Title: Alphabet City Alphabet

Author: ello luv

Summary: A look into our favourite Bohemians' lives

Disclaimer: I do not own Rent. Many thanks go out to Jonathan Larson for creating such a wonderful masterpiece. If only he could have seen his dream come to fruition.

G is for Graduation

Note: highschool!fic

"So tonight, huh."

"Yeah."

Two boys, one 17 and one just turned 18, lay side by side in the tall grass. The younger one held a camcorder to his bespeckled eye, filming the small, white clouds floating in the azure sky. The elder had his hands clasped behind his head, eyes shut. The younger flipped the camera to the other boy.

"Close on Roger," he narrated, "the rockstar wannabe with the crazy idea that he's going to New York."

Roger opened his green-gray eyes and trained them into and through the camera to meet the other's.

"It's not crazy, Mark," Roger insisted, "As soon as graduation is over, I am out of here."

Mark lowered the camera and his blue eyes locked with Roger's green-gray.

"What about college?"

Roger shrugged and turned his eyes back to the sky.

"What about college?"

"Well, "Mark said, keeping his eyes on Roger's face, "Don't you wanna go?"

"Nope," Roger answered promptly.

"Oh," Mark replied dejectedly, sitting up and hugging his knees to his chest, turning the camera in his hands. Roger sat up.

"What?"

"Nothing, I mean I— it's—nothing," Mark shook his head.

"Come on," Roger said, "You're like a brother to me, you can trust me/"

"I know it's childish I just," Mark sighed, "I kinda wished that we'd always be together, you know?"

The two boys sat silently for a few moments, Roger studying Mark.

"Come with me."

"What?"

"Come with me!" Roger exclaimed. "Screw college and come with me to New York!"

Mark shook his head.

"You know I can't! It would break my parents' hearts."

Roger flipped around and kneeled in front of Mark, placing his hands on Mark's knees.

"Roger," Mark protested weakly.

"Come with me to New York, Mark," Roger interrupted, "We'll rent a loft together. Maybe Collins'll come too! Mark, we could make it big!"

"I can't Rog," Mark whispered, "I can't base my whole life on something that could happen, but might not."

"Mark," Roger murmured, "Come on. You know you want to."

"I can't."

Roger let out an angry growl.

"Live a little, man! I mean, my god, you're living the life that your parents want, not the one that you want!"

Roger locked his gaze on Mark's. The younger boy could almost feel the pleading sincerity those green-gray orbs were projecting. He looked away.

"I—,"

"Please come with me."

"I—I'm sorry, Rog."

Roger stood up.

"I'll call."

Mark lifted the camcorder and filmed Roger as he walked away.

"Close on Roger," Mark narrated quietly, "the rockstar wannabe who's leaving for New York tonight."