Chapter 2
Roger prepared for another day of sitting around the loft doing nothing by getting himself some breakfast. Or really lunch, since it was after noon. He found some bread that was only slightly stale and some ham that didn't smell bad and was making a sandwich when the front door slid open and Maureen came bouncing in.
"Hey Roger." she said as she plopped herself down on the couch.
"Hello Maureen." Roger responded sitting on the counter and eating his sandwich. "What's up?"
"I was thinking of going to the Life and terrorizing the new waiter. Wanna come?" she said with a hopeful smile.
"Not particularly." Roger replied.
"Oh come on Roger. You can't mope around here forever." Maureen insisted. "You have to get out sometime."
"I will get out. Just not right now okay. I have to think about some things and I need some time alone."
Maureen sighed heavily. "Fine. But I'm not giving up on you Roger Davis. You will leave this loft eventually."
Roger laughed at that. "I know I will Maureen, and it will be no doubt due to your forceful hen-pecking that I will."
Maureen stuck her tongue out at him and left. Once Roger was alone again he started thinking about Mimi. He had promised her that he wouldn't shut his friends out. Was he really keeping that promise?
"I'm trying Mimi. It's just hard to face life without you beside me." he whispered. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Roger rolled his eyes. It had to be one of his friends trying to convince him to leave the house. But since when did they knock?
He walked over to the door and slid it open. It wasn't one of the gang. It was a young girl with long black hair and eyes as green as Roger's though flecked with gold. She wore glasses and had on jeans and a T-shirt.
"Hi." she said politely. "My name is Regina Parker and I just moved in across the hall. It seems that there's no power in my loft and I was wondering if you had the landlord's number so I could call him."
"Sure." Roger said. "Me and the landlord go way back. Come on in." he moved aside so that she could come in. "I'm Roger Davis by the way." he added.
He went over and picked up the phone and dialed Benny's number. It was answered by Alison.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hey Alison, it's Roger."
"Oh hello Roger." Alison said back. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine. Is Benny around?" Roger hated when people asked him how he was holding up. So he tried to change the subject quickly.
"Yes, I'll get him for you." Alison told him. A few seconds later Benny got on the phone and Roger explained the problem. Benny promised to get on it as soon as possible.
"Well," Roger said to Regina, "He said he'd get on it soon. But knowing Benny, that could be a while. So I guess you can hang out here if you want." he offered.
"Oh thanks." Regina accepted with a smile. "I don't know anybody here yet and I was kind of worried because this isn't the best part of town."
"You can say that again." Roger agreed. "But not every one is a crazy as those people out there. I'm not anyway."
"Yeah you seem like a nice guy." said Regina.
"So Regina what brings you to Alphabet City?" Roger wanted to know. "Business or pleasure?"
"Actually it's more like lack of anywhere else to stay." Regina said. "Oh and you can call me Reggie. I hate my whole name. See I'm eighteen and my parents want me to go to college and get a degree in accounting or something. But I want something else out of life. I mean yeah I'm smart and everything, but I consider myself an artist. That's why I came here to the East Village. It always seemed like Bohemia to me. But I could only afford to live in this building."
"Wow you sound just like my best friend Mark. He was always so smart but he hated college life and ended up coming here to live with me." Roger said.
"So you've been here a while?" Reggie asked.
"Oh yeah. It's been about five years now. Anyway what kind of art are you in to?"
"I like to write and I want to learn to play the guitar but I haven't had much luck there." she responded.
"Well it just so happens that Roger here is an excellent guitar player. Not much of a teacher though." said a voice from the door.
Roger rolled his eyes. "Knock much Maureen?" he asked her.
"Nobody bothers to knock on this door Rog. It's never locked." Maureen informed him. "Who's your friend?"
"Maureen, this is Reggie Parker. She just moved in across the hall. Reggie, this is my friend Maureen Johnson." Roger said making introductions.
"It's nice to meet you Reggie." Maureen said. "Welcome to Bohemia, you'll love it here."
"Thanks Maureen. I'm sure I will."
