Author's Note: Wow, chapter 7! Never thought I'd get this far! Woo-hoo! I've recently got AimlessGirl (Bailey) obsessed with Over The Moon…I think her mom wants to kill me…so if I don't update for a couple months…

Disclaimer: I'm depressed just thinking about it…*sniff*

(Without You is such a sad song! I quoted RENT 27 times in 6 hours today!)

Mark's POV (With Anthony while Roger and Sym are outside)

I sat on the couch looking at Anthony. Well, glaring was probably better. My head was fixed, well, sort of. I really had no idea what the hell was going on. Anthony and Sym were…dating again. The thought of it made me want to scream. After Anthony had asked her Symphony had nodded and ran out the door, probably to go tell Mimi and Angel leaving me with him.

"So…" I started awkwardly looking away from him sitting quietly in a chair. "Uh…how long did you and Sym go out?"

Anthony frowned. "Oh I'd say about a year. Why?"

I blinked. "Oh…no reason."

"Come on…" He paused trying to remember my name. "Mark. Come on Mark. It's completely obvious."

I threw my head back and groaned. "Do you know how many times I've heard that in the past month?"

Anthony grinned. "I'm in the same boat you're in. We both love her and have the other to deal with. Only you're better off."

I shook my head. "I am not. She doesn't like me. You I'd believe, but me?"

Anthony shook his head and stood up. Walking over to the refrigerator he took out a can of beer and tossed me one. "She practically threw herself at me to help you and you guys see each other, what, everyday?"

I took a sip. "Like that helps. I'm surprised she's not sick of me already." I shivered. "I swear, one of these days I'm just gonna walk off and hitchhike my way to Santa Fe."

Anthony sighed. "I know how you feel. You know, we should probably go look for Symphony and---what's his name?"

"Roger. Yeah, you're right. I'll go find them. Thanks so much Anthony. I'm sorry we couldn't pay."

He shook his head. "It's fine man. Talk to you when I pick up Sym tomorrow?"

Walking to the door, I winced at the simple question. "Sure. Later." And I walked out the door.

Roger's POV (Mark/Roger's Loft)

"Where the hell is Mark?" Maureen asked from the floor. She was holding onto Joanne. Angel was sitting on Collins's lap in our old beaten up recliner Mark's mother had gotten us while Mimi and I were together on the couch with Symphony.

I shrugged. "Maybe he beat the shit out of Anthony." I looked at Symphony slightly.

Sym frowned. "Seriously, where do you think he his?" Her eyes widened. "What if he got jumped?"

Maureen shook her head. "Why would anyone jump Mark? He's not worth much."

Joanne frowned. "The only real thing of value that he has is his camera. Mark's a good person, but that's hardly worth any money in New York."

We all nodded in agreement. "So should we go look for him?" Angel asked.

Just then, the filmmaker in question walked through the door shivering. When he saw everyone looking at him he shrugged. "H-hey everybody. Sorry, I…got held up." Symphony jumped up. Mark waved her down and sat on the floor beside her feet. "No not that way. Why are you so worried? I was just with you're boyfriend." Mark spat out the word.

Symphony glared at him. "So I can't be worried when you're wandering New York by yourself with a possible concussion but you can be worried about-"

"HOLD ON!" Maureen yelled. She pointed to Symphony. "You're dating someone." She pointed to Mark. "It's not you." She looked at the rest of us. "AND EVERYONE'S OKAY WITH THAT?"

Collins frowned. "Uh…no. If it's not Mark then who is it?"

Mark threw up his hands in disgust. "And why are you surprised it's not me? It's not like Sym and I are together or anything! We can't even talk to each other without it being awkward! I mean-"

Maureen cut him off. "Mark?"

"Yes?"

"Shut the fuck up before I beat your face in."

Mark glared at her. "Where's my camera?" Silently, Angel lifted it up and gave it to him. Mark walked over and sat by Symphony's feet leaning against the couch. I pretended to cough. Mark looked up. "Shut up Roger." He said but he didn't move.

"So…" Collins started. "Who are you dating?" He sneaked a look at Mark who didn't so much as flinch.

Symphony bit her lip and looked at her lap. "Remember Anthony Rapp?"

Collins nodded. "That boy you were infatuated with?" This time Mark did flinch.

Symphony looked up at him. "I wasn't infatuated. We were going out. We…uh, sort of had plans to go to dinner tomorrow."

Collins eyed Mark who continued to stay motionless and pretend to watch film. "Just the two of you?"

Mark swore under his breath. He looked up. "What? Out of film."

Symphony nodded. "Is…is that a problem?"
Collins shook his head. "Not at all…well not for most of us…"

Mark stood up, jaw clenched. "I'll be in Central Park if you need me, but don't need me." He turned to go.

"Wait!" Symphony said. "I thought you were out of film."

Mark scowled. "Your point?"

"You're just going to sit there and not film? That seems weird to me."

Mark walked towards the door. Before he stepped out he said, "It's better than talking about this."

Symphony sighed and we all listened to Mark's footsteps echo from the stairway. I cleared my throat. "Sym? You need to talk to him."

She nodded. "I know, but you saw how he acted. He won't listen. Besides, he wouldn't believe me anyway, let alone feel the same."
Maureen jumped up. "So you admit it! Finally!" She clasped her hands together. "I have a plan." We al groaned. "Hey! It's genius! Okay, so we know Marks's the jealous type, so why doesn't Sym just go out with what's-his-face for a while. Eventually, Mark will get over it and everything will be fine." She looked around. "Everyone got it?"

