Chapter 7
After Maureen and Joanne got their drinks, they headed back to the table of boho's and sat next to each other.
Once seated Joanne grabbed her beer and drank it as if she hadn't seen or had a drink in the past year.
"Wow, thirsty?" Mimi commented as she watched the lawyer drain the last few drops of the liquid.
Joanne set her empty bottle down and smiled. "I can't remember the last time I had a beer. I forgot how good they taste."
Roger gave her a friendly smile before sliding a full bottle down the table. "Have another!"
Joanne gratefully accepted. She popped the cap off held it in the air, as a way of thanking Roger then this time took a small swig deciding to savor this one for a while.
"So how was the dinner party?" Alison asked.
Maureen shrugged. "It was alright."
"It was boring." Joanne chimed in. "You two are lucky you didn't go."
Benny smiled. "Amen to that."
"It wasn't all that boring, I did get to talk to you." Maureen said with a smirk.
Joanne couldn't help but smile. "That part is true, and I bet tonight won't be boring either."
Before Maureen could make a comment Collins came stumbling over to the table with a tray of shots. "Drinking contest!"
"Oh yeah." Mimi said as she bounced off of Roger's lap being the first one to take a shot.
"I believe we still haven't declared a winner between Maureen and Roger." Angel said.
Maureen and Roger eyed each other, while Mark popped his head in-between them. "You two game?"
Roger nodded as he stood up. "I'm game, you're going down Johnson."
Maureen smirked. "We'll see about that."
Roger and Maureen sat across from each other, while rows of shots were being set up in front of them, by the lovely Mimi, and Angel.
"Wait!" Collins shouted before things got started. "Everyone has to take at least two shots before the game starts."
"Sounds fun." Joanne said while Collins handed her two shots.
Collins smiled ear to ear towards Joanne. "Are you sure you're not already a bohemian."
Joanne shrugged as she took the two shots like a pro, hearing everyone cheer around her. Also sensing a pair of brown eyes watching her, she glanced to her right, to see Maureen grinning towards her.
"What?" Joanne asked.
"For someone who says they have never been to a real party before, you sure know how to party." Maureen stated.
Joanne laughed a little. "I know how to have fun. Now go in there and kick your friend's ass in this drinking contest."
Maureen nodded. "I will indeed kick his ass! Now let's get this game going!"
Everyone cheered as one by one, the shots in front of Roger and Maureen disappeared.
Mimi was giving Roger a massage while whispering words of encouragement in his ear. Joanne was doing the same thing on Maureen's side, minus the massage. Collins was the judge…a very bad one since every now and then he would start making out with Angel. Benny and Alison both joined either side, each starting their own cheering section, and taking bets on who would pass out first.
Mark stood at the end of the table filming the game while narrating. "Zoom in on the two overly drunk humans, as they each take another shot. Whatever Mimi is whispering in Roger's ear seems to be working as he drains the shot glasses smoothly. Maureen is also taking the shots smoothly, but her glossed over eyes show no chances of winning what so ever."
"Shut up Cohen…" Maureen slurred as she took another shot.
After that last shot Maureen sort of swayed to her left almost falling off of her chair, thankfully Joanne was there to hold her up, and she whispered a few good words to her, which in the end had Maureen drinking another glass full of liquid.
As Roger reached for his next shot he sort of swayed a little, and then brought it to his lips, before throwing it down and running to the bathroom.
"ROGER NO!" Mimi shouted as she chased after him.
"We have a winner!" Angel sang out jumping up from her chair.
Maureen just sat there not really knowing why everyone was cheering.
"Maureen you won!" Joanne said.
"What?" Maureen asked. "What did I win?"
"The drinking contest!" Angel answered. "Sweetie you beat Roger."
"I won?" Maureen asked again. "I WON!" she said again this time with excitement as she registered what was going on.
"That's my best friend!" Collins shouted. "Everyone has to do shots for Maureen!"
Everyone cheered as Benny and Alison passed out free shots, celebrating Maureen's victory.
"I didn't think you were going to make it." Joanne said.
Maureen smiled as she tried to stand up. "It was all part of my game."
"Need a little help?" Joanne asked as Maureen fell back down in her chair.
Maureen nodded. "Please."
Joanne stood up and helped an intoxicated Maureen stand to her feet. "I have to pee."
Joanne giggled at her slurred words. "Okay I'll take you."
Maureen swung her arms around Joanne's neck for support, while Joanne wrapped her arms around the diva's waist. Before they could walk anywhere Mark came up with his camera.
"How does it feel to win?" Mark asked.
"The best! I knew I was going to win from the time we started!" Maureen said with triumph. "I'm a winner that's what I do! Now if you'll excuse me, me and this lovely lady…my prize are going to go to the bathroom."
