Author's Notes: Thanks to all who review, it really means a lot to me! I've become addicted to this story and I love it. Writing is really starting to become a passion of mine. Thanks again!
Once again I DO NOT OWN RENT.
PLEASE READ, REVIEW AND ENJOY!
Italics are thoughts and memories.
Chapter Fifteen
With Mimi, Roger, Mark
As the three walked down the hallway toward Angel's room, Roger held Mimi close to him. "Babe, what is that?"
He saw that Mimi was holding a small brown bear.
"It's for Angel-Chica. I wanted to bring her something."
Roger kissed Mimi on the temple. "I love you."
Mimi looked up at her boyfriend, putting her fingers into his long dirty blonde hair. "I love you too."
Mark had looked up and recognized the same nurse from yesterday. She had a worried look on her face as she was writing things down on a clipboard. Suddenly Mark remembered her name.
"Miss Kingley!"
The older woman looked up from her work. "Mark! Hello dearest."
The two hugged as if they had known each others for years. "How's Angel? ."
The nurse's face fell. "She's not doing too well Mark. She had sort of a breakdown earlier this morning. We still don't know why she acted the way she did. We had to sedate her."
Mimi heard this and began to panic. "What! Where is she! Is she all right!"
Roger comfortingly rubbed her back. "Meems, its okay baby we'll find out what's wrong with him."
"Angel's fine now dear, but we're watching her to see how she'll be doing in the next few hours. I personally want to watch her so I changed my shift." The nurse looked at the dancer who was clearly shaken up by the news of her best friend.
Mark looked away from Mimi and looked to the nurse. "Can we see him?"
The nurse walked over to the door opening it. "She's still sleeping. Go ahead."
The film maker lovingly rubbed the woman's arm, whispering. "Thank you." And with that she left the room to give them some privacy.
Mimi walked in to see Angel peacefully sleeping, his chest rising up and down. The dancer covered her mouth in worry and laid her head on his chest hearing his heartbeat. "Oh Chica, what's the matter with you?"
Roger took his same seat as the day before, flipping through the channels with the remote as Mark went on the other side of the bed.
Mimi could see the stains of tears on his face. She traced her fingers down them. "She's been crying."
Mark looked up at her. "Yeah, I see that."
Mimi looked up at Mark. "What do you think she could be crying about?"
The film maker fumbled around with things in his coat pockets. "I don't know Meems, you know how Angel takes on everyone's emotions."
Mimi looked back to her best friend. "Yeah you're right."
Finally the drug began to slowly wear off and Angel opened his eyes ever so slightly. He spoke in a pained whisper. "Chica?"
Mimi sprang onto the bed. "Hi Chica! How are you feeling baby what happened?"
All of the emotions flooded back to Angel. The street drummer wailed out in pain. "I hate this fucking world! I hate this fucking world."
The three friends stared at the hysterical young man. Mimi rubbed his face gently. "What happened Angel?"
Soon Angel began to fidget violently in his bed all the while screaming. "Collins! You fucking asshole!"
Roger looked up at Mark. "Angel what happened to Collins? Didn't he come over here?"
As Angel suddenly calmed down, he looked away from Mark and to Mimi. "He left me here, that fucking bastard left me here."
Roger got up and stood next to Mimi. "Why is he a fucking bastard Angel what the hell happened?"
"He left me I said! He left me because I . . . " His voice trailed off.
Mark leaned in. "Because you what?"
"Nothing."
Roger glared at Angel. "What do you mean nothing?"
"Nothing we're fine."
Mimi grabbed Angel's hand. "There is no way you're going to lie about this Angel. What happened?"
Roger took his coat off, throwing it on the chair. "Why do you and Tom feel like you have the hide everything fucking thing from everyone? Why can't you just let us help when we can and want to?"
The guitarists' kindness rung inside of Angel, he knew that he had to tell them. But before he could get anything out Mimi said. "Its David isn't it?"
