[A/N: I saw Rent on Saturday! Whooo! The cast was awesome awesome awesome. Oh, and about the Elmo thing in my last chapter. . .you can ask Jan about that (there, Jan. Are ya happy? Hehe).]

Kelly approached Maureen who was writing in her notebook on the couch. She touched her shoulder. Maureen started and turned quickly.

"It's just me. God, you've been really jumpy lately. . ."

"Yeah. . .I know. . ." She began nibbling the end of her pencil.

Kelly sat down next to her. "Is Collins here? He hasn't been home all day. . ."

"Oh, he's probably off by himself somewhere. He's just in one of his moods. How's he been, by the way?"

Kelly shrugged. "I don't know. Quiet. As usual."

"He never used to be like that. Collins was always doing something to change the world . . .but then Angel died and he changed. We all figured having a roommate would help him come out of his shell, you know? I guess he just has to learn how to move on."

"Yeah . . .I know what it's like to lose someone." Kelly sighed and ignored Maureen's questioning look. "What about you? How have you been?"

"Fine." Kelly wasn't convinced. "It's nothing!"

"It isn't nothing when you're that jumpy. It's this whole Jeff thing, isn't it?"

Maureen struggled with herself about what to say. She hadn't been planning on discussing this with anyone yet; if anyone, it would be Mimi. There had still been that thin shield of safety between Maureen and Kelly where they had been more like "acquaintances" than "friends." Kelly had just punctured right through it. "No . . .yes. I'm just a little freaked out, that's all. I never thought about what would happen if he found out. I just assumed it would never happen."

"Well, it's not exactly something you can hide," Kelly pointed out. "At least not for these last five months."

"Believe me, I know." She tugged at her shirt, attempting to flatten it out. Kelly giggled at her.

"Oh, by the way, is Mark here?"

"No. I think everyone is out and about . . ." A smile crept across Maureen's face. "Why?"

Kelly tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and blushed slightly. "I was just wondering."

"You have the hots for him."

"Do not!"

"Yes you do. It's obvious. You should wear a big sign on your forehead that says 'I think Mark Cohen is a sexy beast.'"

"I'm not falling for Mark!" No matter how hard Kelly tried to keep a straight face, she couldn't stop giggling.

Maureen held a nearby glass of water over Kelly's head. "Admit it or you'll melt like the wicked witch."

"But . . ."

Maureen tilted the glass with a threatening cackle.

"Fine! I admit it!" She grabbed the glass of water out of Maureen's hand and took a sip. "Promise you won't tell him."

"I won't. . .maybe." Kelly glared at her. "I was kidding! God, I feel like I'm in high school again. Kelly has a cruuuush!" she sang. "Kelly and Mark sitting in a tree. . .F-U-C-K-I-N-G!" Maureen laughed hysterically at her own joke and continued. "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the . . ." She stopped and crossed her arms. "Well who says you have to get married to have a baby, anyway?" She picked up her pencil and began writing again. Apparently, she was trying to end the conversation. A few minutes passed. "Kelly?"

"Yeah?"

"What happens if Jeff really does come back?"

"I don't know. . ."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------

Mark and Roger walked through the alley behind CBGBs after lunch at the Life Café.

"You can tell me what's wrong now, you know," Mark said out of the blue.

"What do you mean? I'm fine." Roger kicked an empty can and it went sailing into the brick wall behind them. Somehow his expression wasn't convincing. "I never see Mimi anymore."

"Sure you do. We were just with her at the café."

Roger shook his head. "Yeah. And then she left for work."

"Are you saying you don't want her to work?"

"No. . .we need the money. Especially now with Maureen and everything. But I miss her."

"At least you have someone to miss."

Roger shrugged, his mind somewhere else.

"Would you stop moping? Everyone is moping. You, Collins, Maureen. . .everyone. How about we all just appreciate what we have?"

"You make it sound easy."

"It would be if you tried."

They trudged on in silence unsure whether one was angry at the other. Mark finally turned on his camera and pulled himself up on a nearby fire escape. "Pan the beautiful sunset sinking behind the buildings once again to prepare for the impending morning. Every morning the sun is always there no matter how much appreciation we lack for this simple, yet crucial, wonder of nature. Poetic, huh?"

"Stop trying to teach me a lesson. I get it, ok? No day but today. Yeah, yeah." But Roger couldn't put Mimi out of his mind.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Mark tried to get a better shot of the sunset from the fire escape back at the loft.

"The sunset from our view at the loft," he narrated after setting up his camera stand. "You'd think that with a sky so beautiful nothing could go wrong on an evening like this. Apparently, that idea is far from correct. Collins is still out on his own somewhere. He told us he was 'grading papers in the park.' Maureen is inside scrawling down angsty lyrics for her band. I guess the whole Jeff thing really upset to her, but then again, what doesn't upset Maureen these days? Roger isn't talking much. He isn't angry with Mimi, just afraid. He and Mimi seem to have been fine lately, but Mimi's near-death two years ago till haunts him. Roger realizes how we have to make the most of our time with our lovers. They won't be there forever. As for me, I have no lover. I'm still nowhere. And if anyone was interested in me, I think I'd die of shock before I got a chance to get to know them."

"I'll give you CPR."

Mark jumped as he heard a voice behind him. He turned to find Kelly. "Oh hi. I didn't think anyone was listening."

Kelly smiled. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you."

Mark didn't remember ever noticing how beautiful she was. Kelly noticed him looking at her.

"What are you staring at?"

"Nothing," he said quickly. "You look. . .nice."

"Thanks." Her blushing cheeks matched her pink top. Mark surprised himself when he had a sudden urge to touch one of those cheeks. "You look. . .nice too."

"In this?" Mark stared down at his ancient sweatshirt and signature scarf. He couldn't remember the last time a woman had commented on his looks. Not even Maureen.

Kelly laughed. "Yes. In that." She leaned against the railing. "It really is beautiful out here."

"Yeah . . ." They sat watching the sun sink behind the buildings. "Shit, my camera was off. It was the perfect shot," Mark said, breaking the peaceful silence. "But . . .I can get a better shot from the park tomorrow night. Do you think . . .I mean, uh, would you . . .you wanna come?"

"Sure." Mark was surpised by her quick reply. He hadn't expected her to say no. Kelly was too nice to do that. But he hadn't thought she would be so eager either.

"I'm going back in. It's getting cold out." Mark folded up his camera stand. "Well . . ." he paused, unsure whether or not to give her the goodnight kiss he was longing to plant on her soft, full lips. Mark's nerves took over and he decided against it. "Goodnight."

[If you don't review, I'm sending Idina to attack you with a spork. . .so review!]