Part 17
Cordelia reached out for Angel only to find empty space. One eye opened and confirmed she was indeed alone. A part of her was glad he’d had the presence of mind to sneak out early but the rest was disappointed not to wake up in his arms.
She closed her eyes determined to finish the wonderful dream she’d been having when the bathroom door opened. Her X-rated dream was forgotten the moment her eyes spied Angel exiting the bathroom clad only in a towel. Cordelia gulped.
Angel studiously ignored the drooling brunette. He gathered his change of clothes and started back towards the bathroom. He considered dropping his towel in the middle of her bedroom and getting dressed in front of her.
He wasn’t modest but he still decided against it. The moment the scent of her arousal hit him, he knew he might not be able to control his actions.
As soon as he disappeared, she was tempted to run into her closet and try to steal a peek. She took a few deep breaths and willed her body to calm down. They were being mature. They could wait until tonight to give in to their impulses.
She was still in bed when he returned. “Are you planning to stay in bed all day?”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing. How come you’re up so early?”
“I thought I should go downstairs before the others woke up.”
She drew invisible patterns on her bed with her finger. Her nightshirt inched up her hip as she shifted her legs. “You’re being pretty mature today.” Her lower lip curled out in a pout. “I woke up alone and now you’re in a rush to get away from me. What’s a girl to think? I guess I’m just your personal dream catcher and I served my purpose. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to cut Xander loose.”
Angel crawled onto the bed, his predatory eyes never leaving her face. “I’ve heard it is a woman’s prerogative to change her mind but you are about five seconds away from getting a spanking.” He propped his weight on his elbow and loomed over her. “You decided we had to be mature. You even said I couldn’t sleep here.”
“Hey! I was ready to say the hell with maturity but you said you wanted to wait until I was free to scream as loud as I wanted.”
“Yeah but you were the one who put the brakes on last night.”
“Is that why I woke up alone?”
“Yes”
Her teasing tone vanished. “What?”
“I woke up and you smelled so wonderful. You felt so good in my arms, so warm. You started writhing and moaning. It looked like you were having a pleasant dream.” Her deep blush confirmed his suspicions.
“Then you moaned my name. It was like yesterday morning but this time I couldn’t hear what was happening. I couldn’t get inside.” He leaned closer. “And I wanted inside. You kept writhing against me and moaning my name. I had to get out of bed before I… made your dream a reality. You said no last night and I was respecting your decision.”
Cordelia bit her bottom lip. She saw his hunger and longing clearly displayed in his eyes. The confident caresses and expert touches from her dream were still fresh in her mind. She didn’t want to play with him but she wanted to touch him and let him decide if they should stop or not.
Only she didn’t want their first time to seem tainted. She loved him and she believed he loved her, was waiting really necessary? Did prior commitments preclude making a wonderful lasting memory? Her hand cupped his cheek under its own power. Her thumb brushed his lower lip without her mind’s permission. Her voice came out in a whisper. “I take it you took a cold shower.”
His tongue darted out to taste the wandering digit. “Very.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you.”
“Do you mean while you were sleeping or now? You couldn’t help dreaming.”
“But I can’t help now either. I want you so badly my entire body is humming with it.”
“Cordy..”
“Tell me what you want, Angel.”
“I want to make love to you.”
She pulled him closer. “I want that too.”
“I want it to be right. I want you to be mine and only mine. I want it to be special and I want there to be no regrets.” He rested his forehead on hers.
“God Angel, if you’re trying to say we should wait, can’t you act more like a jerk?” She looked into his confused eyes. “What you said was so sweet. It makes me want to rip your clothes off and take what I want.” She pulled him further on top of her. “Say something horrible.”
His hand drifted down her body and cupped a butt cheek. “I think you might want to cut back on the sweets.”
She shoved him hard sending him off the bed. He landed on his backside with a grunt. She leapt out of bed and stood in front of her mirror. She turned around, looked over her shoulder and studied the shape and size of her butt.
“You think I’m fat? I have had a lot of desserts lately. I had pizza and ice cream yesterday. Dammit Angel! You took away my fat free popsicle and I ended up with hot chocolate instead.” She squeezed both cheeks. “I haven’t had practice in days. I knew I should’ve been swimming laps. It’s entirely your fault.”
When she turned her accusing eyes towards him, he realized she wasn’t joking. He stood and approached her cautiously. “You told me to say something horrible.”
