The grass was damp and soggy from the short rainfall the night before. The
knees of Collins's pants soaked as he kneeled on the soft ground, gazing at
the slab of marble in front of him.
"Angel Dumott Schunard," the inscription read, "1970-1996. In our hearts, ALWAYS." It was carved with care, and Collins's fingered the words with the tip of his finger slowly, as if it were brail.
"You coming, Collins?" It was Frankie.
Collins looked up at her, and forced a weak smile. "Yeah, I'll be there in a minute."
"Alright," Frankie said, quietly. Behind her stood Mimi and Roger, side by side, and next to them, Maureen and Joanne. Mark stood in the background awkwardly, his camera perched on his left shoulder.
A couple of minutes went by, and finally Collins sighed with defeat, and stood up. He linked his arm through Frankie's and turned to the others. "Let's go home."
***
The car ride home was silent. Maureen drove, with Joanne in the seat beside her. Collins, Frankie, Mark and Roger sat in the back seat, with Mimi propped up on Roger's lap.
It was the one year anniversary of Angel's death. It also happened to be Halloween. Roger glanced at Mark, who was fixated on his camera, fiddling with the knobs carelessly. Two years earlier, the two of them would probably be running through the streets, spraying shaving cream along the sides of the road like little kids. But now Halloween had become a day of mourning.
Traffic was scarce. Most were already outside, trying to get their kids' pillowcases stocked with candy before dark, so they wouldn't have to wander around in the pitch black.
"So," Roger said, casually, "Is anyone hungry?"
"I am," Maureen admitted, her hands still gripping the steering wheel. "I haven't eaten all morning.
Roger turned to Collins. "Is it okay with you, Collins?"
He shrugged. "Sure, it's no trouble. You guys don't have to starve yourselves on my account." He was trying to break the uneasiness in the atmosphere, but no one else caught on. Their expressions remained grim.
"Well, I guess we could make a quick stop to the Life," Maureen said, quickly turning her neck in her seat to look at everyone else. "Everyone okay with that?" Several heads nodded. Satisfied, Maureen turned back to the road.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Mimi whispered to Roger, gesturing her head towards Collins.
Roger smiled, and squeezed her hand lightly on his. "He'll be alright. Collins is a fighter. And he has Frankie now to help him pull through."
"I hope so." She glanced at the two of them. Collins was staring at the back of Joanne's head, though Mimi knew his mind was somewhere else. Frankie's head was nestled against his shoulder, her eyes closed.
Maureen pulled to a stop in front of the Life Café, and everyone hopped out of the Jeep. Mimi slid off of Roger's lap, and everyone piled into the restaurant.
"Hey, Seb," Maureen greeted the waiter hanging by the door.
He faked annoyance as he recognized them. "You guys, AGAIN?" he joked.
"Yup. We're like cockroaches- you can't get rid of us."
"Don't I know it," he sighed. He squinted at them, seeing the new addition of Frankie. "How many?" he asked.
"Seven," Mark spoke up, coming in behind Maureen.
"Seven, huh? Just like old times, right?"
Everyone glanced at Collins nervously. He shook the comment off with a wave of his hand.
"Oh jeez, that was really stupid of me," Seb apologized, his face turning red. "Follow me, I'll seat you."
They followed him into the back of the restaurant, where it was more isolated and quiet. Once they were seated and had ordered, Seb left to let them be alone.
"You know, you guys don't have to treat me like a bomb. I'm not going to explode if you fiddle around with me," Collins suddenly spoke up. "I mean, this is a day just like any other day, right?" even as the words escaped his mouth, everyone knew he was putting on the new mood for show.
The replies were delayed, as Seb arrived with their food.
"Thanks, Seb," Mark said, as he placed the tray on the table.
"Don't mention it," he smiled. "You guys are regulars. It's no problem." He nodded at Collins and walked away.
Suddenly, Joanne's phone began to ring, abruptly and rudely. "Oops," she exclaimed, rummaging in her bag for her mobile phone, "I thought I had it off."
"It's fine, Pookie," Maureen said, patting her arm.
Joanne finally found the phone and pressed the 'ON' button.
"Hello?" She frowned. "This is Joanne." She cradled the phone between her chin and shoulder, her eyebrows knitting into a frown. "Hold on a sec." she handed the phone to Maureen. "It's for you, Honey."
"Me?"
"Yeah, I guess they couldn't find any other way to reach you," Joanne shrugged.
"Okay," Maureen climbed over everyone's laps, phone in hand. "I'll take it outside."
Joanne rolled her eyes. "Alright," she said, "Don't forget about us."
"Could I forget about you?" Maureen smiled, sweetly.
