A/N: Yep. It's been a while. Sorry about that . . .high school is way too busy. If you don't remember the story line, Mimi has been hiding her job at the Cat Scratch Club from Roger. Roger and Maureen are both performing at the Cat Scratch Club, and they have kept this from Mimi and each other. Major turmoil.

"Mmm . . .Joanne baby . . ." Maureen rolled over on her side, half-asleep.

"Wake up." Mimi nudged her.

Maureen continued to ramble on in her sleep. "Go away Shannan . . .she's mine."

"It's Mimi. Get your ass off the couch. You have to be at your gig in a few hours."

Maureen opened her eyes groggily. "Damnit."

"Sounded like you were having a nice dream." Mimi grinned.

This seemed to wake Maureen up. ". . .what are you talking about?"

"Oh . . nothing . . ." Mimi skipped over to the kitchen and started making some lunch. Her tone changed a bit when she said, "You really miss her." It was more of a statement than a question. Everyone knew that Maureen was falling at her ex-girlfriend's feet, but Mimi seemed to be the only one who understood much how.

Maureen nodded and collapsed back onto the couch. "Somebody's excited today." Maureen rubbed her side, wincing slightly. "She knows we've got a big performance coming up."

Mimi's mind wandered to the performance she would be involved in tonight. "Yeah . . ."

"I'm so nervous. I haven't been able to eat all day. I think I might throw up."

"You'll be fine. You always get like this."

"I still can't believe I'm doing this. I'm way too far along to perform with a rock band. The lead singer is supposed to be sexy, you know? Pregnant women can't be sexy . . .except for the fact that our boobs swell bigger than our heads. I still don't have anything to wear."

"Hmm," Mimi eyed her thoughtfully. "Come here, I'll help you get ready."

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"Mark, be honest, what do you think of it this way?" Kelly sang the first line of her audition song for the millionth time.

"I told you, it's fine. I like it," Mark insisted truthfully.

"You're just saying that because you're my boyfriend. You have to say that."

Mark smiled. He always did when Kelly referred to him as her "boyfriend." The word felt so right.

"Fine. Don't believe me. Ask Roger the music genius."

"Has Roger ever performed a showtune in his life?"

Mark thought a moment. "Well, no . . ."

"My point exactly."

"Well neither have I!"

"You at least appreciate theatre."

Kelly had been snapping at him a bit lately, but Mark didn't think twice. She was nervous about the audition tonight, and besides, their little bickering was nothing compared to what went on between Maureen and him.

"Hey Kelly, check me out!" Maureen appeared looking very . . .

"Dear Lord," Mark murmured, and proceeded to turn on his camera.

Maureen proudly modeled the outfit and she Mimi had put together. A purple tube top clung to her over-sized chest with turquoise fringe coming down over her equally over-sized stomach which had been decorated with body glitter and stick-on jewels in a circular pattern.

"That's hot!" Kelly giggled.

"Isn't it?" Maureen grinned.

Mark pointed his camera at Maureen's outlandish guise. "Zoom in on Maureen, the definition of a Fashion Don't with a gut the size of a beach ball and breasts the size of . . ." He paused, searching for the word.

"Basketballs?" Mimi offered.

"No . . .watermelons. Breasts the size of watermelons," Mark finished.

Kelly grinned slyly. "So what about me?"

"Oranges," Maureen giggled. "No . . .something flatter. Orange peels."

Kelly shoved her. "I didn't ask you. I asked Mark."

Mark's ears turned pink. "Er . . .grapefruits." Kelly looked slightly disappointed. "Really, really big grapefruits."

Kelly threw her arms around his neck and kissed his blushing cheek. "I've got to get going soon. I have to get ready for my audition."

"And I've gotta get out there and rock. Break a leg, hun!" Maureen called on her way out the door.

