Five hours later, everyone was piling back into the stretch hummer. Lauren was trying her best not to cry, and Rhi was trying to be as attractive as she could be...and she wasn't going to have ANY boundaries.
"Geez," said Palmer as she tried to gather her skirt back into the hummer before slamming the door, "Couldn't you be a little decent?" Rhi shrugged. Lauren handed her a napkin.
"Here. Have a dress."
"Thanks." said Rhi as she threw it over her shoulder. Conrad was the last one to get in after checking out of the hotel.
"You guys ready?" she said now giggly with excitement, "It's our last night in Africa, lets try to have a freaking awesome time, mkay?" They all nodded as the Hummer speed off and Collins popped off a bottle of champagne. Lauren couldn't help it. She immediately started bawling.
"I don't want to leave! I mean barely a week ago I was some lame loser with weird friends in Pennsylvania. Now I'm some lame loser with weird friends in Africa, sitting in a stretch hummer having the time of my life and I don't want to goooooo..." she sobbed.
"Oh hun," said Rhi as Palmer caught her arm right before she slapped La. "Snap out of it! These memories are going to last a life time no matter what. Leave the bawling for when we get really home, okay?" Collins poured into everyone's glasses.
"To the friendships, loves, and adventures we've had here. To Africa!" toasted Collins. "TO AFRICA!" they all said then threw back their drinks. They got to the party, and Lauren laughed, thinking back to a week ago when she'd been desperately trying to get Mark to like her...she sniffed.
"But I love you now," he whispered into her ear as if he could read her mind. Damn, there was something too sexy about him, and for once it wasn't the scarf. Angel and Collins were dancing around to the tribal drum, already drunk, while Palmer was doing an interpretive dance. Lauren giggled, and then Roger threw his hands in the air and decided to "boogie and get down." Conrad was walking around the market scooping up anything she could for a good deal. It was an amazing night. The priest delivered an amazing message in Swahili which Conrad translated. After hours of fun, the group cuddled up next to the dying fire pit for one last reflection of Africa.
"When do we leave?" Palmer asked.
"The plane leaves one am this time so we'll get in tomorrow back home in the afternoon." said Conrad. "This place is so beautiful." she said wishfully starring up at the perfect deep purple, star sprinkled sky.
"I'm not leaving." Lauren said firmly. They laughed.
"What, you think you have a choice?" laughed Conrad.
"Guys, seriously though," said Angel now snuggling with Collins, "this place is truly amazing. Lets try to come back one day, I mean we're still young, and we've got life in us too. But even if we don't get back, let's never forget. This place brought to together complete strangers into the best friends I've ever had. To us, to life, to love. So let's remember the love." Tears now welled at each of their eyes as they gathered for a huge group hug. Lauren crumpled down, beginning to bawl again.
"Damnit I hate being the crybaby." she moaned.
"Come on guys," Conrad said, dabbing tears away from her eyes, "before I lose it. And besides, this African wine won't say cold forever.." With one final look into the night sky, Mark closed the evening perfectly.
"There is no future, there is no past.." sang Mark as he wiped a tear from his eye, "Thank GOD this moment's not our last.." as he bent down and kissed Lauren. They drove to the airport, and got on the plane. Everyone was silent; they were trying to pretend this wasn't actually happening.
"We're not leaving, we're not leaving," Rhi kept muttering, glancing at Roger. After everyone had fallen asleep, Conrad sat wide awake and listened to her iPod. Her mind was rushing with a million things. Africa had changed her, more than anyone she thought. But she just hoped everything would be in order when they got back. Lauren woke up around 8, and looked over at Mark, who was drooling. She giggled, and turned to see Conrad actually sleeping. She smiled. Conrad peeked her eyes open seeing that Lauren was looking. She wasn't really asleep, but she had noticed La starting to wake up earlier. She didn't want her to get mad her for not sleeping. The plane made its final touchdown two hours later, noon New York time. They piled off, and waited for their luggage. No one seemed to be saying anything. When everyone finally had their luggage, they sort of just stood there, no one actually wanting to say goodbye. "So...is this really...the end?" Palmer asked, looking at Conrad, as though she expected her to make this decision too, since she'd made all the others.
"You guys should come to our apartment." said Mark, eyeing Lauren particularly.
"Well I suppose we could. It will be a nice official place to say goodbye, don't you think?" When the group arrived at RENT apartment, everyone's jaw just dropped. No one could have predicted it. No want had wanted to. Mimi was there. But she wasn't alone, for Benny was sitting on her too. Together they painted the perfect picture of intimacy of a nightmare. Roger just froze. Mimi just started shaking, showing that her drug addiction had started up again.
"Baby, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.." Mimi begged.
"No, it doesn't work like that." Rodger said. He walked over to Rhi and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him too. Mimi started to cry and shake more. Benny just sat there and shook his head. Conrad was the only one who didn't look surprised.
"Did you know about this?" said Rodger, now sobbing. Conrad just stood there quietly.
"Yes." She simply said, no emotion, just the same stone cold look on her face.
"Conrad, what is going on? Ever since we left you've been even weirder than usual. What the fuck has happened to you?" screamed Palmer.
"Look, this is how it goes ok? See Benny, paid for the trip. He gave me his alternate card so the signature wouldn't be recognized. He wanted Mimi back, and I wanted Rhi and Rodger together. So we came up with this great plan. So every night I'd meet one of Benny's associated and give him some drugs. He'd get them to Benny and Benny would drug Mimi with them. That's where I was all those nights. And Benny called me on a payphone, that's why I snuck out that night to go get the call. Oh and the cab driver, he was working in on this too. So when Benny told me the drugs had gotten Mimi hooked again, I went out and had a few too many drinks,"
"Conrad, that's so unlike you! How could you do that?" asked Rhi. She was ecstatic to have her man, but she wondered if it were merely just a rebound. Conrad just continued.
"But now it's done. My job here is done. But it's turned out even better. Who would have ever thought a silly little plan with a stupid little contest that wasn't even real, would make all my dreams come true?" She just smiled. Her work was done and she couldn't be more proud. Mark's eyes widened.
"Wait…it wasn't real? THAT SUCKS!" Lauren smacked him in the arm.
"Shut up, I think my best friend is working for the FBI…" No one had noticed Mimi violently convulsing on the couch, and Benny walking out the door. Suddenly, there was a soft choking noise, and everyone turned.
"Mimi looks a tad blue…"