You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello Chapter 2: two, a rent fanfic

Chapter Two : Home Sweet Home

Mimi leaned over beside Roger, peering at the ad he was eyeing. "Looks good," She smiled and stood flat footed again waiting for Roger to take the lead. She was glad he'd calmed down, and everything felt a lot better between them, as much as she'd hated the thought-she had considered hitching her way back. If he really didn't want her there, she knew staying and following him would bring her heart about as much pain as being away from him. Her eyes slowly looked up at him, and she smiled as they began walking down the street.

Roger after all, now didn't mind her tagging along. He knew he'd eventually get bored of being entirely alone throughout the entire time he was there - he believes he'll be there a little long. He heard Mimi smile as they walked down the hot sunny streets, "Here is the palace." with a slight grin on his face. The building in fact wasn't something you would smile about, it was grim, full overcrowded and old. But they needed a place to go, it made their loft look like the palace at Versailles.

Her smile turned a little crooked seeing the old place, but she was happy they'd found somewhere to stay, with a reasonable price. "Its nice." She said sweetly seeing Roger reach his hand over her shoulder and push open the door. Mimi's eyes scaled around the inside, observing the grungy walls until she caught sight of who she took to be the owner. Bald, middle-aged, the man sat-leaned back in a chair in front of a small television with a chicken wing in hand, the bucket at his side. A bell sat on the desk they approached with a small sign reading, 'Ring for service'.

Roger impatiently rang the bell seeing the owner not get up from his chicken and basket as he watched a small TV in the desk the baseball game it sounded like to him, "Hey. What'ya want?" the man asked as he dropped his half eaten wing in the large container and wiped his hands on his white already dirty tank top.

Roger looked over at Mimi and she got confused for a minute, then noticing he was wanting the paper she quickly pulled it out of her purse again and handed it to him. "Sorry," She whispered, feeling a little embarrassed that she'd spaced out while she was staring at Roger.

Roger laughed lightly and gave the man the paper, with the apartment circled in pen that they want to use, "We're here to inquire for this apartment circled. "

The man squinted his eyes as he took the paper from Roger's hand. He studied it, leaving Roger and Mimi standing in silence. They would look at each other, look away, then stare at the walls, before finally the man stood up making a grunting sound and made a motion for them to follow him. The roughly painted walls surrounded a series of doors, rusty doorknobs included. "Here we go." The man removed a full key chain from his back pocket and shoved one of the many dull, silver keys into the door. He struggled and a few curse words slipped here and there under his breath. Finally the door opened and the three of them walked inside.

It wasn't a pretty place but it would be a roof over their heads and it would be home. Mimi looked all around and smiled satisfied, it didn't look horrible they could buy something's in the future.

Roger's expression grew more approving as he saw the inside of the apartment. Sure, it was nothing special-in fact it might have been dirtier than the office they'd been in. But it was a place to stay while they were there, just Mimi and him, and that was enough to put a soft smile on his face. Roger looked at Mimi, he could see the satisfaction on her face and decided, this would be their home, "We'll take it."

Mimi gave Roger the rest of the money he lent her back at the convenience store and her eight dollars she earned in tips at work to help pay, "Here." she whispered in his ear on her tip toes being shorter by far.

Roger looked down in his hand finding a little over eight dollars. He looked at Mimi and wanted to give it back, but as his hand moved towards her-the money enclosed, she shook her head, motioning that she wouldn't take it. "Thanks," he whispered back and then pulled out his wallet to get the rest.

After he counted the money he handed it to the man, once again the money was counted then tucked away. "This takes care of three weeks." He slipped the key to the room off the key chain and placed it in Roger's hand.

After the man left Mimi looked at Roger as he looked around awkwardly. The door hung open as they stood a small distance apart. She didn't say a word as he just silently thought to himself. She hoped their time here was going to be good, she could never predict him, though, "So. ." she said hollowly her voice seemed to echo the room.

Roger grew tired of the empty room, the silence, "Let's go walk around." He turned towards the door and stopped, glancing back at her.

Mimi looked at Roger and smiled, "Sure. I wouldn't mind walking." He started out the door and Mimi followed shutting the door behind her, "Shouldn't we lock it?"

