Note: Uh thanks for reviews as always. This one is longish very much like Mark's party chapter, so take a break if you need one! Also I bring back Dr. Hedlow and Sid from the chapter where the boys were jumped by Robbie. So if you need a reminder check that one out. And as always thank you to aspirer who is almost single handily feeding me off cyber cookies and such. Enjoy!
"Tom!" Mrs. Collins opened the door to her house after being away for almost two weeks. "Tom!" She called again pulling in her suitcases behind her. Collins rushed down the stairs and his mother looked at her son in awe.
"You look so handsome." She said. Collins smiled fiddling with his tie. He was dressed in a classy black and white tux, he even had cufflinks on his sleeves.
"Thanks Mom." He said, "Prom's tonight so I'll be out all night, The whole group's gonna meet at Mark's. And we're gonna spend the night there, then tomorrow we're going to the amusement park."
Mrs. Collins reached out to fix his tie that was a shiny white color. Angel had veen very clear about the color choice.
"I didn't know it was today." She said quietly, "Are you going with Angel?"
Collins nodded and then paused, "Well…kinda it's complicated."
His mother smiled and then frowned, "Thomas Byron Collins you better not be wearing that mesh cap of yours to the Prom." She said pointing to the ever present hat on her son's head.
He chuckled slipping the cap off and putting it in his pocket, "Whatever you say Mom….how's Cousin Helen?" He asked quietly knowing that their meeting together was more important than prom talk.
"Fine." She replied taking her suitcases into the living room with Collins' help, "She's given me some advice on what I can do. How much money I can get and such."
Collins nodded glancing at his watch, "Good….Mom I gotta go. I'm late already."
Mrs. Collins waved to him sitting on the couch, "Have fun Tom." She picked up the remote and turned on the television. But her son didn't leave. He watched her for a moment and then cleared his throat.
"Umm…we're all gonna meet at Mark's house before we go. All the parents are gonna be there, too. Mark's parents, Roger's mom, Maureen's parents and little brother. And remember the Jeffersons? They'll be there too. And Angel's parents…I'm gonna go pick them up…" Collins explained with hope in his voice.
"That's nice." Mrs. Collins said half watching the tv and half unpakcing. She took no real notice of what her son was saying.
"Ummm.." Collins started wanting to give it one more try, "You wanna tag along? Angel's parents are real nice."
"Aren't you going to be late, sweetie?" She asked him putting her clothes into separate piles.
Collins stomach dropped, "Yeah I'm gonna be late. Night, Mom." She didn't respond when he left the house. Why did I expect her to be any different? He asked himself as he headed towards the car. Just because she's leaving Dad doesn't mean that she's gonna change…God I gotta get out of this town.
Collins readjusted his tie knocking on the door. Nick, as always, answered a huge grin on his face.
"Hi Cawolins. Look!" The little boy said pointing to the large space on his gums. He had lost his two front teeth.
"Wow! Nice job there, buddy. I hope the tooth fairy was nice to you." Collins said with a smile.
Nick nodded and pulled out a bill from his pocket, "I got a dollar. All mine. Not…not Liam's all mine. Not even Andrea's."
"That is impressive." Collins rubbed the boys head which made him giggle, "Is Angel ready yet?"
Nick shook his head, "Showed us the dress yesterday."
"Did you like it?" Collins asked shifting the box that he was holding in his hands.
"Uh huh. It's big." Nick giggled holding out his hands to show just how big it was.
Collins laughed, "So I've been told."
"Nick?" You let Collins in honey!" Sybil's voice echoed through the house. The boy did as his mother ordered. Both her and her husband were grinning by the staircase. A collection of Angel's brothers and sisters were gathered around in the main hall waiting patiently.
"You look so…dashing." Sybil said patting her chest and then waving her hand in front of her face tears starting to form. Peter sighed and passed her a tissue.
"This is gonna be a long night." He informed Collins with a wink.
