Note: Yup still don't own RENT…could I interest you in a RENT rpg? That I own (click on my profile for more details). This chapter is kinda short I know but the next one is gonna be so big..I might have to cut it in half. All of this really is a lead up to the next chapter in general, but important…and I hope it's kinda funny. Thanks for all the reviews as always! I love to see 'em. Oh and pardon Collins bad language.
It was morning at Scarsdale High and all of the students slowly made their way to their lockers, then to their friends lockers, and then when there was no other locker to visit they would drag themselves to class. They tried hard to convince themselves that school really was about the social aspect and not so much with the learning. Collins entered the school looking for his friends in the hallways. He never used his locker anyway, but apparently Roger did. Collins saw the rocker kicking his locker with all of the strength in his body. Collins raised his eyebrow walking up to him, "Uh…Rog, I don't know if your locker's gonna open now. You hurt it." He pointed to the huge dent that Roger made when kicking it. The rocker threw his back against the locker and crossed his arms.
"This is just great." He grumbled glaring at every kid in the hallway that passed by.
Collins leaned his hand on the neighboring locker, "So what you leave in there your cigarettes? I refuse to believe your upset over not being able to access your schoolbooks."
"Is it that obvious?" Collins chuckled patting his hand on Roger's shoulder.
"There's a reason they call it an addictive drug, Davis." Collins went into his pocket and slipped him one making sure the teachers watching for the students couldn't see.
Roger sighed in relief, "I owe you. My first born will be yours." He pushed the cigarette down into his pocket.
Collins laughed standing up and readjusting the backpack on his shoulder, "What makes you think I will allow you to procreate? I think we have enough Roger Davises in this world as it is." He said winking at him. Roger shrugged and started to walk towards their first period History class, Collins by his side.
"If that game yesterday was a indication about the future there will be many little Davises running around." Roger pointed out fiddling with the cigarette in his pocket. Collins slapped his palms on his face and widened his eyes.
"The world may end." He gasped until Roger faked a punch to his friend's stomach. Collins just laughed putting his arm around his shoulders, "So speaking of the game yesterday why were you pissy?"
Roger got tense, "I wasn't pissy." He grumbled.
"Like you ain't pissy now because I brought it up." Collins said poking him in the chest. A student passing eyes grew to see Collins' arm around Roger's shoulder. Collins gave the kid a queen wave as they went on.
"I'm fine….I-" Roger started to say until April came into view. She was holding her books to her chest and her eyes were on the ground. A few kids in the hall screamed at her to watch where she was going when she almost collided with them. But April kept her eyes on the white tiles. Collins looked over at his friend for an explanation.
"You have something to do with that?" Collins whispered to him, "Would you?" Roger rolled his shoulder to get Collins' arm off.
Roger leaned down to take a drink from a water fountain, "I broke up with her." After taking a few sips, he came back up wiping his mouth, "Is that a crime?" Collins thought about that for a moment keeping his eyes on April. She stopped in front of him and Roger. Her whole face turned beat red and she slipped pieces of hair behind her ear. With a sob she ran off.
Collins watched her and said quietly, "It might be. How the hell did you break up with her? Through a note or something?" He asked, he knew that April could be emotional at times but this seemed…beyond normal.
Roger shook his head, "I sat down with her and explained I wasn't ready for a relationship that she wanted. I tried so hard to let her down easy…I know I'm not the best boyfriend in the world…and I recognized that. I have to..fix myself before I go loving other people. She just…didn't take it too well."
Collins nodded looking down on the floor, "That's good…not that April so upset but…what you said." He looked up at his friend and smiled gently. Angel, Mark, and Collins were ready to initiate an all out intervention. But it seemed like Roger actually had a grasp of himself and his weaknesses. Collins couldn't help but feel proud of him. Roger on the other hand just shrugged. Collins opened his mouth to talk when Mark rushed up to the two of them and handed them each an envelope.
"Did you have to write me a letter Cohen? I'm right here?" Roger said looking down at the letter. Mark sighed and rubbed his temples a migraine was probably on its way.
"No, it's invitations to my party this weekend." Mark explained looking through the rest of the envelopes he was holding. All of them were clearly labeled and they even looked color coded.
"This weekend?" Collins asked opening the card, "Thanks so much for the warning, bro."
Mark frowned, "You guys know it's my birthday! So I'm having it on my birthday." Roger read over the card and pointed to the last few words on it.
"A piñata? Mark, how old are we? Seven?" Mark rolled his eyes clearly exasperated by his friend's less than helpful comments.
"My mom still thinks I'm seven I have to humor her." Mark said with a deep sigh. Collins giggled reading the rest of the card.
"All we need is a clown…oh wait Roger's gonna be there so we're covered!" Collins said, quickly jumping out of the way when Roger tried to push him. Mark smiled just a bit although he still seemed frustrated.
"Ok you'll both be there right?" Mark asked looking hopeful. Both Roger and Collins nodding slipping the card in their back pockets almost simultaneously. Collins lifted his finger to point to a figure headed towards Mark.
"Drama queen at eleven o'clock." He mumbled as Maureen ran over to Mark. She grabbed hold of his arm.
