AN: Drama galore. Enjoy! And please don't forget to REVIEW!!!
DISCLAIMER: I didn't write Rent. At least that's what my doctors say.
Mark walked into the apartment, slammed the door, and hung up his scarf. Had Collins seen him? He had no idea. But right now his mind was full of questions and no one could answer them. He walked in the living room and sat down on the couch. Roger was in his room, so he was left alone to think.
Collins was a prostitute. A prostitute. Mark had wondered how he'd managed to stay alive these past few weeks with no job, but he just assumed he'd done some odd jobs or something. This was too much. He had to confront Collins and ask him what the hell he was thinking.
Also, Maureen had solicited. Maureen had cheated on Joanne. Two huge pieces of information. What was he supposed to do? Who should he tell?
Roger walked in the living room from his room. "Hey, man. Where ya been?"
Mark hesitated. "Just… you know, around."
Roger nodded. "Cool. Hey, you haven't seen Collins, have you?"
Mark looked at him suddenly. "What? No. Why?"
"I wanted to ask him something. About… where my pills have been going."
Mark's eyes grew wide under his glasses. Not this. Not now. "Uh… yeah, man, about that--"
With this, Collins entered. "Hey, guys."
Mark stared at him in shock and betrayal. He had to confront him soon. But not now.
Roger spoke up. "Collins, I need to talk to you."
He nodded. "Okay." He followed him into Roger's bedroom.
Then Mark realized who he had to tell first. He left the apartment and walked down to the street, then turned right and headed in the direction of Joanne's apartment.
"Collins, have you been taking my AZT?" asked Roger once they were safely in the bedroom.
Collins sat down on the bed. "What? I wouldn't do that, boy. I got my own."
Roger nodded. "Yeah but… someone has, and… well, you did just get fired, so I can see why you might--"
"Roger," Collins interrupted, "I didn't take any. I promise."
Roger looked confused. "But… but yesterday I had three pills, and when I looked today there were only two."
"Did you ask Mimi?"
"Yeah. It wasn't her; someone's been taking from her, too."
Collins thought a moment, reached into his pocket, and pulled out his pill bottle. He unscrewed the lid and peeked inside and began counting out capsules. "Oh, man," he said.
"What?" asked Roger.
"I'm missing one, too."
Roger sighed and sat down. "I don't get it. You, me, and Mimi are the only ones who are positive. Who else would be taking them?"
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Mark knocked on the door of Joanne's apartment and waited. It was after dark on a weeknight, so she had to be home. When the door opened, Joanne smiled widely. "Hi, Mark!" She was unusually excited to see him, as she had been the past couple of weeks.
Mark took a seat on the couch and Joanne sat next to him. Maureen was at the Life Café, she said.
"Okay, Joanne…" Mark looked into her eyes. They were bright, lilting, she was almost ecstatic about this visit. Something was not right. "I… why are you looking at me like that?"
She quickly wiped the smile off her face. "No reason," she said. "Continue."
Mark pressed forward. "Okay… ah… I was with Collins today and… well--" He sighed. "Joanne, Maureen cheated on you."
Joanne's expression remained blank. Then morphed into a look of horror. "What? With who? How do you know?"
Mark stood. "I—I can't say. I'm sorry. All I can say is that about two weeks ago she… solicited a male prostitute."
Joanne stood as well and began to pace. "I knew it… I noticed all that money from our bank account was gone but I didn't say anything because I figured she used it to buy something useful." She sank down on the couch in defeat, put her face in her hands, and began to cry.
Mark consoled her. "I'm really sorry Joanne." He put his arm around her, and when he did, Joanne looked up. Through the tears, there was a longing look, a loving look. Now Mark understood.
Before he could say anything, she threw herself onto him and kissed him passionately. They were making out on the couch and Joanne was fighting to get Mark's clothes off.
Mark was stunned. What was he supposed to do? If he rejected her, he would hurt her feelings even more. This would be the perfect way to repay Maureen for what she did to him when they were still going out. God knows it had been awhile before he'd had a girl throw herself at him. And, as long as he wore a rubber, there would be no risk of Joanne getting infected.
Mark broke for a moment and spoke, "Wait. Bedroom."
Joanne nodded and both stood and ran down the small hall to the room, hurried inside, and closed and locked the door.
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Mimi lay in the bed of the hotel room with a lit cigarette in one hand. Benny was in the bathroom getting dressed. What had she just done?
She had just cheated on Roger, that's what. But this was something she had to do. To protect their relationship. She had sat in the restaurant a long time thinking it over. She hated being blackmailed, but if it was the only way to get Benny to keep her secret, she would do it. Besides, Roger would never find out.
To be honest, she had kind of enjoyed it. It was nice being back in Benny's arms for a change. But she made it as quick as possible, and once it was over she ordered him out.
Benny walked into the main room fully dressed. He held a pistol, and Mimi recoiled.
"Relax," he said. "It's just for a little protection. The Greys know some scary people."
She nodded. He walked over and set it on a table. She stood and slipped on a robe. "So… don't you think you should go? I need to get back soon."
He crossed his arms and looked at her. "Right. I should go. I want to get to the loft before dark." He picked up his keys.
Mimi looked at him, stunned. "What? The loft? Why?"
"To tell Roger about this."
Mimi continued to stare at him in shock. "You… no. You promised. We had a deal. We do this, and you keep quiet about the needle."
He nodded and gave a sly smile. "Yeah… that's off. You see, I got to thinking. About how a couple of months ago you told Allison about me and you, and then she pulled me off the East Village project."
Mimi's eyes widened. "You… knew it was me?"
"Yep. And I think now's the perfect time for a little payback."
"Benny, no… please… I'm really sorry. Don't do this."
He picked up his wallet and kissed her on the cheek. "I gotta go. Roger's gonna be very interested to hear about this." He moved for the door.
Mimi panicked. She reached for the gun Benny had luckily left on the table, grabbed it, and pointed it at him. "D-don't move."
Benny stopped with his hand on the doorknob and looked at her. He laughed. "Yeah, right. Keep the gun, it's a gift." He began to open the door.
Mimi gripped the trigger with a quaking index finger. "You're not leaving. I won't let you tell him."
Benny opened the door and said, "See ya, Meems."
Mimi pointed the gun at his shoulder and fired, meaning only to stun him. But with her hand shaking so badly, the barrel twitched and sent the bullet flying into Benny's chest. He coughed, and fell against the door which slammed closed. Slowly he slid down, leaving a trail of dark red blood on the white paint.
Mimi gasped and ran to him. He was barely breathing. She shook him a little to try and jolt him back to consciousness, but it was too late.
Benny was dead.
I know, it's the mother of all cliffhangers. REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!