Another Set of Eyes

Authors note: My College had decided to put on RENT, and because it is one of my favorite musicals I decided to Audition. I did get a part, not a main character but I play homeless/Squeegee woman/HIV Positive Bohemian. We were asked to create backgrounds for our characters even if they werent main characters, to get more into playing them. I kind of went a bit overboard so one of my cast mates suggested Id put it up on here. To those familiar with the Broadway and movie versions, Id like to pre-warn you that, because this is based off of what my school did, things maybe a teensy bit different (eg. squeegee woman instead of squeegee man). Anyways, onto the story

Another Set of Eyes

She was in it the whole time, she had her own story. She knew Angel before Collins came along, she had worked with Mimi at the Cat Scratch club. She sang Christmas Bells with the homeless, she was homeless. Who was this girl who watched from afar as Roger and Mimi fought? Who was filmed by Mark at a point? Who cheered Maureen on during her protest? Who felt great when Angel and Collins found each other? Who daydreamed about Santa Fe? Her name was Lillian Lil / Lili Yoluta and she werent always homeless.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, the storyline or the songs in the RENT musical, Im just a fan, but I do own Lillian Yoluta.

Chapter 1: Hey its me Lil

My name is Lillian Yoluta, at work I'm known as Li-Li, and my friends call me Lil. I am 19 years old Ive lived here in the East Village for almost a year. I was actually born in late May and raised in a small town in the middle of nowhere. My parents were artists, my mom was a musician and my dad was a painter, I also have 7 younger siblings, yes there are eight of us in all my twin sisters Dawn and Skye are next they are 16, then I have three brothers Colt is 15, Ash is 13, and Jasper is 10, My youngest sister Ruby is 7 and my youngest brother Heath is 6. My parents were young when I was born, they were both 18, at first they were afraid that the same thing would happen to me, it didn't though.

As I mentioned before, I moved to my New York City apartment earlier this year, I told my parents I wanted to be on my own after high school. Yes that was one reason but another was I was getting sick of the Chaos at home. No it wasn't because of all of us kids in close age living under one roof, ok maybe that may have been a part of it, a couple years before I made my move to the East Village of New York City, I was in an accident where I needed a blood transfusion. Even through the whole AIDS epidemic they did it to save my life, they were told that it was only gay guys who got it so they weren't too worried. After the transfusion I had gotten really sick, it went on for a while they took me to the doctors office continuously but he couldn't seem to figure what was wrong. That was until they tested me, waiting for the result was agony and when it finally came everyone's hearts dropped to they're stomachs.

The blood transfusion resulted in me being HIV positive.

My parents kept me away from my siblings which tore my heart out because I loved them so much. What also saddened me that HIV could be passed down from mother to child which broke my dream of having a family someday. I don't want my children to suffer like I did. My parents spent a lot of money for my AZT, both of them had been working more and more hours and taking on other jobs. My siblings who I was once so close to started blaming me for things because of it, the lack of parents and things to do. That is why I originally decided to move to New York City.

I live on the corner of 11th Street and Avenue B my apartment was once a music publishing factory. I have a lot of neighbors, most of them Bohemians like me. There's always something going on. When I first made my home here I knew Id need a job right away. My neighbor Mimi Marquez who had also just moved there recently found out that I was a dancer and told me about the Cat Scratch club.

Mimi's a really sweet girl shes pretty too with her dark curly hair and warm brown eyes. Shes fun to get to know as well. I also found out that she had a small crush on the musician who lived above her with his roommate, Roger. The thing was he was also taken by this blond haired blue eyed girl named April. Mimi wasn't sure when she could make her move.

I did get a job at the club not too long later.

There I was I was a stripper, something I really didn't want to tell my parents so I lied a bit and told them I go to dance recitals. I was at the Cat Scratch club as I pole danced the men in the audience placed dollars in my hot pants. Mimi and I sometimes had shifts together so we would walk there together. She was amazing how her body moved so smoothly. I had to look away and pay attention to what I was doing. Yes I did find girls sexy, my parents never knew about that either though, but I also think guys are sexy. That went on for as long as I had lived there. Yes lived, you saw that right it was early October when that happened. I was making money at the Cat Scratch Club but that was to pay for my AZT and the pot that Id smoke once in a while, but mostly for the AZT. My parents sent me money once in a while but it has been lack lately.

