I just wanna say thanks to everyone for the reviews… I think this is the most I've gotten for a single story this quickly… I'm really flattered by every 'awesome' and 'keep this going' I get… Thanks so much…

Three and a half weeks now since the kiss. They weren't alone all that much. Ever since Angel had went to the movies with Collins, his mother had used that as an excuse to have him do even more work than usual, perhaps thinking that she was getting to lenient with him or something like that. Even after she came home from work and the house was clean, Angel was rarely allowed to go places, except on Thursdays when his father had been home. So his mother had taken to planning 'family' nights on Thursdays as a way to get Angel's father to agree for him to stay home. And Angel was getting very sick of it.

He pushed back in his seat on Thursday night, picking up the plates for dinner without being asked, knowing that if his mom had to ask, Angel would somehow end up looking ungrateful or something. She smiled up at him. "Thank you Angel." He waited until his back was to her before rolling his eyes. How could someone be so two faced just to keep their son in the house?

Angel cleaned the entire house every day, he always got all his school work done, he had never failed a test, class, or grade, he'd never had detention, he'd never gotten in trouble for messing up a neighbors garden or getting into things that weren't his. From the looks of it, Angel was pretty on the perfect side, so why did his mom have such a problem with him going out? He could understand if it was where he was going that was the problem, but since it was just an in general thing, he didn't get it at all.

By the time he was done cleaning up the kitchen, it was six, and his parents and sister were in the living watching a movie. He stood in the door way for a moment, smiling at them, wishing he could be a part of that happy family, but he didn't see that happening.

He jumped a bit when the phone rang. Without even looking up, his mother waved her hand. "Could you get that Angel?"

He nodded and went to the phone, lifting it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hey Angel."

He couldn't help the smile that spread over his face as he settled into the over sized arm chair by the phone. "Hey Collins. What's up?"

"Absolutely nothing here. You? Suffering family night?"

"Mmhmm. They're all watching some movie with a doll as the main character. Not something I really want to do."

"So leave."

Angel laughed, right, like he could just get up and leave. That wasn't an entirely stupid idea. "Are you kidding me?"

"Well, okay, don't just leave, but… come help me with my history project."

Angel thought for a moment. That one might work, since his dad was home. He would let him go help a friend with school stuff. "Hold on a minute. I'll ask." Angel set the receiver down and walked back to the living room. "Hey dad?"

His dad looked up with a smile, while his mother looked annoyed with the distraction. "What's up son?"

Angel tried to avoid him mother's eyes. "I was wondering, do you think I could go to Collins to help him with a history project?"

His mother answered first. "Do you have this project?"

"Ya, but I finished yesterday and already handed it in." There, now she couldn't ask to see it for proof.

His dad seemed satisfied. "I don't see why not."

But his mother didn't like that. "But it's family night."

His father just gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Ohh, we're just watching movies that Clara picked out. I'm sure Angel's not interested in these movies."

Before his mom could say anything else, Angel smiled gratefully. "Thanks! I'll see you later."

He heard his mother yell 'You'd better not be home too late' as he picked up the phone again.

"What did they say?"

"Oddly enough, yes."

"Really?" He didn't quite sound like he believed him.

"Mmhmm. I'll be over in a little bit."

Collins used his most seductive voice. "I'll be waiting."

Angel laughed as he hung up the phone. He ran upstairs quickly to grab his jacket, and when he came back down stairs, his mother was standing in front of the door. Her hands were on her hips. "Why did you need to go upstairs to get clothes? You're not staying there."

He gave her an odd look. "I just got a jacket mom."

"Where are your books? You said you were helping him with school work."

"He has his." He tied his jacket around his waist.

"I don't like how much time you spend with this boy."

"What are talking about?"

"When ever you're not home, you're with him. I don't think it's healthy."

"I'm –always- home mom. He moved here four months ago. I've gone places with him twice, he's been here once, and I've been to his house twice. That's barely anything."

"Don't get sassy with my mister. It's not like I even know this boy."

"Then get to know him. You never let me have him over, otherwise you might." Angel was doing his very best to keep all of the attitude from his voice. It was better to look bored and uninterested with him mom than annoyed and 'sassy'.

"Keep up this attitude and I'm not going to let you go over there tonight."

Angel took a step back, not backing down from his mother, but not wanting to get hit either. "He needs help. We're just doing homework."

"That better be all you're doing."

"What?"

"I just don't like him. I think he's a bad influence on you and he's taking your mind off of more important things like school and…"

Angel didn't like her tone, and as wrong as he knew it was, he couldn't take her. He cut her off. "And cleaning up the kitchen after –you- cook? And watching Clara every night while –you- stay at the office late? Things like that mom?"

Before he even knew what happened, his mother lifted her hand and slapped him, -hard- across the left cheek. Much harder than the last time. It was already turning red and he knew that there was going to be a dark bruise.

