A/N: I know, I know. I haven't updated this in over a month. BUT I HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR NOT! In fact, I have several reasons. REASON 1: High School. Lots of homework. REASON 2: Science Fair Project; enough said. REASON 3: I've been busy with trips and all and well, just really busy! REASON 4: Friendship problems. Creative spirit was lost for awhile. Anyway, on to the story! (I've also been working on a short story called "Ever Ever After". For details, PM me about it!)

Disclaimer: The late Jonathon Larson owns RENT. I do not. sobs

Dedication: To all my readers and fans Also, thanks to Mya for coming up with Alyssa's outfit!

The couple made plans for Roger to go over to Alyssa's apartment the next day. Alyssa spent all day getting ready with Meg.

"Oh God, I'm so nervous!" she squealed.

"Calm down, Lyss! You're gonna over-work yourself and mess up that perfect look I've been slaving over all day!" Meg joked.

Promptly at 7:00 that evening, Roger rang the bell in the lobby. Alyssa buzzed him in, and he came up to the apartment. Right away, he kissed his girlfriend, who then moved aside, welcoming him to her place. He saw a girl standing there. She was a pretty brunette with dark brown eyes. She was wearing jeans, a black t-shirt, and sneakers. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she had an energetic smile on her face.

"Roger, this is Meg. Meg, this is Roger." Alyssa introduced her best friend and her boyfriend.

"Nice to meet you," Roger said.

"It's great to meet you, too, Roger!" Meg said, excited. "Now, I'll just leave you two alone. Besides, I have my own date." She winked at Alyssa, and said goodbye.

"She seems nice. How long have you guys known each other?" Roger asked.

"Since 8th grade," Alyssa responded. She smiled sweetly and shyly.

"Wow. You look great," Roger said, smiling.

And she did. She wore a simple, yet elegant rose red dress, a bodice that fit but wasn't too snug, thick spaghetti straps and a neckline that went straight across her chest, a bit low and yet still modest, and a wrap around wide belt that tied into a loose bow. The skirt of the dress had an empire waist, and flowed out to swing lightly around her hips as she walked.

"Thanks. But really, I owe it all to Meg…" she said, blushing.

He walked over to her, and looked her in the eyes.

"Tell Meg…thank you. Alyssa, you look beautiful…" He began to kiss her. She broke the kiss, bringing him over to the couch in the living room. They began to kiss again. Roger's hands wandered to her chest, and made their way under her dress. She deepened the kiss passionately. Before long, hands were wandering everywhere. She suddenly sat up. Roger looked at her with concern.

"What's wrong, baby?" He asked.

"We're both positive, right?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go to my room," she said seductively.

Roger grinned and followed her. He laid her down on the bed, and began to slowly take her dress off, kissing every part of her body that he revealed. She made out with him, taking his shirt off and unbuttoning his pants. They then made love for the first time, right then and there.

She slept in his arms that night. He held her tightly.

There's nowhere in the world that they would've rather been at that moment.

RENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENT

The next morning, Roger left, and Alyssa began to get ready for work. She got home that afternoon, and plopped on the couch. Her phone rang. Checking the caller I.D., she saw that it was her other best friend, Mya. She, Mya, and Meg, had all been best friends since 8th grade. Mya was at Bel-Rea Institute for Veterinary Services. Alyssa excitedly picked up the phone; the last time she had seen or talked to her friend was at Toby's funeral.

"Hi, Mya!" she exclaimed.

"Hi, Aly!" Mya cried. "What's up?!"

"Well…I met a new guy…" Alyssa said slowly.

"Oh my God! What's his name? Is he cute? Does he have any roommates? Does he have a job? Tell me everything!"

Alyssa laughed. "His name is Roger Davis. He's VERY cute. He has a roommate, Mark. Yes, Mark is single! He doesn't have a job-he's a bohemian. We've kissed, met each other's friends, revealed our pasts, and biggest secrets, made love…"

Mya screamed. "Girlfriend! You're getting some serious action! But wait-is he positive, too?" Alyssa remembered having to tell Mya the news about her being HIV-positive. Mya was devastated for her friend, but accepted her for who she was.

"Yes, he is," Alyssa said.

"Well, I'm very happy for you, Aly! Finally, I'm seeing you happy after all these months! How's Meg, by the way?"

The two chatted for a while longer. Alyssa wandered over to the kitchen, making a cup of tea. She turned on her beat-up computer and signed onto AIM. Roger was online!

GuitarPlayer156: Hey baby


Lyss224: Hey!

GuitarPlayer156: What's up?

Lyss224: Just got off the phone with Mya.

GuitarPlayer156: Who?

Lyss224: Meg and my best friend from high school. I last talked to her at Toby's funeral.

GuitarPlayer156: Oh, cool.

Lyss224: Yep

Lyss224: How's the gang?

GuitarPlayer156: Pretty good. Mark's still in love with his camera…

Lyss224: I thought that was his scarf…

GuitarPlayer156: Nah, he's having an affair with Mr.Scarfie. He's married to the camera!

Lyss224: LOL!

IHeartJake has signed on

IHeartJake: Hi, Lyss!

Lyss224: Hi, Meggles! Guess who called me?

IHeartJake: Roger? ;)

Lyss224: No! Mya!

IHeartJake: screams Mya! How is she?

Lyss224: She's great! She says hi, by the way.

