Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Author's Note: Sorry it's taking so long, I've been really swamped lately but I'm trying my best.

Chapter 2

Mark had always loved those few moments of drunken haze before fate bitch-slapped you back into reality. That was where he was at right now, laying somewhere between the center of "What a lovely night" and "What the heck did I just do." He sat up, rubbing the sore sides of his head and trying to pretend nothing had just happened.

It wasn't until a snore came from next to him that he even realized where he was...

Collins couldn't have been angrier with his friends. They had already missed his introduction and he was well into his first point in his speech. His eyes kept glancing over to the clock on the wall as he tried remembering what time he told them to be there, if, perhaps, he had made some error in communication that threw them all off.

The door in the back of the auditorium slowly opened and Mimi poked her head through before the others. Collins knew instantly that something was not right, Mimi and Roger took two empty seats right next to each other, as he assumed they would, but the other three managed to spread themselves to the farthest reaches of the auditorium. Mark on the left side, Joanne on the right, Maureen (looking rather flushed) right in the middle of the mix.

It wasn't until a professor in the front row coughed that Collins realized he hadn't said anything for the past minute. He cleared his throat again.

"Now, back to what I was saying before..."

"You did great Collins," Mark said sounding quite a bit perkier than his usual self.

"Yeah, it was absolutely wonderful." shouted Joanne, grabbing him in a very forceful hug, managing somehow, almost simultaneously, to push Mark away from him.

"Alright, you've all sucked up to me quite enough for one day. What's going on?" Maureen coughed into the glass of tea she had been drinking, which was one of the things tipping Collins off that something wasn't right. When they would go out normally she always had some form of wine. Maybe it was some new form of social protest.

"Go on, Maureen, tell them." Joanne said, a little harsher than she normally talked to the girl. Collins gave wide-eyed stares to the three.

"Oh no, this doesn't have anything to do with..." He trailed off, casting Mark a look. Mark solemnly nodded and Collins stifled a gasp.

"Wait a minute, he knew and I didn't!" Roger half shouted. "We've been best friends for years and you didn't tell me about this!"

"Well, I kind of had no choice with him. He saw us leaving..." Mark stopped himself, not wanting to upset Joanne any further.

"Leaving where?" She said, her voice a grand mixture of fear, frustration, and sadness.

"Now, Pookie, don't go all Vesuvius on us.'' Maureen said, trying her hardest to make the situation seem a little comical, but failing miserably.

"Our place?" She whispered, the understanding dawning on her. "It was at our place."

Maureen and Mark both looked away from the girl, neither wanting to say anything to the girl. She made gestures with her hand as she tried mouthing the words to say, but nothing came out. Finally she raised one specific finger in the air and fled from the room, tears streaking down her cheeks.

"I'm going to follow her," Maureen said, standing quickly and frantically. Mimi pulled her arm down and forced her back into the chair.

"That's probably not the best idea, I'll go see if she's alright." Mimi stood and kissed Roger on the forehead before running after the girl. There was silence around the entire table before Collins chimed in.

"So really? You and you? No way...no way..." He managed to mumble. Maureen sank back against the chair.

"My thoughts exactly."

"Joanne," Mimi called. "Jo? Are you here?"

Mimi had made her way over to Joanne and Maureen's fancy apartment, it was partially decorated with artsy stuff, Maureen, except for all the books that littered the walls, Joanne. Mimi could hear sobs coming from the closed guest room door and she walked cautiously over to it, knocking softly.

"Joanne, it's Mimi. Are you all right?" There was silence for a moment as the other girl tried regaining her composure.

"I'm okay."

"That's a lie," Mimi said. Joanne tried sighing in frustration but just put herself back into a crying fit.

"How...could...she..." She managed to sob.

Mimi sat in silence on the other side of the door, unsure of how to respond. When no answer came Joanne's sobs grew slightly. Mimi carefully opened the door and went to sit with the girl. "I don't know," she whispered as Joanne laid her head on her shoulder. "But it'll be okay, I'm sure..."