:( I am mean to the poor characters. Poor Angel! –starts crying- DON'T BE SAD ANYMORE.
Disclaimer: Same as always, I don't own RENT.
--Easy as Pie--
-Angel's POV-
I don't handle some things well. Fights with my father, for example. Like when he yells at me, I get mad and hide in my room for the next two days. Thank God it's Monday! I can go to school.
A tense moment at breakfast, a quick goodbye and I'm finally free. Well… I use the term lightly. I'm not really free. It's not like I can run up to Collins and kiss him whenever I want. Maybe someday…
I'm walking over to the school really early today, mostly because I don't want to be at home. No one is sitting under the tree yet, so I guess I'll just sit and wait for people to get here. It looks like it'll be a nice day- sunny with a few clouds.
"Angel! How did it go?" Oh, Maureen walked up and I didn't notice. "Hey? Are you okay?"
"Yeah. It was amazing. Collins got sick the next day though, and I had to wear a wig and pretend to be a girl so I could give him soup." I sigh. "And then my dad said I can never do anything fun again. Well, he said no more dates and no calling people."
"Oh, that really sucks. What did you do?"
"I yelled at him. He hates the fact that I'm gay, so when he yelled at me for going over to Collins' house I just yelled back at him. And then I hid in my room for the rest of the weekend." Maureen senses how upset I am, I guess, because she sits down and hugs me. And the moment she does this I start to cry on her shoulder. I don't cry very much… I guess it's still that whole upbringing of 'boys don't cry' affecting me.
I sniffle and give her a small smile, and she laughs. "Aw, Angel. It'll be okay. Don't worry about your stupid parents- I mean, doesn't love always win out in the end?"
"I suppose… But sometimes it just seems really hopeless."
Mark, Roger and April all show up over the next few minutes. Collins is the last to arrive.
"Hey Ang, sorry I'm a little late. My mom wouldn't let me out of the house until I ate a bowl of oatmeal. I hate oatmeal!" He's so adorable when he pouts like that.
"Aw, I'm sorry you had to have yucky oatmeal. I had to deal with my psycho father who can't accept the fact that I'm gay." Oh yeah, I so totally win. My dad can be pretty scary when he's mad… and he was pretty mad at me.
"What did he do?"
"Said I can't go on any more dates, or call you. I guess you'll just have to call me then." We hear the school bell ring, signaling that it's time to go into class. Collins and I walk close together, staying behind until the rest of the people have gone in. It's worth being a little late if we can share more moments like these. We stand together, and he kisses me once before we part to go to class.
-Collins' POV-
I can't stand not being able to be close to Angel when we're out in public. It's just… the worst thing ever. I know that if we were officially out, then there would probably be a lot of trouble. But right now, I just don't care. I'm already planning how to tell my parents. I'll probably invite Angel over. My parents both have work today- I'm sure he'd love to hang out with me instead of going home right away.
School goes by quickly, which is a little surprising. Angel and I walk together to my house, and sure enough neither of my parents is home. So of course I invite him to hang out for a while.
"Collins, baby, can you explain the math homework? I don't get it."
"Of course. It's not that difficult." We're sitting on my bed, working on homework. I show him quickly how to do the first few problems, and he bites his lip (which is absolutely adorable) and attempts to do the next one.
"Is that right?"
"Yep. That is the correct answer. Good job!" We share one of those moments again, of mutual happiness.
"Do I get a reward for doing it right?" he asks, pouting just a tiny bit. "I think I should." I have to laugh, and he looks slightly disappointed. Oh, so that's what he wanted. I lean over and kiss him, still gently, and sit back after a moment.
"Was that a good reward?"
"Heck yeah! What about if I finish the rest of my math homework?"
"You get… another kiss. Or two." He gins and starts writing on his homework paper. Within ten minutes he holds it up triumphantly.
"Done! Here, check my answers." He puts the paper next to mine, and we compare answers.
