Roger sat at the Life with Collins and Mark. They were having a guys' night. As Mimi so nicely put it, it was a chance for the guys to get drunk and be manly. Roger drained his second beer.
"What did Steve want yesterday?" Mark asked.
"He asked me and Mimi to go speak at some high school at the end of the week."
"And you don't want to," Collins stated. Roger nodded.
"Putting it nicely, yes. I mean, Mimi just told Steve that we'd be there. I couldn't believe her! I think that you and Angel would be better suited for something like this." Collins shook his head.
"Oh no, I think that this is a perfect job for you to do. It'll help you to begin to cope with this whole ordeal."
"I'm fine with 'this whole thing'. I've come to terms with this," Roger argued.
"What about April?" Roger pointed a menacing finger at Collins.
"Don't you dare bring her into this. She has nothing to do with this!"
"She has everything to do with this, Roger." Roger leapt to his feet with such force that his chair toppled over. Several people looked up from their meals.
"Whatever, I'm going home. I don't need this bullshit." Roger grabbed his jacket and stalked out of the Life.
Meanwhile, Angel, Mimi, Maureen and Joanne were all gathered at Angel and Collins' apartment having a small get-together. Mimi finished filling in her friends on her and Roger's plans to go visit the high school.
"I want to help out, but at the same time, I feel the same way Roger does," she confessed. Angel patted her knee comfortingly.
"You're doing the right thing, chica," she said.
"I know, but I feel that you and Collins would do a better job talking openly about AIDS and everything."
"Collins and I have accepted the fact that we have AIDS and are doing to die from it. You and Roger haven't really gotten to that point yet."
"We have too!" Mimi exclaimed. She turned to Maureen and Joanne. "Guys, back me up here!" Maureen and Joanne looked at each other. They honestly didn't know what to say. Coping with AIDS was something they wouldn't understand in the same context as their friends.
"Mimi, you already told Steve yes," Angel said. "That means that you had to have wanted to help him out."
"I still do, but I feel a little apprehensive about the whole thing."
"That's fine, but you can't back down now," Joanne said. Maureen nodded in agreement.
"Pookie always makes me go through on my word." Maureen looked at Joanne. "It's actually really annoying." Joanne gave Maureen a look. "I mean, I love you Pookie."
"I guess I love you too." Maureen literally launched herself across the couch and pressed her lips against Joanne's. "Ow, ow, Maureen. Believe it or not, I actually have vital organs in there that I need to remain unsquished." Maureen pecked Joanne on the cheek.
"I'm sorry." Mimi drained her beer bottle. Leave it to her friends to make her feel better.
When Mimi got home a little while later, she found Roger sprawled out on the bed with his left arm draped over his eyes. Mimi slid off her jacket and shoes and sat on the bed by Roger's head. Roger moved his arm.
"Getting a headache?" Mimi asked him.
"No, I'm just tired."
"Come here then." Mimi gently pulled Roger's head into her lap and began to run her fingers through his hair soothingly. Roger let his eyes slip closed and simply enjoyed the relaxing sensation.
"You were joking weren't you?" he murmured.
"Hmm?"
"About
cutting my hair, you were joking, weren't you?" Mimi cracked a
smile.
"Yeah, I was. I like your hair long, but I really wish that you'd do something with it."
"Like what?" Mimi shrugged.
"I dunno…something." Roger put his hand over Mimi's.
"Give me some ideas, and I'll consider them." Mimi continued to stroke Roger's hair. Roger moaned with pleasure. "Mmm…that feels good." Mimi leaned over and kissed Roger.
"I love you," she said against his lips before pecking him several times. Roger sat up and kissed Mimi roughly. Moaning, Mimi fell back against the bed. Roger straddled her small hips and continued to kiss her. Mimi wrapped her legs around Roger's waist. The reluctance of talking at the high school was gone from both of them.
A/N: Next chapter is the last. Also, I'll be out of town until Sunday with probably ZERO computer access, so I'll be updating "The Truth" then.
Tina101