I know that there's about a million future kid stories out there, but this one's different. The only "future kid" mentioned in this will be Carlie, Angel and Collins' teenager. The other "bohemians" will be in here, but not until much later. Also, this story is going to deal a little bit with homophobes, because although we all love fics where someone calls Angel and Collins fags, Angel tell them off, Collins beats them up, and they skip off merrily on there way, I'm getting slightly sick of them. So this kind of show that homophobes are people too. Just ignorant ones.
This is au for a gajillion reasons, and it's about 15 years postrent. Carlie calls Angel "Angel" because I couldn't really see her calling her anything else. Carlie's last name is Schunard because I don't want it to be Collins, because that's Collins name.
And I mean no offensive toConnecticutians in this story. It was the first state that popped into my head.
I don't own RENT.
"Everyone, I am very happy to announce that we have a new student. Carlie, would you like to stand up and tell everyone a little bit about yourself?" My social studies teacher was obviously excited that she had a new brain to manipulate.
I sighed as I stood up; I always hated people staring at me. "Umm, well, my name is Carlie Schunard. I'll be fourteen in a few months. My parents and I moved here from New York City."
As I paused, I heard a couple of murmurs around the room; obviously these people thought that I had to be a least a little interesting if I'd lived in New York City. Little did they know it had been Alphabet City. "Uh, we moved hear because of my dad's job. He's a college professor. And, umm, I like to play the drums. And I like math."
I quickly sat back down, thinking to myself: Also, my parents are both gay, and my mom, or whatever you want to call her, I don't know, my dad's life-partner, my other dad, my Angel, is a drag queen. My parents' best friends are lesbians, ex-druggies, and former strippers who used to throw fire out the window when they got bored. But it wasn't like I was going to tell everyone that on my first day here. I doubted that most of these people had ever even met someone who was gay.
"Well Carlie, I hope you like Connecticut. If there's anything you need here; feel free to ask me or one of your new classmates," my teacher, Mrs. Ralley, or Raillery, or something, said. "We're just staring a new unit on Mesopotamia. Amy, do you want to explain to Carlie what we've covered in the past few weeks?" A short, preppy-looking girl with long blond hair and brown eyes nodded, and waved me over to her seat. I picked up my binder and walked over to her, tucking my straight brown hair behind my ear as I went.
"Hi, I'm Amy," she told me with a smile. "Honestly, in the past few weeks all we've covered is a load of crap about the first humans or something, so I really don't need to tell you anything about it."
"That's fine," I answered. "So, umm….what do you have next period?" I asked. Great going Carlie. That's the best question you can think of?
"I have math next, then art," she told me. "What about you?'
"I have to check," I said as I got my schedule out. "Let's see, it looks like I have science next. Then art. I don't have math until seventh period."
"Oh, you're in honors math?" Amy asked with her eyes wide.
"Yeah," I told her. "My dad helps me a lot. He's like a computer genius."
"That's cool," she answered. "What about your mom? You didn't really mention her yet."
"Oh, uhh, she's a musician," I answered, already feeling disgusted with myself. I hadn't even been at this school for an hour, and I was already lying about my parents. But something told me that people weren't going to be as accepting here as they were in Alphabet City. "Her name's Angel." Well, at least the last part was true. "My dad's name is Tom, but everyone calls him Collins. It's his last name," I said, trying to get the subject off Angel.
Amy smiled, and was about to reply when—
BEEEEEEEEP!
"That's the bell," Amy explained, seeing my shock look. "You'll get used to it. Eventually. Well, I'll see you in art. Bye!"
"Bye," I told her. I had passed what looked like science rooms on my way upstairs to social studies, so I had a pretty good idea on where to go. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my books and headed down the stairs, to six more periods of torture.
After getting lost twice, repeating my "Hi-I'm-Carlie-I'm-from-New-York-I-play-the-drums" spiel six more times, eating lunch with Amy and her friends (who I soon learned were all very nice, but a were a little too "giggly, and toocaught up in their own world), and lying to about five more people about my "mom", the school day was finally over.
I found a seat on the school bus, sat down, and leaned back, glad that I was finally going home. Behind me, I could clearly hear two boys talking.
"Dude, you know Steve Walters? That guy is such a fag. Did you see that shirt he was wearing today?"
"Yeah. G-d, that fag is so weird. I can't believe he actually has a girlfriend."
"He does? Who would go out with him? He's just so weird……"
I felt my stomach clench. Even though Alphabet City had been pretty accepting of gays, I wasn't immune to homophobes. Or people saying 'fag.'
In the back of my mind, I knew that I should have just turned around and told those boys that there was nothing wrong with being gay, and just because you're "weird" didn't even mean that you're gay, and that you should never call someone a fag. But I didn't. I guess I figured that they wouldn't listen to me. Or maybe I just wanted to fit in. I wasn't sure. But I couldn't help but seeing Angel in my position. She would shut those boys up………
My stop was the last one on the bus. When I finally got off, I suddenly didn't want to go home as much as I had before I got on the bus. I just couldn't shake off the feeling that I had somehow betrayed my parents. With a funny feeling still in my stomach, I walked in the front door of our new house.
"Carlie?" I heard Angel call. I forced myself to smile as Angel came into the family room. Since she had spent the last couple of days unpacking, she hadn't had time, or the need, to dress in drag. So, she was just wearing jeans and a tight white and pink t-shirt, with minimal makeup. And no wig. "Hi sweetie," Angel said as she pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back, even though I couldn't help but feel that I didn't deserve it. "How was your first day?" she asked.
"Oh, it was pretty good," I replied. "My teachers were all basically okay. They were all excited to have a new student. And I talked to this girl Amy that was pretty nice……" my voice trailed off.
"That's good," Angel said to me with a smile. "Remember honey; don't be too shy around these people. That'll just make it harder to make friends."
"Yeah, I know," I answered. "So, when did Dad say he'd be home?"
"I think pretty soon, because he doesn't start teaching until next week, so he's just setting up his room and stuff today," Angel told me. "Probably just putting up pictures of his two gorgeous girls." I couldn't help but smile. "Now come one sweetie. Let me get you a snack, and then I'll do your nails.
"I'm not really that hungry," I answered. That was true; whenever I felt guilty about something I could never eat."
Angel gave me a scrutinizing look. "You sure honey?" She asked. I nodded. "Well okay, then we'll just skip to the manicures." I smiled, and followed Angel upstairs, still trying to shake off the guilty feeling.
Like it? Hate it? Have any suggestions? Want me to continue? Please tell me! I have a pretty good idea on where this is going, but I will listen to suggestions. I know the ending to this chapter was terrible, but I really couldn't think of anything else. Also, if you guys have any suggestions for a better title, please please tell me.