-raises glass- To Chapter 11! To Fanfics! To staying up way too late! To RENT!

Disclaimer: I don't own RENT.
May 28, 1992, 10am EST

Mark was in the kitchen fixing breakfast. Roger was still sleeping. Does he ever get enough sleep? Mark thought, slightly annoyed. He poured some cereal into a bowl and added milk. He did the same for another bowl, setting one on the table for Roger. If he ever decided to get up.

Suddenly the phone started to ring. Mark dashed over to answer it before it woke Roger. Finally! He was cheering in his head.

"Hello, Mark Cohen here."

"Hey Marky! It's Damien. I wasn't sure you'd be up."

"Nah, I'm up this early all the time. It's Roger who sleeps in until three in the afternoon. I just made him some breakfast, for when he decides to get up."

"That's sweet. I hope he appreciates it. So, I was thinking. You want to do something today? I don't know, like lunch or whatever?"

"Sounds fun. Do you want to meet in the park, like in about half an hour? I really need to get out more often." Mark laughed. "Would that be okay?"

"Perfect." Mark could almost hear Damien smiling sweetly as he said this. "I'll see you in about half an hour."

They both hung up, and Mark snuck into the bedroom to get clean clothes. He showered, dressed, and left a note on the counter for Roger.

"Went out to film. Be back in a few hours. Love, Mark."

May 28, 1992, 10:30am EST

"I did not lie!" Mark protested. "I merely stretched the truth. Besides, I brought my camera."

Damien giggled. "Does Roger not like me or something?"

"He gets really jealous. Like, insane-jealous. I can't just say 'I decided to go hang out with that guy I met in the park, who happens to be gay and was totally flirting with me.' He would probably lock me in our bedroom for a month." They both laughed, and continued walking down the street.

"You are awfully cute. He has a right to be jealous." Damien placed his arm around Mark's shoulder.

"Yeah, and you aren't bad either."

It was their little joke- Roger didn't know that they hung out together, and they flirted all the time. Neither of them meant it... much. They were getting to be good friends, and it almost reminded Mark of how he and Roger had been before April, drugs, and Mimi.

"Do you want to see a movie?" Damien asked.

"What's playing?"

"Cheap horror flick, sappy love story, bad comedy, and… over-dramatic drama."

"Hmm... Cheap horror flick. Sounds the best to me, how about you?"

"Mark, anything you want is fine with me."

They walked to the movie theater, bought their tickets and some popcorn and headed into the movie.

-Random Damien monologue-

Damien couldn't deny that he liked Mark. It's just that he is absolutely adorable, with his black and white scarf, glasses, and that cute smile. Who cares that he isn't single... he's too hot for his own good. His hair is perfect, and his eyes are to die for.

Plus, he's such a nice person. Nice is a horrible adjective, but that's what he is. He's a 'nice Jewish boy,' as my mom would probably say. He's kind, generous, loving... Perfect. Mark and his camera- perfection.

-End of the Damien monologue-

They sat down in the middle of an empty row. There weren't many people in the theater. The movie started, and soon the gruesome images began. They were unprepared for how scary the movie would be.

"Who knew horror movies were so... horrible." Damien shuddered.

Another bloody, disgusting image on the screen made Mark yell and he buried his face into Damien's shoulder, making him shudder in a different way.

"Um... Mark? You're on my shoulder."

"I know. This is too scary for me. Mmm hug?"

Damien had to laugh. He moved his arm and gave Mark a quick hug, letting him put the armrest up so he could move closer. They were cozy for the rest of the movie, with Mark squeaking and squeezing Damien into a hug every so often. When the movie was over they left, walking down the street again.

"Well... that was frightening. I'm never going to trust shoeboxes again." Mark shivered. It was a windy day, and his light jacket was just barely keeping him warm.

"Wait... Marky, there weren't any shoeboxes in that movie."

"Yeah there were. It's where the killer kept the heads of his victims. They never found the heads and you know it!"

They walked and talked for quite a while before Mark looked at his watch.

"Uh oh. It's almost four. Roger will be worried. I should go home."

"Oh, okay Marky." Damien blushed. "Uh... can I do something?"

Mark tilted his head questioningly. "I guess. What is it Damien?"

He leaned forward, quickly kissing Mark on the cheek. "That. I'm sorry. I couldn't resist." Damien grinned. Nothing serious, just a kiss on the cheek. Like between Mark and Maureen- just a friendly gesture.

"Okay. Bye! Call me!"

"I will. Don't worry."

May 28, 1992, 4:15pm EST

"Mark where were you? You couldn't have been filming for that long!" Roger was furious. "So where did you go?"

"I saw a movie. Jeez! What's your problem?"

"Mark I know you're not telling the whole truth. You always blush when you're lying. Spill- what were you doing?"

"Okay! Damien called and we saw a movie. I didn't want to tell you because you're always so jealous of me wanting to do anything without you. So I went with him to a movie, and we walked around for a while. That's it. And I'm not blushing, so you can trust me now." Mark was really mad. Why does he have to be so annoying? He just can't stand that I have a friend who isn't him!

"God, Mark, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be jealous- it's just that... I know you could get a lot of guys who are probably better than me. And I'm just worried that you might do that."

Mark was affected by Roger's words. "Aw, Roggy- I would never do that to you. You know I love you." He hugged Roger, kissing his nose. "Besides, I would never find anyone as sexy as you."

"Mark, you're blushing."

"Yeah, but I'm not lying and you know it."

"Yeah... I know. I love you too, Mark."

Edited AN: Mreh, I added the "nice Jewish boy" line. Because I think it's cute. Editing is fun. Toodles.