Next morning, the black oblivion of sleep dissipated as Roger awoke to the steady tempo of rain pounding lightly on the roof above him. He looked lovingly to Mimi who was still lost in sleep. Her mouth was open partly and her chest rose and fell with her deep breaths. He wanted to hold her, but he settled for running his fingers gently through her smooth black hair and covering her against the morning chill with another blanket.

He pulled himself out of bed and dressed quickly in his worn jeans and a white undershirt and walked into the kitchen. He decided he was going to make Mimi breakfast. However, he quickly remembered that he didn't have the slightest idea how to cook. Unless, that is, if heating up canned soup was considered cooking. And even that he couldn't achieve without it burning or sticking. So he settled on making coffee. He heard something behind him and turned around to see Mimi standing in the bedroom doorway, wearing nothing but Roger's large black "White Stripes" T-shirt. When she yawned and stretched out, the T-shirt rose just a little too high, giving him a little glimpse.

"Is that an invitation?" Roger teased, staring at her.

"Mmmm. Morning, babe," she grumbled, and came to him, falling into his arms. He kissed her head and smelled her hair. How did she do it? How did she always manage to smell so good?

"Whatchya doing?" She asked when they finally came apart. He held up the bag of coffee for her to see. He poured an unusually large amount of it into the coffee maker. She raised her eyebrows. "Shy not just pour water into the bag?"

"Don't think I haven't considered it."

She yawned again and flashed him that melt-your-heart smile again. That smile. That smile that could part the clouds over even the most cynical pessimists. "Whatever, stud," she murmured. "My God you are beautiful."

"Me?" He asked.

"You." She planted a big kiss on his lips and pulled her in for another. Just then, Collins emerged from his and Mark's room. "Oh, well that's a bit gorgeous, isn't it," he said, staring at them. Mark came out, too and sat next to Collins. "Sung as a bug in a rug."

"How poetic," said Mimi. She checked her watch. "Shiiiiit, I've gotta get to class." She rushed back into her room to throw on a bra and underwear, jeans, and a Pace University sweatshirt. She tied back her hair and studied herself in the mirror. "Well, look at me," she whispered to herself, "college girl." She had started only a few weeks ago for the spring semester, taking courses in the Pace Nursing Program (she only had 3 more years to go, as she'd dropped out after her first year so she could support herself). She was going to help other people with HIV. She felt right holding her books and folder with the kittens on it that Maureen had gotten for her. She just felt right. It didn't matter that she and half her friends would probably all be dead before the new millennium. All that mattered was that she was happy now. Roger came in beaming with pride for her. No words were needed. She kissed him gently and slipped out the door, grabbed some coffee, and left for class.

When she was gone, Roger sat down next to Mark and Collins and said, "I think I'm in trouble."

"Poor baby," Mark mumbled angrily. It's not that he still missed Maureen. He just missed how he'd felt when he was with her.

"You'll find love again," Collins told him. "Just give it time."

"Yeah," Roger chimed in, "you both will."

Collins shook his head. "Oh, no, no, no. Not me. I'm taking. Angel was the only gal for me." There was silence. Neither of them knew what to say. Roger suddenly felt horrible. He and Mimi had been practically flaunting their love all over the place (the couldn't help themselves!).

Collins seemed to sense what Roger was thinking and said, "No, no. Don't stop the mushy goo on my account! It only makes me happy to see you guys together."

He smiled his thanks. There was silence again, so Roger cried, "What are we? A bunch of women? Sitting around talking about our feelings…let's go out and be men!"

Mimi came home to an empty apartment around 4:00 that day. She was, of course, genuinely happy that Roger had at last given up his monkish habits of reclusion and staying indoors all the live long day, but still wished there was someone around to break the silence. Roger's CDs weren't in their usual place, so she popped in the only one she saw. She recognized the familiar tune of the violins and flutes immediately. It was The Four Seasons. Who the hell in this apartment listens to classical music? She found a note on the counter that read, "Out being a guy. Will be home around 6ish. Remember the gang's coming to hang tonight. –Roger."

She sighed, tied her sweat shirt around her waist, and settled on making dinner for everyone to pass the time. She looked through the cabinets to see what she could find—most of it was Collin's vegetarian crap—and managed to scrounge up an half empty bottle of vegetable stock, tomatoes and peppers, lentils, and beans. Enough to make a good vegetarian soup, she decided.

Suddenly, she had a flashback about the person who taught her how to cook. Angel Dumott Schunard.

