Okay, now this is my first fic so please be kind. I've been planning it out for months and I think I've finally gotten it as perfect as I could make it. This story will be pretty much all Roger/Mimi with some Maureen/Joanne and Mark/OC. Collins and Benny will be in it a bit too, so there will be small mentions of Benny/Allison. But it's mostly just Roger/Mimi, otherwise the story would be veeeeery long.
I'm starting it with a "T" rating, but I'm not entirely sure how bad it'll get. There will be some suggestive scenes and some scenes of violence, and definitely some swearing, but I'm not sure how bad it'll get. So when you review would you please also let me know whether you think it should stay "T" or be upgraded to "M"? Assuming people review this, that is.
And, finally, Thanks so so so much to Yume, my beta-reader. Thank you very much. And now my story. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rent. If I did Tamyra would have long hair.
Mimi swung around the pole swaying her hips in perfect time to the music. Some drunk 40-something-year-old held a five-dollar bill out to her. She took it smiling at him and stuffed the bill into her top.Mimi had been back to work for a week so far and she had never felt better. Physically, anyway.She had spent a month staying at the loft, resting and trying to get better. To her surprise, it had actually worked. She never thought two months ago that she would ever recover from the state she was in.
Emotionally, she wasn't sure how she was. She and Roger had gotten back together… Sort of. They lived together, they tolerated each other, and they never fought anymore. But that was pretty much it. They never did anything else. For the most part Mimi felt pretty ignored.
The music finally stopped and Mimi climbed down off the stage, her shift finally over. Dancers at the Cat Scratch Club worked three hour shifts. They could work as many as two per night, but they couldn't work all three. Mimi always worked the shift from 9:00 pm to midnight, except on Sundays, which she had off.
Mimi entered her dressing room to the sound of laughter. Her dressing roommates, Mariah and Keisha, were laughing hysterically at something as they removed their heavy make-up.
"What's so funny?" Mimi asked as she sat down and began removing her own make-up.
"The new regular," Mariah responded matter-of-factly.
"Who?" Mimi hadn't noticed anyone new. But, then again, she had just returned last week.
"He's a total dweeb!" Keisha exclaimed, "He's one of those guys stands no chance in hell of getting a girl. And he knows it so he spends all his time fantasizing over the pretty girls at the nearest strip club."
"Guys, don't be so mean about it," Mimi scolded them. She didn't think it was very fair of them to be picking on someone they had never even met.
"Oh, but we haven't even told you the best part," Mariah said mischievously, "You see, he used to come around every once in a while. He started a couple months back, while you were gone. But lately he's been coming around every night from nine to midnight."
Mimi thought she saw where Mariah was going, but she wasn't going to help her get there.
"And the whole time he stares at you," Keisha finished for her.
"How can you tell?" Mimi asked skeptically.
"It's obvious. Just watch him. I'll point him out to you tomorrow and you'll see. He's only got eyes for you, hon."
Mimi groaned. She hated it when guys stared specifically at her. Although, she had to admit it was nice to get some attention.
As the girls were leaving the club Mimi was distracted by a young man who had stepped in front of her. He looked very pale (Mimi thought there was no way he could always be that pale.) and was sort of shaking, fidgeting his hands and looking down at his feet.
Judging by the sudden outbreak of giggle behind her, Mimi assumed this must be "the new regular."
"Hi." Mimi said, trying to be polite, "Um, if you don't mind, could you please move? You're in my way."
"My name is Todd," he blurted out quickly.
Mimi just stared, she had no idea what to do. The polite thing would be to give her name. That didn't mean she was going to, however, until she heard Mariah and Keisha laughing behind her. They weren't even bothering to hide the fact that they were laughing at the poor boy.
"Hi, Todd. I'm Mimi," Mimi said politely shaking his hand. Mariah and Keisha stared at her like she was crazy. You never give someone your real name.
"Listen… I was… Um… wondering… If you weren't busy… Wouldyaliektogooutwithme?" He said the last part very quickly and smashed together, but Mimi knew what he'd said.
