CHAPTER 14<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cShe fucking eats me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBloody \u2018ell Gelus! I did not need to hear that!\u201d<\/p>\n
The hand thumped against a silent chest. \u201cRight fucking here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you bloody stop cursing! You bloody wanker!\u201d<\/p>\n
There was an unneeded sigh. \u201cHell was preferably better. At least I\u2019d burn. This is a damned tease. An almost orgasm.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh those bloody suck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus glared across the coffee table. \u201cWill you fucking stop cursing! You fucking idiot!\u201d<\/p>\n
Giles frowned at the dark man resplendent on his couch as usual. \u201cDevu-ja!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that whole repeating itself. The thing! Again again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t like being eaten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s eating you?\u201d<\/p>\n
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. The men were so thick these days. \u201cHazel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a fork and knife my boy.\u201d The bottle was raised in a silent toast. \u201cYou\u2019ll give her indigestion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFuck, I hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re doing it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus growled, the corner of his lip curling away from his fangs as he stared down into the nearly empty glass of rum. \u201cI could just eat her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d choke on her.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes darkened, the memory of her mouth pressed against his fogging his already alcohol addled brain. \u201cNot so sure I\u2019m not already Watcher.\u201d He let his eyes wander up the stairs where she\u2019d disappeared. \u201cShe thinks I don\u2019t know what that is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChoking?\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire snickered. \u201cLove.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man across the table winced, almost like he was physically struck. \u201cOh there were days.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cYou grow old with love.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do you think vampires are immortal?\u201d<\/p>\n
The only mortal in the room frowned at the odd reference, his mind already going off tangents without warning, but something his companion said seemed to snap him into focus.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut love is life. Love does not kill?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo little you know.\u201d Older the vampire might have been, but his voice was laced with misplaced regret as he leaned back in the couch, head against the back, staring at the ceiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove is an anomaly created to put a damned leash on everything. And the woman. She\u2019s the fucking devil wearing stilettos. History is littered with manly fools giving up kingdoms, knightly hood, Godly hood and lord knows what other kinds of hoods, just to appease the female soul. Look at their construction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus\u2019 eyes hazed, reliving the way she\u2019d fit against him, her breasts pressing against his chest almost like she was coming apart at the seams. Following him down his own descent. \u201cThose sinuous curves and soft lines, big sensual eyes lined with thick beguiling lashes and a stretch of alluring lips worth drowning in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nodding, the watcher seemed to ponder that, almost on a higher level. \u201cThe whole creation issue is bloody sexist. Give women all the real power and let the men rule. Bloody puppets of mock superiority and false prowess!\u201d<\/p>\n
His mouth stretched into a wide grin.<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly. They drive you to drink. They make you into kings then tear you down with a smile. They shake you and break you, then put you back together only to be broken again. They make murderers; they make thieves and then make villains. Vile creatures of hell with the face of an angel marked to test our endurance so we could never control it. That fucking manly ego and hormonal desire was meant to be uncontrollable, to tease torment and torture our sex for making the sad mistake of being born male!\u201d<\/p>\n
He let out a lamenting sigh. \u201cAnd they say I\u2019m bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod has to be female.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sharp bark of laughter was genuine. A finger pointed to the man rudely, swirling in the air between his eyes. \u201cYou\u2019re drunk Rupe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The watcher sat up straighter. \u201cTha\u2019s not possible.\u201d He frowned at the bottle in his hand and shook it. \u201cThe rum\u2019s all gone!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo shit watcher. It\u2019s in you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh now you\u2019re just flirting with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that was how Buffy found them. Of course the notion that Angelus might be hitting on her Watcher and that her Watcher was indulging the vampire only made the woman realize that maybe she had walked into an alternative universe.<\/p>\n
