The Taste Of Rebound Love

Part 11

Mark didn't keep track of how long he'd been sitting outside the door.  He didn't even look up when the bedroom door slowly opened up.  Not even when Amy sat down across from him.  For a bit there was just silence between them, until Amy told him very softly.  "I'm not sure where we go from here. I think we just have to... face the facts. Who are you more worried about loosing right now. Me or them"?  Mark kept his eyes locked on the wooden floor.  He didn't want to answer.  He loved Amy... but he wasn't afraid to lose her.  Did that make him heartless?  By trying to hide away from his fears, had he lost sight of what really meant the most to him?  Amy tentatively touched his arm and her voice cracked with pain as she asked him.  "It's not me is it. It's one of them".  Mark felt the lump in his throat turn painfully hard.  Even when he didn't answer he was causing the people around him pain.  Taking a small breath, Mark decided to just cut the chains surrounding him.  She couldn't heal if he didn't break away from her.  So, he answered in a very soft tone.  "I did love you at one point in my life... but my heart hasn't been here. It belongs to someone else... and he doesn't even know he has it".  Amy sniffled and removed her hand from his arm.  He didn't have to look to know she was crying again.

To Mark's surprise Amy asked him sharply.  "So? What does he have that I don't, besides anatomy? What makes him so much more desirable then me"?  This made Mark look up at her, when he answered in a soft defensive voice.  "I can't answer that".  Amy's attitude turned a little aggressive as she asked him sternly.  "I seriously want to know. That way when people ask why I'm not dating Mark anymore, I can say something other than 'I turned him gay"!  Mark let his head fall back against the wall, mumbling out truthfully.  "You didn't turn me gay".  Amy scoffed loudly, then shot back at him.  "Who is going to believe that? They are going to say I wrecked you for other women. That I was such a bad lover that you had to go to men for comfort"!  Mark stared up at the ceiling, answering back numbly.  "I won't let that happen to you. Anyone who says otherwise just isn't worth listening too".  Amy lightly hit his leg to draw his attention, her voice dropping to a softer tone as she looked him in the eyes and asked carefully.  "Was there something I could have done? That I can do to keep you"?  Mark kept his eyes on hers as he shook his head.  Amy nodded and climbed to her feet saying mostly to herself.  "Alright. I think I'm going to stay with Kathryn for a while".  Mark watched Amy disappear back into the bedroom and he finally decided to move himself.  He needed to be sure Chica was still happy to see him.

A month later, Mark had settled into a hotel room after landing in Brighton.  He didn't tell anyone that he was arriving.  He didn't want Felix to come up with some excuse to remove Jack from the house.  Taking a cab, he strolled up to the door and could faintly hear Jack's laughing voice from somewhere inside.  They were home.  It was now or never. 

Jack sat at the table laughing out loud as Felix dropped the box of lucky charms in front of him like it was a gross disease.  Felix hated the stuff.  He only bought it for Jack.  Opening the fresh box, Felix told him disgustedly.  "You really shouldn't eat that. Between the coffee and the sugar from that... you'll be bouncing off my walls! And I'm not sure I've had enough coffee to deal with that much energy this early in the morning".  Waving a dismissive hand at Felix, Jack took a sip of his coffee.  Then just to annoy a sleepy Felix, he yelled out nice and loud.  "TOP OF THE MORNING TO YA, FELIX"!  Felix cringed in surprise and grabbed the counter for support.  Felix weakly flicked him off, mumbling back bitterly.  "Damn you, Jack! Can you keep your voice to a dull hum... I CAN'T HEAR THE FUCKING TV"!  Jack raised an eyebrow and turned in his chair to glance at the flat screen TV.  Turning back to Felix, Jack chuckled back to Felix.  "Dude, The TV is off".  Felix blinked a split second, before telling Jack casually.  "Well, that's what I like about it".  Jack burst out laughing, yelling back playfully.  "Drink some coffee, man. Your a bitch in the morning".  As Jack's laughter died down, the door bell rang.  Jack started to get up, but Felix had somehow found the energy to get to the door first.  Shaking his head and feeling sorry for the poor bastard at the door, Jack sat back down to eat his cereal.

Felix opened the door just a crack and was fully wake almost instantly.  Out of all the people he had expected to see, Mark was not one of them.  Shooting a glance back into the dining room, he tried to see if Jack had noticed him yet.  Mark was quick on the draw himself as he shot back.  "I know he's here. You still have his phone I take it"?  Felix cleared his throat softly, before answering softly.  "No. Jack has it. He has had it for weeks now".  Mark's voice was dry and emotionless as he snapped back.  "And yet, he missed all my messages and calls recently? Clearly, Jack doesn't know not to leave his phone where you can find it".  Felix narrowed his eyes on Mark, trying to keep his voice low as he angrily asked.  "I'm not going to stand here and listen to you bitch to me about morality".  Felix tried to slam the door on him, but Mark countered by slamming his hand against the door to keep it open.  His voice becoming much louder as he snapped back.  "I'm not here to fight with you, Felix. Just let me talk to him".  Felix didn't bother trying to suppress his anger anymore as he yelled out.  "Why should I?! So, you can tell him it's over and then come clawing back at his door once every week to fuck with his emotions! No, Mark! Just go bury your head in the sand like you always do"! 

Felix struggled to push the door closed, but Mark was much stronger then he remembered him being.  Shoving the door completely open, it banged loudly against the wall almost shattering the frosted glass on the door.  Taking a nervous step back away from Mark as Mark took a step into the house, he waited for Mark's next move.  He expected Mark to lash out at him, or punch him out.  Instead, Mark's voice was rather calm and he seemed fragile as he told Felix reluctantly.  "Felix, I'm sorry. I was young and afraid. You were moving too fast and every time I came back... I thought I could make it work... but I just didn't love you like that anymore. I just wanted us to go back to the way we were before. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have strung you along like that. I just wanted to make everyone happy. I honestly thought I could, but I can't. I'm done trying to be what everyone wants me to be. I'm done trying to pretend like my choices aren't hurting anyone. I broke up with Amy for him. Just let me talk to him"?  Felix flinched when a hand touched his shoulder and Jack told him gently.  "Felix, could you give us minute"?  Felix nodded silently, and Jack quietly lead Mark back outside.  To Be Continued...