Disclaimer: I don't own rent. Yada, Yada, Yada.
A/N: You know what pisses me off? People not reviewing, that's what. I work extra hard to update often and I don't even get one little review (I was about to say comment…stupid myspace.) Not one! There will be consequences if you don't start reviewing soon. Big consequences, in fact, I might even just forget to update sometimes. So save all of our sanity and review. Got it? Cool. Now onto the chapter.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Christmas in the city was always a magical time…for most people anyway. Not for Mark Cohen, though, nope not for him. Christmas wasn't his favorite holiday, to say the least. Which was okay, he supposed. After all, it was only one day of the year. Well two anyway. And it was Christmas Eve that scared Mark. After, it was all all right.
His girlfriend, Marli was going out of her way to make this more comfortable. Yesterday, they went ice-skating in Rockefeller Center and shared possibly the most magical kiss ever in front of the giant Christmas tree. And today, Christmas Eve, they would be making Christmas cookies before all of Mark's friends and some of Marli's would be coming over for dinner.
Mark smiled as his girlfriend called him to the kitchen to make the cookies. She looked particularly pretty today, even though she was in pajama pants with a sweater and her hair in a messy bun. She had been making the dough and there was flour on her perfectly straight nose. He came over to her a kiss. She smiled and told him to go wash his hands so they could cut out the cookies.
He did so and they cut the cookie dough into fun little shapes. He could see a childish glow in Marli's face and it made him smile. The girl never failed to surprise him; one of the most sophisticated girls in all of Manhattan and she was giddy over cutting out shapes in cookie dough, quite like one his nieces or nephews. Speaking of which…
"Oh shit!" He exclaimed, rushing to the phone.
"What is it darling?"
"I forgot to call my sister and her kids. Shit, shit, shit. I'm such a terrible uncle. I hardly ever see those kids and when I should be calling them, I don't."
Marli laughed, with that perfectly irresistible laugh that still made him swoon. "Babe, don't worry about it. It's not even Christmas Eve yet. Just call now. They're not going to hold it against you."
"Right." He picked up Marli's phone and dialed his sister's phone number. He spoke with her, then with his nieces and nephews. Finally, he said goodbye and that he would call them again tomorrow.
As they decorated the cookies, Mark decided that he had never been as happy as he was in that moment, here, with Marli. This Christmas would be a good one. He could feel it.
Marli stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, wet hair dripping down her back. She yawned a bit and moved to her closet. She was looking in it looking for something to wear tonight. She had to look good; after all it was her party. On her king sized bed, she had already laid out Mark's clothes. Khakis and a black cashmere sweater she had bought him on a shopping trip a few days ago. She knew he didn't like how much she spent on his clothes, but it always made her hurt to see him shivering.
She heard water turn on which was a sign that Mark had started his shower. She smiled devilishly. Soon, everyone would be here and they could finally announce the big news: that they had managed to finish casting yesterday, somehow, and that yes the movie would be happening. Of course, Mark's friends knew about the movie, but they just kind of assumed it was an idea to be played around with. She was a bit worried to see how they would react. You're worried? Try being Mark!
Marli finally decided on an outfit. She did her hair and makeup and then put on black cashmere tights, a khaki mini, and a pink cashmere sweater. Mark got dressed as well…and he looked good!
"Ready for the torture that is Christmas Eve with my friends? Oh and don't forget, Benny's stopping by. I know he's become a major ass, but I feel like he should know about everything. Just to know that we can make it too, you know?" Mark was talking rapidly, quite like auctioneers do.
"Yes, I know. And yes, I am ready. My friends will be here too, remember? You've hardly even met most of them." Just as Marli finished her sentence, the doorbell rang. "Looks like we have our first guest."
Mark kissed Marli quickly before she ran off for the door. Judging by the amount of squealing going on by the door, he assumed it was one of Marli's friends. Taking a deep breath he walked out to the living room where Marli's agent, Arielle, was sitting. She politely got up and gave Mark a kiss on the cheek, telling him how wonderful it was to see him again. He just smiled awkwardly and nodded along. He didn't really care for Arielle too much, but she had a lot of opportunity in store for both him and Marli, so he kept quite most of the time.
Soon, nearly everyone had arrived, even Benny. There was however one person missing, and that was Marli's old college roommate, Alexandria Lawrence, the Park Avenue Princess, as everyone at Brown used to call her. She wasn't too bad once you got to know her, but it took years to get there. Mark was very, very glad that she had not bothered to show up yet. You see, they kind had this secret thing in college. It had lasted for about six months. For Mark, it was a reason to be closer to Marli. For Alexandria, it had been what felt like the real deal. And then after that fateful dorm party, he realized it was not fair to lead her on and he broke it off. He had not spoken to Alexandria since, and frankly he was glad. He just hoped she was over it by now. After all, it had been oh so long ago.
Mark was talking to Benny and one of Marli's friend's husbands when Roger rushed over to him. He asked if he could borrow Mark for a second and both of the men had nodded and continued to talk to each other.
Mark couldn't believe what he was hearing. It all seemed so distant and unfamiliar to him. Ring, diamond, proposal, engagement, marriage, Mimi, Roger. Wow, this had been anything then what he had expected.
Marli had done as Roger had told her to do and dragged Mimi over to talk with her and her friends. She didn't know why Roger had wanted to so bad, but she adored both of them so she took the opportunity to introduce Mimi to her neighbor, Katie, and Arielle. They were all chatting happily but Marli made sure to glance every so often in the direction of Mark and Roger, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Except it was hard not to let Mimi notice. And…oh-my-god (!) is that an engagement ring Roger was showing Mark? Mimi must have notice that Marli's mouth was agape because she was asking what was wrong. And of course, Marli said that nothing was wrong and went back to chatting normally.
