Chapter Fourteen: Can't Handle the Heat?

Disclaimer: I don't own Rent... Would I really be writing FanFiction about it if I did?

Right, I believe that it has been a total of almost eleven months since I last updated this fic, so I apologise and promise to tell all of you about the reason... skip over the next part if you really don't care nd just want the fic, or read on if you're interested. Well, after July last year, I decided I'd really better get studying for exams, because I wasn't doing too well at school... then I ended up hosting a student from france for a month which was a full time thing, but absolutely awesome fun, so much fun that I'm hosting another student this coming July, which is exciting. Then started the planning for the schools first ever trip to France, which I had been planning for for years. That took up time because the three days spent in Paris were totally planned by the students, which made that time stressful because everynight we were on the phone to french people who spoke minimal english, trying to get them to let a group of sixteen teenagers into things like The Louvre, The Catacombes and The Museum D'Orsay for a reduced price, then trying to get hotel accomodation all on the same floor (Which we didn't get anyway.) Then cane the actual trip, which happened in March to April. That was a month and it was worth all of the stress of planning and everything because it was so amazing... I'm going to be posting some of the pictures I took on Deviantart soon, so I'll put the adress for that up soon. Anyways... ALL OF YOU WHO WEREN'T LISTENING... TUNE BACK IN! So, I have some reviewers to thank. First of all, AngelxCollins, LaVieAngel and L Ducky, each reviewed every chapter almost, which is so totally encouraging, so thank you. Then all of the other reviewers that leave really nice reviews, I appreciate them too, because they let me know that there are lots of people (hopefully) reading what I'm writing, so I'm not writing for a non-existent audience. So... if anyone has any ideas at all that you want in the fic, then let me know and I'll try to incorporate them into the story somehow. I'm going to try to make this chapter as long as possible, just to say sorry for leaving it so long between updates... By the way, I apologise for any mistakes in advance. I'm using wordpad because my other programs don't work. I'll try to pick them up but I apologise for any I miss... So here goes... brace yourself people :)

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Mark knew that he wouldn't really hurt Angel so much as to cut her wigs, he knew how much she paid for them and how much they meant to her. Nonetheless, he went into her tent and pulled out the second wig that Angel had brought with her apart from the one that was sitting on her head at that precise moment. He went into maureens tent and took a pair of nail scissors. He went back out to stand in front of the group. He held up the wig. He held up the scissors. Maureens face turned red. Angels turned white.

"They're my scissors Mark! You went into my tent!" Maureen shrieked. Angel could only gape helplessly as Mark held her most expensive wig in one hand and scissors in the other. She frowned, "Please Mark..." She widened her eyes and batted her eyelashes.

"That only works on Collins Ang... Now, what can I make you do..." Mark grinned evilly. Everyone in the group, however, knew that Mark wouldn't be so mean. Everyone, it seemed, but Angel.

"I'll do anything Mark! Anything, just don't hurt the wig." She looked about ready to get down on her knees and beg, but Mark already had a plan.

"You want the wig back, right?" Angel nodded profusely.

"Well... then you're going to have to be my servant."

"Servant?"

"Jeez Mark. I think I made you be my servant in first grade when we were six... could you be anymore juvenile?" Roger said, raising his eyebrows and shrugging.

"I think I could. I could be more juvenile and not try to bribe Angel... I could just cut the damn wig..."

"NO!" Angel cried.

"Don't worry Ang, he won't do it." Collins said reassuringly, "He's a softie."

"I'll be your servant mark... just don't hurt the pretty $100 wig... okay..." Angel completely ignored Collins and clasped her hands in front of her.

Mark shrugged, "Go and make me a fabulous lunch and we'll see."

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Angel scowled as she sat in the passenger seat of the car with Collins driving.

"You shouldn't let him push you around like this... It's not the Angel I know..." Collins didn't take his eyes off the road but smirked as he saw Angel trying to hide the grin that was crossing her face. "I knew it."

"Knew what, Baby?" She tried to look innocent.

"You have a plan."

"Do I?"

"I hope so."

"Well... now that you mention it, I think I might just have a little something cooking in my mind."

