A/n: Hi all! I'm back again...What can I say? I'm addicted to fanfiction, and not so good with dramatic intrigue and all that. I also tend to post things right after I write them.
Anyways, this idea struck me and I just started writing. Originally, it was supposed to be a series of oneshots about Maureen and Joanne's relationship, but of course my mind had other ideas and now it's going to be a full-length story, sort of in bits and pieces. I doubt it'll be quite as long as my last one, this will be a more short-ish chapter story.
So, I'm sort of feeling my way through this...go easy on me =)
Chapter 1
Joanne Jefferson made her way through the crowded East Village streets, umbrella held firmly over her head. April really was the rainiest month of the year, and Joanne was glad that she'd brought the umbrella, and that she'd worn her boots instead of heels for this particular expedition.
She was meeting Angel for dinner at the Life Cafe tonight. Joanne had to smile at the thought of Angel and how sweet she was. When Joanne and Maureen had ended their relationship for good over a month ago, Jo had buried herself in her work, not bothering to go out with the Bohos much anymore.
Maureen would be there with them, anyway, and Joanne really didn't want to see her anytime soon, although she hoped that they could eventually become friends, or at least tolerate each other, for the sake of their friends.
The bell on the door of the Life Cafe jingled pleasantly as Joanne stepped inside, shaking out her umbrella and ringing out her damp hair. She looked around the restaurant, where soft jazz music was playing. The dim lighting gave the cafe a sophisticated feeling, and Joanne instantly smiled as she looked around at the tables, trying to spot Angel at one of them.
Who she saw, however, was not Angel.
Instead, Maureen Johnson sat at a table, looking bored as hell. A shock coursed through Joanne as she took in the drama queen's figure; she looked good. She was inspecting her nails carefully, which was something Joanne knew she did while waiting for something. Or someone...
Before Joanne could hide herself from Maureen, the diva was looking straight at her, those honey-coloured eyes practically glaring at her. When Joanne finally met those eyes, they were looking expectantly into Joanne's, as if Maureen was waiting for some sort of explanation as to why Joanne was there.
After a few seconds, Joanne reluctantly made her way over to Maureen's table, not meeting her eyes. She stared at the deep red tablecloth. "Hello," she greeted it.
She heard the scowl in Maureen's voice. "Hey."
Finally, Joanne looked up. "What are you doing here?"
Maureen shrugged as if it wasn't really any of Joanne's business, but she'd humor her anyway. "I'm meeting someone here."
Joanne felt her heart stop as she processed the words. Maureen was seeing someone?
Although they had broken up more than a month ago, and it was perfectly acceptable for Maureen to be seeing someone other than Joanne, even expected, she felt sickened by the idea.
Because Maureen wasn't supposed to be with other people.
She was supposed to be with...
No.
It didn't work out last time, it wouldn't this time. You've moved on to bigger and better things, Joanne scolded herself. Besides, you are over her. O-V-E-
"Joanne?" Maureen's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Mmm?" Joanne answered, distracted.
"I asked what you were doing here," Maureen said impatiently, and Joanne looked at her again. "Oh, I'm, uh...meeting someone, too."
There.
Now Maureen would think that she was dating someone, too, and they could both go on with their lives and be happy. With other people.
Maureen cocked an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. They stood in a challenging silence for a couple of beats, neither of their expressions changing. It wasn't until Joanne heard a voice behind her that she turned.
"Well, well, well! Look who we've got here. My two favorite chicas!" Angel's perky voice floated to their table from the front of the cafe, where Angel beamed at the host and then weaved her way around tables to get to Maureen's.
"Hey, Angel, there you are," Maureen said expectantly, and Joanne frowned. "Angel, I thought we were having din-" She stopped, suddenly feeling like a complete idiot. It was a set up! Angel had set up Maureen and Joanne, so that they'd talk and then magically get back together or something like that. Well, that obviously was not a good plan, and it sure as hell wasn't going to work!
Joanne opened her mouth to say something, but Maureen, who appeared to have come to the same conclusion, beat her to it. "Angel...Not a good idea..." Maureen started, clenching that magnificent jaw of hers.
Wait, magnificent? Now was not the time to be thinking of Maureen's jaw.
