A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews! I am praying that you also like this chapter – I changed it from the movie/play, so it's going to be a little bit different. THIS IS PROBABLY MY LONGEST CHAPTER (I know that's sad) SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!
I DO NOT OWN RENT!
PLEASE REVIEW!
April Showers Bring May Flowers
Summary: Who is April? What if she was still alive? Would Roger and Mimi still fall in love? Would Angel and Collins still meet the same way? How would the plot of the movie/play change? Would Mimi Angel Roger, and Collins still have AIDS? Read to find out.
Seasons of Love B
(Present Day)
December 31st 1989
1:12pm E.S.T.
Mimi lay on Roger's bed… She hadn't moved for about five days – ever since she got there, all she did was sit down and sulk. She hated her best friend for leaving her and April for kicking her out, but mostly it had been her fault for not leaving Roger alone… But she loved him, so she couldn't help herself.
"Mimi?" Mark's voice floated through the apartment loud enough for Mimi to grab a pillow and cover her ears. He knocked on the door and opened it when there was no response. " Mimi, you have to eat."
"No – go away Mark."
" Mimi…"
"I said go away." She yelled clutching the pillow closer to her head. Mark shrugged and placed the tray of food on the night-stand next to the bed. Before leaving, he gently rubbed her back soothingly.
"Mimi – it's going to be okay. Trust me… I've been in this situation before, anyways when you finally do come out, we have news for you." She turned over and looked at Mark, removing the pillow from her head.
"I'm sorry Mark; I'm just so – so dead ever since Angel left me to fend for myself. I feel like I can't trust anybody."
"It's alright Mimi; you know Roger is worried sick about you." She didn't say anything, she just picked up the food that he had brought her.
"You're a great friend Mark." Mimi finally said and stood up grabbing her plates and walking out of the room. She placed them up on the counter and turned around. She sighed and shook her head. "I just feel so helpless without April and Angel."
" Mimi – you know that Angel is still there for you."
"She left me Mark, she deserted me." Mark shifted his weight from one leg to the other and ran a hand through his short spiked up blonde hair.
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything." Mimi whispered and picked up the plates before dropping them into the sink and washing them. She dried them off as the loft stayed silent. "So what's your big news?" She questioned and placed the dishes back into the cabinets.
"Alexi Darling wants me to do Buzzline because of the protest that was on the news." Mimi turned around and leaned against the counted.
"So then why don't you do it?"
"It's not really my thing."
"Oh look at you Mark – it's not really my thing! That's so funny!"
"But it's not Mimi!"
"Gosh, I had forgotten how funny you were. I'll be back in a couple of hours – do you think that'll be fine for Roger?"
"I think… He probably won't be back until New Years Day."
"Have some faith in him Markie, he's out doing an audition, you should be there supporting him because you're his best friend."
"Look who's talking. You're his girlfriend." Mimi laughed nervously and brushed her long hair out her face.
"Well I was tired." She protested and pointed out the dark bags under her eyes. There were barely any, but she still tried to make him believe her.
"Same here." Mark laughed and turned in the direction of the room. "I'm going out filming… You're welcome to come."
"I'll go with you other time; I'm just going to the park for a little while."
"Sure thing." Mark said and disappeared into his room. She grabbed her jacket and opened the loft door. She walked down the stairs just as Angel came out of the old loft. They stared at each other for awhile before Mimi started moving down the stairs again.
"In diapers, report cards, in spoke wheels, in speeding tickets…" Mimi sang as she tightened her jacket around her skinny body and ran across the street. Angel watched her from the doorway and felt herself starting to cry.
"In contracts, dollars, in funerals, in births." She sang softly before taking off in the other direction. She walked along the streets, her hands at her side, the leather backpack on her back. Collins was at his job and April was somewhere – she hadn't said a word to Angel since the day they kicked Mimi out.
"In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes…" All nine Bohemians sang together even though they were all in different places, April and Benny also sang with them.
"How do you figure a last year on earth?"
Mimi found herself walking along the streets and she spotted the man that had sold her smack the last time. She shook her head, she had given that up, she couldn't go back to it. She looked around for a familiar face – anything that would keep her mind off of it, but it only got worse. She walked further into the park annoying the glances that the man kept giving her. She then ran into somebody that looked familiar.
