Disclaimer: I don't own emotion...I also do not own Rent.

(A/N: I don't know if I still have to do the disclaimer, but I have a lot of fun making up new ones)

We last left off:

"Hello?" It was Marli.

"Umm... Marli?"

"Yes, who's this?"

"It's Mark, Mark Cohen. Listen I got your call."

"And?" Marli sounded very enthusiastic.

"Well, I've made a decision..."

And without further ado:

CHAPTER 3

"And?" Marli asked. She was starting to get a tad bit fed up with his uncertainty.

"I'll do it... or at least read the script."

"YAY!" Marli cried, a bit too enthusiastically. "Do you want me to send over a script? And then we can meet? Or do you just want to meet soon?"

Mark could tell that this meant a lot to Marli. "Well do you want to meet to give me the script? I would love to see you and catch up."

Marli grinned widely into the phone. "Um...yeah that sounds good. Actually, would you like to meet for lunch today? You can choose the place, I'll treat."

"Sure that sounds great. Let's meet at the Life Cafe in, a half an hour? Sound good?"

"Sounds fabulous. See you there!"

Marli had been so anxious to see Mark again that she arrived at the cafe a full 10 minutes early, something that was virtually unheard of for her. She was rarely early and rarely late. She preferred to be perfectly prompt, thank you very much. She didn't know what had come over her and why, all of a sudden, she was so eager to be there. She wrote it off as the excitement of finding someone to direct her film.

All of a sudden, she saw him. There he was, Mark Cohen, looking exactly the same as when they had last seen each other. She got up and he came over to her, obviously amazed at just how pretty she remained over the years. She gave him a big, sisterly hug, but somehow, it felt anything but sisterly to him.

"So, Mark, I think we should get the business done so we can chat and catch up. Now here's the script," she said producing a thick script from her bag. "Now I'm sorry I didn't offer you this on the phone, but I'm not used to making deals myself. Do you want a brief summary of the script?"

"Yes."

"It's about a young struggling playwright and her artist friends. It's due to be pretty graphic and raw, hence why I've been having trouble finding a director and cinematographer. You do both and I know you would love a script like this. Up for the challenge Mark?"

"I should be... but I will read the script and get back to you, promise."

"All I'm asking you to do. Now let's eat and catch up."

The two had a wonderful lunch, full of good food, good drinks, and a good reconnection of their friendship. They told each other tales of what had happened since they'd last spoken. Towards the end of their lunch, just as they were about to ask for the check someone approached their table. Marli didn't recognize him, but apparently Mark did.

"Collins! Hey buddy, what's up?" Mark asked, apparently very interested in how his friend's day had been.

"Well, today was a good day," Collins replied sadly, "I spent some time with Roger, listening to his songs before going to class. Now who's this pretty lady you have here?"

"Collins, this is Marli Ryan. Marli, this is Tom Collins. You can call him Collins, just about everyone does."

"Nice to meet you Collins," Marli replied coyly.

"The pleasure is all mine. What brings someone like you to the Life, may I ask?" Collins said kindly

"Well actually, I'm a screenwriter. I went to Brown with Mark. I've given him my latest script to read over. I want him to direct it."

"Sounds like quite an opportunity," Collins said to Mark, "I really hope you take it. Although, I must say, I was hoping you were Mark's new girl. He needs someone new in his life."

Hearing Collins' last statement, Mark flushed about fifteen shades of embarrassment and hissed at Collins to be quite. Marli, not wanting to send the wrong message, just offered a small half-smile to them both. Collins then announced that he had to go and left, leaving the two old friends alone one again. Marli was paying the check when her beeper went off; she looked at it and sighed.

"I have to go meet my agent, she says it's urgent. Um...when the waiter comes back with the change leave a five-dollar tip and keep the rest. Call me when you're done with the script, doll. We shall meet again then. Today was fun. I missed you." With that said, she gave him another hug, and then left to go back uptown.

As she left Marli had the strangest feeling in her stomach. It was one she hadn't felt in the longest time. Could it be that Marli Ryan, the girl who had never been lucky in love had feelings for Mark Cohen...again?

A/N: That seemed like an appropriate place to end the chapter. Next chapter, I will go further into Marli's crush and her past with Mark. Also, did you like the appearance of Collins? And which character would you like to see come up next. Let me know and keep on reviewing!