Mark.
Mark: THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUISNESS!
Maureen: yeah it is. Because if Jake dumps you, he will be very sad and that might make Joanne angry with me 'cause I didn't force you to give Jake what he wants!
Mark: yet another reason NOT to do it!
Roger: what's the other reasons? Jake seems to really want it.
Jake: I… I'll just go downstairs to make some hot chocolate. –exits-
Roger: SEE?!
Mark: -blushes- that is not your concern!
Roger: he IS going to leave you eventually you know.
Mark: if he leaves me because of that I don't want him.
Maureen: oh PLEASE.
Roger: -snorts-
Mark: and what's it to you ANYWAY?!
Roger: well. I just want to know when you do it!
Mark: keep wanting!
Jake: -comes back in with four mugs of hot chocolate-
Mark: -stares- ok. Fine. WHATEVER. Let me just say this- as long as these two are spying I will NEVER do it! You hear me? NEVER! -storms out-
Jake: -hands them mugs- now beat it.
Roger and Maureen: thanks! -disappear-
Jake: THEY'RE GONE Mark!
Mark: they're probably hiding in some tree! -refuses to go back inside-
Jake: Your hot chocolate is getting cold…
Mark: let it!
Jake: -shuts all the windows and draws the curtains- they're really gone, Mark.
Mark: you sure?
Jake: YES!
Mark: -goes back inside and sits on the bed-
Jake: -hands him the mug-
Mark: thanks- -drinks slowly-
Jake: they're GONE, Mark. -sits next to him and grins-
Mark: I hope so…
Jake: they are. And if it makes you feel any better, I'll tell Joanne to yell at Maureen for doing that.
Mark: would you really? -puppy face-
Jake: I will. Keep in mind she's probably already doing that anyway – I mean, Maureen was here instead of in bed with her.
Mark: I hope so- -dreamy look-
Jake: Night.
Mark: oh right- sorry, you're tired aren't you?
Jake: not really, no.
Mark: then why do you want to go to sleep?
Jake: so tomorrow will come faster and I can spend all day with you? it's Saturday tomorrow.
Mark: -smiles- that's sweet. -kisses him-
Jake: -kisses him back-
Mark: still want to go to sleep? –grins-
Jake: or we can keep doing this…
Mark: we could- -kisses him-
Jake: that might be nice - -kisses him-
Mark: yeah, it might-
Jake: might just –
Mark: -kisses him-
Jake: -moans-
-after several long minutes-
Roger: -whispers to Maureen- I KNEW IT.
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A/N: Well, this is almost over... We'll upload the ending in a few days. Thanks to all our readers and reviewers, we hope you have enjoyed reading this story - you have no idea how much we enjoyed writing it.