Without You

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Especially not Teen Titans

Kori Anders: 19

Richard Grayson: 19

Rachel Roth: 19

Garfield Logan: 19

Victor Stone: 20

Karen Bee: 20

Chapter one:

"Good morning Gotham City! It's 7:00 a.m. December 21st Friday morning the sun is shining, but snow is expected later in the afternoon."

I fumbled around for the off button on my alarm clock knocking things over in the process. I slowly opened my eyes to the sun shining warm on my face. It was the last day of school before Christmas break. I lazily got out of bed while running my fingers through my messy jet-black hair wondering what was in store for me today. Probably the usual. Nothing out of the ordinary.

While I jumped into the shower I thought about the past four years of my life while I was in high school. Nothing exciting had happened to me at all. I was still the same guy that was longing for something more than what he had in his life. I was the adopted child of Bruce Wayne the millionaire. Sure, I had money to no end, a bright future in business following in Bruce's steps, and the best friends I could ask for. But what I really wanted was someone to love. I mean, it's not like I was single these past four years. Girls had come and gone, nothing to long or to serious. I wanted a girl that wasn't like every other girl tries to make herself. I want to fall in love with a girl that isn't someone you see every day.

Before I knew it I was going down the brick steps that led to the driveway. I jumped into my silver Range Rover and pulled out of the driveway and on my way to school. I attended Gotham High School. While I parked my car in my usual spot, I spotted my friends Gar Logan and Rachel Roth in the distance.

Gar Logan was tan with shaggy sandy hair. He couldn't be more than 5'7 feet tall. Today he wore light jeans and a green sweatshirt. Gar was a vegetarian whom secretly has a crush on Rachel Roth but thought no one knew. He's got to be one of the nicest people I know. His parents get in fights and their marriage seems to be on the rocks since last summer. When their fighting gets too much for Gar to handle he stays at my house for a night or two.

Rachel Roth was standing next to Gar with another one of her books in her hands. She had medium length purple hair and pale skin. She's smart, serious, and fast thinking. Rachel doesn't have the easiest life at home either. She lives with her father who's a drunk who beats her from time to time. She wore dark jeans with a purple v-neck sweater with a gray scarf around her neck. She's probably about 5'5 feet tall.

I greeted them with a smile and a wave and they returned the gesture.

"Hey man. Vic wants to know if we could all go for pizza downtown once school let's out" Gar asked me as we began to walk to homeroom.

"Sure. Sounds good to me," I said to him as I nodded my head.

Victor Stone was a 6'0 foot tall African American and one of our best friends. He graduated from Gotham High last year. He owns his own automotive store in downtown Gotham. He's dating the gorgeous Karen Bee whom graduated along with him. They seem to be very happy together. School isn't the same without Vic but we're getting ourselves through it since it's our senior year.

The entire day felt like a blur to me. There wasn't anything worth paying attention to. I was in my last period class. U.S. History C.P. I came out of my thoughts and a few moments later the bell rang and saved me because I actually started to pay attention to class. I meet Rachel and Gar outside my car that was parked in the parking lot.

"Alright dude. I'm ready for pizza! I wonder if they have tofu as a topping…" Gar began to wonder out loud.

"Don't even think about it" Rachel said. They fought the entire way there. I laughed at them. Without them how else would I be entertained?

"Alright guys! Stop your bickering and get the hell out of my car." I told them as we got out of the car. Looking into the restaurant I could see Victor waiting for us. We walked into the restaurant and Vic greeted us.

"Hey guys. I'm glad ya'll came today. I miss hanging out as much as we did the last few years. Let's find a booth to sit at." Vic said as he hugged us all.

Just then a red head walked in. She wore black flat boots that looked like they were taken out of a dumpster, a knee length coat with cheetah print on it and looked worn out. She had her long red hair in a half ponytail, was no more than about 5'5 feet tall, and she had unforgettable emerald eyes.

"Kory! How are you doing girl? It's great to see you! What are you doing here girl?" Vic called as he went over to her and hugged her.

"Vic! Well…I'm alive aren't I? I'm just here to pick something up from Xavier. He's a delivery boy here. It's great to see you to!" The girl named Kory said.

"Kory I thought you were done with that? We'll have to talk about that later. Come eat some pizza with my friends and I. You guys don't mind right?" Victor asked us. Done with what? I'll have to remind myself to ask Victor what he meant by that later.

"Hey, the more the merrier! I'm Gar, Kory. Nice to meet you" Gar greeted Kory.

"Why not? I've already been forced down here with no choice, let's throw in a pretty little red head who looks like she hasn't eaten in weeks." Rachel told her.

"You'll have to excuse her Kory. She has bad manners. What she really means is she's delighted that you'll be joining" Gar retorted with a goofy grin on his face making Kory giggle.

"Well Richard?" Victor asked me.

I finally stopped staring at Kory and answered Victor. "What?"

"Do you mind if Kory eats with us? Are you going to introduce yourself or stare at her while droll comes out of your mouth?"

"Oh! Uh, yeah sure I don't mind. And I'm Richard Grayson." I managed to say.

