This chapter was meant to be a lot longer, but then when I realized how long it was going to be I decided to split it up into two chapters so I could post this one now. I felt I owed my readers a fast update since I took so long the last time.

This is another filler page, but I'm trying to establish a back story and develop the characters before the plot gets going full force. I expect three more filler pages, at the most, before we hit the good stuff… well I think good stuff, I'm actually pretty nervous because its not that original. I'm also a bit nervous because on further evaluation of my OC and where I'm planning to take her, I've realized that she is becoming a Mary Sue, and I don't want that.

My girlfriend wanted me to be able to write an OC well, if she turns into the cliché Mary Sue then I'm completely failing. And I'd never live that down. My intended focus is supposed to stay on Mark and what he's going through right now, and later the relationship of Mark and Roger. The OCs are meant to just be instigators...very, very strong instigators...I will try my best though. Make sure you let me know how I could improve things and what you honestly think. Reviews are SO appreciated.

I do not own RENT or any of the characters therein. I do own Lydia and Reye.

Silence in the Loft

Mark rifled through the meager bills before sighing and stuffing the money back into the envelope taped to the back of the top drawer of his dresser. He didn't have much money left. The bank had found out about the ATM Collins had 'fixed' and unfixed it, he refused to go back to work at Buzzline and his savings from both were definitely dwindling. Although there was interest, he'd refused to sell "Today 4 U", however he did sell it to Buzzline's channel for a one time television showing since he couldn't pass up the money or opportunity to have his film aired. That was actually a favor to him, though, since most channels had people pay to show their documentaries, not the other way around. But all of that money had been offered up for rent months before.

Now, Roger made most of the contributions. He had some kind of agreement with a bar owner downtown he was friends with, and he worked when he wanted to or when they needed the money. He'd also performed there a few times when the scheduled act had cancelled, and he got paid for that as well.

With all of these things, they'd managed to keep the heat on, have groceries in the house most of the time, and pay rent often enough to keep Benny off their back. Sometimes Mark wished he'd just swallowed his pride in the beginning and accepted Benny's offer of staying there free, but he'd been working Buzzline then and didn't need it, and now Benny refused to offer the same deal.

Maybe I should get a job. I can't keep letting Roger take most of the bills. Mark frowned. He didn't really like the bar scene as much as Roger did, would have to practically beg to get his job at Buzzline back and he flat out refused to do that, and after that the only jobs left for a college drop out with no computer skills or job experience not dealing with cameras were towards the fast food restaurant end of the market. He'd rather not eat.

Sitting on the floor he started going through his most recent reels of film again. All he needed was an idea, just one more idea. Because of the buzz caused by his first film, he had already become known to some important people. It wasn't a big fuss, but they'd recognize his name…or one of their assistants would. With that much help it wouldn't be as hard to get attention for his next documentary. And maybe then he could get funding for his films. And then he could pay rent, eat and do what he loves without depending on anyone else. If only he could just get this one going.

Carefully he looked at shot after mundane shot. He could always finish his documentary about homelessness, he figured, looking through the large amount of footage he had on that. His new footage on the two girls would fit into that nicely as well, provided he find out if they were actually homeless or not.

A slow grin crossed his face as he picked up an image of Reye, a wide grin on her face and lo mein noodles sticking out of her mouth. That had been two days before, when they'd gone out to eat. She'd hammed it up for the camera. That girl loved to be filmed, almost as much as Maureen did. He put those shots aside.

After an hour of sorting through reels he gave up, putting them all away. He still had nothing. He liked it better before he'd decided to put this pressure on himself to make a new film. He liked it better when he just captured life and let that take him where it would. That was, after all, how he'd created "Today 4 U".

Maybe I should just stop trying so hard.

Deciding it was about time for some food he left his room. Roger was sitting on the couch, reading a book. Mark hid his amusement. He and Mimi were the only ones who knew about Roger's fondness of reading. He didn't like to spread it around since he thought it was embarrassing or would tarnish his image, for some reason. Mimi never understood it though, she thought it was better to live life yourself than read about others living, and so Roger had stopped reading when he had lived with her. That never sat well with Mark, but he didn't feel it was his place to say anything about it.

He walked past the reading Roger without a word and of course the rocker didn't acknowledge him either. That was the way it had been for the last couple days, ever since Mark had decided that if Roger didn't care enough to put the effort in he sure as hell wasn't going to.

In his mind, the conversation that should have happened was being played out. In the old days, Mark would have came over and sat down next to him, waiting. As soon as Roger finished the chapter he was on he'd put the book down and the filmmaker would ask him if it was any good. He already knew the answer, because Roger never read books that weren't good past the first chapter. But he loved to listen to Roger answer. His voice would fill with such passion and emotion, usually restrained by the musician, as he'd not only describe how good the book was but would soon go off on a tangent about the story. Mark was most amused by the fact that once he'd ask about a book Roger would come to him every time something exciting or dramatic happened and tell him about it, if there were any raunchy or smutty parts, which there usually seemed to be at least one, he'd describe it in detail, because he never seemed able to control his slightly perverted side. And he'd always tell him about the ending as soon as he finished. Mark could adequately summarize every book Roger had read and describe every character like he'd read it himself. It was one of the things the two of them had shared that the young man truly missed.

He'd found Roger reading a few times since Mimi had died, but it wasn't the same. The first time he'd done what he'd always done, waited for Roger to acknowledge him and asked him about the book. To his surprise the musician had just stared at him for a moment and then responded curtly, "I'd know if you'd actually let me read." and then looked back to his book, leaving Mark speechless and hurt.

He never tried it again after that.

Going to a cupboard he grabbed a can of Spaghetti-O's but stopped himself before reaching for two bowls. I do not care if he eats or not. He's a grown man, let him take care of himself.. He chided himself before taking a single bowl and a pan and going to the hot plate.

He sat on the table and ate his finished food. Roger never looked up at him, which he was incredibly grateful for because despite having given up on him, Mark would never have been able to take the guilt that'd come from Roger expecting food and him having none for him. Finishing he put the bowl in the sink and stuck the remainder of the can of Spagetti-O's in the fridge. He never could finish a whole can by himself and he'd never tried before.

LINELINELINELINELINE

If that seemed a bit short just know that its because I split it in half. The other half should be coming out in 1-3 days, since I haven't quite finished it. Reviews inspire me to write faster ;)