Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Mild language, speeding, mild bar fight

Song Featured: "What Was I Thinkin'" as performed by Dierks Bentley

Disclaimer: RENT is the sole property of Jonathan Larson. Also, the song "What Was I Thinkin'" is the sole property of its writers.

Note: This is a high school RENT so there's no Mimi, April, HIV, etc.

"Whoa, check out the new girl…" Benny sighed, leaning against the lockers.

"Huh?"

Roger turned and saw her for the first time. Long golden-brown hair cascading to her shoulders, sparkling green eyes, and a beautiful smile. Roger stared a minute before deciding to make his move.

"I'm gonna ask her out."

Mark's hand on his chest stopped him. "Rog, don't think that's such a good idea."

"Why?"

"Because…from what I hear, her dad's more protective than anyone I've ever seen, including my mother."

Roger rolled his eyes. "No one is more protective than your mother."

Well, Becky was a beauty from south Alabama.
Her Daddy had a heart like a nine pound hammer.
Think he even did a little time in the slammer, what was I thinkin'?

The next week, Roger had a date. The mysterious new girl, he'd learned, was Becky Hamilton. She'd just moved to New York from Alabama. As Roger drove down the road outside of Scarsdale, he hoped she'd given good directions.

A few minutes later, his newly washed blue pickup slowed to a stop at the end of a long driveway. Becky ran down the length of it and hopped into the car. Roger saw a balding man in a white tanktop and blue jeans waving what appeared to be a rifle. Becky scrambled to buckle the seatbelt as she commanded Roger to drive. He nearly screamed when he heard bullets ricocheting off the tailgate.

She snuck out one night an' met me by the front gate,
Her Daddy came out a-wavin' that twelve gauge
We tore out the drive, he peppered my tailgate--what was I thinkin'?

"What the hell was that about?"

"Oh that's just Daddy."

"That was your dad?"

Roger debated turning around. Becky looked at him, wide-eyed and pouting. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you how he gets, sugah, but I was afraid you'd back out on this."

Her hand covered his on the shifter.

"And I didn't want you breakin' our date."

Oh, I knew there'd be hell to pay, but that crossed my mind a little too late.

'Cause I was thinkin' 'bout a little white tank top sittin' right there in the middle by me.
An' I was thinkin' 'bout a long kiss,
Man, just gotta get goin', where the night might lead.
I know what I was feelin', but what was I thinkin'? What was I thinkin'?

Roger frowned when he saw the sirens.

"Darn it!" Becky said. "Keep goin'!"

"Wha—Becky, I think they're trying to pull us over."

"Course they are. Daddy told 'em I ran away or that you took me or somethin'."

"That you what? Or I what?" he asked, glancing sideways at her.

Becky giggled and patted his leg. "Don't worry, honey. My daddy ain't so bad…"

"He's got the cops chasing us!"

"He's just tryin' to spoil my fun. But if you keep goin'…maybe we could have a whole lot more fun…"

Roger said a silent prayer and spun the wheel, jerking the car off the road.

By the county line, the cops were nippin' on our heels,
Pulled off the road an' kicked it in four-wheel.
Shut off the lights an' tore through a cornfield--what was I thinkin'?

They crossed the field a few minutes later, Roger's truck only a little worse for wear. Becky was giggling still beside him. Roger loved that giggle and decided he didn't give a damn what it cost him to hear that giggle. She turned the radio on and began blasting it.

"Let's go to dancin'!" she yelled over the music.

"I, um…I don't have…"

She shook her head. "I know a place that doesn't card!"

Roger nodded and slammed on the gas, following her instructions.

At the other side, she was hollerin': "Faster," took a dirt road, had the radio blastin'.
Hit the honky-tonk for a little close dancin'--what was I thinkin'?

Oh, I knew there'd be hell to pay, but that crossed my mind a little too late.

Roger felt only a moment's doubt when they pulled up outside the bar. Becky assured him they didn't card. Besides, she said, she'd make it worth his while. As she said the last part, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.

He felt any resistance he had completely wear away. The hell with responsibility and legality. Tonight was about fun. Specifically, about whatever made Becky happy, whatever she considered fun.

'Cause I was thinkin' 'bout a little white tank top, sittin' right there in the middle by me.
An' I was thinkin' 'bout a long kiss,
Man, just gotta get goin', where the night might lead.
I know what I was feelin', but what was I thinkin'? What was I thinkin'?

They danced across the dance floor, ignoring the leers of the men wanting to have their chance with Becky. Roger felt a smug satisfaction at the knowledge that she was staring at him and only him.

"Mind if I cut in?" a deep voice asked.

"I'm with him, sugah."

"Just one dance."

"She said no, buddy."

The biker glared at Roger and grabbed Becky's wrist. Roger acted quickly, slamming his fist into the biker's face. He felt something sharp hit his hand. Something that felt a lot like teeth. Roger saw the blood covering the man's mouth and grabbed Becky's hand.

"Let's get out of here!"

They ran from the bar and back to Roger's truck.

When a mountain of a man with a "Born To Kill" tattoo

Tried to cut in, I knocked out his front tooth.
We ran outside, hood slidin' like Bo Duke--what was I thinkin'?

Roger slowed to a stop in front of Becky's house. He couldn't believe how exciting the night had been, how spontaneous and adventurous. He hoped she felt the same.

"Can you believe it's half past two?" she asked.

"What?"

Roger glanced at his watch. "So it is…"

He'd missed curfew by a couple of hours. Somehow he didn't care.

Just as he leaned forward to kiss Becky goodnight, he heard a shout.

I finally got her home at a half past two

Her daddy's in a lawn chair sittin' on the driveway
Put it in park as he started my way.

"Boy! You better get your ass the hell out of here! Becky Sue, get your behind into that house this instant!"

Her father was racing towards them. Roger hadn't noticed him waiting on the porch. He looked to Becky.

"What are you waitin' for, sugah? Go!"

Roger shook his head, laughing, but did as she said.

What was I thinkin'? Oh, what was I thinkin'? Oh, what was I thinkin'?

Then she gave a "Come an' get me grin" an' like a bullet, we were gone again.

The sun was poking up over the horizon when Becky decided it was time to call it a night. Roger drove her home, grateful that her father seemed to have fallen asleep somewhere. Becky turned towards him.

"Thanks for such a lovely evenin', Roger," she said sweetly.

"You're welcome, but I think I should be thanking you. This has to be the most fun I've ever had on a date."

"Same here."

With that, she leaned over and kissed him softly. "I'll see you at school, sugah."

'Cause I was thinkin' 'bout a little white tank top sittin' right there in the middle by me.
An' I was thinkin' 'bout a long kiss,
Man, just gotta get goin' where the night might lead.
I know what I was feelin', but what was I thinkin'? What was I thinkin'?

"Are you out of your mind?" Mark asked, laughing as Roger finished recounting the date.

"She's so amazing, Mark! I think I'm gonna ask her out again."

Collins rolled his eyes. "You never learn, do you?"

Becky passed their table and blew Roger a kiss, winking as she did. Roger blushed and gave a faint wave.

"Think that question just answered itself," Benny said.

"Huh?" Roger asked, the reverie broken.

"Nothing."

"Think her dad's going to let you guys go out?" Mark asked, changing the subject.

Roger shrugged. "Don't know. Somehow I don't think she cares."

I know what I was feelin', but what was I thinkin'?