Thanks so, so much to everyone who reviewed! Obviously, I'm adding on. But don't expect daily updates all the time, because I almost never have time to write every day. This chapter picks up right where the last one left off.

I don't own RENT.

"So," Angel said to me as she started painting the first coat of light purple on my nails, "What else happened in school today? You didn't really tell me that much……"

"Um…….I don't know," I answered. We were both sitting in the bathroom; me on the closed toilet seat, Angel on the hamper. "I told you that I talked to that girl Amy. She was okay. So were her friends. It's just that, I don't know, people are different here."

"What do mean, sweetie?" asked Angel as she started on my left hand.

"They just seem more……sheltered, if you know what I mean." Angel opened her mouth like she was about to say something, but then closed it. "They're just, like, caught up in their own worlds," I continued. "Like, if I tried to explain to them about what Alphabet City is like, and how many people there are there that are homeless, they wouldn't really get it. And I feel like if I tried to tell them about AIDS, and how much of a problem it still is, they wouldn't understand. Or really care."

"Well honey," Angel said as she looked up from my nails, "You have to remember that, in a way, that's kind of true. I mean, I'm sure that the people here care the homeless and AIDS, but to most of them, it's like a separate world. They don't know much about it."

"I guess you're right," I told her. "It's just that—"

RRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGG!

"I'll get that," said Angel as she jumped up. "Don't touch anything, those are still very wet." Angel got up and walked out of the room. I couple seconds later I heard her pick up the phone. "Hello?" she asked. A few seconds pause, and then—

"MIMI!" I swear, even if Angel is going to be forty in four years, she still act like she's my age some times. "Hi honey! Yes, we're all fine. Mmm hmm. Yeah, she started school today. I think she liked it. But you know, first day are always hard. No, he's at work. I know; he's just setting up his classroom and office today. Yes, I think he'll be home soon. So how's Roger? Really? Wow, that must have been nice. Are you serious? Mimi, you bad girl." Oh G-d, I thought. They're talking about Mimi and Roger's sex life. Eww. If Angel starts talking about hers and Dad's………

But thankfully, she didn't. "But anyway," Angel went on, "How's Mark? Oh, well that's good. And Maureen and Joanne? That's nice." I heard Angel start walking back into the bathroom where she had been doing my nails. 'Mimi' she mouthed at me.

'I know,' I mouthed back.

"Alright," Angel said into the phone. "Okay, so I'll talk to you later. Carlie's right here; do you want to talk to her? Okay, here she is." Angel handed me the phone, and then walked out of the room.

"Hi Mimi," I said as I put the phone up to my ear. Even though my parents' friends were all much older than me, I still got along with them very well. They never treated me like I was a baby, or like I was too young to hear something, so I always liked them. Mimi and I got along especially well, since she was the closest to my age. Also, Mimi always told me that I was the reason that she gave up smack; when my parents told them that they were adopting, Mimi hadn't wanted her best friends' kid to be around drugs.

"Hey Carlie," Mimi said to me. "How's Connecticut?"

"It's okay," I answered. "I miss the city though. And you guys."

"We miss you too. But how was your first day at school? Sucky?"

"Not too sucky," I replied, "But it still wasn't all that amazing. I talked to a few girls though. And my teachers were okay."

"Well that's good," Mimi told me. "Remember, don't be too shy. It's much easier to make friends if you talk to them first, instead of waiting for them to come to you." And some people say that Mimi and Angel have nothing in common.

"I know. I'm not being that quiet. I'm sure that things will get better though," I said.

"There you go. Just stay positive."

"I'll try. I'll talk to you later, okay Mimi?"

"Sure Carlie. Bye!"

"Bye," I said into the phone before I hung up. Just then, Angel came back into the room.

"You ready for your second coat?" she asked me. I nodded. "Okay," Angel said as she sat down in front of me again. "Now, what was it you were saying before the phone rang?"

"Oh, it was……nothing. Don't worry about it," I said as the guilty feeling in my stomach started to return.

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The next day, my dad offered to drive me to school because he had an early class. After what had happened the day before on the bus, I was very quick to take up his offer.

"Dad?" I asked him as we pulled out of the driveway.

"Mm hmm?" he answered.

"You grew up in New York City, right?"

"Yeah, you know that," he replied.

"Well, when you were younger, like my age, did anyone ever, I mean, did the kids at your school ever say, I mean, did anybody at your school ever call you………"

"Carlie?" asked my dad skeptically as my voice trailed off. "What do you mean?" I glanced over at him. From the look in his eyes I could tell that he had some idea where our discussion was going.

"Oh, umm, never mind," I finished lamely.

"Are you sure?" asked my dad hesitantly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure." We rode the rest of the way to school in silence. When we finally got to school, I unbuckled, picked up my backpack, and opened up the car door. "Bye Dad. Love you," I said.

"Love you too baby. See you later." I got out of the car, shut the door, and my dad drove off.

"Carlie!" I heard someone yell. I turned around to see Amy running toward me. "Hi! Coming back for a second day?" she asked.

I smiled. "Yeah, my parents are making me."

"So, who was that that was just driving you? I saw you get out of the car."

"That was my dad," I answered. "I'm adopted," I added, seeing the look of confusion on her face.

"Oh, okay," Amy said. We started walking into the school. "That's a really cute skirt," she told me as we started up the stairs. "Where'd you get it?" I looked down, not remembering what I had put on.

"Oh yeah, thanks," I replied. "Angel made it."

"You mean your mom?" she asked confusedly.

"Um…yeah," I answered. "I call her Angel because……I'm not sure. I just do." And that funny feeling had made itself right at home in my stomach again.

I realize that this chapter was slightly pointless, but I needed to write it. I think that this whole story is only going to be about 6 chapters long, maybe a little longer or shorter. It depends. Anyway, I hope that you liked this chapter. If you guys have any suggestions or anything, please let me know and REVIEW!