A Conversation

“I’m so not in the mood for tonight,” Mark announced as he walked into the living room and threw himself onto the couch.

Alicia looked up from her novel, “yeah, not sure that I am either.”

“We could not go,” Mark grinned at her. “We could get some wine, some cheese and crackers, get a movie.”

“Tempting Mark, but we should go.”

“She’s only going for a year, she’ll be back.”

Alicia shook her head, closing her book and placing it on the coffee table as she said, “that’s not the point.”

“I know but I’m tired and I have so much work to do tomorrow.”

“We don’t have to go for long.”

“We’ll make it up to her, we’ll get her round for dinner before she goes, she’s not leaving for a week.”

“Come on Mark we should, we’ll have fun once we’re there.”

Mark sighed, “honestly Leash, I really don’t know that I can be bothered. We won’t know anyone there.

“Sure we will, we’ll know Nora and her sister Maddy and Richard-”

“Great that’s three people-“

“Won’t Ben be there?”

“Yes Ben is going with his new boyfriend,” Mark grimaced.

Alicia grimaced back at him, “that’s why you don’t want to go isn’t it, you don’t want to see Ben and Kyle.”

“That is not why I don’t want to go, I don’t want to go because I am tired and I have work to do tomorrow and I have an assignment due in a week and I’m tired.”

“You said tired twice. Come on Mark it’ll be fun, it’ll be nice to see Nora and wish her well and you know you really want to see Ben-“

“This is in no way about Ben.”

Alicia threw a cushion at him, which Mark caught and placed behind him.

“Whatever, you brought them up, not me.”

Mark shot her a hard look.

“Fine, you’re tired, it’s got nothing to do with the ex boyfriend your still in love –“

“I am not,” Mark paused. “I am not in love with anyone.” He finished.

“Ok, fine, whatever,” Alicia stood. “I’m afraid Mark, dear, you’re on your own.”

“On his own for what?” Tim strode into the room, jacket in hand. “You guys ready for the pub?”

“Mark’s trying to talk me into staying home, he doesn’t want to see Ben and Kyle.”

“Oi,” Mark glared at Alicia as she stood.

“I’m just going to get ready, Tim try get him to come would you?”

Tim grinned at Alicia as she left the room. When she had gone he rounded on Mark and fixed him with a glare. “Come on Mark, so what Ben and Kyle will be there, you and Ben are so close, you’re going to see them together eventually, get it over with.”

“As I just finished telling Alicia, it’s not about Ben and Kyle, I’m tired, I have work to do-“

“Bollocks,” Tim cut across him.

“What bollocks,” Mark sat up and glared back at Tim. “I told you-“

“Well I don’t believe you, you’ve been mopy for weeks, ever since you found out. I don’t see what the problem is, you and Ben haven’t been together for years, he’s been with other people before, as by the way, have you.”

“I hardly think a brief fling with Ricardo counts. Anyway, I told you, it’s not about them.”

“So you keep saying. Come on man, it’s me, who do you think you’re fooling.”

Mark sighed and sat back on the couch. “Fine, Tim, you win. Yes I’m not keen to see Ben with a new boyfriend, but that’s really not the reason I don’t want to go.”

Tim rolled his eyes.

“Fine, it’s not the whole reason. I’m tired and I do have work to do tomorrow.”

“So, so do I dude, you don’t have to be out late and you don’t have to drink too much.”

“But I do have an assignment due next week.”

“Mark, you started that three days ago, you’ll have it finished by tomorrow night and knowing you, you’ll get a hd, a hd you’d more than likely get if you wrote the thing in one day hung over as hell.”

“That’s not true, I would not.”

“Fine, I over exagurate, you’d only receive a distinction if you wrote it in one day hung over as hell. Come one man, we’ll go, we’ll say bon voyage to Nora, we’ll have a couple of beers, we’ll grab a bottle of wine on the way home and we’ll all get up bright and fresh in the morning ready for a day of assignment writing and class preparation.”

Mark groaned and stood up. “You are impossible to say no to.”

Tim grinned, “how do you think I get the girls.”

Mark snorted as he left the loungeroom.