"Figure in love…"
Roger stood on the stage dealing with the manager of the club. They had given him the gig and he was ecstatic. He couldn't wait to tell Mark and Mimi and everybody else. He couldn't wait to just go in there and have them all be so proud of him. He kept smiling; Mimi was going to be so happy… He just knew it. The manager said that he could work Monday through Friday each night and come in on Saturday afternoons. He nodded and kept listening every once and awhile his thoughts went to Mimi.
"Figure in love."
April ran, she had no place to go. She felt so tired and so life-less that she shouldn't even be out of the apartment, but she had to find somewhere to go. She couldn't' be locked up with the grieving Angel who had yet to talk to her. She shook her head and got out a cigarette; she quickly lit it and started to smoke. Oh god, she had missed this so much, she hadn't done this since she was Roger. Which was so long ago – she shook her head and saw Mimi and Benny walking together. She dropped the cigarette and quickly stepped on it. She walked in the opposite direction, she didn't need this now.
"Figure in love – Measure in love…"
Collins was tired of all of this crap. Angel had been crying since the day that Mimi had left and she wouldn't let him in. She wouldn't even talk – she just sat around waiting for Mimi to return or even call. He graded the last paper before walking out of the building – he was done for the day. He shook his head and picked up his cell phone, maybe he could get something for Angel that might cheer her up. He saw April running along the sidewalks, her purse banging against her left thigh… He thought of chasing after her – but ignored it and started to follow her, not intending to talk to her at all.
"Seasons of love… Seasons of love…"
Joanne and Maureen were out together, sitting at a little café on New Years Eve, it was a surprise that anything was even open. They sat in silence; Mark had just found them and told them about April kicking Mimi out and how Angel had told Mimi all this stuff that had hurt Mimi. Maureen had sat there and was shocked because she knew that Angel and Mimi were best friends and thought that nothing could tear them apart. Joanne sighed and took Maureen's hand in her own. They had invited Angel and Mimi to come to lunch with them, but Angel had said that she was only able to come and hadn't explained anything about Mimi. Maureen could feel Mimi's pain and then she looked up and saw Mimi walking with Benny. He was holding onto her arm and they were talking. What was going on?
"Do you see that?" Maureen questioned and pointed to the two.
"What's going on?" Joanne asked and Maureen shrugged. "I thought she was with Roger?"
"I thought she was also – should we pookie?" Joanne shook her head.
"No, we'll ask Mimi later… Maybe it's something about their rent?"
"I have no idea." Maureen shrugged and they looked at the waiter who was just carrying out their food. They would talk later to Mimi and maybe would even go to Benny. They didn't want Benny messing up everything that Roger and Mimi had together. Angel walked into the little café and sat down in the chair that was set out for her.
"Hey everybody."
"Hey Ang, I'm glad that you made it." Maureen said and kissed her cheek.
"I had to get out of the house… I had been locked up for a couple of days."
"Huh?" Joanne merely asked and Angel shrugged it away.
"Nothing, I was talking to myself."
"So Ang… What have you been doing the last couple days? We haven't seen you at the Life or anything." Maureen started and offered Angel a piece of beard. She shook her head and stuffed her hands in her pockets of her red windbreaker.
"Oh you know – same old same old." Angel lied and smiled as Maureen stuffed some of her food into her mouth. Joanne sighed – but said nothing.
"How's April been?" Maureen continued on with her discussion.
"She's being a bitch – I don't really want to talk about it."
The rest of the day at the little café was silent. Joanne quickly paid the bill and they all stood up – usually they would have stayed there for hours talking about nothing and discussing how Mark, Roger, and Collins were. Mimi probably would have been there also giving her share of opinions on the three boys and April. But today was different, they all stood up and said good-bye and Angel walked back towards the building. Maureen sighed and walked along side Joanne.
"What do you think?"
"I think that they have to make-up." Joanne said indicating Mimi and Angel.
"What about April?"
"I have no idea – I mean did you like her before?" Maureen shrugged.
"Not really, she was kinda of a bitch… But around Roger she was the perfect little angel."
"Wow, I guess we should get going – we have to get ready for tonight."
"What are we doing tonight?" Maureen questioned and Joanne laughed.
"We're going out with the group – to celebrate New Years?" Maureen nodded and took Joanne's hand in her own. They walked quickly down the street, they were headed home for a little while before they had to go out and meet with the group
-:-
(Present Day)
December 31st 1989
6:35pm E.S.T.
