Hi all! I'm back. Still don't own them. Collins has taken up residence in the dark recesses of my mind because he misses his Angel. He's helping me pass algebra.
Ripped Apart
Benny's Range Rover was parked outside Angel's building. Lily tearfully embraced Mimi, who had turned up to say goodbye.
"I was just starting to get to know you," Mimi smiled. "Will you be back?"
"God, I hope so. Anyway, it's been good knowing you. If you see Jake or any of them, tell them I'll see them in Hell."
Mimi walked away and she turned to face Collins. At first, they weren't sure how to say goodbye. They'd only known each other for a few days, so a kiss was unnecessary but a simple 'goodbye' was too little.
Collins flashed her that brilliant smile.
"Get into these arms, ya little punk!" he teased.
She hugged him. His skin smelled like earth.
I think in an alternate universe Collins was my father, Lily thought happily.
"Lillian," her mother ordered, tapping her watch suggestively. Lily made a hand gesture at her. She would go with them but only because Angel wanted her to.
At last it was time for Angel and Lily to say their goodbyes. She began to cry and he was already hysterical. They embraced and hugged so tightly it seemed they might never let go.
"I can't do this," she whispered. "If I do, I'll never see you again."
"I promise it won't be like that this time!" he told her firmly. "I'll write you every week and you can call me any time."
"I love you so much, Angel. Promise you won't forget me."
"Never, honey. You don't need to worry about that."
"Make sure Collins takes good care of you."
He chuckled. She rested her head on his shoulder and he rubbed her back with his palm, just like he used to when she was little.
"Lillian! We have to go now!" her father called.
She didn't want to leave him, but for some reason her feet obeyed. She cast one more despairing look at Angel and got into Benny's car. Her mother gave him a dirty look as she got into the front seat beside the landlord. As they pulled away, Lily breathed on the window. In the mist she'd left, she used her finger to draw the words ANGEL + LILY 4 EVER. As the car disappeared Angel felt as though someone had ripped his heart out and squashed it. Collins walked over and silently put his arm around the transvestite. They did not speak, for Angel was too devastated to utter a sound and he could think of no words that might comfort him.
"Do you think I did the right thing?" he asked at last. "I didn't realize she was so miserable."
The philosopher sighed.
"Listen, babe, they're her parents. They're assholes and they're bigots, but they're her parents. Letting her stay would've been illegal. I think that as long as she knows you love her she'll be okay."
Angel nodded. He suddenly felt very tired.
"I hope so," he whispered.
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And so, life went back to normal for Lily. She moved back into her big lonely house and went back to her stuck-up prep school. The news about her unsuccessful escape to New York spread through the neighborhood like wildfire, and everyone had their own opinion about it. Her teachers looked upon her with a mixture of fear and disgust. They flinched every time she raised her hand or they had to take an assignment from her. Her peers made her the new designated joke. Girls would walk up to her at lunch and strike sensual poses trying to get her aroused, or stayed away from her because they thought Lily might do things to them. (She wasn't exactly sure what they thought it was she did.) It didn't bother her much because she'd never had friends anyway. But she could've done without the taunts and whispering. Things were tough and the only thing that kept her from stepping in front of a bus was the letter that arrived every week like clockwork. In writing back to Angel, Lily poured out her heart. He would write back giving her tender advice and assurance that everything would be all right. This contact with him was her salvation.
The letters arrived faithfully for a few months, then the interval between them became longer. This worried her. Finally, she almost died when an entire month went by without a letter or a call. What was keeping Angel? Was it her parents? No, they were too scared of her to interfere. Then what the hell was it?
***************************
The room was spinning worse than it ever had before. Angel's head was scorching but his body was frozen. Violent shivers overwhelmed him and he crumpled into a fetal position on the couch. He heard his friends' echoing voices saying something about an ambulance. They sounded so far away and he felt small and alone. He wrapped his arms around himself and rocked back and forth, shutting his eyes. Suddenly he leaned over and puked onto the floor. He started crying.
Suddenly, good strong arms hugged him close.
"It's okay, honey," Collins whispered. "The ambulance will be here soon. Calm down, baby."
Angel could no longer fight the blackness. Safe in his lover's arms, he slipped into unconsciousness.
OBC cast member clones will be awarded to reviewers. State who you'd like in the review.
