Rent next generation chapter 4

Note: Rent belongs to Jonathon Larson, There for does not belong to me.

Roger and Donna walked into the dance studio. Kids stretched and practiced well parents watched and talked to one another.

“Oh gag.” Donna whispered. “It’s Atticus.”

“Gag, it’s Maureen.” Roger responded giving Donna a smile.

“Dad, I’m serious, I still haven’t forgiven him for what he said.”

“He said he thought you looked better in pink that sounded like a complement.” Roger said. “Donna, what’s up with this black theme anyway?” Donna sighed.

“Ever since Mom’s death, I’ve realized people think I’m the little angel of the family. And….I don’t want to be the angel.” Donna admitted. “The angel is always the naive one, the one who pretends they don’t know anything.” Roger got down to Donna’s level.

“There is nothing wrong with being the angel.” Roger told her, his hand was placed on her shoulder. “It doesn’t mean your naive, or that you don’t know anything…it just means your just…innocent. It means that your good and pure. That’s not so bad is it.” Donna smiled.

“No, it isn’t, but I still want to wear black. I like black.” Roger smiled and stood up.

“You can dress however you want…no fishnets though.”

“Roger! Donna!” Maureen squealed. “When did you guys get here?” Donna and Roger walked over to them.

“I like your outfit.” Donna said mentioning Atticus’s blue ballet suit. “Blue’s really your color.”

“Thanks, I….well…you have nice hair.” Donna giggled.

“Look, I’m sorry for being mad, it was stupid. Why don’t I take you to the arcade to make up for it?” Atticus laughed.

“Sure.” He said taking Donna’s hand, dragging her to the dance floor. Roger and Maureen laughed.

“Atticus and Donna make such a good couple!” Maureen squealed. Roger’s smile faded into a frown. A couple? Never, at least not now. Donna was just barely twelve; she’s just starting to understand boys. Besides, if Donna started dating….it meant both his daughters were dating. It all made him feel…so old. Roger’s felt many things, angry, depressed, limited on life. Never has he felt…old. It was weird, yet hard to accept.

Meanwhile in the loft, Randi was reading a guitar magazine. When Isabella came out, dressed for her date with Jay. She was wearing a short denim skirt she had made out of a pair of old jeans, on top she was wearing a rose shirt she bought at a thrift store, with a pink scarf she made out of a dirt stained prom dress. Isabella pretty could make anything out of anything.

“How do I look?” Isabella asked. Randi looked up.

“Like an angel.” Isabella smiled.

“I was going more for that early-wedding thing.” Isabella shrugged. “All well, none of that matters, what matters is me and Jay are in love.”

“You’ve only been seeing the guy for a few days.” Randi said. “It took me and Cam sixteen years to fall in love, how do you know your in love?” Isabella smiled and took a seat next to Randi.

“I don’t really know how to answer.” Isabella said. “I mean I like Jay because he’s sweet, he’s kind, he’s an amazing actor, a brilliant singer, he’s honest, and he watches over me…But when it comes to love…I don’t know. It’s just something about Jay that makes me never want to leave him. That we’re connected to each other. It’s weird, yet….it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Randi stared at Isabella, she still wasn’t completely convinced. But Isabella was like her sister, they grew up with each other, watched each others backs, they were sisters in a real meaning. So when she looked at Isabella’s face, how lit up and joyful it was…it didn’t seem to matter whether her and Jay were together forever or not.

When there was knock on the door. Isabella jumped up.

“Come in!” She yelled. Jay walked in, wearing a red t-shirt with jeans and a leather jacket. He held up a bouquet of dandelions.

“Sorry, couldn’t afford to get anything else.” He felt like a jerk for just bringing dandelions, but he barely made enough money to feed himself and to pay the rent. So he was hoping that Isabella would find some humor in the situation.

“Jay, their beautiful!” Isabella gasped walking over. “Dandelion’s are my favorite flowers, how did you know?” She took them and smiled. “Thank you so much.” Jay smiled as Isabella leaned in and kissed him.

“Hey Belle’s.” Randi yelled not even looking up from her magazine. “You know what would look great with that skirt? Your gold painted bracelets.” Isabella gasped.

“Your right, I’ll be right back.” Isabella quickly rushed into her bedroom. Randi closed her magazine and looked up at Jay.

“Hey Jay, can I talk to you for a moment.” Randi asked.

“Sure.” Jay said moving to the couch.

“Don’t take any of this wrong, you’re a great guy and everything it’s just….” She paused, trying to find words that would make him understand her question, without making him feel like a jerk. “How long are in this for? I mean are you in this for the long run, or are you going to leave in a few months?” Jay sighed.

“I know we met like not even a week ago…but, I’ve never met someone like Isabella, so kind so giving.” Randi nodded.

“She gets that from Angel.” Randi told him. Jay smiled.

