Note: Umm…thanks as always! I don't own RENT still and if someone can pick out the Firefly reference you will be given a big teddy bear. Also Lori isn't mine she's January's Albatross' , I stole her lovingly. And thanks for all the rocking reviews I love you guys so much. And for RENThead2006 who called Robbie a "buttnuget" making me laugh my head off. You guys make my day I hope you know that.

"Oh my GOD!" Maureen's voice echoed through the whole cafeteria.

"Say it a little louder Mo, I don't think the jocks heard you." Roger said sticking his finger in his ear.

Maureen sat down hard into her chair at the newly christened ShirelyNanetteGarretSam, a big pout on her face. "Did you see this! This is a travesty! We need to do something!" She said pointing to the piece of paper she was waving in the air.

Collins took the paper from her, "What that the prom theme is 'Just Before Midnight'? You got a problem with Cinderella?"

Mark smiled with a memory, "Those mice were cool. Jack and Gus-Gus…" Mark let his words end there as he at his bologna.

Maureen took the paper back and pointed at the bottom of the paper, "Look. Right here. They leave blanks for the 'gentleman's name' and the 'lady's name'. And down here, fine print.Two genders per couple."

Collins let out a laugh, "Sounds like a coupon thing. One coupon per customer."

Roger grinned and said, "They should have written two types of sex per couple. That would have been fun." Maureen growled and slammed the paper on the table top.

"Don't you guys see this? This is discrimination! I can't bring Joanne." She leaned in the back of her chair with a pout, "And you can't take Angel, Collins honey. I mean they might as well have written 'Collins, don't bring your boyfriend'. I mean…they don't even know about anyone else but you."

Collins shrugged, "I figured they'd do something. Angel will probably be upset…her school doesn't have a prom. Yeah and speaking of that no one else thing, why aren't you out of the closet, Mo?"

Mark nodded, "He's got a point. It's not like need to worry about loosing your friends."

Maureen squirmed in her seat, "I'm only half in the closet. Cause I only have to go out halfway. It's a perk that comes with being bi."

Roger chuckled sipping on his soda.

Collins sighed, "They'd find out as soon as you took Joanne anyway you know."

Maureen nodded waving her hand, "I know. I'm not embarrassed about being with Joanne. I would just rather…avoid people throwing jock straps in my face."

Collins frowned and pointed at her with his salad fork, "Hey, I really doubt that would have any resonance with you." Maureen shrugged, "But I understand you, Mo. When you think it's time...no rush."

Maureen sighed deeply getting bored with the conversation, "But we have to go to prom!"

"Why?" Roger asked, "I'm not going."

Mark asked, "You're not gonna ask Mimi?" Roger stopped drinking his soda. Even though he was still recovering from April's suicide, his fascination seemed to continue with Mimi. Collins knew that if April hadn't done what she did, Roger would have asked the girl out a long time ago. But now his friend was more wary, the prom, however, gave him a perfect opportunity.

"I never thought of that." He said quietly the wheels in his head obviously turning.

Mark smiled and shrugged, "I don't know if I even wanna go. I won't have a date. And I don't want to be set up with Jo's cousin. So drop it, Maureen." He said with an exasperated look on his face. Maureen had been on Mark's back about going out with someone. Anyone. And then she met Joanne's cousin and decided she was perfect for her friend.

Maureen frowned, "Oh but Lori's so nice!"

Collins snorted tapping his fingers on the top of the table, "Yeah Jo told me you flirted with her."

Maureen didn't seem bothered, "Well it didn't matter she's straight."

"There you go, Cohen." Roger said patting him on the back, "A match made in heaven. Or the Jefferson household."

Mark scowled and went back to his bologna. Maureen held out her arms, "See, they'll both be going. We need to go, too, Collins. And don't give me that antisocial stuff."

Collins sighed putting down his fork, "Prom is nothing but a display of the high school caste system. The poor students can't afford the outfits nor do they get chosen for king or queen. The rich kids get the crowns and the threads. If you go you're supporting also tradition that once encouraged the selling off as women as nothing but pure breed poodles-"

"Ouch." Roger said cutting off his friend, "We get it, prom bad. Sitting and doing nothing, good."

Collins shrugged tossing his brown lunch bag into the garbage from his seat, "I would do something that night. Me and Angel would go out or something."

"And she would spend all night crying cause she wouldn't be wearing a big poofy dress." Maureen pointed out.

