Author's Note: Hey y'all. This is my first "on-my own" fanfic, this is all based entirely off of some rps my friend Liv and I did. I'm following the movie plot line because while it is a dream of mine to see Rent on Broadway I can't afford it. I am terribly sorry for any grammar or spelling errors made-all of these have been run through Word but that doesn't mean a whole lot. I have a Mac and I'm looking for some on-line grammar checks, please let me know if you know of a good one. All reviews are welcome as is any constructive criticism. I going to stay it now, I am a pre-vet college student and while I hope to be able to post weekly, I may not be able too.

Oh yes the disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own Rent (play or movie) or any work related to it. I can only claim my characters and additional plot. Damnit!

I hope you guys enjoy the first chapter!

Losing My Religion

Chapter One: Last Resort

Ros's teeth chattered as she shivered. Her coat was thin and pathetic, it was old having been her father's before hers. She desperately needed a new one but she had to wait until money wasn't so tight. Her faded NYU sweatshirt held some warmth to her small body; not enough to fend of New York City's vicious winter wind entrapping her blond almost curling hair. Her crystal blue eyes met her friend's dark ones; they were running out of places and out of time. She glanced down to the newspaper want ads, one left.

Apart. Four room. Two Bed. One bath.

CHEAP. Loft style available. Huge windows.

Her crystal blue eyes stared at the building, it felt intimidating as age had worn upon it and made the building more foreboding. The building appeared worn down and poorly run but what could she expect for their price range? After two weeks of searching, and countless eviction threats from her current super, Ros didn't care as long as it didn't leak too badly and the place was cheap. She'd take anything; she didn't really have a choice. With a long finger she brushed back her wavy blond hair and looked at her friend questioningly. They had been searching for apartments for the past weeks; each one had been too expensive. Hope and morale was low as time ran out. They had until the end of the week to clear out. Or they'd join the homeless on the street. Shiri sent Ros a half grin before looking back at the obvious dump and saying with a false optimism, "Well...it has potential...in a rustic, bohemian sort of way." As the wind tugged at her wild curling brown hair. Her strong jean jacket fought off the New York wind.

Ros shrugged secretly hoping the building held a hidden charm: it was tall brick with old garage doors covered in graffiti. It rose to a respectable five stories; with the promised huge windows some of the windows were boarded over where they had been broken. The stoop was simple: a concrete block leading to a pitiable door with minimal glass. At one point the door had seen high society until society up graded. It was on 14th street which wasn't the drug neighborhood-yet- but it wasn't high class either. The neighborhood was mostly for starving artists who were trying to make their way in the world. Like them. "Any other suggestions love?" She offered to her friend, hopelessly.

"We should at least take a look inside," Shiri suggested, taking a cautious step forward before adding on, "It is after all... basically our last hope." She tucked her hands into her worn jean jacket and took the few steps to crossing the street to the front door. Two signs on the door caught their eyes: one announcing that there was an apartment for rent and another claiming eviction to anyone who didn't pay last year's rent. "Well," Shiri said back to her friend, "The super's an ass. Still want to give the place a try?"

"What other choice we got?" Ros responded backing up her friend as they tried to convince each other that this was a good thing.

Shiri shrugged "Besides they can't be worse than the super we got already" She winked and opened the door into the dark unlit hallway. "Note to self: carry flash light and mace," She muttered jokingly with a serious undertone as she led the way up the rusting metal staircase. The paper said that the apartment was on the fourth floor, they carefully headed up; she walked cautiously over the stairs fearing them to collapse beneath her. She made certain not to touch either the gum encrusted railing or the graffiti littered walls. "Nothing a good cleaning couldn't fix," She muttered to herself. At that precise moment as she turned a corner towards the fourth floor a collection of roaches scattered and she let out a very girlish scream. "Ok, No! Nope! Not here!" She very childishly squirmed, turning tail to flee back down the stairs. Ros inhaled holding her own surprise in. She caught her friend and pushed her forward. Bugs Ros could handle. Ros solidly blocked her way, putting her strong hands upon her friend's shoulders to catch her. "Deep breaths" Her blue eyes held her friends tightly and she gently reminded her. "We can take care of that." There was something calming and earthy about this place. She couldn't say what exactly, and she couldn't figure out why. But she liked it. "C'mon. Let's go through with this"

