1Chapter 1
Knock, knock Mark awoke to the sound of rapping steel.
"What .. the .. fuck ..?" He said groggily, and fumbled with his glasses. Something was knocking at the door, and if it was a person, they were going to become very unlucky as soon as Mark got up. Since the snores from Roger's direction indicated that he was not going to spare Mark, he got out of bed, ran a hand through his hair, and made his way through lingering sleep to the door. Whoever it was knocked again, making Mark in an even worse mood.
He opened the door, and without looking at who was standing outside of it, greeted the visitor with a friendly, "What the fuck do you want?"
"Uhmm .. hello. I was sort of hoping Roger would answer the door."
"Meem? Sorry about that, but really, what are you doing here at," Mark paused and attempted to stifle a yawn, "2 in the morning?"
"Actually, Marky, it's 2:30. And I came to see Roger." Mimi answered back as if it were completely polite and normal to show up at someone's door at 2:30 in the morning. "By the way, you didn't have to get all dressed up for me." She replied, snickering.
Mark looked down and examined himself, "What are you talking ab .. Wait. Thanks a lot Mimi," Now slightly embarrassed to be standing in front of the beautiful girl in nothing but old boxers. "Sit down, and I'll get Roger. Would you like him with clothes or without, 'little miss strip club'?" Mark looked Mimi up and down, and couldn't help wondering how Roger could possibly say no to this beautiful girl thrusting her heart out at him. He would GLADLY take her.
"Shut up." Mimi replied, knowing Mark was having a little mental fantasy about her. She was used to it, though, and Mark wasn't creepy like any of the drunken customers who tried to gain sexual favors from her. That's one of the things you get used to when you're the lead dancer at a 'gentlemens club'.
Mimi made her way to the boys' couch and sat down. Looking at the ragged piece of furniture, she noticed it was constructed more of duct tape than actual fabric nowadays. Next to her was a cold, metal, industrial table. It was hard for Mimi to believe that just 3 weeks ago she almost died on the table in Roger's arms. She had come so close to losing her life, yet so close to receiving Roger's unconditional love that night. Now that she was back at work, and back at Roger's door, he had much less compassion than that terrible night. Now all Mimi could do to feel that she still had a chance was replay the song that Roger had painstakingly wrote for her.
How'd I let you slip away when I'm longing so to hold you, now I'd die for one more day, cause there's something I should've told you .. I should tell you .. I have always loved you, you can see it in my eyes.
Mimiwould die for Roger now, because she knew he loved her, but he couldn't bring himself to face commitment to baggage without lifetime guarantee. If Mimi could pick out the one thing that used to bother Roger about her, it would be her heroin addiction. She wasn't proud of it, but Roger accepted, for the immediate future after that night at least, that Mimi couldn't quit right now. She had almost died doing it before, and even if he didn't love her as a girlfriend, Roger didn't want Mimi to die trying to please him.
"Mimi, what the hell? Really. It's 2 in the morning.", Roger walked over to the couch in sweatpants and his band tshirt. Mark had obviously warned him about his boxer experience.
"It's 2:45 actually. And I'm here to tell you that I can't .." Mimi stopped, looking over at Mark's doorway. "Mark, would you mind if this was private?"
"Ah shit. I always miss out on the good stuff." A grumbled reply drifted out of the bedroom, and then the door shut.
"I'm here to tell you that I can't stand this anymore Roger. I love you. I'm ready for commitment and I've heard your pathetic speech too many times. We both have fucking HIV, Roger. I could die next month! You could die soon too! I know that you love me. Why is it so hard for you to tell me that? WHY ROGER? I love you. I love you so much." Mimi poured her heart out to Roger as tears came streaming down her face.
"Meems, please, don't do this to me right now." Roger was fighting back tears. The same Roger Davis who turned Mimi away for so long began to cry at the thought of losing her. "I love you too. April, she's dead, Mimi. She's not stopping me. It's me. I'm scared .. you almost died on my fucking kitchen table 3 weeks ago! You're thin, you're pale .."
"It's so nice to hear how beautiful I am," Mimi spat back.
"No Meem. You are beautiful. Every time I see you I feel like nothing else on Earth. Even when you brought me that stupid candle." Roger laughed at the memory. "Mimi, I love you. I do love you." Roger stopped in realization and embraced Mimi. "And by the way, nice outfit."
He held her in his arms and vowed never to let go. Not again. He was not going to push her away this time. He held her on the couch until they fell asleep.