how do you like me now

If only Roger had a plan. Well, he kept thinking this might work. Was he off base with this whole Doyle matter? What if he made an ass of himself?

"Don't let me do that, please." He begged Olivia as he was getting ready for this event. Of course, she was driving them, in his car. The three of them, her, Ravi and Roger. They were meeting Doyle at the concert.

"What's stopping you?" Olivia gave him the look over. Told him he had too much cologne. And did he have to wear his "Lucky Charms" T-shirt?

"What am I suppose to do?" He winced. He hadn't gone out with a guy in a very long time. Actually, it wasn't a date, but he needed to look good, in hopes there would be a date. Maybe even afterwards.

"Just be comfortable. Put on your favorite hoodie, and go for it." She shrugged.

"I can't exactly go for it, because he might not be-" He didn't want to say it.

"Well, just talk. But not all about you, all right." She got him to change and soon enough they were on their way.

It felt weird to have her and Ravi up front. But maybe if he got lucky, he wouldn't be in the backseat on the drive home. He'd be with Doyle. He squinted hard trying not to get his hopes up. But the more he licked his lips the more he needed chap-stick. Olivia tossed him her bag, and he dug through it. Something for his lips.

Olivia looked back at him after she parked in the parking lot of the small event.

"Roger, that's my gloss." She couldn't help but laugh.

"What? No, its not." He glared at her innocently.

Ravi looked too and smiled with a nod.

"Fuck." Roger squinted hard.

"Its kind of cute, don't you think?" Olivia's nose wrinkled with a smile as she looked at Ravi who just chuckled.

"Its gonna be awful, isn't it?" They just looked at him as he wiped off the gloss. "Tonight." He was depressed already. Who did he think he was? Why not write LOSER on his forehead right now?

They walked to the ticket office. There was Doyle just outside the doors, full of smiles.

"Hey, you made it." He grinned at Roger who had to introduce Olivia and Ravi. He told him they were his roommates.

Doyle just gave them a nod.

"You know when the good set starts, don't you?" He looked at Roger then. "Not until after midnight. After Drew does his set from his new CD. Then EatMeWhileI'mHot! starts up."

"Oh," Olivia winced. "I don't know if I want to stay for that. I just like his NeverShoutNever! stuff."

Roger gritted a grin. "Could? Could maybe I get a lift home from you tonight?" He didn't mean to set it up this way. "Sorry."

"No, no, that would great." Doyle said in all seriousness. "We didn't get to talk all that much, last time."

"Yeah." Roger looked him in the eye.

Soon enough they were inside and Doyle excused himself to the restroom.

"So what do yo think?" Roger gave Olivia a serious look.

"I dunno. He seems pretty straight to me." Olivia shrugged. Roger looked over at Ravi, he agreed with her.

Roger gave them a frown, as if he wished he'd stayed home.

"Just think, you've got a new friend." Olivia nodded.

Suddenly, Roger's throat was parched. Sometimes, he hated himself when he got like this.