Two hours later Mark was gabbing his scarf, readying himself to leave.

'Come on Rog, we've got to get going,' he yelled.

'Coming, coming,' Roger grumbled as he slipped on his boots and stepped out of his room. Mark was waiting by the door, camera in hand.

'Do you think there'll be a lot of people tonight?' Roger asked as they headed down the stairs.

'Probably, you know Maureen can pull in the crowds,' Mark replied. Roger nodded, taking a cigarette from his packet.

'Those things will kill you,' Mark commented, a little half smile playing on his lips.

'Not if something else doesn't kill me first.' Roger replied, a grin forming. He glanced at Mark who was looking straight ahead, taking in the city though his film makers eyes. Roger's smile stayed, he couldn't give up, no matter how he loved Mimi he had to keep going, she'd shown him how to live and to stop living would be an insult to her memory.

The Space was packed, Mark was instantly looking around for Maureen and her 'friend', he was a little uneasy about the whole thing but Maureen wouldn't do anything intentionally unkind, would she?

Joanne, appeared from the crowd, a woman that Mark didn't know behind her.

'Hey, you two,' she cried, pulling both of them into a warm hug.

'So good to see you Roger, she said, holding him tightly.

'It's good to see you too,' Roger replied.

'And I'd like you two to meet Arianna,' she said, grinning broadly and indicated the pretty redhead stood a few paces behind her. She smiled and stepped forward.

'It's Anna,' she said, smiling at Mark and Roger.

'Nice to meet you,' Mark said politely. Roger just nodded and smiled at the girl. Mark watched her face fall for a few seconds before her smile came back.

'Anna just moved here from England,' Joanne added, slipping her arm around Anna's shoulders and pulling her into a one armed hug , 'Maureen met her while she was busking,'

'You sing?' Mark asked.

Anna nodded, 'I play a little guitar too, just enough to play while I sing,' she replied, her eyes constantly slipping to steal glances at Roger but he was too busy looking around the room to notice her.

'Roger, maybe the two of you could busk together,' Joanne said brightly, Roger's eyes snapped back to Joanne and Anna at the mention of his name.

'Huh?'

'Never mind,' Anna mumbled, offering a small smile.

'Where's Maureen?' Mark asked.

'She'll be making her entrance any minute now,' Joanne replied with a proud smile.

Anna stole another glance at Roger; he was just like Maureen had said, tall and broad with short blond hair that framed his head like a halo. His deep set grey eyes said so much more than his mouth ever would.
When she arrived in New York Anna had expected it to be like London, where the stranger on the street is just as likely to mug you as he is to smile at you but it wasn't like that, no, in New York people walked passed you like you were made of something less than air.
She stood on a street corner, playing her guitar and singing her heart out for a week before anyone truly noticed her and when someone finally did it was perhaps the best thing that could have ever happened.

Maureen had seen the pretty young girl a few times that week and had finally stopped to speak to her just the day before. Maureen had taken Anna for coffee and then back to her apartment, although at first Joanne had misunderstood Maureen's intentions but she was soon put right.

The room was suddenly plunged into darkness, all around there was gasps of fear and excitement. Mark spun on the spot, turning to face the stage, were a dot of bright, white light appeared, which grew wider, Maureen was stood in the middle of the stage, her arms stretched above her head.

Roger watched the performance without really seeing it, he listened without really hearing, beside him he was constantly aware of the sweet, floral scent coming from the girl they had just been introduced to, he glanced down, the top of her head only reached his shoulder and her hair was a deep red colour, like fallen maple leaves.
Roger pushed his hands into his pockets and turned his eyes back to Maureen.

Maureen's performance went off without a hitch, she leapt off the stage and rushed into Joanne's arms. The two of them kissed, Roger had to look away, seeing people happy and in love still hurt just too much right now.

'We need to celebrate,' Maureen announced, grinning, her arm wrapped around Joanne's waist.

Mark and Roger shared awkward glances, neither of them had a dollar to their names right now, Maureen's face fell at their response.

'We can't really afford it,' Mark said sheepishly, shrugging.

'Oh, well, we could just go back to yours, we don't have to spend any money,' Maureen replied, a hopeful smile playing on her lips. Mark sighed and glanced again at Roger, who just shrugged.

'Sure, that'll work,' Mark said, turning to leave The Space. The others followed; Maureen straight away started talk to Anna in that fast and overexcited way she did when she was happy. Roger kept pace beside Mark.

'Glad you came out?' Mark asked.

Roger nodded, 'Yeah, I am,' he said, Roger knew that that wasn't strictly true but it wasn't a lie either. Coming out was better than staying but leaving the apartment still didn't help how he was feeling.