Mimi stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Roger had yet to come home and now she was alone in the loft. Mark was still out filming and she had just finished talking to Benny over tea. She didn't want to be involved with him, but he had told her about his plan to lock up the loft and she had tried to talk him out of it. He had just said that he would think about it. She applied some of her lipstick and heard the loft door move open. She quickly put down her make-up and walked out of the bathroom. Roger stood in the main room; his guitar was set down on the floor. Mimi ran to him and wrapped her arms quickly around his neck as his arms came around her waist.
"Hey yourself." Roger said and she kissed his cheek. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing – I just missed you… Am I not allowed to miss you?" She whispered and she released him from her death grip. She still kept her arms loosely around his neck and smiled sweetly.
"Of course you are allowed to miss me… I know I missed you." He kissed her quickly before picking her up and placing her on the couch. He sat down next to her and she leaned against him. Her head rested on his shoulder and he sighed.
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"I got the gig!"
She gasped and turned her body so she could look at him. "Are you serious? Oh my god! Roger I'm so proud of you!"
"Now you can quit your job at the Cat Scratch Club?" Roger suggested and she looked at him puzzled.
"You want me too?" She questioned and he nodded.
"Why not – I don't really like you dancing in front of those men."
"Oh Roger! I can't just quit… You know that it brings in money? I'll think about it okay? But let's not talk about this now – when are you working?"
"Monday through Friday for the nights and Saturdays' in the afternoon."
"Ugh – afternoons?" She winked at him and quickly got up from the couch. "We're meeting the group in about two hours… You alright?"
"Yeah – fine… I'm going to take a shower before we go."
"Okay…" She trailed off and he came towards her and kissed her. She pulled away and turned back to the counter. "Go on Roger Davis – no funny business tonight! It's New Years Eve and we're going out tonight."
"Aw, I thought that could get you."
"Haha, you are too funny." She said sarcastically and pushed him towards the bathroom. He grabbed a towel and disappeared into the bathroom, not bothering to lock the door. Mimi knew he was suggesting something, but she wasn't up to it today. Mark slid open the loft door and looked at Mimi.
"I'm going to take a shower." Mark said and Mimi turned around just in time to see Mark's hand on that doorknob.
"Mark! Wait – Roger's in the-" Mark had already pushed back the door and a yelp was heard.
"Mark you motherfucker!" Roger's voice filled the whole loft and Mimi cringed as Mark retreated out of the bathroom. Mimi shook her head and laughed.
"I think he was expecting you."
"I know…" Mimi giggled and walked over to the bathroom. She walked in and closed the door behind her. Roger had a towel tied around his waist and was looking in the mirror. "Looking for me?" She questioned and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I was a couple of minutes ago."
"I see that Mark scared you out of your shower."
"Ugh – I don't want to talk about it." She kissed his cheek and then released him and leaned against the sink.
"Aw… Poor baby."
"Mimi!"
"Hmph, I can't have any fun." She sighed and walked out of the room. "I'll be waiting for you out there." She pointed to the main room and closed the bathroom door behind her. She saw that Mark was watching his video camera and looking at what he filmed.
"Hey Markie – what are you watching?"
"Just some old tapes."
"You want me to watch them with you?"
"If you want…"
"April related?"
"Kinda of, some of them are from when Roger was at a gig and April was there also cheering him on."
"You're making me feel like a horrible girlfriend for not going with him." She teased and shook her head. She sat down on the couch with him and looked at the tape. April was dancing around with Maureen and Benny. She shook her head, April's fiery red-head was longer then she had ever seen it and it was pulled up in a ponytail. Roger was on stage singing and he looked extra hot. She smiled at that thought. The tape ended as Roger's song did.
"That was really nice… But sometimes I think that you should put down the camera and be in it." She grabbed the camera and a new tape. She quickly turned it on and held it in front of her.
"Hello Markie! How do you like the camera on you?"
"Mimi! Give that back, you're going to break it."
"I'm not going to break it! It's New Years Eve Markie, if I broke it… Wait that has nothing to do with anything – that didn't even make sense… Anyways its Mimi here filming for Markie!"
"Mimi!"
"Blah blah blah is all I hear from you Markie."
"Hey Mimi – I have a cookie."
"What's a cookie going to do?"
"I don't know – but if you give the camera back, I'll give you this cookie."
"What kind is it?"