“I know I asked for it, but…” She looked back at her reflection. She gave her butt another squeeze.
Angel pushed her hands aside and replaced them with his. “I was kidding. You said to say something horrible so I did. You have a beautiful body. Actually I wouldn’t mind seeing a few more pounds on you.” He kneaded her flesh. “I was only kidding.”
“So you don’t think I need to lose weight?”
“Of course not.”
“You jerk!” She shoved him away. “I said say something horrible. I never told you to lie.”
“But..”
“You don’t ever tell a woman that she’s fat! No matter what. Don’t you know anything about women?” She returned to studying her reflection. She lifted her nightshirt, pulling it tight wasn’t giving her a good enough view.
Angel gulped as blue lace panties appeared. Her hips swiveled giving him different angles to admire, each one making his pants fit a little tighter. His hands reached out, sometimes seeing was something that needed to be done with the hands rather than the eyes.
She dropped her nightshirt in place before he could reach his goal. “I can’t believe you called my ass fat! You’re such a jerk.” Cordelia pushed past him and stomped into her closet.
“You told me to say something horrible.”
“Yes horrible not hateful, you big jerk.”
He heard her move away into her bathroom so he went into closet. “You said you wanted me to act like a jerk and it wasn’t hateful. I know what hateful is.”
“Fine. Is hurtful better?”
He heard the shower start. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you.” The sound of the spray changed. “What was I supposed to say?”
“What?”
He opened the door and stepped inside. “I said what was I supposed to say?” He could almost see her silhouette through the shower curtain. “Give me an example of horrible.”
“You could have said I had horrible morning breath or my faded Tweety Bird nightshirt is about as sexy as a burlap sack or my bed-hair could pass for a rats’ nest.”
“Those are horrible and not hurtful?”
“Yes. They’re non-flattering comments on a totally superficial level. They are all easily remedied. I can go brush my teeth or burn my nightshirt or go brush my hair. The size of my ass is a different story. My insults are mood killers and yours earns you a severe beating followed by a lifetime of cold showers.” She turned off the water and reached out for a towel.
“My insults make a person feel embarrassed for a minute and yours make a person feel insecure for like ever, you big jerk.” She wrapped the towel around her body and opened the curtain.
Angel watched her brush her teeth in jerky movements. He wondered how she kept her towel in place. His hands itched to test its security.
She yanked her hair tie out and harshly ran a brush through it. “I’m not going to be able to eat another dessert for at least a week.”
He took the brush from her and began brushing her hair gently. “I told you I didn’t mean it. You have a beautiful body.” He placed a kiss on her bare shoulder. “I don’t think any part of your body is fat and technically I never said that. I said..”
“Repeat it and you will suffer a horrible excruciating death.”
He trailed kisses along her neck. “If it’s any consolation, I am suffering right now. It’s killing me not to unwrap you.” His knuckles teased the edge of her towel.
“Hmm I can feel you but I can’t see you.”
He followed her gaze. Her eyes stared into the mirror that only reflected her image. “Vampire.”
“I know. I can see the plus sides of no reflection. I’ve watched my mother and her friends fear aging, fear their reflection. I’ve seen girls obsess over how they look. I’ve been one of them. I still am, although not as much as I used to be. I’ve known some who hated what they saw so much they didn’t want to look again. Never aging, never gaining weight, never changing, there are some that would do anything for that.”
“It’s overrated.” He turned her to face him. “Don’t ever wish..”
“I don’t. I’m very much in love with living. I’d rather deal with my insecurities than disappear. I made a girl disappear once. She faded away.”
“It took everyone not seeing her for that to happen. That and the power of the hellmouth.”
“Yeah but I was the worst. That’s why she hated me so much.” She twisted so she could look into the mirror. “I can see the downside too. Not seeing yourself, over time you must start to forget what you look like. It’s got to be like that whole if a tree falls in the forest and no one’s there to hear it thing. You’d start to question your existence, are you really there if no one can see you?” She turned back to him.
“But you’re probably too smart to think like that. I mean you know you’re there. I know you are.” Her arms snaked around his neck. “I feel you. I don’t need a reflection to know you’re there.” She lifted her arm. “I get goosebumps when you’re nearby.” She placed his hand over her heart.
“My heart starts racing when you’re there.” She decided to lighten the mood. “Then you open your mouth and I know you are definitely there, that and you’re a big jerk.” A warm smile light up her face.
