This update is for Vicki OnEtHoUsAnDsWeEtKiSsEs, who has been hassling me for a fast update. Here it is! ;)
I'll also take this time to thank everyone who has been reading and reviewing!
Enjoy chapter 11!
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Chapter 11
The next day Joanne stood in her bathroom looking at her face in the mirror. She didn't think a slap in the face could do any damage, but there she was staring at a small dark spot just below her right eye.
As she tried to cover it up with make up there was a knock on the door. With a miserable sigh she slowly walked out of the bathroom and over to the door, pulling it open to reveal her mom.
"Oh Joanne!" Mrs. Jefferson said pulling her in for a hug. "Are you alright?"
Joanne only nodded as she tried to hold back her tears.
"Is Jessica still here I want to thank her for saving you from those people?" Mrs. Jefferson added while walking into the apartment.
"No she is gone…and she didn't save me. If anything she embarrassed me." Joanne answered.
Mrs. Jefferson turned around to face Joanne. "Oh Joanne how could you be embarrassed in front of those people?"
"Those people?" Joanne asked appalled.
"Bohemians…or whatever people call them. I'm still surprised a first class like Mrs. Grey let her daughter marry one."
Joanne rolled her eyes. "Maybe because they are open-minded! They are not bad people; they are just trying to make a living like you and me."
Mrs. Jefferson laughed. "Oh Joanne don't be fooled…they are lazy, it if wasn't for Alison that husband of hers would probably be dead on the streets somewhere."
"Mother!" Joanne shouted.
"You know it's the truth Joanne." Mrs. Jefferson said. "Jessica as been telling me that Maureen girl is trying to get with you. Don't let her trick you, she is just trying to get you for your money."
"Maureen would never do that." Joanne argued.
"How do you know?" Mrs. Jefferson asked.
"I just do." Joanne answered.
"She's brainwashed you…" Mrs. Jefferson added.
Joanne rolled her eyes as she made her way to the couch.
"You'll thank me later after you are married to Jessica, living in a big house, with little kids running around."
Joanne scoffed. "I don't want to marry her."
"Why not?" Mrs. Jefferson asked. "She's the best thing that happened to you, she'd do anything for you, and you know that."
"Well this!" Joanne shouted while pointing to the bruise on her face. "Doesn't help be believe that."
"Oh sweetie." Mrs. Jefferson said while she cupped her daughter's cheek. "What did you say to make her mad?"
"What?" Joanne asked while pulling her face away.
"Well there must be a reason why she hit you?"
"I can't believe you're taking her side. I'm your daughter." Joanne said.
"Yes I know and I'm looking out for you." Mrs. Jefferson began. "I wouldn't let you get married to Jessica if I didn't think it was safe. You need someone to set you straight every once in a while."
"I can do it on my own thanks." Joanne said as she began to walk away, but was stopped by a sudden force pulling her back.
"Listen Joanne." Her mother said in a firm tone. "You will marry Jessica and live under her roof. She's successful and will take care of you, and make you and the family look good. You already let me down once; do you want to let me down again?"
Joanne let tears slip from her eyes as the grip around her arm got tighter.
Mrs. Jefferson pulled Joanne in closer, forcing Joanne to look her in the eye, and in a more hard voice asked, "Do you want to let me down?"
Feeling overpowered Joanne slowly shook her head. "No…I don't want to disappoint you again."
"Good." Mrs. Jefferson said now releasing Joanne's hold. "You're going to do one more thing for me."
Joanne stood silently as she waited for more demands.
"You are not to see that girl again…or any of her friends." Mrs. Jefferson said. "I don't want them putting crazy thoughts in your head. Do I make myself clear?"
"Can't I say goodbye to them?" Joanne asked. "They were my friends."
Mrs. Jefferson thought about it for a moment then sighed unhappily. "I guess…but I want Jessica to be there with you."
"Fine." Joanne answered.
"Well I have to get going." Mrs. Jefferson said. "Clean up and maybe take a shower before you see Jessica…you look like a mess."
Joanne watched as her mother shut the door, as soon as it clicked shut she fell on the couch and let tears slip out of her eyes.
Joanne slowly walked up the loft stairs, thanking god that Jessica decided to wait in the car. As she headed to the door she could hear talking and laughing coming from the other side.
