Trusting Desires
My first Rent fanfiction: yippie! It's pretty dry but it'll get better: trust me. It's told from Mimi's point: I see her as a very interesting character lol. REVIEW PLEASE thank you.
Maybe, Just Maybe
"Miss. Marquez: I asked you a question, and now, you will answer me."
I was starring at the ugly, puke color rug in Principal Romero's small, cramped office. The air was thick with humidity, as an old metal fan droned in the background, attempting to cool off the disgustingly hot office, but all it did was blow my hair around, which just made matters worse. I already attempted to work with my mess of thick curls this morning, which took longer than usual because of the strange temperate rise that that occurred.
A phone began to ring. A kid ran down the hall, squeaking their shoes. I jiggled my foot. Principal Romero tapped the desk with his unusually long finger nails. I didn't dare look into his dark, squinted brown eyes. I wouldn't dare give into this useless argument.
Ah, I sitting in Mr. Romero's office had become an afternoon ritual for me: sitting in Principal Romero's office, being yelled at for a crime that I committed. Yes, I take the blame for them all: because, yeah, I did it. Big fucking woop. There are tons of other kids to yell at, so why does Mr. Romero choose me?
Ever since my first day at R.M. Jefferson high school I had been picked on by Mr. Romero. My first crime was spitting in Chelsea Yang's face because she had called my outfit "slutty beyond belief". And everything just grew on that. I've done things from punching Daniel Kodak in the nose because he was trying to get in my pants to shoving Alison Grey's notebook down the toilet.
God, did I hate Alison Grey.
"Mimi, you will answer me, or you will have detention for the next month. Did you or did you not spray-paint Melina's locker?" he asked once more. I close my eyes and took a deep breath. I looked up at him, my big ugly brown cow eyes looking redder than usual.
"Yeah, I did." I said casually. What could I say? I hated this man. He was ruining my life. I crossed my legs, folded my arms over my chest, and waited for his comeback: this aught to be good.
Mr. Romero sighed and took a sip from his coffee mug, which had "#1 PRINCIPAL" printed in huge red letters. I wonder which suck-up gave that to him. He put the mug down, and then looked at me.
"And why did you spray paint her locker?" Mr. Romero asked.
My stomach lurched.
"I guess you could say personal reasons." I said quietly.
The real reason was that Melina had announced my biggest secret. Something that I thought nobody in the whole school knew. And it was just too painful to speak about what had happened. And I would never even think twice on telling Mr. Romero what had happened.
"Mimi, I don't know how much more I can take of this. You're barley passing; you've been caught doing almost every possible crime, and now, this." He said roughly. I looked down at the floor, becoming bored. I heard this speech to many times to count. I already knew what was coming next.
"That's why…" Mr. Romero began, and then sighed. I looked up. He had never started his sentence like this before.
"You will now be taking a class with other kids who are close to failing out of school, like you. The class is called 'Changes: How to make them', and you will learn that this isn't the right way for you to be." Mr. Romero grumbled as he passed me a pamphlet. I snatched it, reading the title. "It's time for some changes."
You know what I had to say for this?
Two, very simple words:
Fuck this.
I stood up, leaned onto the desk, starring Mr. Romero down.
"You know what, this is nothing to me. You're NOT the one to make choices for me, you're NOT in charge of my life, and you're NOT my fucking father!" I yelled. I pounded my hands on the desk, stomped out of the office, and slammed the door behind me. I rushed down the halls, and I was filling with such frustration that I could barley think.
"I have to get out of here: I don't need any of this." I whispered, as I stomped down the halls, punching lockers along the way. I ran down four flights of stairs until I reached the first floor. I ran down the hall, continuing to slap the lockers on the way. I stopped at my own locker and began to pound it: I just kept on punching it and punching it until blood ran down my knuckles. I began to sob, as I leaned against the walls and slid to the floor.
"What's wrong with me: what is wrong with me?" I sobbed to myself. I buried my head into my arms and continued to sob. Suddenly I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I slowly picked up my head, and standing above me was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. He smiled at me. I couldn't do anything but stare at him blankly as my salty tears streamed down my hot face.
"Hi: I'm Roger, Roger Davis." The boy said quietly, as he sat down next to me. I looked down at my hand, which was throbbing insanely and dripping warm red blood. I hid my damaged hand in my lap. I turned away from the boy.
"Please, go away: I don't want to bother you, and you don't want my troubles." I said quietly, my voice cracking. A few more tears ran down my cheeks. Roger laughed softly.
"I'm not going to leave you here crying and with that messed up hand of yours." Roger said quietly. I looked at Roger, my face feeling hot. I looked down at the floor. Roger passed me three napkins, which I snatched from him and wiped my hand off.
