Sorry this took so long! A lot of stuff has been going on, and it was somewhat hard to write this chapter. Anyway, I hope you guys like it! Disclaimer: we don't own RENT.
"Ever played big liar?" Anne asked. We had finally all sat down to talk, thus becoming increasingly bored with our company.
"What is it?" Maureen asked, holding onto my wrist to keep me from rubbing my very dry eyes and smudging my eyeliner.
"It's a drinking game," Everyone groaned but Anne continued, "You tell two stories, one true and one false, then everyone guesses. Whoever guesses wrong has to drink a penalty sip of beer."
"Me first!" called Maureen sitting up so she could see everyone's face. "So, story number one. One night I was walking through the ally to get home to my Pookie!" she pinched my cheek when she said this, than went back to her story. "And then all of a sudden a little boy came out of the shadows and said to me 'there's something wrong!' and with that he left. So I ignored it. As I made my way toward Marky-poo's apartment, I found the poor little guy beaten and left for dead on the street corner! Thankfully I found the guy and beat 'em into a bloody pulp."
I blushed, remembering the last bit. That was probably the most embarrassingly great time I had while dating Maureen.
"Story two: I met Joanne at a strip club."
We all looked at Joanne who looked at Maureen in utter confusion.
"Well, you were drunk, so you wouldn't remember! Anne you guess first since you were the one who brought up this game"
Anne smiled taking her unopened bottle of beer off the table and cupping her hands around it. "Judging by Joanne's expression, and the fact that Mark blushed after the first one. I have to say the first story is true."
Each person stated their 'answer'. Anne, Joanne, Roger and I thought the first one was true. Mimi and Collins thought the second was the true one.
"So," I asked, "Which is the true one?"
"The first one." Maureen said simply.
As each person took their penalty drink, Morgan came and sat down on my lap. "Can I play?" she asked hopefully.
"No." I said, shooting down her request.
"Why not?"
"Because you're too young to drink beer."
"I could have penalty coffee."
"And then I'd have to deal with you bouncing off the walls all night."
"Penalty juice?"
I sighed. "Okay," I said reluctantly.
"Alright Morgan," Maureen said, "You go next."
"Okay…" she started, "Story one. When I was about twelve years old, I told Mark that mom and dad were letting me come visit (even though they weren't because they were still mad at him for leaving me alone in the park). So while they went out of town, I stole their car, drove to New York and spent a few days with Mark. I left so abruptly because the neighbors realized the car was gone and called the cops, so I drove back. No one ever caught me in the act. Story two. When I was in second grade a kid called me stupid, so I beat him up and got suspended for a week."
Roger, Collins, Maureen and Mimi thought story one was true. Joanne, Anne and I thought the second story was the real one. Needless to say, I still hadn't had one sip of penalty beer all night.
Next it was Joanne's turn. "Story one. I decided to become a lawyer when I was six. I'd managed to convince my teacher to let us have five more minutes of coloring time…just by using my words. Since then, I liked the power of being able to change peoples' minds and help others. Story two. My first job was at Hooter's."
Everyone chose story one, and everyone had a sip of penalty beer (except Morgan, of course, who had penalty juice).
"Are you serious?" Collins asked, slurring his words ever so slightly.
Joanne blushed. "Yes," she whispered, "Anyway Collins, it's your turn."
"Alright. Story one. The real reason I spend months and months away from here is because I have a secret family living near the university. Two kids, a dog, a pool, the whole shebang. Story two. I have the hots for Mark in his sexy little Goth outfit."
I blushed and everyone laughed. I felt the beer burn my throat as I took a sip. Too bad Collins didn't have a secret family.
"All right" I said, trying my hardest not to reach up and rub all the eyeliner off my eyelids, "So, when I was little I used to have nightmares about living in this part of New York. I'd wake up promising myself that id never move here. Eh… I was never really all that good at keeping the promises I made to my self." Everyone laughed. I shrugged and started my second story. "And uh… Oh I know! I started masturbating in the womb."
Everyone laughed as Morgan just looked at me, jaw hanging and green eyes held wide in shock, obviously wishing she had a different brother. I just smiled and shrugged again. It took a while for everyone to stop making smart-ass comments about my second story. Everyone but Anne guessed the second story was true (everyone including Morgan, surprisingly). And everyone but Anne had to drink.
We all looked at Anne; obviously everyone was thinking the same thing as me. Since she was an artist, we were all expecting some extravagant story.
"Me?" she asked, looking into all the eyes focused on her, She blushed and started. Well… When I was sixteen I met a really sweet boy named Daniel Dumott Schunard. We were best friends and he helped me out of a slight phase and I became the little social butterfly that I am now! But something happened and we stopped talking."
"You knew Angel?" Collins asked staring wide-eyed at the young brunette.
"Well, if I answered than there would be no point to me telling you that would there?" She took a deep breath and started my second story. "When I was young, about nine, I had to watch my parents die slowly when a thief came in our home and tried to kidnap me and make me into a whore. It was really quite gruesome."
It was quiet, Anne screwed up her face in what seemed like half a smile, but she hid her face in her hands and chocked out a muffled "Go on! Guess!"
Nothing.
Anne lifted her head and gave us all a "you're SO pathetic" look.
"Ok, Ok" she said, trying to keep from laughing, "The first ones true! My parents are still alive… somewhere."
"You have one twisted scene of humor." Joanne said, smiling as Anne giggled.
"That's just me!" She giggled, "And if you have seen this side of me, you know I like you."
As the night passed on, we learned that Roger used to play classical music…until someone double dared him that he couldn't play rock. Boy were they wrong! We also found out that Mimi seriously considered becoming a nun.
Soon enough, it was well past midnight and everyone was ready to go home. "Great party!" Collins said, disappearing out the door to go who-knows-where.
Everyone left, except Roger, Morgan, Anne and me. "Hey Roger," Morgan said, "Why don't we go check on Mimi."
Roger nodded his head and followed her out the door. As soon as they were gone, both Anne and I collapsed on the couch exhausted. "That is the last time I let Morgan have any party of any kind under this roof," I grumbled.
"Don't be so hard," Anne said, "You had fun. Admit it."
"Alright. I admit it."
I looked out the window silently. The full moon was casting shadows around the room. I looked at Anne, who seemed to be captivated by it. Its resonating light made her seem to glow, with her wings and makeup she really did look like an angel. "Beautiful…" I whispered, although I wasn't speaking only about the moon.
"Yeah." Anne whispered, still looking out the window
She turned to me and we seemed to become lost in each other's eyes. Without thinking I slipped my hand around hers. Her ice-cold hands felt nice on my heated palm. My heart quickened as she looked down to see what I had done but when she looked back at me, she seemed to have a whole other emotion in her eyes. I wasn't made to make the first move, but someone had to do it. I grazed the side of her face with my hand, slowly leaning in toward her like I had seen them do in all those sappy movies Maureen made me watch. I tried to make this the most romantic as I could, although, a broken couch with beer bottles strewn about isn't really the best example of romantic. I closed my eyes and waited… A sound from behind the door made me snap back to reality and look at the door
"Aw-" and then a muffled whine.
I sighed, got up and opened the door. Roger and Morgan fell forward and landed in a heap at my feet. "Were you watching us?" I asked suspiciously.
Morgan started nodding her head 'yes' vigorously, but Roger put his hand on her head to make her stop. "No." he said innocently, wiping what appeared to be spit off his hand. He must have put his hand over Morgan's mouth, which created that whine.
I rolled my eyes and Anne approached me. "I didn't realize how late it was. I have to go." She said and then exited the loft.
To be continued…