Author's Note: Well, darlings, I would have updated sooner, but I've been insanely busy helping with the costumes for my school play which is mega fun. Anyway, here's chapter nine. It's sort of depressing, but I hope you like it anyway. I added in a bit of Collins/Angel fluff for relief from all the drama. Well, read and review please! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own RENT. I'm really running out of creative disclaimers…

Angel moaned into Collins's mouth as the two passionately kissed on their bed. They had just finished dinner and everyone was preoccupied so they had plenty of alone time.

Collins pulled apart for a moment and examined Angel.

"I love you so much," Collins announced, earning a giggle from Angel.

"No shit. I love you too," Angel stated before pressing his lips against Collins's yet again for just a brief moment, "You having fun?"

"Oh, I definitely am," Collins smirked, eyeing Angel.

"I meant on the trip you freak," Angel laughed.

"I know, I'm having fun. I'm a little concerned though. Roger, Mimi, April, Benny, Maureen, and Mark are acting weird," Collins observed.

"You do realize that is every single one of our friends except each other and Joanne, and Joanne just stopped acting weird about a day ago, right?" Angel responded.

"Yeah, I know," Collins chuckled before pulling Angel down to meet him yet again.

Angel pressed soft kisses along his collar bone, causing Collins to moan in response.

After a few moments, they heard a light knocking on their door.

Angel slowly moved off of Collins, adjusting his t-shirt and heading toward the door.

"We need to get one of those signs that says 'The doctor is in' and 'The doctor is out,'" Angel teased before swinging the door open to reveal Joanne before them.

"Hey, guys, I need to talk to you," Joanne explained.

"Sure, sugar, come on in," Angel invited, gesturing toward their room as Joanne entered and took a seat on a large white chair.

"So, I have a slight problem," Joanne admitted.

"Oh, shit, not you too," Collins groaned.

"Ignore him," Angel smiled, whacking Collins's arm, "What's going on, sweetie?"

"So, I think I'm falling for someone that I definitely shouldn't be falling for," Joanne confessed.

"Who?" Angel probed.

"Um," Joanne muttered.

"Look, whatever you tell us stays in here. Neither Collins nor I are going to say anything to anyone. I promise," Angel swore.

"Seriously?" Joanne clarified.

"Seriously," Collins confirmed.

"Fine. Maureen," Joanne stated.

"Oh, sugar, that's not a good thing," Angel observed, "I mean, she has a boyfriend and as far as we know she's straight."

"No shit," Joanne replied, "What the hell do I do?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Angel shrugged as Collins nodded in response.

"Why aren't you two helpful," Joanne sardonically complained.

"Well, that's my best advice," Angel apologized.

"I know, Ang. Sorry. Thanks for listening guys," Joanne thanked before exiting the room.

"And right when you were saying Joanne didn't have any more drama going on," Collins pointed out, smirking at the irony.

"Oh, shut up," Angel jokingly threatened before joining Collins on the bed to resume their previous activities.

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"Hey, Rog," Mimi greeted as she entered their bedroom clad in a black "A Chorus Line" sweatshirt and black dance shorts with black knee high socks.

"Hey," Roger mumbled as he say on their bed, hunched over his guitar slowly picking at it so the the familiar chords of Musetta's Waltz floated through the room.

"You've been acting really weird," Mimi observed, sitting behind him and slowly rubbing his shoulders, "What's up with you lately?"

"Nothing," Roger grumbled, not looking up once from his Fender as he continued to angrily strum different chords.

"Well, considering you're about to snap some of the strings off of your guitar, I think it's a bit more than nothing," Mimi pointed out.

"Fine, Mimi, you really wanna know what's wrong?" Roger snapped.

"Enlighten me!" Mimi shouted, "Jeez, what did I ever do to you?"

"What did you do to me?" Roger scoffed, "I cannot believe you even have to ask that."

"Seriously, Roger. Tell me. If I did something wrong, then I wanna know. I'm sorry. I lov-" Mimi began.

"No," Roger interrupted, "Don't even say it."

"Roger, what the hell? Why? I love you! You know that!" Mimi hollered.

"Last time I checked, you don't cheat on the person you supposedly love," Roger shot back, his voice breaking slightly.

"What are you talking about?" Mimi interrogated.

"You and Benny," Roger flatly stated.

