I think I can understand a lot of things about other people, but I never realize that it makes them people. I’ve always lived in my own little bubble, and maybe it was time to fix that. Maybe my whole "self-absorbancy is a disease" thing was a little pretentious. I do think that it's a problem, though. People sometimes don't recognise the damage they can do to others by simply not paying attention. I've been hurt a lot by people like that. So has everybody though, I'm not special.

I decided to call Ida before I went to bed. She should know what was going on. I put my headphones in though, so her unavoidable screetches wouldn't disturb everyone else. "Hey."

"What's up?"

"So you know the letter you sent me?"

Ida paused. "Shit. I knew that was a bad idea. I'm so sorry, Mawce. What happened?"

"I accidentally came out to mom, she called me a slur, and kicked me out. I'm living with Angel and his foster family."

"A. I'm so so so sorry, I was being absolutely stupid, and B. AHHHHHHHH! You're living with him! This is amazing!"

I knew that would happen. Very predictable, my sister. We talked a little more, but I really needed to sleep. Calculus waits for no man, I'm afraid. That night was peaceful, not like it was at home. Was it home anymore? Could I call it that? Whatever. Normally mom had her soap operas on all night, so I'd hear a lot of really... pleasant... noises all night. But I fell asleep quickly, and woke up to the smell of something burning.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, and walked out of the room. This was going to be chaotic. "Lisa, don't touch the stove!" Lana picked the little girl up and sat her on a kitchen chair next to a bowl of cereal. The burning smell continued, presumably from the crumbled black stuff on a pan next to the oven. It looked like it might have been bacon? It was impossible to tell.

"Good morning, Mawce! Sorry about all this..."

"It's okay, Claire. Really."

She smiled, and gave me a bowl of cereal for breakfast. I was starving, so I ate as fast as I could. "Wow. You must be hungry," a voice said behind me. I turned around. Angel's hair was backlit, and boy could I not stop staring. His shirt was wrinkled, and the pajama pants he was wearing had little ducks on them. So cute! My mouth hung slightly open before I got ahold of myself. "Oh, uh, yeah, I guess."

We walked to school together, both shivering in the morning air. "Hey, Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"Um... My birthday is next Thursday, just so you know."

"Oh! Cool! I'll be sure to get you a gift."

I started to tell him not to, that living with him was enough, but he took ahold of my shoulders, and stared at me like he could see into my soul. He probably could, honestly. I let it go, and we walked on.

"Hey, Mawce!" I turned around, looking for who had said it.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Nathan said it with a sneer. I took a deep breath, and kept walking to class. "Hey, fag! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Keep going, keep going keep going... He grabbed the back of my jacket fiercly. "I told you, look at me when I talk to you, queer!" I was face-to-face with him now, and WOW he needed to brush his teeth.

Just ignore him. Move on. When Nathan got bored of my silence, he let go of me, and stalked off. I could feel my eyes stinging with tears, and I ran to the bathroom. I sat there, crying, for nearly twenty minutes before someone walked in. Shit. I stood up quickly, wiped my eyes, and hid in a corner. "Mawce? Are you there?"

Oh thank God. It was Angel. I stepped out, even though I felt more like hiding. "Hey," he said softly, "are you okay?" I shook my head. I didn't know what else to do. Normally I could handle shit like this, but I guess with all of the things that had happened recently it was just too much. "Can we go back to your house?" I was quiet as I said it, but Angel nodded, and hugged me tightly. "Whatever it is, it's going to be okay. You have people in your corner, okay? Mawce, look at me. I'm here for you."

I tucked my head into his chest, and more tears escaped my eyes despite my reservations about crying in front of other people. We walked back, and I assume it was pretty clear I'd been crying, because Lana and Claire immediately hugged me. It was kind of wierd, to be honest. I'd never really gotten physical affection before. Angel and I went to my room, and sat on the bed. I curled my knees up to my chest, and hid my face.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Everybody cries. I bet Superman cried after every battle he had."

"Did I ever tell you that I don't like DC? I'm a Marvel guy."

Angel feigned shock, and put his hand to his forehead dramatically. "I don't think we can be friends."

"Well, that's your loss."

He smiled, and looked at me. "Yeah, it is."

My cheeks heated, and I didn't know what to say.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Angel asked.

"Not really."

"Do you want a hug?"

I was hoping he'd ask that. "Yeah."