"There's no goddamn room in here," Mark grumbled.
Mark, Jan, Mimi, Roger, Daisha, Frankie, and Collins were all squished into Frankie's car.
"If you like, Mark, we could put you in the trunk," Jan teased.
"No thank you," Mark mumbled.
"Chill out Mark, we'll be there in like fifteen minutes," Collins said from the front seat.
"Aren't Maureen and Joanne coming?" Frankie asked, her hands gripped tightly on the wheel.
"They are," Mimi said, quickly, leaving out the part about Jimmy. "They're meeting us there. So is Isabella."
"How do you know?" Roger asked her, his arm around her.
"Joanne told me." Mimi then let out a sigh and looked out the window.
Roger watched her; his heart felt as if it was being torn into a thousand pieces. He knew Mimi still felt terrible about what had happened, and Roger felt awful about not being there to protect her.
He reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.
Mimi looked at him and gave a small smile.
"You okay?" Roger asked, softly.
"I'm fine."
"You sure?"
Mimi let out an exasperated sigh. "Roger, lay off, will you?"
"I'm just worried about you, Meems," Roger said, hurt.
"Well don't worry about me. Worry about yourself." And with that she turned back to the window.
Frustrated, Roger ran a hand through his freshly gelled head. He hoped he would be able to keep his mind on the music tonight, instead of fretting about Mimi.
***
"Hey, Roger, you brought the whole gang. You remember Karmine, right?" Chad gestured to the pretty Latina girl beside him.
"Sure I do. And this is Mimi, Mark, Jan, Daisha, Frankie, and Collins," Roger said, automatically.
"Nice to meet you," Chad said to Frankie, Daisha and Jan. He already knew Mark and Collins.
"So Roger, you want to go through some of the songs together with the guys? So we can get it right?" he asked, jerking his head toward Karmine, trying not to be too obvious.
"Sure," said Roger.
He turned to Mimi. "I'll see you later, alright?"
"Okay."
Roger turned to the others. "I'll see you guys after?"
"Sure, Roger," Mark said. "Good luck."
"Thanks. I'm gonna need it."
"No you're not," Chad said, quickly. "Everything's gonna be perfect."
Karmine gave him a weird look.
"Um, let's go backstage," Chad said, nervously. He and Roger left.
"So you're Roger's girlfriend?" Karmine said to Mimi.
Mimi nodded.
"Lucky. He seems like a nice guy."
"So does Chad."
"Yeah, he is," Karmine said, smiling shyly.
"You guys want us to save some seats up front?" Collins asked, referring to he and Frankie.
"Yes, that'd be great. Thanks Collins," Mark said.
"No problem," Collins winked. Taking Frankie's arm, the two of them walked to the front near the stage.
"You excited?" Mark asked Jan.
Jan nodded, eagerly. "Yeah, I've never really been to one of these things before. The most concert music I've ever heard was at a wedding," she laughed.
"Wow, um . . . that's hardcore."
"Shut up," she nudged him, playfully.
"I'm serious."
Jan shook her head, trying not to smile. "So is anyone else you know coming besides Maureen, Joanne and Isabella?"
"Roger's old roommate, Mitch is coming. And his wife, Karen."
"Anyone else?"
"Um . . . Jimmy's coming with Maureen and Joanne."
"JIMMY'S coming?" Jan exclaimed.
"Shhh- not so loud!" Mark said, making sure Mimi didn't hear.
"Well, Roger's going to LOVE that," Jan said, sarcastically.
"He's going to sit near the back. Roger'll never know he was there."
"And that's everyone you know?"
"And me," a painfully familiar voice said from behind them.
"Fuck. What are you doing here, Benny?" Mark demanded.
"Well I can enjoy a little quality music now and then, can't I? Oh, sorry- did I say quality?" Benny sneered.
"Where's Steph?" Mark asked, in a mocking tone.
"Blew things off with her. Too young for me. Started to get on my nerves."
Mark rolled his eyes.
"So I see you've got a new piece of meat, then?"
Jan glared at him.
"Not bad. Though I could have probably done better."
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Mark asked, impatiently.
"I just told you. I came here to hear some music. Where's the rest of the gang?"
"They're coming."
"Oh. Hey, Mimi," he called out.