Angel snapped his head toward the dancer. "What?"
"David. You never let him go did you?"
The street drummer's eyes began to fill with tears. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Mark cut in. "Oh wait a minute, who the hell is David?"
Mimi shushed him. "Angel you know exactly what the hell I am talking about. Don't play stupid shit with me. It won't work. You might be able to fool these wedos but you can't fool me."
Mimi was right. Angel couldn't and wouldn't be able to hold this inside of him long. Who better than Mimi to help him? But did he really want to admit to his friends that he was still in love with someone that broke his heart?
"Mimi I don't want to talk about this."
"I don't care Angel. We're going to talk about this . . . now. Baby, you've got to get over him."
"I know! God dammit I know." Angel said grabbing his head in confusion and frustration.
Mimi put her hands up in the air. "Its girl talk time. Boys get out. Go get something to eat or something." With that Mimi handed them both five dollars from her coin purse that Angel had made her. "Get out. We need to talk."
Both guys practically ran out of the room happy to have at least five dollars in their pockets. Sure, Mimi wanted that money to help pay for her drugs but this was far more important than drugs. Nothing came between her and her best friend. Before Mark had almost ran down the hall, he poked his head back in. "We'll be back."
Mimi placed the small teddy bear into Angel's hand. "What is this?"
"It's a Get Well Soon Bear."
Angel smiled despite his continuing tears. "Thanks Chica, I love you."
"I love you too." She looked deep into Angel's dark eyes. "Now, tell me the truth. Do you still love David?"
Angel grabbed his head. "I don't know why I'm acting this way. I just want to get the fuck out of here."
"Angel answer my question."
"Maybe I just need to sleep it off."
"Angel, answer my question." Mimi said with a little more force.
"I swear I fucking hate hospitals."
"Angel answer my God damned question!"
"Yes Mimi! Yes alright? I still do. God dammit I still do!" With this Angel began to cry.
Mimi held her best friend. "Angel, he's gone baby. Yes, what he did to you was fucked up and wrong, but he's not here anymore. Collins is here for you. He loves you."
"I know Mimi, I know. I said I didn't want Collins to pick up the pieces, but he is . . . he is." The street drummer cried harder. "I love him with all of my heart Mimi I do. I want nothing but the best for him. Maybe it's better that we're not together anymore. I just can't stand to see him sad over me."
Mimi pulled away from Angel. "What do you mean we're not together anymore?"
"Tom got really upset that I was still in love with David and said that he wanted to give me time."
"What!"
"He said he loved me with all of his heart, but he just wanted to give me some time. How much time does he think that we have? Why can't he just listen to me?"
The dancer cupped Angel's face so that it met with hers. "Angel-Chica, you are Collins' first love."
"I know."
"Well if you know that then why would you go around talking about David?"
"I don't know. His death is still so fresh to me."
"But you love Collins."
"I know Mimi."
"Then why can't you let David go and be with Collins, who really does love you? David didn't love you Angel. Collins does."
"I know."
"Then why is David still in your heart? You weren't in his."
Angel began to cry even harder.
"You knew that Angel-Chica, but you still stayed. I'm not trying to hurt you Angel. You are my best friend. I'm trying to tell you the truth."
"I know Mimi, I know. I appreciate it alright? But . . . I feel so . . . lost."
"I know you do baby, but don't you think that Collins is hurt also? You don't want to do what David did to you, to Collins right?"
Angel nodded his head.
"Don't continue the cycle Angel, be the one to make a new one. A cycle that makes people continue to love despite the shit that happens in their lives."
Such wisdom from Mimi wasn't uncommon. She always spoke with wisdom well beyond her years.
Just then Nurse Kingley poked her head into the room. "Angel baby how are you feeling?"
"Better thank you."
"Good, I was worried about you for a minute there girl." The nurse checked out all the machines. "You're a strong one there Miss Angel. You pulled every machine out of its socket."
