Sorry! This one's going to be a bit sad. Keep the reviews coming! XD
Disclaimer: Rent is the brilliant work of the late Jonathan Larson. Dude, if you're reading this, you rock. XD
(Narrator's POV)
Collins and Angel's Apartment: December 24, 1990, 9 am, Eastern Standard Time
"Does this make me look fat?"
"Baby, don't ask me that," Collins replied, checking some papers.
Angel twirled around in her new skirt, we she had fashioned out of an old table cloth. It was pink with laces at the ends, and she had sewed on some sliver shiny stars.
"Why not?" Angel asked, pulling on some blue and white stripped stockings.
"You know I'll always tell you that you look great."
"That's why I always ask you!" Angel laughed, Collins joined in.
"Did you call the others about tonight yet?" Collins asked, placing a big fat F on one student's paper. Collins would not tolerate people who made fun of people with HIV like this kid obviously did through his essay. The paper was titled: "Why HIV positive victims should be excluded from society." (Me: HOW EVIL.)
"I told Meems yesterday, she's telling the others," Angel answered, painting her nails with her favorite blue nail polish.
"Can I invite Benny?" Collins asked, remembering his friend.
"Sure," Angel shrugged. "Why the sudden hospitality?"
"I heard he just had a huge fight with his wife. Even a yuppie scum like him shouldn't spend Christmas alone."
"You have one big heart, Thomas," Angel smiled.
"Colly," Angel cooed, snuggling up beside him. "Are you going to be grading papers all through Christmas break?"
"That's what Christmas break is for teachers," Collins joked, dropping his red pen.
"But it's Christmas Eve…" Angel pouted.
"Mmm… okay," Collins gave in, entrancing his arms around Angel. "What do you want to do?"
Angel deftly rid the table of all papers and pens with one quick motion. She sat on the table and crossed her legs insidiously. Collins eyed his students' papers all over the floor.
"What do you say?" Angel grinned seductively.
Collins leaned in and kissed her. "Okay."
"You want to clean up the papers first, don't you?" Angel teased.
"Yeah," Collins admitted with a comical sigh.
"I'll help you," Angel offered.
"I looovveee you," Collins sang.
"I love you too, Colly!"
Benny's Office, Cyber Arts: 2 pm, Eastern Standard Time
"Sir… I can't let you in!"
"Jesus, he used to be my best friend!" Collins shouted in the secretary's face.
"But you don't have an appointment!" the secretary argued, standing firmly in his path.
"Appointment my ass, woman!" Collins easily pushed her aside and stormed inside Benjamin Coffin the Third's office.
Benny looked up from his work with a start as Collins barged in.
"Why hello, Thomas. Long time no see," Benny greeted sophisticatedly.
"Benjamin," Collins cocked his head back pompously.
"I'm sorry boss, he claims he knows you," the secretary cowered by the door.
"It's fine, Lia, get back to work."
Benny stood up and gestured for a handshake.
"Heyyy Benny," Collins simpered, grabbing his friend in a hug which Benny awkwardly returned by patting his friend's back.
"Sit, please," he said.
"So, why are you here?" Benny inquired. "Having problems dealing with the rent? I can only lend you…"
"Shut up, Benny. Were all doing fine," Collins snapped.
"Oh, my apologies."
"I heard that you and Muffy…"
"Allison."
"Muffy," Collins ignored. "Had a fight."
"Yes," Benny hissed. "What's it to you?"
"For Christ sake's BENNY! What happened to you? I'm being NICE," Collins reprimanded.
"Sorry, sorry," Benny shook his head. "I haven't gotten sleep in days, and Christmas is…"
"Listen, Gelly is going to perform tonight in Drag's Palace," Collins interrupted. "I want you to go."
"Roger and Mark wouldn't want that," Benny said, but one could tell from his eyes that he really wanted to go and be with some friends on Christmas Eve.
"Screw those two," Collins scoffed. "Mark's drowning in self pity and Roger's head is up in the clouds."
"He's using again?" Benny raised an eyebrow.
"No, he's in love." Collins chuckled.
"Okay, I'll go," Benny agreed.
"8 o clock then, yuppie."
Drag's Palace: 8 pm, Eastern Standard Time
"I'm not here, I'm not here," Mark grumbled, keeping his head low as if he didn't want to be seen out.
"You ARE here," Roger snapped, annoyed.
"I can't believe you made me go out," Mark shot Roger a look.
"Funny," Roger stroked his short beard, "That sounded like me three weeks ago."
"I'm convalescing, for heaven's sake!" Mark yelled.
"From what?" Roger declared unbelievably.
"From all that junk!"
"That was WEEKS AGO. Get over it!" Roger yelled back, stretching himself to his tallest height. "It's Christmas Eve, don't ruin it for me."
Mark showed no signs of weakness but backed away nevertheless. He didn't want to pick a fight with Roger, not here at least.
"Hey," someone said.
The two boys turned around and came face to face with their former roommate.
"What are you doing here?" Roger snarled.
"Collins invited me," Benny answered calmly.
"Well you better get your yuppie scum ass out of here before I…"
"Roger!"
The three boys spun around and met the rest of their friends. Everyone was readily dressed in party clothes, prepared to dance the night away. Mark couldn't help glancing over at Maureen and Joanne, though Collins was talking to him, and Roger was most concentrated on Mimi's outfit. He forgot all about Benny and kicking his ass.
"Why don't you wear this every day?" he teased, grabbing his girl friend by the waist.
"Angel said you would say that," Mimi laughed, tenderly kissing Roger.
"Where is the queen?" Roger asked, suddenly noticing that Angel wasn't present.
"Getting ready for her show, of course," Collins replied, hearing Roger's question.
