A/N: So I know I'm late and I have excuses- I mean reasons. I went to Williamsburg, got my first speeding ticket, got my laptop for college, got my graduation present, and have college orientation next week. So here it it- the last chapter. The sequel will be coming in October so please stay tuned! And as always- critics I love ya!
Chapter 20: The End of the Beginning
Roger POV
"So what should I call them?"
It was Friday and the gym class was playing dodge ball thanks to my and Sophie's (the girl winner). Mark had of course been pinned as the easiest target and therefore was pummeled before the whistle even stopped blowing.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cohen I guess."
"Not Dr. or anything?"
"No, my dad's a CPA and my mom's a homemaker."
"What are those?"
"A CPA is a corporate public accountant or something like that and my mom stays home and acts as a maid, a chauffeur, cook, you know."
I nodded.
"Oh, and you probably shouldn't mention your band, your family, your aspirations, inspirations, agitations, or past relationships."
"Then what do I talk about?"
Mark looked to the sky for a minute, an expression of thought wandering across his face. Then he said matter-of-factly: "The weather and the meal."
"However will we be able to shut up?" I teased.
"Hey, that's only for your own good you know."
"I know Mark, but I think you're blowing this way out of proportion. It'll be okay."
"Poor naive soul." Mark pat my back sympathetically.
6:30 came all too soon for me. My mom insisted on making wear a tie and then lectured me on proper manners. I nodded routinely to her rant, kissed her goodbye and ripped off the tie as I got to the first stop sign.
Before I even reached for the doorbell I was greeted by an anxious looking Mark.
"Hey! Mom! Roger's here!" He yelled over his shoulder. "C'mon into the living room."
He ushered me into a room the size of my entire house. The dark wood floors shone were flawless and looked as if you could see your reflection in them they were so clear. The beige walls were adorned with various classical paintings and a chandelier hung from the high ceiling. There was no television set as in most homes, but there was a fire burning in the huge fireplace that served as the focal point of the room. Off to the side I noticed a small bureau with pictures atop it. Sparking my interest, I strolled over to see a myriad of photos of Mark, and who I assumed to be Cindy. I picked up one picture where Mark looked to be 13 and was dancing with a girl about his age. Mark peered from behind my shoulder.
"That's Nanette. We were learning the Tango." He explained.
I nodded and set the picture in its place.
"So you're Roger?" A plump, slightly balding, middle aged man entered the room giving off an air of wisdom and superiority.
"Yes sir." I stood up straighter and smiled.
He eyed me up and down once, then examined my eyes. I'd gotten this tons of times from parents, teachers, and when interviewing for a gig. He was making his first impression. From now on all he said to me would depend on how he viewed me. Luckily I had my face shaved, my hair parted neatly on the side, my shirt and pants ironed, my teeth brushed and clean, my face clear and my shoes shined.
"Mr. Cohen." The man responded, extending his hand after a moment.
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Cohen." I heartily shook his hand.
"Elijah! Mark! Dinner's ready!" A voice called through the house.
Mr. Cohen and Mark led me to a dining room elegantly set. Mr. Cohen took his seat at the head and Mark nodded to a seat next to him that I assumed was my seat.
"So how did you meet Mark?"
"We're in 3 classes together and we work together in Video Production...sir."
"Video Production- there's a waste of time!"
I saw Mark grip his fork tighter and I only smiled politely back at Mr. Cohen.
"You're a senior, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Then how do you have 3 classes with Mark?"
"I transferred from a different school and we took classes in a different order."
The CPA seemed satisfied with my answer and took a bite of his salad. "What college are you attending this fall?"
"Uh..." I looked to Mark for help but he looked like a deer stuck in headlights. "I haven't quite decided yet sir."
Mr. Cohen nodded suspiciously.
"What do you plan to major in?"
"I'm thinking about business...or accounting." I lied feeling more bold with every word.
"Really? I'm a CPA downtown."
"Are you? How fascinating!" I mocked surprise and interest. "Mrs. Cohen, this is a wonderful salad."
Mark POV
"...salad." Roger thanked my mom with a sickeningly sweet smile.
What the hell happened to my rockstar boyfriend? All the sudden my scruffy, raw, rock god boyfriend had turned into a shaven, clean-cut, goal-orietented buddy.
"You know Roger, I went to Brown for my degree. That's where Cindy and Mark are going. You should check it out."
Roger put on a serious expression and nodded.
"Where did your parents attend?"
"My mother attended the University of Michigan, my father..."
Uh-oh.
"Attended Lake Boone College."
"Hm, I've never heard of that college."
"It's very small, my father was a bit of a slacker I'm sorry to admit."
"What is his profession?"
"He's a repairman sir."
"And your mother?"
"A nurse." He said proudly with a smile.
As the meal progressed so too did the conversation. Roger spoke with ease and grace as I could only watch in awe. As the meal came to an end, I invited Roger to my room for a "Biology" question.
Closing the door, and hearing the lock click Roger's arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
"Have I ever told you how amazing you are?" I said as we swayed.
"A few times."
A half hour later we were lying on my bed, arms and legs entangled, my head resting on his chest and his fingers running through my hair.
"So is your dad really a repairman?"
"I don't know."
"Lake Boone College?"
"Made it up."
I lifted my head so my chin rested in the middle of his chest. His green eyes shone with love that I knew mine mirrored back. There was always this spark in his eyes though. No matter what mood he was in, they always held this spark. It was like his eyes held this secret and he was letting you in on it by looking at you. And as I saw the spark ignite, I was convinced- green was my favorite color.
