A/N: Okay, so this should definitely be rated T+! There is some very, very, graphic descriptions that is not for the weak stomached. As usual I don't own RENT or anything to do with it. I also changed the chapter titles to things that are quotes or parts of the chapter. I feel it adds to the story. Hope you like this update – don't worry there will be another one quite soon.

Things just got worse after Collins announcement. Collins moved out of the loft and closer to NYU, where he had secured a permanent job. Said he needed to be closer to NYU but I knew that really wasn't the reason. Would you really want to live in the same place as someone who is supposed to be your best friend would rather get high, and then be with you when it's important? Collins moved to get away from Roger. And in turn, he moved away from Benny, Maureen and I. I could hardly believe it.

It's not like things started to get better after that though. Benny was the next of us to leave. He had done the unthinkable, sold out, said he had fallen in love, said that he was going to marry his boss's daughter, Allison Gray, of the Westport Grays. I personally didn't believe he had fallen in love with her, he had fallen in love with her for money, her lifestyle, and Benny was sick of being hungry and frozen and broke. He had found a way out.

That left, me, Maureen, Roger, and April. And really, if we truly looked at it, it was Maureen and I, because Roger and April were so wrapped up in their own warped little world. Roger and April had spiraled deeper into their addiction, and though neither of them would admit it, I had admitted it, they were both addicted to heroin. My best friend, and the girl he loved, addicted.

Roger and I had barely spoken five words to each other since I punched him in the face. It's not like we haven't seen each other, we still live together, though I disapprove of his lifestyle and he knows it. We barely even manage a hello, or a see you, or I'm going out filming to each other because we're drifting apart. I'm refusing to acknowledge this, after Roger and I, who had been so close to each other throughout high school and now into our early twenties, I couldn't believe. Roger had been my protector, my confidante, my brother – in everything but blood, and now he can't even talk to me. I'm at my wits end, without Maureen, I'm pretty sure I'd go insane.

Maureen is still here. She's the light of my life; she can always cheer me up. She always has a smile on her face, or a hug and a kiss if I need it. I love her. I want to marry her, but not yet, not until I've got my feet on some steady ground. We're still paycheck to paycheck. And that's only my paycheck, Roger and his band had broken up, Maureen was fired from her last waitressing job and is looking for a new one as well as auditioning for shows. And I don't think April had ever even had a job… where were they getting the money for the smack? I wondered constantly.

Back to Maureen, she greeted me every morning with a smile on my face, as I went out to film birthday parties and other such things for rich people so we could have food on the table. She kissed me when I came home every night, tired and angry because I supporting 4 people and not living my dream. She told me it was alright to be upset and held me in her arms when I felt close to breaking down. She loved me and I loved her and I never thought that anything could change that.

And then one day, one horrible day, and one hot horrible summer day we hit rock bottom.

"June 21, the first day of summer." I pan the view from the fire escape, a beautiful sunrise over the shadowy skyline of New York City. "Today, the sun will be shining, the birds are already singing and I'll I can think is, shut the fuck up birds, and I'm going to burn if I go outside today." I sigh and lower the lens.

I'm all alone today. Maureen has gone back to visit her folks, asked if I wanted to come with her, but I'm never going back to Scarsdale, never. April isn't with Roger for a change; I don't where she went today, but whatever. Roger is getting high. I have no doubt about it, that's all Roger ever does now.

I sigh again, I'm bored. I have no work today. There's no money to spend on something, and even the beautiful day can't brighten my dark mood, as my previous narration clearly pointed out. I have nothing to do. I miss Maureen so much. Normally, a weekend with her away, would mean lots of time with Roger. But Roger isn't Roger anymore, just a zombie-like image of him. I miss Roger too, I realize with a pang in my heart, his room in 5 feet from mine, but his heart and mind are thousands of miles away.

My thoughts were interrupted by the heavy metal door being pushed open, and then someone struggling to close it. I walked over to help April shut the door. Even though she was dragging Roger down with her, she had once been my friend. "Hey, April," I greeted as we pushed the door shut together.

