"Cool," said Cordelia, as she suddenly noticed her side did not hurt anymore. However, she realized that Anya wasn't around but didn't care.
She also noticed in strange way she was wearing aqua blue outfit but she ignored that anomaly. What made her especially happy was that Buffy, Faith, Xander, and Willow were not around the picnic table.
"This is great," said Cordelia, as she played with the pendant. "Thanks Anya, for giving me my wish!" She clenched her hands in joy, damn Scoobies were out her life.
"Hey this day may not be a total loss," said Cordelia, triumphantly as she walked back in.
"Cordelia, where have you been?" asked Cordette, as she closed her locker door. The other girls around looked at Cordelia with concern.
Cordelia gave a careful smile.
"Wow that dress is something, it so alluring," remarked Cordette. "But I love it."
The other girls nodded in agreement and Cordelia noted that her friends were all wearing drab colored dresses. She was slight puzzled but accepted the compliment as she looked at her dress. Who was she to refuse praises from those around her? Right now she could use some flattery.
"Hi Cordelia," said John-Lee.
He had been standing there admiring Cordelia she was stunning and quite bold for wearing this dress. He hoped she was still available as he mustered enough courage to ask her out to the dance.
"Oh John-Lee," said Cordelia, stiffly. She eyed him wearily.
"Probably every guy has asked but I was wondering if you would be interested in going to the upcoming dance with me."
He wrung his hands hoping for a response. Cordelia was such a bright light among the dour looking girls.
"Hmmm . . . I'll have to get back with you," said Cordelia with a non-committal voice.
She was still smarting from John-Lee's behavior from this morning and wasn't going let him off the hook too easily.
"Really," said John-Lee, as he clasped his hands. He left feeling elated.
It wasn't a flat out rejection and she had actually talked to him. He thanked his lucky stars as he strode down the hallway.
"Cordelia, you rule!" declared Cordette. She admired how Cordelia had John-Lee around wrapped her finger.
Cordelia grinned as she walked with friends to her class. In the classroom, she saw Harmony with some other girls and noticed that same dowdy look. In fact all the students had that same look and she was about to inquire but the professor had entered.
"Today's lecture is going to be brief," he said. He glanced nervously at his watch.
His wife was ill and he had to pick his children from elementary school. He wished he didn't have afternoon classes, he much preferred morning classes. So much to do before sunset.
"Just read those chapters noted in the Syllabus. The quiz is the day after tomorrow and remember the monthly memorial service is in the morning."
He closed his book and promptly left without looking back. The rest of the class collectively sighed and got up as well. Cordelia thought she had spaced out when she realized that class already over.
"That was shortest class ever," said Cordelia, as she looked at Harmony. "I want to do something fun. I'm in the mood to go to the Bronze. Why don't we all meet up later?"
Harmony and rest of the girls looked at her with disbelief.
"Are you crazy?!" said Harmony, as she studied Cordelia and her dress. "Besides what's with the tramp look are you trying to get bit?"
Cordelia had enough of Harmony's snarky remarks. "What's with the plain Jane, somber look? You'll never get anybody if you dress like that."
All the girls shook their heads. Then Cordelia bit her lip and started to back pedal.
"Hey Harmony, I bumped my head the other day. I guess I'm having a *senior class* moment," said Cordelia, nervously.
"I wish I could go," conceded Harmony. "But it's off limits now, it's been overrun by vamps."
"Oh right, its coming back to me," said Cordelia, as she hit her head with the palm of hand.
"Even if it was vamp free, curfew starts in an hour," added Cordette.
"Right I keep forgetting that . . . I blame all of this on Xander and Willow."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"Willow and Xander are dead," said Harmony, grimly.
"Oh . . . I knew that too."
* * *
When Cordelia walked to the leaf covered parking lot, she thought she was having another senior moment when she couldn't find her car. She swore she parked in this area of the parking lot. In fact, there wasn't single vehicle in the parking lot. This didn't ring any alarm bells as she walked around to another parking lot.
"Alright this isn't funny anymore," yelled Cordelia, as she looked around. "Where's my car?"
She stopped a groundskeeper who hurried across the parking lot, however he proved useless in providing information in the whereabouts of Cordelia's car. He admonished and reminded Cordelia that students were not allowed to drive. He added quickly.
"Miss you better go home quickly or least get in quickly before the sun sets."
"Whatever," said Cordelia with a huff and walked away.
She walked down the empty, Main Street and passed the cinema. She wondered what was playing and considered catching movie but noted it was closed. All the shops were closed and some had metal gates, and the sun had just set. The streets seem so dead as she walked alone.
