Disclaimer: I don't own Rent or the characters, Jonathan Larson does. Wish I did. Wish i could have watched it on Broadway too. u.u

Another Chance

I don't want to go to this stupid party!! Joanne thought to herself as she rummaged through her closet. One of her clients insisted that Joanne show up to an exclusive party that he held once every year. As she threw clothing over her shoulders, she came across something that made her stop.

Maureen's ring. Joanne remembered the moment Maureen have given her this ring, she'd just gotten Mark the job at Buzznet.

It's been two years since they've spoken. After Angel died, Joanne had tried her hardest to make things work out between them, but in the end, she knew she couldn't take it anymore. The last straw came when Joanne found Maureen kissing another woman at a bar. Sure, Maureen was drunk, but Joanne knew Maureen was still aware of herself. It wasn't entirely Maureen's fault either. Joanne had been busy with work and never spent enough time with Maureen.

"It wasn't fair to her or to me," she thought to herself.

In the end, they both went their separate ways. Joanne felt her heart beat faster as she thought of Maureen. Joanne had never totally gotten over the diva. She was Jo's first love and has been her only love since. After Angel died, and after they broke up, Jo hadn't been with anyone. She tried to date but no one seemed to compare to Maureen. She gave up and decided to focus on her career for now.

Later that night, Joanne stood in front of her client's apartment. She could hear people talking through the doors and some music playing inside. She knocked and was greeted by her client.

"Hey John," Joanne said as she entered the lush apartment.

"Joanne!! I'm so glad you made it! I was so scared you wouldn't come. Here let me show you around and introduce you to some of my friends." John grabbed her arm and started introducing her to his friends... She recognized several of the people there. Some were artists, others were actors, some were playwrights.

"And this...this is Maur—"

"Maureen?" Joanne gasped. She looked at the striking brunette. Her appearance hadn't changed one bit. Joanne thought she looked beautiful. Her hair was up in a messy but elegant ponytail, she was wearing pale blue dress that had a low cut neck line. Joanne felt all her emotions and all her feelings for Maureen coming back to her.

"Joanne?" Maureen stared at her ex-girlfriend in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"You know each other? Oh that's wonderful! Then you must know Maureen's fiancé, Michael."



Joanne's gaze turned toward a tall man walking towards them. She recognized him from the newspapers. He was a playwright who was gaining acclaim for his latest play which was a hit off Broadway.

"Fiancé?"

"No not fiancé yet, but I do plan on marrying this wonderful woman soon," Michael said, putting an arm around Maureen and hugging her close to him. "So who is this and how do you know each other?"

"This...is Joanne, Joanne Jefferson. She was my gir—", Maureen started to say.

"Friend!" Joanne hurriedly explained, "We used to hang out a lot when we were younger, we kinda lost touch after we went our different ways." Joanne chanced a look at Maureen and saw her look at her weirdly." "I'm glad you're doing well Mo', glad to see you're really happy".

"Yeah, yeah you too Joanne."

Maureen watched Joanne. "She looks good," Maureen thought to herself. Maureen missed Joanne. She always wondered why they'd lost contact with each other. Even though they broke up, Maureen knew they could have stayed friends. She always regretted never saying anything.

Michael and John looked at both women, sensing some tension. They looked at each other and knew it was time to leave them alone.

"Well, I guess we'll leave you guys to catch up with each other then", John said as he and Michael left to go mingle with the rest of the people at the party.

"Joanne—"

"Maureen—"

They started at the same time. They stopped and smiled at each other.

"How are you Mo'?" Joanne asked.

"I've been good… I've been acting a lot. I met Michael while auditioning for one of his plays. How have you been Joanne, you look real good."

"Yea, I've been okay", Joanne lied, she'd been less than okay. Her job had become even more hectic and Maureen's return into her life was not helping her much either. Joanne watched Maureen as she began talking about her new role in a play, not totally listening to her but just content to watch her speak.

Joanne noticed Michael coming toward them, and wanted to get away, not wanting to see her ex-girlfriend with her soon-to-be-fiancé.

"It's getting late—I've got an early morning tomorrow. Gotta get more work done on a case I'm heading."

"Yea, yea it is, um, maybe we could get together for lunch sometime huh?" Maureen said quickly. "Catch up some more?"

"Oh, yea of course", Joanne said, uneasily. She stepped forward toward Maureen with the intention to give her a hug. She felt her arms slip around Maureen's slim waist, reveling in the feel of Maureen's warmth. She lightly brushed her lips against Maureen's cheek.

Maureen felt a soft brush of against her cheek and she felt her eyes slip closed. She willed herself not to lean into Joanne's kiss, feeling her heart ache for something she had missed for so long.

Joanne stepped back and turned away before Maureen could say anything. She didn't dare look in Maureen's eyes, afraid of what she might do or see if she did.

"Where's she going?" Michael asked as he watched Maureen watch Joanne walk away.

Maureen didn't answer her boyfriend. She followed Joanne with her eyes as she walked over to John, said her goodbyes and made her way to the door.

"I have to see her again". Maureen thought to herself. "I have to see her".

As she closed the door behind her, Joanne leaned against it, releasing a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She could feel the beating in her chest, and the sensation of a feeling that she hadn't felt in two years.

AN: Hi Guys! This is my first fic EVER. I hope you guys like it. Please review! I'll continue you if you guys do like it! Thanks!!