But then the smell of alcohol was prevalent in the air and so were the empty bottles between them. She let out a slow breath. \u201cI so need to get a new gig.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pulling out her scarf, the young woman walked over to the duo and put her hands on her hips. \u201cConsorting with the enemy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus looked up, his nearly empty bottle raised in a toast to the bane of his existence. \u201cPerceptive as always Sluffy. Blayer.\u201d The vampire winced. \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sighed. \u201cYeah me.\u201d Pulling the bottle away she took a moment to watch the two wasted individual silently for a moment. Contemplating her options. One finger tapping against her thigh she looked down into the loopy grin on her mentor\u2019s face and hid a smile. \u201cScoot over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood good! We got another one!\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus kept his eyes on the very sober slayer and his mouth stretched into a slow knowing smile. \u201cOne last fuck?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her mouth open to snap, but then she seemed to rethink it. \u201cI don\u2019t want claw marks down my face, I hear she bites.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmm.\u201d His hand gently rubbed the spot on his neck where he still dreamt she\u2019d left a mark. \u201cHell yeah,\u201d he purred at the vivid memory, before his gaze focused on her. \u201cPlaying?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head, taking a swig from Giles\u2019 bottle then coughed, the heat rushing to her head. \u201cJesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe fucking eats me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy looked up startled, her green eyes wide for a moment at the familiar timber of his voice. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched the vampire sprawled on the couch, his eyes swimming with memories, longing and rum.<\/p>\n
She watched him lift his hand and put it over where his heart should have been. \u201cRight fucking here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDevu-ja!\u201d Giles cried out jubilantly. \u201cAgain again! See?\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman groaned inwardly. This had to end \u2013 for her sanity.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia Chase couldn\u2019t concentrate.<\/p>\n
The accompanying grunts and groans from the living room were started to grate on her patience. The feminine growls were making her wish she\u2019d invested in earplugs instead of new hairpins.<\/p>\n
Maybe the pins would work, she mused distracted, pulling her elbow on the textbook, her chin in her hand.<\/p>\n
She was engrossed in exam induced visions of bobby pins and earplugs when she heard someone sigh behind her. With Christmas approaching and her last exam looming over her head, Cordelia missed the newcomer into the room.<\/p>\n
It was when she spoke that Cordelia snapped out of her day dream.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice studying technique. Staring off into space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blinking out of her haze, Cordelia frowned at the panting slayer, still garbed in her training gear as she proceeded to pour herself a glass of water. \u201cExcuse you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy leaned back against the counter and shrugged. \u201cJust thought you\u2019d be paying more attention, what with your graduation on the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my god!\u201d Hazel eyes widened with mock surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are WILLINGLY striking up a conversation with me. Will wonders never cease? Will we have a hot January? With the sun forget to set? Will Xander rediscover his sexual preference?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy bit back the glare and met the cheerleader\u2019s eyes evenly. \u201cI\u2019m a big girl Cordelia. I am aware of your situation with Angel\u2026Angelus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFunny I don\u2019t believe you when you still have to rethink who he is.\u201d Rolling her eyes, Cordelia put her eyes back on her page, hoping it would dismiss the slayer, but the young woman didn\u2019t move, instead she came and sat down beside Cordelia on the kitchen table.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s rough for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flashing caramel eyes glared at Buffy. \u201cYou cannot begin to imagine, so don\u2019t pretend to sympathize with me Buffy. I\u2019m a big girl too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rolling her eyes Buffy Summers let out a frustrated sigh. \u201cFor the last time, I\u2019m not pretending to sympathize with you, and while we\u2019re on the subject, you\u2019re sitting in the company of one very unwilling slayer. You think I WANTED this?\u201d<\/p>\n
The young girl snorted. \u201cI got stuck with this destiny. Just like you\u2019re stuck with yours. So yeah. I can imagine what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leaning back in her seat, Cordelia crossed her arms, eyes narrowing suspiciously. \u201cWhat do you want Buffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re being too nice. What\u2019s your angle?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod Cordelia, are you really that cynical to think that I\u2019m still after him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what are you after?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy ran a hand through her hair. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I thought I wanted Angel back, but you were right. And so was everyone else. He\u2019s not my Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
