Disclaimer: I don't own RENT, I just like to play with the characters. ("Right foot red!")
Collins was halfway through his lecture on Kitty Genovese and the Asche experiments when the door was shoved open and Roger Davis strode into his classroom, a small storm and a very frightened Mark close on his heels. The students stared. Those who were sleeping woke up, and those who were already attentive looked positively entertained.
"She came to talk to you, didn't she?" Roger demanded.
"Roger," Collins said, trying to convey something of mild annoying and placation in those two syllables. "This is her decision." He realized his mistake almost immediately, as Roger registered mild shock. Previously, he had been looking for his pregnant girlfriend, concerned. Now Roger knew that Mimi was thinking of getting an abortion.
The worst part was the violation. Collins had no right to tell Roger that, and he knew it.
"If it's my baby I deserve a say!"
Eyes popped, jaws dropped, and the entire Morals and Human Reasoning class began composing the stories they would tell their family and friends.
Collins sighed. "Roger, calm down--"
"It's not completely her decision! It's as much mine as--"
"All right, that's it." Collins grabbed a handful of Roger's shirt and pulled it, and Roger, into the hallway. Mark followed, worried. Once the door had slammed shut, Collins told Roger, "Take a deep breath, man."
"Let me go--"
"No. You're hysterical. Take a deep breath." Roger did. "Good." Collins released him.
Roger spun around and shoved Collins as hard as he could. Collins was surprised to be thrown off his balance: he hadn't been in a brawl with Roger since withdrawal, and then Roger had been weak as a kitten.
"Roger," Mark appealed.
Collins took a more active course. Roger moved to shove him again. Collins caught Roger's left arm and twisted it behind his back. He held the collar of Roger's shirt in his hands. "Let go of me, dammit!" Roger squirmed.
"I'll let you go when you calm down."
"You told her, didn't you?" Roger snarled. "You told her that I didn't have any say in this, that's it's entirely her choice, didn't you?"
Collins dropped Roger. Roger hit the ground hard. He swore and began to rise, only to find Collins' knee pressed against his back. "Roger. I'm your friend, and I will help you, but you have to calm down. I'm not puttin' up with your melodramatic bullshit, not today, okay?"
Roger nodded. The floor smelled like something familiar… cleaning supplies. Something intended to smell like lemon that was actually more like a tootsie pop in the middle of an operation room.
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie pop? Roger grinned at the rogue thought. He was told he asked this question once in every three times he smoked pot, on average.
"Now if I let you up, you'll behave?" Collins asked.
"Yes."
Collins released Roger, who sat up with his back against the wall, rubbing his jaw. "That hurt," he said, glaring.
"Um, excuse me, professor?" In the doorway stood a boy with messy hair and wire-rimmed glasses and a handful too many freckles, who reminded Collins very much of a young Mark. "We were wondering if… is class over, professor? There's… there's another hour left."
Collins looked to Roger. "Well, Davis?" he asked. "Want to give it a shot?"
To be continued!
Yeah, I know it's short, but the next scene didn't make sense here... I'll try to post it later today.
Reviews would be awesome! Please?