CameraMan has signed on

CameraMan: Hi, Alyssa.

Lyss224: Markie?

CameraMan: Yes, but don't call me that!

Lyss224: Why? Can only your camera or Mr.Scarfie call you that?

CameraMan: WTF?!

Lyss224: snickers ROTFLOL!

CameraMan: Excuse me while I kill Roger…

GuitarPlayer156: ioafi[ohjafjafihsha

Lyss224: …

GuitarPlayer156: Sorry, Mark took over the keyboard and was being mean!

Lyss224: LOL, does Roger need a hug?

GuitarPlayer156: Yes!

Lyss224: Cyber hug!

ILoveJake: So what's up with Roger?

Lyss224: Well last night we kinda got carried away and…

ILoveJake: OMG, did you two…Do It?

Lyss224: Yes…

ILoveJake: OH MY GOD!

Lyss224: Shh!

ILoveJake: Damn, girl! Well, g2g, Jake's coming over!

Lyss224: Aww, give him a hug and a kiss for me!

ILoveJake: Will do! Adios!

ILoveJake signed off

CameraMan: Well, now that I…

Pookie'sGurl has signed on

Pookie'sGurl: MARKIEKINS!

CameraMan: Gulp. Hi, Maureen…

Lyss224: Markiekins?

CameraMan: Don't ask. Well I'm going to go to the…erm…bathroom but I'll ttyl, Alyssa.

Lyss224: Bye, Mark!

CameraMan: Bye.

Lyss224: Wait!

CameraMan: What?

Lyss224: I happen to have a single friend who's looking for love…

CameraMan: I LOVE YOU!!

Lyss224: Sorry, Mark, but Roger's already claimed me. LOL!

CameraMan: Well…bye.

CameraMan has signed off

Pookie'sGurl: Ya know, when he says he's "going to the bathroom", he really means "I'm going to stare at my issues of Playboy magazine and masturbate"…

Lyss224: The guy seriously needs some lovin'…

Pookie'Gurl: Exactly!

GuitarPlayer224: Ugh, Mark's in the bathroom AGAIN! Oh, hey, Mo!

Pookie'sGurl: Hey Roger!

LawyerJo has signed on

Pookie'sGurl: Pookie!

LawyerJo: Hey, Honeybear. Hey, Roger. Hi, Alyssa.

Pookie'sGurl: Get off the laptop and come see me, Pookie!

LawyerJo: In 10 minutes, Maureen. Right after I finish this case file.

Pookie'sGurl: pouts But I want you!

LawyerJo: Maureen…

Pookie'sGurl: Plllllllleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasssssseeeeeeeee?

LawyerJo: Fine, but you have to do ME first.

Pookie'sGurl: Then get in the bedroom already!

LawyerJo: Meet you in a minute!

Pookie'sGurl signed off

LawyerJo signed off

Lyss224: ….

GuitarPlayer156: Yeah, they have sex almost every night.

Lyss224: Oh, LOL.

Lyss224: How's Collins?

TheProfessorCollins signed on

TheProfessorCollins: Hi, Alyssa. Hi, Roger.

Lyss224: Hi, Collins!

GuitarPlayer156: Hey

TheProfessorCollins: I'm fine, thanks, Alyssa.

Lyss224: That's good!

TheProfessorCollins: What'd I miss in here?

Lyss224: Well, Mark went to go look at Playboy mags, Maureen and Joanne went to have sex, and Meg was going to hang out with Jake.

TheProfessorCollins: Interesting…

GuitarPlayer156: Yep

TheProfessorCollins: LOL. Well, I g2g, guys. I have to correct some more tests.

Lyss224: Bye!

TheProfessorCollins signed off

GuitarPlayer156: Well, I'm going to go, baby. I love you.

Lyss224: Love you too, Roger.

GuitarPlayer156: Sleep tight.

Lyss224: Thanks!

GuitarPlayer156 signed off

WriterJake signed on

Lyss224: Jake? I thought you were at Meg's?

WriterJake: He is at Meg's! He just got on his account through my AIM. Meg

Lyss224: Oh, LOL.

WriterJake: Yeah. What's up, Alyssa? Jake

Lyss224: Not much. How's the café doing?

WriterJake: Not bad. I wish I had more customers, though.

Lyss224: Maybe I can fix your problem…

WriterJake: COULD YOU?! I'd love you if you did that for me!

WriterJake: Hey, watch it! Meg

Lyss224: LOL, anything for a friend!

WriterJake: Thanks so much!

Lyss224: No problem! How's the novel coming along?

WriterJake: Not bad. I'm about halfway through.

Lyss224: Awesome!

WriterJake: Well, Meg and I are going to go now. ;)

Lyss224: ;) cool ttyl, guys!

WriterJake: Bye! Meg and Jake

WriterJake signed off

Lyss224 signed off

Alyssa sighed, laughed to herself, and turned off her computer. She walked into her bedroom, and changed into her pajamas. She crawled into bed, smiling. She was lucky to have such great friends. What would the next day bring?

Yeah, I know, a lot of IM in this chapter. I was IM'ing the real Mya and was inspired! It made me laugh, though. All screen names are fake, of course! I really hope you like this chapter. It's my longest yet! Yay! Let's celebrate! More cupcakes all around to my fabulous friends! And to my fans, too, of course! Now please, review this! Please? Please? Please? Thanks!