Mimi turned at the sound of her name, and then groaned unpleasantly when she saw who it was.
"Where's pretty boy?"
"ROGER is backstage," she said, through gritted teeth. "He's practicing."
"Yeah, he needs to," Benny laughed.
"Asshole," Mimi muttered, and turned around to continue talking to Karmine.
"I bet he and Jimmy would make great friends," Jan said to Mark.
Mark groaned. "I couldn't even stand TWO of them."
"Well, I'm going to get myself something to drink. I'll see you kiddies later?"
"Whatever, Benny. Just leave us alone"
"Touchy. You like that in a guy?" Benny asked, directing his question at Jan.
"Just get your drink," she snapped.
"Tough crowd," Benny mumbled, heading for the bar.
"God, he's such a pain in the ass. I can't believe we used to me roommates."
"You were roommates with HIM?" Jan exclaimed.
"Well, me, Roger, Benny, Collins and Maureen. That was when Maureen and I were dating."
"Weird," Jan said, shaking her head.
"Yeah. You wanna go get our seats?"
"Sure."
***
"Mark, sit DOWN! They're about to start!" Maureen, sitting beside Joanne hissed at Mark.
Mark had been ordered by Roger and Chad to make sure Karmine was sitting near the front of the stage, and he was doing so now. She had taken a seat in between Mimi and Daisha.
Isabella had arrived a little while ago as well, and was sitting behind them.
Mark couldn't find Jimmy, but that was a good thing, he decided, as he took a his seat next to Jan.
"Hi, Mimi."
Mimi looked up.
It was Mitch, accompanied by Karen, who in her last couple of months of being pregnant, was very large.
"Hey, Mitch. Guys, this is Roger's old roommate Mitch, and his wife, Karen," Mimi told the others.
"Hi," they all said back.
"Hey Mark!" Mitch exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in years, You haven't changed a bit."
"Is that a good thing?" Mark joked.
"Nah, you're still a great guy."
"Oh, well that's good. How are you, Karen?" Mark asked
Karen smiled. "How do I look? No, I'm great, actually. Mitch brought me along because he thought it would give the kid a good music sense."
"Boy or girl?" Maureen asked.
"Girl," Karen declared, proudly. "We're calling her Eva."
"That's pretty," Mimi said, smiling. "Congratulations."
"Thanks."
"Well, we're gonna go get seats. We'll see you guys after the show?"
"Yeah. You better hurry though, they're just about to start," said Mark.
"Alright. See you guys later," Mitch said, and he and Karen disappeared behind the crowd.
Mark was surprised that so many people had come. But then again, The Well Hungarians had grown very popular over the past year.
The crowd began to cheer and hoot as the band members walked onstage, and took their places.
"Hey guys!" Chad yelled over the mike. "How're you all doing tonight?"
He was answered by more screaming.
"Sounds like a party. Anyway, you know the guys- Roger Davis on lead guitar, Andy Rodriguez on the drums, Stu Earl on the keys, Matt Kaplan on the acoustic. And you all know I'm the lead guitarist and singer, I presume?"
The audience screeched loudly.
"Alright. This first song you all know if you've been to our gigs before- it's called 'Heartsick. Andy, give me a beat . . ."
***
About eight songs later, when the screaming had died down, Chad handed the mike to Roger.
"Um, hey guys," Roger said, abashedly.
A bunch of girls began to howl, making Mimi smile.
"Okay, this is a song I'm going to do by myself, with Stu on the keyboard. I haven't played it at any gigs before, and I hadn't planned to sing it before tonight. It's called 'Your Eyes.' This one's for you, babe," he said, smiling at Mimi, who was in the first row.
Mimi blushed.
Roger slung his fender over his shoulder, and softly began to play the first couple of chords, and began to sing, as Stu quietly played the keyboard along with him.
"You can see it in my eyes," Roger finished the song, smiling at Mimi.
Mimi clapped loudly, along with the others.
"Are you alright?" Daisha asked Mimi, who was rubbing a hand against her eye.
"I'm fine. Just got something in my eye."
"Right," Daisha laughed, and turned back to the stage.
"That was great!" Chad exclaimed, as Roger handed the mike back to him. "Roger Davis, everybody. Alright, this last song we haven't written ourselves, but we thought it would be appropriate for tonight. You guys have all heard 'L-O-V-E,' right?"