She met the caustic cheerleader\u2019s eyes carefully. \u201cHe\u2019s your demon.\u201d<\/p>\n
A muscle worked in her temple as Cordelia denied the heightening of her pulse or the indignant denial burning in her chest. So she chose not to comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m okay with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia let out an incredulous laugh. \u201cThat is so benevolent Buffy, but no thanks. I don\u2019t want your nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, I\u2019m not giving you permission, I\u2019m just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour permission means nothing to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019ve accepted it then?\u201d<\/p>\n
The cheerleader rolled her eyes, now completely distracted from her work. \u201cAccepted what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat you\u2019re falling for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instantly, scalding toffee colored eyes glared at her unwelcome companion. \u201cButt out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy seemed to be struggling to stay calm and control her smile all at the same time. \u201cI\u2019d love to.\u201d The slayer held her gaze unfazed.<\/p>\n
Years of staring down demons. She ought to be able to handle an irate cheerleader for a while. \u201cBut your demon likes to be in my space. Just yesterday I was informed, none too politely, that you\u2019re his soul mate.<\/p>\n
Walking in on two drunk men can really snap things in perspective. Can you imagine that? I thought the soul was mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia wondered if she should invest in body armor. \u201cYou want him, he\u2019s yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s not, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
At the cryptically observant question, Cordelia grit her teeth to calm her bubbling anger. \u201cLook whatever you\u2019re attempting to say, say it and be done with it. I do have a life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet him out my town.\u201d Cordelia felt like the slayer had punched her in the gut.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is Angelus Scourge of Europe, bane of my existence. And he IS yours, whether you ready to believe it or not. You\u2019re the only one he listens to. The only one he seems to care about. The rest of us mean nothing to him. Because if the chip one day decides to go wonky \u2013 I WILL stake him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her green eyes were unshakable. \u201cI will not let him hurt my friends again. Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou better not be threatening us.\u201d Cordelia\u2019s hazel eyes were dark. \u201cNeither or us takes it lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUs, huh?\u201d The slayer smiled knowingly. \u201cTell him to take his championing somewhere else. I\u2019ve got this base covered.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t just your town.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re always welcome to stay back Cordelia, but you won\u2019t. And you know it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The finality in the slayers claim didn\u2019t sit well with Cordelia. The blunt insinuation seemed to tip towards reality. There was always the possibility. And the longer Cordelia contemplated leaving the slayer\u2019s domain with Angelus, the more it became plausible.<\/p>\n
The mere notion of Angelus being staked was like amputating a limb. The attachment alone drained the color from the cheerleader\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
The girl looked up startled when she felt the slayer\u2019s hand on hers, her bright eyes staring up at her. Buffy Summers\u2019 smile was sad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you didn\u2019t ask for this, but if they\u2019ve given you the visions, then they\u2019ve given you the strength to see them.\u201d Stepping back, as if realizing she\u2019d touched the girl out of concern and understanding the slayer sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy advice: stop fighting it. I\u2019ll give him till graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia watched the slayer walk out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Angelus nearly bumped into the blonde slayer and he was about to snap, when he saw the thunderstruck expression on his seer\u2019s face. Frowning, he walked into the kitchen, dropping his freshly acquired blood bags on the table beside her books. \u201cChase?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes snapped up to him, as if noticing for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s did she say to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia licked her suddenly dry lips. \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFucking hell Chase, don\u2019t lie to me. Not only can you not, but I saw the slayer leave. What the hell did she say to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
