A/N: I know, a note at the beginning of the chapter! Absurd, isn't it? I've been getting a lot of timing questions…I guess it's pre Rent…but, and I'm sorry if you love her, I guess I essentially erased April. So to be extremely clear: It is before Rent, and Roger never dated/met April. He is just his bad boy rocker self, sleeping with his hot, knocked up co-worker…oh, who wouldn't give to be Allie!

Allie was shoving her things rather harshly into her bag when her phone rang again. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"God dammit, Mark!" Her greeting was obviously unorthodox, she realized as the voice on the other end rang out confused.

"What? This isn't Mark…" Allie recognized the voice immediately.

"Mary-Anne! Sorry, I'm so sorry…"

"It's fine honey. Listen, I need you to pick up an extra shift tonight."

"I was on my way over anyways…but sure! How long?" Mary-Anne sighed.

"Until closing." Allie bit her lip and thought for a second.

"Um, yeah, that's fine. I'm on my way." Mary-Anne's voice filled with relief.

"Really? Thanks doll! See you soon." Allie hung up the phone, grabbed her bag, and thrust open the door, to find Mark in mid-knock.

"Allie!" Allie pushed him backwards, closed her door and locked it.

"What do you want, Mark?" She began to jog down the stairs, and Mark, keeping pace, followed her.

"We need to talk, Al." She cinched her lips.

"You gave up the privilege to call me 'Al' a long time ago." Mark sighed, and rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Stop, Allie, come on. Let's talk." She shook her head.

"I can't…I have work…" Mark thought for a second.

"I'll come with you. Where?" Allie figured this talk had to come sometime.

"Life. I'm working till closing." Mark nodded.

"Ok, I'll hang out. We can talk." Allie nodded as well, and for the first time, she gave in to Mark.

0o0o0o0o0

"I'm here." She called to Mary-Anne, who nodded, struggling under 4 plates and a coffeepot. Allie left Mark and took two of Mary-Anne's plates. "Where do these go?"

"Table 6. You're a life saver, Allie, really." Allie smiled at her, and brought the table 6 customers their food. She returned to Mark, hovering in the doorway.

"Do you want the counter or a table?" Mark shrugged.

"Anything is fine. Whatever's open." Allie looked around at the crowded café, and focused in on an empty polyester chair at the counter.

"There." She pointed and he nodded. "Oh, and please order something? You can't just sit there." He nodded again, and made his way over to the counter. Allie turned to the kitchen and went in to get her apron. "Hey boys." She called to the chefs and Su-chefs. They nodded, and returned to making too many dishes at one time. She quickly tied her apron, grabbed her notebook and pen, and headed to her first table.

0o0o0o0o0

"How's the chili, Wes?" Allie leaned on the counter, waiting for the opinion of one of Life's most valued customers.

"Hmm, it's pretty damn spicy," He spoke, taking another bite, "but that's the way Daddy likes it!" Allie laughed and went to check on Mark.

"More coffee?" Mark nodded.

"Sure." She refilled his mug when a deep voice called his name.

"Mark, hey!" Allie looked up and Mark turned around to see Collins.

"Oh, Collins. Hi." Collins sat in the empty chair beside Mark.

"And the pretty blonde waitress. How you doin', Hon?" Allie blushed. Collins was always so polite.

"I'm fine Collins, and yourself?" Collins stuck out his lip.

"Ah, same Ol, same Ol. Roger's on his way in-" Allie dropped the coffeepot, and it spilled all over the counter.

"Oh, shit! Sorry…did I get you?" Both Mark and Collins shook their heads. "Ok, good." She mopped it up with a rag, and picked up the pot again. "I-I'm going to go refill this…" She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Mark and Collins confused, and waiting for Roger, who came in shortly after Allie left.

"Collins, sorry…I had to use change for the cab driver…oh, Mark." Mark put down his coffee.

"Hey Roger…did I do something wrong?" Roger sat next to Collins and leaned on the counter.

"You just seem to get in the way a lot."

"Ok, what?"

"Never mind." Allie came out from the kitchen.

"Fresh…" She dropped in on the floor this time when she saw Roger.

"Are you ok?" Mark asked, standing up to check on her. She nodded, wiping up the coffee.

"Dude, will you just leave her alone?" Roger piped up, rising. Mark turned to face him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"It's her! She's the one you knocked up and cheated on!" Allie stood up to defend herself as well.

"Roger, what is wrong with you? I don't need you to defend me or anything. You walked out on me, ok?" Mark's expression changed.

"What? He…what are you talking about?" Roger sighed.

"We went out." Mark sighed.

"Ok…you guys didn't…please tell me you didn't sleep with her!" Roger scratched his head.

"It would be nice if I could…but it doesn't matter, it didn't mean anything." Allie threw her pen at Roger's head. "Ow! What?"

"I'm just another one night stand to you aren't I?" Her voice rose as she realized the customers left in the café were staring. She ignored them and kept on her tirade. "Just another notch in your rock star belt? What is wrong with you men? Maybe your ex-girlfriend had the right idea, Mark. Right now, women are seeming much more appealing."

0o0o0o0o0

A/N: 2 notes in one chapter! What lucky readers you are! Anyways, I hope you like this chapter, it's sort of short, but I liked it. I hope you do too!