***********

Chapter Four: Conversation

It took about four long rings before a familiar groggy voice answered, "'lo."

"Angel Cakes!"

"Lorne?... do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Yeah, it's two o'clock in the afternoon and I have something important to tell you."

Lorne tapped his blood colored nails impatiently on the surface of his bar. This news was way too exciting... well, it wasn't exactly news, it was more of what he was participating in that made it news for him.

"Hmm. Okay, what thing is just so important that you had wake me up from sleep?"

"I got a few souls you can help save, your own included, O'-seeking-redemption-one. Tell me, were you actually sleeping or were you just brooding alone in the dark again?"

"That would be none of your business," he growled, his hostility not lost on the lounge singing demon.

"Whatever," Lorne replied, rolling his eyes. Angel could be so touchy at times... maybe it was a good thing all of this was happening, the vampire was in definite need of a woman in his life, now more than ever...

"I have some people that I want you to meet, they'll be coming by around ten thirty tonight so be prepared."

Lorne hung up the phone before he could even reply back; which was a good thing because the vampire would have waged a heavy protest against it. He lacked companionship and therefore refused to let anybody in... which was his loss and nobody else's gain.

"Gods, I didn't think playing matchmaker would be this much fun."

***********

Placing the knife, the very same one that she had nearly used on Doyle the other night, back in her pocket, Buffy muttered, "Cordelia?"

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Well, duh! who else lives here?! God, what is your trauma anyway? I just got back and already you're trying to kill me?!" She shouted, tossing her hair over her shoulder for a dramatic effect.

"Sorry, Delia, you kind of startled us," Doyle replied, his expression sincere. His eyes, however, continued soaking her appearance up with appreciation.

"I thought you weren't coming back until around tuesday and I thought you were a burglar. Excuse me for wanting to be on the safe side!... well, now you can count us even."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"If I recall correctly, you were the very same person that nearly clubbed me with an iron last month."

"Oh, yeah, I did. By the way, what's *he* doing here?" Cordelia asked, placing her hands sternly on her hips.

"He's my friend and my guest," she replied defensively, "I don't know why you're complaining, you bring people here with you all the time."

"Well, at least my guests are house trained! I can't say the same thing for him. He left a big mess on the coffee table!"

"I'll clean it up as soon as I talk to Giles, Cordelia." Turning to face Doyle, Buffy suggested, "You can go to work now. I'll call Giles and tell him about everything that's going on."

"Okay, I'll see ya later on tonight then. Bye Buffy... Cordelia."

Cordelia didn't even acknowledge his exit. Rather, she quickly gave Buffy a scowl of disapproval. "Oh, yes, the big 'vampire' and 'demon' talk. I can't believe I'm sharing an apartment with a girl who happens to be a big superhero that fights ugly things with fangs."

"Yeah, well, deal with it," Buffy snapped. She was tiring of Cordelia's petty comments of her life... and lack there of. Why did her dad have to suggest getting a roommate?

"I'm fine with it just as long as you don't bring any in here with you," the brunette snapped, trudging back in the direction of her room.

Poor Doyle, Buffy thought, he had to crush on *her* of all people...