A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for reviewing! It makes me feel loved! a quick note about this chapter, it's a bit random at times but it gives Jo some background. KEEP REVIEWING!!
Thanks!
Chapter 4: Getting to know Jo; Pain
Mark woke up at 8:30 the next morning slightly dazed.
Why am I up this early? He asked himself, recalling that he went to bed late the night before. Last night . . . wait! That's right! Josie's here! Mark suddenly remembered as if the memory hit him like a ton of bricks. Josephine was alive and she was here! She found him after eight, almost nine, years!
Mark silently wondered to himself if Jo was awake. If she was then maybe they could talk some more.
Smiling to himself, Mark got out of his old, creaky bed and made his way into the living room. It was chilly in the open room, making Mark wish he had put on extra socks as he padded across the floor to Jo's (Collin's old) room. The door was open so Mark peeked inside to find a disappointing sight. Jo wasn't there. Confused, Mark went back into the living room.
She's probably in the bathroom. Mark thought, giving himself false hope. He went to the kitchen for a glass of water when he was stopped by a piece of paper on the table.
Mark read the note:
Mark, Roger and Mimi,
Woke up at 5:30 am, went out to run a few errands at 6:30. Took my motorbike, be back at about 9:30. Don't eat breakfast.
See you soon,
Jo
P.S. Mark don't worry, I'll be safe.
Mark laughed to himself at Jo's Post-Script, she knew him too well. He looked up at the clock on the wall of the loft: 8:42. Damn; Jo wouldn't be home for at least another half-hour to forty-five minutes.
He looked around the loft and spotted his projector.
Might as well work on my film while I wait for her . . .
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At exactly 9:30, Jo walked into the loft carrying an assortment of plastic bags.
"Good Morning!" She said cheerfully, setting the bags on the metal table.
"Um, morning. . ." Mark replied, watching his friend suspiciously. "What did you get?" he asked, hoping she didn't waste her money on them.
The petite girl smiled widely, grey eyes sparkling with mischief. "Stuff," she said slyly.
"I see that." Mark rolled his eyes, "What kind of stuff? OW!" he rubbed his head where Jo had hit him by throwing something at him. Something . . . Mark looked down at the object. His eyes got wide. "Jo . . ."
Two thin arms hugging him from behind cut him off, "I figured you could use more of this, seeing as you're still capturing everything you see with your camera."
Film, Jo had bought Mark film for his camera. "Jo, I can't- . . ."
"Yes you can," she interjected, "It's my gift to you. Besides, it's not like it's anything huge. It's just something to say thanks for letting me crash here."
Mark looked at his petite friend. He knew it would be useless to argue with her because she would most likely win.
"I- . . . Thank you." He said simply.
Jo hugged him again. "No, thank you."
The small girl made her way back over to the bags and took out a variety of food and started depositing them in the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets.
Mark groaned. "Jo, please tell me you didn't . . ."
"I did. Deal with it." She snapped playfully, "You need to eat something other than Cap'n Crunch. I'm surprised you even eat at all! You're so skinny!"
"What about you?" Mark shot back, "You're skinnier than me!"
Jo laughed, "That's 'cause I'm a girl, Mark. I'm supposed to weigh less than you." Mark crossed his arms and pouted while Jo finished putting groceries away. "Here," she said, holding out a muffin to Mark. "Breakfast." Mark took the muffin and smiled.
"Thanks."
Just then, Roger and Mimi shuffled out of their room.
"Good morning!" Jo said, handing each Boho a muffin.
Roger took one look at Jo and scowled. "How can you possibly be so cheery this early in the morning?"
Jo laughed heartily at Roger. "What are you complaining about?" She asked, "I got up at 5:30 this morning! I should be the one bitching and moaning!"
Roger's jaw dropped and Mark and Mimi watched in amusement. Mark grabbed his camera to film the coming exchange between his best friends.
"5:30! How the hell are you even moving?"
"Simple," Jo replied as she made her way to the couch where Mark and Mimi currently resided. "I just get up, and move."
Mark, Jo and Mimi laughed as Roger gave a frustrated sigh, "That's not what I meant . . ."
"Then what did you mean?"
"I meant: why 5:30?"
"Because I've always gotten up at 5:30, except on weekends. So, why change routine? Eat your muffin." Jo ordered the ex-rock god. "I'm a creature of habit Roger," Jo continued, "Get used to it."
"Well, I'll give you credit Hon: you've got spunk." Mimi complimented, giggling.
"Yeah, you do . . . where'd you get that from?" Mark asked curiously.
"My Chikas; after living with them for four years it's hard not to pick up a few new habits from them."
"What are they like?"
"Well, Amber is the flirt who loves going out and having fun. I actually met her first while I was visiting the old ships in the harbor. Then there's Ella, who is the realistic one who mostly makes Amber and I think before we act. Lena is the sarcastic bookworm who's almost always right about everything. And Kaila's our mother hen. She takes care of us and is always a good shoulder to cry on."
"What do they do?" Mark asked.
