OMG! SOMEBODY CALL THE PRESS! I'M UPDATING! Okay then. Now that that's outta the way, I can write.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Softer side of Alejandro in this chappy. That is all.
I own nothing. The Almighty Larson owns it all.
Collins and Alejandro stood in silence for a moment before they turned to each other, glaring.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" they both shouted at each other.
"How the hell is it my fault?" Alejandro questioned.
"If you hadn't tricked me into makin' that bet, Angel and Alicia would still be here!" Collins yelled.
"I can get Alicia back easily," Alejandro said. "Besides, I got what I wanted."
"Which is?"
"Ángel hates you and, as a bonus, left you." Collins grabbed Alejandro by his shirt collar.
"What the hell is your problem?!" he yelled.
"You! You're my problem! Ever since Ángel told Alicia and I that you two were together you've been my sworn enemy!" Alejandro yelled back, forcing Collins to let go of his shirt.
"'Sworn enemy!?'" Collins repeated, slightly shocked. "I just met you a few days ago! And you've been givin' me all kinds of hell ever since! Tell me somethin', what exactly is your problem with me!? What is it that makes you dislike me so fucking much!?"
"I DISLIKE ANYONE WHO TAKES MY SON AWAY FROM ME!" Tears formed in Alejandro's eyes as Collins fell silent.
"What?" he said, confused. Alejandro quickly went to the guest room and slammed the door, pretending not to notice Collins' confusion. After trying to figure things out for a few minutes, Collins decided to take a walk. He had no destination in mind, but his feet took him to the loft for some odd reason. Instead of calling for the key to be thrown down, he climbed the several flights of stairs and slid the already unlocked door open, his eyes immediately landing on Angel.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Angel asked, a little hostility in her voice.
"I-" Collins started.
"Did you and Alejandro make a bet on who could get here first?" Mimi interrupted, hostility also in her voice.
"No, I-" Collins started again.
"I can't believe you!" Maureen shouted. "You! My best friend! How could you do something like this and then just pop up outta nowhere?"
"I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS HERE!" Collins yelled.
"Well, now you do," Angel said. "So get out!"
"Ángel, I think you're being a little hard on him," Alicia said.
"That's easy for you to say, mamá," Angel replied. "He didn't bet on you."
"Ang, I didn't mea-" Collins started, yet again.
"Don't 'Ang' me!" Angel interrupted, standing up. "As a matter of fact, don't even talk to me!"
"Angel-"
"You're talking to me!"
"Baby-"
"Don't call me that!"
"But I-"
"Shut up! God, you're pissing me off by just standing there! Go away!"
"Angel, please." Angel stormed past him and out the door, followed by Mimi, Maureen, and Alicia. Collins sighed and sat on the couch. Roger sat beside him.
"I'm gonna say this as a friend," he said, putting a hand on Collins' shoulder. "You really fucked up big time."
"Gee, thanks a lot," Collins said sarcastically, pushing Roger's hand off of his shoulder.
"He's got a point, Collins," Mark said. "If you hadn't made that bet-"
"That bet wasn't my fault!" Collins interrupted. "Angel's dad is evil! He sucked me into it! He wanted Angel to leave me!"
"Why?" Roger asked.
"He hates me for some reason! And we've been attacking each other all week! He tried to kill me today and Angel gets mad at me."
"Well, you know what you gotta do, right?"
"What?"
"In order to make up with Angel, you gotta make up with her dad. Otherwise, you'll end up single like Mark."
"Hey!" Mark said.
"I guess you're right," Collins agreed, ignoring Mark's comment. "But how am I suppose to do that?"
"Apologize," Roger replied.
"He ain't gonna listen."
"Then make him. Or end up like Mark. Completely alone."
"STILL IN THE ROOM HERE!" Mark yelled.
"Alright. I will," Collins said, once again, ignoring Mark. He then got up, left the loft, and went back to his and Angel's apartment. Guessing that Alejandro was still in the guest room, Collins walked to the door and opened it. He immediately saw Alejandro sitting on the bed looking at a photo album. "Hey, can I come in?" Alejandro turned to him, his face somewhat tear-stained.
"It's your apartment," he replied, turning back to the photo album. Collins entered the room and sat on the bed next to Alejandro. For a while, neither of them spoke.
"What're you lookin' at?" Collins asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Pictures of Ángel when he was younger," Alejandro replied.
"Um . . . can I see?" Alejandro gave Collins the photo album.
"That's me teaching Ángel how to ride a bike without training wheels," Alejandro said, pointing at a picture of him standing next to Angel, who was on a red bike. "Those were the days he needed me for everything." Collins turned the page and saw a picture of Alejandro holding a baby Angel in his arms.
"Oh my God," Collins said. "Angel as a baby." He gently touched the photographed baby face of his lover.
"That was the day we brought Ángel home from the hospital," Alejandro told him. "He'd cry every time Alicia held him." Collins chuckled and turned the page. He immediately saw a picture of Angel, a guy he'd never seen before, and a very angry looking Alejandro.
"You don't look too happy in this one," he said. Alejandro glanced at the picture.
"I wasn't happy that day," he replied. "That was when Ángel introduced Alicia and I to Miguel." Collins' face had a confused look on it.
"Who now?" he asked.
"Miguel was Ángel's first boyfriend," Alejandro explained, staring at the picture. "Every time he broke up with a boyfriend, he'd run right to me. He needed me." Alejandro looked at the floor. "That is until he found a new boyfriend. Then he . . ." he paused and wiped a tear away, "he didn't need me . . . at all." Collins stared at Alejandro for a moment.
I knew he couldn't be that crazy, he thought. Alejandro lifted his head and saw Collins staring at him.
"I understand now," Collins said. "It's not me you don't like, it's the fact that Angel's with me. You think she's gonna replace you with me. Is that right?"
"You really are smart," Alejandro replied. "That was a compliment by the way."
"I could've guessed that, but why in God's name would you think Angel would wanna replace you?" Alejandro shrugged.
"It just seemed like he wanted to," he said. "Considering that we barely spend time together. And then it's only after a breakup."
"Let me tell you somethin'. I can be replaced at any given time. Now, out of the two of us, I'm the only one who can get kicked outta Angel's life. You're always gonna be there. So stop worryin', tryin' to destroy relationships, and live your damn life! No day but today. You got that?"
"'No day but today?'" Alejandro repeated. "What does that mean?"
"It basically means, live your life to the fullest cause you never know what day could be your last."
"That's some nice advice. Do you teach that to your students?"
"Those who stay awake." Alejandro laughed and soon Collins joined in. "Hey, what do you say we . . . start over?"
Alejandro was silent for about 15 seconds, making Collins feel as though he asked the wrong question.
"I'd like that," Alejandro finally said. Collins smiled and held out his hand.
"Tom Collins, Angel's boyfriend," he said. "Call me Collins." Alejandro shook Collins hand.
"Nice to meet you," he said. "Alejandro Schunard, Ángel's father. You can call me-"
"I know. Mr. Schunard," Collins interrupted.
"No," Alejandro said. "You can call me Alejandro."
FINNY! So, hope ya liked my lil' update. ALEJANDRO IS NO LONGER EVIL (happy dance)! Review please! :-)