Haha! So heres another chapter! Almost to ten chapters! That'll be an accomplishment!

Disclaimer: Okay ya'll should get it by now but just incase you don't...

RENT IS ALL JONATHAN LARSON'S! NOT MINE!

Thanks XD enjoy!

Ch 9: I Want Them Out

I wake up on the couch and immediatly have to lay back down because of the throbbing pain in my head. What day is it? Where am I? I sit up and struggle to open my eyes. It takes a few minutes for my living room to come into a complete focus. The first thing I see is the 8 empty bottles of Stoli littering the ground, and another clutched in Collins' right hand. Collins himself is passed out, leaning against the wall for support. An equally unconcious Angel is sprawled across his lap. To their left, Mimi lays on the ground curled up in a blanket. Maureen is snoring on the other section of my L shaped couch, Joanne on the floor right beside her. And Roger...wait...where is Roger?

"Morning Sunshine," comes a voice behind me. I jump causing another searing pain to shoot through my head.

"Fuck Roger, don't do that!" I turn to face him. He's standing next to the couch, shirtless. I can feel my cheeks flush, but my entire body hurts so much I don't even care. He smirks and climbs on the couch, then cringes and lays down in my spot on the couch, closing his eyes. "Where were you?" I ask, my headache quickly worsening.

"Well I woke up passed out over there," he gestures blindly to the floor next to the couch. "Woke up about five minutes ago."

I sigh and decide I have to lay back down. "Roger," I whine. "You're in my spot!"

He opens his eyes. "Well, what you gonna do about it?"

"Seriously, I'm NOT laying on the floor! My head hurts like hell!"

"And mine doesn't!" This small outburst causes him to cringe again and soften his tone. "Then come lay with me if you really need to." Not thinking, he opens his arms to me invitingly.

I hesitate for a moment, but not long because my head really is killing me. What choice do I have? I'm not going on the floor. I crawl the small distance and slide into his arms. They wrap around my waist without hesitation. I begin to snuggle into him but then realize I don't have a pillow, Roger took mine.

"Roger, I don't have a pillow."

"Just shut up and lay down."

I slowly and regretfully ease my head onto his chest. This is nice. His body is warm and strong and fits against mine perfectly. I let out a sigh and relax even further into our embrace. We lay like this for a few minutes before a thought strikes me. "Roger do you know what time it is?"

"Um, I don't know." He sits up slightly and looks in the direction of the clock on the mantle. "Looks about noon."

"M'kay," I mutter and snuggle back into him. Noon. Noon...NOON! "SHIT!" I snap up and pull away from him. And of course at that moment the lock on the front door turns. I got to give them points for timing.

Cindy is the first one inside, still dressed in her pirate costume. She marches in our direction. "Hey Mark, Roger what's-." Her eyes bug out of her head as they witness the scene before her. A wicked grin crosses her lips. "Mommy, daddy, come see what Marky did!" she calls. Her shrill voice causes Roger and I to plug our ears. Everyone else begins to stir.

"What did you say sweetheart?" my dad asks, walking in the front door toating a suitcase. He walks over and stands next to Cindy. His cheery expression fades as he takes in the room before him. "Mark David Cohen... WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" Roger whimpers behind me and covers his ears again at the loud noise.

"Dad, I-I," I can't put the words together.

"We give you the house to yourself for the weekend, we trust you to be alone on Halloween, and this is how you repay us! By raiding our liquor cabinet and passing out drunk with your friends?" If anyone was still sleeping, they're awake by now.

"Dad, we-we, we're sorry!"

"Mark I don't want to hear that bullshit!" My dad's voice starts to rise and I can tell this is only the beginning of the argument. I look around desperatly for help.

"Mr. Cohen," Roger stands up cautiously. "Don't blame this all on Mark, we're all to blame really. Sir, we made a stupid mistake and we're sorry. We-."

"Sit your ass back down, free loader!" my dad cuts him off. "This is between me and my son!" Roger shuts up and retreats to the couch.

"Dad! Yell at me all you want but you have no right to talk to Roger-." Suddenly, dad whips around and slaps me across the face, hard. I fall backwards onto the couch. Angel decends on me like a hawk wrapping me in her arms and Roger hovers protectively over me.

"YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT I DO AND DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IN MY OWN HOUSE!" he screams.

Now Collins is on his feet. "Mr. Cohen, no disrespect sir, but why don't we all just calm down and take a breather?" My dad looks ready to punch Collins. Collins must sense it too because he takes a step back and holds up his hands difensively. Everyone is in a hushed silence. My dad's breathing slows and my mom advances cautiously from the entrance hall where she's been watching the scene unfold.