"Please, I need some time to think." I said weakly. Roger sighed.
"Well, the lunch bell is going to ring in…." He paused to look at his watch.
"…In three minutes. That doesn't give you much time to think." Roger said with a smile.
I didn't want to be rude and tell him that I never ate lunch. I had no clue why this boy I had never met before was being so nice to me. But, maybe today was different then every other day. Maybe, just maybe, this boy could bring some changes to my life and….
Oh my god.
I'm sounded like that stupid pamphlet.
"Please, sit with me at lunch." Roger asked kindly as he stood up. He extended a hand for me. I smiled weakly.
"Alright." I said quietly as I extended my hand, as he pulled me up. The bell rang, as teenagers flooded the hallways, all of the juniors and seniors rushing to lunch with Roger and I. Suddenly, someone shoved me out of the way. I slammed into a locker, and then spun around to see who did it. I gritted my teeth as a pale blond girl in a cheerleading uniform smirked at me.
Ladies and gentlemen: introducing, Alison Grey.
"Mimi, Mimi, Mimi: so sorry about that." Alison cooed as she began to laugh. I ran up to her and starred her down. I saw at least three inches taller than her: but she didn't back down. A crowd began to form around us, Roger watching us intently.
"What are you going to do, whore? Do a little dance for me? Melina told me about your little job at the Cat scratch: actually, she told everyone in the whole school! Your big secret is out, babe. I'm not giving you any money, you dirty hoe: but maybe Benny will: Benny, babe, give the freak some money." Alison said as she turned to the boy she was arm locked with. The crowd around began to laugh as Benny took out a five dollar bill and tucked it behind my ear. I don't think I ever felt more angry or embarrassed.
"You, Alison Gay, are the dirtiest, messed up, wannabe, fakest, stupidest, and ugliest person I have ever met. When will you realize that the only reason that everyone likes you is because you have money and we all use you? Alison, babe, you have to see that you are not pretty, you are not popular, and you are a complete fake." I said, then I spat right on her pure white sneakers. The crowd "oohed" and snickered. Alison turned Barbie Car pink as Benny pushed me against the wall.
"Don't you dare talk to Alison like that, hoe. Take it back." Benny warned. I laughed.
"Benny, please: being black doesn't make you fighting material. I could take you out and time, anywhere." I warned. I was tired of this. But the crowd sure wasn't. But I was keeping dear Roger waiting, so I turned on my heel, waltzed over to Roger, locked arms with him, and let him guide me to the lunch room. A few people clapped as I felt my cheeks warm. Roger smirked at me.
"Well fought." He said, trying to hold back his laughter. It didn't work. We both cracked up as he led me to a table that was in the far corner of the lunchroom. At the table sat a short blond haired boy with a large camera, who was snapping pictures of a girl with beautiful brown curls. The girl was making faces and sticking French fries up her nose as the boy snapped away, laughing. Roger coughed as the two turned to us.
"Mark, this is Mimi: she'll be dining with us." Roger said with a fake English accent. Mark and Maureen gasped and looked at me.
"The one who works at the Cat Scr..." Mark began, but Maureen slapped a hand over his mouth. I cringed. Roger saw my hurt face, so he hit Mark with a large text book that was sitting on the table. Mark winced as he massaged the point of contact.
"Hey, Roger: that's MY text book." Someone called. Roger turned and smiled. Behind us were two very happy boys…or so I thought.
"Mimi, this is Collins, and this is Angel." Roger said gesturing to the two new companions. They both smiled.
"Hello." Collins said cheerfully. I smiled back.
"Well hello there Mimi; it's a pleasure." Angel said with a little bounce. Mimi giggled: she liked Angel the best so far: next to Roger.
The girl who was sitting next to Mark made a pout face.
"Um, earth to Roger? When does my introduction come in?" the girl asked. Roger chuckled.
"And this is Maureen, Mark's girlfriend." Roger said as the girl smiled. I gently smiled back.
"Can we puh-lease sit? These heels are killing me." Angel wined before sitting down. I looked at Angel's outfit and thought it was the cutest outfit ever. He (Well, I mean she) was wearing a white mini skirt with sequenced trim, a light pink baby tee with silvery patterns drawn all over, and a white jacket. She had on white and link striped leggings and, to make the look even more daring, a pair of neon green converse. Her short black hair had a little white flower tucked into it neatly. Perfectly daring.
Collins sat on Angel's right as she grabbed my arm and pulled it down next to her.
"Mimi sits next to M-E! HA!" Angel teased. I laughed: it felt so good to laugh.
"What's for lunch today, Mark?" Roger asked, starring at his little plate of…something.
"It's kosher surprise!" Maureen exclaimed as she poked it with a fork. It flopped over and wiggled for a second.
