Title: A Lesson In Love Author: Gwen Email: GumdropSwirl@aol.com Rating: PG Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon. Only the storyline is mine, and if he wants, he can have that to. Feedback: Yes. But if it’s awful, be nice. Distribution: Go ahead, just let me know the site. Summary: Set in Season Two after Angel turned. Based on a theory. When did Cordelia learn to how to use a computer? Here’s one idea… . The thought rung in Willow’s head for the millionth time that day. She felt a twang of jealousy, over Buffy and Xander. “Willow, I need a favor,” Cordelia interrupted her thoughts. “Cordelia, hi,” Willow sighed. “What?” “I need a favor,” Cordelia repeated. “Were you even listening? Not important, anyway, I need a favor.” “What?” Willow sighed again. “I need you to help me,” Cordelia grinned. “With what?” Willow demanded. “Well, Miss Calendar has said apparently, that I have no skill what so ever when it comes to computers. Can you imagine?” Cordelia demanded. “Don’t answer that. Anyway. She said, that if I could find someone to teach me, that we could use her room after school.” “And you picked me?” Willow asked. “Yup,” Cordelia grinned. “Please. Will you teach me?” Willow took a long glance at Xander and Buffy who were laughing. “Sure.” * * * Willow sighed as she stood outside of Miss Calendar’s room. Cordelia was late, no surprise there. But Willow would have expected her to show up somewhat on time. After all, this was her idea. “Willow!” Buffy cried. She waved and ran over, Xander trailing behind her. “What are you doing? Come on, we’re young and there’s much trouble we could be causing.” “I can’t,” Willow said. She forced a smile. “Oh please Wil, you have to!” Xander cried. “Come on, we have to go party at the Bronze.” “Xander, I can’t, I promised Cordelia I’d help her,” Willow explained. “Cordelia?” Xander said staring at her. “That’s right,” Cordelia snapped. “Sorry I’m late.” “It’s okay,” Willow laughed and rolled her eyes. “Xander,” Cordelia smirked. “Go away. Take Buffy with you.” “Bye,” Buffy sighed and started to turn. “Have fun!” Xander called and gave Willow the thumbs up. “Oh we will,” Cordelia nodded. * * * Cordelia sat back in her chair and sighed. They’d been there for what seemed like hours. She looked outside and sighed again. It was getting dark out; she couldn’t believe they’d been here forever. Who knew computers were so complicated. “Willow, I think I’ve figured out why I’m so bad at computers.” Willow stopped typing and looked at her. “Why?” “Because there so boring!” Cordelia yelled. “I mean, look, it’s just click this, type that, I mean, there is so much more fun stuff we could be doing!” “Then why did you have me come and help you with your class?” Willow asked. She turned to face Cordelia and grinned. “Because Miss Calendar told me to,” Cordelia snapped quickly. “Yeah, but last week in history the teacher told you that you needed to improve your grade, have you done anything about it?” Willow asked. “No, of course not,” Cordelia sighed. “Well, then why did you decide that a computer tutorial would be more interesting that writing an extra credit paper? And why do you even need to use a computer in the future? You're going to be a model or an actress or something,” Willow sighed. “Really?” Cordelia asked. “You think I’m pretty?” “Doesn’t everyone?” Willow frowned. “Don’t you?” “Of course,” Cordelia said quickly. “Maybe we should get back to the computer,” Willow sighed. “Yay!” Cordelia groaned. “Hey,” Willow protested. “Can I remind you that this was your idea? Can I also remind you, that there are plenty of guys in our class that you could have done this with? You could have picked someone male, and interesting to pull your grade up with,” Willow sighed. “Yeah, but none of those guys would actually teach me anything. They’d just sit here and tell me how great I look, what beautiful eyes I have, blah, blah, blah,” Cordelia snapped. “Like it’s a bad thing,” Willow laughed. “Yeah, but I’d never get my grade up then,” Cordelia reminded her. “You care about your grade.” “I do not!” “Yes you do, you care about your grades,” Willow laughed. “Admit it, you actually don’t want to flunk this class.” “Fine!” Cordelia threw her hands up in the air. “It bothers me.” “So?” Willow asked. “It’s called normal. It bothers most people when they fail a class. And after all Cordelia Chase, aren’t you the queen of normal?” “Shut up,” Cordelia snapped and gave her arm a shove. “Okay my turn. Admit this, it bothers you that Xander has a thing for Buffy.” “It does not,” Willow cried. “Oh yes it does. I’ve seen the way you look at him, you’re jealous, because Xander has a thing for Buffy, and you have a thing for him,” Cordelia laughed. “I do, kind of,” Willow admitted. “But that’s not why I’m jealous.” Cordelia opened her mouth to give a sarcastic comment to the fact that Willow was jealous, but then closed it when she saw the look on her face. “Then, then why are you?” “I’m jealous, because, Xander is in love Buffy, and I feel, something, for him, but, nobody, not Oz, not anyone, feels anything like that, about me.” Willow sighed. The room was suddenly filled with silence. “You know, you're not the only one who wants a guy to look at you like