Note: I still don't own RENT and I just realized I never said I don't own the song "Are We the Waiting" by Green Day. Of all of the chapters I think the song really fits with this one especially after the fight. Download it and you won't be sorry. I'm gonna take a bit of the last chapter to start with since it was a cliffhanger. Thanks all! Especially AngelxCollins, aspirer , and Laurel Ducky.
"Mom…Dad?" Collins asked, "Is everything ok?" He asked his mind going immediately to his elderly grandparents. It was a miracle they had made it to their 90's as it was, but that wasn't what was wrong. Collins noticed his father was shaking. Shaking with anger. He didn't get up from the couch or take his gaze from the middle of the room.
"I just got off the phone with Neal Kinsman. Robbie's father." Collins' heart stopped for a moment.
"Dad, we're not friends anymore so whatever he said-" His mother ran up to him and slapped him in the face.
"Queer." She hissed.
Collins just stared at her in shock his hand covering his face where she had just slapped him. He looked away unsure of what to say next. For a moment he wanted to tell them everything. Tell them that the golden boy, Robbie Kinsman, was his lover for year and got off on beating other kids who weren't "acceptable". Kids like Angel. But even if he did, Robbie had nothing to do with this. Sure he told on him once again, this however was about his family.
"I don't like that word." Collins said quietly dropping his hand to his side, " So you know the truth. It's who I am. I'm gay."
Collins' father stood up his hands still bunched into fists, "Who you are? Who you are, Thomas Collins is a respectable young man with a bright future. Yes, you may have your fun your…pranks. But you have a future. A future with a family."
"Maybe I do have a future with a family. It's just not the type of family you think of Dad." Collins said looking for help in his mother who was still standing by him. She refused to meet his eyes looking more hurt now than anything.
"You are going to settle down with a nice young girl, go to a respectable college and continue to be-"
"What Dad? Part of a perfect family? That image that you're so addicted to. The happy father, mother, son. Sometimes I think that you love that facade more than you love me or mom. No I'm pretty sure you do love it more. But it's a lie Dad. You are living in a fantasy realm. All you need is dragons and princesses and it'll be complete." Collins yelled at him now letting out his own anger.
"Well it has fairies now." His mother said quietly but bitter. Collins shook his head at her, "You're the worst though…at least have the dignity to leave him. You fall into the façade too. But I know you hate him and I know you'd rather pop your pills than listen to me. You can't be bothered with me. You've said more to me tonight than you have the past month."
"You leave your mother out of this!" His father barked at Collins.
"Now you defend her. Now you're fighting with someone else instead of her. First time in oh how many years?" Collins said holding his hands out his eyes intense, "I am just so sick of people lying about who they really are. At least I know who I am. I'm Thomas Collins and yeah I have a future ahead. I'm smart, I'll probably get a full scholarship to some school. And I'm gay. I like guys and I'm not gonna pretend that I don't. Because I know the difference between actual reality and imaginary worlds. I'm not gonna lie anymore. To anyone." Collins said rushing up the stairs. He was pretty sure he heard his mother yelling at him. Or maybe it was his father. Collins wasn't sure, he was too busy packing away an extra pair of clothes and a toothbrush. He headed for the door but stopped for a moment. Collins went over to his bookshelf and took a book entitled, "No Exit." His parents were ready for him when he came down the stairs.
"If you think for one minute that you're going to live this messed up life that you have in your head-" Collins walked past his father's screams and his mother's glares. He slammed the door behind him and broke out into a run. Truthfully, he hoped that his parents would follow him with the car. Tell him to come home and then they could either fight more or forgive him. He just wanted to know that he was worth the effort. When he reached the end of his block he turned around to look at his house. It was quiet. They weren't coming. Collins gulped and looked forward putting one foot in front of the other.
"This is spectacular, where the hell do you think you are going to go?" Collins asked himself in the night. All the houses were pitch black, everyone asleep. There was no light shining at all.
"Where the hell am I going to go?" He thought about sleeping in the park, he'd seen the few stray homeless, that lived in their utopian suburbia sleep there. As if the fates had decided that wasn't a good idea, it started to rain.
