Disclaimer: I don't own Rent. In this story Angel is a girl. This is told from Collin's point of view only

"You okay honey"

I look up to see a young woman staring at me. Her tone was gentle. Her eyes were kind. I felt my stomach drop. I had never felt this way before. Not about a woman anyway.

"I'm afraid so," I reply.

"Did they get any money," she asked gently kneeling down to see the damage the guys had done.

I sighed partly from confusion and partly from this terrible day. I'm supposed to be gay. How can I be falling in love with this female person when I am a male?

"No," I said, "They had none to get. But they took my coat; WELL YOU MISSED A SLEEVE," I yelled angrily.

She gently put her hand on my arm. Then she took off her own jacket and offered it to me. I couldn't believe it. Here it was in the freezing cold weather. This woman was actually taking off her own jacket to give it to me.

"Thanks," I said guilty taking the jacket.

I would never have accepted it but my immunity was very low.

"Hell it's Christmas eve," she said smiling at me.

I know Christmas is actually a pagan holiday made up by the Greeks. That's what my father taught me anyway. But there is something I love about it. I love the way people turn kind and loving during that time of year. But this girl... it seemed to me like she was kind and loving all year long.

"I'm Angel," she said.

Angel? It seems to be a fitting name for her.

"Angel indeed," I said, "An angel of the first degree."

I stuck out my hand.

"Friends call me Collins," I said, "Tom Collins."

"Can I call you Collins," she asked.

Nothing would give me greater pleasure.

"Lets get a bandage for your knee," she said looking at the bloody mess on my knee, "I'll change. There's a life support meeting at nine thirty. Yes this body provides a comfortable home for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome."

"So does mine," I said.

"Great. We'll get along fine. Get you a coat grab a bite have a night I'm flushed," she said.

I got a little nervous.

"But my friends are waiting," I told her.

"You're cute when you blush," she said, "Look the more the merrier ho ho ho. And I don't accept no"

Gently she tapped my nose and gave me a kiss. I followed her. It was the start of a very new and very welcomed relationship for me even though I was not dating... a woman.