"You're not going out with him anymore, so why do you still hang around them?" Harmony asks Cordelia.
The beautiful, dark-haired girl turns to her with a frown. "I don't know." Then thinking of Buffy, Xander, Willow and Oz, even Giles, and how many times they've saved her life, "I guess I owe them something."
"Owe them something? But, but... you never owe anyone anything!"
"Harmony, just lay off, ok? It's really non of your business."
Offended, Harmony backs off, and with raised eyebrows, begins to walk off. "Fine. Hanging with the losers seem to be rubbing off on you."
Cordelia's mouth drops open. "How dare she." she thinks to herself. She is about to stalk off, after the offending girl, when someone calls her name.
"Cordy! Cordy, hey!"
Cordelia turns around. "Xander. What do you want?"
"Well aren't we in a good mood today?" he says sneering. "Have you seen Buffy or Willow."
"Do I look like I've seen them?" she snaps.
"What the hell's gotten into you? We're not going out anymore, remember?" suddenly grinning, "Or maybe you're just missing me?"
Cordelia glares at him for another second, then bursts out laughing. "Like *that's* gonna happen."
"Oh. You're wounding my pride." he says clutching at his heart. They begin to walk automatically towards the library.
"A wounded pride doesn't affect the heart."
"It doesn't? Oh well. I was actually rubbing my stomach. I didn't have breakfast."
The girl smirks at Xander. "That was pretty lame."
"Lame boy. That's me."
In the library, Giles is pacing in front of the borrowing counter. His glasses are off and his rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"I, uh, just don't have a-any clue as to, um, what's to transpire next. I-I mean, this sudden, er, cease to vampire a-activities means something. T-They are up to something. Buffy, didn't, um, Angelus mention anything? Anything at all?"
"Nope. 'sides, Giles, I really don't think we should be trusting anything Angelus says. He's just not the same anymore." the young blonde girl says in a slightly bitter voice.
"What can I say, Buff, you have that kind of effect on a guy."
Buffy and Giles turns to the couple who had just walked in. Buffy gives the boy a mock angry look. "Not funny, Harris. Better watch yourself, I'm the Slayer remember?"
"Like we'll ever forget, Buffy."
"And good morning to you too, Cordelia. I see you woke up on the left side of the bed today. Or is it that time of the-"
"Hi guys." Willow walks in cheerfully. She's doesn't realize she's just interrupted a possible verbal firework between Buffy and Cordelia. "Oz picked me up this morning and we had breakfast and it was really good, except when I spilt some milk on the waitress. She didn't seem happy about that. But it was really fun."
"Willow. *Milk*?" Cordelia asks, incredulously.
"Oww. Milk s'pose to be good for you." Xander defends his friend.
"B-But there were people there, were there not?" she splutters, "I mean, nobody ever drinks milk in *public*. It's just not done."
"Yup. This is Sunnyhell. Blood is the drink of choice." Xander quips.
At this, even Giles grimaces. "Ewww, what did I ever see in you?"
Grinning, Xander turns to the others, "She misses me."
"Oh. Pleeease!" She give everyone the Cordelia look. Then quickly flashing a small smile, she turns, gives Xander a peck on the cheek, and strides out. "You wish. See ya guys later."
Giles giving up on the strange behaviors of the teens in his library, shakes his head and makes his way to his office. "Go to class all of you. I-I'm going to call the SPD again. A-And maybe the Sunnydale Times."
"Giles, how many times have you called the Police Department this week? Don't you think they'll get suspicious?"
Sighing , the librarian turns and leans on the doorframe of his office. "You're, um right of course-"
"I love it when he says that!" Buffy exclaims. Giles glares at her.
"-but, do you have any better ideas?"
"I don't like it when he says that." she continues.
"Uhum, It usually involves thinking, and I'm afraid my brain's just not cut out for that. I'm outta here!"
"Xander!" Willow calls out after him. But Xander was gone and Buffy looks as though she'd like to join him.
"Nevermind, I'll think of something. Um, you two had better go. Uh, since it's pretty quiet around the hellmouth, it may be a chance for you not to get into any trouble this week, Buffy."
"What? And deprive Principal Snyder? Giles, that's really evil of you."
Shaking his head, "I'm serious Buffy. But, anyhow go, go. I have many things to do. I shall see you this afternoon for training, shall I?"
"Oh, alright. But only because you want me to." resigned to her duties, but not necessarily liking them, Buffy dejectedly walks out of the library with Willow.
"...is a structure of a plant. So, who can tell me what the function of a xylem is?" the teacher, ignoring the eager hands of the students in the front row, waited expectantly for volunteers in the back rows. Everyone there, including Buffy and Xander, ducked their heads to avoid her gaze. Disappointedly, she sighed and got ready to volunteer someone, before she could, however, the bell for lunch rings. The students, as one, rose and rush for the door.