"Benjamin Coffin the Third," Maureen exclaimed, seeing Benny. "The enemy of Avenue A."
"Look guys, I'll just leave if…"
"Be nice, bitches," Collins scolded. "It's Christmas Eve."
Everyone grumbled agreements and reluctantly greeted Benny.
"Hello, I don't believe I know…" Benny walked up to Mimi.
"Back off, scum," Roger growled.
"Rog!" Mimi slapped him on the arm. "I'm Mimi."
She shook Benny's hand and gave Roger a warning look.
"Crap," Maureen said, feeling a rain drop splatter on her forehead.
"We better go in."
So they all followed Collins through a set of double doors, heavily decorated with Christmas lights. A blinking neon sign above their heads read: Drag's Palace. Not much people were around since it was Christmas Eve.
"How's life in a band, Mr. Davis?" Mimi asked, surreptitiously sliding her hand through Roger's brown jacket and around his waist.
"Fine," Roger sighed. "We have some gigs planned this weekend."
"I thought we were going out this weekend?" Mimi asked sadly.
"I'm sorry, baby," Roger frowned.
Mimi kept her head bent, but smiled up at him after a while. "It's okay, I understand."
"I'll have next weekend all for you, okay?" he swore, holding his hand up.
"You better," Mimi teased.
They all sat down in a table especially reserved for them the front center part of the stage. A plaque on top of the table read: Reserved for Angel Dumott Schunard's family. Mimi smiled when she saw what was written.
"How's life at the Life, Meems?" Collins joked.
Mimi laughed and answered, "Great. All you need to do is hold a tray and take orders."
"I just have to wear this lame apron, though," Mimi laughed.
"Aprons turn me on, babe," Roger teased, his hand casually draped over Mimi's chair, and whispering into her ear.
"Really?" Mimi raised a seductive eyebrow.
"Maybe I should wear it more often then," she whispered back.
"We can hear you," Mark grumbled, still not out of his bad mood.
Mimi and Roger paid him no mind. But the others had to agree that it was getting too gross.
Suddenly, the lights of the bar dimmed and people began to cheer. The loudest applause came from the table where Angel's family sat. They watched in splendor as drag queens dressed in shimmering outfits shimmied across the floor in their own dance routines.
A loud voice boomed through the bar, "And now for the star of the show…"
"ANGEL DUMOTT SCHUNARD!"
The red curtains parted to reveal a very splendid-looking Angel seated atop an artificially made Christmas tree. She winked at her "family" before jumping up into her own dance routine.
"You're telling me you can dance like that?" Roger asked Mimi, having to shout over earsplitting music.
"Better! Angel taught me!" Mimi grinned.
Roger nodded his head in impression.
Suddenly, some off stage crew members pushed a set of wreath strung drums on stage, and Angel broke into an awesome drum solo.
"YEAH! GO GELLY!"
Collins whistled and shouted, "GO BABY!"
Then, without warning, there echoed shouts and people began standing up in shock. The boys muttered shits and ran toward the stage. Collins was glued to the spot as he saw the lifeless figure of his love, sprawled on the stage floor.
(Collins' POV)
I didn't really remember much after that. I think I fainted. But I wasn't actually out the whole time, I guess my brain just refused to take in anything at that time. According to the others, I staggered up to Angel and held her in my arms while crying my eyes out. They said I was screaming things at God and some crap about no time or too little time. I don't remember any of it.
All I know was that the next time my brain started storing things again, I was sitting in the hospital waiting room.
"WHERE IS SHE?" I screamed, banging my self against the front desk.
"WHERE IS SHE? TELL ME WHERE SHE IS RIGHT NOW!" I brought my fists down hard on the counter, feeling my tears already coming down.
"Sir, calm down," the woman said soothingly.
"NO! I want to see her!"
"Collins, man, calm down." I heard a voice but it sounded distant.
I felt three pairs of hands grab my shoulders and spin me around. I came face to face with Roger, Benny and Mark. They tried to shake me violently but I just pounded on their chests and demanded them to let go. But they were just stronger than me combined, so they were able to restrain me.
"Where is she? Where is she?" I found myself sobbing into Roger's shirt, as the musician wrapped his arms around me comfortingly.
"She's gonna be fine, Col. Just fine," he reassured, leading me to the seats to sit down.
Through my tears, I saw Joanne trying to comfort Mimi and Maureen, who were tearing profusely. Mark, Benny and Roger were sweating and trying hard to remain strong. I didn't care, I let myself cry.
30 minutes later, a doctor stepped out of Angel's hospital room, slowly taking his stethoscope off his neck. Seeing as I was too broken to stand and hear some news, Roger voluntarily went up to the doctor.
I saw him shaking his head and I knew just then and there that she was gone.
Roger walked to me and said, "I'm sorry, Col."
"NNNOOO," I shook my head and grabbed Roger's coat flaps. "No."
Roger pushed my hands away and grabbed me in another hug. Everyone else looked away, with tearing eyes. I shoved Roger away and ran into her hospital room, even if the doctors and nurses tried their hardest to stop me.
Roger and the others watched silently from the doorway.
I crumpled beside her bed and laid my head on her hand. It was so cold. I looked up at her face, pale and without make-up like I'd never seen it before. She had a smile on her face, though her eyes were closed.
Then there I knew that she was in a better place.
"I'll be with you soon, Gelly," I whispered, and softly kissed the side of her face.
"I love you."
And I cried myself to sleep beside her.
A/N: I hate myself for writing that. Angel-fans, I'm sorry times a billion! I don't know what got into me… I just wrote it. I promise I'm reincarnating Angel into this somehow, okay:( Crap, I'm really crying. Are you? Tell me through reviews. :(