Angel looked down sheepishly. "I'm really sorry about that. There are a lot of things going on right now."
"That's alright sweets. Well I just got done talking to the doctor that's watching over you and he thinks that you are ready to go if you want. But we do want you back in a few days to see how your head is doing."
Mimi looked up at Angel in happiness. "Really! She can come home!"
"Sure, only if Miss Angel thinks she'll be alright enough to. What do you think Miss Angel?"
"Yeah, I'm ready."
"Great! I'll bring some papers in for you to sign and you'll be on your way."
"Thanks so much."
After the nurse had left the room Mimi went over to her backpack and pulled out some a pair of jeans, a white T-shirt and Angel's favorite red jacket. "I brought you something to go home in."
"Thanks Chica. How did you get my stuff?"
"Damn Angel, you were that wasted that time that you don't remember leaving your shit at the loft?"
"I guess not. What did I go home in if you have my clothes?"
"Some of Roger's old shit, girl you were so gone you started stripping! Collins had to take your crazy ass home after that."
"Oh."
"Uh huh. I'm sure Collins didn't mind you stripping, but the rest of us were a little scared." Mimi nudged Angel playfully which brought a smile on Angel's face.
"That's right. He can't resist me." Angel said proudly. His face quickly fell at the thought of how upset Collins was earlier. "I can't believe I hurt my man."
Mimi sat down in the chair, clothes in her lap. "He loves you Chica. Nothing will ever change that. But you really do need to get over David, he's part of your past. Forget Regret Angel. You can only go up from here."
"Forget Regret."
Nurse Kingley came back in, papers in hand. "Here you are my dear." She said handing Angel the papers. After Angel had finished them, she handed them to the nurse.
"Well let me look over this before you go so we don't forget anything . . . " Her voice trailed off, she said gently. "Angel dear you didn't put a mailing address.
Angel looked down a little ashamed. "I know."
"We need an address so that we can send you your information and the bill."
As Angel opened her mouth Mimi cut her off. "I'm going to make a phone call really quick." As Mimi went toward the door, she mouthed the words 'I'm going to call Benny.'
I'm sure Roger is not going to be happy with that.
The nurse looked a little concerned. "Angel, maybe if-"
Thankfully Mimi chimed in. "It's cool! I've got an address."
Angel took a sigh of relief. "Fabulous, now I can get the hell out of here." Angel quickly jotted down Benny's address and jumped up in bed. "Please Miss Cora get me out of this damn thing!"
The nurse quickly got Angel out of everything and laughed at how happy he was. "Hold on there dear, be careful getting up you never know how your legs might handle it."
But as Mimi held her hand out to help Angel, he put his hand up in protest. "That's alright Mimi-Chica, I got it." Sure enough, Angel could walk just fine.
Mimi clapped and kissed her best friend on the cheek. "Come on hermanalet's go! Put this on."
Angel grabbed the clothes and walked over to the bathroom that was in the room.
"Mimi!" she heard Roger's voice calling to her. The dancer almost skipped over to the two men bumping into Roger. "Hey hey hey!"
"Sorry babe. Angel's ready to go, she's getting dressed now."
Mark took a bite out of the jello cup he had. "Great, and everything is cool with the papers and everything?"
The nurse started undressing the sheets. "Yes sir, she's all ready to go."
Angel came out and grabbed Mimi's hand. "Come on. Let's go."
With Joanne and Maureen
After Maureen had thoroughly cleaned up the apartment, she sat down to have a cup of tea. As she sipped the hot liquid, she immediately thought of Angel.
"Oh shit! I've got to call Mark!"
She placed her mug down on the kitchen table and jogged over to the phone quickly dialing Mark and Roger's number.
SPPPPPEEEAAAAKKKK
"Mark? Roger? Are you guys there? It's Maureen."
She waited for someone to pick up.
"Mimi? Hello? Guys?"
Finally she hung up.
Maybe they went to see Angel.
