And the days go by...
Like a strand in the wind...
In the web that is my own...
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby...
Nothin' else mattered

Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”

(30) BB

(Same night at Chili’s)

Mimi spent the rest of her shift counting the hours and minutes until quitting time. She was miserable. Brett’s shameless flirtation with the newest hostess was getting the best of her, and she couldn’t help it. After Belle, Shawn, Philip and Jan departed, she struggled with the friendly hostess routine and snapped irritably at her co-workers, including Brady.

At first, she made honest attempt to be cordial the new girl, this Amanda. But when she noticed Amanda batting eyes at Brett within the first hour, Mimi felt the need to drop a subtle hint- Brett was spoken for. The claim seemed to only make things worse fueled Amanda’s propensity to flirt even more.

“Is this girl for real?” Mimi asked Pam at the drinks station.

Pam hit the Coke button on the fountain, “I don’t know, but I don’t like her already.”

“Do you see how she acts around Brett? I told her I was dating him and she acts like it’s some license to interfere. What is WRONG with her?”

“I don’t trust her. Can’t tell you why, it’s just a gut feeling. She radiates SLUT,” Pam assured her.

“Thank you,” Mimi breathed gratefully, now knowing she wasn’t paranoid.

“But then again,” Pam added as she set her drinks on the tray, “Brett’s not exactly acting like a ‘taken man’ either.” And off she went.

Ouch- two Brett whammies in one night- first Belle, then Pamela. Did someone place a “Tell Mimi How It Is” sticker on her back?

Near closing time, Mimi went through a quick training of hostess closing duties with Amanda. “I can finish the last items,” Mimi mumbled. “You can go home now.”

Amanda held her head high, “Fine.”

Mimi rolled her eyes and headed back into the dining area. She found Pam counting her tips at an empty booth in the closed section. Mimi took a seat across from her. “I can’t work with her. She makes my skin crawl. I couldn’t take her arrogant attitude anymore so I just sent her home.”

“I though you had to train her to close.”

“I don’t care, I’ll do it myself. I just want her out of my face.”

“Way to go Mimi. The girl just started.”

“I don’t care.”

“I see that,” Pam sighed as she lost her count. “Sssh, I’m counting.”

Mimi stood up, “I’ll leave you alone. I’ve got to finish my shit anyway.

Mimi crossed through the lobby on her way to the kitchen. She did a double-take into the bar area. Amanda was at it again- perched on a bar stool, engaged in deep flirtation with Brett AND Brady.

BITCH!

Brady glanced over his shoulder, witnessing Mimi’s stance of hurt disgust. Mimi glared at Amanda, shaking her head. She met eyes briefly with Brady before stomping to the kitchen

Mimi slammed the door open, and shouted “What a BITCH!” to Arturo, her favorite cook. He shrugged simply and sang along to the blaring overhead music of Outkast, “I’m sorry Miss Jackson, I am for reeeeeeeeal….”

Mimi ignored his nonchalance and proceeded to the cleaning supply closet towards the back of the kitchen. She flipped on the light and kicked the mop buck bucket under the faucet and absentmindedly squirted in too much cleaner. She turned off the faucet and sighed at the bubbles overflowing the bucket. She jabbed a mop into the mixture and froze, gathering her racing thoughts.

Brady stood behind her unnoticed. Mimi, suddenly feeling as if someone was watching her, looked up. Brady remained in solemn silence. For some unexplainable reason, she sensed he was reading her thoughts and feelings.

They stared at each other for until Brady finally backed up to the employee bathroom door. He opened the door slowly and stepped inside. He turned on the light on and paused as he held the door open, inviting.

Without him even saying a word, Mimi understood his outreach immediately.

The mop snapped to the floor as it fell from her clumsy grip. She hesitated for a second, checking to see if anyone was watching. Arturo stood with his back to them, drowning in his own karoke.

The coast was clear

Mimi crossed swiftly to Brady. He shut the door behind her and locked it. They stared at each other, contemplating the temptation of a last minute escape. Their eyes flickered knowingly, letting the temptation pass.

Mimi pressed her back against the door, opening her mouth in an anxious pout as she reached up to touch his face. Brady leaned down to her, mocking her pout before joining his lips to hers in an impassioned kiss. A grateful moan escaped both partners in their surrender. Mimi strengthened her grip, allowing her hands to journey to his shoulders, down his chest before finally finding their way to the bottom of his front t-shirt. She pulled it out frantically and feverishly struggled to tear his hip apron away.

She was in the middle of raising his shirt when a pounding on the door startled them. Mimi’s eyes widened in terror when Brett yelled, “Who’s in there?”

