Watching QAF: The Question
Friday Aug 13th @ 3:41 PM -
The King House - Steve & Mark's Flat.
Mark is pacing the kitchen nervously. They had finally got their
stove installed on Tuesday, and tonight was going to be the first time
they really had guests coming over for dinner and they were going to
watch this tape Bart got, QAF. Admittedly, besides Bart, it was only
Will and TK, but he and Steve were cooking for them all and he wanted to
prove to the guys that he and Steve could handle this. Before tonight,
even though he'd been living on his own for two and a half years, the
only people he ever had over were his dad and Steve.
He stood and stared at Steve. Steve was busily working on supper
after offering to help Mark with it. Mark knew what was going on. Steve
would never say it to Mark, but Mark knows he can't cook, and he knows
that Steve knows it. So Mark has figured that the best help he can give
Steve in the kitchen is to stay out of the way. He couldn't quite figure
out why he had problems cooking. Then again he liked being in the
kitchen just to watch Steve
Steve, wiping his hands in a towel, said, "That's all
for now.
Everything's set until about 5:30. ... Mark did you want a beer or
something." "Nah, that's all right. ... I need to talk to you, and this
is as good a time as any. Let's go into the front room." Steve grabbed a
Diet Pepsi and followed Mark.
Mark put on a blues CD, that he borrowed from Bart, and sat down
next to Steve. Mark asks "Steve, just how serious are you about us?"
"What? What's this all about?" Mark explains, "I know I am in love with
you, and I pretty sure it goes both ways. But I want to kn..." "If you
want to know if I love you, you're right I do."
Looking right at Steve, Mark continues, "Well, I
called Ted
today. I asked him about all that legal bullshit that he and Gary went
through. We talked for awhile and he gave me the lowdown. It's almost
like being married, but no license. It would cost some money but I got
just enough saved to cover both of us." He takes a breath, "I don't want
to put any pressure on you. I want you to think about it. Don't even
think about giving me answer now. But " now Mark looks away staring at
the blank TV screen "I want to do what we have to. ... Shit, this isn't
coming out right. ... I wanna make us as legal as we can be. I want us
to be, I don't know ... partners, or whatever?"
Steve looks at Mark in wonder. "Are you asking me to
marry you?"
Mark turns to look at Steve, "... Yeah, I guess it sorta comes down to
something like that. But don't say anything now. This is something you
really have to think about. ... If you think we're too young and would
rather wait, I'll understand. ... I'll be here for whenever. ... Why
don't you give Ted a call? He can explain it alot better than I can."
Mark stands up, "I promised Virg I'd help her with some yard work. I
gotta go. ... Ted's number's by the phone." He heads for the door, he
momentarily looks back at Steve, smiles and then heads out.
Stunned, Steve's eyes follow Mark for as long he can. He gets up
off the couch, and walks out on to the balcony, where he silently
watches Mark as he and Virg start in her garden. He had never realized
that Mark had felt this deeply. Mark is usually a little reserved, and
always quiet. He continued to watch Mark till the he couldn't see
through the tears in his eyes.
"Hello, Sommers' residence." "Hi this is Steve,
Steve McCory. Jenny
can I talk to Ted?"
@ 7:00 PM - The King House - Steve & Mark's Flat.
Will rubbing his stomach announces, "Shit , you guys
can really
cook. That was great!" Bart and TK both agree. Bart, "So you wanna watch
the tape now?" Steve stands up and says, "Not yet. Todd could you run
down and get this package your grandma got for me. ... Bart, while we're
waitin, get the tape set up. OK?" Bart puts the tape in the VCR and
positions it at the beginning of the show. By this time, TK returns with
a large paper bag, "Grams said to put this in the fridge, if your not
going to use this now." Knowing what's in the bag, TK says, "What's this
all about?"
Steve walks over to where Mark is sitting. He pulls him up out of
his chair. Mark says, "Steve. You haven't had enough time. ..." Steve
looks into Mark's eyes, "I've had more than enough time. ... Mark, the
answer's yes. If you want us to share our lives together, the answer is
Yes." With that he grabs Mark in bear hug and kisses him lightly put
passionately. Will looks at them, "Come on guys, what's the deal?' ...
Wait, did I get that right? ... Are you guys getting married?" TK -
"DUH! Will, just how fucking dense are you?" Mark, a little
uncomfortable at getting emotional in front of others, smiles his
biggest shit eating grin and says, "Something like that." Will, Bart
and TK look at each other, "1 - 2 - 3. HOLY THUNDERFUCK!!!"
Steve looks at TK, "One more favor TK, could you go get Virg
and
who ever else is down there. ... This calls for champagne and a toast!'
TK moves quickly for the stairs, and Steve opens the bag TK brought up
before. There are three bottles of champagne. Steve hands one to Mark,
"Put this in the fridge, it's just for us for later. ..." Handing a
bottle to Will, "How about opening this?"
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