"What about me and Benny?" Mimi asked, "We're friends. That's it."

"Apparently you're friends with benefits then," Roger darkly commented.

"Roger. No. Just no," Mimi replied, her voice starting to crack.

"Then why the hell did I see you two leaving April's room together? Why was the bed unmade? Why were you alone?" Roger questioned.

"Roger, I can explain," Mimi started.

"No," Roger insisted, "How can you possibly explain?"

"I went to find April and she and Benny were in there alone and I was afraid they were cheating. So, I asked April to leave so that I could tell Benny to stay away because he has a girlfriend," Mimi explained rapidly.

"Nice story, Meems. But please. You don't seriously expect me to believe that," Roger stated.

"Of course I do!" Mimi insisted, "It's the truth!"

"Well, it's not just that situation. Ever since he came over for dinner, I could tell he was after you. He got this look in his eyes when he looked at you. And it's not just me suspecting this. Allison came to me and she thinks you and Benny are screwing each other too," Roger accused.

"Roger, no. Just listen. You have to believe me," Mimi begged, "I'm not cheating on you. I would never do that. I love you too much."

"No, Mimi. You don't. Look, there's no use. I know you cheated on me with him. And it's fine. But we just can't be together anymore considering that. I'm sorry," Roger decided, his eyes beginning to water up, but he fought the urge to cry, "And don't you think for a second that I don't still love you because I do. And I probably always will. But love's not a three way street. I'm gonna sleep on the couch," Roger decided.

And with that, Roger briskly walked out the door, leaving Mimi alone to cry.

She didn't understand. How could he not believe her? Trust her? She really did love him and would never do that to him. Ever. Mimi's thoughts were soon interrupted by a knock.

"Hey, Meems, can I borrow your black eye pencil?" she heard April request through the door.

Mimi rose to her feet and sauntered to the entrance of her room, opening the door to reveal April in Ride The Lightening t-shirt and purple sweats.

"Hey, I need to borrow an eye pencil for tomorrow and I was wondering if I could use yours. I promised Benny I'd teach him how to ski," April laughed, "It should be priceless."

"I can't believe you," Mimi scoffed.

"What the hell?" April replied.

"You're screwing Benny! While he's with Allison!" Mimi accused.

"I am not screwing him!" April replied.

"Fine. Whatever. You're still helping him cheat!" Mimi reminded.

"What does this have to do with you?" April questioned.

"Well, when my boyfriend dumps me because he thinks I'm the one with Benny rather than you, then it becomes my business!" Mimi pointed out.

"What? Roger broke up with you?" April inquired.

"Yes! Because he thinks I'm screwing Benny behind his back! Care to know why he thinks that? Because he saw me leaving your room with him. Care to know why I was in your room with him? Because I needed to talk some sense into him so he wouldn't cheat on his girlfriend and do something stupid!" Mimi explained.

"Look, Meems, I'm really sorry," April apologized.

"I know you are, April, but sorry's not good enough. You are seriously one of my best friends and you helped my other friend cheat on his girlfriend and that whole situation ultimately ended my relationship with Roger which means the world to me," Mimi choked out as tears began to drip down her cheeks.

"Mimi, what can I say? You're one of my best friends too and I am so sorry. I really didn't mean to hurt you, it's just-" April began.

"It's just?" Mimi probed.

"I felt so alone," April cried, "Everyone had someone and I needed a way to kill the pain. Benny was how I did that. He kept me from being the washed out old nun of the group, you know?"

Mimi embraced her before replying.

"Look, April, I understand, but that's not healthy. Seriously, you shouldn't need a guy to make you feel complete," Mimi told her.

"I know," April admitted, "But I do."

"Do you even have real feelings for Benny?" Mimi wondered aloud.

"That's not important," April insisted, because deep down, she wasn't quite sure herself.

A/N: Well, here's chapter nine, darlings. I hope you enjoyed it. I realize it was really like, dramatic. There should be a few more dramatic, depressing chapters and then it will definitely get better. Pretty please stick with it. Also, if you want a say in some of the couples for this fanfic, then go to my profile and vote in my poll! Yay! :) Also, I know there was no Mark/Maureen in this chapter, but the entire next chapter is going to be centered on Maureen as well as her relationship with Mark. Well, I'll stop babbling and let you get back to your life now. Review! :)