Did she WANT to smack me? How am I supposed to answer that question with all this on my mind right now. Angel questions her feministic features at the wrong time. She looked into my eyes with that determined look. Jesus, she was serious. She really wanted me to answer that. All right Tom…just weigh out the answers, and keep cool. To stall my answer, I gave her a fake smile, and kissed her cheek sweetly.
"Angel, what should it matter? You're beautiful, man or woman. I love you so much, and you do look like a woman, but just enough of a man so I'll remember what I'm doing with such a sweet little lady." I told her as best I could, and she lit up. My life just flashed before my eyes, and my heart stopped for a second. I just said the perfect thing. YES! She squealed, and wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed my cheek a few times. Then she kissed my other cheek a few times, and then one of the lips. I wrapped my arms around her waist, and chuckled lightly. Oh my Angel, what I'd do everyday to see you this happy.
"Oh Collins!" I heard her squeal, and I just grinned a goofy grin. "That's so sweet. I love you so much baby." She said happily, and gave my cheek one last kiss that probably took off all her lipstick.
"I love you too honey." I told her softly, and kissed her temple softly. "Can we go now?" I asked her, and chuckled lightly. She gave me a funny 'oh shut up' kind of smirk, and hit my arm.
"Fine…" She said, and took my hand as we began to walk down the street to the train. "I'm really glad you're coming to see them Collins." She told me after a while of silence between us.
"Well, I'm happy to be there for them. The last thing I want is for them to hesitate asking for help, especially from us. If anyone should understand…"
"I know honey, I know." Angel said, cutting me off. I wasn't surprised that she did. Although she was completely open to the subject, she didn't want to worry about the disease we both shared with Roger and Mimi. The disease that would separate the family one-day. It wasn't anything we, or anyone else, wanted to think on. No day but today, that's how my Angel rolled. I loved her for it, so she was right. She looked up at me, and smiled sweetly, but it wasn't anything too big. I gave her hand a squeeze as we made our way down the stairs to the train. "I don't usually use the train." Angel told me. She was good at starting conversation, and sometimes I wish I could visit her mind to see what was going on in there, but at the same time, and for the same reason, I didn't want to take that risk.
"But, I use it so much, it makes up for that." I told her, and sat down, and she took a seat next to me. "Besides, walking is good for you, and by your figure, you prove it." I said, and gave myself a pat on the back for slipping in a compliment for her. She looked at me and blushed, giving me a shy smile. She was so sweet and warm, which made it even better when she cuddled up to me, and I wrapped my arm around her. I kissed her little nose, and she looked up at me, and kissed me sweetly. Needless to say I kissed her back, and held her close. So, here we were…making out on a train. Lovely, thank you my Angel for making this situation seem so trivial. This absolute madness that will make the next year or so a living hell was made forgotten by my love.
Slowly I let go of our kiss so I could look into his eyes. They stayed closed for a second or two, but when he opened them, my heart fluttered. They were warm and full of love. He lowered his face to mine, but not for another kiss, just to lean his forehead on mine. His forehead was hot, I noticed, and I looked at him concerned, and withdrew my hand to put it on his forehead.
"Sweetie, you're warm." I told him softly. I couldn't bare the thought of him being sick. "Do you feel ill?" I asked him, looking into his eyes.
"I feel fine Angel, you're probably just cold." He said, and looked down at my outfit. All right, fine, it was a little skimpy for October, but hey, I had to look my best infront of all those college kids. "Here, wear this to warm you up." He said, and took his coat off, and wrapped it around me. He was such a sweetie, he really was. And he called me the selfless one.
"Thanks, but all I needed was a big strong arm of yours." I told him, and snuggled up to him. Yeah, he was very, very warm. I was right, but I guess he was right about me being cold. I heard and felt him chuckle, and he wrapped an arm around me.
"You know it's not that long to the loft from here, right?" He asked me, and I just gave a small coo, I was too comfy to say anything. I didn't want to move an inch. He gave another light chuckle. "Well, I am not carrying you, I hope you know." At this, I did move. I looked up at him and pouted.
"Why not?" I asked him, and tried my best to give him my best pouting face.
"I'm too old for that, that's why." Collins said, and I snorted, rolling my eyes.