Angel came down the stairs looking more than uncomfortable in Dawson's suit. The sleeves of the jacket went past his wrists and the pants were very baggy. A frown was deeply implanted onto her face. Dawson came behind her trying to adjust the jacket to make it tighter around her.
Angel sighed, "It's no use Dawson. Thanks though." She looked down at the cumberbun and tried to make it more centered on her stomach.
"Hey Ang…look." Dawson pointed to Collins who was waiting patiently for Angel to notice him.
Angel's frown melted right away and she ran down the rest of the stairs into Collins' arms. Dawson took the box from Collins' arms so it wouldn't get crushed and passed it off to his mother. She opened the box and smiled showing it to her husband.
"Oh my…" Angel pulled herself away, "Let me get a good look at you…Oh my indeed."
Collins laughed, "You ain't so bad yourself." Angel rolled her eyes obviously not agreeing. She pointed to a duffel bag sitting in the corner.
"When I get that on, then I'll match the hotness that is you." She stood on her tip toes to kiss him.
Peter walked over and handed the box back to Collins, "Here you go."
"Oh yeah thanks." Collins handed the box to Angel, "I figured that would wait til the dance…and you get in your dress but maybe it will help you feel a bit more glamrous. I hope red is ok."
Angel opened the box bouncing a bit. She let out a gasp and pulled out a deep red rose surrounded by baby's breath. Immediately, she put it on her wrist over the long tux sleeves. A few tears formed in her eyes gazing at the flower, "It's gorgeous." Angel kissed Collins again.
"Ew." Leo grumbled from the staircase, both he and Kiefer were watching on with disgust at the kissing.
Sybil wiped away a few tears with a new tissue her husband had provided. Dawson chuckled looking between Angel and his mother. It was easy to see where Angel got most of her manners.
"I'm happy you like it." Collins said quietly hugging her close again.
Peter coughed a bit, "Alright Collins you better drive us to Mark's house."
Sybil blew her nose and handed Nick the tissue. "Yes…your mother still not back, Collins? I would have liked to meet her."
Collins slipped his hand into Angel's which made her glance up at him worried. "Yeah…she did get back." He waved to all of Angel's siblings gathered leading her out the door. Angel's hand squeezed his own.
"Angel and Collins are here!" Maureen called out when she saw the familiar wagon pull up in Mark's driveway.
"Thanks Mo. We didn't notice." Roger grumbled battling with his mint green bow tie that matched Mimi's satin dress. Maureen stuck her tongue out at Roger as Angel's parents left the car and gathered with the other parents. Their cameras all prepared for thousands of pictures.
Mimi giggled and went to fix it, "Why is it that boys can't tie these things but ladies can?" Roger shrugged and watched her fix it.
"One of life's mysteries." He decided.
Maureen shook her head at Roger and then turned to Joanne who had just left her parents side with Lori in tow. Although Lori looked pretty queasy she still looked beautiful. Her dress was a soft blue color set off in wide lace layers. The drama queen was wearing a fiery red dress with vertical slits down the middle of her body. Joanne couldn't really complain about the view, but she had to worry that she would draw…attention.
Collins helped Angel with her bag, "Oh…this is light." Angel giggled kissing his cheek.
"That's because it's mostly crinoline, baby." She explained before running over to Mimi and letting out a squeal, "Oh, chica, you look amazing!"
Mimi laughed hugging Angel, "You know it just ain't fair." Angel titled her head to the side. Mimi smirked, "You look hot in both sexes. Really, it's not fair." Angel shook her head smiling.
"Damn!" Collins called out, "Look at all these fine ladies." Lori blushed while Maureen fluffed her hair.
"Make you wanna cross over?" She winked at him.
Collins chuckled, "Sorry, Mo, it's not meant to be." He patted her on the back as she let out a dramatic sigh.
Joanne smirked taking her girlfriend's waist, "He breaks the hearts of women everywhere…cept her of course." She pointed to Angel who had already fallen into Spanish with Mimi. Roger stood by them trying to look interested in what they were saying, even though he didn't know a word of the language.
