Author's Note: I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to read and review, it means the world to me. Hopefully you'll enjoy this update.
Disclaimer: I don't own RENT or the song How to Save a Life by The Fray
Roger returned to the loft from his walk to find Mark and Collins sleeping in their respective beds, while Maureen and Joanne were asleep beside each other in their beds. Roger sighed when he realized Mimi hadn't returned yet, and it was almost midnight.
Roger stretched himself out on the couch and closed his eyes in an attempt to fall asleep. It wasn't working, though. His mind kept drifting from images of the drugs he'd gotten earlier to Mimi working at the Cat scratch club. Every time he told himself to throw away the drugs, he pictured Mimi dancing, and that reminded him of why he'd gotten them in the first place.
The door to the loft creaked open and Roger turned his head to see Mimi at the door. He put his finger to his lips to tell her to be quiet as not to disturb everyone sleeping. Mimi nodded and tiptoed towards him. Once she reached him she gave him a quick kiss and then sat down beside him on the couch.
"How was work?" Roger whispered, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"Amazing!" Mimi said excitedly, "I guess everyone was feeling generous since it's Christmas Eve, look at all the tips I made!" Roger couldn't help but wonder if everyone was feeling generous or if they were all just drunk off their ass. Still, he shared in Mimi's excitement about all the money she'd made, because it was a lot for one night's work.
"That's great Mimi," Roger said, "Really, that should last us for a little while." Roger leaned into Mimi and kissed her slowly. Mimi kissed him back while slowly moving her hands along his body, until something caused her to stop abruptly.
"What's wrong?" Roger asked.
"What's in your pocket?" Mimi asked, "It feels like...a small bag of some sort."
Roger froze. "Candy bar wrapper," he answered eventually.
"Really?" Mimi asked, "Doesn't feel like one..."
"Well it is," Roger said defensively, "Forget about it, it's not important." Roger started to kiss her again and the object in his back pocket was soon forgotten.
A few minutes later they stopped kissing because Mimi said she was tired and wanted get some rest since tomorrow would be a big day. Once Roger was sure she'd fallen asleep, he took the powder from his back pocket and slid it under a couch cushion, just in case Mimi decided to check his pockets the next morning. He figured that once he was sure no one was looking he'd grab the drugs, find an empty room to take them in, and he'd have a very merry Christmas. No one, especially not Mimi, had to know a thing.
Mimi woke up the next morning to find Mark and Joanne awake and talking, Collins still in bed, and Maureen still asleep on the floor. She had no idea where Roger was, but he wasn't beside her.
"Merry Christmas," she said to Mark and Joanne, who returned the greeting. "Where's Roger?"
"Shower," Mark answered. Mimi nodded and looked at the couch, which was a mess with some cushions only half on and pillows knocked to the floor. In an attempt to fix it up, Mimi took the cushions completely off the couch and rested them on the floor. A small bag caught her eye, and when she realized what it was she gasped.
"What's wrong?" Mark asked, running to her side, Joanne not far behind. Mimi was speechless; all she could do was point. Joanne covered her mouth in shock while Mark just said, "Fuck."
"I can't believe someone would be doing this stuff," Mimi said, "After the hell Roger and I have gone through with it." Not only was Mimi shocked that someone would be doing drugs, but she felt offended that one of her friends would do it after knowing all the suffering it had caused her. "Is it yours?" she asked Mark, wondering if his reaction wasn't caused by shock, but frustration that he'd been caught.
Mark held his hands up. "It's not mine."
"Joanne?" Mimi asked, even though she didn't really believe it was hers. Joanne shook her head.
Roger walked out of the bathroom, his long hair a wet mess. "What's everyone looking at?" he asked, walking over to join the group.
Mimi held up the powder and Roger said the same thing Mark did, but for a different reason. "Fuck."
"It's not yours, right?" Mimi asked quietly, not even wanting to consider the possibility that Roger might go back to that stuff after what it had done to both of them.
"Of course not," Roger lied as he wrapped his arms around her to try and comfort her. Mimi sighed deeply, giving into his warmth.
"Well then whose is it?" Mark asked, "I really don't think it's Maureen's."
"It's probably Collin's," Roger said quickly, wanting to make someone else look like a bigger suspect, "He met Angel at Christmas time, remember? Maybe it's just his way of coping with their anniversary."
"I'm not actually asleep." Everyone's heads turned to where Collins was staring at them, wide awake. "I just pretended to be because I didn't want to face today just yet, because of Angel, that's how I'm coping with our anniversary. I'd never do drugs to help me get over her, that's not what she would've wanted."
Everyone was quiet for a moment, not sure what to say to that. "I'm sorry," Roger said eventually.
"It's ok," Collins reassured him.
"Well that leaves one person," Mark said, gesturing to Maureen who was still sound asleep on the floor.
"It couldn't be hers," Joanne said, "Maureen wouldn't do something like that."
"Will someone wake her up and ask?" Mimi asked, "I really don't want to believe that one of you guys are lying, not that I want it to be her...I just want to know whose it is, so I can help them." Roger tightened his grip around her, partly to comfort her, and partly to remind himself of why he didn't own up to it. She'd dump him in a heartbeat if she knew.
Joanne walked over to Maureen and gave her a gentle nudge, which caused Maureen to wake up almost immediately. "Merry Christmas!" Maureen yelled happily as she jumped up. Though she liked to sleep in, she was never grumpy when she woke up. Maureen took note of everyone's facial expressions and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Is this yours?" Mimi asked, holding up the powder for Maureen to see.
Maureen walked closer to get a better look. "Not mine," she answered.
"Well then someone's lying," Mimi sighed as she broke out of Roger's grip. "Who ever owns this, please, just tell me. I'm not going to judge you, I just want to help."
Everyone remained silent.
"You're a lawyer pookie, can't you figure it out?" Maureen asked Joanne.
"Lawyer? Yes. Detective? No," Joanne answered. "I do know, however, that people who are quick to deny it or are quick to put the blame on other people, are more likely to have done whatever is being questioned."
Everyone turned to look at Roger. "It's not mine!" Roger yelled, "I can't believe you guys would accuse me after all the drugs have put me through. You know what? It hurts me."
"I'm sorry," Joanne apologized, though she wasn't sure if she believed Roger just yet.
"Thank you," Roger said.
"Well whoever owns it, you don't any more," Mimi said as she dropped the powder into the trash. "All I can do now is pray you won't go back for more. If you need to, come talk to me, I promise I won't shame you or anything like that."
Everyone nodded in understanding. "Now that that's settled," Maureen said, "It's Christmas! We need to celebrate!"
Everyone cheered, except for Roger. All he could do was look longingly at the trashcan. He'd gotten that stash for free. Offers like that didn't exactly come up everyday. He had to get more. He'd find the man again, explain his situation, and hopefully the man would understand and give him more for free. If not, maybe he'd at least get a discount, and Mimi's tips would easily cover that. All he wanted was one stash, and then he'd never go back. He just wanted one in case he felt really depressed one day, that's all. No harm in that, right?