"Ang, that's sweet that you want to help and all, but that's really not going to work. I'm sorry." Joanne said to her friend, and Angel grinned evilly.
"Oh, but it will! I want you two to sit down and talk out your problems. Believe me, I've done this before with Meems and Roger, and it worked. Now-" Angel looked at Maureen sharply, who bit back what she had been about to say.
"Collins and I will be at that table over there-" She pointed at Collins, who was seated at the table. He waved and lifted his beer glass to them with a grin. "-And I've already talked to the host over there, that nice man with the tie. Bernard, I think his name is. Anyway, we'll all be making sure you don't go anywhere for quite awhile."
Joanne shook her head. "Angel, listen, I appreciate your kindness, but Maureen and I are adults. It was a mutual breakup, and we don't need you to do this."
Angel pulled something glittery and shiny out of her bag. "If you two don't behave, we'll be forced to take drastic measures. And only I have the key." She grinned, showing them the pair of handcuffs.
Maureen's face lit up, and she reached across the table and grabbed Joanne's arm. "Oh, my god! Joanne, handcuffs! Lets-" she stopped suddenly, remembering that the two were broken up. Her cheeks had a bit of a blush to them, and she quickly let go of Joanne's arm.
Angel clapped her hands together. "That's the spirit! Oh, and if you need anything, which you won't, Collins and I will be over there, eating our meal very slowly." With that, she turned and walked away, toward the corner table.
Joanne looked at Maureen with an embarrassed look on her face. "Our friends," she said, and Maureen nodded with a half-smile.
"Look, Joanne, I know we'd both rather be different places right now. But if we're trapped here anyways, we might as well just talk. As friends," she added quickly.
Joanne nodded slowly. "Yeah, I suppose we could do that." She sat down in the chair across from Maureen, trying to ignore the romantic feel of the dimly-lit cafe, not to mention the lone, lit candle that sat in-between them. Maureen seemed to notice it, too, and she quickly motioned for the waiter, who hurried over to their table, looking appreciatively at Maureen.
"Hey there, pretty lady," the waiter said, and Maureen smiled at him with a smirk. "You're not too bad yourself," she said, and Joanne rolled her eyes. Of course Maureen would do something like this in front of her.
But to her surprise, Maureen didn't go at it any longer. She got right down to business, ordering herself a beer. "Joanne, beer?" She asked, knowing what her ex-girlfriend always drank when they went out together.
Joanne paused. "Well, I'd better not, I mean-"
Maureen rolled her eyes. "Two beers." The waiter walked away, and Joanne shook her head in exasperation. "Still the old Maureen, huh?" She asked jokingly, and Maureen shrugged. "Who else is going to loosen you up?"
Joanne smiled. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe they could do this: Maureen and Joanne, friends. After all, they were just two women who had been lesbian lovers, but besides that, they'd always been good friends. Joanne's mind wandered as she thought about the two of them going shopping or to the mall, doing regular, platonic "friend" things.
Maureen waved a hand in front of her face. "Mmm?" Joanne answered, blinking.
Maureen shook her head. "I forgot how much you used to get caught up in your own thoughts." Joanne was about to respond, but the waiter came back with their drinks.
He looked at the two of them quizzically, probably wondering if he could finagle a date with Maureen. He gestured from Joanne to Maureen. "Sisters?" He questioned.
Maureen shook her head quickly. "Not anymore."
Joanne felt an odd, deflating feeling in her chest at these words, and she couldn't help what came out of her mouth next. "Yeah, no thanks to you," she said bitterly, reaching for her beer and taking a huge gulp.
Maureen's mouth hung open. "Uh, excuse me, Ms. Anal Retentive Bitch?" She said angrily, scaring the poor waiter away.
Joanne shook her head, speaking lowly, so they didn't cause a scene. "All I asked were a few things, Maureen, that you wouldn't do, for the sake of my sanity. And it was the last straw, it really was-"
"Oh, please, Joanne. You have got to be kidding me. That had nothing to do with us breaking up! You're just...remembering it wrong." Maureen's nostrils flaired, an angry habit of hers.
Joanne sighed and folded her hands on top of the table. "Well, you obviously have a shitty memory. Because this is what happened..."
Reviewers get to know what happened! Lol...But really. I'd like to know if I should continue this, and if anyone's interested or not. Thanks. :)