CHAPTER 6<\/b><\/p>\n
The heel of Cordelia\u2019s palm smacked hard against the swinging doors of the cafeteria as she stormed out into the hallways. Another day, another C.<\/p>\n
Hazel eyes flashing with anger and frustration, the young woman stalked past startled classmates as she headed straight for the counselor\u2019s office. First she had to lie about her missing school. Then she had to lie about her slipping grades.<\/p>\n
Now she\u2019d have to lie about the fact as to where her parents had disappeared to.<\/p>\n
Passing by the trashcan she threw the note the TA had passed to her and walked up the stairs and into the administration offices. Passing by a bulletin board she peeked into her reflection in the glass and erased the frown off her forehead.<\/p>\n
She could do this. She could look them in the eye and tell them her parents were on vacation. That wasn\u2019t a lie anyway.<\/p>\n
They probably where.<\/p>\n
Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door to Mrs. Morgan\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pushing the door open, Cordelia fixed a bright smile for her counselor\u2019s benefit. \u201cHi Mrs. M. You sent for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
The slightly plumpish woman looked up from behind her spectacles and smiled. \u201cHello Cordelia. Please have a seat.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was when the brunette noticed the man standing in the corner and instantly her stomach lurched. \u201cGiles.\u201d<\/p>\n
The librarian nodded; his expression unreadable.<\/p>\n
With suspicious eyes Cordelia took the seat Mrs. Morgan was gesturing to. Crossing her legs she ignored the growing butterflies in her stomach and faced the counselor without giving away any hint of nervousness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs everything alright?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tell me Miss Chase.\u201d Mrs. Morgan leaned back in her chair slightly, her sharp black eyes fixed on her student. \u201cI\u2019ve just been contacted about two of your teachers who insist that you have not been giving their course your best. Is something troubling you? Because I just heard from Rupert that you\u2019re relocating?\u201d<\/p>\n
A muscle twitched in her jaw, a flush of betrayal almost making her glare at the librarian standing silently. \u201cAfter I graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you graduate my dear. American Literature I believe is a required course.\u201d The woman leaned forward her hands clasped in front of Cordelia as she met her eyes evenly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs something wrong besides the fact that you are leaving town soon?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve missed two weeks of school for which you have yet to make up for Cordelia and when we called to confirm, we found out your house has been sold? Now Rupert here tells me your parents have left you in his care.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young brunette nodded, somewhat calmer now, realizing Giles hadn\u2019t said anything about her parents ditching her.<\/p>\n
Not yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you intend to solve this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking a deep breath Cordelia looked up at Mrs. M. \u201cI\u2019m doing my best.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo dear,\u201d the woman smiled sympathetically, \u201cunfortunately it seems like you are not.\u201d She sighed and stood, walking around her desk to sit down on the edge of her desk next to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been entrusted in Rupert\u2019s care from what he tells me; I can gather as much that you\u2019re displaced. He assures me you\u2019re a mature young woman, of which I\u2019m certain, but it still seems as though your hearts not really in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gota have a heart first<\/i>, the brunette snorted inwardly.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia?\u201d She looked up, expecting an admonishment, but instead Mrs. Morgan\u2019s face only radiated concern. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to work through this. There isn\u2019t a lot of time left. Will you be willing to do some extra-credit work?\u201d<\/p>\n
For a minute the brunette thought she\u2019d heard wrong. \u201cWork? You mean, after school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust helping Giles in the Library. It could be enough to even let you back on the Cheerleading squad, to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel eyes snapped up to Giles before she cleared her throat. \u201cUm\u2026yeah. Yeah, I can do that. It would be great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs. Morgan nodded with a smile. \u201cGood. That should do for your History teacher. Your American Lit. I believe you have about six pending assignments that you should turn in within the week at the most.\u201d She held out a printed sheet of paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Shaw has arranged for one of his students to help you if you should need it.\u201d Silently Cordelia took the list of assignments; still slightly shaken by the help she was being offered.<\/p>\n
