AN: Yay! Update! Sorry it took so long...but it's just that time of year, y'know? Hopefully I'll update more often...so you better leave some feedback! Y'all have been really awesome about reviews, so keep it up :)
The next morning, I awoke to the sound of Maureen singing in the shower. Well, I guess she's feeling better, then. After about a minute, I heard the water shut off, and she came into my bedroom wearing only a very small towel that didn't exactly cover her completely.
"Hey sexy. Feeling better this morning, I take it?" She blinked at me incredulously, and I could have sworn that she blushed slightly.
"Yes, Roger, I am. Especially since you were there to keep me warm…" her tone was seductive, and I was completely entranced, that is until I heard a knock on the door.
"Shit. That's probably Meems." Maureen's face fell, probably mirroring my own expression. Maureen grabbed clothes from her duffel, which had somehow made it into my bedroom, which I presumed that she had dragged it there that morning, and darted off to the bathroom. I went to go answer the door, and it was Mimi, as I had expected.
"Hey babe." She said, her voice raspy.
"Hey." I responded. She wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning up against me and beginning to eat my face in the somewhat repulsive way that was characteristic of our relationship, only this time, I felt as though I were being somehow unfaithful. I wondered if I should dump her because I was in love with Maureen…I wondered if Maureen would go for it…or if it truly was love that I was feeling, or maybe just lust. I heard a door slam, and then realized it was the front door. Shit…I wonder where she's going…I didn't know whether to be worried about Maureen or not, but leaving Mimi in search of her seemed a bit awkward. Mimi sensed my hesitation, and looked concerned.
"Rog…what's up with you lately? Yesterday you were all distant all day, even when we were having sex…and know you aren't even kissing me? Are you even listening to me?" I wasn't, actually, and had let my mind explore the possible places that Maureen would have gone to. Jesus…now I know what it is like in the life of Mark Cohen.
"Huh?" Mimi looked furious, spouting vicious Spanish, which was utterly incomprehensible to me, then she stopped abruptly, addressing me directly again.
"Oh dios mio, there's another woman, isn't there? What the fuck is wrong with you? I thought you loved me?" Yeah, well, I thought I did, too.
"Mimi, I do love you…its just…look, Maureen just stormed out of here two minutes ago. She's been having a lot of problems recently, and…" Mimi glared at me.
"Maureen? You've been fucking checking out on me because of Maureen?"
"Christ, Mimi, you make her sound like a filthy whore!" Her jaw dropped, and she was gaping at me.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Huh? My job not good enough for you, mister Bohemian elitist?"
"No…Mimi, god, I didn't mean anything by it…just…Mimi, I thought you were friends!"
"Yeah, before you were fucking her!" Crap. This is quite a problem.
"I am not fucking the Drama Queen! Damnit, Mimi, she's POSITIVE!" Mimi froze.
"Wait…did you just…you mean…oh my god. Roger…I'm so sorry." She stood there in disbelief for a moment, then an incredulous look came across her face. "How did it happen?"
"Some freak got indicted on date-rape charges, and they said he had HIV, you know one of those friendly neighborhood news shows…I think it might have actually been Buzzline. She recognized the creep, got all shaken up, enough to get tested…" Mimi rolled her eyes. "You know, Mimi, even though she's promiscuous, she's always been careful," Mimi sighed, knowing he was right, and Maureen would need support. I couldn't place this sudden anger towards Maureen, because she and Mimi had been pretty close. "Anyway, like I was saying, she got tested, obviously was positive, Joanne kicked her out…she was living with fucking squeegee man in a tent, she caught a cold…last night she came by looking for somewhere to stay, and Mark went to visit his mom 'cause she's sick, I was the only one home. I had to let her in." Mimi nodded.
"Come on, Rog, we better go find her. I don't know about what you did when you first found out, but if she's anything like me, she shouldn't be alone for a while." I nodded in agreement, thinking back to how hard my experience had been. At least she doesn't have to simultaneously deal with a suicide…I grabbed my coat and the two of us went in search of Maureen. I let the awkwardness of the situation be consumed by my concern for Maureen, the woman who may or may not have been the love of my life.