"Wonderful." Collins said closing his eyes. The power of the rain intensified and Collins was having a hard time seeing in front of him. But he just kept walking forward. One foot in front of the other. He didn't know how long he spent just walking, but it felt like forever. Finally his legs couldn't carry his wet body anymore, he stopped in front of a large house. Looking up at the house in front of him he had to laugh. It was Angel's house. It didn't sound like World War Three anymore but now it looked like a house from a snow globe. Large, at peace, and beautiful. Collins wiped the rain off of his forehead and headed towards the house. He knocked on the door lightly almost too afraid to have someone answer.
"It's late I shouldn't be doing this." He mumbled to himself about to turn around when the door opened. It was Nick again, his thumb still in his mouth. Collins smiled gently.
"Hey remember me?" Collins asked the small boy. Nick nodded his whole head bobbing then he closed the door on Collins.
"Apparently he didn't like me." Collins said to himself just as Angel reopened the door. She was dressed in gray sweatpants and a long white tank top. It was the first time Collins saw her out of drag. There wasn't a wig on her head either, he could see her natural hair short and buzzed probably for easy wig wear. He didn't know if it was the day they had or the fiasco that just happened with his parents but Collins was sure that right there and then, he was in love with her. She looked up at him with such concern and stillness. There was no doubt in his mind, she was going to help him. And there was no doubt in his mind that he loved her.
She walked out onto the porch and took his hand, "C'mon in honey, you're going to catch your death of cold all wet from the rain." She looked down at her brother, "Nick go back to bed. You don't always have to get the door you know…but thank you." Nick nodded and ran up stairs picking up a stuffed bear he had lost along the way. Collins stayed silent as Angel guided him to the kitchen.
"Here. Let me take this off…my goodness you're soaked." She slipped off his large coat and hung in over one of the chairs before going back to take off his flannel shirt which was dripping. Collins just let her strip him shaking gently from the cold.
"I can probably get some clothes from my dad. You could fit in them I think. Anything to get you out of this stuff." She said quietly taking the cap from his head and wringing it out over the sink. Usually Collins would have grabbed it and plopped it back on his head but he just let Angel drape it over the faucet.
"I'll be right back." Angel said patted him on the arm and running upstairs. Collins watched her go and looked down at the bag he had brought which was currently dripping all over the floor. He scooped it up and placed it in the sink. Unzipping it carefully he pulled out his book, it was ruined. With a sigh, he dropped it back in the bag.
A few moments Angel came down with large pajamas and handed them to Collins guiding him to the closest bathroom, "You can go ahead and change. Just drape your clothes over the shower curtain." Collins nodded and did as he was told silently. As he changed he couldn't believe what he was doing. He had just meet this person and yet he found himself wearing her father's pajamas.
When Collins came out Angel was waiting patently.
"Thank you." Collins said, speaking for the first time.
Angel just smiled gently, "You can stay here for the night. My brother Dawson just left. Sleeping over his friend's…well at least that's his usual excuse. You can stay the night." Collins nodded rubbing his arms the cold still in his skin.
"Thank you." He said again.
"Really honey it's no big deal. You're a…a friend." Angel said after faltering a bit. She turned to him and her jaw dropped, "Did…did someone hit you?" She asked grabbing a paper towel and wetting it before coming over. Collins reached up for where his mother had slapped him. When he touched the skin there he winced.
"Yeah." He said simply wincing again when Angel touched it with the paper towel. She stayed silent as she washed it and later put some ice on it. Collins felt like he owed her something now. She had helped him through the night without even a question as to why he was there. So he licked his lips and said quietly, "My parents found out."
Angel carefully took the ice pack off of his face and lay it on the table. She brought her eyes up to rest on Collins, "I take it they weren't happy."
Collins smiled bitterly, "No they weren't." Angel nodded putting her hands around his arm and pulling him out of the room.
"C'mon let's get you to bed." Collins nodded holding back a few tears. Angel noticed this.
"Let it out honey. It's ok. I won't tell." She said quietly rubbing his back as she brought him up the stairs and to her room. Collins let all the hurt he had within him pour out into his tears. All of the people he had to lose because he wasn't afraid to be himself. Angel guided him up the stairs slowly eyeing his footsteps in case he fell. With one last sniff Collins wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.
