Tried to update a little faster this time. Time jumps quite a bit in this chapter...and I'm not really specific about it. You know the second scene is a week after the first, and the last is two weeks after the fourth, but the rest of the timing is left vague. You can imagine as much or as little time passing in between these scenes. Style wise, the scenes are a bit shorter, a bit blunter, and less detailed than usual...I'm experimenting a little bit.
I don't own RENT or any characters therein. I do own my plot and my OCs (Marshall, Reye, Jerrod, Canvas, Tank, Tyler, Lillia, Joey, Lactose, Leather, Gina, Shauna, Antonio...and there's probably more...damn, I put a lot of OCs into this...)
And Five Times After That
Mark grinned, joining in the singing of Happy Jail-Escape to You as he watched Tyler laugh. The whole group was hanging out in Canvas' place, celebrating the release of Tyler from jail (with a sentence of thirty days of community service). They finished singing and Tyler blew out the two candles on the mockery of a birthday cake in front of him. It had been his second time arrested, which was rather good in comparison to the rest of the crew. Even Marshall had been arrested once, although Reye never had (which was very fortunate since, as a minor, she either would've ended up in social services or back in Tiffin with her mother).
The rest of the party was as usual. Everyone congratulated Tyler on escaping the fuzz...although, he hadn't, actually. Eventually, Mark found himself shuffled into the back room with Reye, Tyler and Lillia. Marshall had gone to the bathroom, and had yet to return. He watched the three of them load needles and shoot up before he felt Reye at his side.
"Chase or mainline?" she asked sleepily.
Mark bit his lower lip before deciding. "Mainline." She grinned like a cheshire cat and tied his arm off. He still winced at the sting of the needle, watching the blood well up in the syringe and then on his arm. It occurred to him, a minute later, that he hadn't asked if she'd used a clean needle on him. A minute after that, he no longer cared.
Marshall hadn't returned after a while, and Reye and Lillia had gotten up to dance together. Mark soon found himself sitting next to Tyler, both of them lounging and watching the dancers with disinterest.
"Congrats on just getting community service. Whatcha got to do?" Mark asked after a moment.
Tyler shrugged. "Gotta clean up graffitti. Was hopin' I'd get to work at a rehab or read to kids or some shit like that, but they thought I'd be a danger to the drug causes. Idjits, I like kids...although I probably woulda sold drugs to the rehab people, so I guess they were right about that." he laughed.
Mark laughed too, despite believing him. A sober Mark would've been disgusted at the idea of giving drugs to people in rehab, but somehow it didn't seem like a big deel then. "I wonder where Marsh is...he's been gone a while." he mused.
"Yeah...how are you two doing, anyhow? You seem pretty close." Tyler noted.
Mark grinned. "Good...we're good...What's the deal with you two? I thought you were friends, but lately he's been getting edgy when I'm around you."
Tyler chuckled. "Probably jealous...he still doesn't trust my character since I cheated on him."
Mark sat up straighter. "Wait, you and Marsh used to date?"
"Well...yeah. Didn't he tell ya? ...I mean, it was a long time ago...bout three years, I think. And we stayed friends after...probably woulda took me back, but see the one I cheated on him with was Lillia. And shit, man, I was in love after that." He got a dreamy look in his eyes for a moment before continuing. "He's probably edgy with you and me being such good friends cause he's afraid I'll try to steal ya. And while you're awfully cute" he paused to pinch Mark's cheek teasingly, "I'm still in love with that gorgeous girl over there." With that he stood, wobbly, and sauntered over a dancing Lillia.
Mark looked up as Marshall suddenly came in and sat down next to him, pulling him into his lap.
"Where ya been?" Mark asked as he leaned back against his chest, drowsily.
"Kara was sick in the bathroom. She didn't want to leave, so I helped her wash the vomit out of her hair." he explained.
"Oh, okay." Mark murmured, knowing it was true.
He ended up falling asleep on Marshall's chest for the rest of the party.
LINELINELINELINELINE
It had been a week and a half since Tank's party, and Reye and Mark were sitting in the cafe, talking.
"I'm not saying he's a bad director, I'm just saying he's overrated." Reye insisted.
"You just don't understand the impact he's had. He's groundbreaking with some of his films."
Reye sighed. "I mean...some of them are okay...but some of them seem to just reiterate the stereotypes he's supposedly fighting, but with a different perspective. I just think he's not as important as everyone thinks..."
"You're insane." Mark declared.
