Allo, cordyangel here again. What's up? For me, nothing. Life is going to be pretty hectic, but I love this story so much I'll probably still update. But review! I love reviews! And then check out my other RENT stories, Of Always and Definites and I am Jack's Roger. Catchya later!

Chapter 4: I Believe the Beautiful Lies…Until I See The Ugly Truth

"Every roommate kept awake
By every sigh and scream we make,"

- Everything About You, Three Days Grace

Lying on his bed, Roger was looking up at the ceiling. The tiles were once white, but flooding and wear had made them a sick yellow color. The little R and A was carved in the last tile, from when he'd proposed to April while having sex. They were so high they'd stood on the bureau to carve that in.

As Roger stared at the ceiling, April was the last person he wanted on his mind. Instead, a different person was occupying his thoughts.

Mark.

Roger knew something was wrong. As much as Mark would refuse to admit it, Roger was not as dumb as he liked to pretend he was. In his silence, he'd had noticed Mark's gradual death. Roger noticed that he never went filming anymore. Maureen's name was practically banned from the loft, understandably, but still. Mark was no longer the same person he'd first met. This person was sullen, bitter, desperate. He didn't want to know the person Mark had become, let alone live with him.

But what could he do? Roger wasn't the man Mark once was. In his former glory, Mark would've known exactly what to do, sweeping in like a knight in shining armor and righting all the wrongs of the situation. Hell, he wasn't even a Collins, a guy who'd lighten things up, if only for a little while using vodka and enough anarchy gone wrong stories to sink the Titanic.

Roger heard the door to Mark's room close and he turned over, burying his head into the pillow. He was over his head, way over his head and he needed help. Reluctantly getting out of his bed, Roger crept out of his room to the couch and the phone. he dialed Collins' number and waited for him to pick up. Collins may not have been the Messiah of comfort, but he was all Roger could think of.

Instead of the simple hello Roger usually got, Collins launched into what sounded like a well-rehearsed explanation. "Look, I'm sorry but it was one time! So you were cold for a couple hours, it could've been worse! I could've handcuffed your-" His exasperated voice sounded over the line.

"Collins? It's Roger! What handcuffs? Do you have someone over there?"

"Roger? Handcuffs? To hell with handcuffs!" Collins tactfully ignored his last question. "What's up?"

"Collins?" Roger didn't know exactly what to say, so he just blabbed on. "I think Mark's in trouble. He's been out late; you know how strange that is. And he's been snappy. And he hasn't been filming! And-"

"Roger! Roger! Calm down! I think you need to just take a deep breath."

He did as he was told and immediately realized why he'd called Collins. No matter what Roger said, he did think of Collins of an older brother who would be there to help them whenever. Much more than just a philosophy teacher with insane theories.

"Now, how long has this been going on?"

"Uh…I don't know. For a long time I think. I mean, for a long time I was…you know…not capable of determining how Mark was doing."

"But ever since you've been better he's been like this," Collins stated.

Roger shook his head and then realized that Collins couldn't see him. "Yes."

"Well I hate to say this Rog, but it could be normal."

Collins must've been able to sense his open mouth states away because he quickly went on. "I mean, not Mark normal but normal for someone in his circumstances. He's been taking care of you for the past couple months and with Benny and me leaving, it's got to be hard." He almost sounded sorry that he'd left him and Mark alone to fend for themselves. Too late for apologies now, Roger thought meanly. Not like they'd mean anything now. He didn't want his apologies, he wanted his help.

"He might just be adjusting," Collins finished.

"Adjusting?" Roger asked incredulously. "Collins, he's depressed, I think. He's not FILMING! When has Mark ever not filmed?"

"That's true," he admitted. "But you still may be jumping to conclusions."

"That's possible," Roger said thoughtfully.

"It is. But I want you to keep a close eye on him. Don't let anything bad happen to our Mark."

Roger smiled for what seemed like the first time since April. "I won't. And Collins?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't leave this one tied up in the bathroom until they start screaming bloody murder. It doesn't enhance the experience, trust me."

"Screw you, I know how to please a man," Collins laughed. Roger thought he could hear a "Hell yeah!" in the background, but he wasn't sure. He hung up the phone feeling much better about Mark. It was okay. They were okay. Everything was going to be fine, even if he did decide to become a recluse and Mark was never home.

Longing for it to be just the two of them like it had been those nights when Collins was cruising gay bars and Benny was at cyber cafés, he opened Mark's door without knocking.

"Hey, wanna see what's on tele-what the hell are you doing?"