A/N: I'm not too fond of this chapter, so don't hope for anything G-R-E-A-T. XD So I hope you like this chapter and it doesn't have exactly the same lines from the movie/play… So it might be a little confusing? These next couple of chapters are going to be about betrayal between Mimi, Roger, and April… Also between Mimi and Angel's friendship. Mimi will loosen up a little bit later – so I hope you like this chapter!
I DO NOT OWN RENT!
PLEASE REVIEW!
Poll: Would you mind if I brought in a very very minor character?
A: No, I wouldn't
B: Yes, I would - I can't stand OC!
C: Whatever, I don't really care
Also: Would you mind if I brought in another song that isn't from Rent?
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.
Take Me or Leave Me
(Present Day)
January 2nd 1990
1:30pm E.S.T.
Mimi walked along the sidewalk clutching her jacket to her chest and shaking. She was freezing; she had never really realized how cold the winter was in New York. She had called Benny this morning and was now going to lunch with him to work things out. She walked into the Life Café and sat down at the table that Benny was already sitting at.
"If Roger sees me, you're dead."
"Okay, so what do you want?"
"I want you to give us our stuff back."
"And why should I do that?"
"Because they're your friends and I am your ex-girlfriend!"
"What does that matter?"
" Benny! You know we don't have that kind of money," She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable. "And I need my stuff back – please…"
"You know Mimi; I'm not that easy to get too."
"What do you want from me?"
"Nothing, you're the one that wanted to meet up."
"That's only because I need my stuff back!"
Benny sighed, "What happened to us Mimi?"
"What happened to us? Is that all you can say? There was no us!"
"Yes there was Mimi; you just don't want to admit it because you're in love with Roger."
"I am in love with Roger." She said and looked around the restaurant. "That is why I'm not getting involved with you. All I want is my stuff back – are you going to give it back or not?"
"I don't know Mimi, I need the rent."
"I don't have it! You know that!" Mimi slammed her hand down onto the table and some people cast awkward glances at her before returning to their meal. "What do you want from me?" She repeated and Benny shrugged.
"I don't know anymore – you're acting like a spoiled brat."
"Stop it! Don't talk to me like that."
"I can talk to you anyway I want."
She stopped to think this over. "Please, I'll do anything."
"Come with me – one date and then we're done… You can have all your stuff back and you can go on with your life with Roger."
"I'm seeing somebody else Benny, what do you not understand about that?"
"You said that you'll do anything."
"You're married…"
"You have a boyfriend…" Mimi shrugged what could one date do? She knew that Roger probably wouldn't even find out and she would get the stuff back, so she had to do that. They needed their stuff back; they couldn't live on just sleeping on the floor. She shook her head, she couldn't just wear the clothes that Angel had made them all – well mostly she only made it for Mimi. But Mimi still wasn't talking to her. She shrugged and answered Benny.
"Okay, one date, that's it. Let's go. No guarantees at the end."
"Right, let's go."
-:-
(Present Day)
January 15th 1990
2:44pm E.S.T.
Maureen sat in the office waiting for Mark and Joanne to come out. Joanne had told her to stay here even though it was her idea to go here to pay the rent. She was talking to the nice woman who was sitting behind a desk. She smiled as the woman said something about the jewelry she was wearing.
"It's very pretty." Maureen said and she knew that Joanne was looking at her through the window. They were talking to Alexi Darling.
"It was my grand-mothers, I'm glad that you like it." Maureen touched it gently as she plopped herself on the desk. She sat up straighter as she noticed that Mark and Joanne were done talking to Alexi.
"Well it was nice chatting to you, I have to go." Maureen said and got up as she followed behind Joanne and Mark. "So did you get it?" She questioned even thought she knew already what the answer was.
"Yeah, it's pretty decent…" Joanne didn't say anything and Mark stopped talking. Maureen walked faster and up to Joanne.
"What is your problem?" She questioned.
"You were flirting with that girl!"
"I wasn't – pookie – I was just talking."
"I saw you Maureen."
"What do you want from me?"
"A commitment… To promise to be mine forever." Maureen stopped and looked back at Mark. She smiled.
"Why didn't you just ask?" She said and bent down on one knee, taking a ring off of her finger and placing it on Joanne's. They both smiled and Maureen stood up and kissed her. Mark shook his head and smiled slightly, he was happy for them.
-:-
(Present Day)
January 30th 1990
3:00pm E.S.T.
The news of their engagement had gone well with their parents and the other Bohemians. Mimi had been so excited and wanted to plan everything – of course so did Angel so there was a clash when they assigned who was going to plan one thing. Today though, they were all gathered in a hotel ballroom and were sitting and listening to Joanne's parents.
"We welcome them all into our family." They said and everybody cheered. Maureen smiled and stood up, walking over to get another glass of champagne. Mimi – who was seated on Roger's lap – shook her head; she knew this might cause trouble. She looked at Joanne who was happily chatting away with guests while Maureen was off chatting with some girl.
"Do you have anything stronger?"
"No I'm sorry, I like your jacket." Maureen nodded and downed another glass of champagne.
"Hi." Maureen said very friendly, like she was flirting with the girl. She touched her necklace and made friendly conversation with her until Joanne came over and pulled her away.