"Do tell."

"I guess you could help me out."

"I think I could too."

"Heres the plan..."

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Angel whistled absentmindedly as she added a few spices to the peppers she was cooking in a big pot for Marks dinner. She nodded as she added a few extraa spices just for Mark, give the meal a little kick. She hoped that he liked spice. Finally, she added the noodles and grinned, stirring some more. It was ready. She felt like a witch brewing a potion instead of a 'servant' making dinner for her 'master'.

"MARK!" She called, putting the plate down on the makeshift dining table with the candles and napkins that they'd bought at the supermarket.

Mark walked over to the table a minute later and sat down at the table, spreading his napkin over his lap. He lifted a mouthful of food to his lips and ate it. He chewed thoughfully and suddenly jumped up from his seat. His face had turned a brilliant shade of scarlett and he was searching frantically for water, which Angel had conveniently 'forgotten' to put on the table. Mark ran as fast as he could through the trees and to the lake. The whole group followed, laughing hysterically. Mark didn't know what else to do so he ran, fully clothed, into the lake and dived under. He resurfaced, coughing and spluttering, his face still a similar shade of red, but not so bright.

"Can't handle the heat Markie?" Mimi shouted, high-fiving Angel.

"Mark, I thought you were meant to have trunks on before you got in the water!" Roger called.

"Nice hair Mark!" Joanne yelled to the dripping film maker as he got out of the water.

"Why don't you just leave him alone, Joanne." Maureen said quietly.

"Why don't you mind your own buisness?"

"This is my buisness. Mark's my friend."

"He's my friend too."

"He was my friend first."

"Until you cheated on him with me."

"Joanne... you're so... just... I don't know... just leave me alone." Maureen, in her usual dramatic fashion, ran off back the the campsite. Joanne sighed and rolled her eyes, "I guess I'd better go and work this out with her."

Joanne dissappeared into the trees and the rest of the group, including Mark, stared at each other, "Wow..." Mimi whispered.

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"Joanne... I just feel like you care more about these people that I introduced you to than you care about me... Thaat's not fair."

"No Maureen, thats not fair what you just said to me..."

"Why though... That's how I feel."

"I appreciate you introducing me to them so much, because they've become my friends too. I feel like a part of the family now... instead of just... I dunno, 'Maureens Lawyer Girlfriend.'"

"Maureens Lawyer Girlfriend is a pretty cool title though, don't you think."

"I'd rather be a member of the family."

"You are that too... I just wish... You see, this is the problem. I know what's bothering me, but I can't say it in words because I don't know how."

"Can it be, you're speechless?"

"Shut up."

"Maureen, don't worry, I love you. I always will... you have to trust me on that because I don't know how to prove it to you."

"I could think of a way." Maureen purred seductively.

"That could work..." Joanne said as Maureen leant over and pressed her lips to Joannes. Joanne pulled away amd wrapped her arms around Maureen and they walked back to the tent.

Angel wandered into the campsite some time later and heard Joannes light breathes of 'Maureen...'. Angel blushed and tried not to listen. She tip-toed over to Marks tent and went inside. She searched around the tent and finally found what she was looking for. Marks camera was always clean and safe, no matter what condition Mark himself was in. Right now, the rest of the group were still swimming, having come back to the campsite to change into trunks before heading back. The last traces of daylight were leaving and Angel had snuck back to the site, trusting Collins to cover for her. Angel searched also for her wig and found it under one of Marks sweaters. She ran from the tent and into her own, cradling the silky soft hair to her chest. She rubbed it against her cheek and sighed, "Thank Goodness you're safe!" She whispered before hiding the camera and pulling her wig off. He was feeling sort of tired. He decided not to go back to the lake, but to go to bed. He put her pyjamas on and got into his sleeping bag. He lay his head on the lumpy pillow and shut his eyes, thankful for the silence. That was, apart from Joanne and Maureen. He was glad that they'd made up.

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There you go. I'll update soon, I promise! Please review... and remember, I want you guys to make suggestions because I tend to run out of ideas that make any sense to anyone apart from me. Anyways, hope you enjoyed!