A/N: Haha, I'm on an updating role! Woohoo, go me! YEAH! Ahem, sorry. Just so you know, this is not tuning into an entire fic about Mark...although this chapter is sort of about him.
Disclaimer: not mine. You know it. Although this new person is mine, and if someone else has already used the name in a RENT fic, just tell me and I'll change it.
The group decided to give Mark some time to go on his date, then show up at the life to spy -- erm -- run into him. In the meantime, they played cards. Well, all except Roger. He was asleep with Mimi on his lap.
"Got any threes?" Maureen asked Collins, and he shook his head. Maureen pouted. "But I really need a three! Can I please have one?" Collins laughed.
"Mo, honey," Angel said, "he would give you a three if he had one. But since he doesn't have one, he can't give one to you. Believe me, I'd make him give you a three, but I can't. You know why I can't? 'Cause Collins just doesn't have a three! DEAL WITH IT!"
"God, Angel," Maureen said, "I thought you were the one female who doesn't go through PMS, but I guess I was wrong."
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry," Angel said, "I had this awful cough last night that kept me up."
"You seem fine now, Angel," Joanne said playfully. "Would you care to tell us what really happened last night?"
"No!" Mimi said before Collins or Angel could say anything. "When it comes to the two of them, things can get nasty. Believe me, I walked in on them once. Let me tell you, I had nightmares for weeks." She shuddered, and Collins gave her the finger. She playfully stuck her tongue out at him, then got up.
"Wherewegoin," Roger mumbled groggily. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes, then stood up with Mimi. She poked him repeatedly to wake him up.
"Is that really necessary?" he asked, and they all laughed. Roger walked into the bathroom while Maureen cleaned up the cards. Joanne slipped them back into her bag, then Angel asked her why she carries around cards. Collins looked up, curious.
"You never know when you might need them," she said simply. "I mean you could be stuck in traffic for hours, or be on a plane for a while. And sometimes days at the office can get really boring..." She would have kept going if Maureen hadn't interrupted her.
"Ooooh, Pookie," Maureen said, "Do you get most of your money by playing poker at the office?" She wrapped her arm around Joanne's waist. Joanne giggled.
"Who told you?" Joanne asked playfully, and Maureen nuzzled her neck. They had both been doing so well lately, hardly fighting and never breaking up. Angel aaaaaaaaaaaawwed, and then tried to drag everyone to the Life. Mimi ran to get Roger. About ten seconds later, everyone heard a lot of yelling, water running, and a high pitched scream. Mimi and Roger came out of the bathroom, soaking wet, and walked out of the loft. No one asked.
The group got to the Life in record time. Even Roger ran, but did need to stop and take a break before they went in. While Roger was resting, Angel was talking to Mimi about this brand new pair of shoes that she really liked, and Joanne and Maureen were making out. (Told you they were doing well) Finally, curiosity got the best of Collins, and he yelled at the group to follow him. They all went into the Cafe, and saw Mark making out with a brown-haired, freckley girl. She dressed like Collins - the plaid shirt and cargo pants. She just didn't have the beanie, her hair was too curly for anything to rest on top of it. Well, except Mark's hands. The bohemians cheered, and the two immediately broke apart.
"Hi!" the girl said, standing up. "My name's Andi, and - HOLY SHIT! TOM COLLINS!"
"ANDI!" Collins yelled, and pulled the girl into a bear hug. She smiled and hugged him back, then went and grabbed Mark's hand. She stood him up next to her, talking furiously.
"God, Mark, I had no idea you knew Collins!" she said, waving her arms. "Why didn't you tell me? He was an old professor of mine! Man, I missed this guy! Collins, you look exactly the same. God, I missed you so much. Okay, wait, I just said that. Oh, who cares!" She pulled Collins into another hug, and he introduced her to everyone while Mark beamed.
Mimi and Roger were the last two to be introduced to Andi. Once the introductions were done, the group moved the tables together and sat and drank. Mimi was itching to tell everyone the big news about the marriage and cure for about the entire dinner. When everyone was about to leave, Mimi stopped them.
"HEY, EVERYONE!" she shouted, "YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL I TELL YOU MY BIG NEWS!"
"Mimi," Mark whined, "We all know you and Roger are getting married-"
"What?" Andi interrupted, and looked over at Mimi. She nodded, and Andi gave her a hug. Mimi hugged her back - she had grown to like Andi.
"Yes, I'm getting married," Mimi said dryly. "We also have other news. Can you guess?" She smiled, but before anyone could say anything, she added one more thing.
"If any of you guys ask if I'm pregnant, I'll kick your ass." Everyone except Maureen laughed.
"Mimi," Roger whispered in her ear, coming up from behind her, "Just tell everyone so that we can go home and celebrate." She smiled.
"Okay, I'll tell," Mimi said, and everyone cheered. "Roger's cousin, Adam, works in this big ol' fancy schmansy laboratory, and does research about AIDS. Three days ago, Adam stumbled upon, oh, I don't know, let me think. Oh yeah, THE CURE!"
No one moved until they heard soft crying. It was Andi. Angel rushed over to her and gave her a big bear hug. She asked her what's wrong.
"Nothing's wrong," she said with a smile on her face. "I'm happy! I'm really close to my sister, and she has AIDS. Now she doesn't have to go through all of the shit she does every day. Thanks for telling me, Mimi, and congratulations to you guys about your wedding. I'm gonna go." She got up, gave Collins a hug, and went over and sat on Mark's lap. He wiped the tears off her face, then kissed her. She waved and walked out.
"Damn, Mark," Collins said cheerfully, "how did you find her? I missed that little bitch!"
"Yeah Mark," Roger said, "How did you just happen to stumble upon Andi?"
"Well, I was sitting on the subway on my way home," Mark started, "and a girl that dressed exactly like you," he pointed to Collins, "got on. She was walking over to sit down on the seat next to me, and tripped. She fell in my lap, and all of these amazing drawings fell out of her bag. She quickly apologized, but she stayed in my lap. It was sort of a love-at-first-sight thing." Everyone aaaaaaaaaaaawwed, and Mimi got up on the table, holding up a glass of wine.
"TO A LONG, LONG LIFE!"
Now everyone knew: they really would have a long, long life.