Without asking. \u201cIf you do manage to pull this off Cordelia, which I hope you will \u2013 because you are capable; I will arrange to put you back on the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed thickly and for an insane moment she thought she\u2019d been dreaming. \u201cI have two due today for Mr. Shaw.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNext Monday will do. I\u2019ve explained the situation to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking down at the paper, Cordelia\u2019s brow furrowed. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNext time Cordelia, I would rather you came to me in advance?\u201d<\/p>\n
With a minute nod she rose on shaky legs. \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow get back to lunch.\u201d Mrs. Morgan smiled widely before going to sit back in her seat. \u201cStay for tea Rupert.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have a word with Miss Chase and meet you here shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Led by the Librarian Cordelia mutely followed him out of the administration offices and into the hallway outside. Once back in the bustle of the students rushing to and from class she looked up at him with clear hazel eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t believe he snitched.”<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was almost bursting with it. I didn\u2019t even have to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy still couldn’t get over that fact that Angelus<\/i> was even listening, never mind shooting his mouth off. What did he get out of it? Then she frowned. Of course there was the whole issue of her semi-confessing to an unscrupulous opportunist.<\/p>\n
This was the last time she was going talk to the loud mouthed vampire bound in Giles\u2019 bathroom. \u201cHe\u2019s such whiner. Like the proverbial four year old girl stuck in a two hundred and some body. The only thing he\u2019s missing is blonde pigtails.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the charming naivet\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still didn\u2019t have to talk to Mrs. M.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d Giles held back a smile. \u201cThank your Squad coordinator. You mentioned you were staying with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
She winced. \u201cMissy has a big mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeems you are invaluable to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia folded the list of assignments and stuck it into a folder. \u201cWell thanks anyway. I\u2019ll see you after school?\u201d Resisting the urge to suddenly hug the old man and bounce like a little girl, Cordelia instead offered him a soft smile before walking away.<\/p>\n
One thing was certain, Cordelia realized. Things were starting to get a bit more interesting.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cOOF!\u201d Cordelia fell back against the side of the car, the stack of books in her arms dangling precariously against her chest. \u201cGeez Giles! I don\u2019t think doing Gorilla work counts as extra-credit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The watcher grinned at the brunette over the hood of his car as he kicked the car door shut. \u201cShouldn\u2019t you try to stay in shape for cheerleading?\u201d<\/p>\n
Scathing hazel eyes snapped up to his. \u201cAre you saying I\u2019m NOT in shape?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot even, Miss Chase. I\u2019m merely suggesting you keep your fitness until you are back in the squad. Now? Ladies first?\u201d<\/p>\n
Scowling at the dancing mirth in Giles\u2019 eyes she turned and lugged the huge stack of books towards the house, only to pause a few feet away from the door. \u201cOh look what someone left at your doorstep librarian-man.\u201d<\/p>\n
Green eyes narrowed at her as she grinned at the slayer. \u201cA wavered slayer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy Summers ignored the need to quip back at the bait thrown her way and instead she looked at her watcher. \u201cWhere were you? I thought we were meeting an hour ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. I had a new batch of books come in and I had to familiarize Cordelia with a few things in the library.\u201d Giles walked up to the door and turned to his side. \u201cCould you get my keys Buffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
With a confused frown the slayer dug into her watcher\u2019s coat pocket to pull out the keys. \u201cCordelia? In the library? Is the hellmouth opening\u201d<\/p>\n
