Chapter 7! Lucky chapter right here- I'll try to make it a good one, ok? Oh, and an important note- from this Friday (the 9th) through the 22nd I will be out of town, and Miranda (Rabid RENThead) will be logging in as me to post new chapters. So I'm a little busy, and starting then you'll get one chapter every other day. Okey dokey? -falls asleep writing backup chapters-

Disclaimer: I don't own the RENT-ness!
--Pre-Party Events--

-Angel's POV-

"So you're having a party, Roger?" He just told us that he's having a party on Friday night, because his parents are going out of town for the weekend. It sounds like fun, if I can convince my dad to let me go. He might, though, considering how nice he's been lately.

"I'm in." Collins says. We're sitting under the tree after school, and everyone is there. Mark nods, saying he'll be there. Maureen and April say yes, of course. Roger looks over at me, waiting for my answer.

"Er… I won't know until I ask my dad. He might say yes, he might not."

"Oh! I want to come over to your house tonight anyway, to help with your math homework- remember?"

"Sure, Collins. Math homework." We laugh and talk for a while longer, and then we all stand and start walking towards our homes. Collins walks with me, and we hold hands. We've stopped caring so much if people see us. The worst thing that's happened so far is we've been yelled at by a teacher.

We get to my house, and I silently pray that my dad will be in a good mood today. When we go inside my mom is in the kitchen. She calls us over and gives us a plate of cookies.

"How did you know I was bringing Collins?"

"Mother's instinct I guess." She smiles and hands us glasses of milk to go with our cookies. My mom can be a little weird sometimes, but really nice. As we're going upstairs I hear my dad.

"Angelo, you're home a little late. Where were you?"

"I was sitting with my friends at school. We were just hanging out on the school campus for a while."

"Okay. I just wondered where you were. You… brought your friend over. Hello, I don't think we've actually met."

"Tom Collins, nice to meet you… sir. Ang, ask him now."

"Um… can I go to a party on Friday?"

"Okay, just promise to be home by eleven."

Wow. He said yes? And gave me an extra hour more than my mom would have? He must be really happy today. I start giggling happily and Collins and I go upstairs to my room. I flop down onto the bed, laughing hysterically.

"Are you okay, Ang? Take deep breaths and tell me what's so funny."

"My dad just said yes! It's possibly the funniest thing that's ever happened to me! He's been actually nice to me lately. It's cool. I'm just… really excited. I haven't been to a real party in a long time."

"Well, prepare yourself. Roger's parties are the best and worst at the same time. Best, because we do all that shit our parents tell us not to do, and worst… because we do all that shit our parents tell us not to do. It's great. I've always made sure to avoid the drugs though- some of it he doesn't even know where it came from."

"Then we should be careful. Does he usually have booze at these parties?"

"Always." Collins grins. "Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"

I pretend to think about my answer. "Hmmm… good thing."

We do our homework together, and I ask if Collins wants to stay for dinner. He wants to, so we go downstairs and ask my mom. She says he can, so we call his parents. His parents say it's okay, so we start dancing to music on the radio in the living room.

-Collins' POV-

I finally get to have dinner with my boyfriend's family. It's so exciting! They seem to be very nice. His little brother, Miguel, is adorable! He keeps asking me things like what my favorite color is, who is my favorite super hero... We end up having salads and home-made tacos for dinner. It's one of the best meals I've ever had (no, I'm not exaggerating!)… The fact that I'm with Angel makes it even better.

"So, Tom… Have you decided on where you're going to college?" his father asks me. I still don't really like that guy, but I'll be nice.

"Er, no actually. I don't know. I kind of want to do more philosophy studies."

"Well that sounds lovely." His mother is obviously more comfortable around me than his father. "Angel hasn't decided on anything, and I keep telling him he only has this year left to decide."

"Mom, I told you, I want to go to NYU." Angel pouts, looking over at me. "She thinks I should try to go somewhere like Harvard, but we all know my grades are nowhere near good enough. Plus, we could never afford it."

"Well I think NYU is a wonderful choice." I smile at him.

After dinner he offers to walk me home, and we start off down the street. I put my arm around his shoulder and he stumbles a little, laughing.

"Ow. I guess I got thrown off balance." We laugh, and I don't really want to get home just yet. So I stop and sit down on the curb, and refuse to get up again.

"No. I don't want to go home yet. Now the first thing I want you to do is sit down here next to me." He sits, smiling at me.

"Okay, I'm sitting. Now what, Mister Genius?"

"Now…" I think about what to do. "Got it. Now you kiss me, and I kiss you back. Then we see someone walking this way and we don't care. And then once the person is gone we get up and keep walking. That's what's going to happen." I grin at my stupid plan, as Angel looks at me oddly.

"Sweetie, how do you know that's what will happen?"

"Because I'm not leaving until it does." So we sit there for a minute. Angel sighs.

"You're serious, aren't you?" I nod. "Well fine. But I'm only doing this because I know how stubborn you are."

He kisses me, and I kiss him, and we part moments later only to start again- and sure enough my plan is working. We see someone down the street, illuminated by a street-lamp. He gets closer and stares at us as he walks by. I don't recognize him…

"Mmm okay. I'm happy now." I stand up and offer my hand to Angel, who takes it as he stands too. We start walking down the street again.

"What was that about, Collins?"

"Ang, guess what?" He stares at me. "We just came out to a random person on the street!" I laugh so hard my sides hurt, and soon enough he's laughing with me.

"Was that the entire point of it? You're really weird, you know that?" We reach my house, and I kiss him once more.

"Good night, Angel. I'll see you tomorrow."

"G'night Collins."

Whee! It's the amazing 7th chapter! I know, Collins was just being stupid right there. -points to last few chapters & dialogue- THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DON'T SLEEP. Please review!