Mimi pushed herself up against the pole; the cold metal good against her practically-bare body. She felt Gwen's hand slide up her ass as her coworker slid around her, joining her on the pole. Slowly, she slid her leg up Gwen's body, resting it on her torso as Gwen slid her hand along Meems' leg, squeezing her thigh. Mimi moaned, sliding her hand down Gwen's back. It was all acting, but there was always something when she got to this point in the dance. Here it was... the surprise that even the choreographer didn't know about it.

She felt Gwen's hand run from her leg to her back, slowly to her neck. With a smile, they connected, their lips together. Slowly, Mimi opened her mouth to allow Gwen's tongue in, blocking out all the hoots and hollers. It didn't feel like anything, just kissing another girl. She and Gwen had rehearsed it, it had become habit. Her mind slipped back to the first time, when it had been awkward, before coming back to now. Now when her horomones were raging due to her job, now when she actually felt sexy.

They broke apart with a smile, and continued the rest of the routine. However, they both felt the mens' eyes on them, wanting another kiss. They slapped each other's asses as they passed, laughing. Like that was going to happen again.

As the music slowed and the stage darkened, Mimi, Gwen, and the rest of the girls came off. Gwen and Mimi high-fived and went their separate ways. As Mimi made her way to the dressing room, she noticed someone familiar.

Maureen.

"Hey Pookie!" she cried. She slapped Mimi's bare ass. "Saw that kiss."

Mimi's face twisted. She had never heard Maureen call anyone but Mark and Joanne 'Pookie.' It seemed foreign. "Hey Mo..." she said. "Thanks... I guess."

Maureen's hand was still rested on Mimi's butt. Giving it a little squeeze, she said, "I was wondering why I've never seen you kiss me like that."

"Because it was an act, and I'm dating Roger."

"Were dating Roger, honey. Remember? He cheated on you with that slimeball, Samantha."

Mimi winced. It had been three weeks, yet she still couldn't get over that. She wanted to push it out of her mind. But everywhere she went, she was reminded of him. Everywhere there was music, she thought of him and his guitar. Every time she saw a shaggy blonde head, she thought of running her hands throuhg his own hair. And now she didn't have that. It was so surreal.

"So?" Maureen asked. "Why haven't I?"

"Because I'm just... I'm just not into that," Mimi said, sliding out of Maureen's grasp. Without another word, she slipped into her dressing room, closing the door on Maureen. Her breath got heavy. It was the first time Maureen had hit on her, the first time anyone had hit on her since the break up.

It didn't take her long to slip out of her costume into something more comfortable. She headed out the door, not bothering to look back and seeif Maureen was still there. She just left. Fled. She didn't know where she was going - frankly, she had no where to go. She hadn't bothered to get a new apartment... a bench in Central Park was just fine with her. After all, it was May. It wasn't like last time, where it had been freezing. And she was still taking her AZTs and going to work. She just happened to be homeless.

Tonight, as she entered the park, it seemed different. Something was different. There was an air about the park that didn't seem normal. Mimi slowly made her way towards her usual bench, only to see that someone was already sitting on it. Two people were already sitting on it.

"Aww... Rog-rog, you're perfect." That voice. Mimi knew that voice. It was sickening.

"Sammy-bear..." Roger cooed. "There's no such thing as perfect."

Mimi cleared her throat. "Um... you're sitting on my bed."

Roger looked up. His eyes widened at the sight of her. "Mimi?" he asked, as if he didn't believe his eyes.

"Roger," Mimi said, somewhat coldly, "you're sitting on my bed."

"You can't be serious..." Samantha said, her voice distant.

Roger touched Mimi's arm lightly, only for Mimi to shy away. "Mimi..." he said again, his voice much softer, much more caring. "You can't be serious."

"I don't have enough money for an apartment. I can buy food and pills," she said. "Now excuse me, you're on my bed. Samantha, wasn't it?"

Samantha stood. "Sorry."

As Mimi laid down on the bench, spreading her legs out, Roger sat at the end. "Mimi..." he said again, in that same tone. "You didn't go back, did you?"

"You're not my controller. You can't tell me what I can and can't do," Mimi said, yawning. She fingered the stash in her pocket.

"You did..." Roger said, in a raspy tone. Pulling her to a sitting position, he searched her eyes. "Meems... why?"

"Because I can."

"And the AZTs?"

"Still taking them." She didn't look at him, instead, she looked down at the ground.

"Good."

"Eh-hem," Samantha cleared her throat. "I hate to interrupt this movie moment, but I'm going to go now. 'Night Rog-rog." She kissed his cheek and flounced off. Roger sat there, as if he hadn't felt her kiss.

"And work?"

"Still at it."

"Good."

"Look," Mimi asked, "why are you asking? Why do you care?"

Roger looked hurt. "Mimi... I still care about you. I never stopped. I still... I still..." He paused. "I still love you..."

"No you don't," Mimi said. "You have Samantha."

"Mimi..."

"Get away from me," she said coldly, slipping out of his grasp. "You have your Sammy-Bear." She turned away from him, tears slipping down her cheeks. After a while, she began to lay down again, but couldn't.

Looking up, she noticed he hadn't left.

He hadn't left.