“Cordy, I..”
“But if you kiss me right now, all will be forgiven.”
He captured her smile with his. Before the kiss could deepen, he pulled away. “You need to get dressed now.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t kiss you while you’re standing there in nothing but a towel.” His hands gripped her hips. The towel loosened a little but didn’t fall. “I want to unwrap you.” Blunt teeth nibbled on her collarbone.
His hands slid down to her bare thighs and started inching up under her towel. She pressed her hips into his. He clenched his hands into fists. “You need to get dressed now.”
Her breath came out in pants. “OK but I expect a proper kiss afterwards or you’re still a big jerk.”
Angel clutched the counter as she disappeared into her closet. He was tempted to take another cold shower. “I am way too old to be mature.” He settled for pacing the length of her bedroom.
The best course of action would be to go downstairs while the house was still quiet but he couldn’t deny Cordelia her proper kiss. Truth be told he couldn’t deny himself either.
The moment she exited her closet she found his lips on hers. She squeaked in surprise. His tongue plunged in, happily taking advantage of her parted lips. She suddenly felt the wall hard against her back.
Her nails clung to the nape of his neck, clawing his flesh as they tried to devour each other. Her need for air eventually forced her head to turn.
He began kissing and nibbling on her neck.
“We should go downstairs.”
“Mm hmm.” His hands gripped her hips keeping them locked to his.
“New game plan, Xander and I go… Don’t growl until you heard my plan. Xander and I go out this afternoon and we have our talk. Willow and Oz can go do… whatever it is they do. Buffy can stay here with you and you can have your talk. Then tonight we..”
“We can make love before we spontaneously combust?”
“You know you could take me out on a date. I’m not just some..”
He stopped her words with a kiss. “I’m not good with public places.”
“Pfft. So what? I’m not expecting you to socialize with strangers. I’m asking for dinner or something like that.”
“I can do that. How about I take you to Antonio’s for some pasta?”
“You… you remember that?”
“Of course. You said Antonio’s has the best pasta. We can go somewhere else if you want. I don’t really know the best places to eat.”
“I love you.” She gently brushed her lips to his. “No one ever really listens when I talk.” She lightly tugged on his lower lip before leaning in and kissing him.
He pulled away, his eyes dark. “New game plan, we stay up here and pretend they’re not here. We can barricade the door just in case.” He nuzzled her neck. “You smell so delicious.” His tongue darted out tasting her.
She bared her neck giving his wandering lips more skin to explore. “We could use my desk to block the door.” His deep laugh vibrated through her body.
“I better get downstairs before I lose what’s left of my control. Tonight I will take you out on our first official date.” He stared at her swollen lips. “How do you feel about kissing on a first date?”
“As a rule, I’m against it but there is an exception to every rule.”
“And do you think tonight might qualify?”
“It might.” Her brow scrunched in thought. “Do you even have money?”
“Yes”
“Because if I have to pay I expect a whole helluva lot more than a kiss. For an expensive dinner at Antonio’s, a guy really should put out.”
He smiled at her cheeky grin. “I am running a little low on cash.”
“Nice try. You already said you had money so you’re buying.”
“It really should work both ways. For an expensive dinner at Antonio’s, a girl really should put out.”
“Sorry. It doesn’t work that way. You see guys are easy. Women need to be treated with respect.”
“Uh huh. What if I throw in dessert?”
An eyebrow shot up. “Are you sure my ass can take it?”
Angel lifted his head from her neck. “I said I was sorry. You said I would be forgiven if I kissed you.” His hands slipped around her to grab the butt in question. “You have a beautiful body.”
“How can you say that? You haven’t even seen it yet. I mean there’s only so much you can tell when I’m fully dressed.”
“I wouldn’t call you in bikini fully dressed… but you may have a valid point.”
She nodded. “In order to get your informed opinion, I would have to allow you to see me completely naked.”
“Well we really should settle this once and for all.” His hands reached for buttons only to be smacked away.
“You haven’t bought me dinner yet.” She gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. “We should go downstairs.”
He sighed dramatically. “You will be the death of me.”
“You’re already dead.” She reached for the door. “Don’t pout. This is killing me too.” She opened it and spied Buffy approaching. She shoved Angel behind the door. “Hey Buffy.”