When the brunette next to him scowled Giles cleared his throat as he looked at the slayer struggle with the door. \u201cTry jiggling it a little.\u201d Buffy gave a soft grunt as she finally got the door open and stepped back to allow the two heavily burdened people into the house.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had half a mind to step on the slayer\u2019s cheap shoes while she walked by but then there was that dangerous prospect of dropping the load of books on her feet. And she\u2019d only painted her nails this morning.<\/p>\n
Walking into the living room she dumped her heavy load on the table and took a deep breath. Menial work was so not her strong suit.<\/p>\n
Neither was musty old books, but then if hefting books and cataloging in the library was going to keep her on the squad and give her credit for history, she wasn\u2019t going to complain.<\/p>\n
Not any time soon anyway.<\/p>\n
While the slayer launched into an all out epic of her day, Cordelia stole herself into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of ice water. The story of prospective new men in Buffy\u2019s life, just seemed horribly clich\u00e9d to Cordelia.<\/p>\n
She closed her eyes and sighed as the cold liquid filled her belly and calmed her nerves. And for a few minutes she just stood there in the light of the early evening, her eyes fixed outside the window as she wondered how long this would last.<\/p>\n
She realized how happy she\u2019d been to fall back into normality.<\/p>\n
The truth was; that as soon as she left Giles, her normality would go up in smoke. She\u2019d be alone and without purpose. And being with Giles now, ending up on the cheerleading squad and being pleasantly single; she would fall back under the spell and forget that it was just a trailer before the actual movie started.<\/p>\n
And she knew, today in that little office, she\u2019d felt as if things were finally going the way she wanted. Only when the trailer was over, she\u2019d fall back on her ass and it would be back to scrounging at the bottom of the barrel.<\/p>\n
She wished she\u2019d taken the damned bus and left normality behind.<\/p>\n
It was entirely the stupid leather-clad vampire\u2019s fault. She glared at the now half empty glass of water. Angelus was to blame.<\/p>\n
Floating out of the haze self-criticism, she made out brief snatches of the conversation in the living room. Buffy going on and on about some new boy and Willow harping about an A+ that might be in jeopardy and Cordelia felt the sudden insane need to guffaw like an uncultured.<\/p>\n
Irony and Alanis Morrisette was her best friend. Shaking her head at her own funny she walked out of the kitchen when she caught the distinct timber of a richer cacophonous voice. A perfect eyebrow shot up in alarm.<\/p>\n
Singing? Without any regard for melody or harmony.<\/p>\n
\u201cMary Mary Quite Contrary, how does your garden grow? With bloodless bodies, virgin hotties and dead slayers stacked in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia Chase stood in the doorway with an amused smirk. \u201cSuch talent. Do more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLittle Bo Peep has lost her Sheep.\u201d The wicked mouth parted in a leer. \u201cCoz I ate um.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m only guessing.\u201d She couldn\u2019t hold the snort of laughter. \u201cYou\u2019re really bored.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t say! Oh I have a lot to amuse me sweetheart, for example: Did you know there are one hundred and forty eight thousand nine hundred and forty-four cracks in the ceiling?\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking another sip of her water she walked in to perch on the closed toilet. \u201cPathetic much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPots and kettles Chase.\u201d Angelus snorted rudely before hunched lower in the tub. \u201cOf course if I\u2019d known her highness was going to grace me with her presence I would have rolled out the red carpet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo need.\u201d She waved nonchalantly with her hand. \u201cI know you\u2019re as feeble as I am for the moment. I forgive you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPiss off cheerleader.\u201d<\/p>\n
She glared at him. \u201cStop calling me that! I\u2019m not a cheerleader okay! Enough with the salt on wounds bit; do I tease you about your useless existence Mr-I\u2019m-only-good-to-a-scooby-as-a-labrat!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh ouch Cor. That stabbed. That really cut me down. I think I\u2019m going to cry now.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a muffled groan Cordelia let her head fall into her hands.<\/p>\n
Angelus went deathly still as the young woman\u2019s shoulders started to shake. \u201cOh for the love of! Are you crying! Coz I hate it when they cry! Dru would cry and it would drive me crazy enough to want to kill her. I can\u2019t fucking kill you Chase! Have a heart!\u201d<\/p>\n
She let out a snicker and amber eyes narrowed as she threw back her head and laughed. Scowling at the hysterical woman Angelus shook his head sadly. \u201cBitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recovering from her fit of hysteria, Cordelia watched the dark shadows in his face. \u201cMe cry? As if fangboy! I\u2019m all cried out. I\u2019m just laughing at the joke that is me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHell I coulda done that.\u201d<\/p>\n