"Yeah" Roger's hand moved to the pocket of his leather jacket, the key appeared as he removed his hand and he stuck it in the lock. "All set," he said pulling the key out, putting it away and turning back to Mimi. He looked down and casually took Mimi's hand in his, then smiled as they exited the building.

She didn't pull her hand away as they walked, she smiled warmly and relieved that he didn't continue his mean streak from when she had first saw him when he found her in the trunk, "Yep. Have you ever been here before?"

He shrugged his shoulders as they continued down the street, "It was a long time ago." Warn away signs hung above the variety of stores along the sidewalk, "Don't even remember it too well."

She lightly smiled at Roger, "I've never been here at all. . I didn't even know what this place was until you mentioned it. . It seems quiet." She tells him as they continue holding hands and walking.

"It does.." He nodded noticing the lack of people on the streets. A few minutes passed and yet nothing had caught his eye, he felt a tug on his hand and saw Mimi had stopped. A guy standing in front of a small store stood beside her, "What's he want?" Roger leaned over whispering in her ear.

The guy looked handsome but the guy knew he was all that. It wasn't a good trait to have around, she looked at Roger uncomfortably as the guy asked Mimi, "Drink on me, new bar I just bought with friends. What brings you two good friends here in this great street?" Mimi hesitated and looked at Roger, she didn't want to get him mad. This was her hopeful shot at them being close again, and this guy could break it.

Roger's eyebrow raised at the man's comment, obviously he was after Mimi, good friends, Roger knew what this guy was after. He didn't answer, rather he just put his hand on the Mimi's back lightly pushing her towards the door as they walked inside.

Mimi turned her head around at Roger as they walked into the dim-lit bar. She smiled and sat next to her in the stools, "Is he obvious or what?"

"Most definitely hitting on you," He laughed and shook his head.

"Who knows why, I'm not all that."

"That's not true," Roger put his hand over hers, "You're. . wonderful.." A loud gulping came from Roger, he always got nervous talking to Mimi like this. He'd gotten plenty of girl's attention before and it was nothing, but Mimi-always made him trip over his own feet. "That guy-he's only seen half of how great you are, you're beautiful Mimi, but you're so much more than that.." Silence consumed the conversation, but a good silence, a silence where they both just basked in the moment, their eyes meeting.

As their eyes met, she knew he had every reason to be mad at her earlier. He didn't want to loose her, he doesn't want to see her do stupid things. She loved him and that was all that mattered at that time, and she swore time stopped for those moments. She couldn't keep the slight sight of her dimples slowly show, ". . you really mean that?"

"..I do" It was heartfelt, honest, he loved her, he had loved her since he'd first met her, and it was something he couldn't really explain. Just looking at her, staring, gave him chills-he didn't shake them off he just smiled softly.

Suddenly the bartender snapped his fingers and got their attention, "Hello. . . uh what can I get you two?"

It startled Roger, and you tell as he jumped slightly and turned away from Mimi. He didn't feel like too much alcohol during the daytime, "I'll just take a Coke." He turned his stool a little and looked at Mimi, smirking, yet he was disappointed the jealous bartender had ruined the moment.

Mimi looked at Roger longingly and then at the bartender, "A diet coke please."

The bartender squinted at their gazes towards each other, then poured their drinks. "Here you go," He sat down the diet coke in front of Mimi, winking at her. Then slammed down Roger's drink, "Here." Roger just smirked at the guy's harsh tone, he found it somewhat funny what great lengths this guy was going to, to be completely obvious. Of course he understood, Mimi was amazing-he'd probably be doing the same if he saw some other guy with her.

Mimi took a sip of her drink and then looked at Roger, "I needed that." she smiled lightly disgusted at the way the bartender was winking at her. She was only thinking about Roger and nobody else.

". . Are you alright?"

His thoughts were fixated on Mimi, thinking about how everything would be different, empty if he'd never met her-if she hadn't followed him here."Yeah, I'm fine." Roger quickly chugged down half of his coke, "You okay?" He asked, making sure the bartender hadn't disturbed her too much. Mimi saw a female waitress walk by at the time, she asked where the bathroom was in the bar and it was just Roger and the bartender.