"I never got to say," Collins whispered as Angel brought him in front of her door, "I like your room."
Angel grinned deeply, "You're not supposed to be sweet when you're broken like this honey."
Collins smiled gently, "What can I say…I don't know the protocol." Angel chuckled softly not wanting to wake up the many members of her household. She opened the door to her room and brought Collins over to Dawson's bed. Collins immediately sat down and Angel smiled gently, "We need to pull the covers down first."
Collins looked down and stood up, "Oh yeah." Angel giggled lightly and pulled down the covers for him.
"You're just a bit tired, huh? Ok now it's ready." Collins had to smile and he climbed in. Angel pulled the covers over him. "If you need the bathroom at night it's to your left. Not to your right. If you go to your right you'll meet Laila and Harper. I doubt they'd appreciate you peeing on them."
"Left not right. Got it."
She stood over him for a moment and then nodded, "Goodnight Tom." She said quietly before moving over to her own bed.
"Goodnight Angel." He answered before falling asleep instantly.
Collins had a dream. At least he was pretty sure it was a dream despite its simpleness. There was no flying banana or dancing kangaroo. He just woke up, still in Angel's room, still the night it truthfully was. Angel slowly got out of her bed and joined Collins. She slipped under the covers and just put her arms around him as if they had held each other thousands of times before. A gentle snore told him that she feel asleep instantly. Collins just smiled knowing it was a dream and fell back asleep himself. At least, he thought it was a dream.
When Collins finally woke up a male figure was climbing through the window. Just as Collins was about to grab Angel's star lamp to pummel the intruder, the kid fell over and chuckled.
"Nice Dawson. They'll never cast you as James Bond." He mumbled to himself getting up and seeing Collins for the first time. In his bed. The kid looked had light skin and floppy dirty blonde hair; he wore a simple Sex Pistols T-shirt and baggy jeans. He raised his eyebrow at Collins.
"Why grandmother…what big teeth you have." Dawson mumbled but smiled, "You must be Collins. I'm Angel's brother Dawson." He held out his hand to Collins who shook his firmly.
"Sorry I didn't know it was you…I'll.." Collins pulled himself out of Dawson's bed but Angel's brother shook his head.
"Naw, man, take a breather. It's no big deal. I just didn't think anyone would be in my bed. Just a shocker. But I've recovered." He nodded opening his backpack and pulling out a bag of pot from his back pocket. Slipping it into the backpack he peered over at Collins.
"You won't tell will you?"
Collins smiled and shook his head, "Naw. It's nice every once in a while to…go out there." He chuckled getting out of the bed anyway. Dawson laughed and zipped up his backpack throwing it in the small closet that seemed to be dominated by Angel.
"You're not bad there Tom Collins. Angel was right about you. Good to know." Dawson said putting his hand on the doorknob. He stopped for a moment and looked at Collins. "Can I talk to you for a minute, seriously?"
"Um…sure shoot." Collins didn't know if he was about to get questions about pot or why exactly he was sleeping in this guy's bed.
"My sister…brother…whatever. She really likes you. Don't mess it up ok?" Dawson asked Collins meeting his eyes.
'She likes me?' Collins thought. He cleared his throat and looked down at the ground before meeting Dawson's eyes again, "Yeah…yeah…I won't." Dawson smiled deeply and held the door open for him.
"My mom cooks on Saturdays. Beware food poisoning." He said with a chuckle. Collins followed Dawson down stairs feeling quite out of place in his pajamas. But it seemed like Dawson was the odd one to be in clothes. The many children that Collins saw yesterday were already in full motion except they were all wearing their pj's. The smell of cooking and burning filled his nose as they reached the kitchen. Angel was sitting at the table playing Old Maid with a sister and a brother Collins had yet to meet. She looked up from her cards and smiled.
"You slept pretty hard. You feeling better?" She asked as her sister picked a card from Angel's deck and screamed. Angel laughed, "Andrea you always choose the one on the end. You should change your strategy a bit honey." Andrea just sighed and moved over to her brother staring at the Old Maid card.