Collins laughed and nodded, "Well she ain't you conventional woman….Plain black pant number huh?" He asked looking at Joanne's outfit, "It's gorgeous on you." He planted a kiss on her temple, she was his date after all.
"Thank you…and oh my God! It's a miracle!" Joanne rubbed her hand along Collins' shaved head without a cap to hide it.
"Wow that is a miracle." Mark said coming out of the house stopping by Lori's side and slipping a daisy bracelet around her wrist. The girl smiled down at it somg blush on her cheeks.
"Ok everyone!" Mark's mother called out, "All the kids line up!" They did as they were told.
"Why do I feel like I'm facing the firing squad?" Roger asked his friends. His mother put her fist on her hip for a moment and then signed "behave" to her son. The rocker rolled his eyes and signed back "whatever".
"Ok everyone!" Sybil called out, "Smile!"
"How can I smile in this thing?" Angel grumbled. Collins looked down at her and leaned his head over whispered "love you" to her. Angel smiled.
All of the parents snapped pictures of their children.
"This is…gorgeous…" Angel whispered as they walked into the gym, which was decorated. In the back of the gym a large Cinderella castle was created with actual fountains that dispensed fruit punch. The snack bar spanned the whole length of the room with all different type of food, pizza, Chicken Florentine, french fries, and caviar. Large cardboard stars were hung from the ceiling rafters. Glitter sparking with the lights of the DJ booth rushing over them. Mark patted Roger's shoulder and pointed to the large star in the middle. Roger looked up and smiled. In the middle of the star the name, "April" was painted.
"That's sweet." Angel whispered watching Roger. He nodded and looked to Mimi.
"Why don't we get this show on the road? I'll scout out the bathroom for you Angel." He waved to her before walking off to the bathroom on his own. Mimi watched him a bit concerned but Angel took her hand and squeezed it.
"He's fine, chica." She whispered to her friend.
A new song blared from the speakers, kids ran onto the dance floor letting loose…despite the teachers looking on.
"Wanna dance?" Joanne asked Collins taking his hand, "I should get one dance with my date at least." Collins glanced at Angel for approval. She opened her mouth about to approve when Maureen took her hands and dragged her onto the dance floor.
"I don't take no for an answer!" The drama queen called out dancing to the beat as she reached the dance floor. Angel watched Maureen for a moment unsure how to dance unlike herself. Like a boy. Collins came with Joanne a few seconds later and he winked at her. Angel smiled, she would just be herself.
The two couples danced despite their mismatch while Mark and Lori watched from the snack bar. "So…" Mark said quietly, "Do you wanna dance?"
Lori blushed and looked down at her corsage, "Not…really. Is that ok?" She asked worried.
Mark let out a deep sigh of relief, "I was hoping you were gonna say that." They laughed with each other, "Why don't we take a seat?" Lori nodded following Mark to their prearranged table.
Mimi stood by the men's room waiting for Roger to come out. She bit on her nails and shifted her stance watching couples walk onto the dance floor. Roger stuck his head out, "It's almost clear. Just gotta get rid of Horace McGilly…are you ok?" He asked her with a frown.
"Oh yeah…I didn't know if that made you…" She pointed to the star with April's name on it. Roger looked up at it and shook his head.
"She was important Mimi. My first, I did care for her…but I didn't feel for her like I feel for you…" Roger replied getting pushed out of the way by Horace. Mimi smiled deeply and kissed him on the lips.
"I'll go get Angel-" She turned towards the dance floor and froze. "So much for Angel and Collins staying incognito." The couple had left the girls and was now dancing together. And not too discretely either, they were grinding along with the other straight couples.
Roger sighed and went over to Collins, "Keep it in your pouch. The bathroom's open, Angel." Angel laughed and left a kiss on Collins' cheek before heading off to the bathroom. Mimi giggled following her inside.
"Sorry man…couldn't help myself." Collins said to Roger with a shrug.
"Uh huh…" Roger muttered pointing to the chaperones who seemed to be in a hot debate. "And do you think that has anything to do with you?"
