Author's Note: This fic is primarilly about Roger. It goes through his life before RENT, from age 13 - 21 (we'll just say that's how old he was in the movie...). This is the first story in my Life of a Bohemian Series. The next one will be Mark's story, then Collins, then Maureen, then Mimi, then Angel, then Joanne, then Benny. Even though Joanne and Benny aren't "technically" Bohemians.
The Life Of A Bohemian: Roger Davis
Chapter One
The second youngest child out of four, that's me, Roger Charles Davis. I have two older brothers, and one younger sister, we live with our parents in one of the better New York City neighborhoods, although my father keeps threatening to make us move to a suburb, away from the drugs and guns, and constant fighting. He doesn't listen when my oldest brother claims that they have that stuff everywhere.
So we sit here, and wait to see if Dad will ever actually follow through, and have us move. All I know is that the moment I turn 18, I'm moving back here, if we move away at all.
But that's not what's going on right now. Right now, I'm sitting in my room that I share with my 14 year old brother, Adrian, and I'm playing my guitar. He keeps glaring at me, and threatening to throw my guitar out the window if I don't stop. "You wouldn't dare." I retorted, playing one of the songs that I knew, that annoyed him.
Adrian glared at me, "Roger," He growled, "Just stop. I'm not in the mood."
I looked at him, "It's music, it's not going to kill you."
"When it's you playing it's a possibility." He retorted.
I rolled my eyes, and went back to playing. Adrian gave me one last glare, before opening the window, and walking out of the room.
"April 21st, 1982. 10:00 PM eastern standard time." I put my guitar down and walked over to my window, "Roger! Come down!" It was one of my best friends, Mark Cohen.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, sliding down the gutterpipe, "I thought your parents said they'd murder you if they found you sneaking out again..."
Mark shrugged, "Collins and Maureen wanted to show me something, but they wanted you to come too. They also didn't want to deal with your dad if they got caught."
Tom Collins and Maureen Johnson were our other two best friends, my dad disliked them. He hated Collins because he was black, and Maureen because she was Maureen. Basically, he hated her because she was outgoing, and she never sat back and let herself be walked on. My dad was pretty much the stereotypical 50's father.
I looked at the camera in his hand, "Please tell me you didn't just film me sliding down the gutterpipe like a stripper." I said, running a hand through my hair.
Mark shook his head, "Nope," He replied, "You of all people should know that."
I shrugged, before looking back up at my bedroom window, "Right, let's just go."
The two of us walked down the street, we found Collins and Maureen a few buildings down. Maureen jumped up and hugged me, "You got out alive!"
"Maureen, my father's not a masked murderer, just a bit of a jerk at times." I replied, putting her down, "So what is this thing you wanted to show us?"
Collins and Maureen smirked at each other, "Okay, remember that little kid we saw drumming the other day?" Maureen asked.
Mark and I nodded, I didn't completely remember, but I just went along with it.
"We found this whole mess of empty apartments and stuff by where we found the kid." Collins exclaimed, "They're open and completely empty. No tenants, and no furniture."
Mark looked uneasy, I was pretty eager, "And you want to walk over there? And dub them our new place?" I asked.
Collins shook his head, "Not walk." He and Maureen grabbed their bikes. "Ride."
"Two bikes, four people." Mark looked at us, "Maybe it's not such a good idea."
"Mark, relax." I looked at him, hopping onto Maureen's bike, as Collins got onto his. "You can ride with me."
Maureen jumped onto Collins's back pegs, wrapping her arms around his waist. Mark hesitantly did the same, only jumping on my back pegs, and putting his arms around my waist, sure it felt awkward, but I knew there was nothing meant by it.
"I heard people around there muttering 'Bohemia' over and over again." Collins said, looking at me.
"Seriously?" I asked, "Bohemia... Has a nice ring to it."
"ROGER CHARLES DAVIS!"
I instantly slammed the brakes, as a reflex, "How the..." I muttered to myself, resisting the urge to turn around.
Collins and Maureen froze as well, "Roger... We'll miss you." Maureen muttered.
Mark tensed, "April 21st, 1982, 10:15 PM eastern standard time." He said, "Roger's dad gets mad and storms after four 13 year olds who were about to go to Bohemia."
"Not helping." I growled, as Mark let go and got off. Maureen did the same, I handed her her bike and stood, my back still to my father. "I'll see you guys in school tomorrow." I muttered.
Mark got onto Maureen's bike, this time driving as Maureen got back on with Collins. I watched them leave, before turning around.
"It's things like this," My father stormed over to me, grabbing my arm and dragging me back to the house, "That make me regret staying in New York City."
I said nothing, I knew he was right. "Roger, you're grounded." He growled.
"How long?" I asked, as he dragged me into the house.
"Indefinitely." In other words, until he forgot I was grounded. "Go to your room, now."
I bolted up the stairs, into my bedroom, where Adrian was sitting on his bed smirking. "Shut up." I growled, as I picked my guitar up off the bed, falling onto it.
"I didn't say anything."
"Shut up." I repeated.
"You're the one that attempted to sneak out, how'd that work for you?"
"Shut. Up."
"And if I don't?" He asked, "You going to hit me?"
I glared at him, "No."
"Then what are you going to do?"
I said nothing, putting my guitar in it's stand and rolling over on my side, staring at the wall.
My other brother, Travis, stood in the doorway, "Could you two shut up for just one night?"
I looked at Travis, shaking my head before rolling onto my stomach.
Adrian looked at me, then up at Travis, "Roger's mad because Dad caught him attempting to run off with the geek, the chick, and the black guy."
"Grounded?" Travis asked me.
I merely nodded, before turning to Adrian, "And I'm not mad."
"Could've fooled me."
Travis looked at Adrian, "Just leave him alone, for at least tonight."
"Fine, but tomorrow, you are so getting tortured."
I don't know... It's kind of weird... But review if you want.