The audience began to chuckle, and Karmine laughed.
"No, I'm serious. I said to the guys, "Hey, listen, I really think we should include this song- bring it down a bit, you know? Okay, so this version is a bit different from the one you've all heard, but I hope you like it just as much. Okay, here it goes. You know what to do, Andy."
Andy began to tap out a steady beat on the drums, and Chad began to sing.
"L is for the way she looks at me, O is for the only one I see, V is very, very, extraordinary, E is even more than anyone one that you adore, so Love, is the one and only game for us- Love- it's the only way I trust. Baby, can't you see, that you're the only one for me, 'cause love was made for me and you." Chad knelt down onstage in front of Karmine, withdrawing a small black velvet box from his pocket.
The audience gasped, and Karmine's mouth gaped open in shock.
"Hey, Karma. I know this is an unusual way of asking . . . but babe, would you marry me?"
The crowd grew quiet, patiently waiting for Karmine's answer.
"Yes," Karmine said, softly, her eyes beginning to tear.
"Yes," she said, louder, "I'll marry you."
The audience howled, and Chad reached out his hand, helping Karmine up onstage.
The two of them kissed, oblivious to the screaming audience.
"That's so sweet," Maureen whispered to Joanne, dabbing at her eyes.
"That could be you and Roger," Daisha whispered to Mimi, who was smiling happily at Chad and Karmine.
She frowned. "Daisha, hush."
"Why? It's true. You two should get married."
Mimi shrugged.
"She's right," Isabella said from in back of them, overhearing their conversation.
"Jeez, would you guys let me alone? I'll know when the time is right."
"Well, you'd better hurry up- don't keep him waiting," Isabella teased, and she started to clap again for Chad and Karmine, who were kissing, passionately.
Roger saw Mimi looking at him from onstage, and blew her a kiss.
Giggling, Mimi reached out a hand, and pretended to place it in her pocket.
"Congratulations, Chad Richards and Karmine Perez!" Roger cried, patting Chad on the back.
"Thanks, pal," Chad said, grinning.
***
It was one in the morning, and the audience had slowly left, but not before congratulating Karmine and Chad one by one; the two of which were leaning against the stage, their arms wrapped around each other.
Matt, Stu, and Andy were packing up the equipment.
Roger hopped offstage so that he was beside Mimi.
"How'd you like is?" he asked, kissing her on the cheek.
"You guys were great," she smiled, returning the kiss.
"What'd you think of my song? I worked with Stu on it and we added those piano chords in it."
"It was beautiful, Rog." She turned to look at Chad and Karmine. "They make a great couple."
"They do," Roger agreed.
"You're a great friend to him, Roger. For helping him out with this, I mean."
"It was nothing," Roger shrugged.
"Hey, Rog, nice playing- not too shabby," Jimmy came up behind Roger, slapping him on the shoulder.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Roger demanded, rubbing his shoulder.
"Maureen and Joanne didn't tell you? I came to join the party."
Roger glared at Maureen.
"I would have told you, but I didn't want you to freak," she said, lamely.
"I've gotta get some sleep. I have some clients I have to attend to tomorrow.
"Clients?" Roger snorted. "More like whores."
"Oh? You mean like yours?" Jimmy replied, looking at Mimi. "Ow!" he cried, as Maureen slapped him across the face.
"Learn when to keep your mouth shut, Jimmy," she growled.
Jimmy rubbed his jaw. "Christ. I'm out of here before things get crazy. Take a chill pill, or a Midol or something, Mo." With that he turned and left.
"Not bad," said another voice, and they turned to see Benny.
"What is this? Attack of the Assholes?" Roger exclaimed.
"Hey, I was trying to give you a compliment, don't be like that," Benny complained. "You guys were good. Surprisingly."
"Thanks, I guess," said Roger.
"No problem. I've gotta get some sleep too. See you around."
"I guess all Assholes have their day," Roger said, once he had left.
Mimi shrugged. "I still don't like him."
"Roger! You guys were fucking off the hook!" Mitch yelled, coming over to them, with Karen behind him.
Karen placed her ears on her stomach. "Daddy didn't say that, sweetie."
