A/N Some of those fan essays and discussions make me want to shake my head and ask if they need their medication. I just finished one were they wrote Tara's forgiveness of Willow is proof of enduring love and the refusal to give up on a loved one in need. They also wrote that Cordelia's refusal to forgive Xander shows she has too much self respect to go back to a toxic cheater.

So Tara forgiving Willow for raping her mind and soul with Magic and having sex with her while under the influence of a spell, basically roofying her and raping her, is proof of love. Cordelia refusing to forgive Xander for some kisses and treating him like crap is proof of self respect. Uh huh.

Anyway, I think Cordelia would actually have had more of a problem with Xander keeping it from her, than his actually having kissed Willow in the first place. We are talking about a girl who insists that 'tact is just not saying true things and that she'll pass'. Honesty is obvious very important to her. If it happened in real life and Xander confessed and it never happened again, I think those kisses could have been something Cordelia could forgive.

Now though Tact Girl Is going to have to address the lack of Xander in school. Good luck, Tact Girl.

######

"Cordelia!" Cordelia cringed as she heard the grating voice of Harmony Kendall, mean girl and brain dead blond. "I noticed your personal geek isn't around today. Finally wised up and dumped his sorry, loser ass?"

Cordelia took her time pulling her books for her next class out of her locker as she thought about a reply to Harmony's question and how best to answer it, she didn't want to lie, but she also knew she couldn't tell the truth. She wouldn't even be believed if she did say what actually had happened to Xander. Tucking her book under her arm, she carefully closed the locker door and turned to the irritating dumb blond.

"Xander's not going to be in school anymore, Harmony."

"Oh? Did he drop out so he he could get started on his career in the fast growing field of pizza delivery?" The former Cordettes obediently giggled at the lame joke when Harmony glanced at them.

"No, Harmony, he didn't. Thursday night he tried to help a friend who was in trouble. You've heard about all the gang activity in town? People actually being killed by gangs on PCP? Xander tried to help a friend who used to be involved with the leader of one of those gangs. She's fine, by the way, but Xander is now a Sunnydale statistic. So that's why my boyfriend isn't in school today, Harmony. Why he'll never be in class with us again. Excuse me, I need to get to my class." She left the stunned girls behind. Letting people think Xander was dead was the only way this mess could be handled in Sunnydale. And while he still looked like Xander Harris, he also looked nearly a decade older, anyone who saw him wouldn't think he was Xander anyway. An older relative, yes, Xander no. She kept her head high and tried to avoid hearing the gossip that sprang up around her. She just had to remind herself that he wasn't actually dead, just changed.

It was going to be a long day.

"Hey, Willow." Buffy greeted her friend as they headed into the Library after lunch. "Why the long face?"

"Besides the fact that the rumor mill says Xander is a Sunnydale statistic?"

"When did that rumor get started?"

"About ten minutes ago. Harmony confronted Cordelia about the lack of Xander being in school and Cordelia managed to not lie, while also not telling the truth."

"Neat trick, but you looked down before that. In fact, all morning. Is it because Xander's not here for class with us? You know he's alright, he just can't be in school."

"No, I'm down because Oz isn't speaking to me right now. I screwed up and I confessed and he needs time to think about what I told him."

"How did you screw up?"

"I kissed Xander two weeks ago during Homecoming prep, in fact I set it up in the hopes that something would happen and something did, a kiss. Which we both immediately regretted. Then it happened again when we thought Oz had killed someone. Both Xander and I were in not good emotional places at the time. Anyway, Xander and I talked and decided to confess. I don't know how Cordelia is dealing with it, but Oz is currently not talking to me. He asked for time to think about it and decide what he's going to do about it."

"Oh, I missed all that while it was happening. So, any idea how Cordelia is handling it?"

"Xander's being punished." Cordelia answered, as she sought the peace and quiet of the Library for herself, this time from the gossip storm she'd stirred up. "I made him go shopping with me on Saturday and accept the entire new wardrobe I bought for him and threatened to castrate him if it ever happens again."

Giles cringed, listening to teen drama was one thing, listening to that threat was entirely different. He retreated to the safety of his office and left the three girls talking.

"And Willow?"

"Yeah, Cordy?"

"You and I are not alright. You created an atmosphere where you hoped something with Xander would happen on purpose, that something did happen is half on him, which is why he's being punished. But you still set it up, over a guy who doesn't want to be interested in you. You've had years to try for a relationship with Xander, but you waited until both he and you were in happy relationships with other people to try anything. That suggests a problem with you accepting him in a relationship at all or maybe it's because he's happy with me, given you hate me and have since we were kids. For his sake, I stopped being a bitch to you, I expect the same courtesy in return. Understood?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, you're right, I should have talked to Xander about my feelings, about the possibility of us trying something. We actually came close to kissing once last summer, before you two started dating, that would have been a good time for us to talk. Instead, Xander firmly friend zoned me, just like Buffy friend zoned him and never showed any interest in me. He knew I was interested at least since the Hyena and that almost kiss would have been an opportunity if he'd wanted it to be. He didn't and now I've accepted it. I just hope Oz can forgive me."

"He loves you, like I love Xander. Don't ever do it again and commit to being honest and you'll get through it. But give him the space he needs to get there."

"I will. So, homework?"

"Homework." Cordelia and Buffy groaned and headed for the library table.