"... who cares who Xylem is..."
"... as if I'm gonna be needing this when I become famous..."
"... have you done the readings for history. Mr Feck, is so totally gonna kill me..."
"... do you think he's gonna call me tonight? I hope so, 'cause I really want to hear..."
"... did you see what she's wearing. Pleease! That is so five minutes ago. Where does she get..."
And the conversations continued, hundreds and thousands of little snippets of useless information.
Among this endlessless yappings are those of the Slayer and her friends.
"I swear, she was gonna pick me." Buffy says with a shudder.
"I hate it when they do that. I mean, if one doesn't volunteer to answer, obviously one doesn't know the answer." Xander nods his head, looking annoyed.
"Oh, c'mon guys. It wasn't so hard." Willow says, sipping her soda. "You coulda either said support or transport. Either would've been right."
"Uh, Willow, do I look like I new that?" Xander says, groaning, "This year is killing me. I was hoping for a D+ average. Now, looks like it's gonna be D -."
The two girls look at each other. At Buffy's look of 'Is he serious?', Willow starts giggling, which then sets of Buffy. Xander stops and gives the two a hurt look. Before he can say anything, Cordelia appears.
"What are you two giggling about?"
"Your ex." Willow replies.
"Oh." says Cordelia distractedly.
"So, Cordy, love to see ya, as usual, but isn't this your time with your friends?" Xander bravely questions Sunnydale High's Most Popular Girl.
In her familiar whine, Cordelia answers, "They're annoying me."
"Well, maybe you can come up with an idea to save Giles from getting arrested for suspicious behavior." Buffy shrugs.
"Is he bothering the SPD again?"
"Uhuh."
"Why doesn't he just..." The four teens make their way to the library. Halfway there Oz joins them and they try to come up with solutions to Giles' problem and theories about the sudden peace in the Hellmouth.
The next day, during lunch, Willow is is scrolling through media files in the internet. Xander is on the phone, Giles having given him a list of phone numbers to call for information. Giles is scribbling something in his Watcher Journal inside his office. Buffy is doing sit-ups in one corner of the library and Oz is practising with his guitar in another. This leaves Cordelia, who's again present, idly looking through some books on the large table. She's the only one who notices when a good looking boy walks in. He had longer hair than Xander, the same height but a wider frame. Cordelia suddenly perks up. She stands and walks up to him.
"Hello, can I help you?"
"Um, hi." he quints at her, and she notices that his eyes where a very dark brown, almost black. "You're not the librarian, are you?"
One eyebrow rose, but instead of making a cutting comment, Cordelia just shakes her head.
"Good. 'Cause you're too pr- um, I mean, young to be one." He says a little embarrassed.
Cordelia gives him a beautiful smile. "Well, thank you, I think. You're new here, aren't you?"
"Obvious, huh?"
"No. Not really. Except I know pretty much all the cute guys around here, and we've definitely never met." Cordelia always spoke what's on her mind.
"Oh. Um, thanks. I think."
"So, what are you doing here?" a horrifying thought suddenly occurred to her. "You don't hang around libraries, do you?"
"No. Oh, no. Actually I'm looking for some textbooks. There's supposed to be some kind of reading for History. The Principal said I'd do best if I got the textbook and read, says he'll be checking on me."
"Ugh. He's a little toad. But, more powerful. Better be careful, he likes handing out detention slips." Buffy says from beyond Cordelia. "I should know."
Cordelia turns and gives Buffy a glare. The other girl, however, was already walking over to Giles office. She pokes Xander on the back as she passes him and he squirms away.
"So, I'm Cordelia Chase. D'you have a name?"
"David Dwyer. Pleased to meet you, Cordelia."
"Oooh. I'm sure the pleasures' all mine. So History, huh?" turning to Willow, she asks, "Willow, were are the History books?"
The red-headed girl answers without taking her eyes off the computer screen. "Last row of shelves, upstairs, on the left."
"What kinda name is that, anyway? David Dwyer. He sounds like one of those country singers. Or maybe one of those western cowboys you see in movies."
"Xander you wanted to be a cowboy."
"Will, I was four. I'm slightly older now."
Buffy tries to hide a grin. "Are my ears deceiving me, or am I really hearing a very jealous Xanderish voice?"
"Me? Jealous? Naah. I'm just worried what Cordy's friends are gonna say now. First she dates me, then some cowboy guy. Uh, her rep's definitely gonna be affected, big time."
"Actually, they've already met him. I heard Cordelia was going to take him to the Bronze tonight."
"Will, where'd you hear this?" Buffy looks surprised. She stabs the ground with her stake and leans forward with interest.