"I'm sorry, I can't. I have a boyfriend." Mimi said, still trying to be as polite as possible.
"Oh, ok. Then, I'll be going… Um… See you around, I guess," he said, trying to mask his disappointment. And he walked away slowly, with his head down.
"Wow… What a loser!" Mariah exclaimed and Keisha laughed in agreement.
"Don't be so mean!' Mimi exclaimed, and she turned around and walked out the door, leaving her stunned co-workers behind.
Todd's POV
I walked away from Mimi feeling like a total idiot. What was I thinking? I stood no chance with someone like her. She's too pretty, kind, smart, and just… Perfect.
There's no way she has a boyfriend, though. No respectful boyfriend would ever let his girlfriend work at a sleazy place like this.
As I turned around and walked away I could hear the other two girls making fun of me. I don't know why Mimi would hang around girls like them. They're such rude, stuck-up bitches.
I had just begun thinking that maybe I should just give up when I heard Mimi scold the others for making fun of me.
So… She does like me… A little bit, at least. So…That means I stand a chance! All I have to do is convince her that I'm the perfect person for her. That might take some time, but I can do it. I have to.
Mimi entered the loft and looked around. There was no one there. Of course. Mark was out with his new girlfriend, Jodie. Mimi liked her, she fit in perfectly with everyone. She was also perfect for Mark. Outgoing enough to stand up for the couple, yet down to earth enough to see how awesome Mark was. Collins was probably out with some of his university buddies.
And Roger was at work… Again… He was always at work. Mimi didn't see how someone who works as a bar tender could work so damn much. Wasn't that supposed to be the problem with lawyers, doctors, and other jobs where you had to college first?
Roger got home really late from work everyday, so he'd sleep until noon. Then he'd have to leave almost immediately to make it to his 1:00 shift. He worked for five hours; then he got a two hour break before starting his 8:00 shift. Then he got off at 1:00 am and didn't get home until 1:30.
As soon as he got home he would undress and go immediately to sleep. Even if Mimi was awake, he'd still go to bed saying he was really tired. Then he'd sleep until noon and start the whole cycle all over again.
The only days he didn't work all day were the days his band practiced. Every Tuesday and Thursday they practiced from 8:00-11:00. On these nights Roger would get home before Mimi, but he was always either asleep or busy when she got home. Then every Saturday they usually had a gig that went on until past midnight.
Mimi hardly ever saw him anymore. And it made no sense to her. He had promised they would spend more time together, but so far they spent more time last year when they were fighting constantly. At least when they fought he paid some form of attention to her. Now she got nothing at all.
Mimi lay in bed for an hour before she heard the loft door open. She lay there listening as Roger got ready for bed and then slipped under the covers.
"You're home," Mimi said, pointing out the obvious for hopes at starting a conversation.
Roger jumped a mile and almost fell out of bed. Mimi had to work very hard to stifle a laugh.
"Mimi! You sacred the hell out of me! Why are you up?"
"I was waiting for you," she said innocently, placing a hand on his arm.
"Mimi, not tonight. I'm too tired." he said before rolling over and falling asleep.
Mimi lay there, staring at him. He was always too tired. Was it too much for her to want to spend a little time with her boyfriend? They barely even spoke anymore. Todd had said more to her in the past few weeks than Roger had. Holding back tears, Mimi rolled over and fell asleep.
Mimi rolled over and looked at the clock- 12:30. She got up and dressed, not bothering to shower. She walked out of the bedroom to find Roger with his back to her talking on the phone.
Roger sounded really happy about something. Mimi couldn't hear the other person distinctly, but it sounded like a woman.
"Yeah…" Roger said, then he waited for the other person to say something, "I know… Six days… I can't wait… Ok. Thank you so much. Bye."
He hung up and turned around noticing Mimi.
"Mimi! How long have you been standing there?" he asked, looking nervous.