that,” Cordelia finally admitted, breaking the silence. “Oh come on, every guy in school has a thing for you,” Willow pointed out. “Yeah, a thing, but Xander, the way he looks at Buffy, do you think I’m blind Willow, he practically worships the ground she walks on, and,” Cordelia started but Willow cut her off. “And there are guys around here who think it’s cute when you cough, come on Cordelia, I’ve seen guys who would kiss the ground if you asked them to.” “What if I don’t want all that? I mean, it’s really no fun being the princess everyone thinks I am. Every guy in school wants me, but I don’t want any of that, I mean, I’d take a computer tutorial with you over a date with them any day,” Cordelia laughed. “You really aren’t the ice princess I thought you were,” Willow smiled. * * * Willow smiled as she pulled out her science homework. If she worked the whole lunch period, maybe she’d be done before- “Willow!” Buffy cried. “Hey, we missed you last night.” “I’m sure,” Willow mumbled. “It was fun, not a single vampire,” Xander agreed. “So, did you and Cordelia have fun last night?” “Actually, yeah,” Willow smiled. “So, tonight, I think I can do a quick patrol and then we can go partying? Please?” Buffy begged. “Willow,” Cordelia called. She waved her hand and ran over. “Guess what?” “Hey,” Willow smiled. “I’m still not getting some of this stuff, so do you think that we could maybe go over it again tonight?” Cordelia asked. “I guess that’d be okay,” Willow shrugged. “Same time, same place?” “Sure,” Cordelia nodded. “I’ve got a class, so I’ll see you after school.” “Okay, be on time,” Willow ordered. “Yes Ma’am,” Cordelia laughed and trailed across the room. “Willow, since when did you become a teacher?” Xander asked. “Oh come on, it’s two nights,” Willow sighed. “Yeah, two nights, what happened to us?” Buffy frowned. “You guys can party with out me, you’ve been doing just fine.” “Willow, it’s Cordelia, don’t you guys hate each other?” Xander asked. “Xander’s right, I mean, a year ago you would have found some excuse out of this, and yet, right now, you’re finding excuses not to go partying to hang out with Cordelia?” “Two nights!” Willow sighed. “I’m not hearing this, I’m out of here.” “Willow, it’s not just two nights, it’s every time she needs help, she goes to you, and you just accept,” Xander sighed. “Xander, it’s called helping, being a friend,” Willow snapped and grabbed her things and turned to leave. “Willow, come on, we didn’t mean it like that,” Buffy protested. “She’s really not as bad as you think she is,” Willow snapped and turned and left the table with out another word. * * * “Is one of us always going to be late?” Cordelia laughed as Willow came into the room, slamming the door behind her. “I’m sorry, it’s just, Xander and Buffy, they,” Willow sighed. “If you wanna go hang out with them, that’s okay,” Cordelia said quickly. “I can probably figure it out.” “No, I want to be as far away from them as possible right now,” Willow snapped. “Come on lets get to work.” “No way,” Cordelia sighed. “We’re not talking about anything until you tell me what’s wrong.” “Cordelia, it’s really okay,” Willow promised. “You need to take a few lying lessons from me, before you try and tell me that again, now, what’s wrong?” “Xander and Buffy, had the nerve to say, that we were like, always hanging out together. We’re on different sides of the social circle. And then they said you, always came to me when you needed help, and I always offered to help you, what’s up with that?” Willow sighed. She ran her fingers through her red hair. “That’s so not true, just a few times, when I needed someone really nice and smart to help me,” Cordelia agreed. “See!” Willow yelled. “You get it, why can’t they? They just don’t get me. There so busy being upset over Angel or whatever, that they don’t even see me. You see me.” “I do?” Cordelia frowned. “I mean, we, should work,” Willow sighed and turned on the computer. “Hey,” Cordelia grabbed her arm. Willow turned to face her, looking into her brown eyes. “I can see you now. The question is, can you see me?” Willow stopped. She leaned in slowly and kissed Cordelia, lightly, on the lips. She stopped herself, and pulled back after a few seconds. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what, I don’t know what came over me. I should go.” “Willow, it’s okay. Stay,” Cordelia ordered. “Work.” “Of course,” Willow nodded. “Okay, so last night we left off at the…” That was as far as she got, because the next thing she knew, she and Cordelia were kissing again. * * * Cordelia sat outstretched in a chair, her feet dangling on the side, as she read a book. She wasn’t actually reading, she was waiting for Willow. To no one’s surprise, Willow came wandering past a few minutes, later, walking rather quickly, probably to avoid someone. “Willow,” she blurted out. “Hey.” “Oh hi,” Willow smiled. Her hands were shaking. “About…” “Hey, last night, I really liked what we went through.” “Oh me to, it was great,” Willow agreed. “It was, very, you’re a good student.” “Well, you’re a good teacher,” Cordelia nodded. “So, um…” “I really don’t think we covered everything, same time tonight?” Willow asked, with a devilish look on her face. Cordelia simply smiled. The End