“She talks about her too.” Jay said. “Her Mother, or at least that’s what Belle’s thinks of her as.”

“It’s a different world Jay.” Randi responded. “HIV and AIDS are no longer a death sentence, People are finally starting to accept gays and lesbians, and people are even giving to one and another. Because of these things, despite what other people believe…I believe the world is changing for the better.”

“Wow, deep thoughts.” Jay said leaning back on the couch. “Very, Very deep.”

“So what are you and Belle doing today?” Randi asked looking to Jay.

“Shopping.” He merely said. Randi raised an eyebrow…shopping was fun, especially for Isabella, but it wasn’t something you did on a date. “I wanted to do something Belle would like.”

“That’s rather sweet of you.” Randi said. Isabella came jumping out of their room.

“Sorry it took so long, but I couldn’t find anything in that mess we call a room.” Isabella giggled. She picked up her purse and grabbed Jay’s arm. He stood up with her.

“Have fun!” Randi said. Isabella and Jay walked to the door.

“We will!” Isabella shouted. Her and Jay went to a thrift store. The place was old and run down, and all the clothing smelled like smoke, and most of the colors were washed out. But Isabella smiled as she picked shirts, pants, scarfs, hats, and jackets off the rack.

“This skirt is perfect!” She said picking up a black skirt. “Jay thank you so much for bringing me here.”

“No problem…so what do you want to go to college some day?” Isabella smiled.

“Well…sort of, but it’s not a regular college… I want to get in to NYSCOA.” She said. Jay raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“The New York state college of arts, I want to become a performer, and that’s my best chance to become one.” She hadn’t notice that well she was talking she was fumbling with the black skirt. She sighed as she tossed it into the bag she was carrying. “But I’ll never get in.”

“Why not?” Jay asked. Isabella shrugged.

“The intuition cost a lot, less then a regular college, but still a lot. And I don’t have that kind of money.” She looked at an orange sweater in sadness.

“Isn’t there a scholar ship of some kind?” He asked.

“Yeah, but only the best performers get them…and let’s face it, there are other people better than me.” Isabella said. Jay stared at her, feeling bad she felt so bad about herself. She was the most amazing performer he’d ever seen. He grabbed her bag.

“Come on, pay for your stuff.” Jay said pulling Isabella towards the register.

“What are we doing?” She asked. Jay smiled.

“You’ll see.” He said. A few minutes later they were outside on the streets. Jay brought over and bucket and drumsticks.

“I know the guy who owns the music store.” He explained. “He’s always giving me free drumsticks and guitar picks and stuff like that.” Isabella sat down on the street and held the pocket and drumsticks.

“What do you want me to play?” Isabella asked.

“Anything.” Isabella thought about it for a moment before she hit the bucket with a slow tempo.

“Well, I'm thwarted by a metaphysic puzzle” She began. “And I'm sick of grading papers that I know. And I'm shouting in my sleep, I need a muzzle, and all this misery pays no salary, so Lets open up a restaurant in Santa Fe, Sunny Santa Fe would be nice. We'll open up a restaurant in Santa Fe. And leave this to the roaches and mice. Oh-oh……”

“Oh-oh.” Jay sang back-up for her. Isabella looked up and smiled. Some people stopped to look, others merely stopped by to drop money on the bucket. Still, Isabella couldn’t help but feel better. “America!”

“You're a sensitive aesthete. Brush the sauce onto the meat. You could make the menu sparkle with rhyme.” She continued to sing. “You could drum a gentle drum. I could seat guests as they come. Chatting not about Heidegger, but wine!”

Jay pulled her up and started dancing with Isabella. They sang together.

“Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe. Our labors would reap financial gains Santa Fe!”

“Gains”

“Gains”

“Gains” They switched between each other before singing together again.

“We'll open up a restaurant in Santa Fe.

And save from devastation our brains.

We'll pack up all our junk and fly so far away
Devote ourselves to projects that sell
We'll open up a restaurant in Santa Fe
Forget this cold Bohemian hell
Oh, Oh Ohhhh, ohhhh, Ohhhh, ohhhh”

“Do you know the way…to Santa Fe?” Isabella sang. “You know, tumbleweeds, prairie dogs?”

“Yeah….” They sang together. The people around them clapped, placing money on the bucket. Isabella counted it.

“Jay, there’s almost fifty dollars in here!” Isabella said amazed. He walked over and hugged her.

“I told you, you were a great performer.” He said kissing the top of her head. “What should we spend it on?” Isabella looked over and saw an elderly woman sleeping on the street. Isabella stared at Jay, who nodded. They walked over together. Isabella wrapped the money in a blanket and placed it beside the woman. As they walked away Isabella sighed.

“This place really is a cold, bohemian hell.” She whispered. Jay only held her closer, trying to make her feel better.