AN: Ugh. Two weeks without internet. TWO weeks without internet. Two WEEKS without internet. Two weeks without INTERNET. Any way you say it, it sucks. I just lived it. I promise, it really, really, really sucks. So here I am, finally typing up this chapter. And it's taking forever, let me tell you. Now here are some random things:

First – I got in the show. I didn't get a part-part (all but one of the girl parts went to seniors, and I'm a junior) but I do get this solo bit and a name – Diva. Hells yes. Thanks for all the support! You guys rock.

Second – Music I love currently includes the new vid from Aly and AJ, "Into the Rush." Check it out. Also "Perfect Situation" by Weezer, "Stupid Girls" from Pink, brand new "Walk Away" from Kelly Clarkson, and most especially "For You I Will" by Teddy Geiger. New fav artists include All-American Rejects and Bethany Joy Lenz. I love the song "Halo" with a passion, and "Devil's Archerists" is awesome as well.

Third – Did anyone see that episode of One Tree Hill last week? They made me like that show again. And I was just watching it for Nathan and Haley ... Oh, and happy day! Rory and Logan broke up! Yay! Back to Jess, or Marty, for Rory.

Fourth – American Idol. Who's your fav? Mine are Chris – because he rocks (literally) – and Mandisa. I'm so mad they kicked off Sway. He kicked ass! But that crooner dude and Brenda, they just had to go. Oh, and that Kelly girl and Bucky? Ew. They need to go to. What do you think?

Fifth – I read three great books in the past few weeks. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory, Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire, and The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce. I'm not completely done with the last one, but it's turning out the best by far.

Now that I'm done with all the randomness...

Yay! Reviews ...

Nicolette Hearts Rent – You know, I should scold you for not leaving reviews for nice, hard-working writers. But you reviewed me, so I won't. Hee. Really? Thanks! I'm a RentHead too – um, well, obviously. I've never seen it on Broadway ... yet. Though I might this summer. Fingers crossed! I actually discovered fanfic last April or so through Veronica Mars and my obsession with LoVe – Donut's gone! Oh, wait, sorry ... what? Anyway, I would never start a fight. Not with a lovely reviewer, anyway. Aw, thanks. Again! Ok, so here's 1) thanks! Again! Again! 2) Look at bottom; more! 3) and 4) Me too! Ok, how is reviewing EVER wasting my time? It could never be a waste of time. You're complimenting me.

Bohogirl – Drama is fun, huh? Heh. I always have worries about what I make Collins say – sometimes I feel like, as a white middle-class female, I'm going to write something really off. It's nice to be reassured. Yeah, I know! I mean, not saying that Dave is spectacular because I wrote him or whatever. I could understand someone not liking my writing or my character or something. But there were a great number of people who seemed to think Collins should never love again. Which is insanely depressing to me. Dave seems to have won most of them over, however, so it's all good. I know no one can be Angel. But Collins can fall in love again. Right? Eh, anywho. We shall see, huh? Mark's natural blockheadedness is quite fun to write. Now for the second review. You don't like cliffhangers? looks down at chapter Oops. I'm very sorry for all your hopes. Don't hate me!

Caitlin – I had a lovely response all written up for you. And then my computer deleted it. Grrrr. Is it ok if I don't rewrite it? I'm trying to get a chapter out tonight, so ... forgive me? I'll re-write the whole thing next chapter if you want, I swear! You so rock!

Kaislin – Yup. Living is the fun part of being alive. There's nothing more with Dave and Abby, I can promise. And thank you very much! My results above.

EAmphetamine - bows

Disclaimer: I don't own Rent, but on Friday I'll own the Rent DVD! Yay!

Morning Visits

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Collins shook his head sleepily to rid himself from guilt for not answering the timid knock at his apartment door. He didn't have to teach a class today and he was not getting up. He snuggled closer to Dave, who was still out cold.

Tap. Tap. Tap-tap-taptaptaptaptap!

Collins groaned and shoved his head under his pillow. They'd take the hint and leave eventually.

"COLLINS! DAVE!"

"MAUREEN, SHUT UP! THEY COULD BE SLEEPING!"

"IF YOU'D KNOCKED LOUDER MAYBE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO SCREAM!"

POUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUNDPOUND!

Ah. Maureen. No point in giving hints then. He rolled out of bed, trundled towards the door, and yanked it open to reveal a shamelessly grinning Maureen and a rather disheveled Abby. Collins frowned sleepily. "What the hell?"

Maureen shoved Abby at Collins. "Thanks, sweetie. Joanne's gotta go to the office today, and I'm finishing up my protest, and I'm not leaving her by herself, so ..." She pulled Abby in a hug and kissed Collins on the cheek before running down the stairs, throwing a cheery "Bye, honey!" over her shoulder.

Collins stared after her for a moment. Abby took a look on his face, and told him pleadingly, "This was not my idea, Collins. Don't make me sit in the hall."

She looked so much like a kid afraid of being scolded that Collins couldn't help throw his head and laugh. She grinned wryly. "She got me up at six in the morning, Collins."

