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Disclaimer: We all know they're not mine.

Author's Note: Thanks to all who've been so patient with waiting. I've been having laptop difficulties...don't even get me started on the inconvenience.

Words in indicate thoughts.

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Part 5: A Switch in Perspective

He wasn't blind, and he wasn't completely oblivious. He saw the legs first, long and sleek and gorgeous, and then blushed to the tips of his ears when their owner's identity hit him a split second later. It was a sign of years of comfortable familiarity when one can recognize one's friends from the most random of body parts, and though those...those legs, he gulped, were hardly random, he didn't have to look up at her face to see that they belonged to...

"Er...Cordy?"

Warm (familiar) toffee-colored eyes looked up at him and wine-colored (unfamiliar) lips flashed him a smile. She scooted down on the bench (her skirt riding up just a tiny little inch) and patted the seat next to her. "Xander!" she said brightly, "Sit."

He did.

"Listen, I've been thinking..." she began.

"Listen, we were thinking..." he said at the same time. They both paused, smiled awkwardly at each other. She nodded for him to continue.

He did.

"Cordy..." She raised an eyebrow...

"We were wondering..." ...tilted her head slightly to one side...

A slight gust of wind, and a strand of dark hair flitted across her face. He blinked, distracted by the sight. Green apple shampoo, familiar. And the smell.

He didn't realize he was staring.

"Umm...Cordy..."

"...What??"

Snippy tone in voice, unfamiliar. He shook his head to clear it, and focused on the situation at hand.

"Cordy, don't get mad, but we're all worried about you. We want to know what's wrong."

She scowled. He backpedaled.

"It's just that you've been acting a little...unusual today. I mean, with the hair, and the, er..."

Legs.

"...swearing. And stuff." He sucked in a breath. "Something's changed."

Her frown softened, became minutely sad. "Something has."

Xander sighed softly and put his arm around Cordelia. "I know you still love him, Cordy. Believe me, I understand. But you don't have to change yourself to get him back."

"You mean Oz." Her voice was oddly flat.

"No, I mean Winston, the toothless janitor. Of course I mean Oz. Forget him. He just doesn't deserve a great girl like you."

"So who does?"

He froze - more from the decidedly unfamiliar (unfamiliar!) way she was now running her fingers over his leg than the marked casualness in her words.

"Do you deserve me, Xander?" Her voice was like a purr.

(Warning! Warning!)

Xander pulled away, more than slightly alarmed. "Cordy...you're not acting like yourself. Maybe you better lie down?"

She pulled her hand away, cheeks burning. "Right. I forgot. I'm shy. And sweet. And still Willow manages to fuck me over." She stood up and grabbed her things, unable to met his eye. "Maybe you're right. I'm outta here."

"Aw, shi-...Cordy, wait!" He sprang up and ran after his friend, but even in those wicked heels she could outsprint him.

By the time he reached the school's parking lot she was gone.

As was the little red sports car belonging to Willow.

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Angel's comin in at the next part, so keep tabs. ;)