Authors Note: This is my FIRST rent story, and the first fan fiction I've written in a very long time. I'm slowly letting myself into it; I intend to make this one short, only a few chapters. PLEASE read and review. Let me know what you think! I need the encouragement!
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the story. I want to, but I don't. The end. The Title belongs to Jimmy Eats World. (Good Song, Hear You Me)
Disclaimer 2: I've seen the show and have watched the movie, so I'll try and keep it as in character as I think possible. Let me know if there are any GLARING inconsistencies.
Hear You Me
Chapter 1: Survival of the Fittest
It was so ironic, so clichéd, that Roger kept thinking someone was going to jump out at him and say "Just kidding!"
Maybe it's because I'm the one of us to survive
Yes, Mark was the one of them to survive. He said that once while they were fighting and it was proving too true. They lost Angel. Soon after that, they lost Mimi. It was only going to be a matter of time before Collins and Roger were gone too. Unlike his old response, the sarcastic "poor baby," Roger now really did feel pain for Mark. He was literally floored with Marks ability to comfort him through Mimi's passing, when he knew it was tearing Mark up inside as well. He was floored with Mark's strength and floored by the love Mark still had for him and their friends, and also the love he had for the world which had so harshly dealt them the poor cards they had.
He left the loft no more than a few hours ago. They had gotten a phone call from the local hospital. Collins was sick, although the doctor said he was doing better than expected; there was the constant fear that this could be it for him. The friends rarely left the hospital hopeful for recovery.
When that message played Roger felt the air rush out of the room like a vacuum. He couldn't breath and they walls all seemed to be closing in on him. He whispered to Mark that he would be back soon, that they could go see Collins then, and quickly darted out of the loft. Mark nodded in understanding.
The walk proved to be very relaxing. The cold December air seemed to open up his lungs again, and the stinging cold proved to him that he was alive. He walked for hours. He would stop at some of their favorite spots. The place in the park were Mimi and him would sit for hours, the corner that Angel loved to drum on, the ally with the group of homeless people in it that Mark loved to film.
Collins would be ready, he had been ready, had accepted his disease and that his time was coming for awhile now. He was ready to be with his Angel. Roger knew this, but it didn't make him feel any better. If Collins went, that means he was going to be next. Collins might be ready, but Roger defiantly was not. It wasn't that he didn't love Mimi, but he had his music, and he had his Mark. Roger knew when he was gone Mark would pretty much be on his own. True, Benny, Joanne and Maureen would still be alive, but Joanne and Maureen had each other and Benny had Allison. Mark would be alone, and although Mark didn't say it, Roger knew Mark was not ready to be alone.
Throughout the walk, Roger heard sirens. This was not unusual; he lived in New York City after all. It was not until he got within a block of the run down apartment complex that their loft was on that he realized something was wrong.
Sirens and flashing lights filled the usually darkened alleyway in front of their home. Heat radiated and Roger could see the complex was up in flames. "No…." he moaned softly and ran full speed back to his home.
Fireman had barricaded the area and would not let him through. Dozens of people had congregated in the area watching the building burn to the ground.
When he thought about it, it wasn't that surprising. With no heat, the residents and the street people near by were always lighting fires. Not all of them were as careful as him and Mark, and the place was so old, the wood so raw, it wouldn't take much to set the entire place up in flames.
Mark. All of a sudden the fact that everything he owned, his guitar, his clothing, all their possessions, Mimi's old apartment, was being destroyed did not matter. Roger began pushing in the crowed. "MARK! MARK! MARK!" he yelled amongst the spectators. Some of the people in the crowed were residents, some just there for the excitement. No one even glanced at him. Mark didn't come running towards him. No explanation, no nothing.
All of a sudden the feeling of being alone rushed over him. He felt as if his heart were going to stop. There was no one there; no one was paying attention to him as he screamed desperately for his best friend. No Collins to hold his hand and help him look, no Mimi to hug and comfort him, No Angel to reassure him that Mark was fine….. No Mark to say 'screw our shit, at least you were out of the apartment'
"Poor Baby"
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