When he made a move to go after the woman in question, Cordelia grabbed his coat sleeve, swallowing her own panic.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo don\u2019t. She was\u2026polite.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus frowned at the complacent face she was wearing, but her pretty caramel eyes were wide with panic. \u201cFine. What did the slayer politely say?\u201d<\/p>\n
She wondered if she should tell him. She knew he would go after Buffy. She had to make him understand. Cordelia wasn\u2019t a big fan of the slayer, but she knew the girl meant business when it came to her business.<\/p>\n
She knew the impulsive vampire\u2019s safety was only a priority on Cordelia Chase\u2019s list. Something she herself hadn\u2019t made peace with. \u201cShe\u2019s worried the chip will stop working.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFuck I hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her panic melted into a glare. \u201cDo you even know what that means?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah Chase, I’m a vampire, for Christ’s sake! I drain, I fight. It’s what I do best!\u201d<\/p>\n
A hand touched her throbbing temple as Cordy stepped away from him, going to pour herself a glass of water. \u201cYou’re a lot more than just a vampire fangbreath.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s what YOU see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re also a PTB puppy remember? Or did we sleep through that rerun?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo I had a front row seat. What\u2019s your point?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Putting her hands on the counter she stared outside into the night. First the idea of staying in this stupid town had loathed her.<\/p>\n
Now why did the prospect of leaving bother her so much? She\u2019d never wanted to stay. \u201cYou can\u2019t stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Tweed\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSunnydale!\u201d<\/p>\n
His brow drew together and he covered what little different separated them and grabbed her elbow, spinning her around to meet his eyes. \u201cSpit it out Cordy; riddles don\u2019t suit you anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just for a breath, Angelus thought he saw longing marred with concern in her beautiful hazel eyes, her hand sliding up to almost touch his face, but then she looked away, her fists clenched to her sides.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you stay here and the chip does stop working. You\u2019ll go back to being an asshole, not that you\u2019re not much of an asshole now.\u201d<\/p>\n
An eyebrow shot up, his hand curling around her wrist, pulling her closer. \u201cThat\u2019s never bothered you before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDammit you obsessive dork! This isn\u2019t about me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho else matters?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly!\u201d She wrenched her arm away. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what the trouble is. You don\u2019t care about anything else!\u201d<\/p>\n
Now the demon was stumped. Scratching the back of his head, he regarded her with obvious confusion before sniffing the air. \u201cThat time of the month?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNO!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDammit woman, I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll go after Buffy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what Hazel, she\u2019s your best friend now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Stamping her foot, the girl let out a cry of frustration, her hands thrown up as she started to pace.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot believe you! Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall! If you go after Buffy she will STAKE you. You will turn to dust and be of no use to me! Who the hell will slay my demons if you\u2019re dust huh? Who? Tell me!\u201d<\/p>\n
She gave him her patented know-it-all wriggle of her head.<\/p>\n
At first Angelus didn\u2019t understand her train of logic, because the notion of Buffy staking him was impossible; she had nothing on him. Then her words began to seep in and the corner of his mouth slid up. \u201cYou like me undead and kicking don\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEgomaniac! I like me headache free and without the death of innocents weighing down my shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n
The demon chuckled. \u201cDamn Chase. Why don\u2019t you just admit you want me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy can\u2019t you just listen to what I\u2019m saying for a change?\u201d<\/p>\n
His mouth spread into a grin, taking a step towards her, trapping her against the refrigerator with a predatory purr. \u201cI always listen to you baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
Distracted by the sudden heat flaring up under her skin, Cordelia floundered. \u201cThat\u2019s what she said.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus drew his head back slightly to look her in the eye. \u201cBuffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want you to take on Buffy. Or the rest of the Scoobie stooges.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the fuck Chase, are you asking me to be nice to them!? Are they nice to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m saying she wants you out of here! Because to them you are Angelus Scourge of Europe, arrogant, pain in the butt, S-O-B killer and drainer of Sunnyhell innocents! To them you\u2019re nothing else but a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what about you Cordelia?\u201d He growled softly, head tipping down to silence her ranting. Nothing she\u2019d said so far meant anything to him.<\/p>\n