"Good job- all of these are right!"
"You should tutor me in math more often, Collins." He smiles sweetly, and I keep my promise and kiss him again. "Hey, do you think I would look good in a skirt?"
Wait, what? Did he just… Wha? Angel… in drag… I think my brain just shut down. I'd better say something or he'll think I'm saying no.
"Ang, I think you'd look good in anything. You in a skirt would be… so sexy I wouldn't be able to stay away from you. Did I tell you about my plan?"
"Ooh, you have a plan? Count me in, I don't care what it is."
"I'm going to tell my parents… about us. About everything, actually. I'm really tired of keeping secrets." I can tell he already likes the idea.
"So… then I can stay here and not wear that stupid wig?" He looks absolutely joyful when I nod my head.
"Well, that's if they don't send me away to a mental institution." We laugh together, and he hugs me.
"I know it takes a lot of guts to tell them something like this. I'll stay by you, okay babe? I'll be right here." We lie down, side by side, and discuss the best approach to telling them without getting kicked out of the house or put into therapy.
-Angel's POV-
He's doing this for me, I can tell. It's so sweet… I know he's scared, and worried, and struggling with this. But I'll be here for him.
"What time do your parents get home from work?"
"My mom gets home at five thirty, and my dad gets home around six." Ooh, that might be a problem. It would probably be better to tell them together. Unfortunately with me here, we might just have to tell them separately.
"Okay. We can tell your mom when she gets home. And… your dad later. Don't worry, if they love you they'll try to accept you for who you are."
"I guess that means your dad doesn't love you huh?" Bad joke. I glare at him.
"He… he's just a bit old-fashioned. And me, being his oldest son…" I look down at my math book still sitting on my lap. "He's disappointed, but I know he still loves me. Hey, he didn't kick me out of the house."
"Yeah. You're right again. Well I'm their only child, so I seriously doubt they'll kick me out. What time is it?" I glance at his wrist- he's wearing a watch. So why did he ask me?
"Um… it's almost five thirty." He suddenly looks very nervous. I lean my head on his shoulder, and he moves his hand to grab mine. "It's okay. Don't worry…"
We hear a car door slam and the front door opens. Collins looks like he's about to start hyperventilating…
"Tom, I'm home. Are you here?" his mom calls.
"Yeah. One sec." He stands up. "Stay here for a minute Ang, I'll be right back."
"Okay." I sit on the edge of the bed, unable to stay still. My stomach is doing flips, and I can hear Collins talking to his mom, although I can't tell what he's saying. Suddenly the door opens, and he's smiling at me.
"Come on. I'm getting an adrenaline high, so let's just go before it wears off." I can't help but giggle as he grabs my hand and leads me down the hallway. We reach the kitchen and he motions for me to stay where I am.
"Mom… I know you met Angel that day when I was sick… But… um, not really the real Angel. Ang, come here." I take a deep breath and walk into the kitchen. His mom is sitting with a cup of tea, and I'm temporarily unable to breathe- I'm so nervous.
"But… Thomas, I don't understand." She wrinkles her brow and looks at me intently.
"This is Angel. Um… He's a guy. And… I'm gay." There's an awkward silence as she sips her tea and stares at us.
"Tom, what are you talking about? You've always had girlfriends, and that is certainly not the same person who was here on Saturday."
"Actually, I am. Uh, it was just a wig and some makeup." I can tell I'm blushing, and she looks at me, studying my features.
"Yes… you do look familiar. But why are you doing this? Are you just trying to rebel? You don't have to do anything like this to get people's attention."
He sighs. "No, I rebel by hacking computers and boycotting homework. And most of my 'girlfriends' were actualy boys. And I'm really sorry for lying to you, but I love Angel, and nothing you say will change that." He smiles at me, and suddenly I feel a lot more comfortable.
"Do you want me to stay, babe? I mean, for when your father gets home…"
"Of course. That is… if my mom doesn't mind?"