Symphony raised he hand slightly. "Wait…don't I have any say in this?"

Maureen laughed. "No. So that settles it! Tomorrow Symphony will go out with Anthony."

Symphony's POV (4 the next afternoon)

I looked at the clock. Anthony would be here in an hour. I was wearing a black skirt with a red shirt that Angel and Mimi had insisted I wore. Sighing I sat on the couch. I really didn't want to do this. I couldn't go out with someone just to make someone else jealous. If Anthony found out he'd be crushed. When we broke up he didn't leave his dorm for a few days. Besides, who's to say it would actually work?

The odds of it working weren't very high. Mark dated girls like Maureen. Maureen and I were polar opposites. Maureen was the headstrong, controlling kind of girl while I, I was the one who stood in the background; a typical wallflower. I looked at the clock again. Anthony would be here in half an hour. Where had the time gone? I'd been thinking so much that thirty minutes had gone up in smoke. In that much time I would be starting to lie. I felt my stomach twist and turn. It wasn't as if I'd ever lied before, I just hadn't lied about something like this. Love wasn't something you played around with.

I heard a knock at the door. Anthony wasn't supposed to be here for another twenty minutes. I walked over to the door and opened it cautiously. Mark stood there looking rather awkward. "Is Roger here?" His voice was hard and tense. "Collins wanted to see him."

I shook my head. "Haven't seen him or Mimi since this morning. I think they went out for a while." I looked at the ground.

Mark and I stood there for a long time completely silent until Anthony walked up. "Hello Mark. Symphony, as beautiful as ever. I hope I'm not interfering…"

I shook my head. "Oh no. Mark was just looking for Roger, but he isn't here. Goodbye Mark." Anthony took my hand and we walked down the hall.

When we reached the restaurant I gasped as I took it all in. "Wow. Anthony, you didn't have to take me here." We were in one of the fanciest restaurants in New York. And one of the most expensive.

Anthony grinned. "I know, but I wanted to." He led me over to a table and pulled out my chair. I sat down blushing slightly. I felt so out of place here.

Anthony and I made polite small talk. I carefully avoided an discussions about my friends incase they led to Mark. When we ordered I chose the cheapest meal I could find; I didn't want him to spend too much money. All through the evening my guilt grew and my mind wandered back to Mark numerous times.

"Symphony?" Anthony said.

I snapped back into reality. "S-sorry."

He frowned. "You're not really here with me are you?"

I swallowed and shook my head. "Anthony? I'm sorry, but I just can't do this anymore."

My date nodded. "You love the filmmaker."

I looked down. "Is it that obvious?"

"He loves you too."

I shook my head. "Even if he did he can't now. I messed up. I-I'm sorry."

Anthony reached across the table and touched my arm. "Sym? Go."

My head shot up. "What?"

"You heard me. Go fix it."

I frowned. "But-"

He nodded. "Go on. I'll be alright."

I walked over to Anthony and hugged him. "Thank you so much. I'm so sorry." Without waiting for a reply I ran out the door back towards home.

Symphony's POV (Next Evening Mimi's loft)

I hadn't left my room all day. Mimi and Angel had been trying unsuccessfully to get me to eat. My stomach was messed up enough. What was I going to do about Mark? Obviously, I needed to talk to him, but what would I say? I'd been racking my brain all day and had nothing. I stood up from my bed at quietly opened the door. Angel and Mimi looked up from the couch. "Going to talk to him?" Angel asked.

I nodded. "I'm scared."

Mimi put her arm around me and walked with me to the front door. "You'll be fine." I certainly hoped so.

It took me ten minutes to walk the twelve steps to Mark and Roger's loft. Well, to walk it took me five seconds, to gather the courage, I still don't have it. I knocked quietly on the door. Roger answered after a light shuffling from the other side. "Hey Sym. Mark's in his room. He hasn't left since last night. You guys need to talk."

I nodded and swallowed. "I know. But I can't make myself do it. It took me ten minutes to get her from Mimi's loft."

Roger shook his head. "Maybe if I give you a push in the right direction…" He took my shoulders and lightly guided me across the room to Mark's room. Through the open door I could see Mark sitting on his bed staring out the window. I looked back at Roger who nodded and walked back into his room. "M-mark?" I took a step towards him. "Mark? Please answer me." When he didn't even move I felt me eyes begin to burn. I wasn't going to cry. "Mark?" My voice broke and I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. Mark didn't even flinch. I held back a sob and raced out of the room and into Mimi's loft. I fell onto the couch and hugged my knees to my chest and cried. Mimi rushed in from her room and was immediately at my side. "Oh Sym! What happened?"

"Mark…" I began unable to finish. I shook my head and let out a sob.

She sat by me and rubbed my back. "Shhhh…it'll be alright."

I shook my head and cried. I cried for my parents, for Mark, for me, for anything and everything. I won't, Mimi. I don't think it will."

Author's Note: Okay sappy ending, but I'm in a sappy mood. I'm in Mark's situation right now (you're friends thinking you lie someone) only this time I actually don't, so I tried to get some of his anger in this. Didn't go very well though did it?

Peace, Love, Iggy.

Kierstin.