11

Recovery

It had been a rough night for Alex but Mark had never left his side. He remained close to him, tending to his wounds, dabbing damp cloths of the cuts and holding ice to the newly forming bruises.

Mark quite happily waited on Alex, hand and foot, refusing to let him get anything himself. To be honest, Mark longed for the job, not wanting to stop to think about what a mess he was in at the moment.

The weekend seemed to fly past, resulting in Mark not being prepared for Mondays lessons. He rushed about in the last few hours of the night and the first few of the morning to get all his work sorted out in time.

There was hardly any point in Mark going to school, as all he could think about was getting back to the Mansion to care for Alex. He floated through lessons and went to see Alex's teachers to get work he had to do while he was away.

Alex didn't take much time off school, not enjoying the fact that he was being left behind by everyone during the day. He ended up going in on the Thursday of that week, having only taken three days off.

Everyone was talking about him, he could tell. He wasn't particularly surprised as he was covered in bruises and his nose was wrapped in dressing, protecting it while he healed.

Mark was surprised to see him up and about so early, and after a small comment on how he should be in bed still, he got on with it and relished seeing Alex was alright.

"It's nice to see you in school" Said Mark, sitting down for lunch with him, laying the tray on the table and sliding into the seat.

"It's nice to be in school" Said Alex, joining him. "Wow, I never thought I'd say that."

Things hadn't, and were not likely to have, gotten any better between Kurt and Mark. So many things had happened to him over the past few days, the Halloween ball, Kurt and Alex's fight, and Jenny. Mark had completely forgotten about her, everything kicked off after that and he had his mind on other things.

Why on earth would Jenny be working with the FOH? Mark sat listening to Alex in the canteen while he reminisced in his mind about what he had done with Jenny in the past, all the good times he had spent with her, all the arguments they had.

"Hey, are you ok man?" asked Alex, noticing Mark's mind was elsewhere.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I was just thinking about Jenny, I'm worried about her."

"I'm sure she's fine" said Alex.

Mark saw a familiar face as Kurt walked by. He glanced at the pair as he went past, and he knew not to stop. Mark, however, had finally decided to talk to him, to confront him and get everything out in the open.

Mark got out of his chair, patting Alex on the shoulder on the way past.

"I'll be right back."

Alex didn't argue, and he watched Mark disappear around the corner after Kurt.

"Hey! Kurt!" Called Mark. "Wait a second."

Kurt looked behind him to see Mark running up towards him. At first he wanted to keep on walking, all he had done was care for Mark and this was how he repaid him. Luckily he decided against it and waited for the boy.

"Kurt, I've been wanting to talk to you for a while."

"Go on…"

"Well, I'm sorry about the… the punch… does it hurt much?" Asked Mark, hoping the other would say no.

"No, you're a shit punch." Kurt lied, trying to show how pissed off he was. Mark however let out a little snigger.

"Good, I'm glad" he chuckled.

Although what Kurt had said was meant to be nasty, he couldn't help but laugh with Mark. He had forgotten how happy he made him feel.

"I… I…" stuttered Kurt.

"Yes?" Asked Mark, eager to hear what he was about to say.

"I'm sorry about the fight… I shouldn't have hit Alex."

"Oh…" Mark was hoping Kurt would say something else, and was disappointed with what came out instead. "Well, I…"

"Yes?" asked Kurt, eager to hear what Mark had to say.

"I… really should be getting back…"

"Oh…"

Mark turned to walk away. He did it slowly, to see if Kurt had anything else he wanted to say. Kurt waited a moment, then called after him, swallowing his fear.

"Do you love him?"

Mark turned, just as slowly as he did before, a look of slight shock on his face, but also something else.

"I…" Mark began, thinking carefully of what he was going to say next. "I don't know." Was the best he could come up with.

"Why? Why did you go with him if you don't know?"

"I was angry. I saw you with Amanda and I flipped, I'm sorry Kurt. Alex really cares about me."

"I really care about you!" He called, a little too loud, causing students in the corridor to turn and look at him, which then in turn caused him to go bright red.

Mark smiled at Kurt, giggling a little at him.

"What? I couldn't hear you?"

Kurt walked up to Mark and got on one knee, taking his hand. Mark laughed in embarrassment before Kurt's said…

"I love you"

The smile was slowly faded from Mark's face. He didn't know what to say, he still had feelings for Kurt, but what about Alex.

"I… I can't…"

"Oh, I see."

"No wait… I can't think of anyone I'd rather have who cares about me… but I can't just leave Alex."

"I could punch him again if you want?" Kurt said sarcastically, causing Mark to laugh again.

"I don't think that will work."

"Then lets work it out later, don't worry about it at the minute."

"What?"

"I'll meet you after school, in my room, 4:00." Said Kurt, kissing Mark's hand before getting up and leaving him stood there, awestruck.