"Umm...trust me, you're not at the age where you can't commit to rough physical labor." I told him softly and seductively. I sat up, and crawled into his lap, and looked into his eyes. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"I'm still not carrying you to the loft baby." He told me flatly. I gave him another pout.
"Fine." I said, and sat back in my own seat and held his coat closer to myself. "You're not getting this back then." I told him, and he shook his head. I looked over at him, and gave him another pout, and he sighed, but before he could say anything the train stopped, and he grabbed his bag, and stood up. He looked at me, and helped me up. What a gentleman.
"Angel, darling, I'd do anything for you…I'm just tired." He told me, and I shook my head.
"I know, come on, you old man." I told him, and took his hand, walking us both out of the station to the tent city ahead of us. "You want to stop at home first or anything?" I asked him, knowing that he might be a bit uncomfortable right now. I had already seen Mimi this morning about it. I haven't seen Roger, though he's not the one I'm completely worried about.
"No, I'll be fine sweetie." He told me, and walked up to the building and inside we went, up the three flights of stairs to Roger and Mark's loft. I figured we could now just call it Mark's loft, since Roger would want to spend all of his free time with Mimi. Damn that boy needed someone to love. He was going to be all alone in that big apartment. Maybe that could be just more of an excuse to come and visit him. I giggled lightly, and we reached the door to their loft. I breathed out, hoping no one else was there. This situation was too private and serious to have everyone around. Collins knocked on the door, and I stood close to him. I heard footsteps, and the door opened. Roger stood at the door, and looked at the both of us. He gave us a faint smile.
"Hey guys…come on in." He said hesitantly, and took a few steps back, and when we were in, I heard the door shut. Collins put his bag down, and walked over to the couch. I let go of his hand, and turned to face Roger. He looked at me, and was a bit shocked at my appearance, wearing my lover's leather trench coat. I agree with Roger's expression. This didn't go with my outfit at all, but that wasn't the point. "Cold?" He asked me, and I just shook my head, and hugged him. I hugged his tightly, and kissed his head.
"Oh Roger baby…" I muttered softly, and he gave into the hug. It always took Roger a while to give into a hug, especially one with me, but I knew why it took him no time to give in to this. He needed it. I felt his breathing pick up drastically, and he leaned his head on my shoulder.
"God…" He mumbled into my wig softly, and sniffed in. He was crying. Oh Roger, he didn't mean for this to happen. "Oh…God Angel…I'm sorry…"
"Shh…" I said, and pat his hair. "Shh…Roger, it's okay, don't be sorry." I told him softly. I didn't even want Collins to hear. This was Roger's moment to feel, not mine, not Collins's. "I'm here for you. Just cry sweetie, everything will be just fine, you'll see." I told him softly. He simply nodded and continued huffing cries into my shoulder. "Are you alone?" I asked him. He shook his head. "Is Mark here?" He shook his head. "Is Mimi here?" I asked him. He shook his head again. "Who is here then?" I asked him, and he looked up at me. I've never seen him so torn up. His eyes were red and swollen from crying, something I know he needed. There was a knock on the wall, and I turned towards the direction of the bathroom, seeing who was here with Roger. It was Benny. He didn't have the usual Benny expressions. He looked very serious, but not businessman kind of serious. Collins saw him, and stood up. Roger let go of me, and walked to the couch were Collins was. He was obviously embarrassed to be seen crying, but I walked over to Roger, and sat next to him. Collins would see what was going on.
As Angel sat down next to Roger I walked over to Benny. What was he doing here, out of all people? Where was Mimi? Benny and Roger, in the same room? Those two hated each other, considering Roger couldn't go a day without accusing Mimi of sleeping with Benny-Oh God. No, that can't be. No, that's not right. Benny couldn't have. If Benny did, Benny would have…no. No, this isn't right. The man I had been staring at had caught my expression.
"No, it's not mine." He said, able to read my expressions like a manual. "But that is why I'm here, and so that I could…help in any way possible." He said, as if it hurt him to say it all. I had to have heart for my former friend. He had loved Mimi a lot. I guess this was a bit weird for him.
"Good to see you." That was all I could muster. It was nice to see Benny without an eviction notice hanging near him. "I just got the news about an hour ago. Angel came down and picked me up, where's Mimi?" I asked him curiously.
