3 years later

"Alright Gotham City are you ready to wake up! Start your mornings with Dunkn' Donuts new pumpkin spice coffee! It's only-

I groaned and shut off my alarm. Only three weeks into my junior year in college and I'm already exhausted. The first two years went by in a flash. I took all my introduction classes and the classes required for the school. Over the summer, I decided my major will be art so this year I'm taking art classes. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I take photography, art history, and think/invent. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I take sculpting and drawing.

What happened to my dream of becoming a vet? I honestly do not know. I'll always have a love for animals and wild life but art is my passion. I can express my emotions and feelings in just one picture. It's also more peaceful than becoming a vet.

I got out of bed and made my way to my closet. I went with a white long sleeve, a pink scarf, blue jeans, and brown boots.

Its Thursday so I have sculpting and drawing today. I quickly grabbed breakfast from the kitchen and made my way out to my turquoise pick up truck. I don't know how my brother managed to keep this junk running all these years but she's my baby.

A half hour later and I arrived on campus. I quickly made my way to sculpting class and took my seat at my table.

"Good morning class!" my professor explained.

I silently laughed at her appearance. She always came in wearing the same blue overalls covered in clay, a red shirt, and worn out sandals. She always looked a mess.

"Now please continue sculpting your animal," she instructed. "You will be evaluated on your work by the end of the week so use your time wisely."

I stood up and walked into the back to retrieve my sculpture of a horse.

After sculpting I have a half hour break before my drawing class. I usually sit in the cafe and have a rest or I go to the library and rent out a book.

Drawing class has been a struggle for me. We're working on drawing people and it is just so hard to get all the right details. My last project I sketched a woman breast feeding her newborn. It isn't perfect, my professor would tell me. You need to work on the small details like the face and hair.

"Class we are going to start something new and exciting today," my professor told us in class. "We are going to sketch a model here in class."

I raised an eyebrow and looked away from my easel. My eyes widened as Wally West came into the room with a grin on his face.

Flashback

A month into Freshmen year

I walked into the cafeteria and searched the place for a table. I smiled and quickly took a booth in the corner. I quickly opened my laptop and started on my essay do this week.

"I wonder if they sell tofu here!"

My eyes widened at the voice and I ducked my head behind my laptop as they appeared through the door. Rachel, Gar, Vic, and Wally appeared. I haven't seen them since the last time they visited me. I can't let them see me now.

"Dude! I didn't know you went here!"

My eyes doubled in size and I looked over to see them starring at me. Rachel smacked Gar on the back of the head. They started to whisper to each other in hushed tones and I couldn't make out the words. They quickly glanced over at me and quietly left the cafeteria.

End of Flashback

I was so hurt that day. I finally understood that they didn't want to do anything with me. So much for having friends?

"Now Mr. West will you please take your pose?"

I shook my head an looked over at Wally.

"Try not to squirm ladies," he said cooly.

I raised an eyebrow and opened my mouth as he stripped down to nothing. There he stood naked and in front of me. I silently laughed, only Wally would be able to have enough confidence to do this.

"Now closely pay attention to his features and his position on the stool," I turned to my professor. "Remember we have a big project for your final and that is to sketch out a model with charcoal pencils." He clapped his hands. "Now begin."

I picked up my charcoal pencil and narrowed my eyes at Wally. He was sitting on the stool, an elbow resting on his knee while his chin rested on his hand, and his back was hunched over. I placed the tip of my pencil against the paper and started to sketch. He's actually not that bad of a model. My professor came over to me and told me I was doing excellent except I need to work on the face and hair more. I looked over at Wally and noticed he was looking at me...again. Ten minutes before class ended the professor decided it was enough for today. He let Wally get dressed and we got to get out of class early.

I was surprised when Wally caught up to me as I made my way out to my truck.

"Kori wait up!" he called.

I stopped and turned to him.

"Hey," he said.

I started to walk to my car. "Hello."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "How's it going?" He seemed nervous.

"Good," I replied. I stopped at my truck and turned to him. "How are you?"

He nodded. "I'm good too." He cleared his throat. "You look great!"

I rolled my eyes. "Thank you."

He nervously chuckled. "So I see you're not a loony anymore."

My mouth opened in shock.

His eyes widened and he placed a hand over his mouth. "Sorry! I didn't mean to say that! You're not a loony-

I giggled. "Wally, it is okay. What is it that you want?"

He let out a sigh of relief and leaned against my truck. "Um...about me modeling. You won't tell anyone, right?"

I raised my eyebrows and looked at him. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

He laughed. "Good cuz they won't ever let me live it down if they found out. I'm just doing it for the money. You see Dick came back from California and we're sorta living together in a penthouse...well actually I'm living with him as long as I pay a part of the rent and my other job just fired me and rent is due-

"Dick went to California?" I asked interrupting him.

