A/N: I do not own Rent and/or the song 'Take Me or Leave Me'. Both belong to Jonathan Larson and I only wanted to use the song for my story telling needs.

Chapter 12: Take Me or Leave Me

It had been a week since everyone found out that David had cheated on Elle. Elle was not talking to David and was going to keep it that way. David, on the other hand, was determined to get her to talk to him. It wasn't going so good.

Izzy and Steve were having an engagement party that weekend. Well, Steve's parents were throwing it for them, while both of them protested it. His parents were oblivious to their complaints or just ignored them.

"I really don't want to go to this." Izzy said, sitting by Race.

"I know, but it would be bad if you didn't show up for your engagement party... even though you hate your fiancé." Shelley said. "That wouldn't be good for Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne."

"So? I don't like them and they're probably pretending to like me." Izzy said.

"Well, Shelley and I have been thinking of a way to sabotage this little party." Elle said.

"And?" Izzy and Race asked.

"So far it's been a real pooper trying to find a good idea, anyway." Shelley said.

"You guys will think of something. You're evil." Race informed.

Shelley and Elle glared at him and then laughed. "It's true." Shelley said.

Saturday,

"Okay... how are we going to hurt this party?" Shelley asked, leaning over the table her and Elle were sitting at.

Elle thought for a moment. Then two guys came over.

"Uhm, do you mind if we sit with you?" One of them asked.

"Oh, no go ahead." Shelley said.

"Thanks... we're not really 'welcome' here. But our brother invited us." The other one asked.

"Oh..." Elle said. She thought for a moment. "Are you two Parker and C.J. Adams?"

They smiled. "So you've heard of us." The first one said. "I'm Parker."

"And I'm C.J." The second one said.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Elle Fabian and this is Shelley Malcolm." Elle said.

"Hiya." Shelley said, waving.

They laughed. "So, how much have you heard about us?" C.J. asked.

"Well, I've heard that you're two very, very liberal men and your parents disowned you because they're assholes." Shelley said.

"That's about it." Parker said.

"So, how did you two get roped into this?" C.J. asked.

"Oh, our friend is the 'bride-to-be'." Elle said, using air-quotes around the words bride-to-be.

C.J. chuckled. "She's so excited isn't she?"

"Oh yeah. Look at her, can't you just tell?" Shelley said, pointing to Izzy who was scowling.

Parker and C.J. shook their heads. "It's just radiating off of her."

"Why are you guys here? I mean, if you were disowned why were you invited?" Shelley asked.

"Steve invited us." Parker said, "The shock of all shocks."

Elle was looking around the spacious ballroom and spotted a grand piano. She elbowed Shelley and pointed to the piano. Shelley looked and smiled.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Elle asked.

"Of course I am." Shelley said, leaving.

Elle walked over to the piano and sat down. "Let's see if I remember this." She placed her fingers on the keys and her feet on the pedals.

Izzy was now standing by herself in the middle of the ballroom. She heard the sound of the piano. She looked over and saw Elle, who smiled at her. Then she listened to the tune the piano was playing.

Someone cleared their throat and Izzy turned around to see Shelley standing in the doorway in her Maureen outfit from 'Take Me or Leave Me'.

Izzy stared in horror as Shelley walked to her. Everyone had stopped what they were doing and stared at the two girls. Race hit Talkback, who was hired to film the party. He looked and smiled.

"Oh, this is gonna be good." He said, laughing.

"Every single day, I walk down the street. I hear people say 'Baby' so sweet. Ever since puberty everybody stares at me boys, girls, I can't help it, baby. So be kind and don't lose your mind. Just remember, that I'm your baby. Take me for what I am. Who I was meant to be and if you give a damn; take me baby, or leave me." Shelley sang, dancing with Izzy.

Izzy rolled her eyes and walked away from Shelley. Shelley pouted and scampered over to the wine and champagne table. She climbed on it and people gasped. Izzy stopped and turned to look at Shelley with a scolding face.

"A tiger in a cage can never see the sun; and this diva needs her stage, baby let's have fun! You are the one I choose; folks would kill to fill your shoes. You'll love the limelight too, now baby." Shelley sang as she climbed off the table. She started lifting up her shirt and continued singing. "So be mine and don't waste my time crying, 'Oh Honeybear, are you still my, my, my baby?'"

"Don't you dare." Izzy said, walking away.

Shelley put down her shirt, "Take me for what I am. Who I was meant to be and if you give a damn; take me baby, or leave me." She followed Izzy along with a lot of other people. Talkback fought his way to the front to catch every moment.

"No way, can I be what I'm not. But hey, don't you want your girl hot? Don't fight, don't lose your head. 'Cause every night, who's in your bed? Who? Who's in your bed?" Shelley sang, standing in front of Izzy. "Kiss, Pookie."

"It won't work." Izzy started, putting her hands on her hips. "I look before I leap. I love margins and discipline. I make lists in my sleep, baby, what's my sin? Never quit, I follow through, I hate mess but I love you. What to do with my impromptu, baby? So be wise, 'cause this girl satisfies, you've got a prize who don't compromise, you're one lucky baby."

Izzy walked around tables. "Take me for what I am,"

"A control freak." Shelley said.

"Who I was meant to be," Izzy sang, looking at her.

"A snob yet over-attentive." Shelley said, crossing her arms over chest.

"And if you give a damn," Izzy continued.

"A loveable drole geek." Shelley said.

"Take me baby, or leave me." Izzy sang, standing behind an empty table.

"And anal-retentive!" Shelley shouted.

"That's it!" They both sang.

"The straw that breaks my back." Izzy said, walking around the table.

"I quit!" The both sang.

"Unless you take it back." Izzy said, pointing to Shelley across the table.

"Women!" They shouted.

