"Mimi, you missed your cue," Roxy hissed at her as they disapeared backstage.
"Sorry," Mimi mumbled. "I can't really think straight right now."
"Guy trouble?" Roxy guessed, whipping out a compact mirror and fixing her hair.
"Yeah," Mimi said.
Roxy snapped the mirror shut. "Don't worry. Guys are like the weather. They have fluctuating moods. By tomorrow, whatever happened today will be forgotten. Trust me on this. I know from experience."
"Alright," Mimi sighed, though she wasn't convinced.
"The guys just keep getting crazier out there," Roxy commented. "Grabbing my tits here, groping my ass there. It's like a frickin petting zoo. We should charge them to feel us up," Roxy laughed.
Mimi smiled weakly, but didn't laugh.
"Well. They're not all bad," Roxy shrugged, pulling a piece of paper out of the waistband of her sparkly gold shirt. "I did get one guy's number."
"I thought you were going out with Kyle," Mimi said.
Roxy shrugged. "Kyle's a dick. I've been thinking of breaking up with him anyway."
Mimi said nothing.
"I'm sorry about what happened last night," Roxy said softly. "He just doesn't know when to stop sometimes. I should have stopped him."
"It's not your fault," Mimi said, faintly.
"Hey, yeah. You know guys. Can't live with them, can't live without 'em," Roxy mocked. "And another thing- someone's gotta talk to Terry about giving us a new routine. I must have done that same pole-dance sequence at least a hundred fucking times already."
"Yeah," Mimi said, not listening.
"You sure you're okay?" Roxy asked, as Mimi walked over to the couch and spread out so her legs were dangling off the side.
"Yeah. I'm just tired. I didn't get that much sleep last night," Mimi yawned.
"You should take a day off. You look like you could use some beauty sleep."
Mimi shrugged. "I need the money."
Roxy clicked her tongue and her cellular phone began to ring. Quickly, she rushed over to the other side of the room and flipped it open, holding it up to her ear. "Roxy here." She paused. "Who the fuck is this? You that guy up front who was grabbing my ass?"
Mimi rolled over and watched Roxy converse with her uknown caller.
"Roger? Who?"
"What the fuck," Mimi groaned, standing up. "It's my boyfriend."
"Your boyfriend? How did you get this number?" she said into the phone. "Outside sources? Outside sources, my ass. I'll…"
"Rox, can I have the phone?" Mimi asked, holding her hand out impatiently.
Roxy rolled her eyes and handed her the phone. "Be quick. It's running low."
Mimi nodded and held the phone against her ear. "Roger?" she said.
"Meems, I'm sorry about what I said before…I can't believe I even brought that up. I know you're finished with all that stuff. I guess I just can't help but live in the past…I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Mimi said, feeling sick to her stomach.
"I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am, and I regret ever saying that. Will you forgive me?"
"Yes," Mimi said in a small voice, feeling her insides twist with guilt.
"Good. You want me to come down there when you're done with work to pick you up?"
"I uh,…no. I don't think that's such a good idea. Terry doesn't like us bringing other people backstage," Mimi said, searching for an excuse.
"I won't go backstage then. I'll meet you at the backstage door. Okay?"
Mimi tugged at a strand of curly hair, anxiously. "I guess so," she said.
"Great. What time do you want me to meet you there?"
"Um…about an hour, I guess."
"Okay. Don't dawdle," Roger teased.
Mimi smiled. "I won't."
Roxy was waving her arms at Mimi, signaling for her to get off the phone.
"Rog, I gotta go. Roxy's going to kill me in one second," Mimi said, quickly.
"Okay, baby. I love you."
"I love you too," Mimi couldn't help but smile.
Roxy made an exaggerated groan.
"Bye." Mimi closed the phone and handed it to Roxy.
"Jeez, you just take your sweet old time, don't you," Roxy commented, clipping the phone to the waistband of her skirt.
"Sorry," Mimi apologized. "My boyfriend's been sort of…overprotective, lately."
"How so? Doesn't let you cross the street by yourself?"
"Not exactly," Mimi grinned.
"You can't let a man control you. You've gotta be clear with them. They're like dogs. Once they get used to you commanding them, they'll listen to your every order," Roxy grinned.
Mimi laughed and shook her head.
Roxy glanced at the silver watch dangling loosely around her wrist. "Shit. We've gotta be back in four minutes."
