I DO NOT OWN RENT (MR. LARSON DOES, REST HIS SOUL). I ONLY OWN THE ADD ON CHARACTERS. HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE THEM!

ITALICS ARE THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES

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Chapter Ten

With Sunday

Running is all she could do. She had a pretty bad habit of running away from things and she knew it. Even though she knew she had to go back and explain herself to Maureen's friends she couldn't stop her feet from doing what they were trained to do. what they've been doing for years. As a small child Sunday always ran away from things that scared her, whether it be her parent's divorce or her sister being kicked out of the house. Often she felt like such a coward and that was one of the many things she hated about herself. Never being able to face her fears or standing up for what was right was something that Sunday always wanted to do, but stupidly never did. The young woman never knew why she acted the way she acted just a few minutes before, but all she knew was that even if she did go back and explain herself it probably wouldn't do anyone a bit of good. If they didn't hate her before, they sure as hell hated her now. But Sunday knew so little of the six bohemians on the eighth floor that were just trying to be accepted themselves, they didn't have time to hate anyone. Sure, it was an easier way to escape her problems but deep down inside she was sick of using that route. It was time for her to grow up, but she just wasn't sure if she was ready.

No wonder I can't keep any fucking friends.

Finally she stopped running and looked around her.

Still in the hospital, well I guess this means something if I'm still in the hospital.

Usually Sunday's feet carried her somewhere that she would be able to completely escape things that bothered her, but strangely her feet kept her in the hospital. The young woman walked up to a couch and sat down. She breathed in deep, exhaled and silently began to weep. Sunday never wanted to cause her new friend or her friends any harm. But somehow she did.

How could I have ruined somebody life in a matter of seconds? God, I'm getting good at this shit.

The young woman tore at herself inside, hating herself with each breath she took. For so long Sunday needed a friend. With her boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend being the ass he was Sunday slowly began to lose all of her friends. So when Maureen showed her kindness on the street earlier that day, she thought she finally found someone. And seemingly, she thought she lost it all in a matter of hours.

"Good fucking job Sunday, good fucking job." she muttered to herself.

The young woman looked around once more and began to sob in her hands.

With Joanne

I've got to get the hell out of here!

The lawyer was frantic, she had to get out of this hospital right now right then. This day was just to much for her, and to top it all off she made Angel cry. She'd never seen Angel cry like the before and she hated the fact that she helped him become like that. When she cooled off later she made a mental note to privately apologize to Angel but right now she had to get out. Joanne walked in and out of hallways, until she just couldn't walk any longer. Tears began to stream down her face once more, following the paths of the tears from just moments before. She rubbed her face of all the tears, but knew that her efforts were in vain for there were tears pouring out ever more now. She began to walk again, but with a slower pace. Frustrated, hurt and emotionally exhausted were all words that were an understatement of how she was feeling. Although it would take time to get over Maureen, if it was even possible she knew that eventually she would be okay. How would this affect the group? Immensely no doubt. Everything everyone did affected everyone. But they would have to get over it, because Joanne was determined to. Maureen was her world, nothing would be the same without her. Who would she wake up to? Who would cook her breakfast in the morning? Who would dance with her to her favorite songs? The lawyer wept at the thought of Maureen attempting to cook something that Mimi or Angel had told her about, she loved to make Joanne smile. There was a side of Maureen that probably only Mark and Joanne knew about. Despite being a drama queen Maureen was quite the romantic, even more so than most women Joanne had dated. Maureen took the cake when it came to being sweet and romantic...

It must have been the worst day of Joanne Legal's Aid career. The lawyer climbed into the car, locked the doors and called Maureen.

"Hello?"

"Hi honey."

"Hi pookie! What's the matter, you sound upset how was your day?"

"It's good to hear your voice."

"Awww! You too pookie. How was your day, you didn't answer me."

"It was absolutely terrible." the lawyer fought back tears.

"I'm so sorry pookie, are you on your way home?"

"Yeah, I just got out right now. It looks like there's going to be traffic so I won't be home in a good while."

"Oh ok well I'll try to have something nice for you to eat when you get here alright?"

"That sounds great honeybear."

"Ok well let me get going, you be safe and I'll see you soon!"

"I will. Maureen?"

"Yes?"

"I love you honey."

"Aww my pookie! I love you too. Bye!"

As Maureen always did, she hung up right before Joanne could even say anything. Joanne closed the phone and was on her way.

It took Joanne an hour and a half to get back home and she was beyond tired. She climbed up the stairs to the apartment they shared and fumbled around for her keys in her purse. Finally she found them and put the key into the lock. Maureen, who was on the other side heard the keys and jogged up to the door opening it. Seeing Maureen's face was surely something she needed to let all the stress off of her shoulders.

"Hi pookie."

Joanne sighed wearily "Hi baby."

As the lawyer began to walk into the apartment Maureen held her hand out.

