Joanne sat silently on the couch in her and Maureen's apartment. On the couch that clashed horribly with everything else in the apartment but Maureen had insisted on buying, saying that it brought a certain something to the living room. Her head rested in her hands and her left foot tapped nervously on the carpet. She glanced at the clock, the current time was 12:56 a.m. Maureen should have been home about an hour ago but considering that this was Maureen she was dealing with. Joanne considered herself lucky if she came home before three. Joanne's head rose when she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock.
"Pookie, what are you doing awake." Said Maureen as she opened the front door stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Even from her position on the coach Joanne could smell the alcohol emanating from Maureen.
"Maureen, what is my favorite color?" Joanne asked her eyes following Maureen in her attempt to navigate her way toward the coach.
This wasn't the question Maureen had been expecting perhaps a, "where have you been?" or, "do you know what time it is?" she would have been able to answer, she was used to those questions. But this one she was totally unprepared for and the surprise caused her to stumble; Joanne fought the urge to get up and help her.
"Uhhh, blue…no wait red…green, yeah definitely green." Maureen replied the confusion apparent on her face.
"Purple, purple is my favorite color." Joanne replied her face void of emotion.
"What's my favorite season?" Joanne asked as Maureen finally managed to find a seat on the opposite end of the coach.
"Spring." Maureen mumbled as she began to take of her boots.
"Fall is my favorite season, because it reminds me of Angel." Joanne answered as she rose from the coach and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
"Oh yeah, I knew that." Maureen said as she stretched out completely. Her feet resting were Joanne had just been sitting.
"What's my mother's name?" Joanne asked she was now leaning against the kitchen counter watching Maureen.
"Ummmm… Mrs. Jefferson." Maureen said almost apologetically as her head rose over the back of the coach to look at Joanne in the kitchen.
Joanne closed her eyes for a few seconds. Then placed her drink on the kitchen counter before glancing back at Maureen her eyes wet with unshed tears.
"We've been dating for over a year and that's the best you can fucking come up with, Mrs. Jefferson." Joanne said her voice cold.
"What the hell is your problem Joanne, what's with the third degree? I'm not some witness on the stand for you to interrogate." Maureen replied anger flashing in her eyes.
"That's exactly my point; you're not some witness on the stand. You're my partner but you know as much about me as some witness on the stand." Joanne replied her voice rising in anger.
"Don't act so noble, you couldn't answer a single one of those questions if I asked you." Maureen replied her voice and tone changing to match Joanne's
"Your favorite color is red because you say that it brings out your eyes. Your favorite season is summer because you can wear barely any clothes and say it is because of the weather. Not that it stops you from wearing practically nothing in the winter, and your mother's name is Nancy." Joanne said her voice returning to a normal level.
Maureen stared at Joanne her mouth slightly agape. Every answer was correct. For the first time in a long time Maureen Johnson was at a loss for words. Joanne took this opportunity to continue.
"I know these things because I love you, I know these things because I take the time to listen to you, even if you don't say something with words… I also know that the last three auditions you've had were over about five hours before you came home." Joanne said a single tear running down her cheek.
"Joanne, Pookie, I swear…the auditions ran late… I came home as soon as they were over." Maureen began to explain but was interrupted by Joanne.
"Maureen, stop lying to me. I'm a lawyer, and a damn good one at that. I get paid to know when people are lying and you and I both now that right now you're lying and doing a bad job at it." Joanne said as she wiped the tears that were forming out of her eyes.
Maureen stood and walked towards Joanne, reaching out to pull her into a hug. But Joanne stepped away from her.
"Was it worth it? I hope it was worth it, I hope the partying and staying out late and the other girls were all worth it." Joanne said as she stepped away from Maureen's embrace.
"Worth what?" Maureen asked as her heart rose in her throat and her pulse quickened.
"Losing me." Joanne whispered as she walked into the bedroom.
Maureen followed behind her unsure of what was going on. Joanne couldn't be breaking up with her. This couldn't be happening. The sight she saw in the bedroom sent her reeling. Joanne had a small bagged packed apparently for herself. Most of Maureen's things were packed in a few large suitcases that were placed on the bed. A few other items of Maureen's still remained in the room. Almost like Joanne didn't have the strength to put them in suitcases herself.
"I'm going to stay at a hotel tonight. I'll be back here around five tomorrow night. I want you out by the time I get back. Since I've done most of the packing for you that shouldn't be a problem and I'm sure the guys at the loft will let you stay for awhile." Joanne said her eyes never meeting Maureen's
"Joanne wait…you can't… I'm sorry…I don't want to…" Maureen stuttered, unable to form a complete thought at the moment.
"I'm sorry too Maureen, I really am. Because I really love… I really loved you and I wanted this to work out so badly. But we're just too different." Joanne said solemnly.
Joanne grabbed her bag and walked past Maureen, their arms brushing lightly as she passed. Maureen followed her out of the door once again not able to form a reply, she knew nothing she could say would fix this situation or change Joanne's mind.
"Don't forget to leave your key." Joanne said over her shoulder as she opened the door and stepped into the hallway of their apartment building. She turned and met Maureen's eyes, "Goodbye love." She said quietly before she closed the door behind her.
Maureen walked to the door; she could hear the echo of Joanne's footsteps on the other side. She turned and placed her back against the door and slid down until she was seated.
"No Joanne, nothing was worth losing you." Maureen said quietly, an answer to a question and a revelation that came to late.
Hey everyone, thanks to all who reviewed my last story!!
I'm considering turning this one into a multi-chapter fic. Depends on the reviews.
Last but not least I don't own RENT