Brady wiped his lips and called out, “It’s me, I’ll be out in a minute.”

Brett gave one last pound to the door, “Hurry the fuck up,”

Mimi covered her mouth and gasped, “Oh my God!”

Brady listened intently for footsteps before announcing, “I think he’s gone.”

Mimi shook her head in fear, “No. Oh my God.”

“He’s gone Mimi.”

“What are we doing? Oh my God, why did that just happen? Oh my God.”

Brady grabbed her hand gently.

She pulled it away reluctantly, “He’s going to kill us.”

“No he won’t.”

“Yes he will,” her voice shook, “You don’t know how Brett is when he gets mad.”

“Fuck him,” he replied irritably.

Mimi shook her head, “Brady, I’m serious.”

“Mimi, forget about him, ok. I can handle him.”

Mimi crossed to the sink and covered her face, “No you can’t.”

Brady stood in front of her and grabbed her hands again, “Let me worry about him. He’s not going to do anything to either one of us. I won’t let him.”

“We shouldn’t have done that, it was wrong.”

Brady reached down to give her a gentle kiss on the lips.

Mimi froze nervously.

“Mimi, listen to me. You’re going to sneak out of here and no one will see you, including Brett. Trust me, no one will ever find out.”

“I can’t. He’ll see, I know he will because that’s just my kind of luck. And when he does, it will be ugly, very ugly.”

They waited a couple minutes before Brady cracked the door open, checking to make sure when the coast was clear.

He reached for her, “Hurry, go.”

Mimi exited swiftly and crossed to the kitchen’s back exit.

Brady turned off the lights and walked through the kitchen, nodding to Arturo. He wandered to the bar where Brett finished rinsing his glasses.

Brett smiled at Amanda before addressing Brady, “It’s about time.”

Brady shook his head, mumbling “Whatever asshole.” He reached into his pocket to grab his tips. He took a seat next to Amanda and handed Brett his cut for the night.

Brett took his money and throw down his towel. He looked up to Amanda, “Don’t leave yet. Most of us hang out after work for a little bit.”

Brett left the bar and headed to the kitchen, where he bumped into a rather nervous Mimi.

“I was on a smoke break,” she explained defensively.

“Do I give a shit?” he responded as he brushed past her.

Mimi gaped at his departing figure and sniffed. She returned to the lobby and grabbed her coat, tears burning her eyes. She glared at SLUT Amanda before meeting Brady’s soulful gaze. She turned on her heels and gave the assistant manager a quick check out before storming away from the living hell.

She was opening the door to the VW when Brady jogged up to her. She wiped her tears away and turned to face him. “Brady, I’ve got to go.”

“Look, I’m sorry, but you can do much better than him.” Brady said firmly.

Mimi stared at her keys, “Brady stop. This is too much right now. I am SO confused. Between him and…YOU,” she whined.

“I’ll follow you home and we can talk or whatever.”

“No,” she insisted. “I have to go. Your sister is spending the night, so just…” she gestured to be left alone.

Without adding anything else, she got in her car and drove off.

She was ashamed that it had come down to this. It began as a fascination- an older man attracted to HER, insecure, unpopular Mimi. Eventually, the relationship became a source of emotional and mental abuse- often verbal, sometimes physical. But underneath it all, she was still Miriam, a doormat at heart, always running back for more. Once Brett realized what he could get away with, he took advantage of her weakness time after time.

And then there was Brady…

******************

Mimi entered the apartment several emotionally torturous minutes later. She found Belle on the couch, watching movie and eating Ginny’s microwave popcorn.

She smiled wanly, “Hey, you don’t mind if I take a shower first, do you?”

Belle shook her head, “Go ahead. How was your night?”

Mimi entered the darkness of her bedroom and shouted “Wonderful Belle, very… enlightening.”

She took a long hot shower and threw on favorite pajamas. She threw on her best happy face and joined Belle in the living room. “How did you manage to convince your mom to let you stay here?”

“A LOT of begging. That and I told her Ginny would be here. I told her she was 22 and a completely responsible adult.”

Mimi laughed at that one, “Belle Black, you LIE. You know Ginny’s in New York with her dad to attend her great aunt’s funeral.”

“It was a innocent fib.”

Mimi laughed again and reached for her cigarettes. “FIB. Mother, I don’t lie, I FIB.”

She put on her coat and walked out to balcony.

Belle put on her own coat and followed her to divulge the details of her shopping trip with Paulie.

When Mimi lit a second consecutive cigarette, Belle became concerned. “Mimi, why do you do that?”

“What?”

“Smoke so much?”