She stares at the table, apparently a little surprised by this new situation. "Sure. You can stay for a while longer." We all sit at the table in awkward silence again for a few minutes. "Do you boys want something to eat?"
I look at Collins and he nods. "Yes, please Mrs. Collins." It's funny trying to keep straight that we actually call him by his last name, and I'm trying to remember to call him Tom in front of his parents. His mother stands up and gets a plate out of the cabinet. As she makes two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Collins and I scoot our chairs closer together so we can hold hands.
"Here, have a sandwich." She sets the plate in front of us, and I reach for one of the sandwiches. Collins reaches for one too, and our hands touch again. I blush, mostly because we're still with his mom.
"Um… thank you." We eat our sandwiches, and Collins starts chattering away about the math homework he helped me with. I add an occasional comment, and his mother smiles and nods every so often.
The front door opens, and our talking stops almost immediately. His father walks into the kitchen and stops short.
"What's wrong? Why are you guys sitting in the kitchen? Who is this?"
Collins sighs and stands up. "Dad, this is Angel. I think you remember him from a couple days ago. He came over when I was sick."
"What? Angel, your girlfriend? But that was a girl- and…" he was looking from me to Collins to his wife, trying to find answers.
"Er, wig and makeup." I add, hoping to make the situation better. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work. His father grabs his arm and drags him into the other room, shutting the door. The last look I get from him is a pleading one, clearly saying "save me."
I can't do anything as I hear the yelling in the other room. It's mostly one-sided, his father yelling, but sometimes he yells back. Most of it isn't discernible, but I'm sure I can hear Collins shouting "I love him" as loud as he can. The yelling starts to quiet down, until it's almost back to normal volume levels. I can't handle it anymore, and I put my head on my arms and start sobbing.
"Angel… don't cry, sweetie." Collins' mom is patting me on the back, trying to calm me down, although it seems like she's hesitant to talk to me. I admit, it isn't working and I'm not feeling any better. I just want him back in here so he can comfort me.
"Thank you." I finally manage to say. I'm still crying when they come back into the room.
"Ang, come on. I'll walk you home." I smile as he grabs my hand and we walk outside.
"So… that went well." I say quietly. We both burst out laughing.
"Well, shit. That wasn't so bad! I mean, we're both still alive! Why is it the fathers that can't accept the truth?" I kiss him on the cheek as we near my house.
"Wish me luck. My dad's going to kill me for not coming home right after school." We stop in my front yard, and have one final goodbye hug and kiss. I walk up to the front door and turn back to see him still watching me. "What are you staring at, Collins?"
"Nothing. Just thinking how beautiful you are." I smile and wave, and go into the house.
Sure enough, there's dad ready to yell at me. I don't feel like dealing with him right now.
"Where were you?"
"At Collins' house. He was… well basically he just came out to his parents. And I'm tired, so I'm going to bed."
My dad just stares at me as I walk up the stairs, in a very happy mood. I've avoided disaster a few times today, and it feels wonderful.
-Collins' POV-
I know I'm going to get a huge talk when I get home. So I walk as slowly as I can, thinking about what just happened. I don't have that secret on my chest anymore. It's a relief, even if my parents are going to be annoying about it. I can't put off getting home any longer, so I walk up to the door and open it quietly. Not quietly enough, apparently, because my parents walk into the room the second I shut the door. Drat.
"Tom, we need to talk about what happened tonight."
So I get a lecture, plus my parents asking me five billion times why I'm doing this. They threaten with grounding me, and beg me to not do this to them. Most of it I can't find an answer to, so they give up after a while. I go to my room, close the door, and flop down on the bed. It could have been worse. Could have been better, but also could have been a lot worse.
Yes, Angel went to bed at like 7-something. So shoot me, I was lazy :D ZOMG happy though, right? I bet they are! Reviews are the uber-awesomeness. :P Don't worry, things will get better for our favorite little couple!