Before she walked back over to her cup of hot tea, something told Maureen to call Angel and Collins' apartment. She picked the phone back up and dialed the number.
ring, ring
No answer yet.
ring, ring
Finally a groggy, but depressed Collins picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Collins? It's Maureen."
"Hey Mo."
"What's the matter? Why aren't you with Angel?"
"Nothing Maureen, we're fine."
"I didn't ask you how you two were doing."
Silence on the other end.
"Collins what is the matter?"
"Nothing Mo, what's up, are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine. How's Angel? Is she alright?"
"As far as I know."
"What do you mean as far as you know?"
"Look Mo, I'm gonna get going. Let me know when you talk to Angel alright?"
What the fuck is going on around here?
"Tom, what the hell are you talking about? What is going on with you two?"
"You know, If David wants her back he can have her. He probably deserves her, God knows I don't"
"What?"
Clearly, Collins was still asleep. How he was having conversations, Maureen had no idea.
"Tom?"
No answer.
"TOM!"
"What!"
"Who the hell is David?"
"How are you and Joanne?"
"We're fine. I'm actually at the apartment. Now who is David?"
"No one, he's just someone who deserves Angel someone who loves Angel."
"But you love Angel."
"Yeah I do."
"So who the fuck is David and why does he love Angel more than you?" Maureen was starting to get pissed. She hated when people played games ironically enough. She wanted to play the games, not let others play.
"I love her so much. Angel Dumott Schunard. What a name. Don't you think that Angel Collins has a nice ring to it?"
Before Maureen could say anything, she heard Joanne calling her in the bedroom. "Look Collins we're going to talk alright? I gotta see what Joanne needs. I love you man and I'll talk to you soon."
"I love you too. Okay . . . bye Mo."
"Bye Collins."
After hanging up she ran toward the bedroom. She walked into the room seeing Joanne laying there. The performance artist walked over to Joanne's side and sat on the bed. Maureen rubbed Joanne's forehead lovingly. "How are you feeling pookie?"
"I missed you."
Maureen smiled. "I missed you too pookie."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Joanne sat up and rubbed Maureen's lower back. She whispered into her ear. "I want you."
Maureen looked back at her, her face filled with surprise but hinting at a smirk. "Oh really?"
Joanne began to kiss Maureen's neck. "Yes. Right now." She said in between kisses.
"Pookie, you really need to rest first."
The lawyer took her other hand and went up Maureen's shirt, feeling familiar territory. "I don't want to rest. How can you rest when you're in the room?"
Maureen let out a small moan. "Yeah you're right. But no pookie, you need to sleep."
All the while Maureen was speaking Joanne skillfully unsnapped Maureen's bra causing the performance artist to hold her herself together. "Joanne!"
Joanne moved the covers off of her. "Yes love of my life?"
Maureen looked at her sternly, but was amused at how cute she was. "You need to rest."
Joanne took her shirt off and threw it on the floor. "No rest. Lay down now."
The performance artist's heart began to race. She loved when Joanne was forceful with her. "No pookie."
Joanne gave her look of surprise. "Maureen Johnson did you just say no to me?" With this Joanne completely got out of bed and stood in front of Maureen. "Lay down I said. Mama Jo has a few things to show you."
Maureen couldn't help but giggle. She was almost about to give in to Joanne. "No pookie."
Joanne could take no more and climbed on top of Maureen laying her down forcefully, but gently. Maureen gasped in utter happiness and pleasure. Angel would definitely understand why she didn't come to see him right away. Joanne held Maureen's hands up over her head and kissed her all over. Maureen yelped out in pleasure. Finally Joanne looked up from where she was kissing Maureen. "Do you like that Maureen?"
Maureen loved this game that she and Joanne played. "Yes baby I do."
Joanne tore Maureen's clothes off and kissed her again all over. "Do you like that baby?"
The game continued on for the next 30 minutes with Maureen's moaning gradually building and building. The afternoon was going to be a long, but good one.