A/N: I have another story for you guys. I've been thinking about writing this for a while now, so I finally decided to kick myself in the ass and do it. Please read and tell me what you think. Like always, the cool people who review get cookies (imaginary ones)

Also, I usually write Angel as a "she" because that's how I see her, but for the first few chapters of this story she's gonna be a "he".

Disclamier: I wish I did own RENT, but sadly I don't

Chapter 1

Tom Collins felt hot and sticky stuck in the backseat of the family car. He wanted to be back in Scarsdale with his friends but his mom had a friend that invited them out to the Poconos and apparently they just had to go. He, once again, started shifting his legs to try and work out the cramps. When he was smaller, the backseat was great, but being 6' 2" tall was a blessing for basketball but a curse for long road trips. They finally reached their destination as the car pulled onto a dirt road that was surrounded by small cabins. Theirs was on a road called Happiness. All the roads had dumb names. He wondered if there was one further down the way called Despair. It's where he felt he belonged.

Their cabin was white with blue trim that was slowly peeling off. Inside, the wood floors were well worn and covered with dirt. The wallpaper was a pale green checkered pattern that had a few swatches missing. The cupboards had layers upon layers of paint that seemed to barely be keeping the battered doors together. His parents took the only bedroom while Collins was forced to sleep on the sofa bed in the sunroom. He opened some of the windows to get a nice cross breeze going through his space. He just didn't understand why his family couldn't have stayed in Scarsdale.

Collins began to unpack his clothes and place them in the battered chest beside his bed. He also pulled out his sleeping bag and pillow and placed them on the bed and then fell into their softness. He looked out at all the families that seemed to be enjoying each other but he knew no one here. There was a commotion in the kitchen and his mom's voice drifted through the cabin. One of the women had invited Collins and his parents to a large cookout with all of the other families and his mom graciously accepted the offer. Of course his mom just had to ask if there was going to be any one his age there, especially girls. Collins groaned and pulled his pillow over his head. One more year and he would be going to college and hopefully living in a dorm away from his parents.

Collins had dozed off when he felt his mom start to shake his shoulders.

"Sweetheart, get up and out of bed. We've been invited out this evening"

"I heard. Can't I just stay here?"

"No. You have been so moody lately, it will be good to get out and meet some new people. Could you please get changed into something you haven't slept in?"

Collins silently cursed. There probably were girls his age, but why could he not get a break. He had known for some time now that he was gay. He just was not sure how to come out to parents. It seemed so unfair that everyone assumed people to be straight and placed all sorts of pressure for them to stay within the norm. Collins' mom was constantly bothering him about the fact that he always spent his Friday and Saturday nights with his friends, instead of going out on dates with girls. He just couldn't tell her that he had no intention of trying to kiss a girl, let alone have a relationship with one.

He slowly got out of bed and decided he could go through one more day of this charade. He put on some baggy jeans, a loose black t-shirt and a black knit before heading out the door.

He walked a few feet behind his mom and dad, dragging his feet along the dirt path. Every once in a while he would stop to take a look at the foliage. Unfortunately, no matter how much he procrastinated, he could hear the laughter and happy voices just ahead of him. Once he cleared the trees and underbrush, there was a large clear area with a few barbecue pits in the middle. There were six girls that started waving to try and catch his attention. They were all dressed up in jeans and tight shirts that left little to the imagination. Collins waved at them and headed behind his mom to try and help her get the salad ready that she had brought in separate baggies to keep the lettuce from getting to soggy.

He stayed close to his parents in the beginning and pretended not to notice his admirers. When it seemed that they just were not going to take the hint, he made his excuses to his mom that he was very tired and left the group. Instead of heading back to the cabin, he started exploring, trying to find different hiding places he could use for the next two weeks. He came up behind one of the cabins and noticed that there was a family sitting on the back porch. He thought everyone had gone to the cookout and was curious as to why this family was excluded. He was so busy looking at the cabin he did not hear the approaching footsteps.

"Hey, are you lost?"

The voice shocked him. As he turned to look at the young man speaking to him, his foot caught onto a root and he ended up as a heap on the ground.

"Oh my god! Are you okay? Do you need help getting up?"

