It was Thursday night in the hot summer month of July and where was Cordelia Chase? Probably not where any of her Sunnydale friends would expect her to be. She wasn't at the elite Hollywood Party that Marcia had called and told her of yesterday. No, where was Cordelia Chase? She was in the dark alleyway behind her apartment building trying to change her oil. Not something she was known for but it sure beat the other option of cleaning demon guts and goo out of the hotel ventilation system like Wes, Gunn, Angel and probably Fred were. At least she was home, she thought, reaching for the screwdriver in her toolbox. Tightening up the last loose screws that she had noticed in the engine, she plopped the hood down on her Jeep and grabbed the handle on the toolbox. She knew she was a mess and for once in her life she didn't care. She missed half of the day today and for good reason, even though she didn't know what the reason was yet. Truth was, she just wanted to be alone, as much alone with an invisible man as you could be.
Charging into her apartment, she set the toolbox down by the door and headed to the kitchen. She was hungry now, but for what she didn't know. Some part of her wished Angel would magically appear and make her the Eggs Benedict she was famous for eating. And everyone knew that Angel made the best eggs in town. But she didn't want to see him right now anyhow. She didn't know or have a reason for that or a reason for why she was mad at him, she just was. Saving her again from the big bad demon guy two days ago had been it. She didn't want to be saved. She wasn't the damsel in distress or the princess held captive in a tower guarded by a fire breathing dragon, even though the last demon had actually been fire breathing and half dragon. Cordelia Chase was the almighty powerful seer who could melt a man's heart with one glare and crush an unpopular girl's dreams by commenting on her Keds© tennis shoes.
Cordelia searched through her fridge and freezer, finally deciding on a mini pizza that had been in there since the beginning of time. The pepperoni, ham, green pepper, olive, onion and double cheese combo sounded about right this time of night. Of course, her breath would stink afterwards, but she didn't care, no one was physically there to smell her breath and tell her that she stinks. Sliding it into the microwave, she pressed the automatic pizza reheat button and walked back to her bedroom.
Slipping out of her black splattered ultra-comfortable jeans and matching now black spotted white shirt, she traded them in for a pair of old gym shorts and a USC t-shirt. Much more comfortable, she thought to herself as she heard the microwave beep, alerting her to the hot pizza waiting to be devoured. Strolling out of her bedroom she made a quick stop at the bathroom, pulling her hair into a tight ponytail once again.
"Thank you Dennis." She said into the bright kitchen air once she saw the pizza already out of the microwave and on the table alongside some utensils and a glass filled with ice and soda.
Taking a seat in front of the Italian dish, a napkin floated in front of her and slipped down onto her lap.
"You are so good to me, Dennis." She told the friendly phantom, thankful that she had someone there with her. That was her only reminder that she wasn't truly alone.