She grinned at him. \u201cSee? Suddenly I\u2019m not only bonding with a toothless vampire, but I\u2019m relating to him and believe me this is a new low, even for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBite me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a heartbeat.\u201d He leered at her then leaned back to regard her more carefully. \u201cAlthough, I never took you for the cowardly quitter type.\u201d<\/p>\n
She rolled her eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo\u2019s life. So?\u201d<\/p>\n
Frowning at his quick retort, she wondered why she even bothered speaking to him. He only upset her. But anything was better than listening to the whining outside in the living room about problems that didn\u2019t come close to the proportions she\u2019d had to deal with.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I don\u2019t have time to sit and pull apart every knot slowly and carefully; too many new knots are forming every moment I waste opening the first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKinda frustrating when what little control you have on your life is just wrenched away from you, isn\u2019t it sweetheart? No wonder villains are always bitter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you bitter?\u201d She met his eyes evenly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAm I the villain?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her pretty face contorted softly in a confused frown. \u201cOkay, that\u2019s kind of scary that I can\u2019t just say \u2018yes\u2019 without thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m lovable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYe-hah!\u201d She snorted before rolling her eyes. \u201cRight up there with delusional.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot as much to believe life did one over on you and you take it like a pro Hazel. I thought you humans were supposed to be made of stronger mettle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing that\u2019s so positive fangboy? Besides live in a bathtub rather than a grave?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here aren\u2019t I?\u201d He snapped, the irritation reflecting in his brown eyes. He knew Cordelia Chase wasn\u2019t stupid and he couldn\u2019t believe he was bored enough to actually be having this conversation with her.<\/p>\n
If anyone saw him now they\u2019d be laughing about as hard as she had been a few moments ago. Only at him. Former Scourge of Europe, present emotional-guidance-counselor to an eighteen year old school kid.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least I\u2019m not a constant whine. What you need is a good shot of whiskey and some aspirin instead of trampling the male-egos of defenseless vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDefenseless my ass.\u201d Cordelia resisted the urge to reassure him. So now she was sympathizing with a sociopath.<\/p>\n
Oh, how far the mighty had fallen.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAnd while we\u2019re on the subject of whining, you\u2019re the one who needs excitement by poking your fat nose into other people\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brown eyes rimmed with gold. \u201cI\u2019d refrain from calling me fat Chase.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh you\u2019ll what Angelus? Turn me to dust with your super vampire vision?\u201d She couldn\u2019t hold the bubbling irritation in her chest. Why did this undead bastard always rub her the wrong way?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ignoring you now.\u201d The lanky vampire rolled his eyes before closing his eyes, hoping against hope that the exasperating brunette would be gone when he opened them. But then, he remembered he was never that lucky.<\/p>\n
Then he couldn\u2019t help glare at her remembering the snide little tip he\u2019d thrown the watcher about her cheerleading. \u201cCome to think of it, you should be thanking me Princess. I did you a damned favor. Sounds like you owe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou owe me a dog as well since we\u2019re counting and a manicure if you\u2019re feeling generous.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d he spat out.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, then don\u2019t do me any more favors Fangboy, I\u2019ve got enough on my plate and no desire to owe anything to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSucks to be you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSucks to be you more, Mr-I-have-to-eat-people-through-a-straw.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere the hell do you get off calling me up on my fucking inadequacies Chase, when you\u2019re the one without house and home? Impecunious wanabe slut!\u201d<\/p>\n
