A/N: Okay, I would just like to make sure that everyone understands that Collins DID NOT die in the last chapter. He just accepted the fact that he is dying. Collins is still alive, even though he does not make an appearance in this chapter. Just wanted to clear that up! It's opening weekend for my show, so I'll be a little busy, but I'll update when I can. Thanks for your feedback!
Chapter Fourteen: Book of Endings
But Jason never got his chance to tell Becky the truth before everything took a turn for the worse.
The next morning, the group all went out grocery shopping with Maureen, who was paying for their food for the week. With Joanne gone, there was no car, so they had to walk to the store and back. Things had been much harder without Joanne's car, Joanne's money and Joanne's common sense to back the group. They had just used what little money remained to buy their groceries, and had promised to try and save the food so it would last.
The group returned from shopping to find a giant bull dozer and several Cyberland trucks in the East Village, marking off spots and buildings that were to be destroyed.
"Excuse me, sir? What do you think you're doing?"Maureen demanded, marching right up to the group of workers.
"We're getting ready to clear this area out next week,"one man replied.
"Clear it out? You mean destroy it?"Maureen demanded.
"Yup. The whole thing's coming down,"the man said casually.
"That's impossible. We live here, and we haven't received any notice of this..."Mark began.
"We just got here today. They're sending out eviction notices to all of the tenants now. You need to be out of here by Saturday. That's when they're blocking off the building,"the man explained.
"And what if we refuse to leave?"Roger growled.
"Then you're going down with the building,"the man answered.
"This is ridiculous! They can't do this!"Maureen shrieked.
"Oh man..."Jason groaned.
"I wonder if dad knows,"Aaron wondered aloud.
"We're not letting this happen! Mark my words, my protest is going to put an end to this mindless destruction!"Maureen declared.
"Yeah, good luck to ya lady,"the man snorted, returning to his work.
"Maureen, relax. We'll call Benny,"Mark insisted.
"What's he going to do?"Maureen snapped.
"He can help,"Mark assured her. "Come on, let's get inside and tell Collins the news, then we can give Benny and Joanne a call and get things figured out."
"My protest is happening on Friday, no matter what,"Maureen persisted.
"Fine. But let's make an honest effort here,"Mark said.
"This is bull shit,"Roger grumbled.
"We won't lose our home. Benny won't let them take it,"Mark assured him, as they walked into their home, all afraid that their beloved loft would soon become beloved memories.
Over the next week, Maureen, Roxie and Becky were constantly gone.
Maureen was out day and night working on her protest, hardly spending any time to talk to her friends, never mind her own daughter.
Roxie herself was constantly at ballet, or at Lindsay's...anywhere but home it seemed. She avoided almost all contact with any of her bohemian family, angry that Sam had left and that her mother was ignoring her.
Becky was always visiting the Harrisons, spending almost full days with them, going late into the night, having to be dragged home by Jason and Aaron. Apparently, the baby was not doing well at all, and Becky was a wreck.
Jason wanted to tell Becky the truth. He needed to tell her how he really felt...but she was never home. She was constantly with the Harrisons. She hadn't even spent any time on her music in days. Every time Jason had the courage to talk to her, she was gone.
Collins was not holding out very well. As the days got colder, he only got weaker. Mark and Roger were under a considerable amount of stress, always fighting and yelling. It was a very rough week, one of the hardest the group had ever had to live through.
Friday was Maureen's protest. This protest could either save their homes, or destroy them. Their fate relied on Maureen's audience.
"Aaron, are all the lights set up?"Maureen asked. She was dressed and ready for her protest, though she looked nervous. Aaron was running the lights for her.
"All set, Aunt Mo,"Aaron assured her.
"Okay. Good,"Maureen said, holding her hands together nervously. Jason, who was there to film, noticed this.
"Hey, you okay Aunt Maureen?"he asked. Maureen forced a grin.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm just a little nervous I guess. I mean, I haven't done this in a while...is Roxie here?"she craned her neck, looking around the room as it filled up. Jason glanced around too.
"Uh, I don't see her yet. But she'll be here,"he assured her. Maureen nodded.
"Right...right of course she will. She'll be here to support me,"she said, as if convincing herself. Then Mark and Becky entered.
