Disclaimer: Not mine.
Cordelia and Ms. Calendar had talked about basically everything ... the teacher was remarkably well versed on current fashions and styles ... but Cordy had made sure that the topic stayed clear from two things: her new look and computers. Neither was a subject she was comfortable about.
She recalled an incident that had happened with her computer sometime in sophomore year. How was she to know that “del” meant delete? Even with all that hanging over their heads, Cordy had found that she had liked talking with Jenny Calendar. Still, the need to find Xander nagged insistently at her, so she had eventually excused herself to find him. She only had about ten minutes before the bell rang.
However, Fate seemed determined to keep the two apart. It was not Xander that stopped her in front of the library. “Um ... Cordelia?”
She looked up to find Giles standing in front of her. “Giles ... it’s you.”
The librarian’s eyes flicked over her clothes before settling on her face. “I have to talk to you.”
Cordelia groaned. “Not now, Giles, I’m looking for someone.”
“I insist,” he said, leading her through the doors of the library. “W-we’re all worried about this sudden change, Cordelia. H-have you been feeling ill lately?”
She rolled her eyes. She knew where this was leading. “The stitches are fine, I’m fine, and I really need to go. Can we go through the whole Detective Friday routine later?” Giles looked confused, but he did not move. It was clear he wanted answers.
She sighed. “I’ll make this quick, okay? I am not sick, I am not possessed, I am not doing this for Oz, I just got sick of the Dweeby Cordy act so I acquired some taste and decided to stop being a wuss. There, are you happy?” She walked a few steps in the direction of the doors and glanced at the clock in alarm. Only five minutes left. “I have to go.” She pushed past Giles and walked away. Just then, the doors swung open, and Oz rushed in. He was followed moments later by an irate Willow.
“Oz, you can’t just run away from me like that! You’re being totally unfair to me. I’m your girlfriend. I’m the one you’re supposed to be concerned about! My reputation is sliding already because of you, and all you keep talking about is Cordy, Cordy, Cordy. What about me?”
Oz ignored Willow and grabbed Cordelia’s arms to stop her from leaving. “We need to talk.”
* * *
Oz didn’t know what was going on with his ex-girlfriend, but he wanted to find out. He needed to find out. Willow was clearly angry with him for running out on her like that. They had been talking in the quad when one of Willow’s old followers ran up to her, her eyes bright with excitement. Aura, was it?
“Willow, you will not believe what just happened. Harmony was like, being all nice to Cordelia Chase, you know? Cause she wants to get together with Xander Harris.” Willow’s eyes narrowed possessively, and the girl looked instantly nervous. “Oh, I mean ... well, Harmony offered to make Cordelia popular, right, cause ... so anyway, Cordelia totally dissed her out. She was like, a major bitch about it, you know? Went on about how nobody really liked her and how the rest of us were sheep ...” Aura looked insulted for a second before going on. “... and how she was going to be popular without Harmony’s help.” The girl took a deep breath, and waited for Willow’s reaction.
“What are you talking about? That computer nerd? Popular?”
“Yeah. Harmony says that it was all some stupid act to try and get Oz back, even though he’s going out with you and everything.”
“What?” Oz spoke up for the first time and the expression on his face was one of stunned disbelief.
“Please,” Aura said, rolling her eyes at him. “It’s so obvious. Why else would she be trying to act cool? She obviously wants to get your attention by acting like Willow cause you dumped her for someone better. Willow.” She smiled weakly at the redhead, who was not looking happy at the news at all.
“So you’re telling me Cordy is doing this because she’s jealous?”
“You are beyond dense, Oz,” said Aura, clearly exasperated with him. “The answer is a big, fat DUH! Harmony says that there couldn’t be any other reason for her total makeover. She has never shown any clothes sense before, you know. Wal-mart junkie, right, Willow?”
Willow forced a tight smile on her face as she looked at Aura. “Right.”
“And you would not believe what else she said,” continued Aura, oblivious to the growing tension around her. “That little geek kept talking about Xander and how he was popular even though he hung out with losers and how she was going to become popular without Harmony’s help, and Harmony was like, totally pissed off. Could you blame her? Harmony says that she must be out to get a hold of Xander Harris, cause after all these years she’s finally realized that he is a major babe. He is way hotter than you, Oz. Harmony says that if Cordy hooked up with Xander that she would become popular by association, or something, but that it’s never gonna happen cause everyone knows that Xander would never go out with her cause he has more taste than that. Oh, and,” Aura took a deep breath before rushing on, “it’s common knowledge that if you go out with a loser that you automatically become one, I mean, that’s why Harmony didn’t send you an invite to her bash this weekend, Willow, cause you’re officially a loser now, so ...” Aura stopped, realizing that she had stepped over into dangerous territory.
“I’m. A. Loser?” asked Willow through gritted teeth.
Aura’s eyes darted around the quad, looking for a means of escape. “I ... uh ... Devon! I need to talk to you about the party this weekend!” She ran off quickly, without answering Willow’s question.
“Do you see what happened to me because of you, Oz?” asked Willow, turning to face her boyfriend. Angry tears were shimmering in her green eyes. “I have become a LOSER because of you! Oh god, my popularity is in shreds! I gave up so much for you, and ... Oz! Are you listening to me?”
Oz looked at Willow distractedly. “Huh? Listen, Willow, I’ll talk to you later, okay? I have to find Cordy.” He gave her a quick kiss and ran off.
Willow looked up at the sky and swore. “Oz!” she yelled, walking quickly after him, but trying to make it seem casual. “I am talking to you! How dare you ... OZ!”
* * *
Cordelia pulled her arm away from Oz’s grip and took a step back. “Don’t. You’ll ruin the material.” She ignored the hurt look in his eyes and started heading for the library doors again. “I really don’t have time for this, Oz. Why don’t you go back to your skanky girlfriend and if you want, Giles will explain everything to you.” Her retreat was stopped by the so-called “skank.” And she did not look happy.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, geek, but let me tell you right now ...” Just then, the bell signaling the beginning of class rang.
, thought Cordy in relief. She gave Willow an insincere smile and made a show of looking at the clock in the library and raising her eyebrows in mock surprise. “Oh, look at the time. Class has started. Can’t be late for ...” Cordelia paused as she tried to remember where she was supposed to go first period. And came up with a blank. “Well, anyway, can’t be late for that.”
She pushed open the library doors and headed out, thankful that she had managed to avoid what would have been an ugly confrontation.
Giles stared after her retreating figure and cleared his throat. “Ahem. Y-yes, well, you two had better head off for class. We can discuss this later.”
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