"Hey, Mitch, glad you could make it," Roger grinned at Mitch.
"You kidding? I wouldn't miss this for anything. I remember those wild campus parties where you guys played."
"Sounds like you were quite the party animal," Mimi teased Roger.
"I WAS," he declared, poking her in the side.
"Hey, Roger, we're going to head out," Maureen said. "I'll see you at the gallery tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay. By Mo. By Joanne."
"Bye," they said in unison, and left.
"Oh yeah, you guys want to come to Maureen's gallery tomorrow? It's at four."
"I love art galleries," Karen said.
"I'm pretty sure we don't have anything planned, but I'll double check on that," Mitch said. "But of course we'll come! I'll see you around, Roger. Call me sometime, okay?"
"Got it," said Roger.
"You too, Mark."
"Bye Mitch," said Mark.
"Bye Mimi. Bye guys," they waved at the others, and they too, left.
"Roger, I'm going to stay at Jan's tonight. Frankie and Collins will give us a ride. We're gonna drop of Isabella and Daisha too. You want to come?"
"You want to go?" Roger asked Mimi.
"Nah, I'll walk."
"Okay. We'll see you guys tomorrow."
"And then there were two," Mimi had teased, once everyone had left. The rest of The Well Hungarians had left, and Chad and Karmine had left to spend the night had Chad's place.
"Yup. Kinda lonely."
"No, it's nice. It's more peaceful."
"It is" Roger agreed.
"I'm so happy for Chad and Karmine."
"So am I."
"They make the perfect couple."
"I know."
Roger was quiet for a moment. "You think we would make a good couple?"
"We ARE a couple, Rog."
"No- I mean a married couple."
Mimi paused. "I don't know. I've never really thought about marriage."
"Neither have I."
"Well, I guess it's something to think about, then," Mimi smiled, awkwardly.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"You ready to go?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Vamanos!"
The two of them left CBGB's with their arms wrapped around each other. The cold wind blew into their faces, but neither of them noticed.
a/n: So, that was the gig! Exciting, huh? What do you call a sexy Roger cupcake? A fuck-cake. No? Okay. Review, tell me how you like!
Mark, Jan, Mimi, Roger, Daisha, Frankie, and Collins were all squished into Frankie's car.
"If you like, Mark, we could put you in the trunk," Jan teased.
"No thank you," Mark mumbled.
"Chill out Mark, we'll be there in like fifteen minutes," Collins said from the front seat.
"Aren't Maureen and Joanne coming?" Frankie asked, her hands gripped tightly on the wheel.
"They are," Mimi said, quickly, leaving out the part about Jimmy. "They're meeting us there. So is Isabella."
"How do you know?" Roger asked her, his arm around her.
"Joanne told me." Mimi then let out a sigh and looked out the window.
Roger watched her; his heart felt as if it was being torn into a thousand pieces. He knew Mimi still felt terrible about what had happened, and Roger felt awful about not being there to protect her.
He reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.
Mimi looked at him and gave a small smile.
"You okay?" Roger asked, softly.
"I'm fine."
"You sure?"
Mimi let out an exasperated sigh. "Roger, lay off, will you?"
"I'm just worried about you, Meems," Roger said, hurt.
"Well don't worry about me. Worry about yourself." And with that she turned back to the window.
Frustrated, Roger ran a hand through his freshly gelled head. He hoped he would be able to keep his mind on the music tonight, instead of fretting about Mimi.
***
"Hey, Roger, you brought the whole gang. You remember Karmine, right?" Chad gestured to the pretty Latina girl beside him.
"Sure I do. And this is Mimi, Mark, Jan, Daisha, Frankie, and Collins," Roger said, automatically.
"Nice to meet you," Chad said to Frankie, Daisha and Jan. He already knew Mark and Collins.
"So Roger, you want to go through some of the songs together with the guys? So we can get it right?" he asked, jerking his head toward Karmine, trying not to be too obvious.
"Sure," said Roger.
He turned to Mimi. "I'll see you later, alright?"
"Okay."
Roger turned to the others. "I'll see you guys after?"
"Sure, Roger," Mark said. "Good luck."
"Thanks. I'm gonna need it."
"No you're not," Chad said, quickly. "Everything's gonna be perfect."
