om2

~~Part Two~~~

Cordelia ran as fast as her platform shoes would allow. Wrong, something was very, very, very wrong. That was all that she could pretty much comprehend. Weaving in and out of the crowded sidewalk she tried to concentrate on getting back to her apartment and to her friends that were still sleeping. Cordelia knew the second she zigged she should have zagged because she crashed into a hard lean body. Almost knocking whoever she ran into, and herself down onto the ground.

�Where�s the fire girl?� A humored voice asked, as muscular arms held onto her so she wouldn�t fall. Looking up to apologize for nearly flattening the unsuspecting stranger, Cordelia squealed in delight to see Gunn�s chocolate brown eyes.

�Gunn you don�t know *how* happy I am to see you. Something's wrong. First; Borne-again and Lilah have no idea who I am not to mention the crappy clothes those two are wearing. Second the hotel is all locked up, Angel never locks the doors...and you have *no* idea who I am do you?� Reading the amused expression on the young man�s familiar face. �Drat I should�ve listened to Angel and stayed away from alcohol last night. No good ever comes from drinking. Its either frat guys want to sacrifice you, or you end up giving birth to demon spawn. Oh and there�s Buffy who turned into cave woman when she drank. Trust me when I say I am *never* going to drink again.�

�Did you hit your head? Or do all white girls act this crazy? Wait a sec how in the hell do you know my name?� Gunn�s amused expression faded into mistrust.

�Come on Gunn you know me. Remember you always call me Barbie, you-you work with Angel, and Wesley and me. I�ve saved your butt, a few times damnit.� Gunn quirked his brows at her and she let out a distressful cry. �Come on Gunn think, I know you know me. I know you. You�re name is Charles Gunn you had a sister who was killed by vampires-.�

�Whoa hold up there. My sister is alive and well.� Looking in the direction at the girl Gunn pointed to, Cordelia felt her blood run cold.

�That�s impossible.� She whispered.

�I don�t know who you are, probably don�t want to, stay away from me and my own. Got it?� Cordelia nodded mutely at the angry expression on his face and watched hopelessly as Gunn and his group of friends left her standing on the sidewalk alone.

�This isn�t good.�

~~~*~~~

Cordelia reached the top of the stairs just in time to see the three girls come rushing out of her apartment. Faith was the last to immerge, and the door slammed shut behind her. �What in the Hell? I thought Dennis was supposed to be all Casper like.� Faith had a hand to her throat that was already starting to bruise. Amy lifted Faith�s hand away from the injured body part to inspect the damage.

�He is.� Willow looked at Faith�s neck and winced.

�What happened?� Cordelia took in their pajama-clothed state and Faiths bruised neck.

�Your damn ghost went all Amityville on us in there. I woke up hanging from the ceiling with a cord wrapped around my neck.� Faith glared at Cordelia as though it were her fault.

�Dennis wouldn�t do that.� Faith gave Cordelia a look that read that she believed that the ghost definitely could do that, she had the marks to prove it. �Maybe his psycho Mother but...Oh my God.� Cordelia�s eyes widened.

Amy looked down at the doormat that was in front of Cordelia's neighbor�s apartment, and looked away for half a second. Her eyes darted back and she gasped reaching down to grab the paper. �Oh no, this can�t be right.� Opening the paper and gaping at the front page Amy tried opening her mouth several times trying to create the sounds that could be remotely considered as words. Finally able to function motor skills Amy jabbed her finger at the paper, making small noises in her throat.

�What is it Lassie? Did you find Timmy, is he stuck in the well?� Faith smirked at the blonde witch. Annoyance flashed the blonde�s eyes as she shoved the paper under the slayer�s nose. �What are you getting all...HOLY FUCK!� Grabbing the paper from the witch the slayer shook her head in shock. �This can�t be right.� Dropping the newspaper to the ground Faith looked around until she spotted another paper a few feet away.

Faith hurried over to retrieve the other paper as Willow and Cordelia picked up the discarded one on the ground. Willow looked at the paper and frowned. �This isn�t right.�

�Hello it fits with what *I�ve* been through today.� Cordelia looked less shocked but just as troubled.

�Says the same damn thing in this one.� Faith crumbled up the paper. Looking over at Willow and Amy. �Please tell me that neither one of you did a spell.�

�No.� both girls shook their heads, blamelessness written in both of their expressions. Just then one of the neighbor�s doors opened and an elderly man emerged.

�Excuse me sir, this may sound like a silly question...but what year is it?� Cordelia hoped the man didn�t think they were all on drugs and call the cops. His expression looked amused.

�Sure thing young lady, it�s 1997.� The elderly man tipped his cap and walked away.