"No entry until you take those boots off."

Joanne looked down at her knee highed, stiletto heeled boots and took them off. Maureen grabbed them and leaned her cheek towards her. Joanne smiled and kissed her girlfriend.

"Don't move!"

"Honeybear what are-"

Maureen held out two tall champagne glasses filled with golden champagne.

"Here."

"Oh honeybear, how sweet."

Joanne looked around the living room to their apartment. It was clean (which was never how it was during the week, Saturday morning was their cleaning day) and things were neatly put together. On their coffee table was fresh fruit with a bottle of champagne on ice. There were a few candles lit, giving the room a wonderful lavender smell. The lawyer breathed in deeply and took a sip of her champagne.

"Maureen, the place looks great!"

The performance artist helped her girlfriend take her jacket off and took her purse.

"Thank you pookie. Well, have a seat on the couch over there and dinner will be ready in a minute."

The lawyer found her favorite seat in the living room and sat down. Her legs and feet were so grateful to be rid of the stress, as well as Joanne's arms. Joanne reached over to the platter of fruit and took a grape.

"Worst fucking day of my life." she said to herself.

Finally, she saw her girlfriend going from their bedroom to the kitchen.

Joanne asked cautiously "Honeybear, what are you cooking?"

Maureen looked up at her girlfriend "You'll see pookie! It'll be done in just a minute."

It wasn't that Maureen couldn't cook, but she just wasn't very skilled at it.

After a few minutes Maureen came out with two plates in her hand.

"Come on pookie! Dinner is ready!"

Joanne walked over to the dinner table that was homely and welcoming. She sat down at her chair and looked at the spread on the table.

"Maureen you did all of this? In an hour too?"

Maureen poured herself more champagne. There were bottles of it all over their apartment, Joanne loved it.

"I've been working on it all day actually, but I put a lot more into it when you said you had a bad day."

"Wow honeybear, thank you."

"Anything for you."

Joanne smiled for the first time since she left Maureen early that morning and grabbed her fork. She poked into what looked like baked chicken and took a bite. Words could not express it's taste and Joanne was at a loss for words.

Maureen looked at her girlfriend waiting for a response "Well how is it?"

Joanne's eyes were closed in pure bliss as she chewed.

"Pookie."

Joanne was in heaven.

"Pookie!"

"Yes!"

Maureen chuckled "How is it?"

"Absolutely delicious." Joanne grinned.

"I swear, Mimi and Angel need to make a cook book." Maureen said as she took a bit of her own.

The two lovers sat and enjoyed the rest of their night, together.

Joanne thought about going back, she didn't want to loose Maureen. But then she thought again. She didn't want to go through all of the shit that came with Maureen either. Joanne didn't know what to do, she wanted Maureen but not the shit that came with her. So she was in a bit of a problem.

The lawyer seemed to have calmed down a bit as she walked through the hospital. The tears had certainly stopped and Joanne was grateful. She looked up and saw someone sitting on a couch. The lawyer looked at the young woman that was crying, why did she look familiar? And it dawned on her that it was that girl that Maureen had came with!

Sunday looked up, sensing someone staring at her and the two women's eyes met. One with anger, one with sadness. Joanne had three choices: to walk away, kick this girls' ass or talk to her. Well the third was completely out of the question but for someone reason Joanne started to speak "Why are you still here?"

The young woman looked up terrified "I, I don't know. I got lost."

"Well you need to get the hell out of here, don't you think you've cost enough trouble?"

Sunday got out of her seat and walked towards Joanne "Look, I-"

Joanne held her hand out "Not a word from you. You don't deserve to say anything."

The young woman looked at her with a funny look "Look I didn't do anything alright?"

"Oh yeah? Well why the hell were you with my girlfriend!"

"It wasn't anything like that at all! Maureen had found me, I was on the street because-"

"Because you're a whore and can't get your own girlfriend!"

Sunday was pissed now, why was this woman trying to get into a fight with her? "You know what? Listen to me right now. I'm not after Maureen okay? I don't like Maureen like that, she is...she was my friend and she was being nice unlike someone right now."

"Then why the hell were you with her!"

"Because I had just been dumped by my asshole boyfriend, I ran from him I was cold and Maureen lent me her jacket!"

Joanne's anger subsided a little "Are you telling me the truth?"

"Of course I am! I'm not after her, we're..we were just friends."

Joanne looked at the woman, glaring at her.

Sunday looked at her with tears in her eyes "Look I'm sorry for all of this shit thats happened, I really am. I never meant for anyone to get hurt or upset. Maureen let me tag along with her since I was in Alphabet City with no coat, car or money. She was just doing me a kind service. I never meant any of this to happen." the young woman broke down in front of Joanne.

Maybe this girl was telling the truth. Even though Joanne could be a cold bitch, she didn't have the energy to be one right at that moment. The lawyer searched through her purse and took out a $20 bill. "Here." Her outstretched hand waved the money at the other woman. Why Joanne was giving this girl money, she didn't know. But the lawyer realized just how much Angel was rubbing off on them all.

