Not Like Us (mimi)

[Performance Center Newbies]

Mimi was trying to do her mindful exercises as she sat in the hotel room she was sharing with Warren. First Warren had skipped meeting her family because he was too injured but had gone to a movie with Shea and coffee with Rosa. And tonight he’d gone with Shea and his ex-stepson to some Halloween thing without even asking if Mimi wanted to go along.

Then, without discussing it with Mimi first, Warren brought home Damien, and his dog Bluey.

Mimi looked up from her phone to the kid and the dog entering with a confused expression, “Hey…did you forget something?”

“Warren said we can stay overnight,” Damien smiled at Mimi

Was Warren back on good terms with Dean? What the hell was going on?

Warren followed them in and flashed a smile at Mimi.

Mimi's smile was slightly forced, "Oh. Okay...Cool. Sleepover. So uh, when is bedtime?"

“Warren lets me stay up later than Daddy, but that’s a secret,” Damien put his finger to his lips as he smiled innocently at Mimi.

That’s why Warren was the cool dad. Did Warren bring Damien home just to avoid an argument about Shea? Surely Mimi couldn’t argue in front of the kid.

Mimi gritted her teeth but tried to remember the relaxing teachings from the app she'd just been doing before they got here. "Wow. Isn't that awesome?"

“See, I told you Mimi’s cool,” Warren told Damien with a smile

Mimi didn't even bother shooting Warren a glance. She wasn't going to be the bad guy here just went back to her phone, "So I assume you both ate already?"

“I promised Damo ice cream,” Warren said, leading him toward the kitchen, “We still have some right?”

Mimi wanted to object about the time, but it wasn't her kid, it wasn't her place. "Yeah, in the freezer."

“Thanks, sweetness….”

At least she had a nickname that was just hers. That helped her feel a little secure.

Warren opened the freezer, “Let’s see, we got vanilla, chocolate, mint or cookie dough…” Warren told Damien.

“Cookie dough please, Dad,” Damien said, as Mimi heard.

Mimi looked up from her phone, "...You still let him call you 'Dad'?"

“He’s just a kid, slips out sometimes,” Warren dismissed her concerns.

“Sorry,” Damien said, “sometimes I forget you’re not coming home.”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, Damo. Mimi didn’t mean anything by it, this is your home too,” Warren said. “If you want it to be.”

“I don’t think Mimi would like that,” Damien said. “I don’t think she likes me or Bluey. Am I in trouble?”

“No, no buddy. You’re not in trouble,” Warren said softly. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

Warren scooped out some cookie dough ice cream and placed it in a bowl for Damien.

Mimi did not want to have this conversation in front of the kid, but didn't Warren get how this blurring of lines was just going to make things difficult? She looked back at her phone trying to concentrate on her breathing, thinking of all the things in the world that were good and right.

“Just because I stopped loving Daddy, doesn’t mean I’ve stopped loving you, ok? Warren handed Damien the bowl and licked the spoon he’d been scooping with himself.

“Okay, Damien said softly, but why don’t you love Daddy anymore?”

Warren sighed, “That’s complicated. I’ll explain when you’re older…”

Damien frowned, “Okay, but that’s what Daddy says too. Being a grown-up sucks…”

“Yeah, I guess it can,” Warren said, “That’s why I don’t want you to grow up too fast. Want some chocolate syrup?”

“Daddy says I shouldn’t.”

“Well, I won’t tell him if you won’t.”

Damien smiled deviously and nodded firmly.

Warren gave him a dollop of syrup on the ice cream, “As long as you remember to brush your teeth.”

“Yes, Da - Warren…”

“Good boy.”

Mimi rolled her eyes, honesty was the best policy with kids, and being vague about it was only going to make it easier for Dean to blame Warren. "You guys didn't tell him?"

“Tell him what?”

"The truth?"

Warren left Damien in the kitchen with Bluey and went straight to Mimi. “What are you talking about,” Warren said in a strained whisper, “Are you trying to mess this up for me? He’s only five, Mimi, for God’s sake. He doesn’t need to deal with all the BS at his age…”

"I just.... can't you just tell him because Dean's an asshole?"

“Oh that’ll go down well,” Warren said sarcastically, “Look, I may not love Dean anymore, but Damien clearly does, more than he loves me probably. I’m not ruining his relationship with his father just to be petty. I never had my father’s love, look what it did to me. I’m not putting Damien through that. He deserves better.”

"Does he?" Mimi asked. "Dean, I mean. Does he deserve you protecting him like that?"

“I’m not protecting Dean, I’m protecting Damien. Dean’s a hero to him, it’s not my place to tear that down.”

"Okay." Mimi shrugged.

“Now, please behave and don’t say anything stupid,” Warren said.

That got a glare, "Yes, sir."

The camera fades in on Mimi Simpson standing in the middle of a locker room, her eyes blazing with anger.

"I see what this match is. I get this is meant to be an ‘Oh no, can they work together’ and you are being thrown against me and my best friend, Candy. Yeah, we might not be the people you girls are scared of. You might think you have this easy but let’s get one thing straight: we are not the easy targets.”

Mimi starts pacing back and forth, her voice growing more intense with every word.

"Let’s start with Shea. You know, as much as I think there is a lot of bullshit around this company, a log of gossiping and a lot of lies about people I have to admit, I think Harper got one thing right. You got a kink for flirting with a taken man. Do you think Candy didn’t send me that link to your little friend get-together on your blog? Do you think I didn’t see the way you flirt and go after Warren? You might think you’re cute with that fake smile and innocent act, but I know better. You think you can just bat your little eyes and take whatever you want? Nah, honey, not today. Not ever. You’re stepping into dangerous territory, and you don’t even realize it. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am—to build this relationship, this career—and you, Shea, you won’t take ANY of it from me!"

She glares into the camera, her voice dropping into a growl.

"I don’t care. The result’s the same: I will destroy you. You think you can bait me, Shea? Well, congratulations. I’m baited. You better come with everything you’ve got because I’m about to teach you a lesson in respect.”

Mimi huffs.

"Charlotte Shimizu, World Champion, huh?”

Mimi steps forward, her voice dripping with confidence and disdain.

"You might have fooled everyone else with your flashy moves and your so-called dominance, but I see right through it. All the gold, all the accolades—none of it intimidates me, Charlotte. You’ve beaten the best? That’s fine. You’ve been comfortable—too comfortable—and that’s exactly why you’re about to lose everything."

Mimi shrugs.

“But it’s whatever. Either way, me and Candy will handle you both.”