Mimi rolled her eyes, not in the mood for a lecture, “It relaxes me.”

“Isn’t it like expensive?”

Mimi exhaled and stuffs her lighter into her pack, “Yeah, but so what. It’s my money, I’ll do what I want with it.”

“I thought you didn’t have that much money after all your bills were paid. You’re always complaining about being broke, so why waste your money?”

“Maybe I should find someone to BUY them for me,” Mimi offered coldly in reference to Paulie.

Belle’s face fell, “Ok, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for me to come here tonight.” She stood up and went to grab her things to in the bedroom. Mimi stubbed out her cigarette and followed her, apologizing. “Belle, I’m sorry. Belle!”

Belle turned around, “What?”

“I’m sorry! Look, I had a really rough night. It was just… weird. I don’t mean to take it out on you. I know you’re just concerned about my health and all. Yes, smoking is a bad habit. But I’ve been really uptight lately, and it relaxes me. Just don’t…nag me. I will quit someday, I promise. Just don’t bother me about it, ok. It’s my decision, I’ll make it when I’m ready.”

“If you say so.”

“Please stay.”

“Are you sure? You promise you won’t snap at me?”

“I promise, cross my heart.”

“Ok I’ll stay.”

Mimi sighed, “All right, now tell me more about Paulie.”

Mimi found herself considering how someone else might feel about Belle’s little sugar daddy. “What about Shawn?” she asked curiously.

Belle raised her eyebrow, “Whaaaaaaat? It’s not like I’m cheating on him or anything. Paulie’s just a friend.”

“A very good looking friend that’s very attracted to you, AND likes to buy you very expensive gifts.”

“Mimi…” she whined.

Mimi grimaced, realizing that now she was spoiling the mood. She ran her fingers across her pursed lips in a zip-it like gesture.

Belle continued animatedly, relaying her newest glamour girl fantasy.

Mimi smiled knowingly. Fantasies were her specialty these days.

*******************

Mimi tossed and turned for nearly an hour after they finally went to bed. Belle was fast asleep in Chloe’s futon. Probably dreaming about another shopping trip.

Mimi crawled out of bed and entered the living room. Given her inability to stop thinking about the Brett/Brady situation, fantasy land was sounding like the perfect cure. She went into the kitchen and opened the freezer, daring to go where no human should go- Chloe’s Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She reached for the container and a spoon, vowing to replace it before Chloe got home that evening.

She returned to the living room and went straight to entertainment center. She grabbed her VHS tape labeled simply “Mimi’s husband and stuff.”

She made herself comfortable on the couch as Dido sang the opening credits of Roswell…

There he was in all his perfection, her future husband, Brendan Fehr, aka Michael Guerin.

She envisioned herself as Michael’s true, forbidden, human love- Maria DeLuca. It wasn’t such an unrealistic idea, she did resemble her, somewhat- at least that’s what Belle told her. For tonight, no more Majandra Delfino. Uh huh, Miriam Lockhart wore the Crashdown Café waitress uniform. Beautiful long curls cascading down her back. And Mikey G lovingly addressed his “Miriam” sans his brooding attitude.

Mimi smiled, beside herself with joy.

The next scene showed Max and Liz. Mimi hit fast forward. Max and Liz = boring, boring, boring.

Back to Micheal and Maria, er Miriam. She didn’t mind him calling her Miriam instead of Mimi. In fact, she preferred it, for some odd reason.

Brady called her Miriam.

Mimi closed her eyes, drifting further into fantasy land… Mimi was standing at the pick up counter, alien antennas bobbing wildly, laughing and flirting with Space Boy, who was suddenly being played by…Brady Black.

Mimi pushed the thought away irritably. Good God, she couldn’t even enjoy her own ongoing fantasy without Brady somehow entering the picture. What bothered her even more was that it came effortlessly.

She opened her eyes again and focused on the Fehr man.

Three episodes later, she finally drifted off to sleep

*****************

Mimi was stirred awake the next morning by a knocking at her door. She padded through the dark living room to the doorway. Not bothering to check the peep hole, she opened the door, eyes squinting in the December morning light.

A floral deliveryman peeked from behind a bouquet of a dozen pink roses. “Delivery for Miriam Lockhart.”

“Huh,” Mimi answered, still groggy.

“Is this the Miriam Lockhart residence?”

“Yeah,” she whispered.

The deliveryman handed her the bouquet and wished her a good day. Mimi brought the bouquet to the coffee table in front of the couch. She wrapped herself in her blanket before reaching for the card. She opened up the envelope only to find a simple, personalized inscription….

BB

“Brady,” Mimi whispered.