RENT is copyrighted to Jonathan Larson, and Cats is copyrighted to Andrew Lloyd Webber, T. S. Elliot, and some other person's name that currently escapes me. This chapter is moved forward a couple of days so it can stay interesting. A fight, and friendship is built. My interpretation of the theatre and preparation for performances is probably far far off, but this is how I would do it. So please, give some constructive criticism and things like that. But please no criticism on how I set up how the theatre works. Pm me ideas and things if you would like a character to appear in future chapters as a performer in Cats, and whom you want them to be. Thank you very much for some many reviews and your support.

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-At The Workshop-

"Aaannnddd… Break time! Everyone, catch their breath and get some water. We'll be continuing in twenty minutes." Enough time for everyone to relax a little and catch their breathe. No use over working people to the extent of them injuring them selves or getting sick. It was getting a little difficult to get everyone together and at least start decently enough. Some of the performers were very skilled in dancing, as others had more to learn. Everyone was already getting stressed out a lot about the cost of this whole thing, as well as a make up artist shortage. It was difficult getting people in character too.

Roxie was the first to crack a little. After nearly doing a back flip from slipping she was getting jittery and often danced out of time. As well as she was backing off from the moves that didn't need to be, and it only made her interpretation of the character weaker. There was a lot wrong with her, but there was also quite a bit right. She could memorize the steps quite easily, but it was just staying calm enough to allow herself to have time to do them. Wearing black sports pants and a white tee shirt as well as having her hair pulled up in a messy bun, he was out of drag.

Rosando had walked up to the choreographer while they were resting and asked somewhat tiredly, "When do you think any of us are going to be getting this whole thing? I'm not nearly as good as I used to be, and the same could be said for half of the people here." He kept his voice down a little despite the warm murmur of talking that had created a more comforting setting to this place. Maybe that's why John had picked this ragtag group of performers; they were kooky and had a lot of personality to them.

The choreographer had smiled warmly and replied still writing down some notes, "You'll be fine Rosando, and so will everyone else. It's just that you all have to probably get warmed up quite a bit more and just stay confident. Plus, we wouldn't have picked you for one of the male dance parts that required some of the best talent."

There it was again. That pressure to be the best. Subtle? Yes, and maybe non-existent…quite possibly. But there was a lot at stake here. After all, this was a very popular and favorite character among people. Rosando could barely believe that anyone would find him like this creation in any way.

"Everyone! Over here! We're going to do your makeup and show you how to do it yourself! Just incase we're short the night of the performance!" A voice called from the small crowd of people. It was strange how the dances were being learned first, and then the music. At least they had gotten these things worked out first. After all, vocals could be much easier to work on then the dances themselves, and how they did them simultaneously didn't hurt either.

Rosando had walked over to the crowd somewhat skeptically. After all, he didn't like the idea of all the face paint being smeared on his face and then sweating to near death. That sounded so unappealing and…disgusting. Plus, it just didn't seem to look natural without costume. But this was one way for the cast to learn that they were no longer themselves, but a completely different character, or maybe even, a very similar one. Looks like this was going to be a very long day with only three hours already ticking pass.

-With Joanne and Maureen-

"So, why was Mark here Maureen?" Joanne had inquired to her lover flatly. She could already feel as though an argument was going to come on, and that another fight would start. Their relationship didn't always consist of these fights, but they were becoming unpleasantly common, unfortunately, not all things could always be perfect.

The performer had crossed her arms over her chest and spoke, innocently first, "What do you mean? We were just talking pookie." That was true, but no need to mention when she actually was doing more then talking with some of the other people she had met. Once again, no need to be mentioned in the least bit. "He just came to fix the digital delay, and that's it. I promise you baby."

"You've never call me…" She decided to not bring that any further then it needed to be dragged. After all, there could only be so many things fought about at once. Plus, Maureen's excuse wasn't exactly a far-fetched one anyways. "Fine, but why did you even send me to get the cable anyways? It wasn't exactly an ideal thing to go do. After all, I bend backwards for you and am even financing this protest of yours. Isn't enough that I scratch your every itch bitch? Isn't it enough that I paid for all of this?"

"Kiss!"

-Back at the workshop-

It had been a couple more hours of tedious working, but an improvement could already be seen, and that was really encouraging many of the skeptics of this. Even the people who had felt they were dragging the group down had gotten some self-esteem built up from just this time of encouragement, coaching, and help. Luckily enough they had talented people doing the choreography who actually knew what they were doing as opposed to some idiot who blindly put down people and didn't try to be friendly in the least bit. Now it was a time to just go home and relax for a while. As well as do some more practicing when you had the chance, and also figure out how to put on the makeup quick enough when touchups needed to be done, and it was always good to be prepared anyways. In Rosando's case… It really paid to be a drag queen that knew their way around makeup, and how to use it as an artist's tool. As strange as that may have sounded to some, it was indeed true.

When he had picked up a few of his things he waved a goodbye to John, his partner, and the rest of the crew. "I'll see you guys later." It was strange to see everyone being picked up by their 'specific other' and it even made him a little jealous. It wasn't that Rosando constantly needed love, but he did like attention and being pampered. There wasn't much to be done about that though. Walking out of the building with a somewhat carefree pace the emerald-eyed dancer had his bag slung over his shoulder. But he was soon greeted with a surprise, called a surprise because there was a lack of vocabulary that could really describe what it was.

There was Mark Cohen, and of course, with his ever present video camera. "Hey Rox-Rosando." He hurriedly had greeted him. "Close up on Rosando, someone who had been too afraid to admit he was one of us after all." It wasn't intended to insult, but simply state the facts for the record.

Rosando had nearly shrieked in surprise, and didn't know how to react to this. "H-hi Markie. Why did you come all the way here to see me? How did you even know I was here?" Yet, how comforting it was to see that at least someone cared. This was a big accomplishment for him. Pulling off the hair tie curls gently spilled over his shoulders. A smile greeted Mark once more, as opposed to a glare or some sort of angry rant in Spanish.

"Just thought you would like the company."

"Thanks, that's really too kind of you."

"Well, let's get going."

"Yeah."

The camera was then turned off, and some form of privacy was restored to the two who had been quite happy to see each other after all. Boldly Mark had slipped his hand on Rosando's and they had stared at each other for a brief moment, but still kept walking. Dark green eyes gently shown a certain level of comfort and gradually moved closer. Soft lips pressed against dry for a moment, and a brief moment of the heart skipping a beat or two. Gently pulling away at least one of them managed to keep their cool. The other had embarrassedly blushed from all of this. Slipping that hand away it was cold once more and soon Rosando had spoke, "We should get going…"

Wishing only wounds the heart.

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A nice little line from the musical Wicked at the end. I'm in school now so please don't worry about my lengthy times between chapters. I really hoped you enjoyed this one!