"What is it about them?" Shelley sang, looking at Izzy.

"Can't live, with them or without them! Take me for what I am!" They both sang, slamming their hands on the table.

"Who I was meant to be," Izzy sang, followed by Shelley.

"And if you give a damn," Shelley sang.

"And if you give a damn ya better," Izzy said. "Take me baby,"

"Oh, take me baby, take me or leave me!" Shelley sang.

"Take me baby, or leave me." They both sang. "Guess I'm leaving, I'm gone."

They both left the ballroom in opposite directions and everyone was left in silence since the piano wasn't playing.

'I have to say it.' Talkback thought. He turned to Blink and said, "Maybe now you two can get back together?"

"Wow." David said, taking a swig of champagne.

"But I," Blink started, but David pushed him over to their table.

"Come on," David said.

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Shelley and Izzy ran into each other outside one of the many entrances to the ballroom.

"I can't believe you guys did that." Izzy said.

"Do you think it worked?" Shelley asked, opening the door a little to peek in.

"I hope so." Izzy said.

"Sorry we didn't run this by you, but was a spur of the moment thing. You understand." Shelley said.

"Yeah, but let's just pray that it worked." Izzy said, opening the doors and both of them walked in.

Izzy went over to Steve and Shelley walked over to her table and sat down.

"So?" She asked.

Elle shook her head. "He just thought you were acting. Apparently someone told him that we were doing Rent and that's what it's from. So he thought you guys were testing it out." She said.

"But, it was an excellent performance." Parker said.

Shelley blushed. "Thanks." She looked over at Izzy sympathetically.

Izzy looked at her and shrugged. Shelley mouthed 'Sorry, I tried.' and Izzy shook her head and continued being introduced to family members.

"Shit, I really thought that would have worked." Shelley said.

"Yeah, me too." Elle said, resting her head on her hand.

They heard shouting and turned to look. They saw Blink, Race, and Spot doing a drinking contest. Shelley groaned. That's just what she needed. She was really getting annoyed with Blink. And it's not just because he was kind of stupid. It had to deal with how he would tell her he'd do something and he never would. Like calling her for example. She had spent many nights worrying about his sorry ass because he said he'd call to let her know he was okay. He never called. He'd call the next day to talk to her and she'd be mad at him and he wouldn't know why.

She got up and scowled.

"Where are you going?" Elle asked.

"Home." Shelley said, grabbing her purse.

"I'm sorry to leave like this, I really am." She said, to Parker and C.J.

"Oh, that's okay." Parker said, handing her a piece of paper. "That's for you."

"Yeah, I'd better go too." Elle said, standing up.

"Here's your purse." C.J. said, quickly stuffing a napkin in it.

"Oh, thanks." Elle said taking it. "I keep forgetting about it."

"See you around sometime?" The guys asked.

"Yeah." Shelley said, "Bye."

Shelley walked up to Izzy and Steve. "I am so sorry about that. That's why we're leaving now. Thanks for inviting us, Steve. I'll see you later." She turned to Izzy. "Call me later."

She walked over to Blink, Race, and Spot. "Come on, Blink."

She walked away followed by Blink and Elle. Everyone else left after that, thinking they had cause the ruckus, and went to their houses. A little later, Shelley went over to the loft, still angry at the days events.

She walked up the three flights of stairs and knocked on the door. "Blink, open the door!"

The door slid open, but Blink didn't open it. David did.

"Where's Blink?" She asked, angrily.

"In his room sleeping, why?" David asked.

"David... were you not present for the party?" Shelley asked.

"Oh, that, listen Shelley, Race -" David began but was cut off by a raging Shelley.

"I don't about Race! He's not the one who was shouting. Granted he was drinking his heart out, but Blink was the one acting like an entire football stadium filled with people." Shelley said, going into Blink's room. "Blink!"

Blink groaned and pulled his pillow over his head.

"You better move that pillow before I smother you." Shelley warned.

"What's wrong?" HE asked.

"What's wrong? Well, you just got drunk off your ass and acted like a buffoon. You were shouting and screaming and you were throwing wine and champagne around." Shelley said.

"I did that?" Blink asked, looking at her from under his pillow.

"Yes, you did that!" Shelley said, "And because of that and many other things -"

"Wait." Blink said sitting up. "You're not saying what I think you're saying are you?"

"Well, if you're thinking that I'm breaking up with you then you're right. Blink, I can't be with you anymore." Shelley said, leaving his room and the loft.

Blink came out of his room to see Shelley walk out the loft door. David ran after Shelley.

"Shelley, wait! You don't know the whole story." He said.

"David, I really don't care how they ended up doing that! That's the last straw. I mean, I didn't mind the time he shoved tater tots in his pockets, or the time he used the women's restroom on purpose, or the time he got the blow-up doll and screamed 'I can't take it anymore!' and shoved it off the roof. This is just it, David. So, goodbye." She said, walking down the stairs.

David sighed and walked back into the loft. He saw Blink rumpled into a ball on the floor. David walked over to him. "Blink? Hey, you okay honey?"

"Now is not the time, David." Blink said.

"I'm sorry, but come on don't be depressed." David said.

Blink looked up at him with a Who-the-hell-are-you-and-what-have-you-done-with-David? look. David looked at him. "Alright, never mind, you have every right to be depressed. But I have one question."

"What?"

"When did you get a blow-up doll and push it off the roof?" David asked.

"David, just... I just want to be alone." Blink said, getting up and going to his room.

"Alright." David said, watching his best friend go into his room and shut the curtain. "I bet Shelley's crying right now! I'm sure of it."

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Shelley wasn't exactly crying. She was at Talkback's... making out with him.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" He asked, stopping.

"We're just kissing Talkback, it's not like we're going to have sex." Shelley said, kissing him again.