Rose's POV
One of my students tried to hit on me today. Gross. Well, at least it was a naive freshman who wasn't a creep, right? It could have been one of those creepy seniors who were held back at least a year and only got in because their dad donated a building. I fumed as I put on my huge trench coat, pulled the hood over my head, and grabbed a book from my briefcase. 'I better prepare for the next module I have to teach them,' I thought as I walked towards the Life Cafe. I had never been there before, but I was finally meeting my boyfriend's friends, and that made me anxious, why had he waited a month? And maybe he would of never introduced me to them if I hadn't gotten pregnant. And the baby, what was I going to do? I barely know Mark, or his friends for that matter, since he had been reluctant to tell me about any of them, sigh, maybe I'll find out more about him after I meet his friends. To Mark's credit, he barely even knew me as well. I mean, I can't raise a child with someone I don't know, and it wouldn't be fair to him-
"Oof!" someone said.
"Ow! Oh my gosh! Are you hurt?!" I cried. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking, and I was lost in my thoughts-"
"No need to apologize. You were the one who sounded hurt," the man said. "Wait, Professor Spencer?"
"Professor Collins?" I gasped. "What are you doing here? I mean, of course, you can be here. I expect you to have a life outside of teaching, but-"
"Calm down. You're the first colleague of mine I've seen outside of work," he chuckled. "What brings you here to Bohemia? And friends call me Collins, Tom Collins."
"Well, I'm meeting some friends at the Life Cafe. Collins, please call me Rose." Professor Collins didn't need to know about all the drama going on in my life, plus he was the only person nice to me out of all the professors at NYU, and I wasn't going to jeopardize that.
"Well, in that case, I should let you know that you're going in the wrong direction," he chuckled.
"Oh..." I said, not sure what to do next
"I could walk with you. I'm heading to The Life too. I'm also meeting some friends there."
"Thank you so much. I honestly didn't know where to go or what to do," I said.
"No problem. So, how are you settling in at NYU? I know it's almost been three months since the school year started but you seemed kind of sad when I saw you at the lecture hall today. By the way, it was a great lecture."
"Well, you know Matt, the freshman who always sits in the second row during your seminars? Which I must say are great, and especially exceptional for Philosophy taught at this computer age, no offense." I grinned
"I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment," he grinned. "that's what I'm always telling my students, who would rather watch TV. And yes, I remember Matt, always listening, but sadly can't remember much of the course that was taught."
"America." I smiled
"America." He said "Amen."
"Well, today Matt flirted with me when I was outside. He almost shit his pants when I told him I was his math professor," I giggled. Collins laughed.
"Poor boy," he said. "He never was the sharpest tool in the shed. Well, here we are." Collins gestured towards the Life Cafe. I giggled, pecked him on the cheek, and hugged him. "Girl, I have a boyfriend."
"I have a boyfriend too." I cried
"Hey, what's wrong?" he said, hugging me back
"Nothing. It's just that it feels like you're the only person who has been kind to me at NYU. The other teachers wouldn't even talk to me during lunch, even when I approached them," I sobbed, shit, damn hormones.
"Well they're all idiots, and Professor Newman is a dingbat," he said. I chuckled through my tears
Meanwhile, inside the Life Cafe...
"Where's Collins?" Angel asked.
"Is that him outside hugging that girl?" Roger said.
"Yeah... I think that's him..." Angel said. "I'm going to kill him!"
"Angel, chica, just wait for him to come inside. Maybe she's just a friend," Mimi reasoned.
"Fine," Angel huffed. "But if she's a little whore, I'm killing him!" she seethed.
"Uh-huh" Mark said, in-between staring at the clock and twiddling his camera, suddenly, the bell jingled and the girl walked inside and went to the bathroom, with Collins standing outside for a bit then coming in.
Outside the Life Cafe
"Thank you." I said "And I'm sorry for keeping you here since your friends are probably waiting"
"No problem." he said, "they're all idiots." I laughed
"Ahh, the truest form of friendship," I said, "ruthless mockery and being an asshole to them" Collins snorted "I better go to the bathroom and wash off all the tears. Bye." I said
Collins' POV
"Bye." I said, standing outside the Life Cafe and thinking, 'who knew Professor Spencer had a boyfriend?' maybe I should attempt to get to know her better, considering the other teachers weren't budging since they all missed the old math professor Professor Sullivan and haven't quite gotten over his sudden death yet, and in a way they weren't sure Rose was competent since they were all too busy to go to one of her seminars or lectures yet and she had been an emergency hire, I sighed, and walked into the Life, who knew women were so complicated?
