Part 28

      "Are you sure that you want to go through with this?"  Cordelia asked as
she and Willow sat outside of the school in the cheerleader's little red
sports car.  "It's not going to be easy watching the two of them together.
I still remember how much you hated it the last time the two of you
pretended that you still cared for Buffy and Oz."
      "I know, but what other choice do we have other than moving away from
Sunnydale, which Angel and I both refuse to do," Willow answered.  "It's bad
enough that Buffy and Oz are making us feel as if we are doing something
dirty, but we won't be driven away from our home.  If this is the only way
to make them see how much it had hurt when they had cheated on us, then we
have to at least try.  And, maybe, we can stop Harmony at the same time."
Cordelia sighed as she realized that her friend was determined to go through
with her plan.
      "In that case, let the games begin," she said as she reached over to open
the car door.  Willow placed her hand on Cordelia's arm, stopping her
movement.
      "Thanks, Delia," she told the girl.  "Just knowing that you and Spike are
there to help us really means a lot.  And the same goes for Faith and Giles.
  With the four of you backing us up, there's no way that this can't work.
I hope."  Willow mumbled the last part but Cordelia had heard it and
silently agreed with the red head.
      The two girls made their way into school, occasionally stopping and talking
with one of their many admirers.  Willow still couldn't believe how much her
life had changed in such a short time.  No longer was she on the outside
looking in at all the beautiful people, but she was now considered one of
them.  She compared it to the caterpillar finally becoming the butterfly
once he leaves the cocoon and she loved it.  She and Cordelia reached the
library and they could hear voices inside, letting them know that it was
occupied.  The brunette turned to face the red head.
      "Last chance to back out of this," she told her.  Willow shook her head.
      "Let's go."  With that final decision, the pair entered the library.
Giles, Wesley and Faith were standing by the check out counter and looked
over at them, with Giles and Faith giving them a slight nod of their heads,
signaling that they were ready to give Willow whatever back-up she may need.
  Even Wesley indicated that he would help out, having grown increasingly
tired of his Slayer's obsession with the souled vampire.  When Giles had
mentioned have Wesley in on what was about to happen, Willow and Angel
agreed, knowing that it would be easier for him to deal with whatever fall
out might occur.  They had been surprised when, not only did Wesley approve
of the red head's plan, but had even offered up some suggestions to make it
work a little more smoothly.  Willow looked around the library and her eyes
fell upon Buffy and Oz huddled in the middle table.  The two of them hadn't
even looked up at the new arrivals.  Willow whispered, "Showtime," as she
forced a stream of tears to fall down her face.  Cordelia wrapped her arms
around Willow's shoulder, as if comforting her.
      "He's nothing but a bastard, Willow and you're better off without him," she
said, just loud enough to attract Buffy and Oz's attention, but not making
it too obvious that this is what they wanted to do.
      "But I believed him," Willow sobbed. "I trusted him and this is how he
repays me?  How could I have been so stupid?"
      "You cared for him, that's not being stupid," Cordelia admonished, hoping
to hold in the laughter that threatened to come from her as she noticed the
two pairs of eyes that were now upon them at the table.  Faith and Giles
came over to Willow, the Watcher taking her into his arms.
      "There, there, Willow.  What happened?" Giles asked, glad that his back was
to his former Slayer so that she wouldn't see the smile on his face.
      "Angel?" She hiccuped.
      "What did Deadboy do?" Faith asked, putting her hand on Willow's back as
she looked over at Cordelia.
      "Bastard said that he had made a mistake and that it was really Buffy that
he wanted," Cordelia stated.  "Even packed up Willow's things and asked her
to move out."
      "Oh, Red, I'm sorry," Faith said, hoping her voice sounded sincere.
      "He said he wanted me?" Buffy asked as she came over to the foursome.  She
wanted to make sure of what she had just heard.
      "Stuff it, B.," Faith ordered.  "This isn't about you."
      'But if Angel broke up with Willow because of me, it means that he must
have finally realized that we were truly soul mates."  Buffy was exuberant
over the fact that it appeared that she would finally be able to be with
Angel again.
      "But he still broke Willow's heart, or don't you care about that?"
Cordelia questioned.  "I mean, since it looks like you and brood boy can get
back together, why should you care that Willow is heartbroken."
      "But not this means that she and I can get back together," Oz joined in the
conversation, upset over Willow's tears, but joyous over the news that the
vampire and witch were no longer together. He went over to the girl and took
her from Giles.  "I know, that it's too soon for you to realize this, but
maybe this is all for the better."
      "How?"  Willow asked, tears still streaking her face.
      "Because this means that we have a second chance," he replied.  "We can fix
everything that went wrong the first time and make our relationship
stronger."  Willow managed a slight smile at the werewolf.
      "You mean that you still want to work things out even after everything that
Angel and I did to you?" She questioned in a hopeful voice.  Oz took her in
his arms and placed her head against his chest, missing the disgusted look
on her face at his proximity to her.
      "Of course I do," he told her.  "Every relationship has its ups and downs.
Ours isn't any different.  It will just make us appreciate what we have all
the more."  Willow pulled back from Oz and gave him another smile.
      "Really?"
      "Really."  Oz placed a light kiss on Willow's cheek, not wanting to scare
her, and knowing that she was still upset over Angel's betrayal.  The group
heard the first bell for class go off.  "I guess I better get to class.
Maybe I'll see you at lunch?"
      "I'd like that," Willow smiled.  She watched as Oz grabbed his books and
left the library.  "Where'd Buffy go?"
      "B took off as soon as she heard that Angel still wanted her," Faith
informed the group.  "Slutty doesn't waste anytime."
      "Think we should warn him?" Cordelia asked. Willow nodded her head as she
took out her cell phone.  She hit the preprogrammed number and waited for
someone to answer.
      "Hey sweetie, its me."
      "Yup, all according to plan."
      "Well, he said that we could work out our relationship and stuff like that
and then he gave me a kiss."
      "Relax, it was only on the cheek and, trust me when I say it completely
disgusted me."
      "Well, I thought I would call you and give you a heads up.  Looks like
Buffy might be on her way to you."
      "Yup, disappeared as soon as I said that you still wanted her."
      "Okay, but I want all the details."  Angel must have said something because
Willow laughed.
      "Well, maybe not all the details.  I'll talk to you when I get home."
      "Love you too."  She flipped the cell phone closed and turned to face
everyone in the library.  "Well, phase one is complete."
 

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