She knocked on the door and only had to wait a few seconds before she was greeted by Roger.
"You made it come on in, Maureen is in the bathroom." Roger said.
Joanne smiled weakly as she entered, smiling at the rest of the group.
"Want a drink?" Mimi offered.
Joanne shook her head. "No thanks I'm not staying long, I actually just came to talk to you guys."
"Well pull up a chair and talk away." Collins said with a grin.
Just then Maureen came out of the bathroom, quickly wrapping Joanne in a hug. "I'm so happy you came…I was beginning to worry you wouldn't show."
As Maureen pulled away she noticed the bruise under Joanne's eye. "Joanne what happened?"
"Uh nothing." Joanne said.
"It doesn't look like nothing." Angel added.
"I'm fine." Joanne answered.
"Did someone do this to you?" Maureen asked concerned. "It was Jessica wasn't it?"
"It's okay Maureen." Joanne said. "I deserved it…"
"No one deserves to be hit." Roger said angrily. "Although if Jessica wasn't a girl I would be kicking her ass right now."
"Well I'm a girl." Maureen said as she headed for the door. "I'm going to go kick her ass."
Joanne grabbed Maureen by the arm and held her back. "It's okay you don't have to do that."
"She had no right…" Maureen began.
"Maureen its okay." Joanne assured her.
"Okay…" Maureen said.
"So what did you have to tell us?" Benny asked.
Joanne took in an unsteady breath and let it out. "I wanted to thank you guys from being so nice to me, and accepting me into your family. But I'm afraid my time with you is over."
"What?" Maureen asked shocked by the words.
"What do you mean?" Alison asked.
Joanne scanned through her mind to try and come up with something, other then telling them her mom was a bitch. "Work as been hectic, and I'm getting married soon…"
"In other words that bitch Jessica is keeping you from us." Maureen said bitterly.
"It's not like that." Joanne said.
"Joanne we understand." Angel said. "But if for some reason you change your mind you know where to find us."
Joanne smiled at the others as they nodded in agreement with Angel, and then she glanced towards Maureen who was stunned by what was happening.
"I don't understand!" Maureen said.
Joanne gave Maureen a kiss on the cheek then headed for the door. "I'm sorry…"
Before Joanne could run down the stairs Maureen pulled her back. "Joanne don't go…you have to stay, you're the first person I ever had real feelings for."
Joanne took all the strengthen she had to fight her tears from falling. "You knew I was engaged from the moment we met, therefore you knew this wouldn't work out."
"Come on Joanne we both know Jessica is a bitch…don't listen to her, she's bad for you." Maureen pleaded. "Stay here with us…with me. I would love to live my life with you by my side."
Joanne smirked a little at the words, but then they quickly turned into a frown. "I can't…I have to go."
Before Maureen could protest Joanne's hand slipped from Maureen's and she was out of the loft building and in the car, back with Jessica.
Maureen stood there for a moment letting tears stream down her face. She then turned and went back in the loft, with sad eyes on her.
"Does anyone have count on how long this fling lasted?" Benny asked.
"She didn't even sleep with her, which must make Joanne the new record holder." Mark joked.
Roger laughed along side with the two. "So I guess its bye, bye to miss Friday."
"I liked Joanne." Mimi said. "I'm sad she is gone."
Roger nodded. "Me too…but she was just another one of Maureen's flings…who else didn't see this coming?"
"SHUT UP!" Maureen shouted. "Can you all get over the Ms. Friday thing? I told you this one was different, and you know what she was! Maybe there is something more to me then just getting a piece of ass every week!"
After that was said, Maureen ran into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. She walked in front of the sink, splashing water on her face, before sliding down on the ground, letting tears escape her eyes.
She was leaning against the wall with her knees pulled up to her chest, and her head buried in her arms crying so hard she was unaware someone had walked in.
She didn't even noticed the person sit down next to her until she felt an arm wrap around her shoulder, pulling her in close. She looked up startled by the touch, only to see Collins give her a weak smile.
"It'll be okay." Collins assured her.
Maureen let more tears trickle down her face as she buried her face in his chest. Collins pulled her as close as he could, rubbing her convulsing body, as she cried out her feelings, and while he whispered words of comfort in her ear.