A/N: I would just like to warn everyone that this chapter is T+ because of drugs, alcohol, and sexual material. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a horrofic amount of time. But Grade 12 sucks, and I spent most of my Christmas break at work. So, I do apologize profusely, remind you again of the content, tell you I don't own Rent, and never will, and hope you enjoy this chapter (even if it's slightly short).

The bottle of cheap alcohol was passed around. I didn't even remember what it was... vodka, bourbon... did we have wine? It didn't matter. What mattered was that bottle being passed around, when was it my turn again? Oh... now.

God, I'm a lightweight, my visions already swimming, and this is only the first bottle... and were sharing. Yet, I'm feeling that warm fuzzy feeling that being drunk makes me. I'm a happy drunk, or at least that's what Collins told me, I never remember the next morning. I did feel a lazy grin on my face.

Am I the only one drunk? I mean everyone's here. Collins is home, and it's the Sunday of a long-weekend so he has the day off tomorrow. He's going to spend it nursing a hangover. Oh, look, he's lit a joint... he offers it to me, I shake my head, I still can't handle pot.

Maureen's here. Why? I don't know, she seems to come and leave whenever she pleases. I'm just glad she's here. It's the early hours of the morning and even through my drunken haze I'm astounded by how beautiful and strong she looks. Where she's sitting the light from the one lamp we have turned on is making her hair shine, she's got this sort of ghostly glow about her. My heart skipped a few beats, I turn to look at the others.

Roger, cross-legged on the floor. Head tipped back, staring up at the ceiling, spiked hair falling and nearly black at the roots now. It's time for a dye job Roger. A little stubble on his jaw and chin. His arms are circled loosely around April's waist. He almost looks like he's asleep, but every two minutes or so he adds something to whatever conversation were having.

April in his lap, with her long legs stretched out in front of her. Her short red hair looking almost like blood in this dark room. Her hands rested lightly on top of Roger's. She accepted the joint with a flash of her dazzling smile and a wink.

Even Benny. I could hardly believe it, Benny had graduated early and come to live with us. Said he was going to make this a better place, said he was going to save the homeless people here in Alphabet City, then in New York City then all of America and then the whole damn world and he would use his business to do it. Benny smiled at me, he was sitting on my left, he passed me the bottle again... was this still the first bottle? It couldn't be.

The light keeps fading. I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open, but I have to, people are having fun without me. Laughter, I hear laughter, lots of it. What's so funny? I lost track of the conversation about half a bottle ago.

"Mark's gonna pass out." Maureen announces loudly. That seems to shake me awake.

"No, I'm not." I said sloppily, how much am I slurring? "It's just that this conversation no longer interests me." That's because I have no fucking clue what this conversation even is.

"I know!" Maureen squeals. "Let's play truth or dare!"

No. No. Please no, I am in no condition to play this game.

"Sure why not?" Benny said.

"Are we fourteen?" was Roger's muffled complaint.

"I'd really rather not." April said, obviously taking Roger's side.

"What does Collins have to say about it Mark?" Maureen asked, Collins was on my right. I glance at him, and see his eyes are closed, joint out, but still clasped lightly in his hand. How such a large man can issue such a tiny snore is beyond me.

"I think that Collins is unable to vote as he is unconscious," I replied.

"Then that leaves it up to you Mark," Roger said as he looked at me with a look that said if you agree with Maureen I will kill you when I have the energy.

I don't want to play. I really don't. I'm sprawled out on the couch and I attempt to right myself so that a proper answer can come out of my mouth. I don't want to play. Roger doesn't want to. April doesn't either. Only Maureen really. Benny could live without the game. Oh, Maureen's here now, sitting in between me and Collins. She's talking... what is she saying?

"...with sugar on top? And a cherry too! Pretty pretty please say yes Marky!" The annoying nickname had never sounded more beautiful. No, I don't want to play.

"Let's play." I said. What? I don't want to play.

Roger glared. I am going to be in so much trouble. I don't even want to play. "Oh! Thank you Marky!" Maureen exclaims and kissed my cheek, light as a butterfly. I flushed from my forehead to the tips of my toes, "So, who's going first?" Maureen asked.

"It was your idea, you go first," April said, "I guess it won't be too bad."

"You don't know Maureen that well." I managed to say.

"Alright, I'll go first..." Maureen agreed, "Hmmm... who to pick? Who to pick? How about... Roger! Truth or dare?"

"I'll kill you for this Mark." Roger growled, "Dare."

"I dare you to... run around the outside of this building... stark naked," Maureen grinned.

I clapped my hand over my mouth to stifle the laughter at the thought of Roger running around outside naked.