Inside the Life Cafe
"Why hello, Collins," Angel said in the sickly sweet voice that she always used when I did something wrong, like accidentally using one of the papers she used for designs as scrap paper
"What did I do this time?" I asked
"Why don't you tell me?" she said, still smiling
"I honestly have no idea," I replied.
"Dammit Collins! Who is the girl you were hugging outside!" she snapped
"Oh…" I said, relieved, and smiled
"Thomas B. Collins! Having the audacity to smile!" she fumed, raising her voice
"Angel, sometimes I forget just how much of a girl you are," I smiled "That was my colleague, Professor Spencer, who teaches math at NYU, our colleagues were really bitchy to her lately so I hugged her to make her feel better."
"Oh..." Angel said, her expression changing. I smirked.
"You see? I knew it!" Mimi said. "I knew Collins would never cheat on you, plus, that boy is gay Angel, as gay as they come." Mimi said, waving her arms, and hitting Roger in the head, I snorted "Aww… Rogy, let let me kiss it better." Mimi said, starting a full-on make-out session with Roger, I smirked again
"Well, Angel, where's my apology kiss?" I asked
"Right here!" she said, leaning in for a kiss. "I'm so sorry I doubted you," she added
"And I'm sorry for working late these past few days," I said.
"Uh-huh..." Mark said in a trance-like state, still staring at the clock and twiddling his camera, poor boy, we were supposed to meet his girlfriend whom he knocked up today, *snort* still funny, she probably stood him up, I still can't believe that he managed to hide that he had a girlfriend for us for a month, maybe it was because Roger would taunt him, and now that she wasn't showing up he would probably mock him. Hmmm, perhaps that was the reason—so he wouldn't get another round of sympathy from us after the inevitable to him breakup.
The Life Cafe bathroom
Rose's POV
I gasped as the cold water hit my face, stupid hormones, I had to go to the bathroom to wash my face so it didn't seem like I was crying, then I had to throw up twice because of the putrid smell of the bathroom and the hormones, I just had to cry in front of the last person who liked me at NYU, but luckily he didn't think much of it, sigh, and if he did, at least I still had Mark, Mark, who was wonderful about the whole pregnancy thing despite the initial surprise, who supported me no matter what, who's friends I would be meeting tonight, I thought as I dried my face with a paper towel and put my glasses back on and headed outside of the bathroom.
"The Life"
I spotted Mark sitting at a table where two couples were making out and it seemed like a third was trying to suck each other's faces off
"Marky!" I chirped, and he turned towards me with a smile. "Hey, Pookie," I grinned. "Miss me?" I said, kissing him, and sat down next to him. The sound of loud suction filled the air.
"Professor Spencer?" someone asked.
"Professor Collins!" I said, standing up in surprise. Could it be? Professor Collins was one of Mark's friends?
"What's happening?" Mark asked, puzzled.
"I told you yo call me Collins," he said.
"Oops," I said. "Sorry, Collins. But to be fair, you called me 'Professor Spencer' I told you to call me Rose."
"Rose?" Mark said, confused as ever. "You know Collins?"
"Well, I teach math at NYU, where he teaches philosophy," I explained "We're colleagues. How do you know him, Pookie?" I asked. But before he could answer, someone else interrupted
"POOKIE?!" one of the girls who were making out shrieked. "Oh my god! Rosie! Is that you?"
"Mo?" I asked, what the hell?
"Oh my god! Rosie!" she shrieked.
"Maureen!" I shrieked, immediately running over to her and tackling her with a hug. "I thought I would never see you again!"
"Me neither!" she exclaimed.
"What the hell is going on?" Mark yelled, now drawing attention from everyone in the cafe.
"Marky!" Maureen yelled. "Your girlfriend is Rosie, here?"
"Yeah?" Mark said.
"Oh my gosh! Rosie was my girlfriend back in high school! We had the best sex! And then she moved," Maureen pouted.
"Oh my god, Maureen, stop shrieking!" the other girl screamed
"Joanne?" I whispered
"Rose?!" Joanne said
"Let me guess," Mark said sarcastically. "By some incredible coincidence, you two also know each other?"
"Um..." Joanne said.