Mimi groaned. "Alright."
Roxy grabbed a feather boa from behind the couch. "Hey, what do you think they'd think of this? Pretty nifty, huh?"
Mimi rolled her eyes. "Whatever floats your boat."
"I think it's sexy," Roxy declared, draping it over her shoulders.
"Girls, you're on in five!" Terry hissed from up front.
Roxy straightened her skirt and forced a smile at Mimi. "Well. Here we go again," she said.
***
"Jesus Christ, thank GOD it's midnight," Roxy groaned, as she and Mimi went into the locker room.
"I hear you," Mimi said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "They really need to dim those fucking lights. I feel like a turkey in an oven."
"Mmm. Turkey sounds good now. Hell, anything sounds good. I've been fasting the last two days."
"Religious?" Mimi asked.
"Nah. I need to lose some weight."
"No you don't," Mimi sighed.
"Easy for you to say. You're not one of those people who eat and actually gain weight."
Mimi shrugged and pulled on the pair of denim cutoff shorts she'd been sporting for the last few days over her ripped fishnet tights.
"They need an AC installed in here or something," Roxy whined, lacing up her boots.
"I think Terry uninstalled it on purpose," Mimi said, pulling her black tank-top over her head.
"Why? To make us suffer?" Roxy groaned.
"He probably thinks it vents a sexual atmosphere," Mimi said, rolling her eyes.
"God. Fucking perv," Roxy said, shaking her head. "I really need to get a job as a waitress or something."
"Sounds good to me," Mimi laughed, grabbing her coat.
"In fact, once I get enough money, I think I'm gonna quit working here. It's time somebody treated me with respect. Fuck Terry."
"Amen," Mimi said, raising an imaginary glass of wine.
"And I think that's exactly what I'll say to him when I do," Roxy declared. "I'll walk right up to him and say, 'Fuck you, Terry. I quit.'"
"Sounds good to me," Mimi said.
"You should quit too. We'd be the rebels. Partners in crime," Roxy grinned.
"I know I should. It's tough, though. I've worked here for almost five years," Mimi said.
"Christ," Roxy shook her head. "Don't know how you've been able to tolerate it for so long."
Mimi shrugged. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Don't I know it," Roxy said, as she picked up her purse. "Well, I've gotta be going. Big day of being felt up by strangers tomorrow," she said, sarcastically. "You coming?"
"I told Roger I'd meet him by the backstage door," Mimi said.
Roxy shrugged her shoulders. "Okay. See you tomorrow."
"Bye," Mimi called after her. She slid her purse over her shoulder, and headed for the heavy steel backstage door.
Mimi leaned against it, shoving her way outside. The door led to a brick-walled alley, that opened up onto the street.
Mimi adjusted her coat and steadily began to walk down the alley.
"Hello?" a gruff voice said.
Mimi jumped. "Roger?" she called, uncertainly.
"Roxy? That you?" the figure stepped out of the shadows. It was Kyle.
Mimi folded her arms underneath her chest. "Roxy used the front entrance."
"Bitch," Kyle growled. "I told her I would meet her out here."
I don't blame her for avoiding you, Mimi thought, but said nothing. She quickly started to walk past him.
"Hey. You wanna share?" he asked, producing a small doggy-bag filled with white powder.
"No thanks," Mimi said, coldly.
"Aw, come on. I promise I wont force it on you this time," Kyle grinned.
"No," Mimi repeated, and proceeded to quickly pass him.
"You know," Kyle said, holding onto her elbow and holding her back. "I like you. A lot."
"I'm flattered," Mimi said sarcastically, pulling her arm away from him. "But I have a boyfriend."
"Since when does that matter?" Kyle laughed.
Mimi rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, Kyle," she said, flatly.
She only proceeded to walk a couple more steps before she felt Kyle's arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
"What the fuck!?" she growled, trying to wrench away from him.
"I really do like you," he whispered, kissing her neck.
"Get the fuck off me!" she shouted, trying to hit him with her purse.
She felt the warm bitter taste of Kyle's hand over her mouth. "Don't try to fight it," he whispered into her ear.
Mimi screamed, but the sound was muffled by the flesh of his fingers. She kicked at him and hit him over the head with his purse. Kyle easily pulled the purse out of her hand and let it drop to the floor, spilling its contents onto the concrete.