"I love you Mark." His velvet voice carresed my ear.
"I love you Roger."
I lay my head back down on his chest and he started humming the song he wrote for me.
The proceeding 4 months were filled with studying, 1 birthday party, studying, 2 protests, studying, 1 acceptance letter, and studying.
I gave Roger the leather jacket and he loved it and has worn it every day since he got it.
Mo was appalled that a librarian was being made to retire because of her age and threw a protest. A week later, new dress standards were issued stating that girls skirts had to be at least knee length. Mo, along with about 50 other girls protested by wearing skirts that resembled underwear more than skirts.
Final exams approached and Roger threw all his effort into passing them. Collins passed his exams and got an acceptance letter to MIT and became like an eternal ray of sunshine.
A few days before school was supposed to let out, Roger was called to the Principal's office. Having nothing better to do, Mo, Collins and I waited by his car to see what was up.
He walked out of the school in somewhat of a daze and barely noticed that we were there until Collins asked, "what's up Hollywood?"
"Oh...nothing."
"What'd the Principal say?" I tried.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh-kay. Well, are you ready for graduation?"
"I said- I don't want to talk about it." He said through gritted teeth.
We'd been together for nearly a year and I'd never seen him quite like this.
"Do you need a ride home?" He asked.
"Uh...yeah." I said stepping into the passenger's seat. Collins shot me a 'call me' sign and I nodded.
Roger pulled onto the Main street still in a trance.
"What happened?"
"Goddam it Mark! I don't want to talk about it!"
I slumped down in my seat feeling like a small child being reprimanded by a parent. He stopped a block from my house and starred apathetically ahead at the black concrete.
"I'm sorry." I spoke softly.
"Whatever." His gaze still straight ahead, focused on the worn pavement.
"Can I call you?"
"Do what you want."
"Okay." I said, feeling a little stung. I gripped the door handle. "I love you."
"You too." He muttered.
I jogged to my house and ran upstairs. I flung myself onto my bed and tried to forget Roger's words that still echoed through my ears. I grabbed my phone and dialed Collins number.
"Hi, who is this?"
Typical Joel. "Hey Joel, s'Mark is Tom there?"
"Yeah, one sec. Tommy!"
"Yello?"
"Hey Col."
"Oh hey! So you get anything from our favorite moody rock star?"
"Just a 'goddam it Mark', a 'whatever', and a 'do what you want'."
"Ouch."
"Something happened."
"Do you think he got suspended?"
"For what?"
"I don't know."
"I don't think he'd be that worked up over something like that."
"Maybe something happened with his mom?"
"He was dazed, not distraught."
"I'm outta ideas man."
"Me too. Maybe he'll be better tomorrow."
"Yeah maybe."
"See ya Col."
"Later."
The next day Roger didn't show up at school. The day drug by as slowly as it ever could and I shot out of the doors when the last bell sounded. As I approached my house I saw him. I suppressed the nearly overwhelming desire to run into his arms and walked up to him without saying a word.
"Hey." He stood beside me.
I nodded, still stung from his earlier comments.
"About yesterday, I-"
"Forget it." I turned away, but Roger grabbed my arm softly.
"I was way outta line." He released my arm. "I just needed some time to process. I should've told you what was going on. I'm sorry."
"What did you need to process? What's going on?"
"I-I'm not...graduating."
"Why not?"
"I need one more math credit, and one more history credit."
"So you'll graduate next year with me and Mo. No big deal!"
Roger rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. "No Mark."
"So...summer school's cool too."
"No Mark."
"Then how will you graduate?"
"I won't."
Realization washed over me. He was dropping out.
"My band's really starting to take off Mark. I'm moving in with Jesse and Tony. And we got a gig at the Pyramid Club! The Pyramid Club Mark! That's huge! We're gonna be getting new material together and hitting a bunch of clubs nationwide this summer and next year. I can't miss this opportunity Mark."
"What about...us?"
"You know I love you Mark, and I'll come back. In a year I'll come back and you can come with me."
"Roger- I have plans for college!"
"You or your parents?"
"What?"
"Mark you hate business and you hate medicine. You're an artist."
"Have you seen my drawings?" I scoffed.
He pulled out something from behind his feet and held it out to me. It was an old 16 mm camera. It wasn't perfect, but it was functioning and it was beautiful.
"You're a photographer Mark. I've seen some of the pictures you take just playing around and they're good. They're really good. Whenever you're behind a camera you look like you're truly happy. Like you belong there."
I had never really noticed it before, but he was right. I felt right behind a camera. I felt in control.
"So if you really want to go to college- go. But go for you. Go for film, or photography, not for business or medicine."
"So I'll never see you again?"
"Of course you will! After you graduate I'll find out where you're going and I'll move closer to you and we can be together."
"So are we breaking up?"
"No, we're just taking a break. A leave of absence. I promise- one year, I'll be back and you'll be in my arms again, I promise." Roger embraced me tightly and then kissed me good-bye.
He sounded so strong and sure, and I wanted to believe him so badly that I did. I believed that he'd only be away for one year, that I would get letters and phone calls and that we'd make this last. Because true love never really dies right? That spark in his eyes was eternal, right? And he would never break that promise, right?
But if all those things were true, then why as he got into his car and drove off, was my heart breaking?