Angel hooked arms with her lover who had come downstairs in a fit of booming laughter. When Angel asked what was so funny and why Roger wasn't down yet, he laughed harder, so she left it alone--after giving Mimi a look.
The look was because of her reaction to Angel's question about Roger. Mimi sank onto the stairwell and casually picked off fingernail polish, as if she hadn't heard a thing. Angel knew better, and she nudged Mimi up with a heel. Collins was too absorbed in his laughter to notice a thing, and Mark was still standing in the doorway of the Loft telling Roger to hurry up. They were closest to the Life Cafe, yet they always managed to get there last--unless Maureen was coming on her own. She was the notorious late one.
"Watches? Who needs one of those? Certainly not me...oh--look it's glittery!"
She happened to have an addiction to glitter. Not ADD or anything...just...GDD. Glitter Deficit Disorder.
These were the things that crossed Angel's mind when she was bored and mindlessly tapping a beat on the stairwell with the hand that wasn't currently wrapped up in another's. Someone said something, but she wasn't paying half enough attention to catch (or care about) what it was until Collins tugged at her hand.
"Welcome back the world, Angel," he chucked. "We can leave--unless you'd like to keep bonding with the railing?"
She flashed a smile, falling quickly back into their game of flirty banter. "That sounds like fun--but I'd much rather bond with you."
They walked forward, and she pretended that her head wasn't spinning madly. Just keep stepping--one foot in front of the other. With her arm twined with Collins' it was easy to keep her balance--or it would be if she could gain it.
It had been happening a lot lately, when colors swirled and noises blurred together. She could write it off as nothing, as fast as it came. Angel knew better, but she was dead set on spending forever with Collins--and a little dizziness wasn't going to take that away.
0--0
It was quite normal, actually, for Roger to be walking without Mimi trailing close to him; that's not what got him. What got him was that she was trailing close to Mark, asking about his documentary and all kinds of other things that she'd never given a second thought to before. It was done completely on purpose, launching Mark into a long-winded speech and giving her an excuse not to walk by herself in silence. Angel was leaning into Collins the slightest bit and staying uncharacteristically silent, so engaging in conversation with her wasn't plausible. That left poor Mark, who really didn't mind at all, but was a little flustered at the unexpected attention.
"Actually, you aren't supposed to touch that..."
His words fell on deaf ears, as happened often when one talked to Mimi. She didn't seem to be causing too much harm to the camera though, because Mark hadn't gone into his 'Abort! You're Damaging My Child' stance yet. Roger almost wished that he would--laughter was much needed about now.
It was a rather gray morning, with an absence of the sun that was far from uncommon on autumn days. Few people were out and about, as most had taken refuge inside of a building where (in the best case scenarios) there was at least a miniscule amount of heat.
The clank of heels on the sidewalk and Mimi's chattering were the only sounds that were worth listening to this early in the morning. Everything else was crude and painful to sensitive early ears. The empty murmur of the Life Cafe wasn't bad either--something was almost chilling in the way that sound bounced from all around the room yet it didn't travel far in the musty air.
They grabbed a table in the back and slipped into chairs, Angel and Mimi on one side, and the men on the other. Two seats were left for their tardy friends, and they sat there--refusing to order until the others got to the table. It was a sort of tradition, if tradition could be something that had only been going on for a few months and had been broken more times then was proper.
0--0
They walked in complete silence. Maureen couldn't recall a time when she'd been so quiet. But it had been this way since she'd awoken. Besides a few pleasantries, Joanne hadn't said much but to ask her if she was up for meeting the group. Maureen wasn't quite sure how she'd face Mark (she was confident that he hadn't put any thought into it himself) but otherwise decided that a snap back to the mundane was much needed.
She had never realized how long the walk was until she walked in silence. Not just silence of the outside world, but silence inside of her as well. She didn't hum, didn't perform in her head, nor did she race through scenarios in her mind. She just walked, concentrating on each simple step like it was her niche. She wasn't sure what Joanne was doing, there was so little you could tell from just an iron grip on one's hand, but she was sure about what she wasn't doing--looking at her.
Even when they entered the restaurant, it seemed quieter than usual. All in their heads, most likely, but strange all the same. Friends were spotted in the back at a table, the lack of food not quite surprising. Steps to the table were counted, like Maureen's life was dependent on the quality and number of her footsteps, and small words were exchanged. She dropped into an empty seat next to Angel, while Joanne pulled her chair to the foot of the table, perpendicular to Maureen.
They ordered, and it was still quiet, even though there was a slight commotion going on at the table. None of them were up to it, but Angel, bless her, decided that familiarity would do them all good. She engaged Mimi and Roger in the same conversation and gave Mark a look that said that he'd better start talking to Maureen. She was a miracle worker, that one, for soon they were all absorbed in their conversations with ones who they weren't on good terms with, and nostalgia was flooding the room. Sounds were still stale to ears, but that was easier to ignore it now that they were engaged.
"Have you given it any thought yet, Mark?" Maureen had to know. She trusted that no one but Joanne would hear and understand what she asked.
"Given what any thought?"
Typical.
"Don't play that with me," Maureen snapped.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Maureen slammed down her fork on the table, scattering bits of egg, and stood up. "Stop it!" she shrieked. "Stop pretending like there's nothing wrong and giving me that look! Stop it!"
All eyes were on her now, but she couldn't care less. Mark, however, could. He turned his gaze to his own food. "You're making a scene."
"I don't care! I'm make a scene if I damn well want to make a scene!" She pushed the chair back from the table and it wobbled unsteadily before hitting the floor. Joanne pulled at her, but Maureen escaped her grasp. "I'll tell you what--you start filming and I'll give you the scene of a lifetime! I'm pregnant! Hear that? No--you can't ignore me this time. I'm pregnant Mark, and it's yours, and I'll make a scene if I so feel like it!" She was screaming now, and everything else was utterly still. Maureen gave a shriek and stormed towards the door.
Mark was quiet, and soon looked back down at his food, cutting it slowly. He needed control.
0--0
He saw her run out in a fury--she was pretty hard to miss. But Benny wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do about it. A few months ago and the answer was quite evident--he'd charm her out of her tears. But now...could he do it?
Who was he kidding--he wasn't even welcome around these parts, and Maureen was the most unforgiving. Besides, her new woman was soon at her side, as was the drag queen that Collins had picked up off of some street corner. Benny felt a twinge of jealousy--he should have been there. Not those newcomers--but just him. Collins, if he felt like it, would assist in cheering Maureen from her fits, but the task usually fell to Benny.
But he had to remember that all of that was in the past now. Hell, everything was in the past--now that there was no more future.
0--0
I want to dedicate this to my amazing beta, Ginger Glinda. Without her this would be sooooo full of mistakes because sometimes I sacrafice grammer for wording. Ew.
I loves her and you readers for so much! So please review so I'll love you more!