~~~*~~~

�This can�t be happening. If it is 1997, and if the paper is right and it�s October that means...� Willow was slumped against the wall, her entire body shaking.

�That we�re in a world of shit.� Faith finished for her. �I didn�t even know you all in 1997; hell I wasn�t even the slayer then, now...whatever.�

�That means that we�re back in High School again...oh Jesus we have to live through that whole Angel, Buffy crap again don�t I? There�s a limit to what I can endure you know.� Cordelia started to pace.

�October, that means that my Mother has already been imprisoned in the trophy.� Amy leaned against the wall next to Willow.

�And the Master has been defeated.� Willow closed her eyes.

�And that whole invisible girl thing happened, freaky idiot that tried to slice and dice my face.� Cordelia stopped her pacing. �Oh my god, does this mean that I have to start dating Xander again, cause if it does I will toss myself off the nearest cliff.�

�Not to interrupt your little walk down memory lane but what are we going to do now?� Faith wanted so badly to hit something anything to test her strength. But if she no longer had her slayer powers she really didn�t want the other�s to see.

The other three girls exchanged a look, then said at once. �Giles.�

�But I�m not going back into that apartment; Dennis is acting real freaky.� Amy�s eyes were wide as Willow headed for the door of Cordelia�s apartment.

�Oh that�s not Dennis, that�s his mother. She�s a real bitch...� The girl�s looked expectantly at Cordelia. �I�m not going in there either; do I look stupid to you?�

�So where are we going to call him from? And let�s not forget about our apparel, we�re not really dressed to walk around LA at the moment.� Willow looked down at her silky green camisole and matching shorts to her bare feet and let out a moan. �This is so embarrassing.�

�Come on we�re in LA, like you all will be the biggest freaks here.� Cordelia rolled her eyes and headed for the stairs. �And what the hell are we going to say to Giles? Hey guess what your slayer has sex with Angel, who in turns becomes a whacked out killing machine again, bent on destructing us and killing the love of your life. Plus we know that you lose your job and become a bum for a year.�

�Perhaps I should talk to him.� Willow eyed Cordelia knowing that tact girl would make a bigger mess of things if she were let lose on the watcher. �I�ll think of something to say to him.�

They all followed Cordelia to the corner of her block, trying to ignore all the stares they were getting. As soon as they reached the phone Cordelia dug through her purse for change. Willow picked up the phone disgusted at how dirty it was and that she had to put the black object near the vicinity of her face. Popping coins into the slot, she dialed the number she knew by heart.

Willow let it ring five times and was ready to hang up when a female voice answered. �Hello?�

The redheaded witch froze, she knew that voice. For years her dreams had been haunted by that voice. �J-Jenny is that you?� Willow�s voice caught as she tried to swallow the tears that slid from her eyes. The other girls straightened at hearing the name of their long dead teacher.

�Willow where are you?� Jenny�s voice was filled with concern. �Buffy stopped by your house this morning so you two could walk to school, and couldn�t find you. She�s tearing the town apart looking for you. Have you seen Faith? Wesley is worried sick. He went to wake her early this morning for training and she wasn�t there...Willow what�s with all that noise in the back ground?�

�It�s umm, the TV. Can you hold on a sec?� Placing her hand over the receiver Willow blinked a few times trying to sort out what was going on.