Joanne tried not to let a smile escape her lips. "Don't be too long," she ordered.
"Yes Mom," Maureen promised, walking outside.
"Yes?" she said into the phone?"
"Mo? Is that really you?"
"It's really me. Who is this?"
"You don't recognize my voice?"
"No, I don't," Maureen said, annoyed.
"Aw, hell babe, don't do this to me! It's ME. Jimmy."
"Jimmy?" the corners of her mouth curled up, pleasantly surprised. "God, I haven't talked to you in years."
"Yeah, I know. Sucks, doesn't it?"
Maureen rolled her eyes. "So where are you?"
"That's the big surprise- I'm in the neighborhood."
"Really? Where?"
"That's not important, now, is it? I wanna see you, Mo. Are you still living in Mark and Roger's apartment?"
"Nope. I've got my own now."
"You a single Susie?" he teased, over the phone.
"No. I've got a roomie."
"Really," he said, surprised. "Who's the lucky guy?"
"Girl," Maureen corrected. "My girlfriend. Joanne." There was silence on the end of the line.
"Oh, um . . .I didn't know you went that way, Mo."
"There are lots of ways I go," Maureen replied, coolly.
"Don't I know it. Anyway, I still wanna see you, Mo. I've missed you."
"Sure, it's fine with me," Maureen said, not wanting to tell him she actually HADN'T missed him.
"Great! Is today alright?"
"Actually, it's not," she glanced back at the table.
"Tommorow, then?"
"Sure," she sighed, giving in.
"Can I get an address?"
Maureen gave it to him.
"Thanks babe, I'll see you tomorrow. Kisses." And he hung up.
Maureen stared at the dead phone in her hand, shaking her head.
When she returned to the table, all eyes were on her, questioning her.
"Who was it, Honeybear?" Joanne asked, as Maureen slid into the seat beside her.
Maureen frowned. "It was an old ex of mine. He's in the neighborhood, and he wanted to see me."
"Is he going to?" Joanne asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, he's stopping by tomorrow." Joanne gave her a look.
"It's not like I have FEELINGS for him anymore, Jo. You're the only one in my life now." That satisfied her.
"Close on Maureen," Mark chimed, coming alive for the first time that day with the simple switch of a knob on his camera, "As she ponders the day that awaits, when she will be meeting up with an old ex." He turned the camera towards himself, widening his eyes. "Is this the end? Will Maureen and her ex make up and be friends? How late WERE Roger and Mimi out last night?" A french fry came whizzing through the air out of nowhere, colliding into Mark's face.
"Hey!" he turned around to face Mimi, who had a satisfied smirk on her face. She stuck her tongue out at him. "It never pays to me a jackass, Marky," she laughed. "Remember that."
"So, how late WERE you two out?" Mark repeated, turning it to the both of them. "Whatever time floats your boat, Mark," Roger answered, wrapping his arm around Mimi, tickling her in the ribs. "Maybe one in the morning? I dunno."
Mimi, who was very ticklish, shrieked and kicked out with surprise, catching Mark's shin.
"Ow," he growled, bending down to nurse his leg.
"Sorry, Mark," Mimi giggled.
"You two are unfathomable," Collins laughed, shaking his head. Everyone looked relieved at Collins's change of mood, except for Roger, who was trying to find out what the word 'Fathomable' meant.
"It means 'Uncanny,' Davis," Mimi teased.
"I know. See? Watch me use it in a sentence. It's UNFATHOMABLE how you like to watch reruns of 'Oprah' every morning."
Mimi whacked him with another French Fry.
"Hey, that's my lunch, you know," he protested, popping it into his mouth.
"Gross," she grumbled.
Frankie, who had been watching the whole scene, amazed, shook her head and laughed,
"Can you believe those two?" she laughed, turning to Collins.
He shook his head. "I've never met them before in my life." He kissed her on the neck gently. Roger mimicked him, kissing Mimi on the cheek.
"You guys ready to go?" Maureen asked, impatiently. "I wanna clean up the apartment a bit before Jimmy comes tomorrow. So he sees that I'm 'organized' now."
"You? Organized?" Joanne smirked.
"Hush, Pookie. Let's go."
After paying for their lunch, and leaving Seb a large tip, the group exited the Life Café, and headed in the direction of Maureen's car.
"So, where HAVE you two been?" Mark asked Roger, as they walked side by side.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Roger teased. "Planning your birthday, maybe?"
"Exciting," Mark laughed.
Roger raised his eyebrows. "Mark, watch it!"
"What?" his words were cut off as he smacked into another body on the street, both of them falling to the ground.