Roger took his shirt off, then said, "Hey, stop looking!" to everyone, except April. He ran down the stairs, quick as a flash, and then we all crowded around the fire escape, and looked at him run around the building. "He's going to kill me tonight..." I muttered, as everyone else laughed hysterically.

When Roger returned he dressed quickly, sat down and pulled April onto his lap. "Okay, truth or dare... Mark."

I had known this was coming. Payback's a bitch. Now let's see, it's Roger, so he dare me to do something absolutely mortifying. Or horrific. Who knows? But Roger also knows more then anyone else about me, and he know about Maureen, said he could see it on my face every time someone mentioned her name... truth... or dare. "Truth..." I said hesitating.

"In this room, who is the person that you would most like to fuck?"

I groaned, the answer was Maureen, no doubt about it. Roger is terrible. "Well, let's see... you'd be the last on my list Roger, least likely to be fucked... too much going on there. Benny was my roommate in college and it would be just too weird... Collins might enjoy it, though I would most definitely not... and... you, Roger, would kill me if I even so much of thought as April in that way, so, Maureen."

Maureen flashed me a sultry grin. Roger whispered, "Nice cover." I was feeling a bit more daring now, so I said, "April, truth or dare?"

"Why... hmm... let's go with truth."

"Okay... what was your first impression of Roger?"

"I thought he was going to be just like every other band member I've met, cocky, arrogant, and rude."

"So basically, you were spot on," I joked, and Roger punched me in the shoulder, a little to hard to be considered playful.

"No! I wasn't, I was completely wrong," April laughed, "Roger's actually sweet, and kind... and loves me for who I am."

"Of course I do babe," Roger kissed her passionately, and we all looked away politely until Maureen said, "Ahem!" quite loudly.

"Oh, right, Maureen, truth or dare?" April asked, she and Maureen had clicked almost right away, both outgoing, spontaneous and beautiful.

"Dare," Maureen said boldly.

"I dare you to give Mark a lap dance,"

"Okay!" Maureen stood and walked over to me, I was already red from my forehead to my toes. God, Maureen looked so sexy when she walked. Actually she looked sexy doing everything. Maureen winked at me and then started to dance, and I had to hold my hands clenched at the side, to not reach out and touch her. Then she sat on my lap, first with her back to me, the spinning around to straddle me, and I bit my lip to keep from moaning. Maureen grabbed my wrists, and placed my hands on her waist, grinding into me. I short gasp escaped my mouth. My fingers instinctively travelled up her sides, and then, she stood up and walked away, swinging her hips. "Benjamin, truth or dare?" she asked as if nothing had happened.

I unfortunately could not do the same as Maureen had caused me to become uncomfortable, as Benny answered Maureen, I hobbled off to the bathroom.

I walked into the living room, and was blinded by the light streaming through the "sunroof". Why is it always ridiculously sunny when you have a hangover? Roger and April were passed out on the floor, arms wrapped around each other. I lifted a blanket from the back of the couch and threw it over them, careful not to trip. Collins was nowhere to be seen, but then the loud flush of our toilet, told me he would be spending the morning in the bathroom.

I wondered where Benny and Maureen were. I had a moment of horror, imagining that they had gotten together, then Maureen bounced into the room, all smiles. Where the hell had she slept? I wondered. "Good Morning, Marky!" She said in a voice that was much to loud.

I groaned against the pounding of my head, and managed a "Morning, Maureen." and a grimace.

"Oh, someone's hungover!" Maureen exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

"No shit," I muttered, "Now, where do we keep the coffee?"

"In the cupboard above the sink," Maureen said, matter-of-factly, "But, you know what's better for curing hangovers?"

"No, what Maureen?" I asked, half-listening, mostly focused on the coffee tin.

"Sex!" She exclaimed cheerfully.

"Maureen, you think sex is good for everything." I told her, flushing.

"Last night you told me, you would have sex with me." Maureen said, smiling all to brightly.

I froze, my hand poised above the coffee tin, which was now on the counter. What had I said last night? I remembered nothing. Maybe... had I told Maureen about my feelings. Suddenly, it all came tumbling out, "Yes, Maureen, I would love to have sex with you. But not just sex. I think your beautiful, and funny, and kind and caring, and sexy. I would love to hold your hand, stroke your hair, kiss you, and talk to you, I'd love for you to be my girlfriend." I said this, still with my back turned to Maureen.

I realized what I had said, and turned slowly, and Maureen was right there. She had a smile of on her face still, but this one was different. It was a soft and gentle smile, and her cheeks were a delightful pink, her chocolate eyes locked on mine, and she placed left hand on my right cheek, "Mark, I would love to be your girlfriend," then she leaned forward, and I mimicked her, my hands wrapped around her waist as we kissed, her right hand lay on my chest.

The coffee sat forgotten.