Hey. I am not sure who I am dedicating this story to, but I know one of the people I am going to dedicate it to is...

CASY! My like best friend ever! She is so supportive and loves all my stories. So yea. Congrats Casy this story is partially dedicated to you.

Read & Review!

Never Changed

Mimi crawled into bed with Roger. She reached down and checked his heart. It was still beating.

Roger had been knocked out for the past five days. Every day Mimi would sit next to him, just waiting for him to wake up. She checked his heart constantly. She hadn't eaten since Roger fell, nor had she gone to work. Her constant pleas of getting a doctor for him had gone unanswered. It was too expensive and no doctor would come to Bohemia for an x-druggie. Mimi sighed and fell asleep.

"Mimi," said a soft voice.

"Once more minute," she moaned. She curled up deeper in the covers. She felt Roger's arm around her waist.

"Roger," she whispered, smiling. Her eyes suddenly popped open.

"ROGER!" she yelled. She turned and saw him, laying down and weakly grinning at her.

She dove on him and showered him with kisses. She sat back.

"Baby," she cried. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," he asked. "Why?"

"Do you even remember falling?" she asked.

"I remember carrying in the wardrobe," he said slowly.

"Then you fell and hit your head," she said. "You have been out for the last five days."

"That's right!" he gasped. "Benny pushed the furniture over on me!"

"What?" Mimi asked, shocked.

"I know it! It's true," he said, sitting up.

Mimi saw blood on the pillow.

"Roger," she gasped. "Lay down. Your bandage is leaking. I will go get Collins."

Mimi rushed out of the room and ran downstairs. She knocked on the door and almost instantly it was opened.

"Mimi," Collins gasped. "I haven't seen you in five days. How is Roger? Every time I knock on the door, no one answers. Is he still unconscious?"

Mimi smiled. "He just woke up, but that isn't why I am here. Can you re-wrap his bandage?"

Collins nodded and they headed upstairs. Roger was resistant at first. He hated getting help, but then he saw the look of concern on Mimi's face and he agreed to Collins helping him.

After Collins left for work, Roger sighed.

Mimi just sat there and smiled at Roger.

"What?" he asked.

"I am just so happy you are awake," she said. "I really thought you weren't going to make it in the beginning. There was so much blood on the porch. It happened so quickly and-"

"Have you been eating?" Roger asked suddenly.

"Sort of," she said. "I was just so stressed that you were unconscious and-"

"Mimi Marquez," he sighed. "You need to eat."

"Okay father," she laughed. Roger gave her a look that meant business

There was a knock on the door and before anyone could answer, Maureen and Mark burst in.

"ROGER," Maureen cried. "HOW ARE YOU?"

"Roger Davis," said Mark, holding his camera. "He's back from the near-death disaster that caused a Miss Mimi Marquez to stop eating food for the last five days."

Mark, for once put down the camera and went to hug his best friend.

"Hi guys," Roger laughed.

"I wouldn't be talking much," she cried. "You haven't eaten much either!" She poked his stomach and laughed.

Mark blushed. "I am on my way to film a day in the life of Maureen," he rolled his eyes, but Maureen didn't notice, because she was too busy making her way to the door.

"She actually thinks Buzzline will buy this footage," he laughed. The couple made their way outside.

Mimi turned and gave Roger a big kiss.

He smiled. "Maybe I should fall on my head more often."

"If you ever do that again," she said. "I will kick your ass. Besides that was just a New Year's Eve kiss."

"What is today's date?" he asked.

"January 2," she laughed. Roger's face dropped. "Yea, I know, you missed New Year's."

"What did you guys do for the New Year?" Roger asked, feeling guilty he missed what might be Mimi's last New Year.

"Nothing much," she said. "For the countdown, I went up and hung out with Maureen, Mark, Collins, and Maya. Most of the night I was in here, talking to you."

"What did you say?" he asked.

"I was talking to you," she laughed mysteriously. "You should know."

"That isn't fair," he sighed. "I wasn't conscious."

Mimi laughed.

"Where is Maya?" he asked. "I haven't seen her yet."

"I actually have not seen her in a while. She has been out a lot lately."

Roger nodded.

"I have to go to work babe," Mimi said, looking at the clock. "It is my last week."

"Have fun," he sighed. "I will be here."

"Don't move," she added, kissing him on the forehead. She slowly closed the door and started walking. The halls were dark and the cold air hit her face as she made her way outside. She pulled her coat closer around her.

"Mimi," called a familiar voice.

Mimi turned down the alley, to find Gordon pulling her by the hand, farther down to an unknown area.

"Where are we going," she said. She pulled back on his lose grip, but the moment she did, he tightened his hand around her small one.

"Your boyfriend never went through with my letter," he said.

"Your letter? What letter?" Mimi asked, pulling back away from him.

"Don't make this difficult Mimi," he yanked on her arm, sending her to the ground. "Now listen. Roger is the reason you are off drugs. Mimi, you were my best customer and a long time ago I warned Roger Davis that if he stole you then I would kill him. I follow through with promises. Now I am going to give you all another week, because I know how he fell, but after that, I better have a client or else he is done."

"Gordon," Mimi said. "No."

Gordon walked away and left Mimi, who just kept saying, "no."

o o o o o

Roger was lying in bed. He began to get bored, so he got up and went to find his guitar. He reached inside of it and pulled out a blood covered note.

