Cordelia hummed as she filed her perfect nails. She glanced at Angel, who was looking in a file drawer of his desk, slamming things, and rearranging stacks of papers at least three times each. Shutting the drawer with vigor, he sighed. Not just any sigh. It was a "Buffy" sigh.
"Why don't you just call her?" Cordy asked annoyed, trying to keep strict attention on the more important matter at hand, her nails.
"What? Who?" Angel tried to look innocent and failed miserably.
"Stop playing dumb. You keep telling yourself you're fine with this current girl you've got. But I know better, Angel. You keep sighing for her! And you brood more than ever, and sometimes, I catch you just staring at the phone, as if you wished it'd ring, and be her calling. You can't hide it anymore. I know you too well." Cordy put down the file and stood, pushing in her chair to sit on the more comfortable sofa.
"Am I that predictable?" Angel let out a breath, slumping slightly in the chair. "It just seemed like things were great, and I knew, even then, that it couldn't be that good for me. I'm damned! I have to suffer."
"So right when you're finally happy, you cut off the source. Sounds smart." Cordelia tried not to sound too harsh. She felt like hitting him over the head with a book and dragging him to Sunnydale, but he'd probably be mad at her.
"Look Angel. The way I see things, you've got about three choices here. One: keep leading Faith on. Tell her you love her, when it's really the other girl you wish you were with. Two: Dump Faith, and become a lonely, hateful, broody meanie, living in seclusion the rest of your life, and three: go find her, and tell her how you feel. Because Angel, believe me, she feels exactly the same way."
"But she's moved on, there's-"
"No. It's just like Faith. A blind to keep out the truth." Cordelia handed Angel the phone.
"I know that you have her number. Call Faith, tell her the truth, drop in on the real love of you life. It'll be worth it, Angel."
"How do you understand me so well, Cordelia?" Angel smiled gratefully, and dialed Faith's number as he sat on the couch.
"Yes, Faith? It's Angel. I-I don't think we should see each other anymore. ... I'm sorry. It was always her. I don't think I even stopped loving her. ... Yes, I understand. Goodbye."
Angel looked pained. "It's better that she knows. Not to call her."
"Don't put it off any longer!" Cordelia scolded, knowing the look of doubt his face held.
"Ok." Dialing slowly, Angel lifted the phone to his ear. "Hello? Yeah, it's me. I just called to tell you it's over with Faith. I never loved her, it was always you." Angel's voice grew more emotional.
"I know. I feel the same way. ... Ok. I'll be there. ... I love you, too."
Angel hung up, an almost disbelieving look on his face.
"You were right, Cordy! I'm leaving now. I can't stay away anymore. I belong with her." Angel laughed, hugging Cordy, and ran upstairs to pack some clothes.
"Buffy is so lucky." Cordelia sighed. "How is it that some people have all the luck?" Cordy sat back down and resumed filing her now extremely short nails. Blood seeped under the tips, dripping slowly down her fingers. She watched with interest, hardly noticing Angel hug her again, before running out the door. To his love. To Buffy...