"Chocolate-chip with some mint chocolate-chips and I think it has a little bit of peanut-"
"What the hell are you two doing?" Roger questioned and Mimi spun around the camera still in her hands. She laughed as she still filmed.
"Hey Rog, I'm filming for Markie."
"Why would you do that?" He laughed as Mark snuck up behind Mimi and grabbed the camera from her hands. She screamed as he did and then giggled after Mark had the camera securely in his arms.
"Damn… He must love that camera a lot?" She questioned and wrapped her arms tightly around Roger's neck, but still stood beside him so she could watch Mark and his camera.
"He's had it since he was like ten." Roger said and kissed her cheek, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Correction Roger, I've it since I was nine and a half."
"Oh god."
"Well I do think that you should respect him by at least knowing the right age that he got it." Mimi commented and smiled.
"Meems…" Roger trailed off as she kissed him.
"God – get a room."
"Shut up Mark Cohen." Was all Mimi said before breaking apart from her boyfriend and opening the loft door as knocks were heard.
"Hey y'all!" Joanne said as she drank a whole bottle of wine as she stood in the doorway. Maureen stood next to her in a leather cat suit.
"I AM CAT WOMAN!"
" Maureen!" Joanne said and leaned against the door frame laughing. Mimi giggled and moved away from the door and into the room.
" Maureen – you make it so hard for me to decide what to wear… I'll never top your outfit now." Mimi teased and Maureen just smiled.
"It's true! I am the fashion queen – bow down young one!"
"I am ready to be taught Master Grasshopper!" Mimi laughed and quickly disappeared behind the doors of Roger and hers bedroom. Maureen looked at everybody else for a couple of minutes before finally realizing what Mimi had said.
"Wait, I'm not a grasshopper."
"So where are we meeting the whole group?" Mark questioned completely ignoring the drama queen's remarks and complaints to Mimi's comment.
"They're meeting us here and then we're walking all together." Maureen explained when she finally got out of her fit. Mimi walked out of the room with blue tights, black skirt, a matching blue top and her regular leopard jacket.
"Ugh, I can just never top Maureen." She winked at Maureen and moved over to Roger and Mark. She looked at Mark who was still holding the camera protectively. "Are you going to bring that with us?"
"Yep!" Mark said confidently and smiled.
"Markie…" She was cut off by another knock at the door. She groaned and moved to get it. She slid open the door and let April, Collins, and Angel in. Everybody stared at each other for a couple of moments.
"Hey-a bitches." Collins greeted all of them and stepped aside as Angel and April walked into the room. Mimi retreated from the door and back to the safety of her boyfriend.
"Hey man!" Mark said happily – for no reason what so ever. Mimi hit his arm lightly and stepped into the comfort of Roger's arms. April winced at this sight and given comfort from Angel who was standing right next to her.
"Let's go I guess." Maureen suggested as she felt the awkwardness rate getting higher and higher. She motioned for everybody to get out of the loft as she was the last one to exit. She quickly slide the door closed and prayed that this night would be an easy one to overcome.
-:-
(Present Day)
December 31st 1989
11:59:50pm E.S.T.
"10!" Angel cried out – she was feeling much better then before, but was still upset that Mimi was ignoring her. She shouldn't have expected that Mimi would probably forgive her by now.
"9!" Maureen yelled at the top of her lungs and wrapped her arm around Joanne's shoulders. Everybody had loosened up since the beginning of the night.
"8!" Mark shouted and held his camera up so he could see everybody and film them without them even noticing. I am so good! He thought to himself as Mimi and Roger appeared on the screen.
"7!" Collins wrapped his arm around Angel's waist as they stared at TVs that were behind glass in a shop. They were showing the news and they were counting down.
"6!" April crossed her arms against her chest and looked at everybody else. Everybody else – besides Mark – had somebody to be with. They belonged to somebody else and who did April have? Nobody since her mistakes had taken away the only love of her life.
"5!" Mimi's arms were tightly around Roger's neck as his were around her waist. She couldn't believe that she was even here with the people she hated the most. April and Angel… But she couldn't really hate Angel since they had been friends for way too long, but she didn't really like Angel at this moment.
"4!" Joanne was happy with just staying here with the people so happy. Nobody had fought – but some people hadn't said any words to the other. Like Mimi and Angel… They hadn't said anything to each other nor did Mimi and April… But she couldn't hope for that much peace when something big like kicking Mimi out had just happened.