Shiri breathed calmly and relaxed her shoulders, "Alright...it's cool. I'll be fine...just ignore the unearthly fear of all things creepy crawly." With that she turned back and continued to walk towards the room. Ros silently smiled shaking her head and following her friend in the dark hallway towards the room, she hoped it would be unlocked. Though she had decent locksmith skills, she could unlock the door, but she had issues locking it back without the keys, which always made it interesting to explain. They both stopped at the door-4A. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her eyes met her friend's deep brown ones. "Ready?"

"Yea," Shiri breathed, "Let's get this over with."

Ros opened the door, the central room was actually quite spacious with a central HUGE window, and she meant HUGE with it nearly taking up the entire opposite wall offering an amazing view of the city's partial sky line. A decent yet outdated kitchen sat to their left. The place needed a good scrubbing, or six. But neither she nor Shiri were strangers to that; they both had cleaned almost everything in their lives so a little elbow grease was nothing. The room looked expansive when empty, but it was obvious that it would be cluttered when filled with their furniture. The bed rooms, she assume, were on either side of the main room like wings. The bathroom remained hidden from here, it was assumed there somewhere. "Not bad"

"Not bad at all," Shiri loosened up some when she saw the place had some hope. She

walked a bit towards the right side of the room and opened one door. There was a reasonably large enough space in there, good enough for her at least. "Hey we can fit our beds in here," Shiri said with a smile, "And then some. Found the bathroom?"

"Yeah" Ros opened the first door with frosted glass, almost like an exterior door. She wondered if it was some joke. But she opened it anyway. Light blue tile stared back at her; it was mostly clean needing some fresh grout work, and elbow grease as well as a lot of TLC. But the mirror was intact and huge, and the lights seemed to mostly work, maybe a few new bulbs. Nothing major. It had decent counter/sink space as well as a nice linen closet. She called out. "Not bad..." and muttered to herself, "Not necessarily for two people but we'll manage"

Moments later Shiri emerged from the room and eyed the place over, "Well, it really needs some work, but nothing a little time can't fix." She looked to Ros with a smile then and shrugged, "So what's the verdict gal?"

She shrugged, and slipped into third person using her last name as a joke. She often went by both. "Thanos says she's game"

Shiri replied with a smile and sarcasm, "Kateb is pleased and is game." She laughed then, looking the place over one more time before adding; "Only problem is it's on the fourth floor. We can't afford movers so getting the couch in will be interesting." Ros walked out to the main, room and over to the window, she looked it over for a minute chewing on her lip until she found the latch. Both windows opened to the size of double doors. Cautiously she stepped out onto the fire escaped and lightly jumped up and down on it, testing its strength. It was up to code, and safe. She looked back to her friend. "A six pack of beers, and some serious rope, I think we can get some boys to help up haul it up the fire escape"

"Sounds good," Shiri smiled, joining her friend out on the deck, "I'll find the boys if you get the beer...seeing as I have terrible taste in beer."

Ros laughed. "I'm sure I can find some." Creaking echoed above them, and voices echoed out as well as the faint tinkling of a guitar. Both male. A relatively tall skinny white man with short blond hair that flipped in the front from gel walked out holding a mug. His bright blue eyes looked down between the gratings in the fire escape. His bright red sweater stood out against the muted grays and browns of the city. He leaned over the railing to get a better view. "Oh!" He sounded surprised and a little awkward. "Hey. Are-are you guys looking to rent?"

Shiri looked up smiling as she replied "Well, we are seriously considering it. For a limited budget place ain't half bad."

The guy offered a sweet smile. "No, it's really great actually. The mice are friendly too." He took a long draw from his coffee. "I hope you do, we miss having a tenant below." He waved with his free hand. "I'm Mark by the way, and my roommate's Roger banging on the guitar" He gestured behind him into the apartment

"I'm Shiri," She waved casually back starting to like the prospect of living there even more, "And this gangling thing is my roomier Ros." She gestured to her friend then, nudging her to say a hello.

