6As always, I don't own RENT or any of its characters, they are the amazing work of Jonathan Larson.
A/N: I'd like to give a BIG thank you to Kill4Karamel and darkgemwildcat for reviewing!
Please let me know what you think - good or bad - I update faster when I get feedback! Thanks!
Book 4: The Enemy of Avenue A
Chapter 1: Benjamin Coffin the Third
I first met the current-day enemy of Avenue A, Benjamin Coffin the Third, in our shared dorm at Brown University.
"Hello." He cleared his throat and extended his hand. "I'm your roommate. Benjamin Coffin the third." He said his name pompously and I doubted I would like him very much until he added, "But friends just call me Benny."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Mark."
We had a lot in common, and an instantaneous friendship grew between us. We both went to bed early, slept in as late as we could, never brought women back to our dorms and had big dreams that we did not follow, instead pouring ourselves into schoolwork. Our friendship thrived off of our biggest connection, an irrational desire to go to pursue careers in the mean streets of New York.
December 12th, the last day before our winter break, was the day when I finally decided I couldn't do what everyone expected of me anymore. So I packed my bags, informed my hysterical parents of my decision, and told Benny, "I'm leaving for New York." He must have suspected that I would be leaving soon, because he immediately responded, "I'll come with you."
I had always thought how lucky I was to have such a loyal friend who would go to New York with me. Up until recent events, that is.
Chapter 2: The Dreamer
Roger the musician, Maureen the performer, Collins the anarchist, Benny the dreamer, and Mark the wannabe filmmaker - together we formed a tight-knit, unlikely group of friends. Though the others may deny it now, Benny was once a well-loved member of our Bohemian family.
Benny dreamed of one day turning all the tenth city lofts into a studio for all the Bohemian talent, called "Cyber Arts." His relationship with us began to strain as he started to date Alison, a fairly wealthy girl who had abandonment issues with her yappy dog, Avita.
Looking back on his behavior, its painfully obvious that he what he desired in life was different from the rest of our friends. I should have seen the signs leading up to his inevitable betrayal, but being the naïve college dropout that I was, I suspected nothing.
It was a typical Wednesday night at the loft - Collins was drunk, April and Roger were high, Maureen and I were cuddling on the couch laughing as Collins ranted about a local politician, and Benny was out with Alison again. Just as the conversation fell to a comfortable lull, and April and Roger were about to declare they were "going to bed", a breathless Benny busted into the loft.
"Just got an investor to buy the lofts in Alphabet City!" he declared, with a broad smile.
"An investor?" Roger scoffed. He was quite vocal about his dislike of Benny using "yuppie" words to make him sound more official. Benny's happiness seemed to blind him to the sarcasm in Roger's voice, because he replied with,
"Muffie's father! He thinks I've got a great business plan. All I gotta do is get all the hobos out, and the dream is gonna be a reality!" That last sentence didn't set well.
"You mean the homeless?" Maureen interjected. "Where do you suppose they are gonna go?"
Benny's face fell.
"I don't know. Its not my issue either. They can go to some shelter." Collins shook his head sadly, making eye contact with Roger.
"Or stay and pay rent! I'm planning to put condo's on the top!"
"What about us? Are you gonna kick us out, Benny?"
"No, of course not! You guys are golden! My pals!" he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, as if his it would express his devotion. He quickly let go of me, looking exasperated at our less-than-thrilled faces.
"C'mon guys! Our dream is coming true! Roger! You can record your first CD in the studio! And- and Mark! You could very well produce your own film in Cyber Arts!" I was the first to show any enthusiasm.
"Well I'm all for it, if it exposes the unknown Bohemian talent."
". . . and its free rent!" added a slightly topsy April, who was clinging to Roger.
"I'm moving out of this dump too! I'm going to go live with Alison in her apartment on the West side of town."
Though I refused to show it, I think Benny's abrupt departure from the loft followed by his betrayal in the form of demanding rent, hurt me the most. He was my first real friend, that I didn't hang around just because in high school there was safety in numbers, but instead because I actually enjoyed spending time with him.
Chapter 3: Lapdog of the Revolution
Benny has earned himself many titles, the mildest of which are "Enemy of Avenue A", "Wealthy Lapdog" and "Yuppie Scum." His infamy has spread throughout the East Village, and I can't help but wonder if Benny ever regrets his decisions. I wonder if he thinks it was a fair trade - principles and friends for wealth and exile. Its true we didn't always have heat or food, but we had our Bohemian family, and I once thought that we were enough.
In his desperation to "make something of himself", Benny became a different person. Blinded by his desperation to make his dream a reality, he forgot where he came from, who helped him get where he was and the ideals he once pursued; as a result becoming cold-hearted "yuppie scum." Sometimes I swear I can still see a glimpse of the compassionate, funny, driven friend that I loved so much. Then he shuts off our power and I remember the old Benny is gone.