Disclaimer – Don't own it…still…how bout never? I am SO sorry this took me so long! It took me FOREVER to write, then forever to type, then my internet went down...anyway...here it is, at long last.

Chapter Two

As Mateo slid the door shut behind him, Angel began to tremble. I hugged her closer than I already had been, stroking her back softly. "Shh…it's gonna be okay, baby…shh…" I soothed over and over again.

Her thin body ceased it's shaking after a while and she looked up at me. Angel's eyes…those big, beautiful brown eyes…were filled with tears.

"Col, he made fun of me for seven years. SEVEN! And now he stalks me and expects me to forgive him just like that?" She snapped her fingers, emphasizing the 'that.' "It's ridiculous!" The tears spilled over the edge of her eyes and ran down her cheeks. I stood there, feeling helpless, not knowing what to do. Angel released herself from my grasp and started to pace the large room.

"Did he really think it would be that easy for me? Seriously…Collins, while he teased me, I didn't talk to anyone about it. I was too afraid to. I never told anyone that he was hurting me, making me feel nervous every time I tried to show someone affection. The torment was finally over senior year, when I could escape him.

"My parents had kicked me out when I was sixteen, as you know, because I had told them that I was gay. I was living with Mimi. She was my best friend and I couldn't even tell her about Mateo harassing me because he had threatened to physically hurt me if he found out about me telling anyone." Hot tears of anger and frustration rolled down my Angel's cheeks in waves. Tears threatened to spill out of my eyes, stinging my nose.

There was a soft knock on the door as it slid open. The exact person we needed was standing there.

Mimi.

She entered the room with a bright, cheery smile on her face, but the grin fell off as soon as she saw Angel. Mimi dropped her purse and ran to comfort her best friend.

"Oh my God, what's wrong, baby? What happened? Why is she crying?" The last question was directed at me.

I gestured for Mimi to come over to the couch. She put her arm around Angel's waist and dragged her along as well.

When they both got situated, I told Mimi the whole story. She began to cry at one point, when she asked Angel why she had never told her about Mateo.

Angel averted her eyes downwards, obviously not wanting to tell Mimi. I explained instead.

Once I was done with the whole thing, Mimi sat…absolutely silent. Suddenly, she leapt off the sofa and said, "Where is this guy? I wanna give him a piece of my mind!"

I knew she would want to do something like that, so I gave in. I told her where this guy was staying, but not to go at the moment, because it was 11:00 pm. She hesitated, but finally reluctantly agreed to go the next day.

--

Later that night, around midnight, Angel crawled into bed with me. She laid her head on my chest and let out a little sigh.

"What, baby?" I asked.

She seemed to have a hard time putting her thoughts into words. "I just…I'm so glad I have you and Meems to take care of me. Along with everyone else, or course." Angel smiled at me.

I smiled back. "Oh, lover. I'll cover you…" I sang softly into her black wig, kissing the top of it.

I set my book on the floor, snapped off the light, and fell asleep contentedly, yet anxious, as I awaited the next day's events.

you got to read, now you get to push that wonderful little button under this little persuasive sentence. did my persuasion work?