"Oh wait, Anya. I have better idea take the Scoobies out of the picture. That would be my ultimate wish," said Cordelia, smugly.

Smiling wickedly, she looked at Buffy, Faith, Willow, and Xander huddling together.

"Done," said Anya without thinking twice.

However, this time nothing happened.

Anya repeated the word 'done' thinking she didn't say the word right. Then she repeated it several more times but this time loudly.

Cordelia turned around and faced Anya. Gasping silently, Anya panicked when she saw that Cordelia was no longer wearing the pendant, her power center. Suddenly she felt feeble and didn't like how it felt to be mortal again. This reminded her of helplessness when she was once a homemaker living with her uncouth husband.

Then it came to Anya, the other memories from the alternate reality came crashing through. Overwhelming her, she staggered a bit as she regained her balance. She looked at Cordelia and searched her eyes wondering if she remembered. However, Cordelia was blissfully ignorant.

Cordelia caught Anya who was stumbling. "Are you Okay?"

"Yeah," lied Anya. "I'm not use having this amount of sunshine."

"How do you feel?" asked Buffy to Faith.

Faith looked at Buffy and smiled. She loved that perky little smile from Buffy; it made her warm and fuzzy inside out. It gave her an adorable look. Faith could stand here all day and gaze at Buffy.

"Five-by-five," she said after a few moments.

Smiling sweetly, Buffy gave Faith a parting hug.

"B thanks for hearing me out, this really means a lot to me."

Buffy responded with an appreciative nod.

"Faith we're all meeting at the Bronze later," interrupted Xander. "Why don't you come with us?"

"I'll have to see," replied Faith noncommittally and reassumed her tough stance.

"Oh it will fun, something is always happening or someone is making a fool of themselves," hinted Willow, as she glanced over to Xander.

"Thanks for the invite, I may have other plans," said Faith

Buffy didn't know her very well but she knew enough that Faith was the kind of person who did her own thing and could relate. She also surmised that Faith was a loner who was not big into crowds and wondered if she was lonely. Not wanting to stomp on Faith's pride, Buffy gave her space but at same time, she didn't want to exclude her from her friends. She gathered that Faith acted tough on the outside to cover up the tender side of her.

"No biggie Faith, but if your plans don't work out the invitation is still open," added Buffy.

"Thanks B," smiled Faith. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Did your wish make you feel better," said Anya to Cordelia, as she shifted the conversation away from her.

Being mortal sucked as far as Anya was concerned as she kicked up a clod of earth. Languishing in the sunshine, she suddenly hated sunny days. She loathed these human feelings again that were gnawing at her insides. Looking at Cordelia, she searched her eyes again, and wondered for sure if she didn't remember anything. However, to Anya it appeared that Cordelia was completely oblivious.

Cordelia couldn't put her finger on it but she felt different or something was unusual. After few moments of thinking about it, she dismissed that odd feeling and attributed it to the mystical convergence known as Hellmouth. A hot spot for the supernatural.

"Wishes are nice but they don't amount to anything," said Cordelia, standing taller. "You can't wait for things to happen you have to make it happen."

Feeling adrift, Anya stood there almost naked without her necklace, the ancient heirloom now gone. When she had the power, she used to make things happen and now didn't know if she could cope in this modern world. However, when she looked to Cordelia again she saw resourcefulness and inner strength. Anya mused perhaps it was also the inner bitch at work as well and she liked that mindset; Cordelia didn't have magical or super power attributes but yet she managed.

"I have things to do in my life. People to meet and places to go. Maybe I can help the less fortunate," continued Cordelia, but then abruptly stopped as she looked at Anya.

Self-conscious, Anya bit her lips guiltily and assumed the worst.

"Anya, have you been to the Bronze?"

"Oh what is that?" asked Anya with a sigh of relief.

"It's the only place to be seen in Sunnydale," announced Cordelia taking Anya under her wing. "I'm going there this evening. I'll point out who's hot and who's not so you can avoid painful drama. The music is cool. I'll be there at eight."

With her Slayer's senses, Faith had tuned out the others around when she heard Cordelia mentioned the word, 'Bronze' and tried to not looked too obvious.

Just as Cordelia and Anya were walking passing the Scoobies, Faith turned her head slightly.

"I just read something. That if you give off positive energy people will be attracted to you and . . . you again," said Cordelia with contempt as she noted Faith standing in the way with Xander beside her.

Faith responded with a twinkle in her eyes and a playful smile. Not amused, Cordelia rolled her eyes in contempt.

Mistaking Cordelia's snarky remark and reaction, Xander confronted her. "That's it. Yeah, I made some indiscretions. But you can't expect me go away. I exist, so get over it."

"As if I'm talking to you. I'm so over you. On a scale to 1 to 10, you're nothing but a minus 273."

Pausing for a moment, Xander gave her blank stare. "Huh minus 273?"

"Oh . . . Oh I get now," said Willow very exited and with a high pitch voice. "Absolute zero."

"What?!" protested Xander

"Yeah, if you had attended class you'd know that minus 273 degrees Celsius means absolute zero," continued Cordelia, with disdain.

"Oh that's good," whispered Anya suddenly getting the pun.

Saying nothing, Faith watched the exchange with indifference. Somehow, when she stopping carrying books awhile back, not that she ever carried books in high school that this was way beneath her. Nevertheless, it was amusing to listen.

"I was at the class," continued Xander rather defensively. "I just don't remember stupid facts. Besides who cares about numbers, it's not like people use them anyways."

"He is very persistent," said Anya to Cordelia.

"You have to forgive my moment of insanity," said Cordelia to Anya. "I hope this never happens to you."