Collins sighed deeply, "So what would you have me do Maureen? Write down Angel's a girl? The whole student body knows I'm actually dating now. So they'll know Angel's a guy. And what are you going to do? The return of Jo Jefferson? At least Angel can hide being a guy when she gets to prom. But I doubt Joanne will want to cross dress for the occasion."

"I still can't believe I didn't pick up on the whole Jo, Joanne thing." Mark mumbled to himself.

Maureen tapped her chin, "Wait…what if we switch?"

"Huh?" Roger said with his eyebrow raised.

"Well, you can list Joanne as your date. And I can list Angel as mine." Maureen said proudly sitting up straighter with her hands folded.

Collins opened his mouth to argue it but then realized it might work, "Yeah…as long as we…kinda dance as a group…we might be able to pull that off."

Maureen nodded, "And Angel could come in a suit and change into her dress after getting in! It's perfect!"

Mark almost spit out his apple juice, "Dancing? Like real dancing? Can't we just interrogate the snack bar?" He asked looking hopeful.

"Oh, Cohen." Roger said with a sigh, "What am I going to do with you?"

Maureen clapped her hands, "Yay Prom!"

Collins sighed leaning down further into his chair, "What I do for my Angel and her love of poofy dresses." He mumbled to himself.

When Collins finally made it into his house, it was as he expected. His father was on the couch as always. Scowling the minute that his son entered the house. The silent treatment was still in effect. Collins even told his parents about April's death, but neither of them seemed very interested.

Collins climbed the stairs and headed for his bedroom when his mother's voice stopped him, "Thomas?" Collins turned around and went in his mother's bedroom.

"Yeah, Mom." He replied assuming that she would ask him to take out the garbage or something of the sort. It was the only words she had really said to him.

Collins' mother cleared her throat, "We're you out with Angel again?"

Collins opened his mouth to defend himself when he saw the lavender Angel had given his mother ages ago. It was in a small vase on her vanity.

"Um, yeah. I just stopped by. Asked him to prom. Never saw so much giggling and squealing from one human being." Collins mumbled rubbing the back of his neck.

Collins' mother smiled lightly. Which made her son wonder if she was having some type of episode.

"He's a sweet boy." She said quietly looking down at the book that was in her lap.

Collins' jaw dropped slightly and had to ask, "Did the lavender…was that all it took to win you over?"

The woman sighed and pulled off her reading glasses making motions for Collins to sit on the bed. He did so although looking slightly uncomfortable about it.

"Baby." She took his hand, "I'm not blind. I wanted to be…but I can see. You hum when you come home. You don't seem to mind your father's behavior anymore. I've never seen anyone make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with that many dance steps."

Collins looked down embarrassed, "You saw that…it was for a picnic with-"

"Angel." His mother finished, "I know. I may…Thomas. I may not understand why you…find yourself…you…"

"The fact that I'm gay." Collins helped her along.

"Yes. I may not understand why. But I'm glad that you're happy. You are aren't you?" She asked him quietly.

Collins nodded a let a smile spread across his face, "I'm happier than…than I can ever remember." Mrs. Collins squeezed his hand.

"Then I'm happy you're with him. There's nothing worse than being with someone you don't love…it seems like you're not going to make the same mistakes I did…. Why don't you invite him over for dinner one night?" She asked him which made Collins raise his eyebrow.

"I don't know Mom…what about Dad?" Collins said looking to the door. Apparently his mother had made amends with her son's sexuality, but he knew his father was far from it.

Mrs. Collins sighed, "I'll talk to him about it. And we'll fight about it. At least it will be something new to fight about." She shrugged a bit and pulled her book closer to her signaling the end of one of her longest conversations with her son. Collins leaned over to kiss her brow gently and left the room uttering, "Thanks Mom." As he left. She didn't respond pretending to be engrossed in her book.

And for the first time, Collins understood his mother. His parents had been set up in a similar fashion to the way they set him up with Joanne. There was no love between them, it was only a marriage of convenience and breeding. And in loveless marriages there were two choices in which one could find love, cheat or pretend to love your spouse. His parents had chosen the latter and they were suffering for it. Collins slightly smiled to himself knowing that he had avoided their fate. He'd be happy. And he'd be with Angel.

Post: Next chapter- The girls goes on a trip to NYC for prom gowns…and they drag the boys with them. Phantomfan91- I'd be honored if you'd be my fact checker  Let me know if I do something stupid and I'll make sure to fix it. I really want to edit this as well as my other works, so your input will be put to good use. Thanks deary. And thanks to Jeh-Nee-D for finding a stupid mistake of mine.