He grinned and shook his head. "C'mere." He pulled her fully inside and shut the door. He started to the kitchen, then turned back to face Abby. He cocked an eyebrow. "Wait a damn minute. If she woke you up at six, then it's ..." he glanced down at his watch. "Aw, shit!" He poked his head in his bedroom. "Dave! Dave, get up." Dave waved a hand at him and murmured something sleepily. "Dave, it's seven. You're gonna be late for work."

"Fucking hell!" Dave was out of bed in seconds. His legs tangled in the sheets; he lost his balance, fell, kicked them off, then rushed to the bathroom.

Collins turned around and chuckled at Abby's sleepy expression. "I think Maureen actually did us a favor."

Abby glared at him. "Speak for yourself. I personally like sleeping in." A loud crash accompanied by a few choice words coaxed a reluctant smile out of. "And so does Dave, apparently."

Collins smirked back at her, but his retort was cut short as Dave burst into the room in a whirlwind of papers. Collins bent over to kiss as he ran past, and then, with "Bye, honey!" Dave was out the door.

Abby stared after him for a moment. "Does that happen a lot?"

Collins chuckled. "More than you'd think, girl. Dave has never woken up to an alarm clock. Ever."

"And what's your excuse?" Abby questioned dryly.

He sat on the couch, pulled down his cap (which he had actually worn to bed), and spread his arms wide. "Darling, it is my day off. I hit snooze."

Abby grinned and sat down next to him. She was silent for a few minutes, and Collins caught her glancing at him. Not opening his eyes, he remarked "Better just say it, Abigail."

"Abigail? Who calls me Abigail?" asked Abby, bewildered enough to be temporarily put off her question, whatever it was.

"Me. When I want to. I like the name Abigail. And it's your name, right? So what's your question?" Collins settled further into the couch. Favor or not, Maureen was definitely on his bad side for waking him up that early.

There was a pause. "How did you get AIDS?" Abby said in a rush.

Collins sat up slowly and dragged of his cap. "Well, well. We are in an interesting mood this mornin', huh, Abigail?"

She looked down. "I'm sorry. That was totally wrong to ask. I've just been wondering, and ... I shouldn't have asked."

Collins smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, Abs. But, damn, that came out of nowhere. No one's asked me that since, um, well, Meems. When I met her." He looked at Abby for a minute, considering, then beckoned her to follow him.

He led her to his room, then motioned for her to sit down on his bed. Then he reached down below them and pulled out a shoebox. Out of it he got a few pictures. Abby saw one and smiled. "That's Angel, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah, that was my Angel." He smiled at it sadly for a moment before putting it aside. "Now this," he said, pointing at the picture in his hand, "was Haley."

Abby looked at her quizzically. "Collins, that's a kid. What does that have to do with you getting ..." She looked Collins over and her eyes widened. "Oh, Collins. Ew."

Collins couldn't help laughing again. "When I was high school, I needed a blood transfusion. Don't ask why; it's too long a story. She was in the next room over, and she was my blood type. She had no idea she had AIDS. She died when she was just nineteen years old." He stared at the picture sadly.

Abby looked at it, too. Collins could see tears in her eyes. Better to know, he thought. Better to think about it now rather than get screwed by it later. "And Angel got it from her first boyfriend. Some asshole that was just the first person to want her after she started wearing skirts." Abby glanced up at him. He shrugged. "As long as we're putting things out in the open, sharing stories and everything."

Abby nodded, then turned her attention back to the pictures. "All of them died from AIDS," Collins told her. She didn't even look at him, as if she'd known. Deciding he'd depressed her enough, he left her alone to think and went to lie down on the couch, and promptly fell asleep.

He was woken up a few hours later by a loud bang, followed by footsteps racing down the stairs. He poked his head out the door just in time to see Mark dash by, looking furious. Collins looked up to the other staircase, where Roger and Mimi were standing, looking anxious. "What the hell'd ya do to him?" asked Collins, awed. Mark was a hard one to rattle.

Mimi sighed. "We didn't tell him we were engaged."

"WHAT?" Collins bounded up the stairs and pulled Roger into a bear hug. "You two, married?" He lifted Mimi up and spun her around, which elicited some giggles out of her. When he set her down, he hugged the two of them together.

"So you're happy," Roger commented in a muffled tone from Collins shoulder.

Collins pulled back. "Course I am. Why wasn't he?"

Roger rolled his eyes. "Apparently he's a little touchy about people keeping secrets from him right now. He's just pissed off at the world right now, 'cause of Abby and all."

Collins gave him a look. "And it had nothing to do with the fact that you're his best friend?" Roger shuffled his feet guiltily but didn't reply.

"Collins? Roger? What's going on?" Abby emerged from the apartment, obviously having woken up from a nap.

Roger and Mimi exchanged uneasy glances, and Collins sighed. "Roger was being a dumbass and Mark got fed up. He'll be back in an hour or two."

"Good." Abby bounded up to Roger. "I think I've got something I can do to get him back. I need your help though."

AN: Suspense! I know, you hate me. But you'll (hopefully) love me later! Well, I want this up, so I'll simply say: Love? Hate? Review! Oh, and if you think Collins' voice is wrong, tell me. Because I wasn't too sure on that. Eh, well.