Ros nodded "Hey" Again her eyes looked out to the sky line, creative cogs turning in her head. She idly commented. "Nice view though" Mark nodded and agreed. "Yes, it's gorgeous, the one and only view from the prestigious Alphabet City." He kindly teased about the place's

past.

"Paint it later sweetie," Shiri laughed, giving her roomie a kind and supportive smile. She had noticed Ros staring out over the town soaking it all in. She knew her friend's expression. Ros stuck her tongue out at her friend teasingly, Mark asked curiously.

"Oh, do you paint?" Ros nodded.

"Yes, lucratively. But hopefully it'll support me some day." She shrugged with a smile. "You?"

He responded. "I write, but mostly I dabble my hand in film. Roger's the musician if you can call it that." The girls could hear Roger calling in the background tell him to fuck off, as he tried to work. His eyes met Shiri, "You artist too?" She smiled, "Writer actually, fiction mostly." She laughed but then added with a bit of a mutter to herself, "With little success."

He shrugged with a gentle smile. "We're all waiting for that" Shiri sighed, "Ugh, you're telling me." She then looked to her roommie and asked bluntly, "So we want it?"

Ros thought about it for a second. "I think so." Mark smiled. "Well, welcome to Alphabet City, let us know if you need anything." Ros whispered to her friend. "I found the guys"

"Damnit," Shiri replied, "Fine. I'll pay for the beer, but you have to tell me which kind or we end up with bud light." Ros smiled.

"Sam Adams is always acceptable."

"Good old Sam it is then," Shiri laughed and then leaning back on the railing called up to the new neighbor, "Hey, question, would you and your roommate be willing to help us move a couple things in by the end of the week? We will supply substance if needed."

Mark thought about it. "Sure, I know I can. And knowing Roger, I'll make him." Again they heard some grumpy comments from the unseen man. Mark called in. "We're helping the girls below us move in!" There was a general sound of dissent from Roger. Ros yelled in.

"We're bringing beer!" A second or two passed, and something along the lines of "sure why not" responded. Ros smiled to the two of them. "I win"

"Your way into any mans heart, huh Ros?" Shiri laughed jokingly to her friend before returning her attention to the man above, "Well thank you kindly Mark. It was a pleasure meeting you and kinda meeting Roger."

Mark nodded. "Indeed, it was a pleasure to meet you, Shiri." He looked to Ros "You as well. I'll be looking forward to a nice beer." Ros chuckled. "Me too. We'll being seeing you guys soon." After a casual wave, Shiri made her way back inside the room, waiting until Ros closed the windows firmly behind them before she commented, "Ok, so another plus. At least one of our fellow tenants is hot." Ros laughed out loud, enjoying her friend's comment.

"Finally, you going after a guy!" she reflected for a moment. "Yeah, he's not bad on the eyes"

"Cute in a geeky kind of way," Shiri smiled, "And what do you mean by finally going after a guy my dear? Have I been hitting on woman in my sleep again? I know I'm a little on the dry side when it comes to dating, but I still like the male sex dear, sorry."

"I don't know who Mary Ellis is, but I won't tell her what you say at night." Ros teased as she winked at her friend, but seriously Ros replied "It's just so rare"

"Yea well, you know me: the not-trusting-bordering-on-man-hating bitch," She shrugged and gave the place a quick eye over, changing the conversation as rapidly as it had come, "So it's a yes. We need to get in contact with the owner and send in the down payment quickly. We do after all have till Sunday until Roberts kicks us on to the street."

"Do you think we should come over a day early to clean?" She asked heading towards the door giving the place a last look over

"Definitely" Shiri nodded, "We really need to give this place a good shining." Smiling she went to the door and opened it, gesturing for her friend to exit.

"Ladies first" Ros teased; she bowed slightly gesturing for her friend to go first

'"Hey! You are a Lady! The King at Medieval Times has deemed it so!" She smiled and gestured towards the hall, "Now, move your big booty lady!"

Ros laughed. "Oh fine!" She sashayed out of the room in a mock air of being angry

Shiri laughed and followed, closing the rickety door behind her.