Chapter Nine

"Its number 207," Joanne said to the movers. The unkempt man with the 5 o' clock shadow at 11 in the morning grunted and motioned to some of the men working with him who got up and moved up the stairs. Joanne leaned against the truck and sighed, emotionally preparing herself. Okay. No crying. You've already got a hangover, you don't need this too. Sighing again, she started up the stairs, to see the scruffy-looking movers waiting at the front door.

"Okay, this is not a hard concept." She knocked on the door. "You knock, wait for the door to open and---"

"Pookie!" Joanne's breath was knocked out of her as she was being crushed by Maureen. She stood stiffly for a minute before pushing her away.

"Hello, Maureen," she said icily.

"Oh, honeybear! I knew you'd be back! I missed you so much! Did you miss me? I didn't get a second of sleep last night! Where were you? I was so worried!"

"I'm staying at the loft, actually---" she was cut off by a hair-raising shriek by Maureen who clapped her hands to her ears and continued her cries.

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO ME? OH, MY GOD! YOU SLEPT WITH MARK, DIDN'T YOU? DIDN'T YOU?" she started pacing the room in a rant, alternately screaming and yelling things like, "I hope you at least used protection! What if you got pregnant?" She was pulled out of her rage by a forceful "Maureen!" from Joanne.

"We did not have sex! I was really drunk, and Mark brought me home because I had no place to stay. Calm down."

"Really?"

"Really." Maureen sighed in relief.

"Good. Where are your things? I'll help you unpack."

"Actually, we're just here to pick up things like the couch and things like that," Joanne said, gesturing to the movers.

"Oh. Um, I'll just stay out of the way then." She made her way to a chair and sat limply, silent tears falling. Joanne looked away, so as to hold her composure. She stood by the doorframe, detaching herself from the scene. This must be what Mark sees.

"Lady! We're ready to go," interrupted the disgruntled mover.

"Oh! Sorry," she said, taking a look over her shoulder, at Maureen's shaking shoulders. Tears spilled over that she hadn't felt filling her eyes. She wiped at them and focused on the ground.

"Wait!" came a faint voice. Joanne looked over her shoulder to see Maureen running after then, waving something. "Here," she said, out of breath as she handed something small and cold to Joanne. "I know you hated it, but its something to remember with," she gulped as she turned back to her home. Joanne looked down at the thing Maureen gave her. The cowbell. She forced back sobs so as not to embarrass herself in front of the greasy men with her things. She clutched the cowbell to her chest.

They arrived at the loft, and she led them to where the bohemians lived. They brought the furniture and placed it where she silently pointed and left.

"Jo, this stuff is great! Thanks so much! You don't know how--- what's wrong?" Mark asked, seeing her tear-stained face. She answered with a sob, and collapsed on him, crying hysterically, gasping for air every so often, letting the cowbell fall. Mark rubbed her back, running his fingers through her hair, whispering words of comfort. Mimi crept behind them and picked up the discarded cowbell with a small cough.

"Shh. Its okay, Jo. It'll be okay." She tore herself form him to the wall.

"No! I'll never love anyone like that again! It'll never get better! Nobody can replace her!" She slid to the ground, crouching, her head buried in her hands. She felt a gentle hand on her quivering shoulder.

"You're right. Nobody can fill her place. You'll never have another relationship like that. You'll never feel that love again. But somebody can help fill the gaping hole I know is there. Somebody can be part of a new relationship. No, it won't be the same, but it'll be something great. Somebody can make you forget all the pain you're feeling right now. And…" he took a deep breath. "And if you'd let me, I'd like to be that somebody." Joanne looked up at Mark, surprised. She saw him looking away, his face a deep scarlet. She gave him a watery smile, and took his hand.

a/n: AWWW!