It was about four years ago, when Mimi was 16 and a Girl Scout. Not because she especially wanted to know how to build a camp fire and build her own tee-pee. The closest she cared to get to the wilderness was Central Park. But if she wanted to get a scholarship to college, she need some impressive extra curricular to put her ahead of her game. Her guidance counselor, Mrs. Lovejoy, who she was sure was on some kind of perky pill, had insisted that Girl Scouts was the perfect solution. Somehow, Mimi managed to convince her best and only friend, Ruby Tedesko, to come with her. When they were walking home from a Troupe #451 Meeting, Mimi noticed another girl coming out of the Troupe #450 meeting in the uniform (a green skirt, shirt, and hat) just like hers and Ruby's. When she looked closer, she realized that this "girl" had a buzz cut and no boobs. She was a he! She couldn't help but stare and laugh a little. After all, it was kind of funny. A 16 year old boy in a Girl Scout uniform!

Mimi shoved Ruby. "Yo," she said, "Who's the drag!"

Ruby turned around and laughed. She whispered in her thing Spanish accent, "He's the Schunard kid. He lives in my building. What a freak! He's such a fag! Everybody says so!"

"Doesn't he go to our school?"

"Yeah, but he doesn't wear a freakin dress!"

It was clear that the Shunard kid heard them, but he didn't say a word as he walked home.

That night, Ruby was caught dealing drugs and was sent to Juvie. After that, when Mimi had her weekly troupe meetings every Wednesday, she could see the Schunard kid following her home, walking just a few yards behind her in silence. It was strange. If he really lived in Ruby's building, then he would have turned left when they hid 3rd Street. But instead, he just kept on walking behind her. On the third Wednesday, she suddenly stopped by an alley and turned around as she was walking home and shouted, "Yo, drag! You stalkin me or something!"

Just then, something came out from behind a trash can and pulled her into the alley. A knife flashed before her eyes and a tall boy from her school towered over her. She knew him. They called him Spider. She screamed. The terror was so real! The smacked her and told her to shut up, held the knife to her throat, and began removing her skirt.

"You don't want to do that." It was the Schunard kid.

"And why not?" Spider hissed. "Little she-male gonna beat me up?"

"No," the Schunard kid replied. "She's got HIV. If you have sex with her, you'll get it, too. And you'll die." Mimi, with tears streaming down her face, looked at him with utter confusion.

"This true, bitch?" Spider bellowed. Mimi hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. "Well, I don't want any of yo' blood on me, then, bitch! I guess I'll just have to kill the she-male instead!" He smacked her again, just for the hell of it, then stood and walked over to Schunard. He punched him in the gut.

The boy bent down in pain, but still managed to say, "You know what? Do what you want. Because I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, and more of a woman than you'll ever get." That was the last straw. Spider raised the knife. The Schunard kid stood absolutely still. Just as Spider was about the stick it into his throat, Mimi hopped to her feet and jumped onto his back, kicking and biting with full force. All of the screaming mustered up quite a bit of attention from the streets, and a man in his forties started running over to help them. Spider threw Mimi to the ground and made a run for it, the old guy on his tail.

"You okay, girlfriend?" Said the boy. Mimi nodded and started to sob. "What is it?" he asked. "You can talk to me."

She looked into his eyes, not intending on telling him anything. But the words just came out. "Everything's so screwed up!" She wailed. "My dad robbed a pharmacy and now he's in jail, my mother can't pay the rent, and my only friend in the world got arrested! My life is over!"

"There, there," The boy soothed. He pulled out a little handkerchief with a yellow and red bird hand embroidered in its corner and dabbed at her tears, then at the blood oozing out of her nose. "You know, I can't do anything about your daddy or mom, but if you want, I can be your friend."

Mimi narrowed her eyes. "I don't even know your name."

He offered her his hand and helped her stand up. "My name is Angel," he said. "What's yours?"

"Mimi. Gosh, you really are an angel. Angel, can I ask you a question?"

"Anything, dear."

"Why have you been following me?"

He laughed. "I thought by now it'd be obvious. It's because of Fredrick."

"Who?"

"Oh, everyone else calls him Spider." Mimi giggled. Fredrick. Ha! "Yeah," he continued, "he's been following you for a while and it got me worried. So I decided to follow you home, too, just in case."

Mimi couldn't help herself. She threw her arms around him. "Th…thank you, Angel. You saved my life!"

He…she laughed out loud. "Well, it's worth it, just for a great hug like this!"

She let go. "Can I ask you another question."

"You may."

"Why did you say that I've got HIV? I don't got that."

Angel hung his head. "It's the only think I knew would stop him from…raping you."

Mimi nodded. It made sense. "How'd you think of that?"

Angel shrugged. "Because I have it."

"On, no!" Mimi said. "I'm sorry!" She felt like crying again. "But…how? Aren't you only 16?"