"Probably." Collins said with a nod guiding Roger off the dance floor, "Or maybe Mo and Jo." He glanced over at them, they were getting into their own type of dancing as well.
"Probably." Roger nodded in agreement, "So how long do you give until we're kicked out of here?"
Collins didn't hesitate, "After they announce the prom court."
"You seem awful sure-" Roger turned his head as Angel came out of the bathroom, "Wow…poofy."
Collins' eyes went wide. Angel was wearing a poofy white dress with a red sash around her waist which was extended up along her chest. The dress originally had a corset as a top, but Angel had to fiddle with the dress to correspond with her shape. She also had some dry flowers placed at the bottom of the sash matching her corsage almost perfectly. On her head she had her short black bobbed wig, but she managed to turn the straight locks into tight curls. Collins heart skipped a beat noticing her only accessory. Long white satin gloves.
Not being able to hide her own excitement she ran into Collins' arms. "You…you are beautiful." He said to her as they hugged.
She giggled and blushed, "Thank you…I had to find a dress to match the gloves." She explained brushing the soft material against Collins' cheek.
Mimi went to Roger's side, "So when are we gonna get kicked out?"
"Probably soon." She nodded not seeming to upset about it, none of them believed they would be staying all night, "We better dance then." She chirped taking his hand. oger groaned but the memory that Mimi was one hell of a dancer got him on the dance floor quickly.
"We better join them." Angel said taking Collins' hand.
Through the night the chaperones kept a close eyes on Maureen, Joanne, Angel, and Collins. Every once in a while when they would get too close to their partner a teacher would grumble and start to march towards them. But Dr. Hedlow always stopped them. Collins saw her practically straddle Mr. Cassidy at one point. He smiled, knowing that he always liked that woman.
"Ok everyone! Pay attention!" Riley Gollio smacked the microphone making all of the participants wince. "Oh sorry guys. Ok now we have the announcement of the Prom King and Queen!" The popular kids clapped in excitement while the rest of the student body left the dance floor to sit at their tables.
"Can I boo Robbie?" Mark asked Collins innocently. His friend just smirked.
"Ok." Riley said into the mic, "We have three couples. And then of course write ins. We have the lovely Samantha Grouden and Sid Loitta." There was some clapping for Robbie's right hand man, who almost strangled Collins months ago, and his long time model girlfriend. "Allison Grey and Benjamin Coffin." Collins and the rest of the group rolled their eyes at the two. Mimi paled and sunk in her seat putting her hand over her eyes.
"Mimi are you ok?" Roger asked her with a frown.
"Remember the evil ex who was practically married and treated me like a mistress." Mimi asked and pointed to Benny who was waving to the crowd.
Roger glared at him, "I knew I didn't like him."
Riley cleared his throat, "And last but certainty no where near least, Robbie Kinsman and Lyida Ronsale!" Almost everyone in the room clapped for the golden boy and the head cheerleader. Angel raised her hands to clap and paused. Then she smirked placing them in her lap. The table laughed and clapped for her instead.
"Ok…" Riley said into the microphone, "I now I have the results. All of your computer votes have been tallied…and…the Prom King is…." He opened the paper and paled, "Mark Cohen? Who is that guy?" Collins started to clap making the room follow his lead.
Mark's face turned beat red, "Huh?"
Collins patted his back, "Go Mark! Go up there to get your crown." Mark stood up his legs somewhat shaky. Lori watched on clapping with an enthusiasm that was unmatched in the room.
"Who the hell is Mark Cohen?" Riley asked glancing towards the populars. Mark made his way towards the front and held his hand up sheepishly.
"That would be me." He said gulping.
Riley shrugged, "Ok Mark Cohen. You're Prom King." The masses clapped although most of them only knew him as a possible lover of Collins.
At the group's table all eyes fell on Collins. The teen smirked simply not denying or approving any ideas that was forming in their heads.
