Blah i hate writing introductions of when people first see each other. Now that i got this chapter out of the way I'll start writing more for this fic.
r&r plz!
i own nothing
mr. larson owns EVERYTHING
"Collins, wake up!" Roger yelled at the sleeping man on his couch.
"What?" Collins snapped back. He looked around the room. It was dark out side.
"It's Christmas eve, man. Mark, Daphne and me are going down to the Life Café."
Collins sank down further into the couch "No. You know I don't like this stupid holiday."
Roger rolled his eyes. "Neither does Mark. Remember Kate? Mark's wife. She died on Christmas two years ago. Leaving Mark with his seven year old daughter. Now stop complaining and get up. Get out. Meet people."
Collins frowned. He remembered when Kate died. Mark went through hell. Christmas sucks. "I'm still not going. I don't want to meet people. I just want to stay here and sleep."
"Come on! You cant mope around the house every Christmas eve because that's when you met Angel!" Roger ran his fingers through his hair. He watched as Collins's frown deepened.
"I'm not going. Have a good time." he whispered.
Roger grabbed his coat and turned back to Collins. "You really should move on, Collins. She has. You guys broke up and she became a huge fashion designer. What have you done?"
"I lived. I got off the drugs. Kept my T-cells high. I don't want to move on. I don't want anything."
"Fine. See you later."
Roger stepped outside. It was lightly snowing and he saw a women dressed in yellow and green staring up at his apartment. She had a shoulder-length black wig on. Roger squinted and then gasped when he recognized who it was.
"Angel?" he whispered.
Angel turned around. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Roger!" she yelped. Angel ran over and hugged him.
He was too stunned to move. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
She looked down at the floor. "I was in town. I thought I come by to see...Mark. You know, to ask him how everything was with everyone."
Roger smirked at her. "You mean you came by see if Collins was around?"
She shook her head slightly. "No, no. I mean, yes, but I always am here on Christmas eve. Every year since Collins and I split up I'd come here and ask Mark about Collins. I could never just abandoned Collins. So I'd check up on you guys and him all the time."
"He tried to find you, you know." Roger whispered.
Angel stood up straighter. "He did?"
"Yeah. Then after about five years he gave up on you and everything else. He's off the drugs, by the way."
"I no. Mark told me three years ago. I wish I could see him."
"Then go do it."
Angel slowly back away. "No. It's been too long. But I do miss him, a lot."
"Come to dinner with me and Mark. If you want to see him later you can. If not then we'll all miss you."
Angel chewed on her lip and nodded.
xXxXxXx
"Mark? Where are you?" Maureen called when she walked into the café.
Mark looked up and waved to Maureen. She walked over and sat across from him. "Hey there, Daphne ." she said to Mark's daughter.
"Hi, Aunt Maureen. Guess what! I lost a tooth this morning." the little girl said, smiling up at Maureen. Daphne had strawberry blond hair and bright blue eyes. She looked just like her father.
"Wow. Leave that under your pillow tonight and you'll get some money!" she said.
Mark looked up at her and shook his head frantically. "Really?" Daphne ask, beaming.
"You bet." Under the table Maureen slipped Mark a five dollar bill and winked at him.
"Hey guys." Roger said standing in front of the table. "Look who I found stalking outside of our window."
Angel came forward and blushed slightly. "Angel!" Maureen screamed and ran over to give her a hug. "How have you been girl?"
Angel had a wide smile and she gave Maureen another hug. "I've been great! Just finished my spring line."
Maureen nodded and smiled. "I saved up and bought one of your purses and damn those don't run cheep."
Mark coughed, loudly and everyone turned to look at him. "I, uh, invited someone else. Well, actually two people. One's a black lawyer and the other is a former dancer at the Catsratch Club."
"What!" Maureen shouted. She stood up and looked at Mark. "You invited Joanne?"
Mark nodded. He looked at Roger who was silent.
Angel was jumping and clapping her hands. "Ooo, Mimi- chica is coming! I cant wait to see her!"
"I'm leaving." Maureen said, grabbing her purse and heading towards the door. She froze when she saw Joanne standing at the door looking right at her, holding another woman's hand.
The woman had dark blond hair and light green eyes. She was very thin and dressed just like Joanne. Maureen couldn't tear her eyes away.
Joanne held her breath and walked over to the table. "Everyone, this is Jill. We're engaged."
No one moved. They all just stared.
Mark cleared his throat. "Well, it's nice to meet you. Take a seat. Maureen, are you staying?"
Maureen's eyes still were glued to Joanne. She silently sat down.
The night went by slowly. It was filled with awkward conversations and lots of drinking.
"Well, we better go." Joanne said standing up. Jill smiled and kissed her on the cheek.
"I'll go get the car, pumpkin." she said while walking out the door.
Joanne sat next to Maureen and Maureen looked over at Roger.
"Maureen, look at me." Joanne said softly. Maureen slowly turned her gaze to Joanne.
"How have you been?"
"Fine."
Joanne shifted in her seat. "Look, I agreed to come here because I wanted to invite you to the wedding. Personally."
Maureen stood up. "It's late. I have to go."
Joanne grabbed her arm. "Please, come. I'd love it if you were there."
Maureen sighed and shook her head. "I don't think so. I'm sorry, but I just don't think I'll be able to make it."
"Joanne! Car's ready!" Jill shouted from the door.
Joanne nodded and looked back at Maureen. "Please think about it."
Maureen looked around the room. Joanne left and Maureen stormed out the door.
Mimi walked in and over to the table. No one noticed her. "Whao, what did I miss? Everyone looks all tense and Maureen looked like she was going to cry."
Roger couldn't help but smile when he saw her.
Angel ran over and hugged her. "Mimi! I've missed you so much, hon!"
Mimi laughed and hugged her back. "I missed you too, girl!"
Mark, Daphne, Roger, Mimi and Angel all left the café.
"Hey, Roger, how are you?" Mimi asked, running up him.
"Alright, you?"
"Okay. I got fired from dancing in videos once they learned I had HIV."
"Oh, sorry about that."
She grabbed his arm. "Let's go back to your place."
Roger smiled and waved good-bye to Mark.
"Angel! Come on!" Mimi yelled over her shoulder.
"Angel's coming?" Roger asked.
"Duh! I've missed her!"
Angel came skipping over and the three of them went upstairs.
Roger opened the door and Angel froze when she saw Collins. He was shirtless and drinking a bottle of beer in the kitchen.
"Angel?" Collins put down the bottle and walked over.
She had a small smile on her face. "Hi, Collins."
No one moved until Collins ran over and hugged Angel.
Angel giggled and hugged him back. "Wow, I gotta say I'm loving the welcome!"
Collins pulled back and looked at her. "I can't believe your really here."
Angel smiled widely at him. "I've missed you."
Collins couldn't stop smiling. He gave Angel another hug and spun her around.
Once he put her down they kissed and went into Collins's room.
"Huh. Wasn't expecting that." Roger said.
Mimi was looking around the apartment. "I shouldn't have come here." she whispered.
"No, no! It's good you came!" he said walking over to her.
"Roger. I have to tell you something. I'm married."
"What?"
"I'm married."
"Why?"
She half laughed and said, "why? Because he's good to me and takes care of me."
"Do you love him?"
"Roger, don't start. Anyways, I have to go." She headed towards the door and he grabbed her arm.
"DO you love him, Mimi?"
"He's my husband."
"That's not an answer."
Mimi walked out of the apartment saying, "Then I guess you don't get one."