"Ewwwww." Everyone said before cracking up. Suddenly, I felt sometime poke me in the back. I turned and saw Benny standing in front of me.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly. Benny sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry for what I said back there." Benny said gently. Roger stood up and starred at Benny coldly.
"Get away from our table, and leave Mimi alone. She doesn't need your charity." Roger warned. Benny smirked.
"So, Mimi, you have a new bodyguard? Jut warning you, punk, don't mess with me or my girl: ever." Benny said before walking away. Roger and I rolled our eyes and turned back to the table. Everyone starred at us.
"Um, Roger: do I want to know?" Mark asked suspiciously. Maureen nodded.
"Of course you want to know, dummy." Maureen sighed as she ruffled his hair.
"I don't like the looks of that boy: he could use some Prozac." Angel laughed.
"Or heavy drugs…" Collins sighed.
"Or group hu-" Mimi began, but was interrupted when there was a loud, scratchy sound that shook the whole cafeteria. Everyone plugged their ears and groaned it was our billion year old loudspeaker.
"Hello, students. Please listen for the following messages." Mr. Romero announced. My eyes grew wide.
"Oh, no: hide me." I said as I squatted down. Maureen patted my arm.
"Trouble with Romero?" she I asked. I nodded slowly. She smiled as moved her lips, pretending to be saying whatever Mr. Romero said, but she pretend she was punching herself and made her eyes crossed eyes and made stupid faces. I giggled.
"….Our junior senior bonfire is TOMORROW NIGHT, ladies and gentlemen. Come down for a night of fun…that is, junior and seniors only." Mr. Romero said. Everyone at our table grinned at each other and snickered, as Mark rubbed his hands together like an evil scientist. I was becoming quite confused.
"All entries for ideas for our Junior and Senior prom must be placed by Friday. If anyone is Mr. Friday's class for Honor's English, please remember that your room has been switched to B7." Mr. Romero said. I let out a sigh.
"Ok, maybe he doesn't want to see me after all." I said, letting out a sigh. Maureen smiled.
"Oh, and will Mimi Marquez please report to my office after lunch. Thank you." Mr. Romero said as he clicked off the loudspeaker.
"Shit." I whispered. Maureen looked at me sympathetically.
"It's ok, Mimi." She said calmly before her eyes wandered to something behind me. I turned around and saw a girl about our age, wandering around the cafeteria with a lunch tray: looking kind of lonely.
"All in favor of allowing that girl to sit with us, say 'I'!" Maureen announced. Everyone turned around to look.
"It's becoming a crowded table…no offense, Mimi: we're glad you're here." Collins said quickly. I nodded understandingly.
"Oh, COME ON, she has nowhere to sit: remember: we're one of the few tables in the lunchroom that actually have nice people sitting here?" Maureen pleaded. I raised my hand in favor, and soon everyone did the same: except for Mark. Maureen gave him a jab, and then, after rolling his eyes, he raised his hand.
"Atta boy, Markie." Maureen said as she kissed his cheek and than ran off to go get the girl. Roger looked at Mark and grinned.
"Bad day, Markie Poo?" Roger asked, trying to suppress his laughter. Mark gave him the middle finger.
"Ha: very funny, you're a true comedian, Roger. It's just that Maureen's been acting a bit strange lately, you know?" Mark said as he mashed up his "kosher surprise". Collins looked at his lunch.
"It's a candy bar for lunch today I guess." Collins sighed as he got up and walked over to the vending machines, Angel skipping behind. Roger looked at me and smiled.
"So, what'll it be: Snickers or Mars Bar?" Roger asked. I smiled.
"Either, thanks." I said quietly. Roger raised his eyebrows.
"Um, you're rail thin, Mimi: you need to eat something." Roger said gently. I sighed. Food was my enemy, but I definitely didn't want Roger to find out.
"I'll take the Snickers: my treat." Mimi said, remembering the five dollars that Benny had given her so graciously. Roger grinned, following her up to the vending machines.
After everyone (even Mark) had gotten a candy bar and began chomping, Maureen put a hand up, signaling she wanted silence.
"Announcement one: this is Joanne, and from now on, she'll be sitting with us." Maureen said as she smiled at our new table acquaintance. Joanne smiled shyly.
"Announcement number two: we need to make sure that our plan for tomorrow night is set to go." Maureen said in a lower tone. Everyone began to snicker. Joanne and I both had the same confused expression on.
"What are you guys doing tomorrow night?" I asked. Roger grinned at me.
"It's called Operation: S.E.A.B: Sabotaging Everyone At Bonfire." Roger said. Angel raised her pinky.
"I thought of the name!" she said cheerfully. I giggled. This sounded interesting…very interesting.