"Arthur," she ventures, placing her hands on my dad's shoulder's. "Are you okay?"

My dad shakes her off. He turns to me. "I want them out, all of them." He gestures to all my friends. "I want them out of my house. And if I hear or see them again, Mark I swear to god..."

"We're good as gone, Mr. Cohen," Collins jumps in. "Just give us half an hour to get our things, please."

"Half an hour. But that's all you get."

Roger helps me up. Collins gathers Mimi and Angel and procedes after us. Wrapped in eachother's embrace, Maureen and Joanne bring up the rear. We all head up to my bed room. Maureen, Joanne, Mimi, and Angel huddle in a frightened heap on the couch. Roger helps me to my bed, then joins Collins in packing their things. Then I make my descion. I go into my closet and pack my belongings in a duffel bag as well. When the half hour's up we all file back downstairs. Everyone heads out to Collins' truck, accept Collins, Roger and I.

Collins turns to my dad. "Thank you for letting us stay here. We're sorry for all the trouble." He gives a sincere nod and heads out the door.

Roger and I stand there awkwardly. My dad notices my duffel bag. "Where do you think you're going?" he sneers.

"You said you wanted them out, all of them. Well guess what asshole, I'm one of them. Guess you won't be hearing or seeing me again anytime soon." I grab Roger's hand, interlocking our fingers. "C'mon Rog, let's go." I pull him out the door and slam it behind me. We race down the front walk and climb into the already-cramped pick-up truck. "Go, drive, before he follows us." I instruct. Collins steps on it. We stop first at Maureen's and drop off her and Joanne. Next we hit Angel's where Mimi also gets off.

We sit in Angel's driveway for a few minutes contemplating our next move. "We could stay in a hotel?" I suggest.

"And pay for the room with what money?" Collins snaps. "We barely have enough to pay for one night."

"Well, what else are we supposed to do?" I counter.

"I think there's only one thing to do," Roger looks at Collins. Collins nods and starts the car again.

Next thing I know, we're at Roger and Collins' old apartment building. We get out of the car and Collins leads us to the basement apartment, Benny's office. Upon our entry to the office, Benny looks up from his desk. He gives us an amused expression.

"I knew you'd be back," he retorts. "Although, I did think it would be a shorter wait."

In response, Collins throws a wad of cash onto the desk. Benny grabs it and counts it greedily. "$3,000, impressive. And how long did it take you to get this much together?"

"I have funds," Collins growls. "Benny don't be such an ass, it's enought to cover what we owed you from last time plus half this month's rent."

"And who says you would need to pay this month's rent? Did I say you were my tennants again?"

"No, but knowing you the money should be enough to convince you."

Benny snorts. "Well, maybe this time it's not enough."

"Benny! You were the one who broke our poker deal in the first place! We would have had no rent for almost two more months from now if you hadn't backed out of the agreement!"

"Technically, you-."

"Benny!" Roger's voice cracks slightly. "Please, do this for us? As an old friend?"

Benny studies us for a moment. "Fine," he grumbles. "But only because I need the money!" He pulls a key from the desk drawer and throws it roughly at Collins, who catches it with ease. We exit the office and head up to the loft.

Collins kicks off his shoes. "I'm going to sleep. It's been a long day and I still have a hangover to sleep off." He gives me and Roger a strange look. I follow his gaze and notice that Roger's left hand is still entwined in my right. We've been clutching one another's hands this entire time. I pull my hand away blushing. Collins gives us another weird look. Finally he turns and marches down the hallway. "'Night!"

"Goodnight, Collins," Roger calls softly after him. He walks over to the couch, sighs and sits down. I follow him and lay down next to him, placing my head in his lap. He lighly begins to stroke my hair. "Mark, what the hell are we doing?" he asks suddenly.

"I don't know Rog...I don't know," I say.

"Well, I-I think it's good, for us..." His hand runs down my cheek

I realize again what he's implying. I sit up and scoot away. "Roger...I-I told you I can't. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lead you on recently or anything. I was being immature and I needed a friend..."

"I get it." His reply is cold and he stands up from the couch. "Goodnight, Mark." He heads to his room, slamming the door behind him.

"Goodnight Roger," I say to the dark apartment. I retrieve my camera from the duffel bag. I snap it on and turn it to face me. "November 1st, 1985, 10pm Eastern Standard Time," I say. "And I, Mark Cohen, am very confused."

Yay! Hope you enjoyed it. Sorry if it felt a little rushed, I just wanted to get this important stuff out of the way. R&R please. Chapter 10 up next!