"Oh Mark I have to ask you a question about the party….oh hey guys." She said waving to Roger and Collins. Roger just looked confused, he had assumed that Maureen didn't know he existed even though he had more classes with the girl than Mark ever did. Collins on the other hand knew her from theatre productions. They were once brother and sister in one odd odd version of a Neil Simon play.
Mark blushed instantly, "Um yeah sure…what do you need to know?"
"Well…I was wondering if we could bring dates…cause my uh…Jo is well. I haven't gotten to see…him in a while and I hoped I could bring him along." Mark's previously red face turned now to a bright white. Collins was pretty sure he was glowing he was so white.
"Uh yeah. That's fine…the more the merrier." Mark managed to say even though his voice was uneasy. Maureen squealed and hugged Mark kissing him on the cheek.
"Thank you SO much Mark. You're a lifesaver. I'll see you at the party ok?" Maureen said walking away before he or the other two boys could answer. Collins bit his lip while Roger still had a look of confusion on his face.
"Let me get this straight…" Roger started running his hand through his hair, "You invited the girl you have a crush on to your birthday party hoping that you could score. Even though she has a boyfriend." Mark looked at his red converse shoes.
"That's sick, man." Roger said nodding, "Even I recognize that."
Mark looked up pouting, "But but…she kissed me." Collins held back a chuckle and grabbed Mark's face planting a kiss on his cheek.
"That's how Maureen kissed you. There was nothing to it." Collins explained. Now Mark looked confused.
"Do you want to encourage the rumors that we're dating and having sex on the Principal's desk when she goes to pee?" Mark asked his eyebrows raised. Roger laughed hard leaning against the wall and slamming his fists on the wall as he did so.
Collins shrugged a huge smile on his face, "They amuse me. You gotta get your humor from somewhere. I like the one that says we are gonna elope to the Netherlands and get married." Mark sighed rubbing his temples again.
"Why aren't there any rumors about you and Roger?" Mark asked pointing to the rocker.
Roger grinned until he saw another kid approaching them. Except this time, it was a person they all despised.
"Benny, what a displeasure. What do you want?" Roger almost growled at the boy. It was bad enough that he was a wanna-be that was elevated to popular status. That type of move was always seen as a betrayal by the lower cliques. Then there was the actual betrayal in which Benny used to be somewhat friendly with Collins. As that went out of fashion, so did Benny's affection for Collins. However, the boy didn't seem to be daunted by Roger's words and looked to Collins.
"I have a message for you." He said simply. Mark raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms.
"A message?" Collins asked all of a sudden thinking he was in the mafia or something of the sort. "From who…" But as the words left his mouth he realized exactly who. Benny must have seen the realization on his face and motioned for him to follow him. Mark shook his head.
"Don't…" Collins looked back at Mark's worried face. He supposed that it was a possibility, that Benny was just drawing him away from Mark and Roger so the jocks could jump him. But something told him that it had nothing to do with retribution. Only resolution.
"I'll see you guys in class." Collins called to them going after Benny. Mark looked away disgusted while Roger watched him with a look of disappointment. Glancing back at them he realized that their fear for his safety wasn't actually what was on their minds. They thought he might go back to Robbie…and betraying Angel.
Collins and Benny turned the corner while the bell rang. Students rushed to get to class but the two teens stood still waiting for the halls to empty.
"So...what does he want?" Collins asked his eyes scanning the hallway for goons to pop out from the lockers ready to jump him. But Benny and Collins were completely alone.
"He just wants to talk to you. Wants to apologize for hurting you." Benny explained in a plutonic way. There was no hint of anything more than just a friendship in Benny's words. Collins watched him for a moment and laughed harshly.
"You don't know…you…?" He laughed again, of course not. Why would Robbie out himself to anyone? Especially a lackey like Benny. Collins told himself that he must have just explained to Benny that he felt remorse for hurting his former "best friend".
"Tell him to go fuck himself." Collins said with a nod patting Benny on the shoulder, "You can quote me. Please do. You can say, 'Collins, the faggot, told me to tell you to go fuck yourself'…for once." Collins walked away from Benny but then turned pointing to him, "You can add that last bit, too. He'll blush like hell." Right then and there Collins walked away from Robbie Kinsman forever. He would be lying if he said there weren't any good moments. But the bad overweighed the good, and Collins was now more secure. He knew that he could never be with someone who could hurt others. He would only be with the select few that loved everyone instantly without judgements and would simply love the world. People like Angel.
Collins slipped into his classroom getting a worried glance from Mark and a glare from Roger. Collins sat down grateful their teacher had failed to begin class. Pulling out a piece of paper he scribbled, "I told Benny to tell Robbie to fuck himself." He passed it on to Mark.
Mark smiled deeply showing it to Roger who sighed in relief. The filmmaker wrote on the paper and handed it back to him, "Next time watch your language. You can tell an ex off without it." When Collins read the message he laughed out loud which resulted in a glare from the teacher.
"Oh sorry." Collins mumbled putting the note in his back pocket shaking his head at Mark who chuckled in response.
Post: Yay no more Robbie…ok Collins ain't getting off that easy but for now he will. Next Chapter: Mark's birthday party, friendships made, re-cemented, and flirtations acted upon. Along with all of the cake and presents! If this were really RENT, this next chapter would be La Vie Boheme.