AN: So I just got the new The Wreckers CD, even though I hate country, because I love Michelle Branch. I like it a lot, though a couple of the songs are just too country for me. Eh, well. It's still good stuff.

Anyone see X-Men 3? HUGE disappointment! The first two were so good, too. This one was such a cop-out though. Sad.

Last Comic Standing – I HEART! Bitching funny people – who wouldn't like it?

Same with So You Think You Can Dance. Those types of shows (i.e. American Idol) become so much better when you're in drama and can actually judge for yourself AND know what the hell you're talking about.

Anons now – yay:

madame elphaba – Sorry it's been a while, but I have SATS! Thanks! I like that you're happy even though you have no idea what she got.

Bohogirl – Yup. Though I guess I don't have the best track record when it comes to killing off Roger ... heh. I love Dave, too! Hee. Sorry about that cliffhanger ... and the fact I don't even mention it ... Congratulations! Hope you had fun!

mandy – Thanks very much!

Disclaimer: Oh, come on, it's been 27 chapters. If you still think I own Rent, you probably also believe in Bigfoot and Loch Ness. In which place, please go to Scotland or whatever to look for them, then tell me what you find. The Yeti totally exists! Go true believers! Ahem. Anyway.

Mark: Learning Dumbass

Mark peered hesitantly into the apartment. Mimi had shoved him at it just seconds before, telling him that Abby had something to tell him and that his ass better be out of that apartment in two hours so she could surprise Roger. He didn't even ask what he wanted to (which was, "What the hell is with the women in this apartment?") because he felt that getting an ass-kicking by a pissed-off chica didn't sound like the best idea at the moment.

He closed the door quietly in an absurd hope that if he snuck over to the window he would be able to get out through the fire-escape before Abby gave him whatever surprise she was going to (like a cake, or another song) to make up for the fact that he had made such an idiot of himself and she'd let him.

It really sucked because as soon as it was, Mark really felt it was right. He really thought that she should move in. That the pace they were moving at was light-speed, but that it was ok. He didn't expect for other people to understand, but he had really, really thought she would. He had thought she would say yes right away and everything would be perfect. Instead, he'd had his heart kicked around a little and was attempting to sneak out the fire escape of his own apartment because he was too afraid of the girl outside of the apartment to leave through the door and much too afraid of the girl inside to stay. Brilliant.

It should also be pointed out that if it worked out for Mimi and Roger, let alone Maureen and Joanne, it should work for anybody.

Ok, he was being stupid. They'd known each other longer. He was just making up excuses to cover for his general, well, stupidity. He was rushing things. He was rushing things, and the best thing he could do was to give her space by getting the hell...

"Mark!" The woman had goddamn good hearing was all he'd say about that.

Abby poked her head out of their – his – whatever- room and grinned widely. She practically skipped over to him and landed a kiss on his lips before he could even begin to speak. He didn't even think of trying to stop her, and simply pulled her close. Anything that would help him keep his overly large mouth out of harm's way was a good thing.

She pulled back, a smirk on her face. "You're a dumbass, you know that?"

He wanted to protest but there wasn't a lot he could do. It was more and more apparent, really. So he just squared his shoulders and informed her, "I'm supposed stop, wait for an answer, and then act this time."

She laughed. "At least you're a dumbass that learns," she giggled, leaning her forehead on his briefly. Then she got a gleam in her eye and tugged on his hand. "Come on."

She dragged him to the room and leaped in it, spreading her arm in a proud presentation. "There!" she exclaimed with a certain decisiveness.

Mark looked at the room blankly. "Um ... it's clean?" He looked down at his bed. "And my sheets are now blue." He looked up at her. "Why are my sheets blue?"

Abby rolled her eyes. "Men," she snorted. She went to his dresser and yanked open the bottom drawer. Clothes, her clothes, flashed at him, before his hopeful eyes flitted to her face.

"You're moving in?" He didn't think he could add anything else if he tried.

She seemed to feel that kissing again would be a good enough answer. He wasn't in complete agreement.

"But you didn't answer this morning," he reminded her as she pressed her lips on his cheeks and nose.

She smiled at him sweetly before pulling him in and easing her mouth onto his. When they broke, she looked at him seriously. "This is the weirdest, fastest, most intense relationship I've ever been in," she told him seriously. "In my head, I thought it was too quick. But we both know it's not. And I can't worry about things going to fast anymore." She took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Besides, I practically live here anyway," she added impishly.

After that, he just had to kiss her. He knew she'd understand. He knew it. It turned out he was a dumbass for a completely different reason then he'd guessed. Who knew?

"I love you," she murmured as they fell on the mattress.

"I love you, too," he spoke on her lips. His head separated from hers for a moment and his eyebrows twitched up. "You know Mimi allowed us two hours in here before she kicks us out for Roger's thing – which is ...?" he attempted.

She tried not to grin in response, striving for politely curious as she completely ignored his question. "Is that so?"

"That's so," he confirmed, his hand inching up her back. "Now what, oh what," he questioned wickedly into her ear, "can we do to kill the time?"

Her laugh turned into a gasp as he buried his lips in her neck. They made a very good use of those two hours and his new blue sheets.

AN: Bawm-chica-BAWM-BAWM! Hee. Karaoke RULES! Especially when there's four theatre people singing Grease and West Side Story to twenty non-theatre people. Good times!

Did I tell you I hit twenty thousand hits? Well, I did! Thanks you guys, so much! Without you, I'd be some idiot writing for fun. Wait ... Just kidding! Love you all, and thank you so very, very much.

It was short, and filler, AGAIN, but I swear TO GOD, next chapter will be huge and important! I KNOW! The anticipation is killing you, of course!

All I have to say about my day, besides Karaoke, is that the SATS suck ass. Like seriously, seriously suck ass. Also that they cramp your hand in the first section before you can finish your last goddamn sentence in your essay and you have nine more friggin' sections to go. Ugh. I'm dead tired and I barely finished this tonight. Have fun reading! Night-night!

Oh, and like the title? Me too! Everyone should learn dumbass in my opinion. Then we'd know what the hell our president is talking about!

Love? Hate? Review!