Collins nodded his hands searching for pockets that weren't there, "Yeah…I am." He eyed the woman cooking breakfast or battling it he wasn't quite sure. She was a larger woman, okay, she was rather plump. Apparently she had enjoyed many meals that weren't cooked by herself. She had large dark brown bologna curls which she held back with a rubber band. With a sigh she put her hand on her hips looking at Dawson.
"And where were you last night, Mister?" She asked him. Dawson rolled his eyes and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
"I would say Tony's but I know you wouldn't believe me." He looked over at Angel and Andrea who just giggled.
"No I wouldn't. Go sit and you have to eat my cooking." Dawson frowned as if it was a great punishment. He passed Collins as he went to the table.
"Run while you still can." He mumbled. Collins just laughed, a laugh that was long and full. Angel's mother turned and looked at Collins. The teen blushed, he was in her husband's clothes, and well…he was a random houseguest. But she didn't seem to mind.
"Oh so you're Collins. My Angel has told us all so much about you." She said with a huge smile on her face, "I must say you look better in those things than Peter does. Peter is my husband. I'm Sybil. Feel free to call me that everyone does. Except my children…when they behave." Dawson grunted and his brother nudged him, Dawson nudged him back.
"Please to meet you I'm sorry I kind of crashed here-"
"Oh no Collins you're welcome anytime and any day." Sybil said nodding ignoring the toast that was burning. "Everyone is always welcome. Actually, I'm not even sure who half of these kids are." She giggled to herself her whole body shaking. Angel looked up at her beaming and then turned to Collins.
"See. You're welcome." She said picking up a card from her sister, "Ok I'm not going to be an Old Maid. I give up at this game. Sorry Dickie I know you like it." She said kissing her brother's head. The boy shrugged and put the cards back together.
"Take a seat Collins they don't bite. At least these two don't. Watch out for Laila though." Dawson warned before running over to save the black toast, "Oh mom do I really have to eat this?"
Collins took a seat next to Andrea when the two ninjas ran into the room.
"Dawson come play with us!" They begged pulling on their possible brother. Dawson shook them off wrinkling his nose.
"I'm too old for that baby stuff." The ninjas hung their heads. Collins couldn't help but feel bad for them. They were wearing the same ninja outfit and held an identical look of sadness. Maybe they were twins. Collins was about to ask but then he assumed that neither Sybil or Angel would know. He grinned and stood up.
"I'll play…what do I gotta do?" The ninjas looked up at him smiling through their black masks.
"You have to fight us!" They said taking his hand and pulling him into the back yard. Collins didn't protest and let the two boys lead him. He was pretty sure he heard Dawson say, "He doesn't know what he's getting himself into, does he?"
Collins had no clue that the little ninjas actually took karate classes. So a few kicks and punches later Collins lay on the grass panting dramatically. They were quite small so they didn't really hurt him, but they did catch him by surprise. One ninja sat on his chest and called out, "We have won! We have killed the tierack!"
"Tyrant." Collins whispered to him.
The ninja looked down at him, "Oh yeah. We have killed the tyrant!" Collins grinned and took a hold of the boy before jumping up and thrusting him into the air.
"What the unsuspecting ninjas didn't know what that the tyrants could cause others to fly even when he was dead!" Collins called out running around the yard with a ninja in the air. The kid was laughing full force and called out for more flying. Collins knew that his logic was a bit faulty in this but the ninja didn't seem to mind. Soon the other ninja was jumping up and down to be flown as well. Collins carefully put down the first ninja and picked up the other making noises as he did so. The first ninja followed him mimicking the noises that Collins was making.
Angel stood watching them from the kitchen a deep smile on her face. Sybil put her hand on her shoulder. "He's a nice boy." Angel didn't tear her eyes off of Collins who was now rolling on the ground with the boys. At least until they all jumped on him attacking him with tickles.
"He's amazing." Angel said quietly.
Post: Ok next chapter back at school, and it's all about the boys' relationships. Maureen finally shows herself when Mark gets the courage to ask her out…kinda. Collins asks Mark and Roger about Angel's love life, and Roger talks with April. And finally Collins makes a move!