"Don't apologize. I can relate. I once had a long-term relationship with an oversized oaf. But he's no more," said Anya, proudly thinking how her former husband went up in flames.

"Oh thank god for that," said Cordelia.

"Well Cordy I see you've brainwashed a new recruit," said Xander haughtily. "Yet another Cordette in the fold."

Incensed, Anya hissed at Xander. For once, she silently cursed at her predicament. It was her nature to help women in need but this time she'd misjudged the situation. If she had it her way, she'd teach him a lesson. Powerless she listened to this imp while her fingers itched. In her demon days, any man who dared show contempt to her would have experienced her wrath and those that survived had scorch marks to tell the tale. Once the protector for all scorned women who administered her own brand of law she wanted nothing now to claw at this insignificant man.

"Anya, let me handle this," began Cordelia noting Anya's discomfiture and seething anger. "Unlike some people who I refuse to name, I have school spirit. No, I am school spirit," corrected Cordelia. "I do not cheat, or fight, or maim or kill. I show my school spirit by attending classes, doing my homework, participating in pep rallies, volunteering for worthy causes and making new students feel welcome. And yeah I am cute and popular but so what. At least I do something about it. I work really hard at it," she said and looked to Faith. "And if you don't like how you look then get a stylist, or wear some makeup, or get a haircut, or get a better wardrobe instead of complaining."

For several moments Xander, Buffy, and Willow were mute as they looked at themselves and then each other.

While Faith truly adored Buffy in so many ways but she couldn't help be attracted to Cordelia as well. There were complete opposites. Yet both had allure in their in own ways. One was an irascible woman with stunning eyes who wore striking outfits while the other was like an adorable killer bunny that liked to carry sharp objects with a slight neurotic bent.

Faith figured that being Slayer did that to you and didn't blame Buffy in the least. She knew she wasn't perfect either, she was twisted as well. In fact, she knew she could be psychotic at times and enjoyed chasing things. But Cordelia had a compelling way about her. Beneath that imperious exterior, she suspected there was something forbidden . . . like sweet taboo.

"Damn," said Faith, who broke the awkward silence as she secretly praised Cordelia.

Casually putting her hands on hips and giving out a mischievous smile, Faith couldn't help think: Am I five by five for you? Do you like what you see? What makes you tick Cordy?

Not amused, Cordelia could't care less what these losers thought but of late Faith tugged at her in ways more than her stitches. This was something she didn't want to acknowledge and had to glanced away for a moment. Moreover, the more she pushed away the more these thoughts came rushing back.

Why should I care? She's crude and I'm better than that. But why do I even compare myself to her? Why can't I ignore her? Damnit I can't stand this!

Cordelia warily looked at Faith who was now fumbling with her tank shirt. Giving out an impish smile, her too short and too snug tank exposed her pierced bellybutton as she tugged on it to cover herself. When the tank bounced back up, Faith became embarrassed feeling several pairs of eyeballs trained on her. Almost involuntarily, she started to wriggle nervously her body and then gave out a sweet smile to compensate.

Arrgh . . .What a skank! What a show off! Okay I get it; you have cute little, heart shape gem on your bellybutton. Why do I even look? As if I care!

"As if I'm paying attention to you," announced Cordelia, haughtily.

"Faith, don't pay her any attention. She's nothing but trouble," said Xander. "Most of her words are gibberish and are meant to divide and confuse. I'm so glad I'm no longer going out with her. No more ball in chain."

Outraged, Cordelia was about to say something back to the Scoobies but left with Anya in a huff. "Come on Anya."

Faith was impressed that she told the Scoobies and her off, and she did without cursing or fighting. What a compelling woman mused Faith as she observed Cordelia walking off with a sense of purpose. Right there and then Faith decided she was going to the Bronze.

After Cordelia was out of sight, her mind was racing on what to wear tonight. She'd wear her cleanest tank, maybe the red one, her whites ones had stains and holes and tears from fighting vamps and demons. First, she would have to find the tank perhaps it was under the bed or in one of the dresser drawers. Then her favorite leather pants which she had one and only one pair. Maybe shine her boots a bit and she considered Cordelia's other suggestions on trying out more makeup, and do something with her unruly hair. She had to hurry it was already mid afternoon.

"Later," said Faith without looking back and dashed across the campus.

"It must be nice to just come and go," pouted Buffy. "If I do anything like that and got caught my Mom, or Giles, or Snyder would wring my ass. It's not fair."

"Awh Buff don't mind her and don't compare yourself to her. You're in your own league," remarked Willow. "Not only are you a Slayer. You're a student who's going somewhere. I bet you're going to go to college," said Willow, cheerfully but weakly as she fumbled to say the right things. "How many Slayers do you know have gone on to college? You have something to show for."

"Is that suppose to make me feel better, Will . . . because in a way it does," smiled Buffy.

"I try sometimes," said Willow cheerfully. "When you look back you'll have fond memories. You'll wax poetic over those moments. You say to yourself I was here. Not did I save the world countless times. I endured four years of hell known as high school. Can it get better than that? You'll tell your grandkids about it."

"Ah yes I'm starting to hear the violins now," hummed Xander. "Oh wait! Where are my galoshes, it's also getting deep."

"Oh come you guys let's get class," chuckled Buffy. "We do want graduate one day. I for one do not want perpetually to deal with Snyder."

"Women I don't get them," remarked Xander, as they walked back to the building. "They do nothing but confuse you."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Buffy.

"Which one?" asked Willow, as she sidled next to Buffy.


A/N: Thanks to all who have read this story. I also want to extend a special thanks to those who reviewed, 'favorited' this story and/or put me on their alert lists