Smile And Send Me To Oblivion

Disclaimer: I do not own or am affiliated with the RENT characters no matter how much I'd love to. Thank you Jonathan Larson. God rest your soul.

Notes: This is my very first time I've ever written a fanfic. This story is based on long talks I had with a friend about how Mark/Roger could have met. Thank you Jessica. This one's for you. And thank you to the fraulein (greatest author I have ever read) for the push to put this in here. Also thank you for your notes. They've helped alot. Love to you. And thank you to all who review this. Please be gentle. It's my first time. Enjoy!

Cute Smile

I watch him open his eyes. He looks over at me and gives a lazy smile. It's amazing he's smiling at all. Roger was never one to smile. Not like he used to. He sits up on our bed and draws me close to him. I rest my head on his chest. His fingers line my arm softly. I love him. Always have. And finally he's all mine. Well, all that's left. But he still mine. What a struggle it was to get to this point though. First with...

Middle School, 1986. First day of seventh grade. My mother gave me yet another horrible bowl hair cut. God, I can't wait till I can get my hair cut at a barbershop. She dropped me off in front of the school. Scarsdale. I hate this town. I frantically search my backpack for my class schedule. Great, Social Studies first.

I get to class and attain a seat close to the front. Even with my glasses, I can't see all that well. The teacher has already written her name and the first lesson on the board . Homework on the first day. Just what I need. I watch all the other students take their seats including a blonde boy who looked like he belongs in a rock video. He carries a guitar case with him too. He seems like he'd be one of the popular boys. He probably is. Well that rules out trying to talk to him.

Second period; Math. Not my favourite subject, but I'm good in it. It may just be I'm good with numbers. Could have something to do with the fact that I'm Jewish. My mom says my whole family's good with numbers. Like my father, the accountant. But that's not important. This teacher is more pleasant. The blonde boy from my first period class is in here too. He sits in the back. I, of course take a seat right up in front. As the teacher begins her lesson, noises from the back of the class can be heard. It's the blonde boy and some other boys laughing. Cute smile. The teacher urges them to quiet down and continues her lesson. I watch him a bit longer. He throws the teacher a dirty look and laughs again with the other boys. I shake my head and my attention is thwarted back to the teacher.

Third period; Science. This class is fun. The teacher's a real nut. I guess that's why he's teaching science. The blonde boy isn't in this class. The teacher shows us something really neat about electricity. The entire class stands on the tables holding hands. I couldn't help but laugh. Everyone's hair is standing up.

Fourth period; Yearbook. Yes, I was on the yearbook staff. The photographer as a matter of fact. I love working with cameras. I love to film anything and everything. Problem is my parents don't think it's a good idea. They want me to go to college and become a doctor, or an accountant like my dad. Shudder at the thought. I love being behind the camera. The yearbook teacher assigns me to take pictures of random students during the lunch hour. Sounds like fun, but who to take pictures of?

Lunchtime. Wow, this day's gone by pretty fast. I took a nice stroll through the campus. No one really to interesting to photograph. I took a couple shots of the cheerleaders, but their over-excessive cheeriness made me want to throw up. I wander over to the bleachers by the football field and lo and behold, I see him. The blonde boy and his friends. He has a cigarette in his mouth. Nasty habit that is. I see them laughing. From a distance, I take a few shots of them. They don't see me at first, but then he turns around and spots me. Crap. Should I hide? He's walking toward me. Uh... Damn, nowhere to go.

"Hey," I hear him shout out to me. He doesn't seem angry, but he's practically running to me.

I smile nervously.

"You with the camera." I wait for him to reach me before saying anything.

"Uh, hi." I feel my nerves really kicking in.

"Hey, what ya doing with that camera?" What do I say to him?

"Taking pictures." Straight and to the point.

"You mean gathering evidence." He drops his cigarette and steps it out. He gives me a wink and a smile. Cute smile.

"No. Just taking pictures for the yearbook. I'm supposed to take pictures of random students, but none of them are interesting enough to me."

"So I'm interesting to you?"

I feel my face redden some. "Well, yeah. I mean more interesting than uh, all the other students."

He laughs. "You didn't get any pics of me with the cigarette in my mouth did you? I don't need to get suspended on the first day of school."

"No. I don't think so. If I did I'll make sure to throw them out." I assure him.

"Hey that's cool man." Another cute smile from him. His smiles are so genuine. "Hey, why don't you come hang out with us?" Doth my ears deceive me?

"You want me to hang out with you?" I'm in complete shock.

"Yeah. You seem pretty cool. C'mon."

Before I can protest he's dragging me by the arm. Did I really just get invited to hang out with the 'cool' guys? I'm still in shock.

"Hey guys, this is..." Shit, I forgot to give him my name.

"Mark." I tell him.

"Well, it's nice to put a name to the face." He smiles at me. "I'm Roger. This is Scott, Frankie, and Donny." They all say hi. They don't seem particularly happy I'm there. I smile apprehensively.

"Hey Mark, what's your next class?"

I ponder this a moment then snatch my schedule from my pocket. "Uh, I have P.E. next."

"I had that before lunch. The teacher's a real ass." Roger and his friends laugh.

"Great. Something to look forward to." A hint of sarcasm. He laughs at me. I blush.

"You know, you're pretty cool. Why don't you meet up with us after school right here." His friends roll their eyes.

Like I didn't notice. "Nah, I..." The bell rings.

"After school, right here. I'll see you then." Before I even get the chance to decline he rushes off with his friends to class. Well I think he's going to class.