Chapter 8

"Mama, I thought this through." Haley said, her voice lightly cracking, her eyes pleading, leaning forward in her chair at the kitchen table.

"Honey, I know you thought this through, but you're only nineteen, and letting you travel with a band of boys… worries me." Joanne sighed.

Haley turned to Maureen, "Mom…" She said, lowering her voice, "Mommy?"

Maureen shook her head, "No, no…don't mommy me." She said.

"But you'd be all for it!" Haley said, "Don't be a hypocrite. You would have gone on this tour if you were asked. With out a second thought!"

"I would…" Maureen said nodding, getting hit in the shoulder by Joanne, "Hey, ow…" She said, and tried again, "I would yes, but…" She said eyeing Joanne and then Haley, "It's different when you think about letting your nineteen year old daughter go. You're one of my baby girls."

Haley lightly smiled, titling her head to the side, "That means a lot, but please, this is a chance of a life time!"

"What about Kylie and Tyler?" Joanne asked.

"I trust you guys with Kylie." Haley said, "And as for Tyler… well…" She rolled her eyes, "I'll worry about him later…" She mumbled, "Mama you talked with the manager! You even said so yourself he had a good head on his shoulders!"

"I know, Haley, but…"

"Mama please!"

Joanne sighed, her and Maureen eyeing each other. Maureen reached over, resting her hand over top of Joanne's, looking back over at Haley, "Let us talk it over, alright?"

Haley sighed, standing, "Alright… but… two days. Two days they leave on tour…" she said, almost warning them as she walked out of the kitchen, leaving them alone.

Joanne rested her head on Maureen's shoulder, letting out a sigh, "What happened to her? She used to be the smart mature one out of the three."

Maureen smiled, "She still is. She just wants to do something major and we're too scared to let her go and actually grow up."

Joanne lightly laughed, lifting her head up and kissing her cheek, "Wow Honeybear I'm impressed."

Maureen smiled, kissing her nose, "I did a lot of growing up these past few years."

Joanne smirked, reaching out cupping Maureen's cheek, gently brushing her thumb back and forth, "Yes you have." She said, leaning in, lightly brushing her lips against Maureen's, before bringing her into a slow kiss.

Over in the city, Mimi and Angel were heading home after walking through the city, pretty much just window shopping, since they didn't have the money to really buy anything. Both of them were looped by the arms, happily talking.

"Tessa is kissing boys already!?" Angel lightly laughed.

Mimi grinned nodding, "That's what Joanne said."

"Oh chica, those two have a little rebel on their hands." Angel laughed.

"More like a little Maureen." Mimi smiled, her eyes catching something in the distance. "Hey, isn't that Brooke?" she asked, nodding ahead.

Angel looked in Mimi's direction, nodding. "Yeah, that only means Leah must be around." She smiled, "Let's go see what they're up too."

Mimi agreed, and the two began to approach, but stopped when a guy walked out of the store Brooke had just been in.

"That's not Leah." Angel said.

"I know who that is though…" Mimi said, the both of them waiting until the guy left Brooke, but they didn't have to walk towards her. Brooke had stuffed her hands into her pockets, a scowl on her face, and was heading towards the two grumbling something, not even noticing the dancer and drag queen.

"Keep your head up, chica." Angel said, causing Brooke to stop and look up. Angel smirked, reaching out brushing some of her hair out of Brooke's face, "Something wrong?"

"No, no." Brooke said letting out a sigh. "Just some guy…"

"Leo." Mimi said, "Some guy named Leo."

Brooke quickly darted her eyes to Mimi, surprise and worry plastered on her face.

"Drug dealer…of sorts." Mimi said, "I thought-"

"I am! I'm done with the drug selling stuff." Brooke quickly said, "He's bugging me. He's blaming me for putting his boss Tony in jail…he wants money from me, but I'm not giving him any. I don't have any to give."

Angel looked from Mimi to Brooke, "Can you talk to Joanne? She helped you out with the whole Tony thing…"

Brooke shook her head, "No, no… it's fine. I can handle this. They've done enough for me already."

"Brooke…" Mimi said reaching out resting a hand on her shoulder, "The guy doesn't look tough. Mark could fight him. But don't under estimate him."

"I got this." Brooke said, looking up at Mimi. "Thanks." She said, her eyes veering just over Mimi's shoulder, someone eyeing her, and she lightly nodded. "Look I have to go."

"Alright, honey." Angel said, pulling her into a hug, "Be safe." She whispered.

Brooke nodded, giving Mimi a quick hug, and then headed down the street, going into a café. As soon as Mimi and Angel began walking away, the guy she nodded too followed her into the café.

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I forgot to shout this out in my last chapter: but i'd like to give a big thanks to CalzonaMojoFan. She helped me decide the Tessa sickness, and also provided me with the medical information. Thanks again!