"Ow, jeez, are you alright?" he asked, breathlessly, hovering over his victim. It was a girl, not too young. She looked about Mimi's age. She had short straight dirty blonde hair, and pale skin. Mark's eyes lingered and he saw that her skirt was ripped and there was a hole in her tights.
"Shit, I'm sorry, I'm such a klutz," Mark apologized, helping the girl to her feet.
She smiled shyly and pushed her hair back behind her ears. 'It's okay, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," she said, in a soft breathy voice.
"I'm Mark," Mark said, stupidly.
"I'm Jan," the girl said, smiling.
"Well, I guess I'll see you around," he said. "Hopefully without knocking you over," he added, quickly.
She laughed. "See you," she said. She picked up her bag and walked in the opposite direction.
***
"That girl was INTO you, Mark," Roger teased, as he, Mark and Mimi entered their apartment.
"Was not," Mark protested, his face flushed.
"Aw, you guys were cute," Mimi said. "You should try to figure out where she lives."
"And let her think I'm a stalker? No thanks." Mark said. "I'm gonna go lie down for a bit." He went into his room, closing the door softly behind him.
Roger swooped Mimi into his arms, and plopped her down on the couch, gently. "Mark's such a klutz," he sighed, laughing.
"I guess it's contagious," said Mimi.
"What do you mean?"
"Roger, I'm the clumsiest person to ever walk the planet."
Roger raised his eyebrows. "What are YOU talking about? I don't see you falling down the stairs every two seconds."
Mimi laughed. "Well, for those episodes were never around. Did you know that when I first started working at the Cat Scratch, Terry had to walk me through every single step, because I was so off?" Terry was Mimi's boss.
"No . . ." Roger said, interested.
"And the first time we rehearsed that lawn chair dance . . . I was practicing it on that runway, and I was doing the routine, and suddenly the chair slipped, and I was still handcuffed to it. I fell over while I was still sitting in it."
Roger was holding his sides and laughing.
"It's not funny," she complained, tossing a pillow at his head. "I had bruises for WEEKS."
"Alright," Roger choked out, "Sorry."
There was a knock at the front door.
"I'll get that," Mimi said, since Roger was laughing too hard to be in any condition to answer the door.
Casually, Mimi opened the door, thinking it was Collins or Frankie. Her mouth dropped open when she saw the sniffling bruised heap in front of her.
"DAISHA?" she gasped.
a/n: Yes, I am in my own Fan Fic. Bite me (
"Angel Dumott Schunard," the inscription read, "1970-1996. In our hearts, ALWAYS." It was carved with care, and Collins's fingered the words with the tip of his finger slowly, as if it were brail.
"You coming, Collins?" It was Frankie.
Collins looked up at her, and forced a weak smile. "Yeah, I'll be there in a minute."
"Alright," Frankie said, quietly. Behind her stood Mimi and Roger, side by side, and next to them, Maureen and Joanne. Mark stood in the background awkwardly, his camera perched on his left shoulder.
A couple of minutes went by, and finally Collins sighed with defeat, and stood up. He linked his arm through Frankie's and turned to the others. "Let's go home."
***
The car ride home was silent. Maureen drove, with Joanne in the seat beside her. Collins, Frankie, Mark and Roger sat in the back seat, with Mimi propped up on Roger's lap.
It was the one year anniversary of Angel's death. It also happened to be Halloween. Roger glanced at Mark, who was fixated on his camera, fiddling with the knobs carelessly. Two years earlier, the two of them would probably be running through the streets, spraying shaving cream along the sides of the road like little kids. But now Halloween had become a day of mourning.
Traffic was scarce. Most were already outside, trying to get their kids' pillowcases stocked with candy before dark, so they wouldn't have to wander around in the pitch black.
"So," Roger said, casually, "Is anyone hungry?"
"I am," Maureen admitted, her hands still gripping the steering wheel. "I haven't eaten all morning.
Roger turned to Collins. "Is it okay with you, Collins?"
He shrugged. "Sure, it's no trouble. You guys don't have to starve yourselves on my account." He was trying to break the uneasiness in the atmosphere, but no one else caught on. Their expressions remained grim.
"Well, I guess we could make a quick stop to the Life," Maureen said, quickly turning her neck in her seat to look at everyone else. "Everyone okay with that?" Several heads nodded. Satisfied, Maureen turned back to the road.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Mimi whispered to Roger, gesturing her head towards Collins.
Roger smiled, and squeezed her hand lightly on his. "He'll be alright. Collins is a fighter. And he has Frankie now to help him pull through."
"I hope so." She glanced at the two of them. Collins was staring at the back of Joanne's head, though Mimi knew his mind was somewhere else. Frankie's head was nestled against his shoulder, her eyes closed.