"What are you doing?"
"Pookie, I was just being friendly…"
"Please – don't do this today…"
"What, I'm not doing anything."
" Maureen, you were flirting with that girl in rubber…"
"THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A GIRL IN RUBBER FLIRTING WITH ME!" Mimi looked over and poked Roger in the shoulder, she pointed to them – they were fighting again. They all looked over as Maureen started to sing.
"Every single day, I walk down the street… I hear people say, "Baby's so sweet!" Ever since puberty… Everybody stares at me… Boys – girls, I can't help it baby." She watched as Joanne walked out of the room and shook her head. She stood up on the table that had the ice sculpture on it and took off her jacket. She placed it around the ice sculptures shoulders and Joanne came back in. "So be kind and don't lose your mind just remember that I'm your baby!"
She started to pull up her shirt and Joanne pushed her hand down and took the jacket off of the ice sculpture. "Take me for what I am who I was meant to be… And if you give a damn take me baby or leave me! Take me baby or leave me!" Joanne made her way out of the room and Maureen followed her.
"A tiger in a cage can never see the sun. This diva needs her stage… Baby – let's have fun! You are the one I choose! Folks would kill to fill your shoes. You love the limelight too, baby… So be mine and don't waste my time: crying – 'Honey bear – are you still my baby?'" Maureen looked around and saw that Joanne was going up the stairs.
"Don't you dare!"
"Take me for what I am, who I was meant to be… And if you give a damn, take me baby or leave me. No way – can I be what I'm not… But hey – don't you want your girl hot? Don't fight – don't lose your head… Cause every nice – who's in your bed? Who's in your bed? Kiss, Pookie." Mimi, Roger, Mark, Angel, Collins, and April all followed after them. They stood by the stairs and watched them.
"It won't work, I look before I leap. I love margins and discipline… I make lists in my sleep. Baby what's my sin? Never quit – I follow through, I hate mess – but I love you… What to do with my impromptu baby? So be wise 'cause this girl satisfies… You've got a prize so don't compromise, you're one lucky baby. Take me for what I am." Joanne took off her jacket and threw it at Maureen who caught it.
"A control freak." Maureen interjected, but Joanne just ignored her.
"Who I was meant to be!"
"A snob – yet over-attentive."
"And if you give a damn…"
"A lovable, droll geek…"
"Take me baby or leave me!"
"And anal retentive!"
"That's it!" They yelled together as they found themselves in the pool room where two men were playing pool.
"The straw that breaks my back!"
"I quit!"
"Unless you take it back..." Joanne started and Maureen shook her head, she wouldn't ever take it back.
"Women!"
"What is it about them?" Maureen took a pool stick from one of the men and wrapped her arm around their shoulders. Joanne shook her head and looked away.
"Can't live – with them – or without them! Take me for what I am, who I was meant to be. And if you give a damn, take me baby or leave me… Take me baby or leave me!" Maureen crawled along the table and was now standing in front of Joanne was pushing her back against the pool table. Maureen stood up and pushed Joanne back.
"Guess I'm leaving, I'm gone!" They both walked different directions and exited the room. Mimi looked to Roger and then to Mark who was standing next to Maureen's parents.
"Maybe now she'll get back together with you." Mrs. Johnson said and all the others laughed as they followed behind one of them.
-:-
(Present Day)
January 30th 1990
5:00pm E.S.T.
"Well that was an interesting day." Mimi said as they walked up the stairs to their loft. Angel, Collins, and April were following along – but Mark, Roger, and Mimi weren't exactly directing conversation towards them. "Do you think they'll get back together?"
"Probably," Mark said and un-locked the door to the loft. "They can't stay mad for that long." They all walked into the loft and looked around as all their stuff was back.
"Hey guys," Mark looked around – amazed. "All our shit's back." Benny stood by a box with a piece of paper held in his hands. Mimi looked shock; he wasn't suppose to be here. Now Roger was going to find out for sure.
"What are you doing here?" Roger questioned.
"I came to end this war."
"What made you change your mind?" Roger asked and looked in his and Mimi's room to find everything back in place. Mimi bit her lip and played with her curly hair.
" Mimi did, actually. We hadn't talked in ages, so we had dinner. Look, I regret the unlucky circumstances-"
"Circumstances? You padlocked our door!" Roger yelled from the bedroom, he shook his head, he couldn't believe what Mimi had done.
"Right, that's why I'm offering a new lease, rent-free."
Mark fished a check out of his pocket and wrote quickly on it. "That won't be needed – here you go, that should cover for a little while."
"Where did you get this?"
"My first paycheck for Buzzline." Mark said proudly and Benny rolled up his piece of paper. Benny moved out of the loft and closed the door behind him without saying anything else. Mimi walked into the room with Roger.
" Roger… Nothing happened, Benny and I… It was two years ago, its over-"
"Whatever." Was all her said before he left her in the room. She slid down against the wall and looked around – tears forming in her eyes. She tried to wipe them away, but she couldn't stop them. She knew she had made the biggest mistake of her life.
"Without you… The ground thaws…"
End of Take Me or Leave Me