"I'm just saying...and I got a weird feeling about him...Like in ten years time, we're going to find out he's completely sold out."
"Spike Lee sell out? Sure, that'll happen." Mark muttered sarcastically.
"Just this feeling. Now, speaking of overrated, what about that Kubrick character?"
Mark's gaze would've brought a weaker person to tears. "You have got to be kidding me! You are not about to dismiss Kubrick."
Reye laughed. "Of course not! The Shining was awesome."
Mark agreed, deciding not to even go into the even better Kubrick films since he knew Reye had probably only ever seen the aforementioned one. He forgot sometimes, but Reye really was still a child in some ways, and he had to wait for Marshall to discuss certain subjects in depth.
"I'm really bored" Reye complained idly, after a moment.
"You always are." Mark laughed.
"Want to go in the back?" she asked.
Mark bit his lip. They weren't at a party, neither of them were upset…there really was no reason to shoot up. "I don't know…maybe not today."
Reye pouted. "Oh come on, please? I'm gonna feel like a junkie if I do up by myself." She made puppy dog eyes at him and finally he relented, with a laugh.
"Fine! But you really should be more careful while at work."
She laughed. "Sweettooth, half the time I'm sleeping under the counter, I'm actually sleeping off a high. Why else would I actually keep a stash here?"
"I see…" he shook his head, somehow disappointed but allowed Reye to pull him into the back and inject him.
LINELINELINELINE
"Stop moving!" Reye chastised, holding the needle over a quivering, pale forearm.
Mark giggled. "I can't help it! Marshall keeps tickling me."
"Yeah, well he better stop. If you're not still, I could accidentally stab through the vein." She warned.
Mark struggled to hold still, and Marshall suddenly stopped his horseplay to look at Reye. "You're doing it wrong anyways." He said, taking the syringe from her. "How many times do I have to tell you not to come down at it? You're lucky you haven't gone through the vein yet." He slowly and carefully slid the needle across the flesh of his arm and horizontally into the vein.
Mark watched with interest. Huh…Reye does do it a dangerous way, if you actually think about it…coming down vertically at it…Hurts less this way, too.
Marshall pulled the needle out and kissed the tiny wound, untying the tourniquet. At first, Mark had felt a little bit like a baby, with Reye or Marshall always taking care of him and controlling his heroin use, but now it was nice. He didn't have to worry about the amounts or whether or not he could actually inject himself. They just took care of it for him.
Marshall and Reye injected themselves, and he watched them ride their highs through his own thick haze.
Mark sighed. Marshall had had a bad day…but was doing rather good now, as it seemed. At this rate, he was beginning to hope at least one of them would have bad days more often.
LINELINELINELINE
"Gina?" there was a muffled sound from his waistline, but no other response. "Gina!"
Gina finally looked up, a mischievous look in her bloodshot eyes. "Shh, its okay, Marky!"
"Gina, get offa me!" Mark muttered, swatting his hand in her general direction.
"You are no fun, Marky." She answered, sitting up slightly but still on top of him. At least she was leaving his belt buckle alone, though.
Gina was on something, probably E, and had sauntered in bragging about her blow job abilities. Then she had insisted on demonstrating on Mark, who was high enough on china white to not notice right away. It was only because Joey and Tank had started hooting and hollering that he realized that his jeans were nearly undone and Gina's face had been there.
"I really am amazing, though!" she bragged, pressing her face into Mark's belly, but now lazily rather than sexually.
Mark nodded, and patted her head. "I'm sure you are…but I really doubt Marshall would like you proving it…at least with me. Why don't you find someone else to prove it with?"
Gina suddenly grinned, seemingly liking that idea and standing. "Volunteers for the best blow job of your life?" she shouted, loud enough for many people to hear her just over the throbbing music of the party. A few hands instantly went up.
Gina went to go off in a guy's direction when Mark grabbed her elbow. "Do me a favor, G, make him wear a condom. Nothing's nastier than an STD in your mouth."
Gina smirked. "Of course! How will I ever get you or your boytoy to kiss me then?"
Mark laughed. "You're crazy." Sometimes, Gina took things way too far...mostly when she was high. But she was cool enough the rest of the time, so mostly everyone put up with it. It worked out for the best, though, that Mark had been sober enough to stop her. He doubted Marshall would've just laughed it off.
LINELINELINELINELINE
Mark winced as he rolled over. His stomach hurt badly, there was a very uncomfortable pressure in his temples, and he felt like he was coming down with something. Note to self, pick up medicine on the way home from Marshall's.