'Good, we've got a couple of bottles of vodka at home, don't we?' Mark asked offhand, Roger nodded again and took out a cigarette.

Anna watched Roger with a rapt curiousness, Maureen hadn't been able to explain his personality well enough for Anna's liking and she was trying to work him out. He was quiet, distracted, he didn't seem to be interested in anything or anyone else. She sighed quietly.

'Chin up baby!' Maureen said sweetly, swinging her arm around Anna's neck.

'This is only you're first week here, don't get disheartened,' Maureen added, 'I've been here my whole like and I've never made it!'

'I never expected to make it straight away,' Anna replied as she followed Mark and Roger deeper into Alphabet City. She had heard about this place, about the people that lived here and she had dreamed about coming here. Her comfortable, middle class, suburban life just hadn't been enough anymore.

They entered the apartment building and headed up the dark staircase. Anna couldn't help clocking a good look of Roger's ass as he walked up the stairs, it was pert and round, perfect for squeezing. Once inside the 5 of them crashed onto whatever surface was available, Anna took a seat on the sofa next to Maureen who was talking animatedly to Mark. Roger got a half full bottle of vodka from the cupboard and poured everyone a double measure, whether they asked for it or not. Anna accepted hers with a smile and took a drink straight away, the liquor burnt her throat and she fought the urge to cough.

Anna was more than happy to listen to the others talking rather than joining it, she felt like an outsider and didn't want to come across to pushy. Roger was also taking a back seat in conservation, he was getting tired and really just wanted to curl up in his bed rather than be social but he knew Mark would only nag him if he did take himself of to bed this early.

'I'm going for a smoke' Roger mumbled, standing and heading toward the widow.

'Mind if I join you?' Anna asked, seeing an opportunity to get to know him a little better.

Roger shook his head, Anna stood and followed Roger to the widow, which he opened and stepped outside, holding the widow open for Anna.

'Thanks,' she muttered, stepping out onto the fire escape of the building, 'It's beautiful here,' she commented, looking out over the city that was glowing brightly.

Roger shrugged, 'I suppose you could say that,' he replied.

'You don't think so?'

'I guess when you get used to a place you stop seeing it really,' Roger replied, lighting a cigarette and inhaling deeply.

Anna also lit a cigarette, the nicotine entered for body and instantly she felt lighter, like she'd been carrying a dead weight around her neck all day.

'How come you left London?' Roger asked, coming to stand beside Anna, looking out over the city.

'New York's the city of opportunity, you can be anyone here,' she replied, letting the smoke pour from her mouth.

Roger chuckled, 'It's not really the city of opportunity, more like the city of chance and good luck but if you make here it is true that you can make it anywhere,' he said, his mind flashing back to a time when he stood on a stage, singing for an adoring crowd, back that all he had wanted was to 'make it', to be someone.

'I just want to know if I can do it, you know?' she replied.

'I know, I've been there, I've felt that and I know the consequence when it goes wrong,' Roger's voice was sombre and low, like he was fighting with his memories. Anna sighed.

'I'm not scared,' she said, it was true, her voice was fearless.

Perhaps you should be, Roger thought, he looked her up and down, taking in her appearing in a way he hadn't before, her body was curvy, like she had lead a papered life back in London, her hips and thighs were round and her jeans clung to them, leaving no feminine curve hidden, her breasts were full and very white in the moonlight, she looked over at him and caught him staring, she just smiled and looked away, a pretty pink blush creeping into her cheeks.

Roger couldn't stop himself smiling, she was lovely, pretty, innocent. Roger could never have a woman like that, he was too tainted, his past to dark and painful.

'Maureen told me about your girlfriend, I'm really sorry,' she said suddenly, turning her green eyes to him.

Roger was slightly taken a-back, what else had Maureen told her?

'Oh, um, thank you,' Roger mumbled uncertainly.

Anna flicked her cigarette butt over the handrail, she took another long look at the city, Roger found himself following her gaze, trying to see what she was seeing.

'You done?' she asked, indicating the burnt out cigarette that Roger was still holding.

'Oh, um, yeah,' he stuttered, throwing it off the side and stepping back inside the apartment.

Anna took her seat next to Maureen who was now quietly listen to Mark while he told a story about someone he met on the street the other day, Roger had heard the story before so wasn't listening, instead he found his gaze resting on Anna as she sat back, one arm resting over the back of the sofa her legs crossed and her eyes watching Mark intensely.

Roger ran his tongue over his lips, girls like her weren't meant for boys like him.