Author's Note: This chapter was inspired by the AWFUL Florida weather today…That and the fact that I thought it was about time for some humor. Just so everyone knows, this chapter is dedicated to Mo and her Idina hair. =P
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Chapter 35: Storms and Shadows
July 23rd
12:34 PM
The Loft
"Hey, guys?" Maureen called from her seat in front of the television. She was staying with Roger and Mimi for the weekend while Joanne was away on business. Collins had moved in two weeks previous after Mark and Aimee had left fir Syracuse. Roger and Mark still weren't speaking. Maureen glanced down at the set of drug store acrylic nails she was trying to apply, then looked back up at the television. "Guys!" she called again, louder this time.
"What?" Roger groaned, emerging from the bedroom. His hair was badly tousled and his shirt was inside out.
Maureen giggled, causing Roger to look even less pleased with her.
"Sorry to interrupt you—er—afternoon nap, but I thought you might want to see this." She pointed to the television, where a bored-looking news anchor was giving a weather update.
Roger watched for a moment, then called for Collins. The professor appeared in the doorway a moment later with Mimi close behind him. Collins raised an eyebrow questioningly at Roger.
"There's gonna be a hurricane," Maureen said cheerfully, interrupting Roger.
"When?" Mimi asked, looking slightly alarmed.
"Tonight."
"So…what are we gonna do?" Roger asked.
Maureen looked at Collins.
"You've got money, right, Col?"
Collins nodded and Maureen bounced to her feet.
"And I've got Joanne's credit card," she said grinning mischievously. "Come on, let's go buy stuff."
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1:17 PM
"So…what are we supposed to buy?" Roger asked, surveying the long, colorful aisles of the supermarket.
"Things that don't spoil," Mimi said knowledgeably.
"And that would be…"
Maureen rolled her eyes.
"The stuff that you can still eat after it's been lying around in your kitchen for three weeks, genius," she told him.
Mimi snorted.
"Whoa, Maureen, you don't want to tell him that," she warned, "He'll eat just about anything that isn't green and furry…and then some."
Roger shot her a disapproving look.
"Oh, come on, Rog, you know you love me," Mimi said, winking at him.
"Do I?" he asked teasingly.
Mimi narrowed her eyes at him.
"Say it."
Roger grinned and took a step backwards.
"Or you'll do…what?"
"Say it."
Mimi crossed her arms over her chest and began advancing toward him. Roger stepped back and grinned defiantly.
"No."
Mimi tackled him, pushing him back against the wall and tickling him until he was bright red and gasping for breath.
"Okay, okay," Roger said at last, "I surrender."
"Say it," Mimi insisted.
"Fine," Roger muttered in mock reluctance, "Fine. I love you."
Mimi smiled sweetly at him, then leaned in and kissed him.
Maureen cleared her throat loudly, causing Roger and Mimi to turn and look at her in embarrassment.
"Um…guys?" she said.
"Yeah?" Roger asked.
"Do you think we could shop now?"
By the time they were loading the groceries into Maureen's old bubble-gum pink car, the afternoon was getting darker and black clouds were gathering in the sky.
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8:58 PM
"Checkmate," Collins said for the third time that night, his voice completely deadpan.
"Damn!" Maureen whined, slamming her fist down on the table and sending the small, black and white pieces skittering across the linoleum floor.
Maureen pulled the hair tie out of her long brown curly hair and shook her head. Roger flinched and moved away from her on the couch.
"Why do women always do that?" he asked irritably.
"What?"
"Try to take men's eyes out by tossing their heads around like that."
Maureen giggled.
"I don't know. But this is really, really bad hair weather."
Roger snorted.
"No, she's right," Mimi said, emerging from the bedroom and sitting on Roger's lap.
Rain was pouring down outside in buckets, splattering violently against the window panes. Every now and then the wind would send a piece of debris hurtling into the walls or windows.
"Well, one good thing," Collins said idly.
"What?" asked Maureen.
"You don't have to clean the windows for a while."
"Good," said Mimi, "because it wouldn't have gotten done anyway."
There was a loud crash from somewhere outside the building and the lights flickered and then went out entirely. Maureen shrieked and then dove to the floor her hands over her head.
"Calm down, Mo, it's just a storm," Roger muttered.
"So…now we have nothing to do. It's too dark to see anything," Maureen sighed and climbed back up onto the couch beside Roger and Mimi. The loft was dark and shadowy, bluish in the light of emergency floodlights on the next building over.
"Wait just a second," said Collins, his words followed by the sound of him stumbling around in the dark loft, knocking things over as he searched for something. A moment later he mumbled, "Here it is," and they were blinded by the yellow beam of a flashlight.
"Great," Maureen muttered sarcastically, "One flashlight. And now everything looks funny," she giggled, "Whoa, Roger, are you feeling okay? You're all covered in green spots…"
Roger rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around Mimi. They sat in relative silence for a few minutes, the only sound in the loft the muffled clicking of Maureen tapping her fingernails impatiently on the aluminum surface of the folding table.
"Hey I know!" Maureen jumped up suddenly and grabbed the flashlight from Collins.
"Whoa, whoa," the professor cried.
"Take it easy, Col, I'm just borrowing it."
"Remind me to say no next time she asks to borrow something from me," Roger said, earning him a jab in the ribs from Mimi. "Ouch."
Maureen pointed the flashlight toward the ceiling and began wiggling her fingers in front of the light.
"Hey, a shadow puppet!" said Roger sudden recognition. "What is it?"
"It's a cow,!" said Maureen indignantly.
"I don't see it." Said Collins, earning himself a venomous glare.
"Hey, Mo, can I see that for a second?" Roger asked.
Maureen looked at him suspiciously, then handed over the flashlight. They all burst into laughter as the shadow of Roger's hand flipped them off.
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