After the accident, Bri had been sent to jail for drunk driving. Nina immediately scraped up enough money for the bail, to the apparent disapproval of Mark.

"I care about you," she had said, talking his hands in hers, "but this time I can't take your advice. Bri is my friend, and she certainly didn't... do that... on purpose."

As a thank you to Nina and an apology to the rest of the cast, Bri decided to throw a party (alcoholic beverages severely prohibited) for everyone at her apartment.

Nina begged Mark to come with her over dinner.

"She swore - swore - that she wouldn't let anyone drink! Please come!"

"Nina! She nearly..."

"I know, Mark, but I have to go to the party and it'll be dull without you. Please?"

Mark shook his head. "You can go if you have to, but I can't."

"You won't forgive her?"

"I can't! You have no idea what she did to me!"

"Oh, yeah, she really hurt you, Mark."

"I don't mean physically-"

"You'll never recover, I'm sure."

"Nina, I'm sorry..."

"Mark," she said softly. "Just let it go. I did, and last time I checked it was me stuck in a hospital for months."

"If it's that important I forgive her, then I promise I will... someday. Right now... I can't. I'll will – you have my word. Here, if anything goes wrong, call me," he pressed his cell phone into Nina's hand, "and I'll be there before you can hang up."

"What could go wrong, Mark? No one'll be drinking; some of the other cast members'll be there... I wish you'd come."

"I understand, but I couldn't talk to her," Mark insisted.

Nina sighed. "I won't need the phone."

"Please take it. It'll make me feel better, anyway."

"Okay, okay, I'll take it. But this party is safe, Mark. I mean, who in the cast – our cast – would cause a problem like Bri did?"

"John," Mark smiled, making a successful attempt to lighten the mood.

"No he wouldn't. What would John do?"

"Knowing him, something weird... John's a goof."

"Don't talk about my friends," Nina laughed.

Mark noticed his watch. "Alright then, let's get back to the theatre."

Bri had bought a ticket to the night show, and afterwards she arrived at the stage door to show anyone who was coming to her party the way to her apartment. John, Rob, Amanda, and Ryan were among those who planned to go.

Nina signed a few autographs and waited for Mark, who was collecting money for charity in the lobby of the theatre. He showed up in about ten minutes.

"Seriously though," she said upon seeing Mark, "why'd you say John's a goof?"

"Long story. He's going to the party too, isn't he?"

"Yeah," Nina sighed. "Too bad some people won't go."

"Good grief, woman, leave me alone!"

She smiled. "Got the phone, I'll call you if I need you."

Mark nodded. "See ya tomorrow."

He watched her make her way over to John and ask him something. John raised an eyebrow and then looked over at Mark, shaking his head.

As Nina and the others were leaving for the party, Scott was leaving the dressing room. Mark had turned to go home when he noticed Scott stop in the middle of the sidewalk, turn around, and head back to the stage door.

"What's wrong?" Mark called.

Scott stopped again and faced Mark. "Left my jacket in the dressing room."

Again he started to go back inside.

"Hey Scott?"

"Yeah?"

"I was talking to a man at the café the other day. He said he knew you. A guy named Shawn? He said he was one of the extras in Miss Saigon back when you were Chris," Mark said.

"Shawn? Yeah, I know him."

"I asked him how Danielle was doing, and he said he didn't know. Said he hadn't seen her since she left to be in Les Mis. I said, 'Didn't she go back to being Kim?' 'No,' Shawn says. He said to ask you where she was."

A dark look passed over Scott's face.

"D'you know what happened to Danielle?" Mark asked.

"I'm sure she's around," Scott said quietly.

"I just thought that was kinda interesting. I'll see you tomorrow."

Scott nodded curtly at Mark, then went back into the theater for his jacket.

A/N- With the next chapter I might up the rating out of absolute paranoia. Hehehe... I love this story. Oh, and remember, guys, I'm a crazy ax-murderer, as you could probably tell by the end of Words of Love. NO CHARACTER IS SAFE FROM ME!

Danica Enjolras- Don't worry! Reviews make me keep going. Sometimes, when I feel uninspired to continue a fic, reread the reviews and then feel loved... unless I'd already written the fic out, like this one. Then I'll finish it whether I get reviews or not.

Obsetress- Oh, that's obnxious, isn't it? I'm going to Louisiana with my church next week, and I'll be out of the fanfiction game till... Saturday? Friday? I don't even know when I'm coming back!

Forseti- Yes, Mark's a cutie. Shows a little dark side in this chapter with his forgiveness issue, but all in all he's sweet. Next chapter is the turning point of the story! I'm excited.

nebulia- Scott has issues... but we all love him anyway... except for Nina. I tried to tell Scott to quit moping over her, but he doesn't listen to me.

Lola Pennington- He's confusing, isn't he? Kinda pathetic too. Giggling like a little girl is fun! People give you looks.

La Pamplemousse- I'm feeling bad for Mark now... little does he know that all these people are picturing him in a dress...

RoseMisre- Last summer at camp I was making an Enjolras and an Eponine out of beads and singing Les Mis to myself when a random counselor started singing with me... which is always a strange thing to happen. I spazzed, of course.

Andi;;- Sorry that took awhile, but I wasn't happy with the original version of this chapter and then I hated the new version I came up with. This is the third version of this chapter, and I'm still not totally happy with it, but it's close enough... I originally had something about stealing peoples' shoelaces... Told you it was bad.