"And uh…Prom Queen is…" Riley opened the page slowly, "I don't even know this person either!"
"Read it!" Collins called out.
Riley shrugged again deciding that he was not responsible for such things, "Angel Dumott Schunard." Angel leaned her head back and cracked up. Collins joined her wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Oh I better go!" Angel jumped up and ran to the stage making sure to wave to Robbie and a shocked Lydia as she went.
Riley wrinkled his nose figuring out that Angel was a guy right away, "Ummm…ok." He handed the crown to Angel and she handed it to Mark who happily placed it on her head.
Angel bounced up and down taking Mark's hands. "We're king and queen!" Mark was still beat red.
"So they tell me." Mark murmured a small smile growing on his face.
Mimi glanced over to Collins, "How hard was it to break into the computer system?"
Collins put his feet up on Angel's empty chair, "Fuckin easy."
Roger laughed patting Collins on the back, "I'm proud."
Joanne turned and watched the DJ talking to Mark and Angel, "Oh Lord will they have to dance together?"
Maureen smirked, "Oh poor Markie. Why didn't you make yourself Prom King?" She asked Collins.
Her friend watched Mark and Angel take the dance floor to "So is Love" from the Disney version of Cinderella, "Cause Mark deserves it. The geek never gets his due."
Roger watched Mark attempt to dance with Angel and nodded, "Yeah he never does."
As the song finished Angel ran towards the table hugging Collins around the neck.
"I love you I love you I love you-" She said until Collins quieted her with a kiss. Mark came over and pointed to the crown on his head.
Lori giggled, "It looks nice on you." Mark grinned sitting next to her.
"Thomas Collins…" The Principal crossed her arms standing over him as he continued to kiss Angel.
Angel patted him on the chest and pulled away pointing to the woman. Looking up Collins said, "Hey. Am I suspended?"
The Principal shook her head, "No as long as you get out."
"Oh cool. You guys wanna skip this place?" Collins asked the rest of the table.
Joanne looked around the room, "Yeah. I mean the DJ is shit." Maureen giggled burying her head in her girlfriend's shoulder. The Principal opened her mouth but Joanne put her hand up. "We'll get out." She stood up with Maureen kissing her deeply just to get the Principal.
Mimi got up, "Nice fountain." She said winking at the chaperones. Roger pointed to the April star and gave them the thumbs up.
Angel took Collins' hands to help him up but froze. "Oh Collins…" The DJ played a slow song. All of the couples going towards the dance floor.
"Can we stay for this song…just this one?" She asked biting her lip. Collins looked up to the Principal.
Dr. Hedlow came to stand beside her, "It's one dance, Muriel."
The Principal sighed, "One dance. Then get out…and keep it clean." Angel squealed and clapped taking Collins towards the dancing couples. The rest of the group followed them to the dance floor, even Mark and Lori ventured out to attempt a slow dance. The popular couples eyed Angel and Collins. Much to Collins' shock Robbie actually smiled in their general direction. Sid on the other hand seemed less than thrilled. His eyes met Collins' for a moment threatening retribution. But Collins looked away as Angel stood in front of him.
Angel placed her gloved hands on Collins' shoulders and his hands grasped her waist. Cyndi Lauper's song "True Colors" filled the gym, Angel rested her head on his chest swaying to the music.
"You could have gotten in a lot of trouble mister." Angel poked him in the stomach.
Collins shrugged, "But I didn't. Sorry we gotta cut the night short."
"As long as I get one slow dance with you…I don't mind." Angel said quietly looking up at him and pressing her lips to his. "Could we slow dance forever?"
Collins nodded, "In our pjs when we're in our fifties even." Angel giggled in his chest. "To this exact song."
"Mmmm…nothing sounds sweeter."
Post: Yeah I made Roger's mother deaf to change it up a bit, I know she's not deaf in the show. But I thought it would be cool. And the decorations I described were actually very similar to my eighth grade dance. That's where the April star came from. Next Chapter: After Prom, oh yes there will we a carousel. I call the horse with the attitude.