Chapter One
She was too absorbed in the new book she just got from the library to notice the extended leg out ready to trip her. He grabbed my arm stopping me from— A scream escaped from her lips as soon as she began to fall forward. She felt a hand grab her waist just before she hit the floor. As he pulled her up straight, she looked into his gorgeous light blue eyes and blushed. She stuttered a barely audible thanks. He replied, "No problem." Her cheeks turned a cherry red. There was a distinct snicker from none other than Kitten Moth. Kori swore if Satan had a daughter it would be her. She lived only to make the lives of everyone besides the popular student's lives miserable and Kori was her constant victim.
"Are you ok?" The question snapped her back to reality.
"Yeah, I guess I should be looking where I'm going," she responded. He smiled and said, "Well, some people should watch where they place their feet as people walk by." She shyly smiled back. She couldn't believe he was talking to her let alone defending her.
He then said, "So what's your name, again?" The girl replied, "Kori. You're Richard, right?" "Yeah." Then the famous awkward silence came, but before Kori had time to say anything Kitten interrupted.
"Dickie!" she screeched. He looked embarrassed and smiled apologetically. He said, "Hey Kitten." She replied with disgust, "Dick you know we don't talk to losers like her!" "Kitten she's not…" Before he could even finish his sentence, she whisked him away.
Kori replayed the event several times in her head, until she realized she would be late for homeroom. As she walked in the door Richard caught her eye and smiled. When she smiled back, she felt little butterflies forming in her stomach. She knew she shouldn't feel that way. She thought: how could a boy like him, like her. He was the ideal example of a preppy popular boy. Kori on the other hand, was an outcast practically shunned by everyone at Millbridge High. They called her a freak because she always had her nose buried in a book, but they didn't realize that they were the reason; books were her only escape. They said she was weird because she kept to herself, but she was only insecure because they judged her. Dreaming that he would ever like her was pointless, she concluded. It wouldn't be acceptable. The bell rang and she was transported back to reality.
v
That day couldn't end fast enough for Kori. First through third period were all dreadful. Science, math and Spanish all in the same morning was unbearable, she decided. She thanked the supreme being of the universe that her next three classes were social studies, English, and, her favorite, art. The bell for her fourth period lunch rang. She shuddered at the thought of waiting in the long line at the cafeteria then walking all the way to the other building to reach the library. Yet, one has to eat doesn't she. Once she reached the cafeteria the smell of sweaty students and various foods overwhelmed her nostrils. From the noise pounding, practically shaking the building, you would think there was a rampage occurring. After waiting in the line for at least ten minutes, she finally reached the cash register. She was about to make her way to her quiet sanctuary, when a familiar voice spoke her name, "Kori!" She whipped around almost dropping her lunch on Richard. Surprised she stuttered, "Richard, I…Hi…um…yeah." Mentally scolding herself for sounding like an idiot, he replied, "I was wondering if you wanted to eat lunch with me." Still in shock from his sudden interest in talking to her, she almost had a heart attack from his question. She managed a simple and barely audible, "Sure." He smiled widely and grabbed her hand leading her back to his table. A few feet away now from his table she protested, "Wait, are you sure Kitten won't be mad?" He smirked and said, "I can handle her." With a frown she silently said to herself, "Maybe you can, but I certainly can't." They finally reached the table. If looks could kill Kori would have been long dead. Richard finally broke the silence, "Guys, this is Kori." Some people murmured a small, "Hi," while others remained silent. Finally the expected retort from Kitten came, "So Dick, guess you forgot to take out the trash." The sudden quiet room erupted in laughs. Before the tears fell, Kori grabbed her bag and ran. She ran as fast as she could to the library. She ran all the way to the fantasy section with the small chair and table and collapsed into silent sobs. She thought to herself, "What was I thinking! Kidding myself into thinking I could just sit with them and receive warm welcomes all around." Without thinking she said aloud, "I'm such an idiot." Again that sweet familiar melodious voice said, "No you're not, I am." Kori looked up with her bright emerald eyes into Richard's light blue ones. She shook her head with her head in her hands and he said, "I don't know what I was thinking, bringing you to Kitten's table, thinking she wouldn't do anything." He finished his sentence and she raised her head to meet his eyes, he said, "I'm so sorry." She replied, "You're sorry? You're not the one who called me trash." He just looked down, rising to her feet she continued, "But why did you invite me in the first place." Richard's cheeks were turning a light shade of pink as he responded, "I wanted to get to know you better." Her mind hardly functioning, her lips formed a small O. He took that as an opportunity and leaned in to capture her lips. Kori found herself leaning in too, but quickly jerked back and stuttered, "I…I'm sorry. I can't do this." With that she grabbed her bag again, ran towards the exit, leaving a bewildered Richard behind. As she was exiting she formed one thought: she was doing a lot of running today.