A/N: I don't own anything about RENT except this plot.
Special Thanks to Sargent Snarky for the help with editing and other things that she has done so far to help with thisstory!
Chapter 1
"Colleen! Hey Colleen wait up!" yelled a shorthaired teenage boy as he ran up to Colleen.
"Huh? What Jonathan?" asked Colleen, bored.
"Do you have a partner for the Social Studies project yet?" he asked, catching up with her.
"Umm… no, but I usually do my projects on my own. Why?" Colleen answered the rare question.
"Well, I was just wondering if you wanted to work together?"
"I…uh… I'll think about it, okay? I'll get back to you."
With that Colleen started quickly down the street towards the subway. At least it's Friday so I don't have to talk to him till Monday. As she sat in her normal seat, she started to contemplate having Jonathan as a partner.
I guess it wouldn't be too bad. I mean, he is really smart and, I guess I'm more artistic than to him, so it could work out. I don't think he would be too shocked about where I live. Not that I'm ashamed or anything. Just when I was younger and invited friends over, they weren't very… understanding. Is that the word? Yeah. I guess I should talk to mom and dad first.
After a few more minuets spent people watching, Colleen's stop came up.
"Ah… Alphabet City," she said taking a deep breath, hoping for a small bit of fresh air, but all she found was the normal smell – diesel fuel, piss, and other things that she wasn't sure of. Not that she even wanted to know.
"I'm home!" shouted Colleen, as she dropped her backpack by the sliding door and started to walk around the house to see who was there.
Huh? I wonder where…DUH! Colleen smacked her forehead with her palm as she quickly went out to the fire escape. As she quietly made her way up the stairs she heard the soft strumming of her dad's old, beat up guitar. His back was facing her as she snuck up on him. Then she suddenly grabbed his shoulders as she greeted him.
"Hey Pops!" she said, laughing as he jumped around to see who hadwoke himof his daze.
"Okay, for one thing don't sneak up on me, and don't call me Pops. It makes me sound old!" said Roger, joining in her laughter. "How did school go today?" he asked, as he picked up his guitar that he had dropped when she jolted him out of his daze. He put one of his arms around his daughter and led her back to their loft.
"It was school – tests, projects, drama, but normal. Oh, but I was wondering if I could invite my Social Studies project partner over." Colleen spat out the last part of the sentence quickly.
"Er… sure; I guess. I doesn't bother me, but you might wanna check with your mom just to make sure."
"Can do!" said Colleen happily as she walked over to pick up her backpack. "Hey, can we go to the Life Café tonight?"
"Only if you get some of your homework done first, so you're not doing it at midnight on Sunday," said Roger, slumping down onto the ratty couch.
"Okay. You're such a dad," joked Colleen, walking to her room.
And you're such your mother's daughter, thought Roger, smiling after his daughter. She has her mom's big, brown, doe eyes, personality, and charm. Pretty much everything is the same, except for her dirty blonde hair and temperament. She got that from me. Roger shook his head and snatched his notebook off the table to see if he could come up with anything good.
After about an hour and a half later, Colleen emerged from her room looking extremely happy.
"I got Math and English done!" she chimed joyfully. "Can I call the others to meet us there?"
Roger looked up from his work and started to nod his head when Mimi walked in.
"Meet us where?" she asked, tiredly.
"Hey, mom! At the Life Café for dinner tonight. It's okay right? 'Cuz dad said that we could go if I finished some of my homework, and I did!" Colleen sounded pleased with herself, and she started to walk towards the phone.
" Uh, yeah… I guess that's okay," said Mimi, rubbing her neck, "I'm just going to take a shower; then I'll be ready to go."
"Great! Thanks, mom!" said Colleen joyfully, as she picked up the receiver and started to dial Maureen, Joanne and their adopted daughter, Daphne, who was the same age as Colleen. I hope Daphne is back from choir practice. As Colleen started to call the people in their tight-nit group, Roger followed Mimi into their room.
"Mimi? Are you okay?" Roger asked, concerned. Mimi had been tired a lot, lately.
"What? Oh yeah, it was just a long day. The girls were really rowdy today, and then I had to start learning the choreography for the instructors dance for the competition next Saturday." Mimi finished with a sigh.
"Okay." Roger didn't sound convinced. "The shower should help wake you up." Roger bent down and kissed her on the cheek as she nodded in agreement.
"Okay, I'll be out in a few." With that Mimi walked into the bathroom, and Roger went to go check on Colleen.
A/N: Next Chapter to come! Please review! Oh andI will probably delete Goodbye Life, Hello Disease sometime soon. So keep reading!