Karmine gave him a weird look.
"Um, let's go backstage," Chad said, nervously. He and Roger left.
"So you're Roger's girlfriend?" Karmine said to Mimi.
Mimi nodded.
"Lucky. He seems like a nice guy."
"So does Chad."
"Yeah, he is," Karmine said, smiling shyly.
"You guys want us to save some seats up front?" Collins asked, referring to he and Frankie.
"Yes, that'd be great. Thanks Collins," Mark said.
"No problem," Collins winked. Taking Frankie's arm, the two of them walked to the front near the stage.
"You excited?" Mark asked Jan.
Jan nodded, eagerly. "Yeah, I've never really been to one of these things before. The most concert music I've ever heard was at a wedding," she laughed.
"Wow, um . . . that's hardcore."
"Shut up," she nudged him, playfully.
"I'm serious."
Jan shook her head, trying not to smile. "So is anyone else you know coming besides Maureen, Joanne and Isabella?"
"Roger's old roommate, Mitch is coming. And his wife, Karen."
"Anyone else?"
"Um . . . Jimmy's coming with Maureen and Joanne."
"JIMMY'S coming?" Jan exclaimed.
"Shhh- not so loud!" Mark said, making sure Mimi didn't hear.
"Well, Roger's going to LOVE that," Jan said, sarcastically.
"He's going to sit near the back. Roger'll never know he was there."
"And that's everyone you know?"
"And me," a painfully familiar voice said from behind them.
"Fuck. What are you doing here, Benny?" Mark demanded.
"Well I can enjoy a little quality music now and then, can't I? Oh, sorry- did I say quality?" Benny sneered.
"Where's Steph?" Mark asked, in a mocking tone.
"Blew things off with her. Too young for me. Started to get on my nerves."
Mark rolled his eyes.
"So I see you've got a new piece of meat, then?"
Jan glared at him.
"Not bad. Though I could have probably done better."
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Mark asked, impatiently.
"I just told you. I came here to hear some music. Where's the rest of the gang?"
"They're coming."
"Oh. Hey, Mimi," he called out.
Mimi turned at the sound of her name, and then groaned unpleasantly when she saw who it was.
"Where's pretty boy?"
"ROGER is backstage," she said, through gritted teeth. "He's practicing."
"Yeah, he needs to," Benny laughed.
"Asshole," Mimi muttered, and turned around to continue talking to Karmine.
"I bet he and Jimmy would make great friends," Jan said to Mark.
Mark groaned. "I couldn't even stand TWO of them."
"Well, I'm going to get myself something to drink. I'll see you kiddies later?"
"Whatever, Benny. Just leave us alone"
"Touchy. You like that in a guy?" Benny asked, directing his question at Jan.
"Just get your drink," she snapped.
"Tough crowd," Benny mumbled, heading for the bar.
"God, he's such a pain in the ass. I can't believe we used to me roommates."
"You were roommates with HIM?" Jan exclaimed.
"Well, me, Roger, Benny, Collins and Maureen. That was when Maureen and I were dating."
"Weird," Jan said, shaking her head.
"Yeah. You wanna go get our seats?"
"Sure."
***
"Mark, sit DOWN! They're about to start!" Maureen, sitting beside Joanne hissed at Mark.
Mark had been ordered by Roger and Chad to make sure Karmine was sitting near the front of the stage, and he was doing so now. She had taken a seat in between Mimi and Daisha.
Isabella had arrived a little while ago as well, and was sitting behind them.
Mark couldn't find Jimmy, but that was a good thing, he decided, as he took a his seat next to Jan.
"Hi, Mimi."
Mimi looked up.
It was Mitch, accompanied by Karen, who in her last couple of months of being pregnant, was very large.
"Hey, Mitch. Guys, this is Roger's old roommate Mitch, and his wife, Karen," Mimi told the others.
"Hi," they all said back.
"Hey Mark!" Mitch exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in years, You haven't changed a bit."
"Is that a good thing?" Mark joked.
"Nah, you're still a great guy."
"Oh, well that's good. How are you, Karen?" Mark asked
Karen smiled. "How do I look? No, I'm great, actually. Mitch brought me along because he thought it would give the kid a good music sense."