"3!" Roger tightened his grip around Mimi's waist as he stared at the TV screens behind the glass. He remember four years ago and how April how lied to him and how they couldn't even be together anymore… But did that really matter now? He had Mimi and he loved her more then he could ever love April. He let those thoughts linger before kissing Mimi on the cheek and knowing that this was were he wanted to be.
"2!" All eight Bohemians shouted together – even if they were fighting. Mimi glanced at Angel who was starring at her. Mimi didn't say anything even thought they were pushed together by the crowds that wanted to get by.
"Mimi I-" Angel started but was cut off by everybody else yelling.
"1!" Everybody shouted together. "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Mimi and Roger kissed quickly as Joanne popped open a bottle of champagne and passed it around the circle that the group had formed. Mimi released Roger and grabbed the bottle, drinking most of it before giving it back to Joanne. They started to walk away as Mark filmed them.
"Mimi – Mimi give me a New Years Resolution!" Mark shouted over the cheers so Mimi could hear him. She shook her head and laughed.
"I'm giving up my job and going back to school."
"That's great! How about you Roger?"
Roger shook his head. "Finish a song…"
"Yeah – try to finish this year." Roger flipped him off and they walked off together.
"Who are you two suppose to be?"
"Bond, James Bond." Collins said as he linked arms with Angel.
"And Pussy Galore in person!" They both laughed as they veered to the side and walked away, Mark shook his head.
"Very nice!" Maureen and Joanne walked up towards him and Maureen imitated Cat Woman. She laughed and pretended to claw at the camera.
"Well you can take the girl out of Hicksville, but you can't take the Hicksville out of the girl." Maureen stuck her tongue out and they walked along the sidewalk.
"I heard you got a job offer."
"Yeah for that stupid show Buzzline." Mark said and wound up his camera.
"We're going to need an agent!"
"We?" Mark questioned.
"Well I helped you get this offer! I'm the reason you got it!"
"I don't think I'm going to do that show – it's not really me."
"Well… It's nice to dream every once and awhile." Maureen said as she walked along the curb. "Happy New Year!" She screamed as cars passed by the street and just for that night, everything seemed perfect. Mark filmed on and Maureen looked at him.
"I'm tired of you always filming," She grabbed the camera and started to film. "Hey Mark! Happy New Year Markie!"
"Maureen – you're going to break it!"
"Hello Markie!"
"Maureen! This isn't my bar mitzvah!" Mark cried out in a desperate attempt to free his camera from Maureen's grasp. April stood in the background, un-noticed and nobody even cared to talk to her.
-:-
(Present Day)
January 1st 1990
9:00am E.S.T.
Mimi's arm was linked with Roger's as they stumbled across the pad-locked door. She shrugged and looked to the others. "We're locked out."
"Benny." Roger stated as he looked at the lock. Angel shoved her purse into Collins stomach promoting a groan.
"Hold this honey." She said and walked over to the trashcan near the building. "I saw this once on TV." She emptied the trashcan and moved towards the door.
"You're drunk."
"No I'm not… Watch out." She said, noticing that Mimi was leaning against the door. Mimi moved away and grabbed on to Roger's hand. They watched as Angel banged the trashcan against the lock.
"Watch your fingers!" Maureen yelled as Angel hit it one last time before it fell to the ground - broken.
"Now that's my girl!" Collins said and they quickly did a high-five before they joined hands, Collins giving Angel her purse back.
"You've got a full service girl there!" Mark said and smiled. They walked into the building, up the stairs and into their lofts. Roger slid open the door and looked around the empty loft.
"He took all our shit!" Roger said and Mimi sighed. She sat down on the ground and knew what she had to do. She had to talk to Benny and Roger wasn't going to like this at all.
"They took all of our stuff also." Angel said as she entered the loft. Maureen opened the bag of potato chips she was holding and took one out before stuffing it into her mouth. April followed closely behind Collins and Angel.
"What do we do now?" Mark questioned and Maureen thought for a second.
"There's always Buzzline Markie." She shrugged and went back to eating her chips. Mark looked around at his friends all depressed from losing their stuff and knew it was what he had to do.
"That's our only option… I guess…"
"Then you'll do it Mark?"
"Okay Maureen, I'll do it."
"YES! Thank you so much pookie!" She said referring back to the name that she used to call him. Mimi smiled and thought to herself…
Tomorrow, I'm going to talk to Benny and I pray to god that Roger does not find out.
End of Seasons of Love B