"At Maureen's. She should be over soon though." Benny explained, and I made a face of horror, which made Benny give me a small smile. "Without Maureen, don't worry." I smirked. I loved the girl…but she wasn't the best person to have around when you're talking about such a sensitive subject. "Do you guys want anything to drink?" He asked, and walked over to the fridge. I shook me head.
"No, I'm fine, what about you Angel?" I asked, and looked at her. She had her arms wrapped around a very emotionally panged Roger. She looked up at me, and nodded. Benny saw her and we both knew it wasn't for her. She was going to make Roger drink it. Benny took a glass from the cabinet and poured water into it. He walked over to Angel and handed it to her. Angel let go of Roger, and took the glass.
"Now drink this sweetie." She told him, and he took it reluctantly. He knew fighting with my Angel would never work out, so he did as he was told.
"Thanks." He said hoarsely. He placed the glass down on the table, and laid back on the couch, and Angel stood up to give him room to lie down. She walked over to me, and took my hand, looking at Benny. Those two never really formed a concrete relationship. They didn't really talk to each other. Don't get me wrong though, they didn't hate each other, they just never had an excuse to be friendly. Benny gave her a friendly smile, and she returned it. He said nothing about her appearance, and she said nothing about his mentality. It kind of irked me, but I wasn't about to complain.
"Nice to see you both here." Benny said, and smiled. "You didn't want anything Angel?" He offered again. Angel shook her head lightly.
"No thank you, but I do need to use the bathroom, I'll be right back." She said, and walked down out of sight to the bathroom. I watched her leave, and sigh.
"Whoops…" Benny muttered, and walked over to the couch where Roger sat. I looked at him confused.
"What?" I asked him, wondering what he had done. I thought he handled it all very well. He looked at me, and gave me a very Benny kind of face.
"You know what." He said and sighed. "Will I ever grow on him?" He asked me, and it took me a second to get it. I had to shake my head and sigh as I sat down to try and explain this to him.
"Benny, Angel doesn't hate you for the last time. I swear, one of these days, I'm just going to put you two in a room alone together for three hours." I told him, and smirked. He chuckled.
"Umm…three hours alone with him? No offense, but I don't think I have the energy for that kind of thing." Benny told me, and looked at my face. He looked like his old self, before this whole tenant-landlord thing happened. I was glad.
"You'd love her, give it a try." I told him, and smiled, and he just made a face.
"Yeah, but would he like me?" Benny asked, and laid back. I shrugged.
"I'll tell you a little secret about my Angel, she can't NOT like anyone." I told him, and grinned happily. "She's wonderful, you two should really hang out sometime when I'm at work or something."
"Yes, Alison will be happy to hear that. I can picture it now, me telling her that I'm about to hang out with my best friend's boyfriend, who dresses like a woman. Yeah…that'll turn out fine." Benny said, and stopped at the sound out high heels meeting the wooden and creaky floor. We turned to see a refreshed looking Angel walking back to us. I held out my arms for her, and she smiled, sitting down in my lap, giving me a sweet kiss. She looked at Benny, and smiled lightly, and then to Roger, who was asleep now. Not a moment went by before the door to the loft opened. All three of us motioned our heads in the direction of the door. It was Mimi. She didn't look any different, just a bit off. That was to be expected. For some reason, I was awaiting a very shrill, bony, pale Mimi with a large inflated stomach. Gay men aren't that in tune with pregnancy to have the common sense that that doesn't happen very quickly. Angel, however, didn't seem to care that Mimi looked perfectly normal. She let go of me, immediately stood up, and walked over to her friend. Mimi held her arms out for Angel, who stood a good foot above her. Angel squeezed her tight, and kissed her cheek. I stood up and looked at Mimi, and she saw me.
"Oh, Collins!" She said, and smiled, running over to me, and gave me a hug. I, standing a foot above Angel, even with her heels, stood well over two to Mimi. I hugged her back, at my defense at being toppled over by a hysterical little girl. I kissed the top of her head, the wild hair of hers. She sniffed, and looked up at me. "Thanks for coming." She told me.
I looked at the two of them, and figured I was the luckiest…person on earth to have them both so close to me, and so close to each other.