"Cordelia, are you asleep?" Xander asked, quietly.
Nothing but deep breaths was heard from her side of the bed.
"Cordy?" he said again, just slightly louder. When he heard nothing, he tried to slip his arm out from under her. He could no longer feel his right hand. "How do people do this everyday?" he thought to himself. He couldn’t slide it out though, so he tried to roll her off his arm.
Lucky she woke up at that point, and was able to prop herself up off the floor with her left arm. "Hey, watch that!" she almost yelled, now wide awake from the near fall. "What are you trying to do to me?"
"Sorry, I was trying to get my arm out from under you. It fell asleep," he explained.
She climbed back on the bed, pulling the covers up close to her chin and facing him. She was obviously not in the mood for more smooching. "Well, I was asleep, too, and I have to get up early in the morning to go home and get ready for school. There is no way I’m wearing anything you have here."
"I have to get up early, too. I tried to wake you up, but you didn’t wake up. I forgot how small this bed is. And do you always have to mock my clothes?" he asked.
"Yes. I must take you shopping," she replied. "What time is it anyway?"
"12:37. When should I set the alarm?" he asked.
"Better make it 5:30, to give me enough time in the morning," she said.
He reached over and set the clock.
She then continued, "Thanks, now I’m going back to sleep, so you keep your hands and arms to yourself, and don’t bother me ‘til 5:30." She rolled back over the other way.
"Do your parents know where you are?" he asked.
"Oh God, I forgot to call. Give me your phone!" she demanded.
"Sshh," he said. He reached over and passed her the phone.
She dialed the number and waited. "Hi Daddy. Sorry if I woke you up."
There was a pause and Xander could hear her fathers voice, but not what he was saying.
"I’m at Harmony’s house. We were studying and fell asleep. I’m still really tired so I’m going to crash over here, OK?" Another pause. "OK, thanks Daddy. Goodnight. Bye." She hung up the phone and passed it back. "I hope he doesn’t check the Caller ID before I get home."
"You never told him you would be with me today?" he asked.
"We came here right after school. That was the first time I spoke to him today," she said.
"Oh, OK," he said as he replaced the phone on the table.
"Goodnight, Xander," she said as she rolled back over again.
"Goodnight, Cordelia," he said and closed his eyes. That little spat took a lot out of him, it seemed.
________________________
A teenage girl sat crying outside of the Ice-cream Shop door. It was apparent that she was alone, so he came over to her. "Are you OK?" he asked with concern.
"Yeah, I’m fine," she replied.
He pulled the rose out of his jacket that he was saving for Cordelia, and held it out. "I’m glad to hear that you’re fine. But you still look like you could use this," he said, handing to her.
She reached out for it. "Thanks, that’s a beautiful rose. Do you usually hand roses to strangers?" She asked, the tears now almost stopped.
"No. This was for someone special, but we never got together. Turns out, she was with another man," Angelus said, pretending to hold back his anger and maybe a tear. "You seem much more worthy of it."
"I’m sorry to hear that," she hesitated a bit.
"Oh, I’m sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I am Angel, and you are?" he asked, turning on the charm. He might actually have a little fun before his feast.
"I’m Stephanie. Nice to meet you," she said. "And thanks for the rose. It really is beautiful," she added with a smile.
"Almost as beautiful as you," he grinned right back.
"Oh, stop," she giggled.
"Are you here alone? I mean, do you have a safe way home?" Although this was amusing, it was just too easy, so he figured to get a move on it, before running into any snags, like Buffy.
"I did, but my friend ditched me for some guy, and didn’t even offer me a ride home. I’m going to kill her tomorrow!" She was obviously very angry, but no longer crying, which was good.
"Well, if you want, I can escort you home. I’m not exactly in the mood to head straight home anyway. What do you say?" he asked.
"It wouldn’t be a problem?" she asked back.
"Not at all, and it isn’t safe to walk around alone out here at night anyway. I’d feel more comfortable at least. Or should I call you a cab?" he asked, already knowing the answer to that one.
"No, walking is fine. Besides, you can never get a cab in this town. I think there are like three of them," she said with a slight laugh again.
"OK," he smiled and offered her his hand to stand up. "We probably should get going though. It is getting late, and there is school tomorrow," he said.
She took his hand and stood up with his assistance. "Yeah. Thanks again. You’re a great guy. She doesn’t realize what she missed," she said as she started to lead the way to her house, and still holding his hand.
"No, she probably doesn’t," he replied.