He got up, despite not feeling well, and got ready. He did feel a little better after his shower. He was heading over to the kitchen when Roger stopped him.
"You sick or something?"
Mark looked at him, but didn't see much warmth or concern in his face. "Don't worry about it." he muttered.
Roger chewed his lip. "You're just...kinda pale and shaky. Maybe you should go to the free clinic before you infect the whole loft."
Mark rolled his eyes at the aggression that seemed to come and go with Roger's words. "I said I'm fine...just got a stomach ache is all. Why do you care?"
"I don't! I just don't want you killing me, is all." Roger snarled, stalking past.
Mark suddenly stopped in his tracks. If he was sick...he really shouldn't be around the loft...cause if Roger got sick... But for some reason, he had a feeling that he'd feel better later...and if not, he'd crash at Marshall's.
Exchanging no more words, he finished getting ready and headed out to their apartment. Marshall wasn't there when he got there. Reye mentioned that he had forgotten to pay rent and was running over to the bank and then super's office, and would be back soon.
Mark found himself pacing around the apartment after a while, restless and bored. Finally, he sat on the couch next to Reye and tried conversation for a bit before his body aches got a little worse, and he figured he was coming down with a fever with how his skin felt.
"Miss Reye, I do not feel good...I probably won't stay long today."
She nodded in sympathy, and offered to get him some tylenol when he suddenly thought of something.
"Would it be okay if we shot up today?" he asked tentatively.
She laughed. "I think you know thats okay with me, Sweettooth. You've never suggested it before, though...usually I do." she mused for a moment before shrugging and going to get the supplies.
Strange, she's right...it is always someone else's idea...Oh well, I don't feel all that great and I'm sure a little boost will help out a lot...
As he watched her prepare his hit, he suddenly wondered how he'd gotten that far. He'd sworn to himself it was a one time thing...but that was weeks and weeks ago...and he was constantly thinking, one more won't hurt... And, he figured, it didn't. It was just something else to look forward to, something else to keep his mind off loss and pain and Roger...except this way worked a million times better than anything else. To feel that good? To not feel the icy grip Roger's actions usually held over his heart? To forget HIV and death and struggles and hatred...just for a little while...makes it all worth it.
Because sometimes I just like to...feel good.
When Marshall came back, Mark and Reye were lounged about. Mark was nodding a little, and Marshall checked his pulse and pupils before sighing.
"Don't you think you guys are doing a bit much?" he asked Reye.
"Let me think about that...nope."
He rolled his eyes and proceeded to roll himself a joint, laying off the heroin for a night. "Well, just watch it."
"Oh, don't stress, Marsh. I hadn't shot up in four days. For Mark, it'd been almost two full weeks! No wonder he was the one to suggest it, tonight." she argued, her voice and movements still sluggish.
"Yeah...I guess." They hung out for a while, talking and then Marshall started reading a new book to them: Interview with the Vampire. He, himself, wasn't much into vampires, but he saw it at Goodwill and thought Mark and Reye might like it.
After a while, Marshall walked Mark home. Mark was still a little high, but didn't much care. He walked into the loft, feeling a hundred times better than he had when he'd walked out. Roger was eating offbrand soup and glancing at the Village Voice, but seemed to focus on Mark when he walked in.
The filmmaker ignored it, instead wandering around the loft, straightening and fixing random things. Finally, Roger caught his attention.
"Hey Mark?"
"What?"
Roger took a long breath, seeming to be thinking before he continued. "If something was wrong...you'd tell me, right?"
Mark turned to stare at him, suddenly feeling like laughing and crying at the same time. But instead, he just smirked.
"No."
And he left a speechless Roger sitting on the couch.
LINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINELINE
Okay...so what did you think??? I realize that not much happened in each scene aside from Mark shooting up, but that was the point of this chapter. I needed him to progress further into using, and I didn't want to draw it out anymore. Also, I'm sure Kubrick and Spike Lee are totally cliche directors to talk about for a filmmaker...but remember, he's talking to Reye, who is not a movie buff...and I'm actually a really big Kubrick fan. Clockwork Orange is like having your mind raped...not really sure why I like it ;)
PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Questions, comments, ideas, criticisms, praise, corrections, inspirations, etc. Review!!
I especially want to know what you think is happening and what you think will happen next. Knowing which direction I'm leading or misleading people is important to know how subtle or blunt I should be being, and also sometimes gives me inspiration.
Much Love