Angel nodded. "I was born with it. Oh, don't be sad, it aint that big of a deal! Look at me, look how healthy a I am now! Today is all that matters. You'll do well to remember that. Now, dry those tears, sweetheart. I just saved your life. So I think you should make me dinner!" He took her hand. "Of course, we can do it together. Everything is best when it's with a friend."

Mimi came back to reality and sighed. It hurt to think about Angel. He had been her best friend in the entire world. And now he was gone. She looked up through the open window and up at the sky. That's where Angel was now. With the angels. She blew him a kiss. "I miss ya, girlfriend." Just then, she felt a gentle breeze stir her hair.

She smiled and went back to cooking. It was oddly soothing. She felt very grown up, chopping vegetables and listening to the classical music. Just then, the phone rang and she rushed to answer before the machine got it. After all, what talking on the phone was a grown up thing, too.

"Yo," she said.

"Hola, mi chica bonita! Es tu mama."

"Hola, Madre." Bleh.

"Que Pasa, Mimi?"

Mimi sighed. "Mama, you know I barely speak Spanish."

"Fine, whatever, Chica. So, how you been?"

"Fine."

"How's your health? Are you eating better? You know, you were so thin last time I saw you!"

Mimi paused. She still hadn't told her that she had HIV. "I'm fine, Ma. I've gained some weight. Everything's fine." Her mother said nothing, as if she were expecting more. "And I finally quit smoking." She didn't mention that half the reason she had done so was because she was on birth control.

"Oh, that's great, beautiful! I'm so proud!"

"How's daddy?"

Suddenly, her Mama's voice was very harsh. "How should I know?"

"He's your husband, Ma."

"Well, I haven't spoken to that man since he got arrested four years ago!"

"But, Ma," Mimi said cautiously, "he'll be getting out in only 3 years. Do you think you'll make up with him?"

"Let's talk about something else, okay?"

"Like…?"

"Like why you don't ever call me back! I called twice this week. Left a message with that muy bonita boyfriend of yours. Robert?"

"Roger."

"Yeah."

"Mama, I'm sorry, I didn't know—"

"Aaiii. Hold on, sweets. Someone's at the door." Mimi stirred her soup and waited. "Back. Sorry, Chica, Mrs. Bonilla is here. He husband fell down the stairs. Now he needs a hip replacement! She wants me to sit wither her at the hospital. Call me later and don't forget!

"Bye, Ma." She hung of the phone and was suddenly very angry. She continued chopping the tomatoes with a very lager kitchen knife when Roger came home alone.

"How was hanging with the guys?" Mimi said.

"Good," said Roger. He came up behind her and kissed her cheek. She tensed up and kept chopping.

"I thought you wouldn't be home for another hour."

"Yeah, band practice was cancelled. Sam is having another midlife chisis."

"Another gray hair, then?"

"Indeed." He laughed and she was silent. "Something up?

"That depends," she said, "Did anyone call for me when I was out?"

"When?"

"Whenever."

He thought for a moment. "No, no, I don't think so."

"No one?"

"No."

"Not a single call?"

"Exactly."

She turned to him, knife in hand, and looked him square in the eye. "Not even my mother?"

"Oh," he said, then "oh," again. "Shiiiiit. I'm SO sorry! I forgot."

"Mmmhmm," she muttered, clearly pissed off. "Tell me, how hard is it to write down a simple god damned message, Roger? Now my mother is all pissed because she thinks that I don't want to talk to her. And by the way, I DO want to talk to her."

"Could you perhaps put the knife down? It's making me just a tad bit uncomfortable…"

"Oh, I'll put it down. I'll put it down in your heart and cut it out and put it in this soup! Then I'll feed it to everyone when they come over in an hour after I hide your chopped up body over that god damned leaky roof!"

He waited. "Soup? Hmm, what is that, lentils? It smells good."

"Don't be cute, do not be cute!" She snapped, and held the knife high. "I want you to swear to me."

He raised his right hand. "I swear."

"Get on your God damned knees and swear to me," she yelled pointing the knife at him.

He knelt slowly on the ground and raised both his hands in mock surrender. "I swear. I swear that I will always remember to tell you when that psycho mother of yours calls."

Mimi and Roger both burst out laughing. She dropped the knife on the counter and bent down, climbed in his lap, and kissed him. "You suck," she whispered.

"I know," he sighed, "What do you want to do about it?"

"Kill you."

"Okay. Then what?"

"I dunno, what do you wanna do?" He did that sexy eyebrow thing yet again and she gave him a "yeah right" kind of look. "You," she said, "get to do the dishes after we eat while I'm catching up with everyone."

"Fair enough," he agreed, smiling. "But what about after they go home?"