Sunday wiped her tears away "What, what is this for?"

Joanne stood stone face "For a cab. You need to get out of here. Go home."

The young woman was dumbfounded, was this woman really giving her money? "I, I can't accept this. I need to go apologize to Maureen."

"She'll understand if you just go."

"How will I know if she has forgiven me if I don't go and apologize?"

"Some things are better left unknown."

The young woman took the money "When you talk to her please tell her how much I appreciate her and that I wanted to thank her? Will you tell her that?"

Joanne looked down and then back up to the young woman "I'll tell her." Knowing that she might not even talk to Maureen again, only time would tell.

The lawyer watched as Sunday ran off towards the elevator. She herself walked towards a different elevator, stepped inside and was gone.

With Miss Abram at the Theatre

The show was opening in 5 minutes and Joanne was still no where in sight. The older woman ran through the dressing rooms whispering " Five minutes until places everyone! Five minutes until places!" Children were everywhere scrambling about to get to their places. The dishes and spoons were surrounding her. She gave them all a quick once over and shooed them to their places. She held a clipboard in her hand and counted off everyone.

"5 dishes, 5 spoons, one cow, one diet coke, one harvest moon, one cowbell, four backup singers, one Mindy, one Benny the bulldog...oh no! Where are my Mindy and Benny!"

Mindy was what Maureen named the narrator character and Benny was...well Benny.

Miss Abram spotted the two going over their lines "Come on darlins' it's show time!"

The little boy whose father Joanne had gotten a ride from earlier that day pulled on Miss Abram's skirt "Miss Abram, Miss Joanne's gonna be here right?"

"I'm not sure darlin', I sure hope she will. I don't think she'd miss your performance at all. But it was an emergency."

The little boy looked down "Oh okay."

Miss Abram looked at him with sad eyes "Come on honey, you know she's here in spirit."

A few seconds later the little boy peeked through a side curtain and saw how big the crowd was getting. He let out a small sigh and saw his father sitting in the front row which comforted him. He wasn't on until the second part of the show anyway which might give Joanne some time to get there.

The stage was elaborately decorated. Mimi and Angel had completely did the place up. Both putting their artistic talents to full use, with Maureen's supervision of course. It looked very close to Maureen's stage near tent city, but a little more children friendly. Mark patched up all of the microphones and televisions to play child friendly videos of cartoons all the while filming everyone working together. Roger's main thing was the music, he composed all of it himself and couldn't wait for Maureen to hear it. Collins had wired the whole place up and it was beautifully lit. The lights and wiring was exactly like the performance space and at the time Collins began to wonder if Maureen was going to come out and do a show for them instead of the kids...

Mimi and Angel were on the stage painting.

"This color is fabulous! Let's use it!" Angel said loudly.

"No Ang, it needs to be a little darker." Maureen said supervising.

Angel looked up at the performance artist "Gonna help master?"

"Yeah I will...later."

Mimi looked at Angel "Yeah in a million years."

As they continue their worked Maureen looked up to Collins who was on a ladder wiring things together. He held up a piece of wiring that looked something out of a space movie "Mo is this where you want this thing hooked up!"

Maureen shaded her eyes with her hand "Yep! That's perfect baby!"

Joanne spotted her girlfriend on the stage, looking like she was on top of the world. Maureen looked up at her and ran up to her "Pookie!"

Joanne hugged her girlfriend "Wow they're getting things done around here. Good job guys!"

All three of them gave their different moans and groans "Yeah right." "Uh huh." "Whatever."

Joanne rolled her eyes and looked at Maureen who was focused on the stage. "It's gonna be awesome."

The lawyer squeezed her girlfriend "Yep. It is."

Mark walked by with a television in his arms "You guys invite Benny?"

The performance artist's voice soared "Yep! You know I did! He said he'd be here opening night!"

Collins spoke as he came down from the ladder "I just hope he doesn't start any shit this time, the kids don't even know what they're saying. How the hell did you guys get this approved anyway?"

Joanne smirked "Maureen did some major acting."

Maureen beamed "Hell yes! I was brilliant!"

Finally, it was show time. The lights went off and the kids scuffled onto the stage. One single spotlight cameonto the stage and there was the little girl who looked exactly like Maureen standing on the stage. Benny who was seated in the second row not far from Steven Jr.'s dad looked at the little girl in horror, and he was in for another protest only children friendly.

The little girl was looking down, sighed and snapped. The lights came on instantly. Parents began to clap.

The girl looked up "Last night, I had a dream."

LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER...IT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST ACT OF THE PLAY...AND SOME OTHER THINGS. HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED THIS CHAPTER! I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE FOR A FEW DAYS BECAUSE OF MIDTERMS BUT LOOK OUT FOR ME!