"Hey man, so what brings you in town?"

"Well a fresh start, we're from the East Coast, The Big Apple."

"I heard it's lovely there, especially during the holidays. I'm Larry."

Roger hesitantly shook on it, "Roger."

"So, is she your girl?" he asked casually.

Roger lightly laughed, shaking his head, "Not exactly." Not yet.

"She's a looker, don't wait too long now." Larry snickered before helping another customer on the other side of the room just as Mimi returned to Roger , and of course the bartender was staring at her, and of course she saw right through him, "I'm back." sitting down scooting her bar stool a few inches closer to him.

His thoughts were fixated on Mimi, thinking about how everything would be different, empty if he'd never met her-if she hadn't followed him here."Yeah, I'm fine." Roger quickly chugged down half of his coke, "You okay?" He asked, making sure the bartender hadn't disturbed her too much. She laid her head on Roger's shoulder still holding her coke in her hand, "It didn't have to come to this Mr. Bartender. . " she said silently.

Her head on his shoulder was comforting, "I'm glad my shoulder makes a good pillow," His smile grew larger just looking down at her, her shining eyes.

She smiled lightly, "Angel and I used to do this all the time. ."

"Do what?" He raised and eyebrow replying to her in a curious tone.

"It keeps guys like him away." she laughs.

She smirks seeing his hesitations, "Sometimes Angel would drop the whole skirt thing, and actually wear jeans. And we'd go out to bars to get a drink and guys would hit on me. . . Angel would watch out for me. Since I didn't have a boyfriend of my own. . Angel would pretend she was my boyfriend."

His jaw dropped a little finally realizing what she was getting out, he laughed before taking another drink, "Angel and you were really close.."

She giggled, partly at her never-ending ramblings, "Well. . yeah. She was my best friend. When we were 14 we dated until he came out to me without coming out. I noticed a few skirts gone missing and . . it slowly came into light. I kind of need a friend like that now. She persuaded me to go up Christmas Eve. " she added, "she told me - I owe it to myself."

"Wow," He was a little shocked, he wasn't aware on the big background story of Angel, or that it even involved Mimi. "I'm glad she changed your mind."

She smiled, "Yeah. . or else I wouldn't of known ya as well as I do now."

Roger returned her smile with one of his own, "I bet you miss her a lot.." There was a spot in Roger's own heart that was missing Angel, she'd made such a big influence on his life and he'd never forget her.

She nodded taking a sip of her soda again, placing it on the napkin. "She's really special to me."

"She's one of a kind," He agreed talking about her as if she was still there-and in a way, she was. Like Angel had never left, her presence and her words stuck with him.

She smiled at Roger and gave him a closer hug, "The air-conditioning is so cold here. Don't you think?"

"It is a little chilly," Roger slipped his arms out of his leather jacket and draped it over Mimi's arms.

She smiled as she felt warmer all over, she still was holding onto him tight. She buried her head in his shoulder, she smelt the usual Roger scent of cigarettes and cologne that she didn't know the name of.

Her head nestled in his shoulder and their arms around each other erased the mist of cold air around them. "Better?" He asked softly.

She nodded, she lifted her head, "Were you okay with that?"

The guy came over to them, obviously looking Mimi up and down, the whole male perv deal, "How are you enjoying Santa Fe, hunny?"

Being interrupted-Mimi and Roger moved apart, Roger just made a very small scowl and stared at the guy, he was amazed the guy hadn't given up yet.

"I like it here just fine." she then glanced at Roger. She was tired of this guy and she was used to guys such as him, "Give it up already. I'm more than used to this. . thanks for your hospitality and the drink on you but - no. I don't like being bribed."

The guy was taken back by Mimi's words, "Pssh, I was just being friendly." He rolled his eyes giving one last look at Mimi before he turned around and went back to his business on the other side of the bar.

Roger saw Mimi roll her eyes and he laughed and shook his head at the guy's reaction as they continued to sit and sip their drinks a little while longer, "You can leave now." The bartender yelled down the bar. Startled Roger stood up, followed by Mimi, his arm laid across her back and over her shoulder-on which the jacket was still comfortably hanging on.