A/N: Thanks to all of those who reviewed: love you! (Now, please review Me & My Guitar lol) Seriously, though. Please review that one. Enjoy the chapter!

Oh yeah, and from here on out, until I say otherwise, it's April's POV. I decided to have her just use names because otherwise it would be annoying and like, "the curly-haired woman said" and, "Roger's new girlfriend looked around nervously".

Read Me & My Guitar! I promise, it will explain a lot.

Slitting Her Wrists in the Bathroom?

The Eyes of a Young Girl

Roger was speechless. Mimi looked around nervously. Joanne, however, was joyous.

"The April Erikkson?" she gasped. "I've read your books. They're fabulous!"

I blushed. "Thanks…"

"Joanne Jefferson."

"Joanne."

"She called me my first name!" Joanne hissed to Maureen.

"You're a published author!" gasped Mark and Collins. Roger still couldn't talk.

"Yep. And you work for Buzzline." I smiled at Mark.

Mark shrugged. "Oh well. What can you do?"

I was surprised. "You don't like it?"

Roger finally had the guts to talk. "How the fuck did this happen?"

"Well, after…" I cut off sadly.

Collins smiled sympathetically. "That horrible day," he prompted.

I took a deep breath and nodded agreement. "I couldn't take it. I staged my death. That's why you never found a body."

"Yeah, I wondered about that…" said Mark, but a glare from Roger shut him up.

"So you ran away?" Roger said. "What about me? You don't think I went through hell, too?"
"But Roger," I said. "It was my fault. Don't deny it," I snapped at Mark and Collins, who opened their mouths to protest. "I caused his death. It was all because of me."

"I helped," said Roger angrily. "He was my son, too. I helped give him AIDS."

"I don't have AIDS," I mumbled.

Everyone stared at me. I could feel it.

"You don't?" Mimi said, confused. "But Roger got tested several days after you 'died'. The test was positive."

"He didn't get it from me," I said. "I tested negative yesterday."

"So you lied about that, too." Roger looked like I had slapped him.

"Look, Roge, I'm sorry. But I couldn't..."

"I don't want to hear anymore of your bullshit," Roger said angrily.

I wouldn't back down. "I just came for forgiveness."

"Well, don't expect any."

I glared at him. "You haven't changed a bit. When will you ever learn to grow up?"

"Grow up? I'm not the one who faked my death because my son died."

"I just wanted to start over."

"You and I could've easily done that."

"Don't you see, Roger?" I said to him, praying that he wouldn't take what I was about to say the wrong way. "I couldn't start over with you. I needed some April time."

"We could've taken a break."

"No, Roger. I didn't want the pressure of knowing that someone was counting down the days until he could take me back. I wanted to be alone."

Maureen seemed to understand. "Same thing happened with me and her," she said, jabbing a thumb at Joanne. "I couldn't take her bullshitting me anymore…"

"I was not bullshitting you!" Joanne argued.

"So we broke up for a long time. We thought it would be forever. Then Angel and Mimi both almost died, so we realized how precious life is and we got back together."

I stared at them. They just didn't get it, and I was starting to get pissed.

Mark got it, though. "You aren't helping, Mo."

"I fully realize how precious life is, Maureen," I said, guessing that that was what "Mo" stood for. "I realized that with Junior three years ago."

"Junior?" asked Roger.

"Well, I've gotta call him something."

Collins finally said something. "Do you even know who everyone is?"

"Well," I said. "Mimi and I were in rehab together for a little while. Two days before I left, she came. And I now know Joanne, and I think she's Maureen." I smiled at Angel. "But I don't know you," I confessed.

"Angel Dumott Schunard, the love of my life," Collins explained.

I smiled at the drag queen. "Hey, Angel." I laughed, remembering in the hospital all those years ago, realizing Collins was gay. He'd reminded me of Roger and my friend so much…

But my bubble burst remembering how moments later a nurse had walked in, kicked the guys out, and announced Junior's death.

I sniffed. "I should go. I'll see you guys!" I caught a taxi and headed home to my apartment.