Hey guys thanks so much for the reviews! Sorry it took me so long to update I was being lazy.
Chapter Three: New Beginnings?
The next day I woke up on the couch. I guess I had fallen asleep because Roger was no longer on the couch, and a thin blanket laid over me. I got up and walked over to Roger's room. I peeked in and saw him sprawled across his bed asleep.
When I was sure everyone was asleep I put on my coat and walked out the door. There was something I needed. Or at least something I felt I needed.
The alley was dark as I stood there waiting, and finally he came. I gave him the money and he gave me my smack. I knew Roger would be angry if he found out, but I wanted it. Besides, I wasn't planning on him finding out.
When I got back to the loft Roger and Mark were awake and sitting in the kitchen. I wasn't expecting them to be awake.
"There you are," Mark said. "Where were you?"
"I had some things to take care of," I said. I tried to make it sound casual, but I could feel Roger's gaze on me and when I looked at him I could tell he knew. He looked at me harshly, then walked off, and disappeared into his room. Mark studied my face trying to figure out what was going on.
"Oh Mimi you-"
"I don't want to talk about it," I said cutting him off. Mark stopped and fought off the urge he had to say something to him or talk to him. Instead, he just let me walk out the door.
Outside it was cold, but it was better then being cooped up inside the loft with Roger's icy stares coming my way. So I decided to go to the Cat Scratch Club to see if I could pull an extra shift. When I reached the club I went up to my boss.
"Wow, Mimi, you're here early," she said.
"Yeah I was wondering if I could get an extra shift in."
"You need some extra cash?"
"Um, something like that."
While I was out Mark and Roger had a conversation filled with much more yelling and disagreement than mine. After I left Mark walked up to Roger's room and opened the door.
"That wasn't fair," he said. "You're not even sure that's what she went out for."
"Are you?" Roger replied angrily. Mark lowered his head. He was at a loss of words because he knew what I had done. "That's what I thought," Roger stated with anger still in his voice.
"When you were a junkie did I do that to you? Did I shut you out when you got more? No. She needs help Roger you know that."
"It's different with me," Roger replied not making eye contact with his angry friend. He knew that Mark just wanted Roger and I to be together, and Roger wanted to be with me, but drug addiction created a rough barrier between us that was hard to break. It was my fault because I put it there, I created that barrier.
"Yes Roger, we all know April died. We all know that you got HIV from sharing needles with her. We all know how you feel about drugs. But you know what else we know? We know that you love Mimi, and we know that you're not willing to lose your relationship with her over drugs, and we also know that you want to help her but just don't see how. Well guess what, maybe if you stop shutting her out and give her a chance she'll try quitting again." Mark didn't like having conversations like this with his friends, but this time he saw no way around it.
"I don't know what to say," Roger said lowering his head. He didn't make eye contact with Mark. Roger didn't like admitting when he was wrong, or when he was at a loss of what to do so this was a hard thing for him to say.
"Give her some encouragement. Tell her that you believe she can get straight."
When I returned it was 6:00 pm. I wanted to pull another shift, but my boss told me to go home. "If only she understood why came in the first place," I thought.
When I opened the door I saw Roger sitting on the couch with his guitar. When he heard me slide the door open he looked up and set his guitar down.
"Where were you? We were getting worried."
"Work."
"Oh," he said. He looked a way and there was a long pause between the two of us.
"We should-"
"Talk," Roger finished for me.