The place was packed. Maureen was glad Mimi didn't know she was at the Cat Scratch Club. She would have probably worried about her in this crowd. Maureen watched nervously as the other bands shuffled around backstage. Most of them had tattoos with suggestive phrases, shaved heads, or mohawks. All the guitarists were warming up, and she could barely hear herself think. Maureen looked around and realized she was the only woman there. A couple men flashed gold-toothed grins at her between puffs on their weed. That was when she began to think that maybe this wasn't such a great idea . . .

"Nervous?" The drummer from her band thumped her on the back a little too hard, surprising her.

"A little." It was the first time Maureen had ever felt meek in her life. She had become so paranoid about being in a roomful of men after her experience with Jeff and that night several months ago when she ran into a club full of pot smokers.

"Don't worry about it. You'll be great. Our band is original." He chuckled at that remark, and his beer-belly jiggled grotesquely beneath his black muscle shirt and leather vest.

"I'm not that nervous about screwing up . . .but this crowd isn't exactly what you'd find at the Hilton." Maureen twirled a strand of hair around her finger – one of her many nervous habits.

"I'm looking out for you. Don't let these guys scare you. They might look like tough druggies but really they're just . . .druggies. Listen, we left our extension cord in my truck. You think you could go get it? We're not on for a while."

Maureen nodded, grateful to get out of the crowded space.

As she pushed her way through the smoke-filled hallway she heard screams and whistles from the crowd out in the club. She slipped through a door into the club unnoticed to check out all the excitement.

There was a tall, red-haired dancer leaving the stage with nothing but a boa wrapped around her long limbs. Maureen's heart lept. She had been longing so much for a woman . . .any woman . . .

Not tonight. Tonight you need to focus on your performance. You're not going to let yourself waste time watching these sluts who work here, she told herself. But she couldn't help watching the next dancer who came on stage.

She was short and thin with perfectly toned muscles and a mass of curly hair. She had her back to Maureen who wished with all her heart that the woman would turn around to she could see her better.

The woman started dancing. Maureen was hypnotized. When the clothing started coming off, she thought she had better leave, but she was too entranced by this dancer to take her eyes away. Despite her conscience, Maureen walked closer.

The woman turned and their eyes met. They were flirty eyes, smiling eyes, eyes that held a secret. And then her expression changed. It took Maureen a moment to clear her head with all the smoke. That dancer was all too familiar.

Mimi.

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"I don't want to talk to you."

"Mo, I'm really sorry, ok? Just let me explain. Please don't -"

"Just go away, damnit! Go back there with all your little whore friends and dance some more. Turn on all those guys out there and pray Roger doesn't find out. Then you can lie some more like you lied to me." Maureen tried desperately to get past the crowds of people. She didn't care if she missed her performance. "God, would you people move? Excuse me . . ." Maureen ran smack into a blonde man carrying a guitar. "Oh sorry, I . . .Roger."

He stared at her for a second. "Maureen? What are you . . .?" And then he saw her, shrinking back into the crowd. Roger saw the skimpy costume and elaborate make up and instantly knew what was going on.

He didn't have to say anything for Mimi to see the fear in his eyes quickly replaced by pure rage.

"Roger, baby, let me explain . . ." She reached out and touched his arm, but Roger yanked it away as though she would taint his skin with her lies.

"You lied to me." Roger said slowly, softly, through clenched teeth. "I don't believe this. I don't believe you did this!" His voice increased in volume. He glared at Mimi as though she were toxic. "I thought you changed . . .how long has this been going on, Mimi? Months . . .years? You're still the dirty whore you were before. I thought I meant more to you than that."

Maureen held her breath for a moment, worried that he would strike her friend. And then she remembered. . .Mimi wasn't her friend. Mimi wasn't anyone's friend. Friends don't lie. Mimi was afraid of Roger then, Maureen knew. She was thinking of the night he was high . . .the night Maureen ended up in the hospital and Mimi ended up with a painful bruise. And although Roger wasn't on drugs at the moment, his anger was frightening enough to make them both shiver.

"Roger . . ." Mimi looked at him with pleading eyes. "This isn't how it looks . . .really . . ." She turned desperately to Maureen. "Please."

And then a screaming match began. Maureen couldn't take it anymore. She just ran.