And he had a feeling the prospect of his leaving wasn\u2019t what had her smelling like sweet fear. \u201cWhat do you see?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t about me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is ONLY about you!\u201d He snapped back, his hands coming to smack against the refrigerator door, the ochre in his eyes shimmering to keep cool. \u201cTell me Cordelia what do you see?\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaken by the very angry and demanding demon, Cordelia pushed back against the refrigerator to put a little distance between them. Enough so she could form proper thought, but his body followed, his hips pressing insistently against hers.<\/p>\n
Galled and unwillingly turned on by his brash behavior she gasped, her hands pushing against his chest. \u201cAsshole.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides that?\u201d<\/p>\n
When the immovable wall didn\u2019t budge, she let out an exasperated breath, her hazel yes flashing with determination and refusal to be bullied. \u201cBrains enough to know when to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d He hissed softly, eyes already speaking what he wanted to hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else is there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWits, madness.\u201d His eyes were unfaltering. \u201cLove. As far as a demon is allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her pretty mouth dropped open. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know I love you. I know, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my god!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me you love me Chase.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus, I \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShhh.\u201d The rough pad of his finger slid up against her mouth, eyes like liquid chocolate as he held her there. \u201cDon\u2019t say anything, unless it\u2019s a \u2018yes.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Her mouth quivered under his cold finger, the insane need to run building up into necessity. Her head aching with the need to shake hard, to deny his claim.<\/p>\n
Angelus leaned down, his mouth sliding over his own finger, keeping the distance, his lips nearly brushing hers; waiting for her to speak. \u201cCordelia\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She forced the only words she allowed herself to voice past her lips with an effort that nearly took her breath away. \u201cAngelus, I like you.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a wince he shoved himself away from her. \u201cFucking hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia grabbed the front of his sweater, the absence of his presence oddly disconcerting. \u201cYou’re my friend! I just…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLetting Buffy stake me would have done less damage, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we are friends! Buddies! Amigos even!\u201d She tried to smile despite her panic. \u201cDoesn\u2019t that count for anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Cordelia. We were never friends. And now, we\u2019re finished.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her hazel eyes widened, something inside her welling, tightening worse than when Buffy had asked her to leave with him. \u201cFinished? What do you mean finished!?\u201d He couldn\u2019t mean. He couldn\u2019t!<\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t be your fucking FRIEND Chase! I’ll touch you. I’ll say things you don’t want to hear, and then you\u2019ll tell me you \u2018like\u2019 me and I\u2019ll want to take a sunlit walk. It\u2019s painfully obvious you\u2019re a part of me in ways I can never welcome. It took enough out of me to hear you say it the first time, I\u2019m not about to let you do it to me over again.<\/p>\n
Thanks for the reminder Hazel. I am the Scourge of Europe. Vampire on a leash, blah blah, woof woof. But I sure as hell am not your kick puppy. And I\u2019m not contributing to your fucking pity party. You\u2019re so damned good at it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
She grabbed his arm as he turned to leave the kitchen. \u201cYou told me you couldn\u2019t quit! You said we can\u2019t quit! The PTB won\u2019t let us!\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking down into her frightened caramel eyes, Angelus gritted his teeth and proceeded to do the most difficult thing since he\u2019d been dead. \u201cI\u2019ll do the championing. You\u2019ll do the seeing. We just won\u2019t do it together.\u201d Extracting his sleeve from her panicky grip, he took a step away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be at the mansion for a while. I\u2019ll call you and tell you how to reach me.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then he walked to the front door, resisting the urge to drag her in his arms and fuck her until she couldn\u2019t say anything but \u2018yes\u2019. Only Angelus had promised. This one would come to him.<\/p>\n
He knew it as well as he knew he\u2019d hunt one day; the only way Cordelia Chase would stay was if she came willingly.<\/p>\n
Love was a bitch.<\/p>\n