"Hey…" she said, sounding a bit distracted. It was then that I noticed her red hair was not in its usual style, in fact it was sticking up in all sorts of directions. Her thick black eyeliner and layers of mascara were dripping down her face, and since the weather outside was still very sunny, the tracks and black smudges were clearly from tears. Her hands appeared to be shaking and she was nervously shifting from one foot to another.

"April…" I hesitated, "Are you okay?"

April simply shook her head.

"Did you and Roger have a fight?" I asked, uncomfortably.

"No." she whispered. "… uh, Mark, can I ask you to do me a favor?"

Though I hadn't spoken to her in weeks, something about the lack of smile on her face made me want to do whatever I could to make this better, "Sure, you wanna tell me what's going on first?"

"Not now," April said, hanging her head, "Can you find Roger for me? I have something truly important to tell him."

"Um… I'll do my best." I said, picking up my camera and heading out the door.

I walked outside and turned the corner. I then turned around and doubled back in front of the door. I didn't have any idea where to look for Roger. For all I knew Roger was in some back alley shooting up. I walked up and down the sidewalk in front of the loft… 5 minutes passed… then 10… then deciding that pacing back and forth was absolutely useless, I headed in the direction of our favorite restaurant – The Life Café. Half way there, not paying attention to where I was going I walked straight into someone.

"Goddamn it, watch where you're going!" A familiar voice growled.

"Roger!" I exclaimed, "I need you to come home right now, April's upset about something and she's asking for you." I glanced up at Roger – his eyes clear, he seemed very alert. Merciful Powers That Be – if you even exist – thanks for keeping Roger sober today.

"April?" Roger asked, his forehead creasing with worry.

"Yeah, she looked like she had been crying." I answer.

"Well, then why the fuck are we standing in the middle of the road?" Roger asks, quite smartly, "Let's get home quick."

As we walk back, even though the air is thick with tension and we're both clearly worried, this is the most normal we've been with each other for days. Roger reaches out and puts his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it a little to tightly for comfort. "Mark… god, Mark… what's if it's something really serious?"

"I'm sure it will be okay."

Hindsight truly is 20/20.

We get back to the loft in what I believe is record time. Roger can't hold himself any longer, he runs up the stairs and forgets that I have the only key. He bangs on the door – ever the impatient one – calling, "April! April! Let me in! Are you okay? April?" the last name is not a statement, more or a question and he turns back to me, breathing quickly, and visibly shaking. "Mark, something's wrong, I just know, something's wrong."

I finally climb the last steps of the steep staircase and I open the door. Panicky Roger had always brought out the calm in me. We balanced each other. I thought that would have changed with the recent developments in our friendship, but apparently not.

Roger was shouting now, "APRIL! APRIL!" he looked in every room he could think of… but missed the most obvious one – the bathroom. I nervously knocked and called her name, and when I received no response, I tried to turn the knob – it's locked.

Roger saw my sad and lame attempt, and walked over and shouldered the door open. I stepped back and he ran in. I let them have their space until I heard the most terrible sound in the world. I heard Roger take a deep, unsteady breath, and then the catch in his voice and a sob.

Roger was crying. I then decided privacy was no longer necessary and walked straight into the bathtub. Nothing could've prepared me for the sight before me. Roger was in the bathtub, fully dressed, and holding a naked April, in just a few inches of water. But something is off about the color, the water is tinged slightly pink - and it seems to stem from April, I try to avoid looking at her – she is naked, after all – but something is terribly wrong. That's when I see it, one of each arm, going the opposite way of the track mark, deep looking slits in April's wrists. No wonder she had wanted me gone. Roger is crying into her hair and all I can think is I have to get him out of there. I can't look at them anymore so I turn to the opposite wall, forgetting that's where the mirror is. So, I can still see their reflections, but it's blurred my more pinkish purple. April had left a note… 3 small words, written in April's amazingly neat print.

We have AIDS.

A/N: I am soooo evil right? Ha. Hope you… liked it? The writing, not what happens. Lol. R&R!