"Hey guys!"Mark greeted with a wave. "Maureen, shouldn't you be warming up or something?"Maureen nodded, as if snapping out of a trance.
"Right! Right, yeah."She let out a deep breath. "It's going to be hard without Joanne here...Roxie's coming, right Becky?"Becky nodded.
"Yeah, she was over Lindsay's, but she said she was coming right here afterwards,"she explained. Maureen let out a deep breath.
"She'll be here...okay..."she said, more to herself than to the group.
A few minutes later, little Emily Harrison came bursting through the doors frantically, tears in her eyes, red cheeks, panting heavily.
"Becky!"she screamed, rushing over to Becky quickly. Becky turned, a concerned look immediately on her face.
"Emily, what's wrong?"she asked, kneeling down to the girl's height, holding her face and wiping the tears away.
"It's Sarah! She's really sick! Mommy is crying, it's really scary! She said to get you, she said we need help!"Emily explained hysterically.
"Oh my God...don't worry Emily, I'm coming,"Becky assured her. Becky looked around quickly. Jason was the only one in sight. She grabbed his arm.
"Jason, I have to go,"she stated. Jason saw the sobbing girl, and Becky's stern expression.
"Becky, what's going on?"he asked.
"I don't have time to explain. Tell dad and Roger and everyone that it's an emergency,"she explained.
"What's happening?"Jason asked nervously.
"I need to go,"was all Becky replied. And she and the little girl dashed out the door quickly. Jason watched them go, shocked and scared. What was happening?
Suddenly shouts were heard outside. Everyone looked around, frowning. A homeless man from a nearby tent city came running into the lot.
"Hey! They're kickin' people outta the buildings on Avenue B!"he called out frantically. Everyone's jaws dropped.
"What? What do you mean?"Roger demanded.
"The workers, the guys with the trucks! They're kickin' people out, they're boardin' doors and windows!"the man shouted. "They're ransackin' yer home!"
"Oh God...no! No, this wasn't supposed to happen until tomorrow!"Maureen screamed.
"Oh no...dad!"Aaron gasped suddenly. "The building is going to be boarded off soon, we have to get dad!"
"I wouldn't go over there, they're pushin' people away, shovin' people out! It's gettin' pretty violent, I wouldn't go--"the man insisted.
"We have to go,"Roger declared.
"Maureen and I will stay here. You guys go ahead,"Mark said. Roger and Aaron darted from the lot quickly, as Mark held back the furious Maureen. Jason shut his camera off, looking around the empty lot. He had to help his father and Aaron. That was all he could do.
Roger, Aaron and Jason managed to carry the extremely weak Collins from the building, the doors practically being blocked off as they exited.
"I can't believe this..."Roger growled, watching the workers as they slammed ply wood across the door. "Fucking ridiculous."
"I'm guessing Maureen's show didn't go over quite as she expected?"Collins asked. The others all stopped, exchanging glances.
"Not...exactly,"Aaron replied. "Dad, how are you feeling?"
"Tired...very tired..."Collins sighed weakly. Aaron and Roger had to hold him up, he couldn't stand.
"Oh God...we need to get him somewhere else,"Roger insisted. "There must be someplace in the tent city..."
"They're clearing that out tomorrow,"Jason pointed out. "We should take him to Aunt Maureen's."
"We'll need to get a cab,"Roger said, nodding. "Dammit, my cell phone's inside..."
"Roger, don't bother..."Collins muttered.
"Don't say that!"Roger snapped, though lightly. "We are going to bother!"Suddenly Mark came walking around the corner, looking very distraught. He stopped when he spotted Collins, and the padlocked doors.
"Fuck..."he groaned, running over to Collins's side.
"Yeah,"Roger sighed. "Where's Maureen?"
"I took her home, she was a mess,"Mark replied. "Has anyone seen Becky?"
"She had to go help the Harrisons. She wouldn't tell me what was wrong, but she said it was an emergency,"Jason replied. Mark frowned.
"An emergency?"he repeated. "Oh God...I hope she's-"Suddenly Collins began wheezing and coughing horribly.
"I...I need to get somewhere where I can rest,"he said. The group all nodded silently. Roger and Aaron motioned for the others to follow as they lead Collins off to a nearby tent city.