"I interned at her father's law firm during the summer once," I giggled. "Let's just say when Joanne came over, we did more than work." I snorted.
"Yeah..." Joanne said, blushing. "She was the first girl I dated, and she helped me realize that I was a lesbian."
"Oh. My. God. My girlfriend has dated both of my lesbian friends." Mark said
"Sorry pookie, but I told you I was bisexual." I giggled
"And now I know where Maureen got "pookie" from." he muttered
"Aww, don't worry pookie, I'm all yours" I said, kissing him again
"So by any chance do you know Roger?" Mark said, as if to say 'you might, since you basically everyone I know'
"Your roommate?" I asked, looking over at him, Roger waved
"You know what?" Roger said "You do look familiar..."
"Yeah," the girl clinging to Roger agreed, presumably Mimi, his girlfriend
"Well, actually, no, I don't think I know him," I replied. "And I have a pretty good memory." I walked over to Mimi and shook her hand, "I presume you're Mimi," I said
"Mimi Marquez, nice to finally meet you," she replied, glaring at Mark reproachfully
"Nice to finally meet you too," I said, "The night Mark and I met, you were moaning particularly loud when you were having sex with Roger," I added, Mimi blushed.
"Roger Davis," Roger introduced himself. "Pleasure."
"I've heard a lot about you, Roger," I smiled. "You sounded like a bit of an jackass," I said, making Roger gasp loudly,
"Heaven forbid!" he exclaimed, pretending to faint
"And I assume you're Collins'…" I trailed off
"Boyfriend, or girlfriend. But since I'm in drag right now, girlfriend," Angel replied. "Angel Dumott Schunard, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed. "I've never met a drag queen before! This is so cool!" I squealed, hugging Angel "And you're way better at doing makeup than me," I added
"Thank you," Angel giggled. I then sat back down next to Mark
"So, Rose," Mimi giggled, "how did Mark knock you up?" I blushed
"Not important," I replied. "Let's talk about something else."
"Yes!" Maureen shouted. "What happened after you moved? How did you end up here? Do you know how sad I was after you left? I had to buy all the alcohol available in every store. And when I ran out (stupid conservative town), I had to sneak out with my parents' car and go to the next town to get more. That's where I met Collins, which was fortunate."
"Well, it's nice to know that I sparked such a friendship. After I left, I moved to Joanne's town where she was back for the summer. I interned for her father's law firm, and well, as fate would have it, you two are now together," I grinned. "Small world. But then I moved again to Boston for college, and from there, I came back here to New York. I stayed in New Jersey for a bit to pursue my Ph.D. at Princeton. And now, here I am again because, well, it's New York... I met Mark one night when I was trying to get drunk because I was feeling miserable, but I failed, and some guy was harassing me. Mark was there, so I kissed him and told the guy he was my boyfriend to get him to leave me alone. And now, Mark is my boyfriend. Funny, huh?"
"Well, don't worry!" Maureen exclaimed, who had looked bored "You have friends now. Your boring life of studying boring stuff is over! Plus, we can get drunk every night!"
"Maureen, the girl is pregnant," Collins interjected "I don't think she can drink."
"Oh... I guess not. That's sad. But we can still have fun!" Maureen said, determination in her voice, I giggled
"Oh, I'm not sure about keeping the baby. Mark is okay with it, but I might consider getting an abortion. I mean, I'm not ready to have a child," I admitted
"Yes! Then we can get smashed!" Maureen shouted. "No offense to your unborn child if you decide to have it," she added as an afterthought, Joanne snorted
"So, Rose, where did you end up going to college?" Joanne asked
"Where did you go?" I replied
"Harvard. And now Maureen calls me Miss Ivy League."
"Oh my gosh, I went to Harvard too!" I shrieked, immediately hugging Joanne "We're fellow alumni!"
"Whatever, let's eat," Maureen said, who was never interested in school
"Um, are there menus?" I asked
"Probably," Mimi said
"Probably?" I questioned
"Here," Mark said, grabbing a menu from another table
"Thanks."
"We just don't use them since we've memorized the menu," Collins explained
"Yeah, ever since Maureen banned McDonald's." Roger added, glaring at Maureen as if she banned breathing "Besides, this is the only place where they haven't kicked us out—well, they can't really keep us out—for being too loud," Roger shrugged
"Mark," Angel listed off
"Hey! It was all of us," Mark protested
"Mostly Mark," Angel clarified, Mark huffed
"Dancing on tables," Roger continued
"Me, Maureen, and Collins," Angel said
"ME!" Maureen shouted.