"April," he whispered. "Why did you mess up my life the way you did." He put the note back and then pulled out a picture of Mimi. She was smiling and so full of life. She was leaning against the wall outside her studio. Her hair was covered in snow and she looked so elegant.

Mimi burst through the door suddenly. Roger shoved the picture into the hollow part in his guitar and turned around.

"Where is it?" Mimi asked.

"What?" he asked.

"The note from Gordon! Where is it?" she cried. Before Roger could answer, she collapsed on the ground. "I saw him in the alley. He basically said that if he doesn't get a new drug client, then he will kill you."

Roger blinked. "Mimi, don't do drugs again. I would rather die."

"Don't say that," she said. She hugged Roger. "What are we going to do?"

"Avoid him," Roger said. "Avoid him under all costs. He can't do anything here, we out-number him. He is only strong in his alley."

Mimi nodded and put her hand on his head. She felt sticky, warm blood in between her fingers.

"Oh my god, Roger," she cried. "We need to get you stitches." Mimi grabbed her coat and went to get Collins. Roger just sat there.

"Never a dull moment," he sighed.

o o o o o

"Maya Isabel Maria Angela Gomez de Collins?" asked the dance instructor.

"Here," Maya said. The other girls in the class stared at her.

"What should I call you?" the instructor asked irritably.

"Maya," Maya whispered embarrassed at how long her name was. She wished she hadn't written her whole name down on the paper.

Maya stood in a line on the stage. She was about to try out for a dancing job. The other girls around her were much older, but she felt very confident.

"Nikole Gerhard," the director said. A blonde haired, skinny girl raised her hand.

"Where have I heard that name before?" Maya thought. Then it hit her.

"April," she said out loud.

The other girls turned to look at her.

"Is my favorite month," Maya added quickly, blushing.

April's last name was Gerhard. After attendance, the instructor's cell phone rang and he had to leave the room. Some of the girl's began to wander around.

"Hi," Maya said, walking up to Nikole. "You probably don't know me, but-"

"You're Maya," she said. "I take classes with your dad, Tom Collins. He tutors me. I've heard of you. I go to NYU Prep"

"Oh," she said. "Well, I couldn't' help notice that you had the same last name as a friend of mine's old girlfriend. Are you related to April?"

"I had a cousin named April," she said slowly. "But she committed suicide about 4 years ago. Did you know her?"

"Not personally," she said. "So you know my dad?"

"Yea," Nikole turned and looked at her. "Are you a dancer?"

"Hopefully," she said. "I haven't really danced before. How old are you?"

"15," she said. "You?"

"14," Maya said.

"Well me and a few friends are going to have a hit after this if you want to come," she said. Maya gave her a look. "If you don't have enough money, I will pay for yours. I am sure you can pay me back another time."

"A hit?" Maya asked.

"Smack," Nikole said matter-of-factly.

"Oh," Maya said. "I have to be home, but-"

She stopped. Nikole seemed so nice and if she wanted to be accepted in the dance group, she should make alliances.

"Sure," Maya laughed. "I can be home a little late."

"Excellent," Nikole smiled.

o o o o o

Roger ended up getting 21 stitches. The rest of the day, he spent lying down on the bed. Mimi went back and forth from the loft and her room. Roger noticed how nervous she was acting and he couldn't understand it.

"Maybe it is about the whole Gordon thing," he said out loud, before closing his eyes.

Mimi walked in a few minutes later, to find Roger asleep. She smiled at him and went to sit on the window. Suddenly, she remembered walking down the street with Roger, when they saw Benny. She remembered Benny saying "call me Mimi," before he drove away.

"Call him" Roger had said, "Tonight." Mimi never had called him. She had seen him a few times since then, but she never asked him what it was he wanted to talk about. She figured it would be easier to call him when Roger was asleep, so she quietly made her way up to the loft to call Benjamin Coffin III.

"Hello," said a woman's voice on the other end.

Out of pure shock, Mimi blurted out, "Muffy?"

"Who?" the lady asked angrily.

"Is Benny there?" she finally asked.

"Hello?" said Benny's voice.

"Benny," Mimi whispered. "A while ago I saw you and you told me to call you."

"Oh yeah," Benny sighed. After a long pause he said, "Do you know 'The Man'?"

"Yes," Mimi said furiously.

"Allison's father knows him very well. He was talking to Allison's father last week and said business was rough. Allison's father gets 10 of his income, because back a few years ago, Gordon helped the Gray family, because they are related. And it's a long story, but yeah…. Gordon is 'The Man's' name."

"I know Benny, what is your point?" Mimi asked angrily.

"Allison's father, Dale, told Gordon to do whatever it takes to get clients back. Gordon said that there was this one guy who took away his best client. He said he lost interest and liking for this fellow and wanted to 'eliminate' him. Dale told him to do whatever it takes."

"Who is this guy?" Mimi asked.

"Gordon doesn't want to kill him right away. He wants to give him a warning shot, but time is running out and he is growing impatient. He has his men keeping an eye on this guy."

"Who is the guy?" Mimi yelled.

Benny began to ramble on. "I normally wouldn't tell you this whole situation, but I feel you should know. I mean I am not the fondest of him, but I do care. I will always care. They think I have changed. They all think I have changed. I haven't changed. I never changed. I just grew up and left that old bohemian life. I-"

Mimi began to sob. "BENNY WHO IS THE GUY?"