"Boy or girl?" Maureen asked.
"Girl," Karen declared, proudly. "We're calling her Eva."
"That's pretty," Mimi said, smiling. "Congratulations."
"Thanks."
"Well, we're gonna go get seats. We'll see you guys after the show?"
"Yeah. You better hurry though, they're just about to start," said Mark.
"Alright. See you guys later," Mitch said, and he and Karen disappeared behind the crowd.
Mark was surprised that so many people had come. But then again, The Well Hungarians had grown very popular over the past year.
The crowd began to cheer and hoot as the band members walked onstage, and took their places.
"Hey guys!" Chad yelled over the mike. "How're you all doing tonight?"
He was answered by more screaming.
"Sounds like a party. Anyway, you know the guys- Roger Davis on lead guitar, Andy Rodriguez on the drums, Stu Earl on the keys, Matt Kaplan on the acoustic. And you all know I'm the lead guitarist and singer, I presume?"
The audience screeched loudly.
"Alright. This first song you all know if you've been to our gigs before- it's called 'Heartsick. Andy, give me a beat . . ."
***
About eight songs later, when the screaming had died down, Chad handed the mike to Roger.
"Um, hey guys," Roger said, abashedly.
A bunch of girls began to howl, making Mimi smile.
"Okay, this is a song I'm going to do by myself, with Stu on the keyboard. I haven't played it at any gigs before, and I hadn't planned to sing it before tonight. It's called 'Your Eyes.' This one's for you, babe," he said, smiling at Mimi, who was in the first row.
Mimi blushed.
Roger slung his fender over his shoulder, and softly began to play the first couple of chords, and began to sing, as Stu quietly played the keyboard along with him.
"You can see it in my eyes," Roger finished the song, smiling at Mimi.
Mimi clapped loudly, along with the others.
"Are you alright?" Daisha asked Mimi, who was rubbing a hand against her eye.
"I'm fine. Just got something in my eye."
"Right," Daisha laughed, and turned back to the stage.
"That was great!" Chad exclaimed, as Roger handed the mike back to him. "Roger Davis, everybody. Alright, this last song we haven't written ourselves, but we thought it would be appropriate for tonight. You guys have all heard 'L-O-V-E,' right?"
The audience began to chuckle, and Karmine laughed.
"No, I'm serious. I said to the guys, "Hey, listen, I really think we should include this song- bring it down a bit, you know? Okay, so this version is a bit different from the one you've all heard, but I hope you like it just as much. Okay, here it goes. You know what to do, Andy."
Andy began to tap out a steady beat on the drums, and Chad began to sing.
"L is for the way she looks at me, O is for the only one I see, V is very, very, extraordinary, E is even more than anyone one that you adore, so Love, is the one and only game for us- Love- it's the only way I trust. Baby, can't you see, that you're the only one for me, 'cause love was made for me and you." Chad knelt down onstage in front of Karmine, withdrawing a small black velvet box from his pocket.
The audience gasped, and Karmine's mouth gaped open in shock.
"Hey, Karma. I know this is an unusual way of asking . . . but babe, would you marry me?"
The crowd grew quiet, patiently waiting for Karmine's answer.
"Yes," Karmine said, softly, her eyes beginning to tear.
"Yes," she said, louder, "I'll marry you."
The audience howled, and Chad reached out his hand, helping Karmine up onstage.
The two of them kissed, oblivious to the screaming audience.
"That's so sweet," Maureen whispered to Joanne, dabbing at her eyes.
"That could be you and Roger," Daisha whispered to Mimi, who was smiling happily at Chad and Karmine.
She frowned. "Daisha, hush."
"Why? It's true. You two should get married."
Mimi shrugged.
"She's right," Isabella said from in back of them, overhearing their conversation.
"Jeez, would you guys let me alone? I'll know when the time is right."
"Well, you'd better hurry up- don't keep him waiting," Isabella teased, and she started to clap again for Chad and Karmine, who were kissing, passionately.
Roger saw Mimi looking at him from onstage, and blew her a kiss.
Giggling, Mimi reached out a hand, and pretended to place it in her pocket.
"Congratulations, Chad Richards and Karmine Perez!" Roger cried, patting Chad on the back.
"Thanks, pal," Chad said, grinning.
