Katy (QuixoticLover): Chapter 9 is here. Um… I'm still working on stuff. :P I don't know where the plot is and I have to write back-up chapters for when I'll be gone. Drat. Well, here's another crap-chapter. :D And I know, I just had to put Mark and Roger together… because I like, always do. And I suddenly ran into writer's block, so I'm really really sorry.

Miranda (Rabid RENThead): Well, after trying the wrong e-mail address over and over, I finally got the right one. I'm stupid, eh? I could have sworn she said it was a yahoo address... Anyway, I'll put one up every 2 or 3 days, I guess. There aren't as many as I thought there would be : P

Disclaimer: Yeah. I don't own RENT… I just make the characters do amusing things for our entertainment.
--Get Over It--

-Angel's POV-

It's been almost a week since Roger's party (it's Wednesday), and things have taken quite a turn. Collins has stopped his therapy sessions, Maureen started dating that girl Joanne, Mark and Roger got together, and April suddenly turned emo. It's certainly been interesting.

For one thing, Collins now has Monday afternoons free. That's happy! Second, with Maureen dating Joanne, she isn't around as much- and I miss her, but not her bad acting. And Roger is wonderful for little Marky's self-esteem. April… well, she started dressing in black and moping when Roger broke up with her (I think she's trying to get his sympathy or something).

So now it's Wednesday, and we're hanging out under the tree after school again. Collins pulled me onto his lap a few minutes ago, and we're both comfortable. Mark and Roger are sitting together, kissing- do they ever stop that? Maureen is pouting about not being allowed to have her own car, and April is writing in a notebook.

"So, Marky- anything new and exciting?" Collins asks. Boring question, oh well.

"Um… I guess not. I mean… Roger's exciting." He grins, being more confident than he usually is.

"Great." April mutters. "Just fucking great." She stands up and walks away angrily. I stand up and go after her.

"Ang, where are you going?"

"To talk to April. She's really upset."

I find her sitting on a short brick wall by the street in front of the school. She's crying, and it makes me feel sorry for her. I sit down next to her, putting my arm around her shoulder.

"April? You okay, babe?" She shakes her head.

"No. I'm not okay. Roger makes me so mad! He broke up with me for that scrawny Jewish kid? I can't believe him sometimes. And he just dropped me after one party, not even when we were fighting or anything… And I miss him."

"There's nothing you can do really… But hey, maybe Roger will come back to you- I mean, you guys were in love! We could all tell. We can always hope, sweetie. Will you be okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Angel. You're so nice…" She hugs me tightly and stands up. "I'm gonna walk home now. Thanks for talking. It made me feel better."

I walk back to our little group beneath the tree. I sit down next to Collins and sigh loudly. Roger tilts his head to one side and looks at me.

"Is April okay?" he asks. Argh! Roger can be so stupid!

"No. She's not. And you and Mark aren't making it any better. She still loves you, Rog. And you're hurting her." I start crying, and Roger looks annoyed rather than sorry.

"Not my fault. Tell her to get over it."

Mark looks at him and slaps him. "Roger, you dumb-ass! She's seriously hurt right now and all you can say is 'get over it'? You are the most insensitive…" Mark glares at him. "I don't think I want to be a part of this right now." He stands up and leaves, and Roger sits in shock.

"I'm going home too." I announce. Collins immediately stands up.

"And it is therefore my duty to leave also, to walk you home." Yeah. You just don't want to sit with Roger, King of Depressing People.

-Collins' POV-

I walk my Angel home, and he smiles sweetly at me before going inside. Even when our friends are going through all this shit, he still manages to be happy and positive… an optimist.

When I get home I call Roger's house. He's home, so I talk to him.

"Hey Rog. What's up?"

"Since like half an hour ago? Well I followed Mark, and he… broke up with me. He said I was too immature and insensitive. So now I'm single again. Which sucks because I actually rather liked Marky. He sure can kiss." I listen to his little monologue, and think of a response.

"You should go talk to April. She seems really depressed… even if you two don't get back together, try to be a little more caring about other people's feelings and she'll forgive you for dumping her."

"Thanks, man. You always give great advice."

"Okay, bye Roger."

I do always seem to end up doing that- helping Roger or Mark with their problems. And sometimes it actually works! I do my homework after that, and think about our art projects. We have to show our paintings to the class before we turn them in. We explain the subject, and why we feel it's beautiful. I'm a little worried… mostly because that class will be our official public coming out- once we do this, the whole school will find out. SHIT. What am I going to do? God, now I'm scared.

-Angel's POV (the next day)-

((AN: I'm trying to focus and it's not working. Sorry))

Today is the day our art projects are due. I can tell Collins is nervous as we walk towards the classroom, where our paintings are currently stored. He grabs my hand, squeezing it slightly.

