Doyle looked up as Cordelia walked into the office. "Morning Princess," he smiled, "you're looking good today."

"Cordelia rolled her eyes, "Don't you say that every morning?" She picked up a cup of coffee and made a face as she sipped it. "Unless you have a sudden economic change and can afford many things, including an apartment better than mine, you can keep dreaming."

"It gets me right here," Doyle patted his chest and opened the paper. "Oh yeah, some lad called a few minutes ago. He said he was a friend from Sunnydale, so I gave him you number and address."

"Friend? What was his name?"

"Xander," Doyle went on reading the paper, not noticing Cordelia's worried expression.

"Xander! You gave my address to Xander! I'm going to die," she stood up and began pacing back and forth.

"What's the guy's deal? He sounded human to me," Doyle shrugged.

"He is human," Cordelia said, running her hand through her hair.

"So, what's the problem then? You owe him money? Cause I remember someone letting a pretty nasty demon into my apartment."

"Yeah, but I was sorry about that. Besides, you didn't date the demon."

"He's an old flame of yours?" Doyle looked slightly worried, "Do you still, ya know, see him?"

"No. Not since graduation, but Xander hasn't changed. He's still bad, I mean he's a goofy-looking smart ass. Plus, he follows me around like a puppy."

"I hate it when they do that."

"Cordelia smiled at Doyle, "The point is, I don't want to talk to him. I'm going home for the day. Tell Angel I'm sick with some tropical disease or something." She walked out the door just as Angel walked in.

"Morning, Doyle. Where did Cordelia go?" He said as he took his seat.

"She's home sick with...something." He shrugged and sat down across from Angel, "Say, who's this Xander guy?"

"Xander," Angel smiled, "he's Cordelia's old boyfriend. She hated to admit it, but I could tell they were in love. They expressed their love through sarcasm."

"So what went wrong?"

"Xander cheated on her with his best friend. It killed her."

"I hope he doesn't do any damage." Doyle looked hopeful, "Say, he's not any form of evil, is he?"

"No, just a broken hearted teenager."

Xander walked to the first pay phone he could find and inserted his quarter. He dialed Cordelia's number and waited to her to pick up. It rang five times and then he heard, "Hi. This is Cordelia Chase's private line. If you need to contact her about her acting career or her personal life, leave a message." The voice was obviously Cordelia's.

"Hi Cordelia, it's Xander. I'm in town and I thought we could get together. I'll call again later. Bye," Xander hung up the phone and sighed. //She'll never forgive me. I don't deserve to be forgiven.// He walked off to find Angel.

Cordelia walked into her apartment and yelled, "I'm home Dennis!" She heard the tv turn off and said, "It's ok, you can leave it on." The tv went back on and she walked into her bathroom. Grabbing a hair tie, she pulled her dark hair into a ponytail and checked the mirror.

A blinking light caught her eye as she walked into the living room //Yes! I'll bet it's those spring water people calling back.// Cordelia pressed the machine and heard, "Miss Chase, I'm sorry to say that you didn't get the part, but we'll keep you in mind for another time." The machine beeped and Xander's message played. //Great, now I have to deal with the Xander issue. God, I miss him. No! I hate him!// "Ugh!" Cordelia screamed out and picked up her answering machine. In seconds it lay broken against the wall. "Damn."

The office door flew open and Doyle looked up. He noticed that the man who walked in wasn't worried. He had his brown hair slightly gelled and a big grin on his face. "Welcome to Angel Investigations. We hope you're helpless," Doyle said to him, "No wait, we help the hopeless."

"Hey. Where's Angel?" Xander looked into the other office, "Dead Boy!"

Angel walked out, not half as excited as Xander. "Hi Xander, how's Sunnydale?"

"Buffy's good," Xander laughed at looked at Doyle, holding out a hand, "I'm Xander, and you are?"

"Doyle," He shook Xander's hand and looked him over. "You know Cordy, aye?"

"Yeah," Xander sat down, "why?"

"No reason," Doyle said in an intimidating voice. He got up and went into the other room.

"So Angel, how's Cordelia?" Xander looked up at the vampire with signs of worry across his face.

"She's fine," Angel smiled reassuringly.

"Good," Xander said, looking relieved. "Has she been, ya know...seeing anyone?"

"No, but Doyle's got his heart set on her."

"Oh," Xander looked crushed and had suddenly became very interested in his hands.

"She doesn't like him, don't worry." Angel smiled as the boy's face lit up. The phone rang and he picked up, "Angel Investigations."

"Hey, do you know how one would fix an answering machine if it accidentally, um fell off the table?" Coirdelia said.

"Not really."

"Oh," she sighed.

"I thought you were sick today?"

