Disclaimer: I don't own, I RENT.
A/N: Next chapter, here goes. –starts humming I Should Tell You-
Collins jerked awake as the plane thudded back onto the ground. He lifted the window cover and looked out, seeing the trees rushing by outside. The plane slowed gradually, finally coming to the slow crawl that would ultimately take them to the gate.
He turned to Angel, napping peacefully on his shoulder. Planting a gentle kiss on top of her head, he murmured, "Angelcake, wake up. We're here."
"Whuzzat?" Angel muttered, slowly sitting up and looking around blearily. "Oh… we're here…" She said around a huge yawn and stretch. For the plane ride, she'd donned more simple clothing; a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and her old, comfortable sneakers. As the post-flight announcement started, she leaned her head on Collins's shoulder again and snuggled into him, ignoring the weird looks they were getting from the man across the aisle.
Collins smiled and put his arm around her, thinking about how her quiet sleepiness was very different from when they'd gotten on the plane. She'd been bouncing around everywhere, gazing out the window in fascination. It was the first time she'd flown, after all. But soon enough she'd dozed off, and hadn't woken up until now.
He put his hand over his stomach, which was rumbling loudly. They hadn't had much time for breakfast that morning, and it was almost noon back home, though it was only eleven here. We'll have to get some food on the way out, he decided, rubbing Angel's shoulder gently and resting his chin on her head.
She snuggled into his embrace, sighing softly. They remained in this position until a loud ding rang through the cabin, and the little seatbelt icon flickered off. Then Angel pulled her brown bag from under the seat while Collins retrieved his backpack from the overhead bin.
Once they'd finally gotten out of the plane, the two claimed their baggage, got some lunch, and headed down to car rentals. It was an hour's drive from the airport to the town where the conference was; luckily NYU had provided enough money for Collins to rent a car for a couple of weeks. Less luckily, the clerk seemed to have a personal vendetta against the world. As a result, it took the professor over an hour to get the car, at which point he and Angel got out of there quickly before the guy could come up with another reason to hold them up.
Collins shoved the luggage into the trunk and collapsed into the driver's seat with a sigh. Angel hopped in on the passenger side, looking at her lover with concern. "Are you alright, honey?"
He nodded slowly, rubbing his temples. "I'm just tired. I wanted to punch that clerk so badly…"
Angel nodded sympathetically and leaned over to hug him. "I know, honey. Hey, I know something that'll make you feel better!"
When Collins turned to face her, she kissed him passionately, pressing herself up against him. His arms slipped around behind her back, pulling her in towards him and deepening the kiss. After a few minutes, she murmured against his lips, "So, feeling better?"
"You know what, I am." Collins kissed her again, a shorter one this time. "Thanks, Angelcake."
He turned to the wheel, gripping it and shifting his hands around a little until he found a comfortable position. "It's been a while since I've driven…"
Angel dove for her seat belt.
An hour later, they passed a sign that proclaimed, "Welcome to Apgun!" (the town they're going to). Despite his lack of practice, the drive down had been completely uneventful. Unless you count Collins flipping off three drivers, but that wasn't really very exciting.
Collins wove through the streets, amazed at the small size of the place after spending so much time in NYC. He pulled up in front of the Holiday Inn, where he'd been told their room would be.
He parked off to one side of the doors in the almost-empty parking lot and hopped out. Angel did the same from her side of the car, strangely quiet as she surveyed the scenery. Collins grabbed their bags out of the trunk and slung them all over his shoulders, leaving only her knapsack for Angel to carry, and this only because his hands were entirely full. Angel hated to dump all their bags on him, but she knew he'd insist on carrying them even if she asked.
They walked into the inn and up to the counter, where a bored looking teenage girl was obnoxiously chewing gum and examining her nails. As they came up, her eyes flickered up to them without her head moving, and her face took on an annoyed expression.
"Name?"
"Um… Tom Collins," he answered, shifting the strap of one of their bags on his shoulder.
"Room 315," she tossed a key at him, which he was forced to catch in his teeth before Angel took it gently, slipping an arm around Collins's waist surreptitiously.
The girl slapped a piece of paper on the counter and pointed to a line. "Sign there please. You'll be expected to pay before leaving, blah-de-blah." Since Collins didn't have a free hand, Angel leaned forwards and signed it instead. The girl snatched it up and stuck it in a drawer, then went back to picking dirt from under her nails.
Angel and Collins exchanged a glance, then turned and headed to the elevator without another word to the receptionist. As soon as the door had closed behind them, Angel commented matter-of-factly, "Well/someone's/ got their panties tied in a wad."
For some reason, this made Collins break out into hysterical laughter. Angel couldn't help but laugh too. As their laughs trailed off, leaving big grins behind, Angel wrapped her arms around Collins's waist and hugged him around all the baggage. "I love you, honey."
Collins nuzzled the top of her head, which was all he could do since his hands were full. "I love you too, Angelcake."
They walked down the hall to their room like they were attached at the hip, stepping in perfect unison (they'd had a lot of practice). Angel unlocked the door quickly, letting Collins go in first and then shutting the door behind them.
Collins went to set the bags down off to one side, while, in a spurt of hyper energy, Angel ran over and leapt onto the bed. She bounced a couple of times on her feet, then fell onto her rear and bounced for another moment, giggling like mad.
Her lover came over and plopped down next to her, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her close in for a passionate kiss. They scooted up on the bed, laying down on the pillows without ever parting their lips from one another.
When they finally broke for air, Angel reluctantly pulled away. "Aw, honey, I gotta get changed so we can go meet the others." She smiled and pinky-waved at him playfully, then bounded over to her suitcase.
After a moment of digging, she unearthed her floral skirt outfit, though instead of the customary green/orange/yellow sweater, she had a tight-fitting t-shirt of the same color green with some mesmerizing, swirling patterns on the front. Grabbing her wig and makeup bag, she trotted into the bathroom to get ready.
Collins leaned his back against the headboard of the bed, taking the remote and flicking through the channels, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling rising in his chest. How bad could it be? he wondered, after all, my Angel's here with me.
Little did he know how bad it would be…
Ooooohhh, cliffy! I gotta quit for now, though, since I have hw to do. Hope you liked it!