"What happened to the nightlife around here?" asked Cordelia, rhetorically.
"It's still here if you know where to find it, if you know what I mean," said a voice from an alley.
Cordelia was startled when she heard a voice and that voice sounded eerily familiar. She felt the small hairs on back of her head stand upright.
"Well, Well. If it isn't Miss Cordelia Chase," said Xander, as he leaned against a building in the shadows. He swaggered across the street towards her.
"Xander?!" said Cordelia, "They said you were dead . . . This must be a sicko joke."
Xander grinned.
"Did you hear that, Willow," said Xander, as he extended his hand lovingly to Willow. "I'm dead."
Willow giggled and sauntered across the street to Xander.
"I may be dead to you but I'm not out," said Xander, as he held Willow in his arms.
"Kiss, Kiss," said Willow, eagerly.
He gave Willow a kiss. Willow returned her affections with a slow tongue lick on Xander's neck.
"Ewww . . . I can't win . . . Even in this Bizarro world you guys are still together. Check into a motel room already!"
"Yummy," said Willow, as she began to nibble on Xander's ear while looking at Cordelia and started to caress his pale white chest.
"Willow what's with the leather look? You know something strange is going on here. I think my wish may have something to do with this, I think? Where's Buffy the Slayer when you need her. Yeah Buffy will fix this; I just have to find her. Okay I admit it I need her help and damn I hate it when I need her."
Xander and Willow grinned mischievously as they approached Cordelia.
"I want more," said Willow, as she looked at Cordelia and then stuck her tongue at her.
"Can I have her?"
"Now, Willow behave . . . You know it's my turn. If you're *nice* I'll share."
"Oh . . . I have a bad feeling," said Cordelia, as began to step back. She quickly put her hand in her purse fishing for her car keys and but came across another object first.
"She looks enticing," continued Willow, as she came closer almost within a foot of Cordelia. "Xander, I'm really hungry."
"It's the dress, my vixen," said Xander, suggestively. "Cordelia, was always sharp dresser but dumber than a sack of rocks that's how she got to me."
"Oh no . . . I've got to find Buffy . . . she'll make things right. She'll help . . ."
Then Willow and Xander began to transform into vampires.
"Oh my god you're vamps!" shrieked Cordelia.
"No one is going to help you," growled Willow. "You belong to us . . ."
"Oh yeah," said Cordelia, as she took out a small black canister. "Watch this." She sprayed Willow with it.
"Mmmm … Spicy . . . Not bad . . . kinda taste like pepper," giggled Willow. "Hey Cordy you wanna vamp out with us?"
Xander began to kiss Willow and tasted the pepper spray. He grinned and watched Cordelia take advantage of the moment. Cordelia didn't looked as she fled, only problem she was running in a full panic like prey.
"Oh this is the fun part," said Willow, as she clapped her hands.
"Yeah . . . my love . . . you love all the parts," winked Xander. "Let the games begin." He started to jog after Cordelia with Willow walking casually behind.
Xander easily caught up with Cordelia and knocked down her and they tumbled down on the pavement. Cordelia struggled with Xander and fought back. In her fingers, she had her car keys and struck at his face, and managed to cut his face. However, Xander was stronger and put his hand on Cordelia throat, and started to bend down. Suddenly, a white van screeched to a stop and several occupants came out. All had crosses and few with crossbows.
Xander looked up and backed off. "Damm White Hats." Cordelia freed herself and recognized Giles and Oz.
"Party poopers," pouted Willow.
"Giles! Oz! Thank goodness," said Cordelia, as she approached them.
"Come on Cordelia, hurry up and get in," shouted Oz. "Don't you know vamps are attracted to bright colors."
"You wouldn't believe the day I had," said Cordelia, as she sat next to Giles in the front seat. "Willow and Xander . . . they were trying to vamp on me."
"Keep an eye out," said Giles, as he looked back at the rearview mirror. "Make sure we're not being followed."
"It started with this *silly* wish that's all. I mean the world is all wrong . . . it's not suppose to be this way. It's not my fault that this happened."
Giles eyed her hard.
"Okay, It's not all my fault. If Xander hadn't suck face with Willow I wouldn't have made a wish."
Oz grumbled when he heard Willow's name.
"We need Buffy she's the Slayer. You have to find her," continued Cordelia.
"What are talking about?" said Giles, as he was half listening, as he was driving.
