Disclaimer: I don't own Rent of any of the orginal characters in the story
Angel meets April
Angel looked at her school schedule. Her first class was philosophy.
Just then a young girl, about her own age bumped into her.
"Hello"
"Hi"
"I'm April," the girl said
"Angel"
"Nice to meet you."
"Thanks. Do you know where I could find room 8.
"Philosophy huh?"
"Yes"
"We'll I'm in the class with you. How about I walk you there"
"Thanks. That's really nice of you"
April laughed.
"Is this your first year?"
Angel nodded.
"I'm a sophomore but I am still taking a couple of freshmen classes because I failed the first time"
"Why"
"My boyfriend died and I went through a long depression"
"That had to have been so hard"
"It was"
"I lost my little brother," Angel told April, "last year"
"What happened"
"He was hit by a carriage"
"How old was he"
"He was 6"
"You must miss him a lot"
"I do," Angel answered, "but I know he's with the creator now and that makes me feel better"
Just then they passed room eight.
"Here we are," April said.
Introduction and debate
An African American man was at the desk. He smiled friendly.
"You must be..."
"Angel"
"April"
"Collins," the teacher said, "Go take a seat and the rest of the class should be filling in soon"
Roger, Mimi, Benny, Steve, Joanne and Mauereen and Gordan came into the classroom.
"Hello," the teacher said warmly, "my name is Thomas Collins and welcome to Philosophy 101. To begin with why don't we all go around and introduce ourselves. Tell us a little something about yourself and then I will explain what this class is all about and the rules of this class and everything else. We'll get down to the fun stuff the next time."
Everyone laughed.
"So why don't we start with you," Collins suggested as he smiled warmly at Angel.
"Sure," Angel said, "my name is Angel. I know that's a strange name but my parents named me Angel because according to my mother an angel saved her life when she was having me. She almost died. I have 3 younger brothers. I'm the only girl in the family. My youngest brother is five. I lost my forth younger brother in a carriage accident over the summer. He was hit by a car. My mom is now pregnant with daughter number two. I am very much into music and drumming. I just moved here last month but I already have two friends so far and hopefully a lot more. Thank you"
Collins knew it was wrong but he found himself mesmerized with this student. She's beautiful, he thought to himself.
"Thank you Angel," Collins said with a smile, "why don't you take a seat"
They went through the rest of the introductions fairly quickly.
"Mr. Collins?"
"Just Collins Angel," he said gently, "we're all friends here"
"Okay Collins why don't you tell us something about yourself too"
Instinctively Collins glanced around the room. The he smiled. "Sure," he said, "my name is Thomas Bryan Collins but my friends call me Collins. I've been teaching for under a year now, just out of graduate school so I'm probably only about 2 or 3 years older then you guys. I skipped a few grades during my school years. I understand you guys very well since if I hadn't skipped the grades I'd have been a senior in high school now."
"How much did you skip"
"All of middle school and went straight to my senior year then started collage."
Angel gave a low whistle.
"Impressive," she said.
"Thanks"
He gave her a smile.
"Now this is Philosophy 101," he began, "But unlike you may have heard, it isn't boring. We are actually going to be discussing moral topics. Things such as abortion, adultery, capital punishment-"
"Is that like the paddle," Roger asked and everyone laughed except for Collins.
"What did I say," Roger asked confused.
"Nothing," Collins told him gently, "it's just a little mixup. The paddle is CORPORAL punishment. Capital punishment means putting someone to death, usually by means of either the sword of the guillotine"
"When I can tell you what I think of corporal punishment. I think it sucks and it's unnecessary"
Everyone laughed. This time Collins laughed too.
"I agree with you that it suck," he acknowledged, "but do you think it is ALWAYS unnecessary"
"Yes"
"As much as I hate it," Roger said, "I think it is at times necessary"
"It looks like we have a debate going," Collins smiled, "tell me Roger when do you feel it's necessary"
"Only in times where someone is injuring another person"
"That to me," Angel interrupted, "seems a bit hypocritical."
"How so," Collins asked curiously
"Because if you hurt someone and then I hurt you for hurting that someone that's teaching a fucked up lesson"
That elicited hysterical laughter from the class, Collins included.
"I have to agree with Angel," April said.
"Okay," Collins nodded, "what about in a case where someone does something to endanger another person"
"In that case," Roger said, "I think it's appropriate"
"I disagree. There are many ways to correct misdeeds like that other then using the paddle"
"Angel's right," Mimi said, "besides that would just make the person more bitter and that wouldn't be effective at all"
Collins nodded.
"It appears we have reached an impasses. Get out your quills and ink and paper and I want you all to write an essay on why you agree or disagree with this. The best essay will earn ten extra credit points on the next test"
Everyone did what Collins told them to do.
"Thank you everyone. I'll let you know who won tomorrow."
Just then the bell rang.
Everyone left. Well almost everyone. Angel stayed behind.
"Hey," Collins said, "I was very impressed with your arguments"
"Thanks"
"I happened to have agreed with it. I couldn't say so of course though since I'm supposed to have a neutral"
Angel laughed
"By the way," Collins said, "you won with the essay"
"Thanks," Angel said, "but how do you know. You haven't even read any essays yet"
Collins nodded.
"Call it a hunch," he said.
Angel looked at her schedule. "I don't have another class till next period," she said, "so I guess I'll go to the library"
"Would you like to go for a walk," he asked her
"What?"
"A walk. You know when you put one foot in front of the other and well... walk"
Angel laughed
"With you?"
"Yeah"
Angel smiled
"I'll love to"
They walked to a local park.
The start of forbidden love
"How have you been holding up since the summer," Collins asked her
"Not so good. I really miss my brother"
Without even realizing he was doing so, Collins put his arm around Angel's shoulder.
"That must be hard. I lost my sister the same way"
"She was run over by a carriage?"
"Ten years ago. I was only eight"
Angel and Collins looked into each others eyes.
"How old was she"
"Going on fourteen"
What happened next neither Angel nor Collins could say. Soon they were kissing.
"Wow"
"Yeah"
"Did that just happen?"
"I don't know. Let's find out"
Collins leaned in and kissed her again.
She kissed him back.
"Hey Angel," he said stroking her check
"Yeah... Collins"
"We can't tell anyone about this you know"
"That's okay," she said, "forbidden love is so exciting"