"Hey! Everybody did that," Mark defended
"Dancing, not just standing," Angel said, Mark huffed again
"It's okay pookie," I said kissing him on the cheek, Maureen, Angel, and Mimi squealed
"Mooning people," Roger continued
"ME AGAIN!" Maureen shouted
"Maureen" Angel agreed
"And general stuff like noise complaints and screaming 'profanities'" Roger said using air quotes
"And that's something everyone did," Angel said "even Joanne joined in after a while" Joanne blushed, I laughed
"Okay, that's enough!" Joanne said, putting an end to the conversation "Let's just order."
"Sounds like you guys have a lot of fun," I said after everyone had placed their orders
"We do," Collins said. "And Rose, you you have to stay with Mark," Angel nodded "please don't dump his sorry ass. I've never seen him this happy since Maureen," he continued "Well mostly since he never saw anyone else after Maureen," he and Roger snickered, Angel and Mimi both whacked their respective boyfriends.
"What he means," Angel said, glaring at Collins and then smiling at me softly, "is that we think you're really good for Mark, and he's lucky to have you."
"I'm lucky to have him" I said, kissing Mark on the cheek again, Maureen, Angel, and Mimi awwwed, Joanne smiled, not daring to sink their level of absolute girly cuteness, Collins beamed, Roger yelled:
"Aren't you two going to actually kiss!?" I stuck my tongue out at him and kissed Mark with all my strength which he returned, Roger whistled
"Okay, that's enough!" Joanne said, once I started to straddle him, the bell jingled again
"Rose, I'm surprised. A bright and charming girl like you hanging out with these slackers who don't adhere to deals," a familiar voice interrupted. We all turned our attention towards the entrance of the Life Cafe. It was Benjamin Coffin III.
"Benjamin Coffin III?!" I exclaimed
"Rosemund Spencer." he said, a hint of disdain in his voice
"In person," I smirked, and everyone's eyes shifted between Benjamin and me
"What are you doing here? With them." he sneered
"They're my friends," I stated firmly. "And Mark is my boyfriend," I added, leaning towards Mark and giving him a reassuring smile
"Rose, I'm surprised that you've fallen to their level, I didn't expect a girl like you to associate with this bunch of slackers who don't adhere to deals," Benjamin continued, his tone condescending
"I'll give you a deal!" I snapped, my anger flaring up as I stood up, ready to punch the daylights out of him
"Rose, NO!" Mark intervened, pulling me back down to my seat "It's not worth it."
"Rose, YES!" Maureen cheered, glaring at Benjamin.
"Nice seeing you again, Rose. I have a feeling I'll be seeing more of you," Benjamin said, his tone dripping with hatred and smugness, before he turned and left the cafe.
I glared at the door he walked out of for a moment, then sighed and turned my attention back to my friends
"So, Rose," Mimi said, breaking the tension, "how exactly do you know Benny?"
"How do you guys know him?" I asked, curious about such kind people would be acquainted with Benny
"Benny was our friend turned yuppie scum, asshole landlord," Roger explained
"Back to how you know him," Mimi pressed.
Our high schools were rivals at the academic challenge his school hosted annually, well they weren't actually hosting it annually but his school had won the challenge for five years straight, and the tradition was whoever had won the challenge last year would hold it the next year, and my school had always come in a close second, but the year he and I were captains of our respective teams I beat him by almost triple the points in the quiz section and long story short I disgraced him in front of his whole school by brutally beating his team at the debate, so we vowed to be enemies, but I moved a year later but his team never regained the glory." I smiled at the memory, a sense of satisfaction creeping into my voice. Maureen was the first to talk, well scream
"OH MY GOD THAT IS SO FUCKING AWESOME!" she yelled
"Why thank you." I grinned, taking a bow
"Well guys," Collins said, "I don't know about you guys but some of us have work and Mimi has school, so I suggest we finish eating and go home, plus Mr. Something-crawled-up-his-ass-and-died waiter is glaring at us again" we agreed and finished eating.
"Hey Mark," I asked, as the night drew to a close "can I come to your place?"
"Sure, why not?" he said, smiling
"Well, meeting your friends went well," I yawned
"Considering you already know half of them," Mark said playfully, leaning in to kiss me.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too," Mark replied.