***
It was one in the morning, and the audience had slowly left, but not before congratulating Karmine and Chad one by one; the two of which were leaning against the stage, their arms wrapped around each other.
Matt, Stu, and Andy were packing up the equipment.
Roger hopped offstage so that he was beside Mimi.
"How'd you like is?" he asked, kissing her on the cheek.
"You guys were great," she smiled, returning the kiss.
"What'd you think of my song? I worked with Stu on it and we added those piano chords in it."
"It was beautiful, Rog." She turned to look at Chad and Karmine. "They make a great couple."
"They do," Roger agreed.
"You're a great friend to him, Roger. For helping him out with this, I mean."
"It was nothing," Roger shrugged.
"Hey, Rog, nice playing- not too shabby," Jimmy came up behind Roger, slapping him on the shoulder.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Roger demanded, rubbing his shoulder.
"Maureen and Joanne didn't tell you? I came to join the party."
Roger glared at Maureen.
"I would have told you, but I didn't want you to freak," she said, lamely.
"I've gotta get some sleep. I have some clients I have to attend to tomorrow.
"Clients?" Roger snorted. "More like whores."
"Oh? You mean like yours?" Jimmy replied, looking at Mimi. "Ow!" he cried, as Maureen slapped him across the face.
"Learn when to keep your mouth shut, Jimmy," she growled.
Jimmy rubbed his jaw. "Christ. I'm out of here before things get crazy. Take a chill pill, or a Midol or something, Mo." With that he turned and left.
"Not bad," said another voice, and they turned to see Benny.
"What is this? Attack of the Assholes?" Roger exclaimed.
"Hey, I was trying to give you a compliment, don't be like that," Benny complained. "You guys were good. Surprisingly."
"Thanks, I guess," said Roger.
"No problem. I've gotta get some sleep too. See you around."
"I guess all Assholes have their day," Roger said, once he had left.
Mimi shrugged. "I still don't like him."
"Roger! You guys were fucking off the hook!" Mitch yelled, coming over to them, with Karen behind him.
Karen placed her ears on her stomach. "Daddy didn't say that, sweetie."
"Hey, Mitch, glad you could make it," Roger grinned at Mitch.
"You kidding? I wouldn't miss this for anything. I remember those wild campus parties where you guys played."
"Sounds like you were quite the party animal," Mimi teased Roger.
"I WAS," he declared, poking her in the side.
"Hey, Roger, we're going to head out," Maureen said. "I'll see you at the gallery tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay. By Mo. By Joanne."
"Bye," they said in unison, and left.
"Oh yeah, you guys want to come to Maureen's gallery tomorrow? It's at four."
"I love art galleries," Karen said.
"I'm pretty sure we don't have anything planned, but I'll double check on that," Mitch said. "But of course we'll come! I'll see you around, Roger. Call me sometime, okay?"
"Got it," said Roger.
"You too, Mark."
"Bye Mitch," said Mark.
"Bye Mimi. Bye guys," they waved at the others, and they too, left.
"Roger, I'm going to stay at Jan's tonight. Frankie and Collins will give us a ride. We're gonna drop of Isabella and Daisha too. You want to come?"
"You want to go?" Roger asked Mimi.
"Nah, I'll walk."
"Okay. We'll see you guys tomorrow."
"And then there were two," Mimi had teased, once everyone had left. The rest of The Well Hungarians had left, and Chad and Karmine had left to spend the night had Chad's place.
"Yup. Kinda lonely."
"No, it's nice. It's more peaceful."
"It is" Roger agreed.
"I'm so happy for Chad and Karmine."
"So am I."
"They make the perfect couple."
"I know."
Roger was quiet for a moment. "You think we would make a good couple?"
"We ARE a couple, Rog."
"No- I mean a married couple."
Mimi paused. "I don't know. I've never really thought about marriage."
"Neither have I."
"Well, I guess it's something to think about, then," Mimi smiled, awkwardly.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"You ready to go?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Vamanos!"
The two of them left CBGB's with their arms wrapped around each other. The cold wind blew into their faces, but neither of them noticed.
a/n: So, that was the gig! Exciting, huh? What do you call a sexy Roger cupcake? A fuck-cake. No? Okay. Review, tell me how you like!