He nodded. "Yea he spent two years of studies there with Roy. He came back a month ago and he's attending here now so you'll probably see him around."

I shook my head. "I have not seen him yet."

Wally shrugged. "Probably just have different class times."

I froze in thought. Dick is back and he's attending the same college as me. Dick is back...Dick is back?

"Kori?" asked Wally.

I shook my head and looked at him. "It was great talking to you Wally but I must go now."

Wally nodded. "Okay. I'll see you next class then."

I gave him a smile and nodded.

The entire car ride my mind went back to that one statement, Dick is back. Oh boy! Get a grip Kori! He probably doesn't even remember you anyways. Wait...what if he doesn't remember me? Is that even possible? What if some alien mind device removed all memory of me from his mind? Okay maybe I'm being a little paranoid.

I parked my truck on the driveway and literally ran all the way inside my house.

"Kori-

I cut my mother off as I ran upstairs to my room. I slammed my door shut and locked it. I tossed my bag on my bed and walked over to my closet. I reached for my folder. So many memories in this folder. I placed the folder down and opened it. I looked through all the paintings I've created. My horse paintings, my nature paintings, my Tamaran paintings, and my people paintings. And then there's his paintings.

I picked one up with both hands and looked up at it. I could never get his eyes perfect. The blue is either a shade to light or a shade too dark. Sometimes the eyes would come out two different colors.

"Kori?" my mother called out.

I looked over at my door. "What?" I called back.

"Can you please come downstairs?" she asked. "Grant is here!"

Grant! You all remember Grant, right? He saved my life from his psychotic father. He wrote to me every day ever since he went back to Steel City. The investigators found his mom and sister. He learned that his mom re-married and had a set of twins. Grant accepted his step-father and kind of saw him like the father he never had. They get along well and I'm happy for him. I know this is what he's been wanting for a long time. He went to college in Steel City and studied there to be close to his family. He graduated last year and got his degree.

I closed my folder and placed it back in my closet. I used the bathroom real quick before I made my way downstairs. He was sitting in the kitchen with my mother, father, and brother. I walked up behind his chair and gave him a hug from behind.

"Hey Grant," I greeted.

He placed his hands on my arm, returning affection. "Hey Kor! Hows it going?"

I removed my hands from around him and took a seat next to Ryan. "Everything is good. How are you?"

"I'm good," he replied.

I got a good look of him. Same dirty blonde curls and the same dark blue eyes. I looked at his cheek. His scar is fading away.

"I see your hair is growing back," he said.

I smiled and looked down at my hair. I decided to stop cutting it so short. I looked up at Grant and shrugged. "Yea but it's only up to my shoulders."

He smiled at me that adorable smile. Did I mention how much cuter he got?

"So Grant here is officially moving back to Gotham," my father said.

I raised an eyebrow and looked at my father.

"That's right," said Grant.

I turned to him.

"There aren't any jobs in Steel so I figured why not try Gotham," he continued.

I could feel a smile growing on my face.

"But for right now I don't have a place to stay and your father here came up with a great compromise," he said smiling.

I turned to my father.

"I suggested that he worked here with us, to start, and actually get paid and in exchange he can stay with us," my father said.

My smile grew and grew. "Stay as in?"

"Live here with us," my mother said.

I squealed and tackled Grant. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" I wrapped my legs and arms around him.

"She's gone crazy again," my brother said.

"Oh this will be so much fun!" I said joyfully. "We can hang out together! We can go to the movies! Eat fast food! Go to the Gotham festival coming up! We can go ice-skating! We'll spend Thanksgiving-

"Kori," my mother said.

"Christmas!"

"I'm not Christian," said Grant.

"Neither are we!" I cheered. "But it doesn't matter!" I tapped my chin. "Where was I? Oh right. New Years! Valentines Day-

"Kori let Grant breath a little," my mother continued. She pried me off of him.

Grant laughed. "I knew she'd be happy."

I jumped up and down. "Of course I'm happy!"

"He'll be sleeping in Kom's old room," my mother mentioned.

"Where is Kom?" asked Grant looking around.

I leaned in front of him with my hands placed on the table. "She got married and moved out. She's pregnant ya know? I'm going to be an auntie."

Grant nodded. "Oh yea I remember I was invited. I couldn't go to it because of classes."

"It was boring anyways," I said. I received a smack on the head by my mother.

I remember that day. Everything was so hectic and frantic. It was amazing how Kom actually made it down the aisle. Talk about a bride-zilla times a hundred! God I am never going to be a maid of honor ever again! Too much freakn' work and everything gets blamed on you. The only good part about that night was when we got to go home. I remember searching the dance floor for Richard. Kom had told me that Xavier invited him and honestly I was so happy to see him again.

Too bad he never showed up.

I know it's not too long but I need to get the story going first. I fast forward three years because I wanted them to be older.

Okay...let the reviews begin.