Kyle shoved Mimi onto the floor. Her head knocked against the hard concrete, momentarily blurring her vision, and her elbows began to sting, and she thought unconsciously that she must have scraped them when she fell. The right side of her face was beginning to hurt as well.
Weakly, she struggled to stand up, but Kyle pushed her back down with his knee, digging it into her chest.
"Please, stop," she gasped, struggling for air.
Kyle said nothing, but kissed her on the lips, pinning both of her arms under her.
Mimi panted, heavily. She struggled to sit back up, but she felt frozen. She had never been this terrified in her life.
She did the first thing that entered her head. She bit down on his lower lip, wincing at the bitter taste of his blood in her mouth.
"JESUS CHRIST!" Kyle shouted, putting his hand up to his mouth. His fists clenched when he saw the blood on the tips of his fingers.
"Bitch," he hissed, his fist connecting with her jaw.
Mimi's head began to throb, and she feared that she was going to pass out.
Taking advantage of her weak state, Kyle gently began to unbutton her shorts.
"Please," Mimi whimpered, tears running down her face, "Don't."
Kyle ignored her and Mimi heard him unzip his fly.
"Just let it happen," he whispered into her ear.
She cried out as she felt him enter her, and Kyle pressed his fist against her mouth, muffling her cries.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be," he growled.
Tears rolled down Mimi's face, and she turned her head so that her cheek was lying against the cool concrete. A tube of lipstick from her bag had rolled so it was right in her view of eyesight. Mimi bit her lip and stared at the tube of lipstick, trying to think of something else as Kyle pounded into her. She closed her eyes shut and prayed for him to finish.
After what seemed like an eternity, Kyle got up and buttoned up his pants.
Mimi breathed heavily, crying and keeping her gaze fixated
on the lipstick.
She saw Kyle drop something down in front of her. A piece of paper.
"See you around," Kyle said gruffly, and left.
Mimi reached out for the piece of paper that Kyle had dropped at her feet and brought it towards her.
It was a dollar bill.
Mimi crumpled the bill up and threw it as far as she could, and began to sob.
***
Roger scuffled his worn sneakers against the pavement as he walked to meet Mimi.
Christ, he thought, how does she stand working this late?
He turned the corner and headed down the alley.
He stopped when he heard the sound of someone crying.
"Hello?" he called out, cautiously.
He stepped forward, looking for the source of the noise. Maybe someone had been mugged.
He came across what looked like makeup products scattered across the ground. He knelt down and picked up a silver charm bracelet from the clutter. A heart charm with the words 'R.D + M.M' engraved on it. His heart stopped. It was Mimi's.
"Mimi!" he yelled, beginning to run, praying she was alright. The crying sound was closer.
Roger panted, coming to a pause. He saw Mimi, huddled up against the wall. Her knees were pulled in towards her chest, and her body was shaking.
"Mimi," Roger walked towards her, feeling sick to his stomach. He knelt down beside her and gently turned her head so he could get a look at her. "No…" he murmured, shaking his head. There was a swelling at her jaw-line, and she had a split lip. It looked like she had a couple of scrapes on her cheek too.
"No," he repeated softly, gazing at Mimi's tearstained face. He lowered his gaze and saw that her shorts were ripped, the zipper and buttons disheveled.
Roger fought back tears as he realized what must have happened.
"Mimi," he whispered. "Who was he?"
Mimi didn't answer him, and instead began to sob louder, burying her face into her knees.
Roger gently pulled him against her and she cried into his shoulder. He wiped at his eye with the back of his sleeve.
Uneasily, Roger gathered Mimi's belongings into her purse, and helped her stand to her feet. Her knees trembled.
Roger brought one arm under her knees and lifted her up off the ground, placing her arms around his neck.
"Where are we going?" Mimi croaked.
"To the hospital," Roger said, in a hoarse voice. He felt Mimi shudder against him.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, pressing his lips gently against her bruised cheek. "I should have been here."
"Not…your fault," she murmured, faintly.
Roger wrapped his arms securely around her and quickly rushed out of the alley, and walked out onto the sidewalk to hail a cab.
***
Author's Note: I warned you. Let the crucifying begin. This is the downside of fanfiction, as Mari(em0xstatic) and I have learned. It's like playing with matches. It does become happier, though. Honestly. Don't hate me L