Chap. 1


Mimi stumbled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. On the way there she tripped over her shoes in the floor and then stubbed her toe. "Ow!" Mimi hollered as she nursed her abused toe. Mimi tried to rub some of the sleep out of her eyes.

It was far to early, no normal person got up at 7:00 am. She despised those annoying people that jumped out of bed whistling a tune. Mimi had just about made it to the bathroom when Connor streaked past and slammed the door in her face.

Mimi pounded on the door and yelled, "You open this door, Connor Michael Lockhart! I mean it!" She was answered by a snide giggled.

Mimi sighed, she was going to be late. Mimi decided to rough it that day. Connor had spent as long as he possibly could in the bathroom and Mimi didn't have time to shower. She threw on a pair of red track pants with her white Salem High t-shirt. She topped the outfit off with her red Abercrombie ball cap.

Mimi grabbed her back pack and headed for her car. Death trap was a better description, but it got her where she needed to go. Mimi just wished she could go in style rather than a Chevy Nova. Mimi stopped at the corner 7-11 to get her supplies.

She grabbed a Mountain Dew, and a Snickers. At the counter she decided to buy a pack of Camels. She'd been trying to quit, but if there was ever a day for a cigarette it was today.

When the clerk asked for her ID, it occurred to her that even though she was 18 she had never bought a lottery ticket. "Give me a lottery ticket." The clerk looked at her, "Which lottery?" Mimi rolled her eyes, "I don't care any of them. How bout the state lottery." The clerk printed out the ticket and handed it to her, "Good luck." Mimi just glared at him.

If there was anything she didn't have it was luck. She got in her car and ripped the package of cigarettes's open. She inhaled the first drag deeply and blew the smoke out lazily. "That is just what I needed."

Mimi pulled her hunk of junk in the school parking lot next to Chloe Lane's brand new Lexus. It took everything Mimi had not to run her keys down the side of it.

In the hall she fought her way to her locker and tried to open it. It didn't budge. She slammed her fist against it in frustration. Jason came up behind her, "Whoa, Lockhart. You have to be gentle with things. Didn't I teach you anything?" Mimi smirked at him.

Her brief torrid affair with Jason Welles had ended before it started, but he had taught her many things about herself. Jason opened the locker with ease and placed a quick kiss on her lips just to annoy her. "Hey, you've been smoking, haven't you?" Mimi merely shrugged.

Jason mimicked her gesture. "Whatever. Check ya later, babe." Mimi chuckled at his audacity. It was a good thing they had decided to stay friends because Mimi was sure that if they hadn't she'd have to kill him. Belle bounced up beside Mimi, "Are you and Jase together again?"

Mimi rolled her eyes and shut her locker, "Of course not Belle. Jason just likes to annoy me. Besides, all we had in common was sex." Belle blushed, "Meems, there is more to life. What about love?" Mimi snorted, "I gave up on that long ago Belle. Now I just have fun where I can find it."

Belle frowned, "You better watch it Mimi or you're going to end up with a rep like Jan." With that Belle and Mimi headed to first period.

****

At lunch Belle and Mimi piled into Mimi's car and headed for the penthouse. Mimi lit a cigarette and blew out smoke, "I'm so glad we have open campus." Belle laughed, "Yeah, me too. When did you start again?"

Mimi looked at her, "Today has been the day from hell and it's only noon. Don't lecture me, ok?" "Sorry Meems, I won't say anything else about it." The girls pulled up to the penthouse and rode the elevator up.

Belle put her key in the door and Mimi followed. Sitting on the couch was Brady. He was dressed in a charcoal black suit with a white shirt and yellow tie. Mimi whistled. "Lookin' good, Black. What's the occasion? Oh wait, you and Chloe eloped. How sweet......NOT!"

Belle and Mimi burst into laughter. Brady got up and looked Mimi over, taking in her laid back appearance. "Well, it looks like someone could take a few fashion tips, herself." Brady reached out and swiped her cap.

Mimi's hand instinctively flew to her head, covering her bad hair day nightmare. Brady twirled the cap on his finger, "Wow. I think this makes the hairdo hall of fame."

Mimi glared at him and tried for her hat. Brady laughed and held it above her head. He was a good foot taller than her and Mimi had no chance of getting her hat back. Mimi merely shrugged, "Whatever, keep I don't care."

With that Mimi made her way to the balcony to smoke again. Brady looked at Belle, "What's her deal?" Belle sighed, "I guess she's just having a bad day." Belle went into the kitchen to make her and Mimi sandwiches. "Brady you want one?" "Nah, I'm on my lunch hour from the office. I've already eaten."

Belle went back to what she was doing and Brady followed Mimi onto the balcony. Mimi was leaning her arms on the railing. Brady struck the same pose beside her. "Thought you quit?" Mimi eyed him, "What? You gonna call the surgeon general?" Brady chuckled, "Only if you don't give me a drag." "Thought you quit?" Mimi said repeating his earlier question.

Brady grinned and took the cigarette from her and pulled a haul off it. "I did." Mimi laughed. "Sorry about the Chloe comment earlier." Brady moved a shoulder, "No big deal. You know, she's really starting to annoy me." Mimi raised an eyebrow, "Trouble in Paradise?"

Brady took one more drag off the cigarette and tossed it over the side. "I don't know. She's just not the person I thought she was." Belle interrupted, "Meems, come on! We don't have that much time left and if we're late for Mr. Morgan's class you know he'll kick us out."

Mimi went back inside to eat while Brady left to get back to work. Mimi walked over to the window and watched his black Mercedes drive away.