"I just go here," she lied and a look of relief came over his face. "Who was that?"
"That?" Roger asked, getting nervous again, "Oh, that was just my cousin, Kayla."
"Oh! I gotta go," he said, looking at his watch before Mimi had a chance to inquire any further, "I have work in 30 minutes. Bye!" and he was out the door. He didn't even give her a kiss good-bye.
Mimi sat at the table, thinking hard. Roger only had one cousin named "Kayla" that Mimi could think of and the one time Roger had mentioned her it was in a long rant about why he hated his family so much. He claimed she was a "stuck-up, snobbish bitch who cared only about her self." So why was he happy she had called?
Unless… She didn't call, and that was someone else… She couldn't deny the thought had entered her mind, but she never would have believed it. After everything he put her through last year why would he cheat? But then again, there seemed to be no other explanation.
Roger was always gone. He said he was at work, and that he worked so much because they needed the money. But Mimi didn't think they had any more money than they had before he started working. They were never together. He barely talked to her. And now he was getting secret phone calls.
More to stop her thinking than anything else, Mimi decided to do some laundry and grabbed a basket and headed down the stairs.
Mimi entered the laundromat across the street to find that, to her dismay, someone was already there.
"Hey, Mimi," Tricia said. Tricia was Jodie's younger sister. She lived in Mimi's old apartment with her mom, step-dad, and two younger half-siblings.
She was sitting on a dryer, reading some teen magazine. "Leonardo DiCaprio is so hot. Did you see 'Titanic'?"
"No, I missed that one," Mimi said jokingly, as she was on the streets when the movie had come out.
"Oops, oh yeah. Sorry. Well, when you get a chance, you should see it. It's very good. So romantic.. And tragic… And sad… And the effects are awesome…And Leonardo DiCaprio is so hot!"
Mimi laughed at the teenager drooling over some celebrity. She began loading a washer when Tricia spoke again.
"Of course, you don't need someone like him. You've got Roger and he's ten times better than Leonardo DiCaprio. He might even be hotter. I haven't decided yet." She smiled humorously at Mimi. Mimi returned it half-heartedly, trying to not let Tricia onto how bad their relationship was now. "Hey, is there any relationship advice in that magazine?" Mimi asked, half-interested in if there actually was. She could definitely use some relationship advice right now. "A magazine for teens… Hmmm… Could there possibly be any article about relationship advice?" Tricia responded, sarcastically. Then she smiled and asked "What do you want to know?"
"Is it possible for someone to feel strongly about someone, and then change?"
"What?"
"Like. Is it possible for someone to be completely, madly in love with someone and then one day just not love them as much anymore."
"I suppose so. I mean, look at my parents. They used to love each other. I mean, they had two kids and were married and he took her out often and stuff. But now they hate each other's guts. Why? You aren't thinking of dumping Roger, are you?"
Mimi smiled slightly. Tricia absolutely loved Roger. Not in the "I want to marry you" way, but in the "I totally idolize you and love everything you do" way. Roger had helped her out a few months ago and she had taken great interest in his and Mimi's relationship. The movie-loving teen claimed it was "a love story no screenwriter could create."
"No. I'm not talking about me."
"Oh, ok. Good. Because he would be absolutely crushed." she sat in silence for a while reading her magazine until the dryer buzzed. Then she empty the clothes into a basket and headed upstairs.
"See you, Mimi. Mom and Emil are going out tonight. So I get to baby-sit… Wahoo." she added sarcastically, twirling her finger slowly in the air.
Mimi laughed and watched her leave.
A few minutes later Mimi put her clothes in the dryer and sat down thinking about what Tricia had said. Then, as hard as she could, she couldn't stop the tears anymore. Yes, it was true that people's feelings could change, and Roger's probably had. The problem was Mimi's hadn't.
Yes, I know. That was depressing. But I promise, it gets better! So, don't throw anything, ok? To see what Todd and Jodie and her family look like go to my profile. (Hopefully I did that correctly and the links are linkable.)