This started out as a midnight writing – random flash of inspiration

And Liz decided to point out that I made a mistake, but it's arguable. Something about Bret….

And once more, I am sorry about the wait! –feels very guilty-

For a while, Mimi was fine. She was a smart girl, she knew what she had done, and she didn't quite like it. But at that point she knew that she would never do it again. It was just that one time! One time can't kill you.

Everything was fine for a few months. Angel's job plus a trickle of money from friends of Abuela's kept them alive. They sold some of the stuff they never used any more, and Mimi sometimes sang in the street and got tips. Angel took a hint from her and started drumming in her spare time. For a while, everything was great.

Then it all fell apart again.

The familiar lunch table that was formed over a year ago was alive with chatter. Gaby and Street had fallen apart, but they were still friends. Will grabbed Mimi's hand as they all stood up, ready to go collect their battered books for the next class.

"Mimi… can I talk to you?"

No

"Sure… que paso?" (what's up?)

"Mimi… when we first were going out we had all the spark and dazzle, sort of, right?"

She knew where this was going.

"Si…"

"Well, I'm not sure we have that anymore. It's been a year, Mimi. I think we've faded."

"So… we're done? Over? You just want to cast it away?"

"No, I still want to be friends with you, Mimi, but-"

"But…"

"But I can't just be with you, you understand?"

No

"Sure. Okay. I have to get to class."

The bell rang. Thank goodness.

"You have study hall."

Shit

"I'll be in the library."

-

The home situation wasn't getting any better. The helpful trickle of money from Abuela's friends dwindled then stopped, and the thrift shop wasn't paying enough. Neither of the sisters was doing well in school; they were both basic shells of people, mechanically going through the day-to-day motions.

"Pay attention, Miss Marquez!"

"Do you want detention, Shunard?"

"So nice of you to join us in the conversation, Mimi."

One day, Mimi spoke up.

"Angel-chica?"

"Si."

"I think we should go to the life support thing again"

"Chica…"

"You never know, it could help!"

"I'll go with you."

"Gracias, Angel!" (thank you, Angel) Mimi threw her arms around her sister. This would get them out of their routine… give them some life again. Without the drugs.

-

"And I see some old faces have joined us again. Welcome back, Angel. Mimi." They smiled. "Things have changed a lot since you came last year." Andy explained. He looked around at the group of faces. "Shall we introduce ourselves?"

"Miranda," was a girl with brown hair and brown eyes

"Alex." Could have been her twin brother

"Lu- Uhm. Lucy." A shy-looking whispy-haired girl said softly.

"Beth." Looked like a boy at first glance because of her haircut, but once you looked past the sandy brown hair, you could see the femininity.

"Tina" had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was sitting next to

"Liam."

"I'm Lili." A girl with red hair announced.

"Becca." A girl with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses said somewhat forcefully.

"Who would like to begin?" Andy turned to the group. Miranda twirled her hair around her finger and stood up. Mimi was surprised at how short she was. Her soft voice filled the room.

"I- well… I'm having a bit of trouble with my parents."

"How so?"

"They don't really approve of me taking art, but I love it. They forced me into taking stocks, instead."

"How?"

"I do some art at home, and they took away my paints until I agreed to take stocks… I can't live without my paints!" Miranda cried

"Have you told them that?"

"No, but they-"

"Try to make them understand you want to take art more."

"But-" she protested

"What's our motto?"

"Uhm… 'There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road no other way, no day but today.'" She recited. The phrase seemed to fill her with hope.

"Now what do you need to do?" Andy prompted.

"I need too... tell my parents that I need to take art." She sounded a lot more sure of herself.

"Very good!" Andy beamed. Above them, a bell rang.

"Clubs are over… See you next Wednesday!"

-

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Mimi asked Angel.

"No, no, no. I rather enjoyed it. That 'No Day But Today' thing is cool…"

"yo se… we should go back."

"si si si… we should."

If I mis-represented any of you, I am terribly sorry!