Chapter Four

Xander watched in shock as he tried to reach over to Cordelia. But every time he seemed to get close enough to get a good hold on her, she moved slightly away without knowing it. Finally it all seemed to die down and Xander cradled her in his arms as he began guiding her to the couch. "Shh," he began soothingly. "It's all over now."

"What the heck was all that about?" Buffy asked as she curiously walked over to the couple.

"Visions," Angel explained with one word as he knelt down in front of Cordelia on the couch, placing one hand on her shoulder. "What is it? What'd you see?"

"Hey," Xander said as he pushed Angel's arm away from Cordelia. "She's my girlfriend now," he told the vampire. "For once, I have the girl." He sighed, turning back to Cordelia. "What is it?" he asked as his tone of voice softened. "Something bad? Do you want ice or something?"

Cordelia nodded weakly as she rested her head against Xander's shoulders. "Kinda bad and Advil, please," she whispered.

Angel nodded as he walked over to Cordelia's kitchen and began pouring a glass of water with ice cubes in it. He reached across the counter for the container of Advil and walked back to Cordelia, glass of water in one hand and the Advil in another.

"What did you see?" he asked as he handed her the water. He then began opening some Advil tablets. After successfully doing such, he handed them to Cordelia.

Cordelia gratefully took the painkillers and swallowed them along with some water. She then looked up to Angel then over to Buffy and Willow. "There was a house. Party going on there and from the looks of it, I would say it was a college party."

"Riley," Buffy said in fear for her new boyfriend. "Riley's is having some college party." She turned her gaze towards Xander. "A party which I'm missing to be here, I might add," she added miserably as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Hey," Xander interrupted. "I didn't make you, any of you, come and be here. You did that all on your own!" he said in his own defense.

"It was Willow's idea!" Buffy pouted in her defense.

Willow timidly raised her hand a little bit. "Um, actually, Buff, it was yours. I believe the exact words were 'We have to stop him'," she pointed out.

"Excuse me," Cordelia interrupted. "Earth to retards. It doesn't matter whose idea was whose. What matters is that there's a haunted college party somewhere and something bad is going to happen there!"

"Cordelia's right," Willow admitted. "There's a first time for everything," she added softly, mostly to herself.

"The important thing is that Riley's there and we need to protect him," Buffy argued. "Come on," she urged as she began heading for the door.

"Riley," Angel muttered the hated name across his lips. "Something tells me that I'm going to hate him." He sighed, glancing over at Buffy. "We don't even know what's going on there to stop it."

"Ok," Buffy said as she directed her stare towards Cordelia. "So what exactly is happening to my Riley?" she asked angrily.

"It doesn't work that way," Cordelia argued back with the same amount of anger. "All I know is there's a party at the Lowell house and at some point vines were tearing through the house. I don't know why."

"Well, it's a start," Buffy grumbled as she motioned for Willow to join her.

"Buffy, it's not Cordelia's fault she doesn't know," Xander argued as he wrapped an arm around Cordelia.

"I know, but she's the one who told me," Buffy grumbled.

"And the one who you think you're in love with," Willow added with a glare over at Cordelia.

"Hey, you have Tara!" Xander pointed out to Willow. "Cordelia's my Tara."

Willow dropped her mouth in horror. "Don't compare my precious Tara to that slut!"

"Hey!" Cordelia intervened. "I am not a slut!" She stopped, glancing over at Xander. "Since when was Willow a lesbian?" she whispered.

Xander shrugged. "Since she met Tara."

"As unimportant as this all is, Riley could be in serious danger!" Buffy put in. "Now come on, let's do the thing where we go and save the world from harm!"

"Somehow I don't think saving Riley is saving the world," Angel grumbled to himself.

"There are other people at the party," Buffy pointed hostilely. "And if you won't do it for him, do it for me."

"Fine," Angel agreed. "For you."

"Thank you," Buffy said. "Now who else is with me?"

Willow nodded as she walked over to Buffy. "Those two are grossing me out," she said as she tilted her head back at Cordelia and Xander.

"Xander, aren't you coming?" Buffy asked angrily.

Xander groaned. "Sorry, Cordy," he said as he lightly kissed her forehead. "I've gotta save the world."

"Well if he's going, then I am," Cordelia declared as she and Xander joined the Slayer and witch.

"Oh gag me with a spoon," Willow grumbled as the five of them began leaving Cordelia's apartment.