So here's more of the story. I think it's kind of going back and forth between everyone's views of Maureen while leading up to the actual start of rent. But I'm not sure. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

And I guess this is a continuation of my other fic called Beginnings, but I think I'm gonna actually stick it into my next chapter as a flashback sort of thing, so if you haven't read beginnings, don't worry about it.

Disclaimer: I am not Jonathan Larson, therefore I do not own RENT.

Roger groaned as he heard Benny shouting from the other room. It was early, way too early to be functioning. He swatted around the top of his nightstand, looking for the tiny piece of shit alarm clock. He brushed the top of the stand off completely, sending his t-shirt from yesterday along with a half empty beer bottle, a pack of cigarettes, his notebook and a bunch of tiny balls of paper onto the floor along with the alarm clock. "Fuck," he grumbled as he dug around in the pile of assorted items, which were now saturated in beer. He flung his notebook back onto the bed, hoping the poems and lyrics inside hadn't bled into each other, and picked up the clock. Not even seven. "It should be illegal to be up this early." He glanced down at the mess beside his bed and flopped back into his pillow, promising to clean it up later.

A loud banging sounded on the door to the room beside Roger's just as he was about to drift off to sleep. He reached over and pounded on the wall beside him. "Shut up!" He heard Benny's voice again, shouting louder, this time at the drama queen, not Collins. This was followed by the creaking of their door and the shriek of Maureen and quickly after that, the slamming of the door. Roger chuckled to himself, only being able to imagine the horrified look on Benny's face of seeing the indisposed performance artist. He heard Collins laugh loudly as well as Benny demanded to know where his razor had gone off to. How Mark slept through this, Roger would never know. Maureen could be in there fucking another man and Mark would probably sleep through it. Roger rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. It was cracked all over the place and in some places, there was no ceiling, only the boards that supported the roof over their heads. No wonder it was so drafty in this place; it was falling apart.

He heard the door of Maureen's room open and close again as the diva slipped into the main room. Roger hadn't been sure of what to think of Maureen when Mark had first brought her home. She was pretty, very pretty, hell, she was hot. God, even Benny would have to agree with that. And so not… Mark. She had this glow about her. She walked into the room and suddenly everything seemed brighter. She had an enormous amount of self-confidence and she was sexy and she knew it. Always cheerful and never boring, Maureen Johnson had Mark Cohen wrapped around her finger. But as gorgeous as she was, she could be cold and spiteful as well. She knew just what to say to guilt Mark into doing whatever she wanted. Some might call her a manipulative bitch, but as true as that may be, Maureen was sugary sweet at the same time, which Roger, at times, found to be extremely annoying. She was so full of energy and always needing to be entertained, Roger felt as if he were babysitting sometimes, not hanging out with one of his friends. He sighed and rolled out of bed. Maureen was complicated and Roger hadn't totally figured her out yet. But she was better than Mark's last girlfriend (a certain Rabbi's daughter who went by the name of Nanette) and a hell of a lot hotter, too.

"Good morning, Rog!" she squeaked cheerfully.

"Hey Maureen," he nodded sleepily as he rubbed his eyes.

"Want some coffee?" she asked.

"Yes, black."

Maureen scurried over to the counter, pulled out a mug and filled it with black liquid. Roger enjoyed being waited on and he sunk down onto the couch, squishing the snoozing professor over. She returned quickly, handing him the mug before sitting down on the "coffee" table (which consisted of some scrap pieces of plywood they'd found in the dumpster a few weeks ago).

"So Roger," Maureen began. "When are we finally gonna meet that girlfriend of yours?"

Roger rolled his eyes and shrugged. "I dunno. I'm not sure if I want her to meet you guys."

Maureen picked up the other pillow from the couch and swatted the guitarist with it. "Shut up," she smiled. "Bring her over tonight. I'll make dinner."

"Mo, we don't have any food," Collins said, his eyes still closed.

"So I'll go get some."

"We don't have any money."

"And I don't want to kill my girlfriend the first night she comes over," Roger grinned.

"Hey, my cooking isn't that bad," she scowled. "It's better than yours."

Roger raised a finger to protest but dropped it quickly. "True."

"I'll make dinner," Collins offered.

"You can help," she smiled. "We'll have to run to the grocery store."

"We'll have to get some money," Collins reminded her, forcing his eyes open.

"I get paid today," she smiled. Maureen had picked up a job at the movie rental place down the street since work as a performance artist had been slow lately and wasn't paying the rent. "I've gotta go." She leaned in and kissed Collins's cheek before standing up. "I'll be home around two. Mark is still sleeping. I think I wore him out."

"Ewww," Roger groaned.

"Bye boys," Maureen waved as she skipped out the door.

"Is she gone?"

Roger spun around to find Benny creeping out of the bathroom, buttoning up his shirt. "Yes, she's gone."

"Good," he sighed. "That was the single most horrifying moment of my life."

"What?" Roger asked. "You mean to tell me you didn't enjoy seeing a half naked Maureen?"

"NO!" Benny shouted.

"You don't think she's hot?"

"Hey, come on," Collins said, sitting up.

"No, I don't think she's hot," Benny replied. "You do?"

"Yeah," Roger shrugged. "You've gotta at least think she's attractive."

Benny sighed as he tied his tie. "All right, I'll give her that. She's pretty."

"Pretty hot," Roger laughed. "Collins, don't you think she's hot?"

"Leave Mo alone," Collins shoved the guitarist, causing him to almost spill his coffee.

"Oh, I see how this is," Roger grinned as he licked the coffee off of his hand.

"See how what is?" Collins asked, glaring at Roger.

"You like her."

"Do not."

"Do, too."

"Do not!"

"Do, too!"

"I do not like Maureen!" Collins shouted.

"All right, all right! Calm down. Don't get so defensive," Roger said, eyebrows raised.

I LIKE MEN! Collins wanted to shout. I'M GAY! I'M GAY! But he said silently.

"Who doesn't like Maureen?" Mark asked as he emerged from his bedroom, wearing a pair of boxers and a t-shirt.

"Collins," Roger replied, sipping his coffee.

"What's wrong with Maureen? I thought you two were all buddy buddy."

"We are! But Roger here, thinks I want it to be something more," Collins rolled his eyes.

"Ha," Mark choked out before slapping his hand over his mouth. "No offense Collins, but I just don't see you two… together."

"Neither do I," Collins replied as he stood. "Neither do I."

What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Let me know!