Collins looked up into the most gorgeous brown eyes. His skin was the color of mocha and he had short curly black hair. He wore some tight faded jeans with a red shirt with designs on the front of it. He slowly bent down and offered his hand to help Collins up. Collins grabbed the small wrist and was amazed by its powerful grip and strength as he was pulled to his feet. Once upright, he almost fell over again when he felt hands on his arm and shoulder steadying him.

"My name's Angel. If you put your arm over my shoulder I can help you to our cabin. My mom knows first aid and your ankle looks like it could use some ice"

Collins could feel the swelling already beginning and couldn't believe how clumsy he had been. Angel was about half a foot shorter than Collins and was just the right height to be his crutch.

"Thanks. My name's Tom Collins, but my friends just call me Collins. I really appreciate your help."

That was no lie. As they began to walk, white hot pain was shooting up Collins' leg. Did he do more damage than he thought? He looked over at his savior and was rewarded with a bright smile. It distracted him from his pain and made the trek across the backyard bearable. He couldn't stop looking over at Angel. It was something about him that had Collins captivated.

As they neared their destination, Collins was able to get a closer look at the people he had been spying on. He assumed the full figured Latina was Angel's mom. Her companion was a younger and smaller Latina who looked to be about a couple years older than Angel. Both women were able to meet them at the bottom of the stairs leading to the deck. Angel introduced his mom and sister to his new friend.

"Mom, Danielle, This is Collins. He was looking for his cabin when he stumbled."

"Well, Hello, Collins. I'm Angel's mom, but you can call me Vicki. Why don't you sit down while I get you some ice."

Angel and Danielle helped Collins climb up the five steps and into a chair. He kept most of his weight on Angel since he seemed steadier than Danielle. It also brought Angel closer to him.

Once they had him seated in a tattered wicker chair, Angel pulled up a stool and rested Collins' foot on it. He removed Collins' shoe, being careful not to touch the swollen ankle. Vicki came out from the kitchen and placed a frozen bag of peas around on Collins' ankle. While Vicki was fussing over Collins, he watched Danielle pull Angel into the house, talking quietly to each other and giggling. Collins couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about.

When Danielle and Angel returned outside, Vicki asked Collins, "Would you like a piece of pie? I baked it myself."

"Oh yeah, you should have some. My mom is a really good cook." said Danielle, smiling.

Angel nodded his head in agreement with his sister and got up to go to the kitchen. He came back with a large platter that held the pie and four plates under it. He went back into the kitchen once he set the pie and plates down on the patio table to get some ice tea and ice cream.

Collins had to admit he was quite hungry since he did not eat that much at the cook-out. Vicki ended up loading his plate with a slice of pie and some vanilla ice cream. They started talking and Collins told them about his life back in Scarsdale.

Slowly the sun began to set and Angel offered to walk Collins back. Collins was sorry to see the evening end. It was the most fun he had in weeks.

His ankle felt a lot better after having peas melt all over it. Angel and his family insisted that Angel go with him just to make sure he made it back in one piece. As he neared his cabin, Collins saw his dad pacing back and forth in the window as he looked out to see if Collins was coming home yet. When his dad did see him, his dad's face, full of worry, was replaced with anger. Collins could feel the lecture coming on about how his attitude was an embarrassment. Angel got Collins to the front door smiled at him and told Collins he would see him around. Collins certainly hoped so as he entered the cabin waiting for his dad's outburst.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I got lost on my way back to the cabin and twisted my ankle."

"Next time we go to some social function, you are staying there and no more talking to your new friend."

That was unexpected. How many times had his dad encouraged him to make friends? Angel was nice, as was his family. Probably not influential, but Collins enjoyed their company.

"Why not?"

"You are not to hang out with those people, period. Do I make myself clear?"

Collins was frustrated. He wanted to see Angel again. He turned his back on his dad's rant about what was expected of him. He went into his room and pulled a chair against the door, locking himself in. He pulled the sheets that were acting as curtains across the windows so that he could have some privacy. His mom tried to come in, so she could talk to him and check on his ankle, but Collins said he was okay and wanted to be alone. He stretched out on his bed, trying to read, but he was distracted by his memories. He just couldn't stop thinking about Angel. He definitely had to see him again.

A/N: Don't worry people. More chapters to come.