Here's chapter three. Just to clear a few things up from the previous chapter, the apartment building that Angel walks into and gets a room is actually a hotel, I typed apartment by accident. Sorry about that.
There isn't any Angel in this chapter but there is a flashback, this is mainly a Claire chapter since she wont be in this story until later on.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except Claire. The rest belong to the beloved Jonathan Larson, the brilliant mind behind RENT! This story is mine, so please do not steal it and make it your own.

Claire woke up seeing that Angels door was still closed, she decided not to disturb him.
She crept to the kitchen and trying not to make to much noise started to make eggs and coffee.
Claire went to the living room to start cleaning up, Claire wanted Angel to feel comfortable here, to feel welcome.
Claire noticed a piece of paper addressed to her in Angels writing, Claire unfolded the paper and began to read.

After Claire read the whole letter a few times, Claire sat down on the couch.

"Oh Angel. I'm sorry." She whispered

Claire ate her eggs silently and quickly got dressed, she walked the five blocks to the high school, looking at every person she passed to see if it was Angel.
Claire walked to her first class and looked beside her at the empty desk that would never again sit her friend.

"Hey Claire, where's your faggot friend….ANGEL?"

Claire looked behind her and saw Jonathan smiling to himself.
Claire hated the way Jonathan and his gang used to tease Angel about his name. They always said his name with hatred and contempt.

"Fuck you Jonathan." Claire said

"Well if you want to, sure, your not that bad looking." Jonathan said to Claire smiling.

Claire ignored Jonathans remark and tried to make it through the day. After school Claire planned on going to look for Angel.

An Hour Later

After first class Claire walked to her locker, there attatched to the inside was the polariod of her and Angel on Angel's seventeenth birthday, only five months before. that's when Angel told Claire he was gay. Claire could remember the day well.

Flashback

Claire lounged on the bed, she starred around Angels room. It was painted blue and had pictures of sports and famous baseball players.
Claire looked at her friend, lying on the bed beside her. His eyes were closed and he looked gorgeous she thought. He looked very masculine with his arms behind his head, his muscles clearly visible through the shirt he was wearing.

Angel wasn't exactly Arnold Schwartzenager but he had muscle and Claire was attracted to men with the least bit of muscle. Not that she was attracted to Angel, for some reason Angel was the only guy friend Claire hadn't had a crush on, maybe it was the fact that they both considered each other more like siblings than friends.

"Tired birthday boy?" Claire asked giggling as Angel yawned

Angel nodded his head, his eyes still shut.

Claire watched Angel, he had seemed calm all through the party. Claire and a few other friends from a previous school that Angel had attended were there. But then as the guest began to leave, Angel had this weird look on his face, like he was concentrating on something to hard.

"What's wrong with you" Claire asked "You seem very out of it."

"I need to tell you something." Angel said "Something I haven't told anyone, at least not yet."

Claire looked down at her tired friend, worried.

"What is it?"

"I'm gay." Angel said

Claire was a little surprised, if you looked at Angels room you wouldn't be able to tell that he was gay. But as Claire began to put together some of the pieces she could see that he was gay.

"Really?" She asked just to be sure he wasn't kidding

"Yeah. I've known for a few years now." He said, this time he opened his eyes.

Claire didn't know what to say, what do you say to someone who just confessed a deep secret.

"Oh but please don't tell anyone. Not that I care if they find out or not, I just don't want my parents to find out. At least not until I tell them." Angel said sitting up

Claire looked at her friend surprised.

"Why would I tell anybody, have I told any of your secrets?" Claire asked

Angel shook his head. "I suppose not, but I'm just scared of what my dad will do when I tell him. I mean all this." He pointed to his walls and the sports memorabilia "that's all for him. I hate sports, I hate being a man, I just want to be myself."

"And I love yourself, your true self. and I'm sure your dad will understand." Claire said

Angel and Claire hugged, Claire kissed Angel on the cheek. when they pulled apart Claire had a mischevious grin on her face.

"What?" Angel asked

"Do you have a crush on anyone?" Claire asked giggling.

"Miss McGomery."

Claire turned around to come face to face with Mr. White the principal.

"Yes, Mr.White?"

"Could you follow me please?" The Principal turned around and started walking to his office, Claire followed.

Once they were both in Mr. White's office and Mr. White sitting behind his desk, Mr. White looked at Claire.

"Miss. McGomery, do you know where Mr. Schunard would be today?"

Claire shook her head "Sorry sir I don't."

Claire wouldn't tell anyone where Angel was, even if she did know.

"Are you sure?" Mr. White asked not convinced

"Yes, sir. I'm very certain!"

Mr. White looked at Claire

"Do you know any reason why Mr. Schunard would not show up for school? Do you know of any problems that Mr. Schunard might be having, at home or at school?"

Claire looked at the Principal. No way was Claire going to tell the Principal that Angel Dumott Schunard was gay. The news would travel around the school, and if Angel showed up at school Claire didn't want him to hear the rumors.

"No problems that I know of. And Angel usually tells me everything that's happening in his life. and about the whole school thing, Angel isn't like this, he usually doesn't miss school. I'm as worried about it as you are sir."

what she just said wasn't a lie. She was worrying about Angel. Claire didn't want to picture her drag queen best friend on the streets of New York City alone.
The thought frightened her, who knew where Angel was. He could be laying in the gutter with his skirt around his ankles, hurt or worse….
Claire closed her eyes, trying desperately not to think about that.

"Well if you hear anything, please inform us right away." Mr. White said

"Ok I will." Claire said and got up and walked out of the office and to her next class.

Claire stepped out of the school and ran to her apartment. hoping that Angel had phoned her, telling her that he was ok.

But as Claire reached her answering machine and pressed the 'play' button the womans voice came over.

"No, New messages."

Claire fell onto her couch.

"Oh Angel where are you?" She said out loud