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Disclaimer: Jl owns Rent, I own my characters.

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Chapter 4: True Artist

Marks POV

It was the night of the stupid dance Maureen had insisted on us going to, and I was scared as shit.

Collins, with a sorry, but also not so sorry look on his face, grabbed his coat and headed to the door, "Sorry man, but I have a class to teach I can't go."

Roger shook his head, he still hadn't gotten himself back out of his sadness funk yet, "If Collins isn't going, neither am I."

"but Roger-" I begged, not ready for a night alone with Rachael, Maureen, and Joanne.

"No!" He walked into his room, shutting the door loudly. I just sighed, not knowing what I really wanted to do anymore.

There was a knock on the door and I opened it, hoping it was Collins saying he had changed his mind. Instead it was the three girls all ready. I couldn't keep my eyes off Rachael. She had done something special with her make up with made her look so..sexy. She was wearing a short black shirt dress and small silver heels.

Maureen giggled at my reaction of pure shock, "We dressed her up a bit, doesn't she look prettyful?"

I gulped, stuttering slightly, "Yes-um-yeah…y-you look-v-very nice." I managed to say, turning bright red.

She smiled, "Thanks. You ready?"

It seemed hard to pull out now, when she looked so amazing it was hard to resist, "Well, Roger and Collins don't really want to come. Maybe you just want to have a girls night or something?"

Maureen shook her held wildly, "No!!!! Then Rachael would have no one to dance with!"

Rachael looked up at me, disappointment shining in her beautiful eyes, and I couldn't say no. "Well, ok then."

She smiled, the twinkle back in her eye. I grabbed my coat and shut the door as Maureen led the way.

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"I though you said it was in town Maureen?" I asked as we entered the busy, dark, stuffy club, extremely tired after walking maybe 30 blocks.

"Well, it is technically, just a bit of a hike." She said, obviously excited to be here.

Joanne gave me a worried look, although they had kids now and their relationship was more serious, I knew she still remembered Maureen's more flighty days. Maureen then pulled Joanne onto the dance floor. Rachael and I looked at each other, I was glad for the darkness so that she couldn't see how much I was blushing. She just looked so beautiful.

"Want to dance?" She asked, seeming hopeful.

"Sure." I said, surprising myself. We both walked tenitively towards the massive crowd of other party goers. "I am warning you though, other than the tango, I cant really dance."

She laughed, "That's fine, just move with the beat. Enjoy the music." She said, trying to speak above the blasting music.

I tried to dance with a generally good space between us, but no matter, with everyone around us always so close, we ended up dancing right next to each other. I tried to ignore the feeling I had when I danced. I felt like I was back in middle school, I felt so awkward. I had never really grown into my body and the way I was supposed to dance with it, the tango exempt in that however. Rachael didn't really seem to mind much. She danced, her hips swaying seductively, and her hair flying everywhere.

After a while, I finally looked up. Many eyes were looking our way, all of them men looking at her, wanting her. All of their eyes reminding me of my inadequacy. I couldn't take it anymore. "I'm gonna get some drinks, I'll be right back." I told her, starting to push threw the people.

"Wait, here I'll come with." She grabbed my hand, through the crowds, trying to keep up with me.

I finally made it to the bar, feeling very gross having touched so many hot people. "Two waters." I said to the bartender, trying to ignore Rachael's glances.

"Its so hot out there." She said with a smile, wiping her forehead.

I nodded, trying to keep my eyes away from her. The more I looked at her the more apparent it became that I could never have her.

"Whats wrong?" She asked, putting her hand lightly on my back, my skin tingling at her touch.

"Look why don't you just go out there and keep dancing." I said, in tone harsher than I had meant.

She looked a tad hurt, "I wouldn't have anyone to dance with."

I sighed, she was being so naïve. "Rachael, just look around. They're all waiting for you to inevitably stop dancing with me, and be free to dance with one of them."

I paid him for the waters and handed her hers.

"Inevitably?" she asked, staring at her water.

"Yes, inevitably. Rachael, the rest of the guys here are much better looking and probably more the sort of guy your looking for. People like you and me…." She looked up, "It never happens."

Just as she replied, the music turned louder, "What?"

She tried again but I still couldn't hear her. She took my hand and led me towards the doors, on the way we say Maureen and Joanne dancing. Rachael said something to them then continued walking. As we closed to the doors the bouncer gave us bracelets se we could come back in.

"Rachael what is it?" I asked, but she didn't say anything, she kept pulling me around the corner. We stopped near an empty alley way and she suddenly put her arms around me. My heart almost stopped. She rested her head on her chest, the smell of her hair making me almost dizzy.

"What do you feel?" She asked quietly.

"I-well, its hard to say-I mean, well." I stuttered, not really able to describe it.

She rested her chin on my chest, looking up at me and repeated, "Mark. What do you feel?"

On a complete and total impulse, feeling completely insane, I pressed my lips to hers. It took me a second to realize what I had done, and started to pull away, but she wrapped her arms around my neck, kissing back. I couldn't believe it, she, we were kissing. She actually wanted to kiss me. I hadn't felt so happy in a long time.

We parted to catch our breaths, a smile on our faces. "So that's what you feel." She said with a giggle.

I nodded, holding her close, "You too?"

She smiled, leaning against me, "Always."

We just stood there holding eachother in a happy silence, my head spinning at what had happened. A breeze suddenly passed through and I felt her shiver against me. I took off my jacket and put it around her.

She smiled, pulling it close, "Thanks."

"No problem. Do you want to go back inside? Its warmer in there." I asked keeping her close.

She shook her head, "Not really. Can we just head back? I don't really feel like dancing anymore."

"Sure." I smiled and rested my arm around her shoulder as we started back to the lofts.

After walking about 20 blocks later, I felt her lean more against me, her eyes lids drooping. "Tired?" I asked.

She nodded, yawning softly, "I haven't danced that much a long time."

"I don't think I've danced that much ever." I said which made her laugh.

She slowly felt heavier and heavier in my arms till I finally saw her eyes shut, Luckily we weren't too far from the lofts. I lifted her carefully and carried her last couple blocks and up the stairs. With a little bit of trouble, I dug her keys out of her purse which hung on her shoulder and opened her door. I set her bag on the ground and slowly laid her on her bed. Even when she was asleep she looked beautiful. I slipped off her heels setting them next to her bed and rested a blanket on top of her. I kissed her gently on the cheek. Wishing, but knowing it would be presumptuous, to fall asleep next to her.

I headed to her door when something caught my eye, on the floor where I had put her bag was an open sketchbook. In it were tons of drawings. They were of me. Each drawing was with precision and accuracy. It was scary how real they seemed. She was a true artist. I set them back down, not wanting to be intrusive and headed back to the loft, feeling very pleased about the night.

Rachael's POV

I woke up and blinked slowly, looking around confused. I had somehow gotten back home. I felt something warm around me, it was Mark's coat. All the memories came back and I smiled, feeling so excited. He did like me, I felt so glad that we had finally cleared the air. His coat still on, I put on my slippers and went to knock on their door.

Mark opened it, "Morning sleeping beauty." I smiled as he gave me a small kiss and let me in.

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Authors note: due to school chapters might be a little late. I hope you all are enjoying them

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