A/N: Just a note on how things will go…the first part will be whoever's chapter it is thinking to him/herself during the funeral. Then after the first divider thingy it will be a flashback…and lastly it will go back to the funeral. I'll try not to make it confusing…tell me in the reviews if it is! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own RENT; actually I don't even own the title, it's the name of a Goodbye Love fanlisting…go check it out!

No Lifetime Guarantee

Benny

What happened to me? What happened to my heart? I never meant for any of this to happen. We were all supposed to be living happily together…as friends. It was never supposed to be this way. Angel is supposed to be alive, my best friends shouldn't hate me, and I'm not supposed to be known as the scum of the East Village. But Angel is dead. My best friends do hate me. And, yeah, I am the scum of the East Village. What happened to me?

I remember it so clearly. I had a plan that would get us out of here. I had a plan that would make us rich. No more suffering, no more AIDS, no more pain. Just us having fun, being rich, and enjoying what life we had left to enjoy. But it went all wrong and now that plan is all gone. What happened to us? My plan would've worked…I know it would've…but somehow, somewhere…it all went wrong.


Benny rushed into the loft one day where Collins, Mark, Maureen, and Roger sat in various stages. Mark and Maureen were making out, Collins was smoking a joint and grading papers, while Roger transposed a song for April onto a napkin.

"Guys! What is the one thing we all want, but can't get enough of?" Benny panted excitedly.

"Weed?"

"To finish a song?"

"A new camera?"

"Sex?"

"No!" Benny exclaimed, "Well yeah…but how do we get all these things that we want?"

"By our good looks and debonair attitudes?" Roger suggested. The two men gave each other high-fives and laughed together.

" Money, all we need is money guys!"

"Benjamin," Collins interjected, "money is the one thing that we are lacking right now."

"Ah! But are we! You all haven't forgotten my plan to get us rich have you?" Everyone looked up and groaned at Benny. For years, he'd been talking about a business proposal that would make them rich. But to this day, his plan was still not working. All of the boho friends were still dirt poor.

"No, no, no! Don't groan! I have the perfect plan guys, really I do! You guys know Allison, right?"

"The one who never came here to meet us?" Mark asked.

"Uh…yeah; well, I asked her to marry me! And can you guess what she said mi amigos?" A smile spread across Benny's face; he was clearly excited.

Maureen smirked, "From that kool-aid smile on your face, I'd guess she said yes. Congrats big guy!" The diva sincerely proclaimed. "Drinks for Benny!!"

"Thanks Mo. But I think you all are misunderstanding the magnitude of this situation! Allison Grey, of the Westport Grey's is loaded! Guys, we're gonna finally be rich!"

"Wait, we're gonna be rich?" Mark asked, "Benny, you're the only one getting married here…what do you mean, we?"

Benny smiled, "Guys, you're my best friend. We've talked about this plan since high school and there's no way that I would leave you out of this! When one of us gets rich, we all get rich, okay?"

Collins clapped Benny on the back, "Man, that's the nicest thing that I think ever escaped your arrogant big ole head."

"Thank you Thomas. Now look, I've got it all planned out. We'll wipe out Tent City and build this massive Cyber Arts Studio in its place. On the first floor, a cyber café…"

"Ugh! Benny, we know, we know!" Maureen said shaking her head, "We've heard you talk about it for at least the past 5 years…And plus, you can't wipe out Tent City. People live there!" A concerned Maureen shouted.

"If you know this so well then you'd know, that that's the beauty of it Mo. We'd create so many jobs, and overcharge yuppie scum to live in the condos on the top. No one would even have to be homeless anymore!"

Roger looked up from his song, "Yeah, well don't get cocky when you're up there with the rich people, alright? Don't forget that you used to live in these slums without heat. Just don't forget where you came from man."

"Rog, I'll never give up my ideals. I'm doing this to help people; I want to make people see where they can be in the digital age! It's gonna be great man, no worries."

The friends all grabbed a beer and toasted to Benny's success. It seemed like life was looking up for them. Sure, Collins had AIDS, and Roger just found out he did too, but it was all going to be okay. With money, life was finally starting to look up for them.


Those were the days. When everything was good whether we had money or not. Why can't it be like that anymore; why does my life have to revolve around money? It's all that I can think about…what happened to the old Benny? I feel like I don't even know myself again.

I guess, since I'm here, I should say something. Something nice, something that will redeem me from being the scum that I am. I feel so fucking horrible. My best friend's lover died and I can't even think of a damn thing to say; how pathetic. I'm going up there and when I do, something has to change. Something will change. If not for me, I'll make something change for Angel. Yeah, for Angel…


Benny walked towards the casket and silently stood for a while looking at Angel's picture. The nuts and bolts in his head were spinning as tried to figure out just what he would say that could honor Angel and end this stupid war that was going on. Finally he spoke up.

"I'm an ass. You all know it, I know it, and so did Angel. Yet, whenever I saw her, she never ceased to smile at me or find some way to make me feel as if I wasn't dirt on someone's shoe. She could always bring out the best in a person, on any day… she was such a better person than any of us could have ever been. Collins man, you were done a favor when this one picked you out. You're a lucky guy to have found her. She'll be missed…I may have not known you like I wanted to Angel, but I want you to know how thankful I am. You made my best friends happier than I've seen them in a long time. I could never repay you for that.

Benny stepped off of the platform and somberly walked back to his seat. He looked over at Collins who sadly smiled in gratitude. He then looked up at the heavens as if to thank Angel. Right before Mimi went up; he squeezed her arm in reassurance. Everything was going to work out fine. The feud was finally going to be over.

They'd all see.

Eh, Benny's so hard to write a whole chapter about! He's hardly in either the play or the movie…but I hope you all liked it!