Maureen pulled to a stop in front of the Life Café, and everyone hopped out of the Jeep. Mimi slid off of Roger's lap, and everyone piled into the restaurant.
"Hey, Seb," Maureen greeted the waiter hanging by the door.
He faked annoyance as he recognized them. "You guys, AGAIN?" he joked.
"Yup. We're like cockroaches- you can't get rid of us."
"Don't I know it," he sighed. He squinted at them, seeing the new addition of Frankie. "How many?" he asked.
"Seven," Mark spoke up, coming in behind Maureen.
"Seven, huh? Just like old times, right?"
Everyone glanced at Collins nervously. He shook the comment off with a wave of his hand.
"Oh jeez, that was really stupid of me," Seb apologized, his face turning red. "Follow me, I'll seat you."
They followed him into the back of the restaurant, where it was more isolated and quiet. Once they were seated and had ordered, Seb left to let them be alone.
"You know, you guys don't have to treat me like a bomb. I'm not going to explode if you fiddle around with me," Collins suddenly spoke up. "I mean, this is a day just like any other day, right?" even as the words escaped his mouth, everyone knew he was putting on the new mood for show.
The replies were delayed, as Seb arrived with their food.
"Thanks, Seb," Mark said, as he placed the tray on the table.
"Don't mention it," he smiled. "You guys are regulars. It's no problem." He nodded at Collins and walked away.
Suddenly, Joanne's phone began to ring, abruptly and rudely. "Oops," she exclaimed, rummaging in her bag for her mobile phone, "I thought I had it off."
"It's fine, Pookie," Maureen said, patting her arm.
Joanne finally found the phone and pressed the 'ON' button.
"Hello?" She frowned. "This is Joanne." She cradled the phone between her chin and shoulder, her eyebrows knitting into a frown. "Hold on a sec." she handed the phone to Maureen. "It's for you, Honey."
"Me?"
"Yeah, I guess they couldn't find any other way to reach you," Joanne shrugged.
"Okay," Maureen climbed over everyone's laps, phone in hand. "I'll take it outside."
Joanne rolled her eyes. "Alright," she said, "Don't forget about us."
"Could I forget about you?" Maureen smiled, sweetly.
Joanne tried not to let a smile escape her lips. "Don't be too long," she ordered.
"Yes Mom," Maureen promised, walking outside.
"Yes?" she said into the phone?"
"Mo? Is that really you?"
"It's really me. Who is this?"
"You don't recognize my voice?"
"No, I don't," Maureen said, annoyed.
"Aw, hell babe, don't do this to me! It's ME. Jimmy."
"Jimmy?" the corners of her mouth curled up, pleasantly surprised. "God, I haven't talked to you in years."
"Yeah, I know. Sucks, doesn't it?"
Maureen rolled her eyes. "So where are you?"
"That's the big surprise- I'm in the neighborhood."
"Really? Where?"
"That's not important, now, is it? I wanna see you, Mo. Are you still living in Mark and Roger's apartment?"
"Nope. I've got my own now."
"You a single Susie?" he teased, over the phone.
"No. I've got a roomie."
"Really," he said, surprised. "Who's the lucky guy?"
"Girl," Maureen corrected. "My girlfriend. Joanne." There was silence on the end of the line.
"Oh, um . . .I didn't know you went that way, Mo."
"There are lots of ways I go," Maureen replied, coolly.
"Don't I know it. Anyway, I still wanna see you, Mo. I've missed you."
"Sure, it's fine with me," Maureen said, not wanting to tell him she actually HADN'T missed him.
"Great! Is today alright?"
"Actually, it's not," she glanced back at the table.
"Tommorow, then?"
"Sure," she sighed, giving in.
"Can I get an address?"
Maureen gave it to him.
"Thanks babe, I'll see you tomorrow. Kisses." And he hung up.
Maureen stared at the dead phone in her hand, shaking her head.
When she returned to the table, all eyes were on her, questioning her.
"Who was it, Honeybear?" Joanne asked, as Maureen slid into the seat beside her.
Maureen frowned. "It was an old ex of mine. He's in the neighborhood, and he wanted to see me."
"Is he going to?" Joanne asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, he's stopping by tomorrow." Joanne gave her a look.
"It's not like I have FEELINGS for him anymore, Jo. You're the only one in my life now." That satisfied her.
"Close on Maureen," Mark chimed, coming alive for the first time that day with the simple switch of a knob on his camera, "As she ponders the day that awaits, when she will be meeting up with an old ex." He turned the camera towards himself, widening his eyes. "Is this the end? Will Maureen and her ex make up and be friends? How late WERE Roger and Mimi out last night?" A french fry came whizzing through the air out of nowhere, colliding into Mark's face.
