~~~**~~~

Chapter 8: I Spy

January 10th

10 PM

"I spy with my little eye. . .something. . .purple." Mark challenged.

"The carpet." Roger guessed.

"No."

"That's blue." Mimi corrected irritably.

"It's purple."

"It's blue!"

"You're colorblind."

"Guys!" Mark interrupted, "Forget it. The carpet is purplish-blue, if it will please both of you, but that's not my clue anyway, so you both lose."

Roger looked indignant.

"Fine then, what is it?"

"That guy's hair," Mark whispered, pointing.

Mimi sighed and flopped back on the couch. It had been over four hours since they'd arrived, and all they'd heard was that Maureen had been brought in unconscious and was now in intensive care, and that Joanne was with her. Mark, Roger, and Mimi had been ordered to stay in the waiting room until the situation had been "stabilized." There was still no word from Collins.

"Tired?" Roger asked, sitting down next to Mimi and pulling her into his lap.

"Exhausted," Mimi groaned, laying her head on his shoulder. "What's happening to me, Rog? I used to be able to stay up all night and not be tired and now. . .Whatever. . .this is what middle age must be like."

"Ooh, look, a gray hair," Roger teased, running his fingers through her long dark curls.

"Roger Davis, did anyone I ever tell you you're an asshole?" Mimi asked, giggling.

"Ummm . . .maybe once or twice. . .would it make you happy to tell me again?"

"You're an asshole!" Mimi laughed as Roger started tickling her.

"Who's an asshole?" Collins asked from where he'd been standing, leaning against the wall.

Mark jumped.

"Where'd you come from?"

"A galaxy far, far away. What's up with Mo?"

"No one wants to tell us."

Collins sighed and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Where's Aimee?" Mimi asked, sitting up suddenly.

Collins sighed again and shook his head.

"I have no idea. I haven't seen her since the day before New Years. We argued and she just. . .ran out the door."

"Have you called the police?" Roger asked.

"No. I-I don't know. I'm afraid of what they might find."

"You think she's doing something illegal?"

"I just don't know. I don't know what to do."

Mark cleared his throat timidly.

"She's okay." He muttered softly.

Collins' head shot up.

"What did you say?"

"I said she's okay." Mark said again, louder this time.

"How would you happen to know that?" Collins asked, his voice suddenly loud and accusing.

"I saw her. Earlier today. In the park."

"You saw her." Collins repeated. "In the park. Alone?"

Mark nodded.

"Did she tell you she ran away?"

Mark nodded again.

"And you didn't tell me?"

Mark nodded a third time.

"Mark, what the *hell* were you thinking?" Collins exploded, advancing on the filmmaker.

Mark stumbled a few steps backward until he bumped into the wall.

"Collins, I-I-I don't know!"

"You don't know!" Collins taunted. He grabbed Mark by the shoulders and shook him.

"Collins, STOP!" Roger called from behind him, rushing to Mark's aid.

Collins let go of Mark, the anger draining out of him. He walked over to a plush covered armchair and sat down, his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry, Mark. I don't know what got into me."

Mark nodded.

"It's okay."

"Excuse me."

They all jumped at the sound of Joanne's voice.

"News, Jo?" Roger asked.

"Yeah." She answered grimly, sitting down in a chair next to Collins.

"Is she okay?" Mimi asked, concerned. "What happened?"

Joanne cleared her throat.

"We were at the mall and she said she felt dizzy, and then she just. . .collapsed. The doctors—they-they aren't sure, but they think Maureen's anorexic. She's being given nutrients through an IV and then. . .we'll see where it goes from there. How could I not have noticed?"

Mark went over and put an arm around her.

"It'll be okay. You noticed now. That's what matters."

~~~**~~~

January 18th

"Roger, door!" Mimi called from the bathroom.

"You get it, I'm cooking!" Roger called back.

"Cooking? I don't wanna know! I'm taking a shower, Rog, answer the damn door!"

"I can't leave my grilled cheese or it'll burn!" Roger shouted back.

Mimi sighed in exasperation, quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt, and went to answer the door.

"Benny?" She said, surprised.

Benny grinned obnoxiously at her.

"Well if it isn't the sexy Miss Marquez. . .did I ever tell you you look like a drowned rat with wet hair?"

"Did I ever tell *you* you look like a rich snob in a suit? Oh wait, that's the image you were hoping for, wasn't it. . ." Mimi shot back. "What do you want?"

"To talk. Can I come in?"

Mimi smiled sweetly at him, then glanced over her shoulder.

"Hey, Roger, Benny's here. He says he wants to talk to me. Should I let him in?"

Roger came to the door, wearing an old pair of flowered oven mitts.

"Sure, he looks harmless enough right now. What the hell."

Mimi stepped aside and let him in, surprised that Roger was in such a good mood. Normally Benny's appearance on their doorstep would've been cause for major catastrophe.

Benny walked in, surveyed the loft, the sat down on the edge of the old lime green sofa. It creaked loudly, as though threatening to swallow Benny.

"Talk." Mimi ordered coolly.

"I want you to give me some relationship tips." Benny said.

Roger snorted loudly.

"You've already been married once. Why do you need relationship tips?"

"Well see. . .I know how to seduce the business type. But I have no idea how to approach . . .one of you."

"One of us?" Mimi asked, confused.

"An artist." Benny muttered, as though it were a profanity.

"Oh. I get it." Roger said, grinning evilly. "Well, tip number one. On your first date, use your napkin to loudly blow your nose during dinner."

Benny glared. Mimi walked over to Roger and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Ooooh," she purred in her sexiest voice, "That's a *good* one, Rog. Okay, tip number two. Call every five minutes when you're not with her."

Roger laughed, and Benny glared more.

"Number three." Roger continued. "Recite Shakespearean Sonnets at her window at two o'clock in the morning."

"How come you don't do that for me?" Mimi whined, kissing Roger.

"I will if you want me to," Roger replied, kissing her back.

"Oh my God," Benny muttered, "I'm getting out of here."

~~~**~~~

Review please! I still want random suggestions, by the way!