For an insane moment Cordelia had a merry vision of actually attacking the vampire and twisting his big head off, but instead her eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cResorted to name calling already? You know I don\u2019t understand, no matter how big or how powerful, it always comes down to name calling, but then there\u2019s very little else you can do biteless. So I guess, again, I forgive you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The older vampire let out a growl of irritation. How the hell did this slip of a girl manage to rile him up enough to want to kill her? Maybe that\u2019s what she wanted.<\/p>\n
He looked at her curiously. \u201cYou know if you want to die so bad sweetheart all you have to do is bend over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the one who ate my dog Angelus, seems like you\u2019ve picked up more than enough of his dog habits.\u201d<\/p>\n
His lips widened into an insolent leer. \u201cNot his habits exactly. Next time though, if you want to play solo in your bed, let the dog out first. Even he has eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the irrational fury flushed her cheeks all concern for security or sanity burst into angry flames and went up in a cloud of red smoke. Before Angelus could marvel at the feral glint in those flashing Hazel eyes the brunette had pounced.<\/p>\n
And that was saying a lot for a human; Angelus concluded as he let out a startled cry of pain when her knee landed places it had no right being around.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the?\u201d Giles rushed in from the bathroom at the unholy racket in his bathroom and just stood there gaping like an idiot for a second too long.<\/p>\n
\u201cTweed! Get this psychotic bitch OFF ME!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, dear Lord!\u201d Giles rushed forward, praying the slayer didn\u2019t walk in behind him. \u201cCordelia, please climb off the evil vampire!\u201d<\/p>\n
He attempted to peel away the brunette who showed no sign of letting loose of the flesh she worried in her teeth as she practically straddled the vampire and held his head to the side in hair-ripping talons.<\/p>\n
\u201cARGH!\u201d Angelus shuddered, his hands caught between their bellies, pinned motionless as he felt the flesh of his throat tear in merciless blunt teeth.<\/p>\n
Before he could react enough to condone the splitting headache at the prospect of draining her, Giles grabbed the snarling girl by her shoulders and deftly yanked the furious bundle of teeth and hair off the vampire\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n
His eyes glowed with pained pleasure at the sight of his borrowed blood smeared on her cherry lips. Cordelia Chase had bit HIM?!<\/p>\n
\u201cHe so deserved that, the perverted, depraved, useless bastard! Let me go Giles! He called me IMPECUNIOUS! I\u2019ll kill him!\u201d Cordelia struggled in Giles restraining grasp then slowly became aware of the vampire\u2019s golden gaze fixed hungrily on her mouth.<\/p>\n
And then the bitter taste invaded her senses. \u201cOh, EWWWE! Phthaphthaphtha! Ack!\u201d Spitting and wiping her mouth on the side of her sleeve the brunette spun around, the bile building up her throat.<\/p>\n
Oh shit, did I just bite him? For real!?<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAhem, Cordelia?\u201d Giles lifted the curtain of hair as she bent over \u2018ewie\u2019ing in quick succession. When he caught the trail of blood beside the curve of her lips he choked on a breath. \u201cUm, oh dear. Upstairs. My bathroom.\u201d He barely finished before the girl was storming out into the den.<\/p>\n
\u201cMouthwash in the medical cabinet!\u201d He called out after her; then closed his eyes hoping to forever the erase the picture now unfortunately committed to memory.<\/p>\n
Turning to the now deathly silent vampire he met his curious gaze with weariness. \u201cWhat did you do this time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat can I say tweed, I taste damn good,\u201d the evil vampire purred, his head already rushing with visions of one fiery brunette and his pants tightened at the prospect of other things she could do with her teeth.<\/p>\n
He lifted his chained hands enough to touch the fast closing wound on his throat as he let the cheerful mental picture of blood and hazel eyes occupy his otherwise unoccupied time.<\/p>\n
Giles looked down at the chains that still bound the vampire in the bathtub. Suddenly, he realized it wasn\u2019t Angelus who might hurt someone, but rather someone might kill the contentious vampire. The chains seemed so bloody useless.<\/p>\n
He wondered if there was an un-invite-spell for keeping the capricious brunette out of the bathroom.<\/p>\n
Shaking his head, he walked out to meet the alarmingly shocked eyes of his slayer, witch and the newly arrived Xander Harris, who looked appropriately cowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles? What\u2019s impecunious?\u201d Buffy frowned.<\/p>\n
Giles rubbed his face with both hands and prayed for patience.<\/p>\n