So when I got to the apartment with Mimi I noticed Benny there standing in front of my Apartment door. I stopped suddenly Benny gave me a look. My electricity was cut off and my phone was disconnected. That October night was the first night I had no home.

But I knew that I wasn't the only one. I looked at the lot next to the building and noticed a small tent city starting. I had no tent, and it was late I didn't want to wake anyone. I looked up at the building then down and sighed as I tried to find a place to settle. My lungs started to hurt and I was coughing, losing my balance I fell onto the cold concrete. My beeper went off, I slowly sat up as I went through my book bag to find my AZT. Nearby, I could hear another beeper go off as I pulled out the pill bottle and opened it. I gathered some saliva in my mouth I hadn't been able to grab a water bottle as I popped the AZT forcing it down my throat into my petite body. It didn't work, the pill had gotten stuck and I was having problems breathing. I hacked again.

There was a blur that rushed passed me and cradled my head so it wouldn't hit the ground. I felt cool water hit my lips.

"Swallow, honey, swallow" The person said to me, they seemed really worried. I swallowed the water and the pill that was stuck finally went down.

I couldn't tell if it was male or female at first, until I opened up my eyes. It was a male, a guy I could tell by his Adams apple and the fact he had no boobs, although he looked like a very feminine male. He was petite for a guy too probably not much taller than myself. He ran his painted fingernails through my short auburn hair. I glanced over and noticed a ten-gallon pickle tub, a pair of drumsticks and the, oh so familiar, AZT bottle.

"Are you ok honey?" he asked me, his voice was soft and soothing.

"For now I guess" I said as I struggled to get up.

I looked into his brown eyes, I could just tell he wasnt straight. I was familiar with a lot of different guys that came to see me at the Club. A lot of them were regulars and some paid better than others, I studied how a lot of different straight guys act. Yes there were a few guys who were sweet but not like this. This guy seemed almost, motherly, the way he talked and held me.

"Th-Thank y-you" I stuttered.

He helped me out, by packing away my medicine and his own. I was soon back on my feet, he dusted me off a little then looked at me.

"Hi, I'm Angel" He smiled as he introduced himself, standing a head taller than me.

"I'm Lillian, or Just Lil" I answered.

Angel brought me to his place for the night, I wasnt worried, the vibe he gave off settled my nerves about everything. The night was great we chatted and he helped me pick out some new clothes from his closet. I found out Angel was also a drag queen because he felt more like a woman than a man. Angel also told me he preferred to be referred to as she instead of he.

My petite frame was able to fit in some of her clothes. Angel gave me one of her jackets and a few other pieces of clothing. We learnt a lot about each other that night. And I told her about me and my past. Lets just say there were a lot of hugs that night, Angel is an amazing listener. Im really hoping she finds someone she really deserves a nice guy.

The next morning, Angel made breakfast I woke up from the comfy couch to the smell of pancakes. The day went by I was out wondering if there was any way I could break into my former apartment. As I passed the tent city I noticed a few others had appeared over night. Thats where I met Ali, and Steve there were others there too. Ali had also been recently evicted; Steve and the others had been living on the streets for a while.

Meeting Ali was an amazing meeting, her red hair those green eyes that I could see through the dirt. She was nineteen like me her family abandoned her on the streets after finding out she was HIV positive. Felt for Ali more than I had felt with any other person. Ali was nervous about having a relationship with anyone so it was hard for me to want her the way I did. She liked short relationships, preventing any form of sex that might occur. Ali was also straight, but she told me one night that there was something about me she liked. She gave me a peck on the lips. Those three among about three others all cuddled in one corner of the lot nearest to the building they had their tents and they made their own fires and tried to get what they could in food and clothing for the group. That was my home now and this was my family.

Me: Ok so there you have it Chapter one of Another Set of Eyes. Interestingly enough when I told my Cast mates I was doing this they laughed, not in a way of making fun of me. They thought it was pretty cool, they asked me about their characters (they played other homeless and junkies), and if they were going to be in it. I hadnt really thought much of that though because this was from my characters point of view I was going to make things up as I went. Please read and review!