"Well, um, being a geek kinda pays, sometimes. I get ignored a lot, and people usually say things they don't want anyone to hear, not that this is a secret, really, 'cause they just don't realize I'm there."
"That's terrible, Will." Buffy reaches over to her friend sympathetically.
"No, no. This is good. What else did they say?"
A cheeky grin appears on Willow's face. "They said Cordy's gonna elope with David. Tomorrow night."
"Wha- Hey!"
The two girls errupt into giggles.
"You guys should really quit laughing at me. One of these days is going to be payback time."
The two just ignore him and he eventually joins in and begins to laugh himself.
Gasping for breath, Buffy picks up the stake again. "Boy, it's been real quiet. This is wiggin' me out, more than when I was fighting five of 'em a night."
"What's Angelus up to, do you think?" Willow nervously looks around, as though the mere mention of the cruelest of vampires will make him appear.
"Don't know, and don't really care." Buffy replies. She looks a little shocked at the truth of her answer.
"I really, *really* don't care." she repeats with wonder.
"Uh, that's good, Buff. Does this mean you'll have no hesitations about slaying him the next time he shows up?" Xander raises an eyebrow inquiringly.
"Yes. I-I think so. If only he'd show, so I can see."
"I-I don't think that's good, Buff." Willow says quietly. "Maybe you havta be sure, beforehand. It's kinda dangerous going into a fight without knowing whether you can make yourself, well, um, kill him."
"I know, Will. I know. But, I think this time I can really do it."
"Have you thought of the repercussions? The regrets you may feel? I mean, you'll be killing Angel too, and, um, well, you love the guy." Xander is unable to look at Buffy.
Sighing softly, Buffy speaks, "Yeah, I do love Angel. But he's gone. He's been gone for so many months now. Whatever, whoever is in his body now, it's not him, and I can't go on thinking that he'll ever come back. I realize thinking that way isn't doing anyone any good. I mean look what happened to, um, to, look what happened to Willow." The other girl's head snaps up, Buffy continues, not seein her frinds' confused looks, "She's teaching our computer class." Willow's face clears immediately in understanding, Xander is slower on the uptake, but he eventually gets it too.
"Ok, see ya tomorrow, guys."
"Goodnoght, Will."
"Later. Willow, best bud." Willow's house was their first stop point.
"Oh, hey Xander. Don't forget that disk in your bag. You too, Buffy. It's due tomorrow, and I'd really hate to fail either of you."
"Spoken like a true teacher, Will, I just be-" Buffy nudges Xander. He turns to her, confused with mouth still open.
"Thanks, Will. We'won't forget." Buffy smiles at her friend and waves goodbye again.
Buffy and Xander are comfortably quiet as they walk to his house.
Xander speaks, as they round the corner, "Do you really think there's no way for Angel to come back?"
"Huh?"
Xander shrugs. "I mean the curse thingy. I bet it can be done again. You, or Giles can find some Gypsy or somethin'. They can curse Angelus again and presto, your beloved fang-boy is back."
"You really hated him, huh?"
They were now in front of his house. Xander looks up at it and refuses to look at Buffy. He shifts his shoulders, obviously uncomfortable. "Well, um, he had something I didn't."
Buffy looks at him, amused. "What? Immortal life?" she asks, jokingly.
"No," Xander replies, seriously. "You."
Buffy is unable to say anything. Xander smiles a little at the expression on her face. "I mean, I guess I really hated him. But now, I don't know. I kinda feel sorry for him. For one thing, he's dead. For another, some guy's taken over his body, and is torturing his girlfriend. I mean, Buffy, you're probably the best thing that's ever happened to him, and now he's go-"
"Xander, why do you think so highly of me?" Buffy's eyes are suspiciously bright as she gazes into his face.
"Wow, Buffy, do we have all night here?" as usual, Xander slips into his comic defense mechanism as the situation becomes too serious.
Buffy smiles, then impulsively leans over and kisses him. Xander is stunned. He stops moving even breathing. Buffy continues to kiss him. When he doesn't respond, she pulls away a little, "Xander?"
"Buffy, I-I... Wha-?" Then she was kissing him again. This time he got over his shock and begins, tentatively, to kiss her back. Buffy shivers and smiles, to herself. His lips are so incredibly soft. And warm. Unlike...
"Ummmm." they slowly and hesitantly pull away from each other. "Now, I know for a fact there's something wrong with Cordy."
"Huh?"
"Xander, you pash really well."
"Oh."
"Hey, you're not blushing, are you?"
"'Course not, Buff. Why would I do that, I wasn't the one who started kissing a completely innocent bystander."
"Bystander, huh? That last one wasn't so bystanderish." Buffy quirks her eyebrows in amusement.
