Alright, I've got update number 2 right here, and three is on the way. Enjoy (and if I need legal stuff, I don't own these people and places).

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Chapter 2: First Encounter

Richard walked into his homeroom class and looked around. On one hand, he was kinda disappointed that none of his good friends were in the same class. On the other hand, at least there were some people that he liked. For example, sitting in the middle of a group of girls was Roy Harper, aka "Speedy." He was a pretty fast guy on the track team, but the real reason for his nickname was that he held the record for dating the most girls in one month (17 to be exact).

There was also Karen Beecher, captain of the cheerleading squad and a prime example of the "alpha female" mentality. Richard had long suspected she and Victor had something going on, but so far hadn't seen anything to say otherwise. Maybe there really wasn't anything.

"Yeah, and BB'll start acting his age."

Besides these obvious people, Richard was only slightly familiar with everyone else. Most of the girls would steal a peak at him, and then giggle to their friends, probably saying something that would make Richard turn red in the face. The guys would say "Hi" or give him a friendly smile, but Richard always felt that most guys found him slightly intimidating.

"Maybe it's being the son of a billionaire," he thought. "Or it could be the shades. The shades are pretty B.A."

He was about to take his seat when he noticed one more person. He was way in the back of the room, sitting right in the corner where he was least likely to be noticed. Xavier Redd. Though he looked like any relaxed, laid back teenager, there was something about him that made Richard… not nervous, but wary. Definitely wary. Maybe it was the fact that his smile, cool and self confident, never slipped. Or maybe it was the rumors of things that Xavier Redd did on the weekends; nothing confirmed, but there were rumors. Whatever it was, Richard was hesitant to get too close to him.

He had just sat down when Roy noticed him and came over.

"Richard! How's it going?"

"Hey Roy. How's your summer been?

"Not bad. "Hey, listen." He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Have you heard about the new student?"

"Yeah, just rumors though." The whole classroom seemed to be talking about some new kid joining them in their senior year. Not unheard of, but definitely not normal.

"I heard that it's a girl." Roy grinned like a shark that's seen a fat kid in deep water. "And she's supposed to be hot."

Richard had heard that. He'd also heard that the new student was a seven foot tall Russian behemoth recruited to play football. Then he'd heard that the new student was a seven year old genius who had advanced mankind's understanding of quantum physics. Rumors tend to get exaggerated.

"You know, nobody's even seen this person yet. She could very well be a he." Roy looked slightly crestfallen.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Then Roy noticed another group of girls coming in and ran over to "work his magic" as he liked to call it. Roy was slightly ADD about these things.

The bell rang and the homeroom teacher walked in.

"Alright class," she said with a heavy accent. "Sit down and shut up." Everybody did as they were told. Talking still went on (when do high school kids ever really shut up?) but to a much quieter degree. Madame Rouge, their homeroom supervisor and French teacher was a well known hard-ass. Nobody wanted to get on her bad side. "First order of business. The new student will be in our homeroom class and will be needing a guide to show her around school."

"So it is a girl." Richard glanced over at Roy, but apparently he hadn't heard; he was too busy talking to the girls sitting on either side of him.

"Is anyone who willing to volunteer to take care of the new student?" Richard looked around: nobody moved. It's one thing to be nice to the new kid. It's another to play baby-sitter. Seeing as nobody would do anything, Richard sighed and held up his hand.

"Very well." Madame Rouge opened the door and waved for somebody to come in. "Richard, I would like you to meet Ms. Kori Anders."

Later on in life, Richard would look back and see this act of volunteering as the best decision he ever made.