"Thanks, Kory Anders. And Vic, I really can't. This isn't anything new, but I have no money." Kory told everyone. Well that would explain her worn out boots and coat. Now that I really take a look at her (not that I haven't the entire time I was staring at her) she does look rather skinny.

"Girl you have got to be kidding me. No way would I ever make you pay for a dinner with some new friends and me. It's my treat. Besides, your tiny ass needs some food in you anyway" Vic stated as he pulled her to a booth. Rachel, Gar and I followed them.

Victor sat at the end and pulled Kory in with him. Gar sat next to Kory and immediately made jokes and had her laughing her in no time. Rachel and I sat in the next seat together.

"Let's get tofu as a topping!" Gar exclaimed to us.

"Oh hell no. There's no way I'm putting that shit into my mouth. Get that idea out of your head." Said Victor as soon as Gar finished his suggestion.

"Don't even think of getting meat on the pizza!"

"And what if I do you Vegan?"

"You don't want to find out meat eater!"

Gar and Vic continued their quarrel for a few minuets until they began to wonder where the waiter was.

"Dude where's the damn waiter?" Gar asked.

"Oh he took our order just a minute ago. I ordered extra cheese." Kory responded.

"And how did you do that without us noticing?! You're in-between us!" Victor shouted.

"You goons weren't paying attention. So I took advantage of the moment. And pretty soon I'm going to eat some extra cheesy pizza." Kory told them with an innocent smile on her face. I felt a gentle kick at my foot and I looked up at Kory.

"Oh. Was that you?" She asked me with a sly grin on her face.

"Yeah, that was me." I answered her returning a grin.

"I'm sorry" She apologized as she smiled.

"Hey, accidents happen. No big deal. So where do you go to school?" I asked her. If I was right, I'd say she was trying to get me to talk to her.

"The little lady doesn't go to school anymore." Victor answered for her.

"Oh. So she graduated from high school? She looks a little young to be out of school." Rachel said.

"No. I haven't gone to school since my freshmen year of high school. I dropped out right before Christmas break. I'm nineteen. I would be in my senior year if I were still in school." Kory told us.

"What? Why?" I asked, wanting to know why she dropped out.

"Long story. But I couldn't keep my grades up and work enough hours to get enough money. I'm still not making enough money but my grades would have kept going down and I would probably have to retake the year anyway." Kory answered my question. The pizza arrived and everyone took a slice and began to eat.

"Oh. That's a shame Kory. You should go to night school or something." Rachel told her as she tried to help her get back into school. I had never seen Rachel try helping someone she knew for such a short time.

"Maybe someday. But I can't go to night school." She admitted to us.

"Why not? I'm sure you would be able to pass it." I encouraged her.

"That has nothing to do with it man. Kory couldn't pass night school with flying colors. She can't because that's when she works. At night." Victor said, trying to make it easier for Kory.

"At night? Where do you work?" I asked her curiously.

"At the club down the street. I dance. Which explains why I work mostly at night. That's when it's mostly crowded. I work during the day a lot to. Just not as much people, and mostly tourists." Kory told me. She was nineteen, a high school drop out, and worked at some club for a living? She tilted her head and looked out the window. I turned and looked out it to see what she was looking at to find a tall man with brown shaggy hair wearing the delivery boy uniform waving her to come to him.

"Well, it was nice meeting all of you. I have to get going, thanks again for letting me join you. Vic are you sure you don't want me to help pay?" She asked as Gar got up so she could get up. Vic also got up and hugged her goodbye.

"You're out of your mind. Of course I don't want you to pay. Thanks for joining us. Stop by the shop sometime. Stay safe little lady." Vic told her as they stopped hugging.

"I will. It's a couple of blocks down from my apartment right? That reminds me. The rent is late. Shit. Anyway, thanks again. I hope to see you guys again." Kory told everyone looking straight at me with her gorgeous emerald eyes.

We all said our goodbyes and she walked out the doors. I looked at my watch and silently cursed.

"I have to go guys. I just remembered Bruce wanted to talk to me about something. Rachel and Gar can you guys get a ride home from Vic?" I asked them.

"Sure can man. Take it easy. I can sense you have some sort of an attraction to Kory. Don't worry man. I'll fill you in on her next time we talk." Victor answered me with a grin on his face.

Something about Kory intrigued me. She wasn't like every other girl I go to school with. She wasn't ashamed of her life and believed this was the way her life was supposed to go and whatever people thought of it didn't matter.

I walked out of the door and saw her by the guy who was probably Xavier and his car. They both had something in their hands and pretended to shake hands and exchanged items. They smiled at each other and Kory pretended to scratch her leg inside her boot and I assume she dropped the item in her boot because when she took her hand out it was empty.

So today wasn't like every other day. Life actually had something in store for me.

I was intrigued by a druggie. Oh look, it's beginning to snow.

Well there you have it. Kory's a druggie! I hope you guys liked it. It was six pages in Word. I'm going to start writing chapter two tonight. As a matter of fact I think I shall begin right now. I won't update it until I have reviews. ( I'm open to any constructive criticism, but please try not to be to mean.

Peace and Love,

Annaleigh