(no subject)
She just left me. She just up and left me with that horrible woman. Helen or what’s her name, former Hollywood want to be start. After Cordelia had gone, she’d waltzed into the room, with that far to bright smile, getting far, far to close. And since there was a wall behind me, there wasn’t anyplace I could go. Besides, after that fight with the demon Faith and I had, it wasn’t as though I was pretty fast on my feet. I still was going to get that massage from Dennis, but I guess Cordelia is on the receiving end of that now.
When I finally was able to get rid of the insistent battleship, I closed the door and vowed to get new locks first thing in the morning. I don’t care if that’s against the rules, but I had a feeling that the woman was going to be over here pretty much every day. Besides, I didn’t like the leer she’d given me and muttered something about it being ashamed for such a pretty boy and she’d get me to see the light. The light? What was she on about?
The bed in that apartment was nothing like Cordy’s bed. It was lumpy; it as hard and I woke up with a crick in my neck and a sore back. At least the shower was working the way it was supposed to. Aside from the fact that the hot water ran out after ten minutes. I guess no more long hot showers for me. Rather annoying that. Of course the was no food, I had managed to haul my suitcases over and some things from Cordy’s apartment while she was blaring in the bathtub. Good god, the girl has the most awful singing voice. I hope to god that’s not included in her acting skills. I said my goodbye to Dennis, promising him Id be over to watch ‘Friends’ and play our weekly game.
But now that it was morning, I looked at my apartment in dismay. The place was dark, dreary and a mess. I really didn’t feel like cleaning it up, nor did I actually have money for paint or new furniture to make it look a little more like home. Which I guess it was going to be from now on. Home. It didn’t feel like home. It felt like one up from a motel room. Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair and wondered what I was supposed to be doing now. I guess I could go to the hotel, since Cordelia was so insistent that I work there.
It was with some hesitation that I took out the bike and drove over to the Hyperion. I loved the freedom the feeling of riding on my bike gave me. It cleared my mind a bit so I was in a bit of a better mood when I arrived. As I got of, I made certain my gun was in my holster. I’m well aware that Faith and I fought that demon from her vision yesterday, but I was no fool. I’d seen the look she had given me and the fact that she lived her, under Angel’s protection, didn’t make me feel any easier.
As I carefully, and rather hesitant walked into the hotel, I was surprised to see Angel was already up. Cup of…blood I guess… in on hand, paper in the other. I was an odd sight to see. Rather normal, if one forgot for a moment that there was blood in that mug. Then again, it could be coffee, not as though I’d really know. I glanced around nervously as I awkwardly stepped further into the hotel. “Err…G-good morning, Angel.”
He looked up and gave me a rare smile. Rather hesitant smile, and maybe a little forced, but he was trying. “Morning, Wes. She’s not here,” Angel said, nodding up the stairs. “Where’s Cordy?” There was worry in his voice, which was understandable after the loss of this Doyle fellow. “She wasn’t here last night.”
I nodded at that, walking over to him. ‘Uh, she was at her apartment. Still asleep when I left this morning.” I could tell from the look on his face that he was drawing a completely wrong conclusion. “Her own apartment,” I hastened to explain. “I was in my own…uh…place, I got it yesterday.”
“Oh,” Angel nodded, thought that frown didn’t go away. “You sure she was there?”
“I heard her snore,” I deadpanned. I’d not heard her snore, but I knew she was fine. Otherwise Dennis would’ve given me a signal as I walked past.
“Okay,” Angel said, awkwardly bouncing on his heels as he drummed his fingers on the counter. Looks like I’m not the only one who’s a little lost here.
“So, err….books?” I prodded, pushing my hands in my pocket, since I had no idea what to do with them.
“Huh?” He blinked at me, giving me a confused look which would’ve been cute had he not been a vampire. “Books? Like my bookkeeping? I don’t have one?”
I frowned at that, raising my eyebrow. “I was actually talking about research books, but now that you mentioned this you’ve peeked my interested. How do you keep your business afloat, Angel?”
He shrugged and moved into the small office. “Vampire, don’t need to pay taxes and such. But…uh…” he pulled out a box and opened it. It was full of receipts and other things which might pass as business account type kind of deal. “I keep everything in here,” he announced proudly.
I stared at the overflowing box with scraps of paper and then back at him. “You’re joking.”
He looked at me taken aback and then at the box of papers. “No? Why? What’s wrong with this? It works fine with Cordy.”
Oh, I’ll bet it does. Sighing, I picked up the box, pushed my glasses up my nose and shook my head at him. “Do you have some papers for me?” At his look I sat down in the chair and gestured at the mess of his shoebox he calls his business. “I’ll see if I can make some sense of this.”
He looked at me confused for a moment before relief set in. “Oh, but you don’t have to. I mean, it kinda worked before and all that.” It was a token protest and we both knew it.
“If I’m going to work here, I think I’ll have to, Angel. Now if you don’t mind?” I started to take out the scraps and could already feel a headache forming.
“You sure?”
“Angel."
“Yeah, okay. Paper, I can do that. I’ll go get you some paper and stuff. Coffee?”
“No thank you, tea if you have it?”
“Uh…”
Right. I can see my work here is only just beginning.