A Day in the Apartment

Whizzer

"Mendel was asking about you the other day."

I look at Marvin from my spot on the living room couch. Previously unable to find a comfortable way to sit, I've hooked my legs over the back of it and tilted my head so everything looks upside-down to me. Marvin's standing by the window, processing my new seating position. "What was he asking?"

"He was just trying to be my psychiatrist and it was really annoying. He asked about our sex life."

I almost laugh out loud. "What sex life?" I demand.

"Okay, you have a point. He also asked me about Trina," he continues. "I know he's just trying to help me out, but— do I need help?"

"Yes," I reply.

Marvin picks up one of the pillows from the couch and tosses it at me. "Says the guy who's hanging upside down. I think you need help."

"We both need help," I grin. It's late afternoon, and the curtains are closed so it's not very light in the apartment, but it has a cozy sort of vibe. I swing my legs off the back of the couch and, in an instant, move into a normal position. Marvin raises his eyebrows at this and sits down next to me.

We just sit there for a while, and I try to get comfortable. I lie down on my side, then sit up and tuck my feet in under me, then try to do the same thing with my legs as before but this time I'm on my stomach.

Marvin watches me throughout the process. "This is why we don't have a sex life," he remarks.

I sit up again with a huff. "Forget it. I'll just stand."

That's when Cordelia comes in. She's carrying her purse and putting on her coat, so it's safe to say that she's going out. "Oh, hi, Marvin," she greets. "I'll be back in a bit. I'm just going to see Charlotte."

"Have fun," I tell her. She gives us a wave before leaving. Now we're the only ones in the apartment. What are we supposed to do?

Marvin stands up from the couch and goes to get a drink from the kitchen. "How's school?" he calls back to me.

"Surprisingly, pretty chill," I respond. "There hasn't been too much stress lately. Which is good, obviously. But I can't help feeling that my life is setting itself up for something bad to happen."

"Whizzer, you met my ex-girlfriend a couple of weeks ago. Nothing worse could happen," he mutters, coming back in with a glass of water.

I roll my eyes. "Why are you so concerned about that? It didn't go that badly."

"Don't lie," he says.

"I don't know what you're thinking, Marvin, but Trina and I aren't as much of rivals as you think we are. I mean, she's obviously over you,—"

He stops. "What do you mean, obviously?" he asks.

"Well, duh. She's with Mendel now, isn't she?"

"It's not like they're dating or anything," Marvin answers irritably, his face going red. I glance at him over the back of the couch.

"All right, all right. They aren't dating."

He sits back down with a sigh. I know my boyfriend fairly well, and judging by his expression he does not seem to be having a good day. I sit next to him and pat his knee, trying to make him feel better. "I'm fine," he informs me, evidently catching on.

"Okay," I reply, removing my hand. "I'm just worried about you."

"Don't be worried about me, Whizzer. Worry about your own stuff. I shouldn't be sulking like this, anyway. It's my fault Trina and I broke up because I ignored her back when we were dating and broke up with her for some guy I'd just met. I'm insensitive, I'm selfish, and I don't get to feel victimized."

I stare at him with raised eyebrows. When I don't say anything, he appears to have a moment of reflection, then groans quietly.

"God. I'm insensitive and selfish and don't get to feel victimized."

"At least you know," I assure, patting his leg again.

"I can't believe I didn't tell you about Trina when we first started talking," he goes on. "I only told you, like, three months ago, didn't I?"

"Well... yeah."

"I've got to start taking more responsibility." And, just as I think he's finally going to admit that he was in the wrong in the beginning of this whole thing, he lies back into the cushions and says, "Jesus. I'm tired."

I lay my head on his shoulder. "Me, too. Go lie down."

"I don't want you to be lonely out here."

"Bitch. Just go lie down if you're tired. Christ, why do you have to be so difficult?" I demand.

Marvin holds up his hands in surrender and rises from the couch. "Okay, I'll go."

"Good." I watch as he goes to my bedroom, closing the door behind him. Hey, this is going to be one of the first times he's actually in my bed. (But probably not the last.) Oh, well. He was right. It is a little lonely out here. But I busy myself with doing housework, careful not to do anything too loud (such as vacuuming) so that Marvin can sleep.

I can't help audibly expressing my distress, however, when it comes to the dishes. I hate doing dishes. Sure, food is great, but not when it's two days old and caked onto a crusty plate. It takes about half an hour, and I'm practically crying in disgust the whole way through.

"Whizzer?" I hear from my room. I sigh and go to see Marvin, who's still on my bed but is, of course, awake.

"Did my screaming and crying wake you up?" I ask, smoothing his hair. "I'm sorry. You can go back to sleep. I'm done with the dishes now." I shudder at the memory of them.

He smiles. "Nah, don't worry about it. I just missed you."

I raise an eyebrow and climb onto the bed next to him. "Why are you being so clingy today?" I want to know.

"Oh, so it's too much to just love my boyfriend?"

"Considering we mostly just fight all the time... yeah."

He rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands. "I don't know. I'm tired, but I don't really want to sleep. Or maybe it's just that it feels too weird to sleep in someone else's bed."

I make a sound. "You've obviously never had a hookup before."

"Yeah. I mean when Trina and I did it, I just got up and left."

"How romantic," I tease.

Marvin laughs. "Okay. Well, maybe if you shut up for a few seconds I would actually be able to get some rest," he remarks.

"You called me in here," I point out, elbowing him. He flinches.

"Ow. Don't do that."

"It's literally just my elbow. How fragile are you?" I hold my arm up, elbow out, menacingly. "Come closer, Marvin. I dare you."

He just shakes his head. "I'm going to sleep now."

Before I can respond, I hear Cordelia come back. I jump up and leave Marvin to go say hi to her. She's looking around the living room when I come out, and she looks impressed.

"Whizzer, did you clean up the entire place?"

I shrug. "Yeah, Marvin was sleeping, so I didn't have much to do."

"Thank you so much. Now I don't need to worry about it." She pulls off her coat and hangs it up on the hook. "I'm exhausted. I was just helping Charlotte out with some things. Apparently studying medicine is on a whole different level than catering."

"Hmm. Sounds draining. Well, I guess you can go to bed too. I'll just watch TV and then make dinner in a bit."

"Great." She gives me a thumbs-up and retreats to her room.