Finally she saw Roger put the ring back and Mark come over to her. "Can I borrow her for a second?" Mark asked Marli's friends. Of course, they had no complaints. In fact, they'd probably rather gossip about what was going on anyway. It's always so much more interesting to make up the truth anyway.
"Marli, we can't announce the movie tonight!" Mark said as soon as they were out of earshot, in Marli's room. No one would hear them there.
"And why not?"
"Because, Roger wants to propose to Mimi tonight, and if we announce the movie it will totally be stealing their thunder. I know you're excited about the movie and I am too. But you have to understand, Roger is my best friend, and I'm close with Mimi too. I don't want to mess up one of the most magical nights of their lives for them.'
"I understand, I do I do I do. Ha, I do, pun not intended. But technically, it wouldn't be stealing their thunder if we announced the movie first."
"I like where you're getting," he said snidely, "elaborate please."
"Well think about it. If Roger proposed to Mimi first, and then we announced the movie, then we'd be stealing their thunder. But if we announced the movie first, and then the proposal happened, then they'd be stealing our thunder."
"Yeah, but thunder would still be stolen. Except they'd be the ones to steal it. And I might be mistaken, but that probably looks worse on their part then us stealing their thunder."
"Damn Mark! I was feeling like a genius and you had to go and ruin it. My plan may have some flaws, but it can easily be worked out! Oh I have an idea. Why don't you tell Roger to propose tomorrow on Christmas! So much more romantic!"
"Because, Christmas Eve means something to them. Last year, Mimi pretty much died on Christmas Eve and then Roger sang her a song and she woke up."
"Oh yeah, I remember you telling me that. Obviously, Christmas must mean something too, right? Oh god, I wanted to announce the movie when everyone was here. I guess I can let Roger and Mimi have tonight…"
"Guilt trip, Miss Ryan?"
"Guilty as charged."
"I'm sure Roger isn't going to back down easily, but I will ask him if we can make an announcement before he pops the question."
"Aw, you really don't have to do that, seriously, let them have their night. I don't need to announce the movie tonight."
"Ah, but Mimi came back at midnight, so technically, Christmas wouldn't be completely inappropriate." (A/N: I'm not sure if this statement is correct, but for the sake of my story, it is.)
"Okay, thanks Mark."
"No problem."
"Oh, and Mark?"
"Yes, babe?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
So Mark was about to mess with the unstoppable force of nature that is Roger Davis. Roger may have been his best friend, but that didn't mean that this confrontation didn't cause nervousness. Roger, sweet a guy as he was, was very particular about how things needed to be done. And if you messed with his process, oh man were you screwed.
"Um, Roger?"
"Oh hey Mark. Can I talk to you in Marli's room?" Without even waiting for Mark's answer he dragged him into the room. "I'm proposing to Mimi tomorrow instead. Too many people here don't know us, so I'm going to do it tomorrow when the people we actually care about are around. Is that cool?"
"Great. Um, I have to find Marli. Talk to you later buddy!"
Mark then ran the apartment looking for Marli. He finally found her, discussing philosophy with Collins and the guy she was apparently trying to set Collins up with. "Marli. Your room. Now." He dragged her to her room in a manner similar to what Roger had done to him. Once they were in her room he started. "We can announce the movie tonight. Roger decided on his own to put it off until tomorrow." Marli didn't even have to say anything; Mark could see on her face that this meant the world to her.
They went to the tree and Marli tapped her champagne flute lightly with a knife. Once they were sure they had everyone's attention, she began to speak. "Mark and I have some very exciting news," Mark squeezed her hand and was pretty sure he saw Roger turning red, obviously thinking Mark had proposed to Marli. "We have finished casting our movie and production will begin in a month. We wanted to let everyone know about it."
"So what do you all think?" Mark asked nervously.
"Are you selling out on us, Marky-boy?" Maureen.
"Congrats, buddy. I always knew you'd make it big!" Benny.
"Awesome! Can I do the soundtrack?" Roger.
"I was the first to know this." Arielle, obviously.
"I didn't help you sign a contract for nothing, then?" Joanne.
"Wow. A movie. That's so cool. Mark in the big times, eh?" Collins.
"… Yeah, what they said!" Mimi.
"I think this calls for a drink!" Collins again.
Everyone did as they were told and picked up their crystal champagne flutes, and took some. Some taking dainty sips, some taking gulps. Then the doorbell rang. Arielle jumped up and said she'd get it so that Marli and Mark could talk. Mark leaned in and gave Marli a big, champagne filled kissed. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Mark saw someone he'd never thought he'd see again. Curly brown hair, cerulean eyes, aristocratic flair. No, it couldn't be. She wasn't showing up. He went back to kissing Marli.
"Marli?" A familiar snobbish tone rang through the air. Well, if it wasn't her then there were two of them…and that could quite possibly mean it was the end of the world! "Oh and who's your boy?" Marli and Mark finally pulled apart, they couldn't hide in the kiss anymore, as much as they'd like to right about now. "Mark…Mark Cohen?" Congratulations, Alexandria Lawrence, you have just ruined a perfect moment for a perfect couple. No, you do not win a trip to Disney World.
Maybe Mark's Christmas Eve hasn't been as great had he anticipated, after all.
A/N: Review, Review, Review! This one is extra long and extra exciting just so you would! Do it, you know you want to! Oh and quick question, Mark is Jewish right? Because everything points to him being it except for his mom calling on Christmas, so I'm sorry, but I guess in this chapter he can celebrate both.