"Hey!" he turned around to face Mimi, who had a satisfied smirk on her face. She stuck her tongue out at him. "It never pays to me a jackass, Marky," she laughed. "Remember that."
"So, how late WERE you two out?" Mark repeated, turning it to the both of them. "Whatever time floats your boat, Mark," Roger answered, wrapping his arm around Mimi, tickling her in the ribs. "Maybe one in the morning? I dunno."
Mimi, who was very ticklish, shrieked and kicked out with surprise, catching Mark's shin.
"Ow," he growled, bending down to nurse his leg.
"Sorry, Mark," Mimi giggled.
"You two are unfathomable," Collins laughed, shaking his head. Everyone looked relieved at Collins's change of mood, except for Roger, who was trying to find out what the word 'Fathomable' meant.
"It means 'Uncanny,' Davis," Mimi teased.
"I know. See? Watch me use it in a sentence. It's UNFATHOMABLE how you like to watch reruns of 'Oprah' every morning."
Mimi whacked him with another French Fry.
"Hey, that's my lunch, you know," he protested, popping it into his mouth.
"Gross," she grumbled.
Frankie, who had been watching the whole scene, amazed, shook her head and laughed,
"Can you believe those two?" she laughed, turning to Collins.
He shook his head. "I've never met them before in my life." He kissed her on the neck gently. Roger mimicked him, kissing Mimi on the cheek.
"You guys ready to go?" Maureen asked, impatiently. "I wanna clean up the apartment a bit before Jimmy comes tomorrow. So he sees that I'm 'organized' now."
"You? Organized?" Joanne smirked.
"Hush, Pookie. Let's go."
After paying for their lunch, and leaving Seb a large tip, the group exited the Life Café, and headed in the direction of Maureen's car.
"So, where HAVE you two been?" Mark asked Roger, as they walked side by side.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Roger teased. "Planning your birthday, maybe?"
"Exciting," Mark laughed.
Roger raised his eyebrows. "Mark, watch it!"
"What?" his words were cut off as he smacked into another body on the street, both of them falling to the ground.
"Ow, jeez, are you alright?" he asked, breathlessly, hovering over his victim. It was a girl, not too young. She looked about Mimi's age. She had short straight dirty blonde hair, and pale skin. Mark's eyes lingered and he saw that her skirt was ripped and there was a hole in her tights.
"Shit, I'm sorry, I'm such a klutz," Mark apologized, helping the girl to her feet.
She smiled shyly and pushed her hair back behind her ears. 'It's okay, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," she said, in a soft breathy voice.
"I'm Mark," Mark said, stupidly.
"I'm Jan," the girl said, smiling.
"Well, I guess I'll see you around," he said. "Hopefully without knocking you over," he added, quickly.
She laughed. "See you," she said. She picked up her bag and walked in the opposite direction.
***
"That girl was INTO you, Mark," Roger teased, as he, Mark and Mimi entered their apartment.
"Was not," Mark protested, his face flushed.
"Aw, you guys were cute," Mimi said. "You should try to figure out where she lives."
"And let her think I'm a stalker? No thanks." Mark said. "I'm gonna go lie down for a bit." He went into his room, closing the door softly behind him.
Roger swooped Mimi into his arms, and plopped her down on the couch, gently. "Mark's such a klutz," he sighed, laughing.
"I guess it's contagious," said Mimi.
"What do you mean?"
"Roger, I'm the clumsiest person to ever walk the planet."
Roger raised his eyebrows. "What are YOU talking about? I don't see you falling down the stairs every two seconds."
Mimi laughed. "Well, for those episodes were never around. Did you know that when I first started working at the Cat Scratch, Terry had to walk me through every single step, because I was so off?" Terry was Mimi's boss.
"No . . ." Roger said, interested.
"And the first time we rehearsed that lawn chair dance . . . I was practicing it on that runway, and I was doing the routine, and suddenly the chair slipped, and I was still handcuffed to it. I fell over while I was still sitting in it."
Roger was holding his sides and laughing.
"It's not funny," she complained, tossing a pillow at his head. "I had bruises for WEEKS."
"Alright," Roger choked out, "Sorry."
There was a knock at the front door.
"I'll get that," Mimi said, since Roger was laughing too hard to be in any condition to answer the door.
Casually, Mimi opened the door, thinking it was Collins or Frankie. Her mouth dropped open when she saw the sniffling bruised heap in front of her.
"DAISHA?" she gasped.
a/n: Yes, I am in my own Fan Fic. Bite me (