18 years before the Prologue
8 months after RENT ends
"Mark!"
"Mark!"
Roger yells at me.
"What?"
He looks at me and prepares to say something, then he stops and changes his mind, "Don't forget some cereal..."he finishes lamely before turning back to the guitar in his hands.
I sigh, "Roger? What?"
He doesn't answer.
"Alright, I'm going."
Once I shut the loft door I can hear him sadly playing her song. Again.
I know that's what he really wanted to talk about, not about damn cereal, it was Mimi. But, I'm almost glad that he didn't, what am I supposed to tell him? I'm just as clueless.
They had one week, then she decided to get out of town to get clean...said she'd be back in a couple of months...
Yet, zoom in on the August sky...
I get to the Food Emporium and pickup the minimal required to survive, which conveniently fits into one bag, and head back.
I used to wish that he would just talk to me straight, I mean, what are friends for? But that has never been Roger's way. At least he doesn't store it all inside him; he's got that damn guitar. Everything he needs to say goes right into the music, but that doesn't mean he lets anyone know what it's about.
As I get closer to the building I can see a familiar Range Rover sitting out front. What's he doing here?
Then I see her get out, and then pull out her cargo. That can't be Mimi. No, she wouldn't have done that...not with him...she wouldn't do that with Roger. She enters the building, hmm...must still have her key.
I approach the car..."Wanting the rent?" I ask trying to sound cold.
He shakes his head, "No more rent, Mark, not anymore. If they're staying, you'll need all the money you can get. Just make sure he listens to her, okay?"
I nod, I think I nod, turn and enter the building.
I can see her slowly taking the steps and even though she's only a flight ahead of me, she doesn't see me.
I wait back as she knocks on the loft door...God, I feel like I'm spying on her.
She knocks and he doesn't answer. He won't answer; I'm not there to do it for him.
"Open the door, Roger."
That does it, he opens the door. She leaves the hallway, carrying the carrier with her.
There's a pause and then,
"You're running again."
I can't hear him.
But I can hear Mimi, its hard not to.
"Is she his? Does she look him, Roger?"
There is some talking that I can't hear.
"Then why the hell didn't you tell me?"
He found his voice.
I feel bad just standing here listening, but if something goes wrong...
"...I thought...after all the shit I did...I didn't...the doctor didn't think she would make it...and I didn't want to get your hopes up...when she was born...she was in intensive care for five months..."
"Does she have...?"
"They won't know until she's eighteen months at least."
Then it went by in another mumble of talk and I could only hear bits of it towards the end.
Would she stay?
If he wanted.
Could he watch the baby while she went down stairs to get her stuff?
Yes.
Mimi comes out, sees me and adverts her eyes. As she passes I reach out, stop her, and gently bring her into a hug.
"Welcome back."
"Thanks Mark."
I cautiously enter the door, but I doubt he notices. He is back in position on the table with the carrier beside him. He looks like he was trying to think, but in the middle of it got lost...confused.
I bring my camera up to shoot, and I get in some film of him sitting there.
"She says she still loves me." He says and then,
"He paid for it."
For once he's talking to me. I find myself surprised to hear not anger, but regret. Regret that he didn't know and that even if he had known, there was nothing he really could have done to pay for it all.
The baby starts to squirm.
He begins to reach for her, but stops, scared.
"She's so small."
Mimi reenters the loft with her stuff.
She attempts to smile, but she seems to lost some of that energy she had when Roger first met her. She looks liking she's treading on glass.
The baby begins to wail, but before Mimi has a chance to make it over, Roger just reaches in forgetting his fear.
"Shh, Shh..."
He looks to Mimi.
"Lily."
"Shh, Lily."
He gives Mimi a small smile, and the two of them seem to forget that I'm also in the room.
I watch them, just standing there for a few moments. This is just the start for them again. I guess this is just a new start for all of us.
Author's Notes:
We are now done with the second chapter/ Ch1 which traditionally have always been my worst chapter to write. If there are major flaws I will rewrite it...just be nice when you tell me, please.
To clarify some things.
1) We have now gone back in time to shortly after RENT ends and will work our way into a full circle ending again at the same time as the Prologue.
2) Mimi was five months pregnant when she nearly dies...carrying Lily made her weaker, but Mimi didn't really know until shortly before. Because of the drugs, Mimi didn't think Lily would make it, therefore not telling Roger when she went off to get clean. Lily was born after only seven months in the womb and had to spend 5 months in neonatal intensive care unit, with everyone thinking she would die.
3) We'll find out more about how Benny got back involved in later chapters...as much I want to I can't give everything away in one chapter...
As to my knowledge on HIV/ AIDS in babies and children...I'm learning...I have been doing research so that I get my stuff right...the only problem is when I find sources that contradict each other over some of the smaller details...so what comes out here will be as accurate as the sources which I find...if you feel I'm not accurately portraying it, please nicely inform me and will take it into consideration.
I would like to thank:
BwayDiva: My first reviewer..again. Def. as it goes on...I was kinda going for that too.
Harper's Pixie: Yep, Thanks.
Fortinbras: And it's not done yet.
L.M.Ward: Any questions, just let me know...well, it's not so far in the future now for awhile
HarryPotterFan: Thanks
carsonsheir: Hopefully it won't...it might turn out like Maybe We'll All See...with a little of both thanks...
until next time, this is me...signing out.