Chapter 20

Counting Your Blessings

"Do you think it will rain in Chattanooga?" Fred asked Wesley stuffing her toothbrush and a pile of clothes into her bag.

"I don't know," he said his back turned to her as he packed, still not feeling right enough to make conversation.

"Wesley Wyndam Pryce," Fred said taking Wesley's arms and holding them. She stared deeply into his eyes and touched his face.

"I need you to know that I love you. What happened last night...I didn't think of it as just messing around. I have feelings for you." Wesley was quiet for a while and Fred was afraid he was thinking about how to let her down without hurting her. Without saying anything Wesley brought Fred closer to him and kissed her.

"Winnifred Burkle, I love you too," Wesley smiled as she hugged him tightly. It was the best thing he could have said to her.

In Spike and Cordelia's room it was Spike who was worrying if the feeling of love he felt towards Cordelia was mutual. Copper sat next to the bed gnawing at his rawhide bone. Cordelia was packing when she came across her school sweatshirt. Sunshine yellow and lime green. She made a mental note to throw it away then had a flashback.

Flashback

Yesteryear Raven Peak High School

"You're not honestly going to keep that ugly thing are you?" Mallory asked Cordelia with a look of disgust on her face. The juniors had just received their school sweatshirts.

"Are you kidding? Yellow and green?" Cordelia raised her eyebrow to her new friend.

"So are you ready to be received into the group?" she asked her.

Cordelia shrugged. "I guess."

"Well let's go then," Mallory said impatiently and drug Cordelia to the back of the school where a mix of seniors and juniors were standing. Some boys Cordelia recognized from class.

"Everyone, this is Cordelia Chase. Our new member," Mallory said giving Cordelia a push forward. She had never felt more afraid in all of her life.

"Hi," she said, shaking slightly.

"Come on Pete. Tell her what she's got to do," Mallory said lighting a cigarette off of a boy's already lit one. This wasn't the same girl Cordelia had met a few days before. She felt someone snake their arms around her waist from behind. She gasped when she felt cool steel against her cheek.

"You know what this does?" a guy's voice pierced her ear. She nodded quickly. He shoved a gun into Cordelia's hand.

"You shoot Old Thomas and you're in," the guy faced her and spat on the sidewalk.

"The janitor?" she stuttered.

"Look at her. She's shaking," another boy laughed showing no remorse. The whole group laughed. Laughed at her. Their harsh laughs and whispers echoed in Cordelia's ears. Everything was broken up by a few loud barks. Everyone looked to see what it was. Copper stood a little ways off to the side with his teeth bared and paws planted to the pavement. He barked again and growled as the man that had handed her the gun went to him.

"He'll bite you," Cordelia warned throwing the gun to the ground.

"I'm not going to hurt anybody. You all stay away from me!" she cried and started to run.

"Get the gun! Don't let her get away," she could hear Mallory cry. Copper ran keeping the pace at Cordelia's side. A few shots were shot into the air but Cordelia and Copper got away unharmed. That night Cordelia and Copper started their journey.

Cordelia squeezed the sleeve of the sweatshirt and shoved it into her bag. She could have lost her life that night. They could have caught her and killed her. She looked at how lucky she was now. Here with her real best friends.

With perky little Fred, goofy Xander, courageous Angel, protective Copper, laid back Faith, shy Willow, wise old Wesley, and the love of her life. She felt arms slink around her waist and a kiss being planted on her ear.

"You okay Cordy?" Spike asked. She turned around and looked into his gray eyes. She put her head on his chest and he kissed her head.

"I'm great," she said patting his belly lightly.

"You sure?" he asked stroking her hair. She smiled.

"I couldn't be better baby." He kissed her and Xander came in.

"Come on guys! Chop Chop, we have a train to catch!" he cried and closed the door again. Lastly, Spike picked up Copper's bone and put it into her bag. He zipped it up and handed it to her.

"Ready?" he asked. Cordelia smiled. She took his hand and the two went out in the hallway, followed by Copper, where they met Wesley and Fred. They too, had their hands intertwined. Thunder boomed loudly and Fred jumped. Cordelia giggled.

Here started another adventure.