“Hey. I was just going to wake Angel up. Willow and Oz are getting ready to make breakfast. I know he doesn’t eat but I thought he might like to join us anyway.” She noticed Cordelia fidgeting in her doorway. “Xander is getting dressed right now and then he was going to get you.”
“OK. Umm Angel is probably still sleeping. He likes to sleep in.”
“Thanks for the tip.” Buffy knocked on his door.
“He’s a really sound sleeper. I tried to wake him yesterday. I yelled and everything. He sleeps… like the dead.”
“I’m sure he’ll wake up when he hears it’s my voice. No offense.”
“None taken.” Cordy placed one hand on her hip while the other held her door open blocking Angel from view. “Go ahead.”
“Angel, it’s me.” She knocked a little louder and tried the doorknob. “Angel?” She cleared her throat. “He’s probably in the shower or something.”
“Uh huh”
“Well are you coming down?”
“In a minute. I still haven’t put my makeup on. I’m not used to having houseguests.”
“Angel has been here for days.”
“That’s different.”
“True. He doesn’t care what you look like. You should work fast. Breakfast will be ready soon and you know how Xander is around food.”
“I will.” She shut her door.
Angel glared at her.
“What? She’s your girlfriend. It’s your job to feel guilty about her. I’ll feel guilty about Xander.” He continued to glare at her. “It’s not like you’re being nice to Xander and not beating him up doesn’t count as being nice.” He continued to glare. “I can’t help it. She pushes my buttons. You knew that when you fell in love with me.” She tried to avoid his glare.
“Fine. I’m sorry. Why don’t you go chase after her?” She didn’t see his expression soften. “You can tell her you were in the shower and didn’t hear her. I need to finish getting ready. I can’t believe you were going to let me go downstairs without any makeup on.” He was smiling at her when she finally looked at him.
“You look beautiful. You don’t need all that stuff.”
“You’re getting better at this already.”
~ Ring! ~
“You go downstairs. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“OK.” This time Angel listened for heartbeats before opening the door.
***
Cordelia walked into her crowded kitchen. “Good morning.”
Xander walked up and kissed her cheek. “What took you so long?”
“Sorry. I was talking to Giles.” She turned to the room but purposely avoided Angel’s annoyed gaze. “Giles wanted to make sure we understood our day off was yesterday and therefore over. He expects us in the library in one hour.”
“What about Angel? The sun is shining.” Buffy inched closer to the vampire in question.
“Giles told me to call Oz and ask him to pick Angel up in his van. He can pull into the garage. With a blanket, Angel will be perfectly safe. The loading dock at the school has a carport. Giles was prepared for any and all excuses. No one is getting out of research duty.” She accepted a plate from Oz. “Did you just sniff me?”
“Sorry. Tonight’s the night before the full moon. My senses kick into overdrive. You smell different, almost like..”
“These pancakes are delicious.” Cordelia’s voice was almost shrill. She glanced down at her shirt. “I don’t want to make a mess. Angel did such a good job on my laundry. He was handling my clothes in Anita’s absence.”
“You made Angel do your laundry?”
“What’s the big deal, Buffy? I am letting him stay at my house rent free. He’s the reason I gave Anita time off. There’s nothing wrong with him making himself useful.” She moved away from Oz’s nose. “It’s not like I had him hand washing my unmentionables.”
“He better not. I’m the only guy allowed to handle your underwear.” Xander looked around at the staring faces. “I said that aloud, didn’t I?”
Cordelia rolled her eyes. She cautioned a glance at Angel. She couldn’t tell what his stormy expression meant. Their break-up plans had to be pushed back, Xander had kissed her cheek and voiced his underwear rights, Oz may have smelled Angel’s scent on her, and she’d talked to Giles on the phone for about twenty minutes. Angel did not look like a happy camper.
***
Angel was NOT happy. Not only were their plans ruined, he was in the back of Oz’s van with Buffy while Xander was alone with Cordelia in her car. He considered using the drive as an opportunity to have his talk with Buffy, since Willow and Oz were upfront listening to the radio but she deserved better.
It would have to wait a little longer. He wanted to hope Cordelia was busy ending her relationship with Xander during their car ride but he knew it was unlikely. Their first date was in serious danger of not happening. *And how the hell does it take Giles twenty minutes to say come to the library?*
“Are you okay under there?”