Somehow, this talkative girl was trying to tell something but he was concentrating on his driving. He was making sure there weren't any more stragglers. They were always a few kids getting into trouble.
"You're a Watcher."
Giles turned his head. "How do you know that?"
"Oh Duh! Come on Buffy told me. When you're not working as the school's librarian you put on your Watcher hat. Buffy's a Slayer. It all started when I made wish after I put on this pendant," said Cordelia and showed her pendant to Giles. "Anya told me I should make a wish and I would feel good. Now I feel like crap and the world has gone to hell."
"Please tell me you're lying," groaned Giles.
Cordelia shook her head no.
"Anyanka is the Patron Saint of all women scorned."
"Oh well that explains everything," said Cordelia with resign and threw her hands up in the air. "I should have known by her looks, it was a dead give away."
* * *
Buffy grunted loudly and buried her head in the pillow as her phone rang again and again. It had ringed incessantly that whole afternoon. She wanted to get some sleep for the nightly patrol. Then the answering machine kicked in. It was the same man leaving messages.
"Go away already," shouted Buffy.
He kept asking for Buffy the Slayer and said he was a Watcher. He gave out his name as Giles Rupert.
"Watch?" said Faith, groggily as she opened her eyes. She had slept soundly through all noise but Buffy's voice woke her up.
"Watcher," replied Buffy.
Buffy kicked the sheets off and finally sat up grabbing the receiver.
"Hello," said Buffy, impatiently. She chucked her pillow against the headboard and leaned back.
"Is this Buffy Summers?" said Giles, tentatively.
"Yeah, who needs to know?"
"I'm Giles Rupert a Watcher."
"Yes, you've said that a gazillion times," sighed Buffy, with annoyance.
Then she looked sweetly at Faith lying next to her. Faith was giving her a questioning look.
"Well, we have a grave situation here in Sunnydale, CA."
Buffy yawned.
"We have rather a large outbreak of Vampire activity."
Faith propped herself on her elbows.
"So you have Vampire activity. Big deal, who doesn't?"
"What's going on?" asked Faith.
Buffy covered the receiver. "Some idiot from Sunnydale, California babbling away. Sounds like a nutcase."
Faith sat up and pressed her head next to Buffy to listen.
"A high student, Cordelia Chase, claims she knows you and says that world was changed for the worse when she made a wish. I know how this sounds but you have to believe me. It has to do with a pendant from Anyanka, she is . . ."
Giles could hear the impatience on the other end.
"You have to believe us Buffy. Please listen."
Buffy shook her head in disbelief and had just about enough with this crank call. She was about to slam the phone.
"Do you expect me to believe that, you weirdo," interrupted Buffy.
"Hold up B," said Faith, soothingly and reached for the phone. "Let's hear what he has to say."
"Who's that," asked Giles.
Faith pressed the speakerphone button.
"I'm Faith Lehane. I'm also a Slayer."
"Ah thank goodness, two Slayers," said Giles, and then he glanced over to Cordelia and mouthed the words two Slayers. "We're in luck! We could use your help as well. Your Watcher mentioned you know Buffy."
"Yes I know her very well," said Faith. She put her arm around Buffy to placate her. "So what's this about the world being messed up?"
Buffy blew a soft kiss at Faith and pushed her back on the bed. She began to trace circles on her belly.
Finally, a voice reason reflected Giles as he started to repeat his story. He was beginning to have doubts with Buffy based on her attitude. He hoped that Faith was more levelheaded and more patient. When he didn't hear any monosyllabic replies after awhile he asked.
"Faith, what do you think of that idea?"
He heard a series of grunts and grumbles, and what sounded like fabric being torn. He wondered if the Slayers were being attacked.
"Faith. Faith can you hear me?"
"Oh Oh Oh Yes. Oh Yes Yieee Grrrrr . . . Ahhhhhhhhhh"
"Faith are you alright?" Then he heard what sounded like objects crashing on the floor.
"What is Giles," whispered Cordelia, who stood next him in the library.
"Not sure . . . I hope they're alright."
Cordelia took the receiver and pressed the speaker button.
"All this time and I never knew what that button was used for," declared Giles.
Cordelia looked at him with pity and took the phone from him.
"Faith are you there?" started Cordelia. "Faith!" shouted Cordelia. "Faith, Buffy! Hello, anybody there."
"What?!" mumbled Faith, hoarsely.
"It's Giles again. Can you and Buffy come down to Sunnydale?"
"Yes," said Faith, breathlessly.
"Any questions, comments, or concerns?"
"Yes can you email my Watcher on what you just said? I didn't get it all."