Tango Lessons
By: Ethiwen
Disclaimer: Still don't own RENT or the characters of said show. It all belongs to the late (and great!) Jonathon Larson
Summary: Joanne's birthday party! The secret is finally revealed!
Ships: MarkJoanne
Warnings: Consumption of alcohol and intoxication.
Spoilers: ummm…. It's post-RENT so if you haven't seen the show or heard the music or familiarized yourself with the plot turn back now.
Author's Notes: Now that my plot has been decided, I can update more often! Yay! It is indeed a joyous occasion. Plus I have like 5 more projects waiting for this one to be finished. Yay! Hopefully after this one I can finish "Maureen's new job" and then I have a threeshot MarkRoger songfic and a Roger fic. Oh and about a zillion oneshots. So be looking for more after this piece.
Thanks go out to RaeChouette who continues to advertise my stories all over the place, though they really aren't as great as she makes them out to be, I'm afraid. Thanks also to The Versatile Scarf who remains my inspiration and encourages me to keep writing, and to AngstyRebel who helps me a great deal with plot ideas. Also, speaking of plot, an enormous thank you goes out to mindreader208 who pretty much decided my subplot for me. Reviews are love…And I thank you in advance for making that little periwinkle button at the bottom your and my best-friend. Aaaaaaaaaaaand…that's all for now I think.
Enjoy!
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Chapter 11: "She loves me."
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Maureen twirled her hair as she sat on the couch. It had been two weeks since Joanne had left her and she was still mulling it over. After all, she was Maureen Johnson! And although they parted on good terms, Maureen was still puzzled. Mark?!? Joanne had dumped her for Mark!? The diva subconsciously shook her head. It didn't make sense.
Sure she had Daniel…and she was happy. But that didn't excuse the fact that for the first time in her life she had been -dumped-.
Rrrrrrrring. Rrrrrrrrrring.
Maureen picked up the phone off the end table. "Hello?"
"Hi, Maureen. It's Joanne."
"Hi Pookie! Have you called to ask me back?" Maureen had every intention of telling Joanne exactly how happy she was without her. That would show her.
Joanne sighed heavily. "No, Maureen. What I said to you two weeks ago was for real. I'm not coming back this time Mo."
"Then why are you calling?"
"Well…I had hoped you hadn't forgotten, but old habits die hard I guess. It's my birthday. Well, the gang is getting together tonight at the life…and I…I'd like you to go."
"Is -Mark- going?"
She could almost see Joanne putting her palm to her temple. "Maureen, yes, Mark is going. I'm trying to offer the olive-branch, here. I want to remain with good terms with you."
"How can we stay on good terms when you're in love with my ex-boyfriend?"
"Maureen! Look, this isn't even about Mark. I want to stay friends with you, but if you can't see past the fact that we're over then…You know what, Maureen? Forget it. If you want to come, then come. It's at 7. I f you don't want to come, then don't. It won't be my fault." And Joanne hung up the phone.
Maureen put down the receiver. Should she go?
She knew that she should be happy for Joanne--and Mark too. She had Daniel, why shouldn't they have someone too? Was she really -that- selfish?
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It was only Mark and Joanne at her birthday celebration that night. Collins hadn't been able to come, and Roger muttered something about being indisposed and took off. Thought it was very suspicious, Joanne had learned not to question the rocker… She wasn't disappointed with her company and she found herself easily talking with Mark, as though they were lovers, not friends.
Joanne glanced at the door to the life for about the six hundredth time. It was ten past eight and Maureen still hadn't showed. She sighed. Maybe Maureen wasn't ready to reconcile the divide between them. Joanne was sure it must have been quite a shock…she couldn't imagine Maureen telling her that she had fallen for one of her ex-girlfriends. She must have been devastated…Joanne certainly would've been in her place.
"Still looking for her?"
Joanne, startled out of her reverie, came face to face with a concerned Mark. "Yeah…I just…I wish that we could patch things between us…" she trailed off.
"You shouldn't let her ruin your birthday though." Mark smiled. "Let's have fun, anyway."
The door to The Life opened, Maureen entering, fashionably late, holding a box wrapped in purple. She handed the gift to Joanne, and bounced onto the seat. "Sorry, I'm late," she said. "I had an audition."
Joanne smiled. So there -had- been a legitimate reason, Maureen wasn't avoiding her.
"Why is this place so dead?" the diva proceeded to ask. "Isn't this supposed to be a birthday celebration? Jimmy!"
"Hey, Mo. How can I help you?"
"Alcohol and lots of it. This is supposed to be a party."
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"So then…" Maureen giggled "Joanne fell right down on her ass." she took another swig of the drink in front of her. "Right in fron'a everybody."
Joanne wasn't laughing. It was eleven o' clock, and Maureen was piss drunk. "Mo, I think you've had enou--"
"Don' tell me, Jo." Maureen snapped. "After what you did--" she hiccupped "--you've no right to tell me what to do."
"What do you mean she has no right Maureen?" Mark asked furiously. "It is her party, and she didn't do anything to you. After what you did to -her-…"
"Shu'up Marky. You don' know. Joanne isn' innocent anymore."
"What the hell do you mean? Maureen, I haven't been blind for a long time. You can't fool me anymore." Mark said calmly. Mark was always placid on the surface when he was livid. "Joanne has suffered enough because of you, and I don't thi--"
"You love her too don't you?!?" Maureen asked enraged.
"Maureen…you have really had too much to drink." Joanne said pleadingly. "Please…just go home."
"No." The actress refused. "I will not until I know if he's a traitor too." Her eyes flashed. "I already know you love him. I want to know if he loves you too."
There was a stunned silence.
"What?" Mark asked breaking the awkward pause.
"I have to go." Joanne placed some money on the table and rushed out of the café, hailing a cab and fleeing.
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"Maureen…you had better explain what just happened."
"She lef' me 'cause she loves you. It's what she told me." Maureen huffed. "I can see where I'm not wan'ed. I'm goin' home." And with that, Maureen left.
Mark paid the bill at The Life and went home.
That evening he lay awake in bed, not being able to sleep, one thought continuing to tumult through his thoughts.
"She loves me."
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A/N: Okay, another chapter done and we draw closer to the end. Only four chapters left, my friends. As always, I thank you for reading… (And reviewing?)