“Yes.” He adjusted his blanket. He didn’t really need to cover himself quite so much. There was only a little bit of light coming in, but he wanted some privacy to brood. The best he could hope for was to spend his evening with Buffy and have their talk. A pang of guilt raced through his system. He owed his first love more than a “can we still be friends” speech in the back of a van or in a crowded library. He wanted to ease the hurt but how?
No matter where they talked she was still going to be hurt. Did where really matter? As long as they had privacy, where didn’t really matter. Of course if she got angry he might be tossed out of the moving vehicle and into a bright sunny California day. The library didn’t seem right either. It was her safe haven. They could go for a walk once the sun set. It was familiar to them and afterwards she could take out her anger on a random vampire.
That being settled, in his mind at any rate, it didn’t solve the dilemma for the rest of the evening. Taking Cordelia out to dinner wouldn’t work. By the time he finished talking to Buffy and Cordelia finished sending Xander packing, it would be rather late for dinner. Not to mention the emotional toll their respective talks would take.
Going out might have to wait. He wasn’t sure if he could handle spending another chaste night in her arms. He didn’t want his lack of restraint to hurt her. She wanted a romantic evening. Trying to squeeze in a quick dinner before returning home for sex would hardly be romantic but waiting another night sounded like absolute torture and not the good kind.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t spend the afternoon alone. We may still get to do something tonight. Giles tends to get a little annoyed when we try to skip out so we can have some fun. He doesn’t fully appreciate the importance of our social lives. We could say we’re going to patrol. I mean you are still stronger than Xander.”
“Actually that sounds like a good idea. We can talk.”
“Talk? Oh right. I think that would be great. We could even stop by the mansion for some privacy.” Buffy smiled at her blanket covered boyfriend.
“We need to talk about our relationship.”
Her smile faded. That usually meant something bad. “OK.”
***
Cordelia glanced around the unusually crowded table. She was sitting in between Xander and Angel. Oz and Willow sat across from her. Buffy sat at the end near Angel and Wesley was on the other. Giles seemed content to hover around the group passing out books, looking over peoples’ shoulders and answering questions. She was amazed at Angel’s audacity.
Not only was he sitting beside her, he had his hand on her knee. She was afraid Giles might notice but the watcher was too distracted and the table blocked anyone else’s view. She jumped out of her seat when Xander’s hand found its way onto her other leg. “A book!”
“Good lord, Cordelia. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry Wesley. I umm need a new book.”
Giles started to hand her another from the stack but stopped. “You’re only halfway through the one you have.”
“I am? I am but it’s really boring and I want another.” Her smile was a little shaky.
“I’m sorry if it’s not to your liking but it cannot be overlooked simply because you’re bored.”
“Yeah you’re right.” She ignored Buffy rolling her eyes and sat back down.
Xander patted her thigh. “I’ll switch with you.”
“Thanks.” He left his hand on her leg. “I need a soda.” She started to rise until Willow passed her a coke. “Uh no. I want a diet.” She started to rise again until Oz handed her a diet soda. “Oh. Thanks.” Xander’s hand returned to her leg.
She worried her lower lip trying not to scream. She was doing okay until Angel’s hand returned as well. She shot out of her chair. “I have to go to the bathroom.” Everyone stared at her like she’d lost her mind. She blushed in embarrassment. “I’ll be back.” She hurried out of the room.
“What’s her problem?”
“I don’t know, Buff. I stopped trying to figure out my girlfriend a long time ago.”
Everyone resumed reading in her absence except Angel. He stared at the door wondering what had her so flustered. She had jumped up when he touched her. Was she angry with him? No one questioned him when he rose from the table. He stood at the counter for a few moments watching the group before slipping out of the library.
***
Cordelia took her time walking back. She was trying to think of a way to change seats with Angel without causing a stir. She yelped when she was suddenly pulled into a storage closet. “Xander! I am so not… Angel?”
“Why did you assume I was Xander?”
“No reason. So what did you want to talk about? Wait a minute what excuse did you use to leave?”
“I didn’t. I just left. They don’t usually pay attention to my comings and goings. You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?”
“Why did you assume I was Xander?”
“Oh. We sort of have a history of.. making out in closets. It’s no big deal.”
Angel clenched his jaw. “I am not going to get angry.”
“Excuse me? Like you and Buffy didn’t spend your nights making out in the cemetery? He’s my boyfriend and I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He’s your soon to be ex-boyfriend and I wasn’t.. I didn’t mean… I’m sorry. I can’t stand the thought of him touching you.”