"Well, I just needed a personal day. You haven't heard from Xander, have you?"

"Yeah, he's here now. Do you want to talk to him?" Angel mouthed 'it's Cordelia' to Xander.

"Well, not right now. I can't deal with him."

"Ok, well I have to go now. I'll see you at work tomorrow." He hung up and turned to Xander. "She didn't want to talk. I think she's still hurting from what you and Willow did to her.

"I though she would be," Xander closed his eyes and swallowed, "I just miss her so much.

"I know how that feels."

"Angel, can I crash here tonight? I don't have a hotel room yet."

"You can stay here as long as you like, within reason though," Angel smiled at Xander.

"I promise not to overstay my welcome."

"I won't tell Cordelia about it."

"Thanks Dead Boy, I owe you."

Cordelia decided to stay home for one more day. She was lounging on the couch when someone knocked on her door. "Coming," she said as she reluctantly got up.

"Hey Cordelia," Xander said when she opened the door. He smiled and waited to be let in.

"What do you want?" Cordelia's hand flew to her hips and she looked quite intimidating.

"I need to talk to you," he smiled and continued, "please let me in."

"Fine," she stepped aside and let him in. The tv had been on, but Cordelia shouted, "I have company Dennis!" and it turned off.

"Dennis?" Xander said as he sat down next to Cordelia.

"Yeah, he's my roommate. When I first got the place the wrinkly old lady haunted it, but we got rid of her. Dennis is her son and now he lives with me."

"Oh," Xander sighed in relief, "so, how's it feel to be out of Sunnydale?"

"Pretty good. I have to admit I miss some aspects of Sunnydale, though. L.A. has lots of great stores, but sometimes I feel like going to my old territory."

"The gang really misses you."

"Really? I though they'd be glad I left."

"Well, actually I'm the only one that misses you," Xander tried to hide his smile when Cordelia's face brightened.

"I guess I miss Sunnydale sometimes. How did your summer go? I know you had some cross country trip planned?"

"Yeah," Xander's grin spread, "it started out as a cross country trip, but I ended up working in a Lady's night club."

"Really? How'd that happen?"

"My uncle's car rusted through and the engine fell out, literally. So I got a job washing dishes at the club. No one cared about me until one of the strippers called in sick and things happened that I will take to the grave."

"Too bad," Cordelia sighed, "I remember when we could tell each other anything."

"Promise not to tell?"

"Of course!" Cordelia crossed her heart with her fingers.

"The stripper wasn't one of the main attractions and only had to do two songs. The manager, this lady Jamie, had be hitting on me for some time and was just thrilled when he called in sick. She made me get all dressed up, or undressed up, and shake my booty for all the horny, middle-aged women. She liked it so much that I was made to do it every night," Xander smiled and continued, "And let me tell you that having screaming women clawing at you isn't as fun as you might think."

"That's hilarious!" Cordelia grabbed her stomach and fell backwards on the couch. Xander had to join in when she snorted.

"Very lady like Cordelia!"

"What can I say," she smiled and sat up, "a sexy laugh attracts men."

"So, how was your summer?"

"Well, I was living in a hellhole. It was like a third world country or something. The water was brown and never hot, and there were roaches and their little roachy things all over everything," she made a face.

"Then what?"

"I was working as an actress, if you can call it working, but didn't get many jobs. I met angel at a party, but didn't pay any attention to him. Why would any self respecting actress waste her time on a cursed vampire?"

"Don't know," Xander smiled and let her continue.

"Anyway, I was discovered at this party and invited to this guy's house. When I got there I notice the lack of mirrors and overuse of curtains. And I'm like 'Hey, you're a vampire!' and he's all 'No I'm not!'. He was, and I would have been vamp food if Angel hadn't shown up. He kicked the guy's ass and saved me. I've been working for him ever since."

"Wow. It must be nice to find a friend in such a big city."

"Yeah, it's a big break," she smiled, "And here I thought my Slayerette days were over."

"I know what you mean. I don't really see the gang that much. They go to college and I'm just a townie."

"That's rough." Cordelia silently looked around her apartment for a moment. "So, where are you staying?"

"Angel's letting me crash, but it just doesn't have all the comforts of my usual dark, dank, smelly basement," Xander chuckled.

"Wow!" Cordelia looked Xander up and down, "It's amazing that you can look so good with no mirrors." Xander raised an eyebrow. "I mean, er...you look good."

"You too."

"I really have missed you since graduation. Why don't you stay here? I mean, we do have some catching up to do."

"That'd be nice."

"Let's got get your stuff from Angel's place."

"I'll drive," Xander got up and grinned again, "Hopefully the engine won't fall out."

"Yeah," Cordelia smiled back, "I don't think L.A. has room for another stripper!"