Hola hola mis amigos! Here is yet another chapter, I'm having a very creative weekend XD By the way... I refer to Angel as she and her because I love her and I know that Angel would want to be called she. She has not yet been dressing in drag, I'll mention it and make it obvious when she is.

RECAP: I'm calling Angel she for continuity, it does NOT neccicarily mean she's dressed in drag. I'll let you know if she is dressed in drag.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Rent, for those of you who still haven't figured that out yet...


Ch 7: For Me Now, Too

Two Months Later

"October 21st, 6pm, Eastern Standard Time." I film myself sitting at my desk doing nothing. "We didn't have school today because a pipe burst and the school's flooded," I tell my camera. "The town educational board just called to inform us that we won't have school for the rest of the week either, because they're having problems with drainage." I crack a smile. "Five day weekend!" I switch off the camera, and lean back in my desk chair.

It's been over a month since Roger and I kissed. We've almost completely forgotten about it by now, or at least I think we have. Neither of us have brought it up in all this time and no one seems to be suspicious of us. I'm honestly relieved that it's all behind us. Although, every so often it does bother me. I feel guilty and find myself wanting to go to Roger and take back everything I said to him after the kiss. But I've learned to let go of those thoughts and forget about them. After all, I am pretty good at doing that.

The chiming of the doorbell startles me out of my chair.

"I'LL GET IT MOM!" I hear Cindy scream from downstairs. The little pitter-patter of feet followed by the front door opening can be heard as well. Just who I begin to ponder who it may be I hear someone sprinting up the stairs. My bedroom door flies open and Cindy stands in the doorway.

"Don't you knock?" I ask, annoyed.

Cindy ignores me and chirps, "Your friends are here."

Friends? Here?I follow Cindy out of the room and down the stairs. Sure enought Collins, Roger, and Angel are standing in the doorway. Collins holds two suitcases, Roger holds two guitar cases, and Angel holds a third suitcase and Roger's amp. Roger also sports an impressive black eye.

"Hey Mark!" Collins beams at me.

"H-hey guys," I say, "What's up?"

"Can you come out here for a sec?" Collins asks.

"Sure," I step out into the autumn evening, closing the door behind me. "What's up?" I ask again.

"Benny evicted us," Roger grunts.

"What?" I am completely confused.

Roger looks steamed, so Collins takes over. "Benny evicted us from our apartment 'cuz we were $100 short on the rent."

"That ass! That sucks guys," I gaze at them, waiting for the question I know is bound to come next.

"Um, Mark?" Collins shuffles his feet. "We need a place to stay. Do you think we could stay here?"

"Guys," I sigh, this is exactly what I was expecting. "You're always welcome with me, but I have to take it up with my parents."

All three of them know how that disscussion will go.

"It's okay, baby," Angel nudges Collins. "You guys can stay with me... it'll be a little cramped 'cuz Mimi, my parents, and sisters are there too..."

"No," I cut Angel off. "I'll ask my parents first, it's worth a shot." I open the front door and usher them in after me. "Stay here," I instruct. Wandering into the kitchen, I find my parents and Cindy eating dessert at the kitchen table. "Um...mom, dad?" I ask. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure honey," my mom pats the seat to her left and I sit. "What's on your mind?"

I take a deep breath and launch into it, "Collins and Roger have this landlord Benny who's kind of an as-bad guy- and he evicted them. They need a place to stay. I was wondering if they could stay here for a few days until they figure out what to do." I hold my breath and wait for the answer.

"Mark..." my dad begins. "I don't know, you know how I feel about them."

"Yeah, dad I know," I snap. "They really need help though, it'd just be for a few days."

"Well, I don't know..."

"Oh Arthur!" my mom scolds. "Just let them stay!"

"Fine...they can stay," my dad grudgingly agrees. I jump up excitedly and run out of the kitchen. "But only for a few days!" my dad yells after me.

I skid into the main hall and give my friends a thumbs up. All three let out a visible sigh of relief.

"Thank you Mark!" Angel squeals hugging me. "Well, I should be getting home," she leans over and pecks Collins on the lips.

"Love you," Collins says.

"Love you too baby," Angel smiles and shows herself out.

We head up to my room. Collins claims the small couch in the corner of the room, like he always does. We don't have an air matress and I don't want to force Roger onto the floor. So I guess Roger will have to share the bed with me...great.

We sit around and talk for hours. Collins whips out the bottle of vodka right after my parents announce that they are going to sleep. Passing the bottle around we all drink a little too much. Before we know it, it's 2am. Collins falls asleep, leaving me and Roger alone.

"Mark?" Roger asks, speach slurring slightly. "You have an ice pack or something? My eye reaaaaaaaalllllly hurts."

"Yeah, sure come downstairs and I'll get you one." We get up and wander to the kitchen. I open the freezer and pull out an ice pack. "Sit!" I instruct Roger. Without complaint, he sits on the kitchen counter. I walk over and stand next to him, holding the ice pack up to his swollen eye. He exhales, the pain soothed by intense cold. Picking up his hand from his leg, he brings it up to his eye and rests it on top of mine. A shudder runs through my body. I smile stupidly at him, and he grins back. We stay there for a long time, hands on the ice pack. Finally the ice pack starts to melt and get closer to room temperature. I put the pack away in the fridge and retrieve the first aid kit from the back room. With his help, I locate a cream that helps swelling go down and deals with bruises.

I'm rubbing the cream around his eye, when it dawns on me. "How'd this happen Rog?"

"Oh," he blushes and casts his eyes downwards. "When Benny told us he was evicting us I kinda lost my head. I punched him in the jaw and in return he punched me in the eye."

"Oh, makes sense. That asshole deserved a punch in the jaw." I finish putting the cream on his eye. "All better!" Without thinking I lean over and lightly kiss his bruise, as though I'm kissing it better. We both stare awkwardly at one another for a minute.

"Thanks Mom," he sneers sarcastically, relieving the tension. We laugh, both still a little tipsy. Sliding off the counter he leads the way back upstairs. When we reach the room I close the door behind us. Roger slips off his shirt and jeans. I look away trying to ignore his mouthwatering bosy and the thoughts that start to pollute my mind again. He slips on his pajama pants and climbs into my bed. I'm already wearing sweatpants so I just slide off my shirt as well and climb in next to him, shutting off the light. We lay back to back, careful to stay a few inches apart.

"M-Mark?" his voice fills the dark room.

"Yeah."

"You know...you're my best friend."

I'm simeltaniously surprised and flattered. "Thanks Roger..." I don't really know what to say. Then I remember my promise to Collins, and my response becomes clear. "You're my best friend too."

I can tell this is the answer he wanted. He sighs, contented. "G'night Marky."

"Nite Rog." Within a few minutes he's snoring. I can't seem to follow him though. My mind keeps buzzing with thoughts about what he just told me. Even though my promise was what prompted my answer, I meant what I said to him. I really did.

I lay there in the dark thinking that maybe I'm not just doing this for Collins anymore. Maybe I'm doing for me now too.


Yay yay yay! I love Mark/Roger! I really do! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! R&R please!