The next day in school, Angel's cheek was an even darker shade of blue, but the huge smile on his face diverted much of Collins attention from it. He was standing by Angel's locker waiting for him, anxious to see how the night had gone, and as Angel joined him at the locker, something about his smile made Collins want to lean down and kiss him. He didn't though, since Angel was still very touchy about doing things in public, so he settled for just smiling back as Angel opened his locker. "So, I take it the night went well?"

"Ohh god ya." He shoved his books into his locker. "When I got home, my dad was sitting in the kitchen with me mom, and I didn't want to interrupt them, so I listened from the hallway. And my dad was saying something about my mom treating me wrong, and that if she did it again, he wouldn't be able to be with her anymore, and that I'm not staying home with her for awhile, so I have to watch Clara until six when mom gets home and then I get to leave."

"What did your mom say?"

Angel bit his lip, but he still looked happy. "Well at first she said something about who was gonna clean and all that, but I'll still be home, so I can still help with all that, and my dad said something about how he'll start helping around more, and my mom will have to put in an effort too. She did not seem that happy about that, and she said something about toughening me up, 'cause I was too girly' or something. And my dad said that in that case maybe having my cook and play dolls with a seven year old everyday wasn't the best way to help with that. And she said something about me hanging out with you too much, and she didn't like the vibe she got from you. And my dad asked her what kind of vibe, and she said something along the lines of fags and not having one in her house…" Collins opened his mouth to say something, but Angel placed his fingers over Collins lips to stop him. "And my dad said 'so what? As long as he's happy, I could care less who caused it'."

Collins jaw dropped as he looked at Angel, who looked as if he was about to burst. He couldn't help it. Angel was the cutest thing in the world at the moment, and Collins couldn't help but lean down and kiss him, right there in the hallway. He pulled away, getting ready for Angel to look around and make sure that no one had seen them, but Angel was still smiling.

Since they had started dating, Angel still didn't like to do much in public, and normally ignored anything Collins did in public. They only kissed when alone in the halls, only held hands when everyone else was far out of site. But the hall was full at the moment, and Angel didn't pull away or look to make sure no one had seen.

He just nodded happily. "Isn't it great! I don't have to deal with my bitchy mom anymore!"

They both looked from one another as someone stopped in the hall and yelled 'fags'. Angel went pale, and for a moment, Collins wondered if it had just been that Angel had been to excited before to realize that what Collins had done was in public. Angel took a deep breath, making a face as if he was about to say something, then looked desperately to Collins.

All he could do was shrug sympathetically. He turned to the small group who had gathered in the hall. "You know what? Mind your own fucking business." Angel turned to face his locker again, grabbed his book bag and ran to the bathroom. Collins tried to call after him, but Angel didn't turn around.

One of the taller, more built guys in the group sneered. "Better run after your boyfriend huh?"

Collins smirked. After where he had grown up, this was nothing new. It would probably make more sense if he told Angel about that, but they never seemed to talk about their pasts. They talked about what they were going to do in the future, together; because the time they had spent apart seems like such a waste it was best if forgotten. He crossed his arms and smiled coolly. "Jealous?"

"Of what?" Okay, that had obviously gone right over his head.

"Me… Angel?" He raised an eyebrow suggestively at the boy, who just looked confused, before it finally hit him and he stepped back, disgusted.

"Fucking sick is what it is." He tried to look threateningly at Collins, but he only looked a bit constipated. "You best keep that shit out of this town."

Collins rolled his eyes. "Uhuh, any other requests?" The boy gave him the finger and as he walked off, the group that was around him also scattered, throwing insults over their shoulders. He shrugged again and headed off toward the bathroom. He opened the door and instantly heard sobbing. There was no one else in the bathroom, since all the stalls were open, so Collins just locked the door behind him and walked to the last stall, knocking softly. "Angel?"

The quality of his voice didn't give away that he was crying, but it shook just at the end. "I'm fine Collins." It sounded like he was doing something in there. There were zippers, and books being dropped onto the tiles. "So, umm, after my mom gets home today, you think I can come by your house for a few hours 'til my dad gets home?" Zip, rustle.

Collins was very curious as to what was going on behind the door. "Definitely. My Grandma really liked you."

"She was great; I liked her a lot too." Rustle, zip, rustle, crinkle, zip. "And thanks."

""Baby, what are you doing in there?"

There was a small sniffle, and then Angel blew his nose. "Don't worry about it." He kicked his book bag out from under the stall. "Take that, okay? I'll be just a minute."

Collins picked up the book bag and threw it over his shoulder. He waited for a few minutes before Angel opened the stall door. A huge smile came over his face as he looked his boyfriend over. "You sure about this Ang?"

Angel smiled confidentially. "Hell ya." He was wearing his black and red rose shirt, and a pair of jeans that Collins had never seen. They hung low on his waist and had sparkly patches working up the side. He had on a silver necklace, as well as several rings on both hands. Any redness he had in his eyes from crying was gone, and though bruised, it was the most beautiful face Collins had ever seen. Angel held his arms up over his head, and Collins couldn't help but look at the bare stomach that this caused, causing Angel to blush slightly. "What do you think?"

Collins responded by dropping the book bag and pinning Angel to the wall of the bathroom, his hands holding tightly to the smaller boys' waist. Angel's arms were up around Collins neck in a matter of seconds. They kissed for a few minutes before they broke off and Collins looked to his watch. "You know, first period ends in ten minutes. You wanna just stay here and do this?"

Angel smiled sweetly and nodded, bringing his lips back to Collins'.

AVAVAVAVAVAVA

They both pulled away, startled when the bell rang. That time had gone really fast. Collins pulled his hand back from under the back of Angel's shirt with a smirk, and when Angel unhooked his fingers from the loops in Collins jeans, for the first time in their relationship, instead of blushing, he smirked back.

Collins stared after Angel, the smirk still on his face, as Angel pulled away, grabbed his book bag, and walked to the door, looking back to Collins. "What?"

Collins just shrugged, walking over to join Angel at the door, unlocking it. "Nothing. I just like the side of you that this shirt brings out. We should get you more of them." He pushed the door open and he and Angel walked out.

Angel kept his eyes on the ground as the walked for just a moment, but he could just sense all the people looking at him. He was invisible in the crowd before, and now he was impossible to miss. People sneered, people called him names as they walked in the hall. When he finally looked up, frowning again, looking like he just might cry, Collins smiled and slid his hand into Angels, interlocking their fingers, and squeezing lightly. Angel lifted his chin a bit, smiling widely as he squeezed Collins hand back.