"Well, we'll just have to try again, hmm?"
"Fine." Then they were kissing again.
"Will. Can I, um, talk to you?"
"Sure, Buffy. What's up?"
"Well, I-I, um, think I, um..." Buffy helplessly flails her arms in frustration, then just hangs her head.
Concerned, Willow frowns, "Buffy, is something wrong? What happened? It's not Angelus, is it?"
"Huh? Oh. No. I-It's not." She takes a deep breath. With determination she finally comes out with it. "Last night, I walked Xander home and we kissed and I don't know since when, but I have an idea, I realized I'm in love with him."
For several seconds, Willow didn't say anything. Buffy starts to worry. She knows about Willow's feelings for Xander and now a part of her regrets telling the girl. She realizes she may lose Willow's friendship. Buffy looks at Willow worriedly, when the auburn-haired lets out an ear-splitting squeal.
"This is so cool! Do you know, I always thought, if he wasn't gonna end up with me, and I always knew he wasn't, I'd rather he was with you? A-And I mean, he really loves you, Buffy. Oh. Did you say you love him too?" Willow stops, and just looks at Buffy, a happy contented smile on her lips. Then calmer, she continues, "This is so great. My two best friends in the world."
"Willow. You're ok? I-I mean, with this?"
"You bet! Where is he, by the way?"
"Um, in the library, with, um, Cordelia."
"Huh?!"
"Oh, he's breaking the news to her, I think."
"Well, let's go rescue him." Willow grins. Before walking though, she turns and gives Buffy a hug.
"Just one favor, Buff?"
"Anything in my power, Will."
"Take care of him?"
"What?"
"Hey, I know, I know. It's strange, but I swear I didn't resort to witchcraft this time." Xander grins sheepishly, recalling the stupid incident.
"I sure hope not. But, Xander, are you sure she feels the same way. I-I mean, how 'bout Angel."
"She feel the same, Cordy, I can feel it, everytime she looks at me. As for Angel. He's gone. But if he turns up again, as Buffy says, I'll 'jump that bridge when I get to it'."
Cordelia is quiet. Then she sighs softly. She reaches over and strokes the side of his face. For one second, there was a look of longing on her face, then it was gone. "Well, it was bound to happen." she shrugs, then continues, a superior smile forming, "I always knew, of course."
"What?"
"That only the best deserves you."
"You think Buffy is-?"
Rolling her eyes, "We're very much alike, you know, although don't you go tellin' her I said that. She once told me she had been popular in her old school..."
"Yeah, she mentioned somethin' 'bout being prom queen..."
"See." sadly she continues, "I always wondered what you saw in me, Xander, except, of course, the obvious. Now I think I realize, you saw a little of her in me, and that's why we had to end it. I deserve something a little better. A guy who cares for me, because of me... But, it was good between us. While it lasted."
Sadly, too, because they truly had some fun times together, Xander reaches over and gives her a hug. "Yes it was, Cordy. It definitely was."
Just then the door opens. Willow and Buffy walks in. In seeing Cordelia, the Slayer hesitates. Cordelia walks over to her. Xander, behind his ex girlfriend, gives his longtime pal and his new girlfriend two thumbs up. Buffy rolls her eyes at him, and Willow stifles a giggle.
"Buffy, you better make him deserve you." Cordelia tells her. Buffy is surprised. Then Cordelia grins mischieviously, "Hey, maybe we can have a triple date? You and Xander, Willow and Oz, and me and David."
Xander's eyebrows shoots up, but before he could say anything, Willow accepts for all of them. Buffy walks over and Xander gently pulls her into his arms. They look at each other for a moment, then both shake their heads in amazement. This time it's Xander who kisses Buffy first. Willow and Cordelia look on. When more than a few moments have passed and still the two doesn't come up for air, Willow looks a little worried.
Cordelia, however, just shrugs. "He can go on for hours doing that without further damage to his brain cells, trust me. As for her, she did go for a while without breathing last summer."
"Hey, I heard that." Buffy mutters against Xander's lips.
"Huh? Wha-?" But Buffy was kissing him again.
"C'mon, Willow. I think I better go find David and ask him if he's free tonight. You should check with Oz."
"Uh, yeah, ok..."
The two leave the library.
Buffy and Xander are still kissing with their arms around each other when Giles walks in. He glances at the oblivious teens, and heads for his office. Halfway, he stops and slowly turns. The librarian squints, then takes off his glasses, wipes them, and then puts them back on again. When the same visual image appeared before him, he sighs, shakes his head and turns towards his office again. As he walks he mutters out loud, "And they expect me to keep up?!"
Xander pulls away, "I heard that."
"Heard what, Xander?"
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