Kori walked into the room and every single guy in there went slack jawed. "God, she's gorgeous," Richard thought, his mouth hanging slightly open as well. Kori, while modestly dressed in a lavender blouse and ankle-length white skirt, couldn't hide the fact that she had the curves of a very feminine body. Her long auburn hair was waist-length and incredibly silky and shiny. When she turned her head, her hair caught the light and looked as if it were made of liquid fire. Kori wore makeup, but only very faintly; it was just enough to accent the features of her face as well as her remarkably large green eyes that glittered like emeralds. Those were probably her best features, those eyes. "They're beautiful. I could just sit here and look at those eyes…"

"Richard!" Madame Rouge's harsh voice snapped Richard out of his day-dream. "Come here and introduce yourself." Richard got up and walked to the front of the class, gave his super-cool-amazing-award-winning-smile-that-makes-girls-fall-over-in-a-dead-faint smile (yeah ladies, you know what I'm talking about) and said.

"Hey. The names Richard Grayson. Nice to meet you." He stuck out his right hand for a shake.

"Hello Richard. It is wonderful to be meeting you." Kori flashed her smile. Now, some people have good smiles, and some people have great smiles. Kori's was phenomenal. It was like a little kid who's smiling at seeing their favorite grandparents: completely happy, completely carefree, and, in Richard's mind, completely adorable.

"Alright. You have met one another. Now sit down." Madame Rouge pushed them both towards the desks. As Richard walked back, now with Kori following right along, he saw Roy, girls completely forgotten, give him the "you-are-such-a-lucky-bastard" death glare. Richard just gave him a cocky grin as if to say, "Yeah, ain't it the truth?"

They sat down and Madame Rouge began to make announcements about the upcoming year, but Richard and Kori, engaged in a hushed conversation, didn't hear a word.

"So, Kori, where you from?"

"Tamaran. It is a small country east of Poland."

"European huh? Well why'd you come all the way to the US for high school?"

"My guardian, Uncle Galfore, wishes me to learn the American culture to help with the running of our family's business."

"Really? What business is that?" Kori seemed hesitant to speak.

"I do not wish to speak of it; it may… complicate things?" Richard nodded.

"Alright. You don't need to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."

"Thank you Richard." Kori flashed him another amazing smile.

"I've got to learn what she likes so I can get her to smile more often." Richard returned the smile. They continued chatting about different things. They compared class schedules and found out that the two of them had English, Economics, and a free period together. Richard then gave her a crash course on the different teachers at Jump City High."

"Government's taught by Mr. Mod. He's a little crazy; he can't stop talking about England and how it's so much better than the US. Just learn about Parliament and stuff, cause that's the only stuff he tests you on. And Dr. Light's probably just as crazy. He used to be some big shot professor, but some accident involving lasers and chemicals ended up with him blowing up an entire science lab." Kori giggled, and Richard grinned; he liked hearing Kori laugh. It was almost musical, like silver wind chimes moving in a gentle summer breeze: light and warm.

"Glorious. Tell me, are there any other teachers that I may wish to take note of?" Richard's grin faded.

"Yeah, Mr. Slade."

"Slade?"

"He's the high school principle. Totally sadistic jerk." Slade was ex-military or something, and his right eye was always behind a patch. Though he never raised his voice, Slade could scare anyone; even hard-core delinquents knew to be careful around him. Richard didn't get along with Mr. Slade, ever since they'd first met. It was just plain creepy and unnatural the way he could intimidate students just by glancing at them. "Be careful around him."

"Very well. I shall be wary of the principle."

"Right." Richard relaxed. "Well, that's about everyone. After homeroom, I'll introduce you to Vic, BB, and Raven. They'll love ya, trust me."

"Thank you Richard. It is wonderful to have met a friend like you on the first day."

"Friends." Richard thought about it; ever since they'd met, they hadn't stopped talking. Richard liked talking to Kori, and Kori seemed to enjoy their conversation just as much. In fact, they gelled together so well that it just felt natural hanging out with Kori. "Huh. I guess we already are friends." Richard liked the thought, so he smiled and said,

"No problem. What are friends for?"

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Well, this chapter's done. Number 3 should be up in a day or so. I've got it written and everything, just need to edit and load it. R & R please, and constructive criticism is appreciated. Grazie.