A week. One long week.

Now that Mimi's in my life it's so much more… stressful? Time consuming? But, who am I to complain? Before Christmas I hadn't left the house for months. I hadn't done anything for months.

It's not been bad with Mimi, just different. I always imagined myself with Mark, now that that dream has left it's just so… depressing, that after all that, it's her now. No Mark.

"I'm giving up my vices, for New Years, ya know? I'm gonna go back to school!" Mimi suddenly announces proudly, while I try to pry our door open. "Now that I have you, I know, for once, it'll be a happy new year." She says a slight blush appearing on her cheeks.

I smile in spite of myself. Normally I would roll my eyes to such a comment, but when she said this, it was sincere. With an obvious trace of need in her voice. Before I can reply, Mark walks back over to us after securing the perimeter.

"The coast is clear, as soon the rest get here we can do it. If they'll ever get here." Marl says restlessly.

Mark is so cute when he gets flustered. His cheeks get an adorable crimson hue, and his voice raises slightly. My thoughts are quickly over when Maureen enters, wearing an incredibly tight… whatever it is.

I look to Mark, ugh, he's all over Maureen with his camera. Scanning it up and down her body. Seeing him so caught in Maureen made he more than jealous and hurt. My Mark.

He's meant to be mine.

I need him to be mine.

He's… Maureen's. Maureen's fucking 'pookie'

I guess we're both similar. Stuck in a fantasy that we both know we should lose, but refuse. If we give that up, we know hope's gone. Maybe we both just fear change in our lives. I gained Mimi, and he lost Maureen, I guess that's all we can handle.

I'm forced out of my thoughts again when Joanne enters. She rattles off some law facts about our apartment Eh. I don't care so much, that place is awful anyways. It's too full with memories I don't want to keep going back to. Mark and Joanne step up a plan to break into the apartment.

Aw. I love illegal scheming Mark too!

Enter Angel and Collins equipped with a blowtorch essential for the breaking in.

"Ironic close up, the phone machine's red light, once the Boho boys are gone, the power comes back on…"

I can't fucking believe Mimi. What she said earlier tonight, then this whole fucking Benny thing… If it weren't for Mark, Mimi and I would be over. What can I say, it's impossible to go against him and his deep blue eyes.

Back in the loft everyone goes about the New Year's Celebration. I lean against the watching them all. Angel walks over to me after only a matter of minutes. "Roger, what's wrong sweetie?" She asks putting her hand on the arm, smiling slightly.

"Nothing, just… Mimi, and Benny…" I trail off.

"Common out here, sugar" She says as she leads me out the door of the loft into the cold stairwell. "What's the real trouble, Roger?" She asks, sitting down of the top step and motioning for me to do the same. I slowly walk over and plop myself down beside Angel.

"It's just, Mimi, I don't tru- no, it's not that I don't-" Angel puts a finger to my lips.

"That's not what I mean, sugar. Something's bothering you. I can tell, sweetie." She said shaking her head.

"I, it's just- Mimi's…" I look away from Angel and down at the dull, grey asphalt below us. Here it goes, "Angel, it's Mark. No! It's not Mark, it's me. I love, I'm in love," My voice drops to a whisper and I now am aware of the tears rolling down from my eyes, "with Mark." I finish.

Angel softly puts an arm around me and pulls me into an embrace. "Oh, sweetie, you gotta tell him. Do it for yourself, honey." Angel reasons.

"No! Mark, Mark doesn't- Mark's not, Mark still loves…" Angel puts her finger to my lips to silence me once more.

"Rog, how do you know he doesn't feel the same way? He's not an aggressive one, you know. He's probably just waiting. And, honey, if you won't tell him, don't lead Meems on like this. She's my best friend. Don't do this to her, to yourself, to Mark." She concludes.

I smile through my tears. Angel's one of the single best people I've ever met. The second best, I decree. She's right. So fucking right. I just can't. No now. Not so soon.

She calms he down with 'sshhs' and squeezing my hand tight when my tears fall harder until I'm finally under control. "Common, honey, there all probably wondering where we've gotten to." She says, stands up, and offers me her hand to help me up. She pulls we up and we walk back into the loft as everything was normal.


So, I hope Roger didn't seem weirdly OC in this chapter. But, yea.

I just got back from seeing Rent! It was amazing! That's why I felt so compelled to write three chapters of this. I'll try and get the next to typed and up before I have to leave for Florida on Thursday. So reviews and I'll be inspired!