AN: So, I've been toying around with this idea in my brain for a while (over a year, in fact), and I decided to finally get it down on paper a couple weeks ago. I'm actually kind of glad I waited this long. I don't think it would have turned out quite as good if I'd done it earlier.

Part of the reason I wanted to do this is because I've been called both the Zane and the Collins of my friends, so I figured a story with the two of them as the central characters would be easy and fun for me to write. Also, I've just kind of wondered why exactly Zane did get expelled. I thought it could be a fun idea, so here it is.

Also, for the sake of the story, RENT takes place from 2003-2004 (Yeah, I know. But it's the only way I could get the timeline to work.) and Lucas did come home from MIT.

Disclaimer: I own neither Eureka, nor RENT. Damn.

New York City; Mark and Roger's Loft

"So, Collins? I've been thinking," Maureen started.

"Well, that's never a good sign," Collins joked. She threw a bottle at his head and he dodged it easily.

"How exactly did you get kicked out of MIT?" she continued without missing a beat.

"Yeah, you know, I've been thinking about that, too," Roger added, suddenly much more interested in the conversation than in Mark.

"That's actually a pretty amusing story. It was mostly a student's fault. Real young guy, uh... Zeke? No, Zane. That was it. Zane Donovan."

"That name sounds familiar..." Joanne muttered. "Was this the same Zane Donovan that crashed the Stock Market a few years ago?"

"You know, knowing Zane, it wouldn't surprise me."

"So what exactly were you doing with this Zane Donovan that you got fired?" Maureen asked suggestively.

Collins laughed. "Wouldn't you bitches like to know."

"Uh, yeah, we would. I think that's why Maureen asked," Mark said with a small smile. He picked up his camera and started to wind it up. "Come on. Tell us!" He trained the camera on Collins.

"Fine. I had been teaching there for about two years when this kid Zane joined my class..."

Eureka; Cafe Diem

"Hey, Vince. Hit me up with a Vinspresso?" Zane sat down at the counter at Café Diem.

"Sure thing. One Vinspresso, coming up."

"Hey, uh, Zane?" Zane turned to see Lucas standing there looking at him.

"What?" He asked, trying to put as much annoyance into his voice as possible. He wasn't sure why the kid even wanted to talk to him. Everyone in this town was acting so weird lately. Lupo, Carter, Henry, Alison, Fargo. And that new guy Grant was fishy as hell.

"You went to MIT for a while, right?" Lucas sat down next to him. Damn. Guess that means he's not going away anytime soon, Zane thought.

"Yeah. Year and a half. Why? You're going there, right?"

"Yes, I am. And while I was there I noticed something."

"Lots of things to notice there. Something in particular, or is this story going nowhere?" Zane muttered snarkily. Lucas ignored him and continued.

"Well, it's kind of the "Trickster School" of colleges, right? They play a lot of big pranks there?"

Zane smiled fondly and got a nostalgic look in his eye. "Yup. I never felt more at home than I did there."

"See, that's what I thought you'd say. So what I was wondering was how bad of a prank did you pull that you got expelled?" Zane looked at the teenager for a second, and then burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Vince asked, setting the cup of Vinspresso down in front of him.

"Lucas wants to know how I got expelled from MIT."

"You know, I've wondered that before, too. Bet it's an exciting story." Vince pulled up a chair and look expectantly at Zane, whose smile faded almost immediately.

"Really? You guys actually want me to tell you?" They both nodded enthusiastically. He sighed, aggravated. "Alright. Fine. I had to take this philosophy class while I was there. The professor was this guy name Collins, and we hit it off almost immediately…"

So, I hope you enjoyed that. I've got the next couple chapters already written, or at least planned out in my head. As always, reviews are appreciated. If you've got any suggestions about anything, feel free to send me something. I've already got all sorts of crazy antics planned (Now if only I could figure out the crazy antic that actually gets them expelled...), but fresh thoughts are good. :)

Hobey-ho,

anti-pookie