AN: Okay, a bit shorter than last time, but it moves the plot along.

Hey thanks for those of you who reviewed! I'm glad you liked Tara.

"The abyss…Will he get out of there alive?"

Onto to Chapter 2...

Tara had been avoiding Mark for about a week now. He had run into her once since that first night, she had acted strangely.

"Ask her out, okay?"

Mark stopped filming. "Why should I?"

Roger plucked out an E chord. "You like her. The worst could be that she's taken." Running his fingers through his long brown hair, he started with that familiar tune-up.

"Don't tell me that."

Roger stopped mid-way through "Musetta's Waltz." "What? Just go for it, Mark. No day but today."

Mark glared at him. Ever since Mimi's miraculous recovery last Christmas, Roger had become more optimistic. Old Roger wouldn't have given a damn about Mark's romantic woes. New Roger was seeing the brighter side of things. Damn those Life Support meetings.

But the man did have a point…

Mark found himself standing outside of the Wendko apartment the next day. Right before he could knock, the door opened. "Mark?"

"Tara, can I- can I talk to you?"

"Sure, come on in."

The place was covered with newspapers, and paint was flung all over the walls. "Did I come at a bad time?"

"Not really. Dave and I trying to brighten this place up a bit. Can you believe that the landlord thought I was nuts?"

"With Benny, anything's possible."

"So, Mark, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Well-I was, um, wondering-" Jesus, he was never good at this- "I was wondering if you wanted to, uh, go out some time?"

"What about that roommate of yours?"

Mark stared at her, and then realized what she was talking about. "You think Collins and I-"

"Uh, yeah. Unless you got a girl hidden up there."

He started laughing. "We're not together."

"Really?"

"You're right about Collins being gay. I'm not, though."

"No girl?"

"Well, there's Mimi, but she's with my friend Roger."

"Well." She smiled. "Since we have that cleared up, my answer is yes. I would love to go out with you."

"Really? Wow-thanks. I mean, when-"

Tara kissed him. "I don't care. Let's just see where this goes."

Meanwhile, Joanne was waiting for Maureen to wake up. The two had been at the Clit Club the night before, and Maureen…well, Maureen had a few too many and was flirting with everyone in sight. Joanne had to push the girl out of the door.

"One time too many…" she grumbled. Her cell phone rang. "Hello? Steve? Yeah, I've got that case here. I'm looking over it as we speak." She looked over into the bedroom. One time too many…

* * *

"Tara? You know your boyfriend's roommate?" Dave asked as he came in with some shopping bags.

"Which one?"

"That gorgeous professor. At least I think that's what he does. Do you think he'll like this?" Dave pulled out a short baby blue cocktail dress.

"Oh, Dave, I thought you gave up on that." His cross-dressing was why the reason why they left their old hometown.

"Mom never seemed to mind."

Tara stopped for a second. Their mother. The second person Dave came out to. The reason why he was here with her. "I know she didn't. Paul did though."

Dave shut his eyes, and almost instinctively traced the scar along his left shoulder. Tara's last boyfriend wasn't just homophobic; the fact that his girlfriend was sister to a gay man didn't help either. "He was such an idiot."

* * *

"Hot date, Cohen?" Roger asked.

"What gave it away?" Mark pulled on a turtleneck.

"Well, for one thing, the camera's actually in the case. So, what, is she against the first night in bed being commemorated on film, or is hell freezing over?"

"Neither. I don't think it's right for me to drag it along." Roger stared at him. "I'll be back later." Mark left the loft.

Roger finally noticed Mimi standing in the doorway. "You told him to leave it?"

"What? I'd hate it if you had shoved a camera in my face on our first date."

Collins slammed the door. The couple looked up at him. "Well. Someone couldn't stand the couch potatoes today," Roger said. Collins glared at him, and then stormed off to his room. "What do you think happened, babe?"

"Probably something about Angel. I'll go check on him." She leaned over, and kissed Roger.

Collins sat down on his bed, not wanting to remember the guy downstairs in the short blue dress. He had asked Collins out.

* * *

PS: Yep, that's foreshadowing, kiddies! Hee hee.

Okay, bracing myself for a challenge…15 reviews or I don't update. Please, I'll take anything; flames, praise, advice. I WANT 15 REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!! SO DO IT!!!!!!!