“I understand. I don’t exactly like the thought of you and Buffy either.”
“Let’s not talk about them. What was wrong before? You practically ran out of there. You’re not mad at me, are you? You practically jumped out of your skin when I touched you. You didn’t react like that the first time I put my hand there. I was even being good. I didn’t go any higher than just above your knee.”
“Promise not to get mad.”
“I hate when someone says that. What?”
“You haven’t promised yet.”
“I promise.”
“OK. It wasn’t you that made me freak out. I jumped up the first time because Xander put his hand on my leg too.”
“What!”
“You promised. I mean he’s my boyfriend. He usually has his hand on my thigh while we’re researching. It never used to bother me but everything is different now. I don’t want him touching me like that.”
“You didn’t stop him from kissing you this morning.”
“I didn’t have a chance to stop him. He doesn’t know I’m a horrible person yet. He doesn’t know that I’m going to break up with him. There I was between the two of you and I freaked.”
“It’s almost over. You’re breaking up with Xander tonight.”
“That’s if Giles lets us go.”
“He will. We are having our talks tonight. We decided.”
Cordelia rested her cheek on his chest. “So much for our game plan. We’ll never be able to have dinner at Antonio’s now.”
“We’ll go there tomorrow night.”
“Yeah but… You know what? I don’t need dinner for tonight to be special. It’s special because I’m with you.” She lifted her head and met his gaze. “Our first time together is special because I’m in love with you.”
“I’m in love with you too.”
“It could be in this closet and it would still be perfect.”
“In that case..”
“Don’t even think about it. I’m holding onto my control by my fingertips. We will have our talks and then when we get home..” She pulled his head down for a quick kiss.
“Now we better get back before they start wondering what happened to us. The last thing we need is a showdown in the library. When they finally talk about us, I’d like to be as far away as possible. I almost told Giles this morning.”
“Is that why you were on the phone so long?”
“No. We talked about other things.” She carefully peeked out into the hallway before exiting.
“He and I have this unspoken rule. I don’t force him to choose sides. Whenever Buffy and I bicker which happens often, he tells us both to stop. I may make comments about her but I never bring him into our arguments. He thinks of her as a surrogate daughter. He wants me to be happy but he couldn’t keep a secret like us from Buffy. She would view it as a betrayal.”
“And that’s okay with you?”
“She’s his priority. A parent should place his or her child first. I wasn’t really looking for his support about us. I just hate the idea of him being mad at me. He tends to view people who hurt Buffy as his enemy. I don’t want to lose his friendship.”
“And if you do?”
“Angel, I love Giles but I’m certainly not going to give you up for anything.”
“Could you add a like to that?”
“What?”
“You love Giles like?”
“Angel”
“Sorry.”
“Do you think we should go in separately?”
“No. They know we’re friends and they’re going to have to get used to seeing us together anyway.”
“I seriously doubt that will ever happen.”
“Then to hell with them.” The two entered the library side by side.
“Where did you go?” Buffy glared at the pair.
“I wanted to see if Cordelia was all right.”
“I think she’s old enough to go to the bathroom by herself.”
“She was acting strange and I was concerned. Excuse me for being the only one to care.”
“Are you alright, Cordelia?”
“I’m fine, Giles. I think the books were making me go a little stir crazy.”
Buffy continued to stare at Angel. He seemed annoyed. Her earlier bad feeling returned. He was acting different. He no longer seemed overly concerned with her. She had always been his main concern but now he had his friendship with Cordelia.
She suddenly felt less disappointed in the recent turn of events. “I’m sorry, Angel, but our plans for tonight have gone out the window.”
“What?”
“Giles and Wesley have barely slept and someone needs to stay here with Oz tonight.”
Angel didn’t want to have their talk in the library but he would if he had too. “I could keep you company for a while.”
“Actually I’m the one who can hang out with you.”
“Huh?”
“Since I have to patrol and we all have school tomorrow, Giles wanted you to stay here tonight.”
“What?”
“He’ll come in before sunrise so you won’t be stuck here all day again.”
Cordelia felt like all the air had been sucked from the room. “So you want Angel to spend the night here? All night?”
“Yes. I believe we can entrust him with the task.” Giles managed to make eye contact with Angel.
*Damn! Giles had to choose tonight to start trusting me.* “I can do that.” *Noooo! Don’t make me stay here!*
Cordelia tried not to cry out in frustration. *I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not kill Giles either.*
