A/N: I'm back… finally. I got busy with school and that "fun" stuff so… yeah… excuse the slight delay. Thanks again to OnTheLineFeline and hersheygal! You guys rock! This is pre-bohemia!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own RENT or Roger Davis… basically anything or anyone you don't recognize is probably mine.

I'm Ready For My Close Up

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Roger Scorned

You're all probably wondering how I met my main man Marky… right? Well it is an interesting story, involving broken glasses, a fight during the lunchroom, pea soup, and handshakes. Maybe not the pea soup one so much, but it was kind of fun to just throw in there. Anyway, it was a hot and humid day when I met Mark my first day of middle school and I've never regretted it.

(Flashback)

"Okay honey, now be careful in there," a kind blonde woman cautioned, flattening her son's hair subconsciously. "It's a lot different from elementary school… the classes are harder, the kids can be rougher…" Roger's mother's concerned voice trailed away as Roger pulled himself away from her.

"Don't worry about it mom… I'll be fine," Roger reassured, giving his mother a pat on the shoulder. Mrs. Davis sighed that was mixed with sadness that her boy was growing up and pride of how mature he had become. She gave Roger's head one more flattening and then finally backed away.

"I'll meet you at home then," she said and slowly went back to her car. Roger waved as his mother drove away and then reluctantly made his way to the front of the school. If there was one thing that the twelve year old hated, it was school. Roger's ears perked up though when he heard what sounded like a fight going on towards a far corner, away from the principal's office. With a frown, he made his way over there cautiously as he didn't really want to get mixed up into it at all.

"I said I was sorry!" a soft voice pleaded, voice barely carrying over in the air. There came several harsh sounding chuckles and Roger's pace quickened.

"Well sorry can't really excuse your face now can it Cohen?" a haughty voice sneered. Roger finally rounded the corner and found a scrawny blonde haired boy being cornered by none other than Paul. The same Paul that had tortured Roger in fourth grade and even into fifth and sixth. Of course, Roger didn't recognize the smaller boy but his heart automatically went out to the poor thing, who was looking like he was ready to vomit right then and there.

"Hey Paul, leave the guy alone!" Roger said calmly, not wanting Paul's cronies to turn on him as well. Paul swiveled around and his gray eyes narrowed in delight.

"Well look at what the cat coughed up boys!" he cried gleefully. "It's ickle Davis come to try and save the day!" Paul sneered while his buddies snickered behind him. "Too bad we'll have to put a damper on his plans!" Roger twitched but otherwise remained unmoving.

"Come on Paul… I bet this kid didn't even do anything to you! Just lay off him!" Roger insisted firmly. He wasn't eight anymore and Roger hoped that meant that Paul didn't scare him like he used to. Paul nodded his head towards the other boy and the two goons went over to where Cohen was behind the wall. Immediately one held Mark firm against the wall while the other gave a punch right to the face. There came a loud snap and a pair of glasses fell to the ground, shattered and completely useless.

"My glasses!" the boy cried as he tenderly held his nose. He tried to go pick them up but the two lumbering idiots held fast against him. Roger's blood boiled and before he knew what he was doing he had run up to one of the clones and gave them a good smack. The one stumbled back in surprise while the other one gave an indignant roar at seeing his friend being hit like that. In a second Roger was left to fend for himself against the two enraged bullies.

"Shit," he swore softly and quickly tried to dart a fist flying at his face.

"Oh come on pretty boy! Can't manage to get a little bloody?" Paul cried as he watched the scene unfold. Roger suddenly froze, fists clenching and unclenching dangerously with a hard glare forming in his eyes. "You're so worthless Davis! You don't even have the guts to take on these goons!" Paul crowed in glee. Roger trembled and then turned furiously on the two boys and began to just lay on punches right and left.

"Jesus Christ!" Cohen cried, watching in awe as his savior totally beat the crap out of the two idiots. Inspired, the scrawny boy (I'm pretty sure by now we all know it's Mark… am I right?) got up and stumbled over to one of the cronies. Unfortunately he didn't get far as he still didn't have his glasses, leaving him blind as a bat.

(End flashback)

When it was all said and done I had two gashes on my face (one needed stitches), various bruises littering my body, a split lip, and a nearly broken nose. I have to say that the goons came off worse… both of their noses were actually broken. Not to mention Paul, who had various black eyes and various cuts in his lips and face… he never bothered me again. Not to mention that I was in the worst trouble of my life… my mother blubbered on for hours at how she couldn't understand that her "sweet and innocent baby had the nerve to actually hurt someone!".

(Flashback)

"I can't say I understand what Paul here could have done to make you so angry!" the principal exclaimed, staring harshly across at me from his desk. Roger shifted in the hard chair, he wasn't used to being up in the Principal's Office for being in trouble. He did manage to become very much acquainted with it though in the years to come.

