A/N: Standardized tests want to kill me... Anyways, I got some MoJo going on in this chapter. Yeah. Okay.
"Mo..." Collins mumbled weakly.
"Shhhh, Collins, it's going to be okay, you're going to be okay," Maureen said, laughing through her tears. She had to move so Mimi could drape a ratty blue blanket over him.
"Still cold..." he managed feebly. Maureen scooted back in her chair.
"I'll be back. I'm gonna go get some more blankets for Collins." She touched his chin. "Don't die on me again, okay?"
"I'll help you," said Joanne quietly, her voice slightly hoarse.
"No, that's really okay..." Maureen frowned and turned her head away from Joanne.
"Mo, please." Joanne looked at Maureen with imploring eyes. "I... I can't stay here." Her voice cracked slightly.
"Fine." Maureen wheeled towards the door, Joanne following her. Joanne helped with the door, and pushed Maureen's chair outside. Maureen cursed the snow as her wheels lodged in a lump of it. "Why is it always winter when people DIE?" she asked, after a particularly long string of curse words.
"Maureen..." Joanne said softly. Maureen tucked her hair behind one ear.
"Yeah?"
"Why won't you look at me?"
"Well, Jo, in case you hadn't noticed, I am confined to a WHEELCHAIR, and you are currently BEHIND me." Joanne moved around to the front of Maureen's wheelchair. When Maureen looked away, Joanne placed a hand to her cheek and moved the diva's face so she was forced to look into Joanne's eyes.
"Maureen. You know what I mean. You never really talk to me or look at me or anything anymore. I mean, there was that time at the hospital, but -"
"But I was on happy drugs," Maureen finished. Joanne raised her eyebrows. "What? Jo, they freaking measured my happiness on a scale of one to ten!"
"Where did you rank?" Joanne asked, not really curious.
"Before or after the happy drugs?"
They shared a moment of laughter, but soon lapsed into an awkward silence as Joanne moved back behind the chair to help get Maureen's wheel loose. Finally, the wheel sprung out of the snow mound, but the momentum sent Maureen tumbling to the ground.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Mo!" Joanne exclaimed.
"It's okay, it's okay…" Maureen reassured the snow. Joanne hurried to Maureen's side, falling to her knees. "Jo, I got it, I'm okay." Joanne watched nervously for a few minutes, chewing on her lip, breaking the skin as Maureen tried to push herself up, chewing on her lip, breaking the skin. Finally, Joanne grabbed Maureen's forearm and lifted it so Maureen's arm was hooked around Joanne's neck. She helped the pale girl up and back into her chair.
"Thank you, Jo," Maureen said sincerely, looking up into Joanne's eyes. She frowned. "You're bleeding… your lip…" Joanne wiped at her lip, missing the spot completely. "No."
Maureen tentatively reached up, brushing her index finger against the bleeding lower lip. To her surprise, Joanne's tongue flicked out and swiped across the pale flesh. Maureen jumped and jerked her finger back down. And then, Joanne was at her side, apologizing, fresh tears springing to her eyes.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking, I wasn't-" Joanne was cut off by Maureen's lips pressed firmly against hers, warmth flooding over her at the touch. Both pulled back at the same time, both shivering. Something danced across Joanne's eyes. Maureen gave a tentative smile.
"So… what are we gonna tell the others?"