�It�s Jenny.�

�Yes Willow we gathered that much.� Cordelia rolled her eyes and motioned with her hands for the witch to continue.

�Buffy went to my house this morning and found me missing she�s been searching for me. Plus it seems that Wesley is in town already and is stressed that Faith is AWOL as well. What should I tell her?�

Faith grabbed Willow�s arm. �Don�t tell her anything.�

�Okay, but I think she wants to know where we are. We missed school.� Willow almost felt like a High School student again, that she had been caught doing something that she shouldn�t be doing.

�Tell her that my Father took us to LA on a shopping spree at the last second, that we�ll be home tonight.� Willow looked unconvinced at Cordelia�s suggestion. �That or you can tell her that we�re from the future and stuck in LA.�

�Jenny? Sorry about that, yes I had to tell Cordelia to turn the TV down. Her father took us to LA for some shopping and we�ll be home soon, bye.� Hanging up the phone quickly Willow took a deep breath.

�Okay now what?� Amy went to lean against the phone booth until she noticed the wads of gum stuck to it. �We�re stuck in LA, in our pajamas might I add. How in the hell are we going to get back to Sunnydale?�

�Easy, if we�re back in High School that means that I�m rich again. I�ll just call home and have one of the maids get us train tickets.� Cordelia went through her purse for more change, and made the call home. �Tada, four one way tickets to hell. What more could a girl ask for?�

