A/N: Forgot to do this last time. Hope the fanfic gods don't kill me.

Disclaimer: I don't own RENT or any of the beautiful characters from RENT. They belong to the genius Jonathan Larson. Who is amazing. And now...Chapter 2.

Cold. That was the only thing that my brain could register so early in the morning. I reached across the bed in an attempt to grab Mark and cuddle. He was always warm, no matter how cold it got in the loft.

I groaned when I realized that Mark wasn't in bed with me. I hate waking up in bed alone. It makes me feel so empty.

Throwing back the covers I slid out of bed and pulled on one of Mark's t-shirts. I made my way out into the loft slowly, running my fingers through my hair.

April was sitting on one of the mix-matched chairs at the table in the 'kitchen'. She looked like hell.

"Late night?" I asked as I sat next to her. She grunted. I hated when April was coming down off of a high. She was so lifeless, so blank.

"You should stop shooting up." I said it as though it was that simple. Just...stop. I knew it wasn't.

April leaned down and put her forehead on the metal table.

"I can't. I want to. But I can't." Her voice was so small.

"I know, babes. I know. You should get some sleep." I reached out and brushed her hair back out of her face.

"I'm not tired. I'm...down. I'll be fine. I gotta go find Roger, though. He's still out with the band." We both knew that wasn't true. Roger was probably in some other woman's bed and April was most likely going out to get more drugs.

"If you see Mark, would you remind him that I have an audition today around four? He left before I got up." I was at the sink now, getting some water for both of us.

This was our normal Saturday morning routine. Friday night Roger's band would have a gig, April would go with them, they would get high after the show, Roger would take off with some girl while April was shooting up for the second or third time, and then April would come home, alone, at four in the morning. When I would wake up I would always find her at the table and I would always try to talk her into quitting. Then she would go out and buy more drugs, letting the cycle start all over again.

April was my protector. I always thought she could take care of herself.

"I completely forgot about your audition. What kind of a sister am I, huh?" Sister. We may as well have been blood. She was sitting up now, trying to act like she was fine.

"How is it that you and me are practically sisters, but your idiot boyfriend can't stand me?" I asked with a laugh, handing April a glass and sitting back down.

"Reena, tell me about your audition?" She seemed desperate to change the subject. We talked for another twenty minutes before she left and I took a shower. When I got out, Mark was home.

"Hey baby." I said as I flounced over to him. He was on the run down old couch with his camera that he was to busy with to pay attention to me.

"You were gone when I got up this morning." I pouted, knowing he wouldn't be able to resist me. And I was right. He pulled me into his lap and kissed me. Oh how I loved that boy.

"I know. I had to go out filming." He said, running his fingers through my damp hair.

I hated that damn camera. For being this great camera man, film maker, distant observer, he sure as hell was oblivious to the world around him. He had no idea that Roger and April were on drugs. And he had no idea, at least not then, that I was cheating on him. I wouldn't do it every night, and it was rarely ever sex. I think I only slept with another guy once. But that was bad enough.

"I have an audition soon." I didn't want to leave.

"Good, because I only came home long enough to get more film. I'm getting amazing footage." Mark seemed really happy when he was filming. I wish I could have made him that happy.

"Okay. I'll let you get back to filming again. I still have to get my outfit together. I'll see you when you get home?" I missed him. I missed him more than I would ever tell him. He just nodded.

I gave him a quick kiss and then ran off to our bedroom. I pulled on a pair of tight, dark blue jeans and a white tank top, deciding to leave my hair down.

The audition was at this off Broadway theater for this show about a woman in love with a man who's in love with another man who's in love with the woman. It was a big, twisted, conveluted story line that I can't really explain, but I wanted the lead. We needed the money. Collins was making good money tutoring, but that wasn't enough. And Roger was spending all of his money on drugs.

When I got to the theater I was the last to audition. Most of the other girls were good, but I knew I was better. I wasn't being conceited, I just knew I was better. I sang some random song in some strange key to impress the director. It didn't work. When I got back to the loft, it was empty. There was a note on the table from Collins.

'April and Roger are out doing whatever the hell it is that they do. I'm heading out to a new bar. You should join me if you get the chance. We haven't hung out in a while with me working and you singing. Mark's out filming. He said he wouldn't be late, but you know how he gets when he's out with his camera.

Love Ya Mo,

Collins'

Great. Another night home alone. I had nothing to do now, nobody to amuse me.

Pacing the urge to go out to the bar and find some random guy to pay attention to me. That was all I really wanted. The attention.

Twenty minutes later some random woman walked out of Benny's bedroom fixing her make-up. She looked me up and down and then walked out as though she owned the place. Benny left his room about ten minutes later.

"Another night, another girl." I said as Benny walked to the sink.

"She was great. Her name's Allyson. She's definately going in the book." Benny said with a satisfied grin. "You're a pig, Benny." I mumbled as I walked off to my bedroom.

"Yeah, but you love me." Benny said with a laugh.

I just rolled my eyes before changing into one of Marks shirts and climbing into bed. Maybe when I woke up the next morning Mark would be there.