"Well… at first he was picking on some kid… Cohen?" Roger said, asking for verification of the child's name. The Principal nodded distractedly and prompted Roger further.

"Are you friends with Mark?" he asked impatiently. Roger shook his head and grinned oddly.

"Never even met him before," he chuckled. The Principal's eyebrows shot into his hairline… well almost.

"So… why exactly did this upset you then?" he asked, growing frustrated with this boy's excuses. Roger shrugged and searched his mind for an explanation.

"I think… it was just the principle of the thing… I mean… Paul has been picking on me through all of elementary school," Roger said slowly, still trying to comprehend it himself. The Principal just remained silent and unreadable for once. Roger swallowed hard and continued on. "I think I might have retaliated so strongly… because he called me worthless," Roger choked out lamely. The Principal only nodded, mulling things over it seemed.

"Well it seems to me that you were provoked… so I'll sentence you to a week of detentions…" the Principal declared firmly. It was Roger's eyes to raise into his hair… this certainly wasn't what people told him principals were like.

"That's it?" he asked in disbelief, awe showing on his face. The Principal nodded calmly, looking amused.

"Yes Mr. Davis… that's it. That is of course, if you would rather the sentence be longer I can arrange it," he said, obviously straining to keep a straight face. Roger shook his head, got up, and went for the door. "And take yourself down to the nurse while you're at it… you're a mess," the Principal added, grinning.

(End flashback)

Yeah… I always thought that principal had a soft spot for me. I would always get into the worst of trouble… pulling pranks and terrorizing teachers. Yet, he seemed to always find a way to reduce my punishment and in return I never did anything worse than harmless jokes or pranks. It was some sort of unwritten code or treaty between us.

Anyway, that day I also gained a friend… and his name was Mark Cohen. He may have been a skinny little nerd but he also had a great sense of humor… and we kinda bonded. I stuck up for him against bullies and he helped me with math. Then we would just hang out, talking and joking with each other. I know it sounds lame or cliché… but I really think that just this experience brought us together. I guess fate has a sense of humor after all.

(Flashback)

As Roger exited the nurse's office and was preparing to head home for the day, a familiar face rushed over to him.

"Hi! I guess you're Roger!" a young boy exclaimed, somewhat bashfully. Roger grinned and stuck out his hand.

"Yup, that's what they call me. Though all I got from your name is Cohen… you got a first name or are your parents hippies?" Roger asked good-naturedly. The boy grinned and timidly answered.

"My name's Mark… I just wanted to… well I guess I… thanks!" Mark finally blurted out. Roger chuckled softly and gave the other boy a light shove.

"No problem, you don't need to make a big deal out of it!" Roger joked. Mark grinned in relief and laughed a little.

"I think that one will need stitches," Mark pointed out bluntly, motioning to a gash on Roger's forehead. Roger reached up and touched the bleeding wound on his head.

"Yeah… that must be why they called my parents," Roger said conversationally. Mark blushed a little and shifted uneasily.

"I'm sorry I got you so hurt…" he mumbled apologetically. Roger shrugged and sobered up for a moment.

"Don't worry about it Mark. I had some history with that guy anyway and he had it coming," Roger assured. Mark still looked guilty but let the matter drop. Roger glanced through the office window and started a little. "Looks like my mom is pulling in… so I'll see you tomorrow?" Roger asked. Mark looked really surprised but he smiled nonetheless.

"Sure!" Mark managed to spit out. Roger smiled and headed towards the door where he could see his mother power walking, looking ready to explode. "I'll warn you though!" Mark called suddenly, causing Roger to turn. "There probably won't be anyone else there!" he explained sadly. Roger just grinned and shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't like big crowds anyway," he called back and then turned once more to the door. He had tackled down bullies and it was time for him to face his next foe… his angry yet at the same time terrified mother.

(End flashback)

Me and Cohen have been tight ever since. Many warned us that high school would come and we'd drift apart… but no such luck. We were friends for life… and still are as a matter of fact. Something about that nerd just makes it impossible to shake him off. Anyway, that's how I met Mark. At first my mother didn't want me to hang around him because he, and I quote, "brings out the rebellious side in me". Of course, that ended as soon as she got a good look at him. My mom has a thing about scrawny kids… it must awaken some sort of odd maternal instinct that includes her shoving various cookies and rich foods down said scrawny kid's throats. Mark never seemed to mind however… and the amazing thing is that no matter how much my mother force fed him Mark never once gained a pound more then he needed. He remained bony and small. Some people have all the luck.

A/N: Well that's it! I hope this seems believable… although I don't think it quite flows like the other chapters did. Ah well… let me know what you thought!