He looked up at his mom shocked, but she didn't look like she would take back her action with even a sympathetic frown. If anything she looked smugger now.

"What are you doing!" They both turned quickly when they heard Angel's fathers' voice from behind them, and his mother paled a few shades. His father took a step toward him reaching out his hand. "Angel I'm so…"

But Angel took the opportunity of his mother not paying attention to him to get out. He flung the door open and ran until he reached the corner, not paying attention to his father reopening the door and calling to him.

Once Angel reached the corner, he stopped and doubled over, trying to catch his breath, and keep himself from crying. It was a moment before he straightened back up, wiping away that he had been unable to keep in. Touching his face, a jolt of pain ran through him and straight to his stomach, making him want to vomit. He pulled on his jacket and pulled up the hood, hiding the side of his face that was already starting to darken against his cheek and jaw.

After two minutes he got to Collins house, and looked at the door from the porch. He didn't know what to do. The last thing he wanted was to pour all his problems onto someone else, but he also had a selfish desire for Collins to just hold him. Angel looked over his shoulder, where Collins grandmother's car was sitting. Ohh great. So Collins wouldn't be able to hold him either way. He sucked in a breath and pulled off his hood, planning to simply play it down, and knocked on the door softly.

It was another moment before a smiling Collins answered the door, laughing about something that must have happened before he opened the door. But his smile instantly disappeared the moment he saw Angel.

Angel laughed softly. "Wow, that's not normally the reaction I get from you."

Collins shook his head, taking Angel's hand and pulling him into the house, closing the door behind him. Collins hand came to Angel's cheek, but he winced and pulled away, trying to keep on his smile. "Angel what the hell happened?"

"Ohh this?" Play stupid… right… "I was tossing the basketball with my sister and she threw it a bit too hard. It's okay, I'm fine."

"Angel, don't give me that. I'm literally watching this thing turn into a bruise; you didn't get it from your sister." He laid his other hand on Angel's non injured cheek. Angel shrugged and didn't even realize that a tear was slipping down his cheek until he felt. "Your mom?"

Angel now felt another few tears slip down his cheek as he nodded. Collins leaned in and kissed each of his tears away before pressing his forehead against Angel's. He shuddered a bit it as he cried.

Angel pulled back suddenly when he saw Collins grandma come into the room out the corner of his eyes. His eyes widened as he looked from Collins, to his grandma to the floor. His arms tightened a bit as Collins slipped an arm around him "Hey Grandma, this is Angel." The last time Angel went to Collins, his grandmother hadn't been home.

Angel looked up with a sheepish smile, and was almost shocked to see that she was smiling sweetly at him. She reached out and pulled him into a hug. It's so nice to finally meet you Angel. I've heard –so- much about you."

Angel was barely able to return the hug he was in such shock. "Umm… Thanks? You too." When he was let go, Collins arm was back around his waist. "You... umm…"

Collins laughed deep in his throat. "Ya. It's okay. She knows."

Angel couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. This was one less person he and Collins would have to hide from. He gave her a grateful smile. "Nice to meet you."

But she wasn't paying attention any longer. She was looking over Angel's cheek. "Ohh honey. That doesn't look good."

"No, I'm fine really. It doesn't even hurt anymore." To prove a point, Collins touched the tip of his finger to Angel's cheek, causing him to flinch and hit Collins on the arm. "Hey!"

"We need to get you some ice. Come 'ere." She took Angel's arm and pulled him to the freezer. "We'll get you all fixed up."

AVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVA

After an hour, a cup of tea, and a bag of ice, Angel and Collins were sitting in Collins room. Collins was sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, and Angel was lying on the bed facing him, the bag of ice balanced on his cheek.

"So what are you gonna do?"

Angel looked absolutely torn up. "I dunno. What time is it anyway?" He was so incredibly tired, it must be at least midnight.

Collins looked over his shoulder at a clocked on the nightstand. "Almost eight thirty."

Angel began to sit up. "I need to get going then. I'm not supposed to be out after nine."

Collins stood up quickly and put his hands on Angel's shoulders. "Wooh. I don't think so."

Angel plopped back onto the bed, looking up at Collins. "What are you talking about? I need to go home."

"I'm not letting you go home tonight, especially by your self."

Angel let his head fall in front of him. "Collins… You don't understand."

He knelt in front of Angel, taking his hands in his own. "What baby? What do I have wrong? It's obviously not very safe for you to be, and I'm being the good boyfriend by not letting you walk into harm right?"

Angel looked back up and he was crying again. Silent tears. "It's how it's always been Collins. It's how it always will be. There's nothing I can do about it." He leaned in to kiss Collins softly before standing up. "I do need to go though."

"Angel, that's…"

"I'll see you tomorrow Collins." Angel cut him off before he could say anything all too true. He walked quickly out of Collins house and back home, not wanting to get into any trouble.