Mark laughed at Maureen and her drunken self, as Joanne guided her to the bathroom.
"So I'm your prize now?" Joanne asked with a playful tone.
"If you want to be." Maureen said as she cheered along with random people that passed by her.
"What do I have to do?" Joanne asked as she held open the door for Maureen to walk through.
"Well…" Maureen began as she stumbled for a bathroom stall. "After I pee I'll tell you." She winked then shut the door.
Joanne laughed at her new friend, thanking god that she decided to come out with Maureen and meet her friends.
While Joanne was fixing herself in the mirror Maureen's stall opened up and she staggered to the sink to wash her hands.
"Whew…" Maureen said as she dried her hands. "I'm really drunk."
"Well you did have over ten shots." Joanne said. "It's going to be a rough morning."
"It's worth it." Maureen said while turning to face the lawyer. "Now back to you being my prize."
Joanne raised an eye brow as Maureen wrapped her arms around her neck; resting her forehead on Joanne's. "You have too…" Maureen started but paused to think of something.
Joanne sighed in happiness at how close Maureen was, wanting to make a move totally forgetting about Jessica. When Maureen didn't answer right away Joanne spoke. "You still with me?"
"Huh?" Maureen asked opening her eyes and keeping her gaze on Joanne. "Oh man I think I need to lie down."
Maureen began to sink to the ground but Joanne stopped her before she could touch the dirty bathroom floor. "No not in here, why don't we go find a place for you?"
Maureen pulled Joanne into a hug and rested her head on Joanne's shoulder. "I think I found a place."
"My shoulder?" Joanne asked.
Maureen nodded.
Joanne let out a giggle. "I don't think that's going to work."
"Sure it will." Maureen said in a sleepy tone.
"Maureen don't fall asleep we need to get you to a bed." Joanne said while she held up Maureen, who was slowly falling asleep.
Just then Mimi and Alison walked in the bathroom.
"Oh hey you guys, congratulations on winning, Roger will not be happy in the morning." Mimi said.
Maureen mumbled something, and Joanne looked towards Mimi. "I think she said thank you. I also think she needs a bed."
Alison walked over to Maureen and studied her. "Yeah she is pretty much gone."
Mimi giggled as she tucked a stay hair behind Maureen's ear. "I think Roger needs a bed too. So lets get these two back home and tucked in."
At that moment Angel burst through the door. "You guys Collins just passed out I think its time to leave now."
"Everyone is just dropping like flies huh." Joanne said as she heard a faint snore coming from Maureen.
"This always happens. Once one of them passes out, the other one does. Its like they have some sort of best friend telepathic thing going on." Angel said. "Benny is somehow carrying Collins home, so I'm going to go catch up with him. Also Mimi you might want to go out and check up on Roger before he picks a fight with the bartender who cut him off. Then I don't know how we're going to get Maureen home."
In a swift motion Joanne maneuvered Maureen and was now carrying her bridal style.
Alison nodded with a satisfied look on her face. "That always works."
"Okay I have to go catch up with Benny and Collins!" Angel said as she bounced out of the bathroom with a smile on her face. "I'll send Benny back to the loft to come get you Alison." She added before the door closed.
"Okay follow me." Mimi said to Joanne. "Maureen lives just about my place, so we'll all go together."
Joanne nodded and followed the dancer out of the bathroom with Alison behind them.
Once at the loft building Mark helped Mimi drag Roger into her place, while Alison and Joanne climbed the stairs to the loft above them.
"I think she sleeps on the couch." Alison said. "But since Roger is spending the night at Mimi's we can probably put her in his bed."
Joanne simply nodded as she followed Alison to a bedroom. Joanne gently eased Maureen down on the bed, and readjusted her. Joanne smiled down at the sleeping brunette and couldn't help but smile at her peaceful state.
"She's beautiful." Joanne thought to herself.
Alison watched Joanne and couldn't help but smile with her.
After a few moments Alison broke the silence. "Benny and I can give you a lift home if you want."
Joanne looked up, a little startled by the sudden voice. "Thank you."
They both quietly left the room and shut the door, just in time to see Mark and Benny enter the loft.
"She sleeping?" Mark asked.
Joanne nodded.
"I'm off to bed too." Mark said. "You're more then welcome to spend the night."
"Benny is going to drive her home." Alison said.
"Let's get going." Benny said.
After saying goodbye to Mark, the three left for the car, and headed in the direction of Joanne's house.
"This is my stop." Joanne said as Benny came to a halt. "Thanks for the ride."
"No problem…and I'm sure we will be seeing more of you in the future." Benny said with a smile. "You were a big hit tonight."
Joanne smiled brightly before thanking them once again, and then turned to walk to her apartment. Not once letting the smile fade as she thought about her night, and Maureen. Once she lay down, she was able to fall asleep with a certain diva on her mind.
