"You really had that much faith in our friendship?" Mark asked testily.
"Well, look at what's happening now!" Collins pointed out. "The same thing is happening all over again."
"Why'd you have to bring up all our past problems?" Roger demanded. "What happened to moving on?"
"This coming from someone who blew up when I talked about getting clean?" Mimi hissed. "I thought you wouldn't bring up smack again once I was clean."
"And thought you wouldn't ever bring up Santa Fe!" Roger pointed an accusing finger.
"How do you think I feel?" Maureen cried. "Joanne's still harping on her old peeves."
"Maureen, shut up." Joanne snapped. "You really can't mind your own business. You never could."
"Hey! At least I don't sit around and let my friends fight, Pookie."
"You swore you wouldn't call me that anymore!"
"Why? Does it bother you?"
"If you must know, yes!"
"Well, that's why I did it!"
"I wonder, Mimi! Could it be you actually miss shooting up and messing up your life? Roger spat.
"If that's what you think about me, Roger Davis, if you really are only sticking around because of Angel, maybe you should head back to Santa Fe!"
"Yeah? WELL, MAYBE I WILL!"
"GREAT! Tell me when you're leaving, so I can help you pack!"
"Guys, stop fighting," Mark tried to act as peacemaker.
"Give it up, Mark," Collins groaned. "You're as much to blame as everyone else."
"What!? I'm trying to set things right here!"
"Well, maybe that's making it worse. You ever think of that?" The fighting continued to escalate in volume and intensity. But, at that moment…
"Um. Hi, Angel." The Bohemians all stopped in unison, turning to see the image of a nervous Emily appearing on the television screen.
"Emily?" Mark blinked in brief confusion. Suddenly, it all clicked. "She opened the cashbox!" The six friends slowly moved back to the couch to watch the segment Emily had made without their knowledge.
"Listen," Emily began. "I realize that this movie is only for the people who knew you. People like Mark, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Maureen and Joanne. So by all rights, I shouldn't even be doing this. But I hope you'll forgive me if I do, because I want the others to include me in what they do. But many times, they don't. Especially if it involves you. Don't get me wrong. I'm not blaming you. I understand that they like talking about you, and remembering you. I feel the same way every time I think about my brother, Zack. That's right, you've probably met Zack up there in Heaven, haven't you? Yeah, he's a great guy, isn't he? When you see him next, do me a favor, and tell him that I love him, and I really miss him. But I digress.
"Knowing the others has to have been one of the greatest things that's happened to me, ever. I really like being around all of them. But then, there are the times when you come up, and in those times, I feel like such an outsider. Let's face it, I never knew you. Because of that, whenever the others start talking about you, and reliving the memories of the times they shared with you, I have to step back, and no matter what, I can't interrupt their moment. I feel bad and guilty for thinking this, but when that happens, I hate it. It's like I went to see a show on Broadway, but I got to the theater late, so I missed the whole first act. I said before I don't blame you though, and I don't. But in times like that, it's a painful reminder of how much I missed out on, all because I didn't meet them until after you were gone. They already have shared so much, and it sometimes feels like I'm unwelcome, and an unwanted intrusion. I can't tell you how much I hate that feeling, because that's how I always felt growing up, when I was virtually ignored by my peers at school, all because of what my parents did in order to provide for my brother and me. But then Mark crashed his bike outside The Center, and for the first time in a long time, I met people, six wonderful people, who always made me feel welcome, like I was truly wanted. No one had made me feel like that before, at least no one since Zack had died. That's why it's so hard listening to the others talk about you. And that's why I had to include myself in this movie the others are making for you. I want to feel like I'm one of them. But because I never knew you, I'll never truly be one of them. There will always be something that separates me from the others. That fact hurts more then you'd ever believe. I don't want to be excluded. But I also know that they have a right to exclude me at times. I realize that I don't know you, and I can't share in their memories of you. All I can do is stand back and listen.
"You might be gone physically, Angel, but you wouldn't believe how much your presence can still be felt around the others. You wouldn't believe how much knowing you has touched them all, how your memory still continues to touch them. I listen to their stories of you, and look at the pictures that Collins and Mimi keep, and watch Mark's footage of you. And in those moments, I can almost feel your presence practically radiating off the others, and I can hear your voice, and your laugh, and see you smile. And in those moments, I do know you. It might be only through the others, but I know you. I know you, and I look forward to the day when you and I can meet in person." Emily flashed a smile at the camera before leaning forward to turn it off.
The Bohemians sat in silence for a moment, staring at the blank screen before Mark switched the television off. Even then, the silence continued for a moment longer. It was finally broken by a quiet sob from Mimi. Instantly, Roger was at her side, pulling her head to his chest and gently stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry," he choked.
"I'm sorry, too. You… you're not really going to go leave for…?"
"No! No, Mimi. I'm not running this time. Not again. You're stuck with me." Maureen glanced over at Roger and Mimi before slowly turning to Joanne.
"Jo, I'm…I…" Joanne cut her off with a kiss.
"You don't have to say it, Maureen. I already know. It's my fault, too." Meanwhile, Collins and Mark were watching the two couples reconcile.
"You'll forgive me if I don't…" Collins chuckled.
"Of course," Mark replied quickly before the two shared a friendly hug. Mark then turned to look at the VCR, which had ejected the video. "Okay. No one can tell Emily we watched that."
"I can't believe she actually did that," Maureen stated. "I wonder why she thought…"
"We… we have been ignoring her lately," Mimi realized. "Remember how she kept trying to invite us to do something, but we never accepted?"
"She did seem upset we weren't taking Penny trick-or-treating with her tonight," Mark remembered. The Bohemians sat in silence, reflecting on their friend, Emily. At that moment, the Loft door opened. Everyone looked up as Penny walked in, carrying a plastic pumpkin pail filled with candy, followed by Emily. Both were still in their Halloween costumes. Emily immediately noticed the looks everyone was giving her.
"What?" she looked around quizzically. After a brief hesitation, Collins moved forward, and pulled her into a large hug. The others quickly followed his example. "Okay, guys," Emily blinked. "Not that I don't appreciate the gesture, but what's going on?"
"Forget it Emily," Mark smiled. "It's not important right now." Emily glanced over at Mark in confusion, but returned the hug her friends were giving her.