A/N: I'M SORRY EVERYONE! I LOVE ANGEL AS MUCH AS THE NEXT GUY/GIRL, BUT THERE IS GENIUS BEHIND MY MADNESS!
For some stupid reason, the button to insert a line ain't working. So, the italics are Mimi's POV
Mimi's Secret
Chapter 4
"SPEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAK!" There was a loud beep.
"Roger?" Mimi asked tentatively. "It's Mimi. I'm calling because, well, we just got back from the hospital, and I really need to talk. So if you could, please, just-"
"Mimi!" said Mark, picking up the phone. "What is it?"
"Mark, Angel's… she's…"
"Mimi? Are you okay?"
"Dead."
"What?"
"Angel… she died. About an hour ago. Can I talk to Roger, please?"
"Let me get him. Hold on." Mimi heard Mark calling his roommate. "He doesn't want to talk." …to you, Mark added to himself. "How's Melodie doing?"
"She doesn't quite understand, but she does know that Angel's never coming back."
"So, is she ok?"
"She'll be fine."
"Good. I worry about her sometimes."
"Oh, Mark, that's sweet."
"I can't believe it, though. How could we lose Angel?"
"I wish I knew. Her funeral's tomorrow."
"It's 11:50 PM. Do you mean tomorrow as in the thirtieth? Or as in the thirty-first?"
"As in Halloween. My clock must be fast. It says that it's a minute past midnight. Collins said that I should tell everyone. He couldn't bear it…"
"So, who do you have to call yet?"
"I called you two first, so I still have Mo and Jo and Benny…"
"Benny?"
"Collins wanted him there."
"Ok. Roger's not gonna be happy about that."
"Honestly, he needs to let go. Enough angsty Roger already."
"Nice, Meems. I'll let you get back to calling people. Bye."
"Bye, Mark. Tell Roger…" What? That she loved him? That she missed him? That she needed him? "Tell Roger I said bye, too."
"I will, Mimi. Tell Mel that I said hi."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
Mimi hung up, only to pick up the phone again to call Maureen and Joanne.
The phone rang… and rang… and rang… finally Maureen picked it up. "Hello?" she said, sounding as perky and excited as ever, even if it was almost midnight.
"Maureen, I just got back from the hospital…"
"Was Angel released? Is she better?"
There was Maureen, Mimi thought with a smile, the eternal optimist. "Not exactly, Mo."
"Then what happened?"
"Maureen… Angel didn't make it."
"Huh?"
"Maureen, Angel… she didn't get better. She… she…"
"What happened? She didn't… she couldn't've!"
"I'm sorry. She died."
"NO!" Maureen shrieked, and judging by the clatter that Mimi heard, Maureen dropped the phone.
"What?" Mimi heard Joanne say. She picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Joanne? It's Mimi."
"Hey, Meems. What's wrong?" She paused. "Is Angel all right?"
"Joanne, she died."
"She what? Sorry, Maureen is crying too loudly."
"She's dead," said both Mimi and Maureen.
Joanne gasped. "NO!"
"I know. It's horrible."
"I have to go," said Joanne, and she hung up.
Mimi called Benny next. "Hello?" said a female voice.
"Alison? It's Mimi. Can I talk to Benny, please?"
"Oh, hi, Mimi. Sure, just a sec."
"Hello, Meems. I am so not in the mood for anything right-"
"No, Benny, it's not about that. It's about Angel. She's dead."
"She's what?"
"She died. Earlier. Collins wanted you to come to the funeral. Tomorrow."
"Halloween?"
"Yes. Is that ok?"
"I'll be there. I'm so sorry, Meems." He hung up.
"It's right," said Mimi, clutching her daughter's hand, "that today's Halloween. It was Angel's favorite holiday." She glanced at Angel's picture. "I knew we'd hit it off from the moment we met. There was this skin head that was bothering her, and she said to him, 'I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, and more of a woman than you'll ever get.'" She looked at the picture again and sat back down next to Benny, not really paying attention to anyone's speeches, lost in her own memories.
"Angel, I can't do this…" I held the needle up to my arm.
"Chica, please… don't…" Angel gently grabbed the syringe out of my hand. "Think of the example you're setting for Mel."
"I'm sorry, I just… I need Roger…"
"Then go to him. He'll be glad you did. I'll watch the rascal."
"Angew!" Melodie giggled. "Dat was mean!"
"Oh, Chiquita, you know I love you."
"What's wong wiv Mommy?"
"She's sick, honey. Roger's gonna make her feel all better."
"Why can't you make youwself feew bettew? You aways did befowe!"
"That's what's making her sick."
"What? Dat stuff you aways ave?"
"Yes, that stuff is making your Mommy very sick."
"Mommy, feew bettew soon!"
"You don't mind if I go to Roger?" I was shocked.
"No! Cuz den I get to stay wiv Angew!"
"Oh, thanks. You like Angel more than me."
"No! Weww, awmost…"
"She's just being the way little kids are."
I glared playfully at Melodie before I left.
--------------------------------------------------!---------------------------------------------------
I sobbed into my friend's shoulder. "He was so disappointed… I can't stand this, Angel."
"Mimi, Chica, I promise he'll forgive you. If he never does, move on. Plenty of men would kill to date a girl like you."
"Even with Mel?"
"Yes, I promise."
"I guess you're right." I sniffed. "Oh, Angel, what would I ever do without you?"
Mimi blinked back her tears. Collins sat down.
When the funeral ended, Benny whispered to Mimi, "Roger sold his guitar. He used the money to buy a car."
She stared at him. "What?"
"You heard me."
Mimi ran over to Roger, hoping and praying that Benny was wrong. "Is it true you sold your guitar and bought a car?"
Roger turned to her. "It's true. I'm leaving now for Santa Fe. It's true you're with this yuppie scum?" He glared at Benny.
"Alright," said Saran VD, "everyone knows how this song goes, so I'm cutting to, 'Hello, disease.'"
Melodie walked over to her mother and climbed onto her lap. Mimi pulled her close.
"Oh, Chiquita," Mimi said, more to herself than to her daughter, "for once, I am glad that I waited until after you were born to start using. I am so thankful that you don't have to suffer the pain of AIDS."
Melodie didn't really understand, but she hugged her mom tight.
The two sat like that in the windowsill for a very long time.