�Clothes!� The other three girls said in unison.

~~~*~~~

It was well past dark when the train pulled into the Sunnydale train depot, and the girls stepped off the train and onto the platform. �Home sweet hell, ain�t it grand to be home? Can almost smell the death in the air.� Faith muttered wrapping her arms around herself as she felt a chill go through her body.

�Well at least this place looks the same.� Willow looked around, trying to not get too self conscious at the stares she was getting.

�Well where to? Because to tell you the truth I�m really not in the mood to make a visit home tonight.� Cordelia gazed around amazed that this place no longer felt like home to her. LA was her home now, and Angel, Wesley and Gunn were her family.

�Let�s go back to my parent�s house, with any luck they�re out of town and we can try and figure out what in the hell we�re going to do.� Willow stared down at her bare feet and hoped they made it back to her parents house without any incidents.

�Sounds like a plan to me.� Amy took one last look around as they headed toward Willow�s childhood home.

�I just hope we don�t run into Buffy on her patrol.� Cordelia�s eyes searched the darkness for any signs of other worldly creatures of the night.

�Well geez Cordelia don�t jinx us or anything.� Faith glared at the brunette how in turn made a face back at the slayer.

�Will you two stop it? We have enough problems than having the two of you brawl it out later.� Willow growled at the two other girls.

�So the question is, do we go through the park or the cemetery to get to Willow�s?� Amy asked the group of girls.

�No I think the question is where is Buffy not patrolling right now.� Cordelia looked around at all the familiar landmarks as the continued to the redheads home.

�She�s probably in the cemetery, so that leaves the park.� Faith made a sharp right that lead the way to the park, the other three girls following.

�You know I just thought of something. We have no weapons, we�re not too sure about Faith still having her slayer powers, and we�re walking through Sunnyhell at night. And you all are in you jammies no less...we�re screwed.� Cordelia slowed her step and listened carefully to the night sounds.

�Cordelia your ability to make a bad situation worse is overwhelming.� Amy clutched onto Willow�s hand and made herself take deep calming breaths.

�What about our two resident witches here? I may not be the only power free one around here. And what about future girl?� Faith nodded toward Cordelia. �Is she going to be having those mind numbing looks into the future? I can see it now, her have an a convulsion in front of everyone and us trying to explain that . �Don�t worry guys, Cordelia just forgot to take her meds this morning.� This is going to suck.�

�I think this bickering thing is really working for us, I mean so far no baddies and we�re almost home and no sign of-.�

�Willow? Is that you?� Willow stopped in mid-step and let out a silent groan.

�See I told you that you jinxed us.� Faith hissed under her breath at Cordelia.

�Bite me.� Cordelia fired back.

�Shut up!� Willow and Amy hushed the two bickering girls in time to see Buffy, Angel and Xander approach from the playground.

�Where were you today I stopped by your house and...Willow what did you do to your hair?� Buffy�s eye�s were wide open as she reached out and touched the short locks of red hair.

Willow felt her blood run cold as she tried to explain her new, and not quiet in style hair cut. Good thing Cordelia interrupted, because so far Willow was speechless. �We got our hair cut today, don�t you like? It�s all the rage in LA.� Cordelia flashed a wobbly smile at Buffy.

�If you say so. I was worried about you Willow, you could�ve at least called and told me you were going to LA with...� Buffy shot a glance in Cordelia�s direction. �Cordelia. It�s not like you.�

�Yeah little buddy, you missing school...are you possessed?� Willow felt annoyance building and tried to stomp it down. Did Buffy and Xander always treat her like a three year old?

�I missed a day of school, it�s not the national incident that you think it is.� Willow saw the tell tale signs of skepticism on Angel�s face and cursed the vampire for being way to intuitive. She let her eyes linger on the dark vampire a moment, noting that like always he had an effect on her libido.

Xander took a step closer to Faith, his eyes focused on her arm. �Is that a tattoo? It is! Wesley is going to have a Cornish game hen.�

�Haircuts? Tattoos? Willow voluntarily missed a day of school? Are you all sure that nothing you�d like to tell us?� Buffy crossed her arms over her chest, convinced that the four girls in front of her were up to something.

Willow saw the calculating looks on Faith and Cordelia�s faces and cut in before either could say a word. �Buffy it was nothing. We went, we shopped, had a hair cut and Faith got a tattoo. Really the world isn�t ending.-�

�Again.� Amy Faith and Cordelia muttered together throwing innocent looks in Willow�s direction.

�Why are you in your night clothes?� Angel finally spoke up, his eyes intently on Willow.

�Sleepover.� Amy�s lips twitched at the fact that she hadn�t really lied.

�I dared them to walk through the park in their jammies.� Cordelia raised a brow at Angel, almost daring him to call her a liar.

Angel looked into each of their eyes convinced that they were lying. There was only one way to get the truth, Willow. She was too innocent and pure to lie straight out. �Willow?�

Willow felt her heart flip at the sight of Angel�s arched brow. Perhaps if she were still a High School kid she�d be a babbling pool of gush at his feet, but not now. �Like they said we were having a sleepover, and during a game of truth and dare Cordelia dared the three of us to walk through the park at night in out PJ�s, no big.�

Angel gave a short nod, not buying her words, and slightly annoyed that the little hacker was lying. Out of the entire group, he always believed that Willow would tell the truth. Perhaps he had pegged her wrong.

�Hate to break this up, but it�s freezing out here, and the night�s still young.� Faith flashed a fake smile at the trio and grabbed Willow�s arm. Cordelia and Amy followed giving a short wave at the suspicious and unbelieving threesome.

�They�re lying.� Buffy pouted, annoyed that her best friend wouldn�t tell her the truth, but was also hanging out with Cordelia Chase.

�Like a rug. You don�t believe their story...do you?� Xander reached in his back pocket and retrieved his half melted chocolate bar. Angel looked at him in disgust.

�Why would they lie? They�re your friends.� Angel�s words were of trust, but deep inside he knew something wasn�t right.

�You think?� Buffy laced her arm through Angel�s as they walked in the opposite direction then the four friends had.

�Positive.� Buffy missed Angel�s eyes narrowing as he vowed to himself to get to the bottom of this.

~~~**~~~ ~~~**~~~ ~~~**~~~