But I Love You Now
Place: Mark and Roger's loft
Time: An hour after Mimi's revival
Synopsis: Roger and Mimi are out walking and repairing their relationship. Mark and Maureen are alone. Told from Maureen's point of view.
"Wow Mark, can you believe how far we've come?" asked Maureen. "I mean one day we're just running down the street acting crazy, and now we're having life changing heart to hearts and burying our friends."
"Only one of our friends Maureen" replied Mark "Mimi's going to be okay. Why do you always have to make everything sound so negative?"
"God Mark, why do you hate me so much" Maureen exclaimed, "Is it because of me dumping you? I'm sorry okay? Can't we just be friends baby?"
"I don't hate you Maureen; you don't know how much I don't hate you. And stop calling me baby." Mark told her and went into his bedroom slamming the door behind him.
Just as Maureen was going to knock on the door to talk to him, Joanne and Collins came in with the dinner.
"Hey Pookie" Joanne said coming to kiss Maureen. "We got that special salad you asked for."
"Great honey," Maureen said kissing her girlfriend back, although her mind really wasn't on it. Really she or I for that matter was thinking about the pale blue eyed young man in the next room. Thinking of him as I never had before.
Yeah, that's right I am Maureen Johnson. Twenty year old performance artist extraordinaire. If you're reading this then you probably know my story and those of my friends. This is what happens after all that starting from our last "No Day but Today"
Anyway we got out the food and stated to eat.
"Anyone seen the love birds?" Collins asked us.
"Yeah we're right here, keep your beanie on" said Roger as he and Mimi walked through the loft's garage like front door. Everyone got up to hug Mimi again.
"You guys" she said laughing "I'm going to be okay. So let's pay attention to Roger or Mark."
"Speaking of Mark" Roger interjected "Has anyone seen him? Maureen weren't you two talking?"
"Uh yeah" I began only to be cut off by Mark himself.
"I'm not really hungry so you guys go ahead. I'm going out for a while to film some more homeless people. Save me some chicken, will you? I'll be back." He picked up his camera and walked out the door.
Suddenly my eyes started watering. I knew I had to leave before I broke down right in front of everyone.
"Hey guys, I'm going to call it a night okay? I need a rest after all that's happened today. See you all tomorrow." I gathered up my stuff and left.
"What's with her?" asked Mimi
"Yeah" chimed in Collins "and Mark's acting weird too. I've never known him to pass up good chicken." Everyone turned to look at Roger.
"What?" he asked innocently
"Come on Roger, you're his best friend." Joanne reasoned "you must know what's up."
"Well I do know something," he said "but you might not like it Joanne"
"What is it?"
"Okay" Roger began, "for a while now we've all kind of had someone. You know me and my Mimi" he bent to kiss her "Collins had Angel and Maureen had you Joanne, when you weren't fighting. Mark was always kind of alone. And then when I went to Santa Fe he was really alone. So one night he said he wanted to talk to me. He started talking about how lonely he was. I told him he would always have me. But he said one day I would marry Mimi and have my own life. He wanted some one to love too. Specifically one somebody if you know what I mean."
Apparently no one did because they all just stared at him
"Come on you guys, you know who I'm talking about." Roger said
Joanne Inhaled sharply and said "Maureen"
"Exactly" was the response
"Well" Collins said, breaking the silence. "I'm gonna go now. Come on Joanne, I'll escort you back to the good side of town."
So Roger and Mimi were left alone.
"Let's go to bed" Roger suggested smiling
"Okay" Mimi agreed jumping onto Roger's back. "Let's go."
"Hey" he said "you aren't sick anymore, no free rides."
"Oh" Mimi said laughing, "I intend to pay you back in there"
"Then let's go" Roger laughed carrying her into the bedroom and closing the door quickly.
Meanwhile, I was walking down the street inadvertently humming "Christmas Bells" Suddenly it began to snow. Behind me I heard someone singing softly "And it's beginning to snow."
"Hi Mark" I said
"You look cold" he said putting his coat on me