"Are we ready for this? For everyone in school to find out? You know, everyone in our class will tell all their friends…"

"I think I'm ready. You're shaking, though. Are you sure you're ready?" We come to the classroom door, and I hug him tightly. "Well here goes."

The teacher quiets us down, and tells us to grab our paintings. We all grab the small canvases and sit down at our tables again. Everyone is nervous, mostly because they think they didn't do a good job. Several people go up and present things like flowers, family members, buildings. Most of them are pretty good, since art is an elective class- mostly everyone wanted to pick it. I shudder a little when Collins goes up to the front of the room. He looks back and winks at me. He holds up the painting and grins.

"Well. This is the person who inspired me a few weeks ago. Actually, still inspires me. I bet you're wondering who this gorgeous person is, and I think if you ponder it you'll all know soon enough. This person, to me, is the most beautiful person I've met- physical beauty and internal beauty. He's just amazing like that."

Confused silence fills the room for a moment as he walks back to the table and sits down. I bet they're all trying to figure out who they know who looks like that, and why Collins said "he". They'll never guess.

A few more people, and then it's my turn. I get up, shaking from being so nervous. I smile as I hold up my painting. I get some raised eyebrows, and people look over at Collins- he's just smiling at me confidently.

"Well, I can tell by your reactions that you already know who this is. And well… he's a beautiful person, inside and out." I blush, hurriedly walking back to my seat.

"That was sweet, Ang." Collins whispers to me as another person goes up with a picture of their house. "I love you, babe." He says this just loud enough that some people around us can hear him.

"I love you too. I think some of our classmates are watching us though." I turn around and find several people turning their heads quickly, looking guilty. I just giggle and face the front of the room again.

"Well, that's their problem. And I think I can handle any name-calling or threats as long as you're here with me." Class finally ends, and I take my time packing up my sketchbook and pencils. Collins waits for me- always a gentleman- and holds the door open for me. I do my best to curtsy (and fail miserably). I hear a laugh off to the side, and thank god it's only Mark.

"Marky! How are you, sweetie? I heard about you and Roger." He looks down at his shoes, blushing.

"I'm okay… I still wish I was with Roger, but I can't do that until he decides to grow up." Collins nods.

"Yeah. He's not ready for your level of maturity, Cohen." Sarcasm is evident, and Mark glares at him.

"Hey, just because I don't drink all the time and have a ton of girlfriends… or boyfriends…" He ends up mumbling. I grab him into a hug.

"Aw, Marky- I'm sorry Collins is being so mean to you. Come on- let's go. Goodbye, Tom." I grab Mark's arm and start to drag him off with me.

"Hey! Baby, you know I'm joking!" I keep walking, and he runs up behind me, grabbing me and spinning me around for a kiss. "See?" I sigh. Mark has pulled his arm away from me, and is standing a few feet away from us.

"I just can't stay mad at you, can I? You always have to go and make me love you like that. Hey, what do you think is going to happen at lunch? I mean, rumors can spread at light-speed."

"We'll just wait and see." We all walk to our next classes, hoping for the best.

-Collins' POV-

I'm still getting over Art class. I never thought I would have enough courage to go through with it. But here I am, walking into the cafeteria with Angel- and I feel wonderful. We join our regular group, minus Roger and April. I have a feeling they're off talking or something. Maybe they're under the bleachers.

"Angel! Collins!" Maureen squeaks at us. "How did it go? Did they jump you after class?"

"No. Nothing has happened yet… I've got a feeling it's not going to be an easy ride." Angel answers.

Sure enough, about halfway through lunch, some jock comes up- I recognize him as one of the people regularly torturing Mark. He realizes we don't have Roger (he's pretty intimidating) and decides to bother us.

"Hey, fags. I always thought Cohen was the only one- I guess I was wrong." He smirks at us. "You're not so tough after all, Thomas. We would have let you on the football team, if you weren't a queer."

"Excuse me, but I don't think Collins even likes football. And another thing, why are you over here bothering us if we're so inferior to you?" Mark says quietly. I feel bad for him, since he's been dealing with this… for a long time.

"Stupid jerk. Go away, asshole." I pat Mark's shoulder. "It's okay Marky." The jock walks away with a smug smile, like he's won or something- just because he made Mark feel bad.

"Aw, honey- don't worry about that idiot. He doesn't know you, and he's probably just jealous." Angel comforts Mark, who is already looking better.

"Yeah! And besides- I'm not gay! I'm bi." We all start laughing, forgetting our troubles at least for a while.

Katy (QuixoticLover):YAY! This took me like, ALL DAY to write! How sad is that? So yeah. And DUH of course Mark is bi! He dated Maureen, after all. She can provide evidence. Please review! Because… I feed off of the reviews. -glomps the reviews-