"Amber's a multimedia artist, Ella's a San Francisco CSI, Lena's a police officer and Kaila's a zoologist."
Mimi asked curiously, "What do you do chica?"
"I do odd jobs around the city, I've acted in a few plays here and there but my main source of income is from my books that have done remarkably well."
"What are your books called?" Roger asked through a mouth full of muffin.
"Thicker Than Blood and Enchantment Passing Through by my pseudonym Marcie Collett."
Mimi's eyes got huge, "Wait, you're Marcie Collett?" Jo nodded, eyeing Mimi curiously. "I love your books!" she exclaimed, "Enchantment Passing Through was so good!"
Jo laughed, "Thanks, I'm glad you liked it."
"Where did you come up with Marcie Collett?" Mark asked from behind his camera.
"Isn't it obvious?" Jo grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Marcie Collett, M.C., Mark Cohen?" Like a light bulb, Mark got it. "I used your initials."
"Oh, that's so sweet!" Mimi cooed, squeezing Roger's arm tightly.
Mark snickered at the word 'sweet', "Yeah . . . sweet? Don't be so sure. She may seem sweet on the outside, but in there," He pointed to Jo's head, "Little gears are going round and round with evil mischief."
Making a mock-innocent face, Jo asked: "Who me?"
"Yes you. Do you remember how many times you got me into trouble in the time I've known you?" Jo giggled and shook her head, her face plastered with a mischievous grin. "Too many times to count. The shit you put me through . . ."
"But it was fun, wasn't it?" she prodded. "I never put you in completely horrible situations. And I was always there to get you back out of trouble again." Jo gave Mark a squeeze. "Besides, who else would've saved your scrawny ass from that jerk-off Terrance?"
Mark groaned, "Ah, yes; Terrance. I swear he was out to get me."
"I'm pretty sure he was. And I know why."
"Why?"
Jo gave a short laugh, "Because, like so many others, he had a crush on me and didn't like the fact that my best friend was a boy. He felt threatened by your presence in my life because he saw you as the one keeping him from the spot he wanted. Little did he know I have a 'no boyfriend policy' which I still hold to this day."
"Still?" Mimi asked from her new spot on Roger's lap, "You've never had a boyfriend?"
"Nope, don't see the point. Besides, I'm too independent to be tied down by a romantic interest."
"Damn chica, you need to get laid." Mimi teased.
"Who says I haven't?" Jo teased right back.
"What?" Mark asked, in total shock. "When did this happen?"
"On my 21st birthday; I had just met my Chikas and they wanted to celebrate my birthday. So we went and got drunk off our asses and I met this girl who introduced me to this guy, who introduced me to another girl who was a lesbian. Well, I was shit-faced at the time and was being really flirty. I don't remember exactly what happened, but we went to the back room and . . . you get the picture."
The room was silent.
Roger was the first to break the silence. "So . . . you're a lesbian? OW! Mimi!" Roger rubbed the back of his head, "What was that for?"
Mimi glared at him, "That was for being you." Mock-anger was evident in her voice.
"I was just asking a question!"
Mark and Jo looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Meems, it's okay. Jo's bisexual." Mark interfered from behind his camera. "She's not embarrassed by it."
"Why should I be? I'm in good company." Mark froze suddenly. Jo immediately recognized his panicked face. "You didn't tell them, did you?" she asked knowingly.
"Hadn't brought it up; didn't think it necessary."
"Wait," Mimi wanted to clarify what was being exchanged between the two friends. "Mark plays for both teams too?"
Mark lowered his camera and eyed Roger carefully. Jo followed his eyes and watched Roger as well. It was evident in his face that he was trying to hold in an angry outburst with limited success.
Suddenly, and unexpectedly, Roger laughed.
"I always knew there was some queer in you." He quipped playfully. Mark let out a sigh of relief. Jo and Mimi giggled.
After breakfast, the four friends decided to go out. Mark and Jo went to the park so they could catch up some more and Roger and Mimi decided to go for a walk. Later they all met for lunch at the Life. Things were good.
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FLASHBACK
"Terrance, stop it!" Josie hit the burly figure as it held up her best friend by the neck. "Stop it!" she cried again, "You're hurting him!"
As usual, Josie was right: Terrance was practically suffocating Mark by holding him almost a foot off the ground.
"He's fine." Terrance growled.
"No he's not! Look at him!" Josie had tears streaming down her face as she gestured to Mark who was turning bluer by the second. "Please Terrance, please! Stop it!"
Terrance, who had his caramel eyes fixed on his struggling prey, reluctantly turned to see Josie's tear stained face. Pain. All he saw was pain in her expressive grey eyes. Her raven hair was a mess falling out of her single braid. She was tragically beautiful, something Terrance couldn't bear to see on her face. Slowly, he loosened his grip on Mark's neck.
The pale blonde crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Josie moved over to Mark and petted his head as painful breaths racked through his lungs.
Wordlessly, Terrance walked away, wondering how Josie could possibly affect him so much with one look. Usually he was immune to pain, both physical and emotional. But Josie . . . she was one of the very few things he wasn't immune to. . .