Two years ago when I wrote this story, I was emotionally insecure. Channeling it into this story was probably the best thing. However, after a long hiatus, I am back if I don't finish any other story, it will be this one. I caution however, times have changed in my life, I have never been happier and the story I wrote two years ago seems foreign to me. Writing the next chapters will be a challenge, a challenge to keep Kori's story believable and to make the whole thing seem like I never stopped writing it. I am sorry to be readers, but thank you to those who have reviewed and please bear with me as I feel like I am starting all over again…

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans … But beware DC Comics.. my day will come… *evil smirk*

….

Present

"Who is he - …." I stopped again.

For standing at the door, decked out in the soccer uniform and looking extremely hot, was none other than Richard John Grayson.

I was at a loss for words.

Oh my god… this day cannot get any worse…

Before I could say anything, Richard was quick to notice my gawking.

"Kori! Hey! What are you doing here?" He said in genuine surprise.

"Oh … um.. I... am th-…" and before I could finish Coach Lee cut in.

"Grayson, meet your new equipment manager. Ms. Anders was kind enough to volunteer her time to help out."

Richard nodded before facing me again. He held out his hand and flashed me that all so perfect smile.

"Welcome to the team, Ms. Anders."

At Soccer Practice

"Hey! Gather around! We have a match in two weeks and you know how much winning it will mean to not just Coach Lee but to the school and ourselves. So get your head in the game! Shirts versus skins!" Richard announced in one of his "famous" team captain speeches. Even though he had just gotten here, he was the talk of the school.

Girls fawned over him. Guys wanted to be him. And me, I didn't want to be anywhere near him. More accurately, I didn't want to be a part of his perfect world. Let's face it. He's only been here for two weeks, made the soccer team, was voted captain, is absolutely gorgeous and that smile… That's enough to define him as perfect. For his sake and mine, our worlds should remain separate and will be…

"HEY! LOOK OUT!" A familiar voice called out.

Being the dumbass I was, I looked toward the direction of the voice. Even from all the lessons I've learned from those teen movies, I still decided to look that way. Knowing what was going to happen… I closed my eyes and braced for a world of familiar pain and agony.

3, 2, 1. BAM!

It never came. The ball to the face never happened.

That was when I noticed. Noticed him. I opened my eyes… A pair of soft blue ones looked down in concern, fright. His arms wrapped tight around me, as if he never wanted to let go… I could feel his heartbeat, quick and hard, as if he had just run a marathon.

"KORI, Are you OK? KORI!" Richard asked frantically as he shook me.

"Huh?.." I finally responded. "Richard..?"

"KORI! Watch where you stand! You're not supposed to be on the field during a game!"

"I'm…sorry…" I whispered softly. "I … shouldn't be doing this… I… this was a mistake…" I began to pull away from his embrace… But he pulled me into him, tighter than before.

"Don't be." He said softly into my ear. "Don't ever be sorry… And please… take better care of yourself." With that, he let me go and headed back to the field.

As if Richard was a snake charmer, he put me in a trance, a state of mind of peace, for the first time in 10 years.

The Next Morning

RING RING RING!

OKKKKKK. Stupid alarm clock. GO DIE.

I get up and check the time. 7:00 am. For the first time, I was up early. After turning off the alarm, I proceeded to my closet.

Hmm…. What should I wear today… Maybe I should wear that white v-neck with the cardigan.. and WAIT A MINUTE. What the FUCK. Since when I do I care what I wear! SHIT.

Curse you Richard freaking-perfect Grayson..

I came down for breakfast in an ensemble, a white V-neck shirt, skinny jeans and a dark green cardigan, which looked exactly the way I felt while dressing myself: trying too hard but not. Basically like a fucking retard who wants to get noticed but is hiding it under a stolid guise, but failing miserably. I reached for the cold pendent resting on my neck: one that I haven't worn for years. My mother's last gift to me…

Summer, [Age 8]

"Sweetie, come here" Mommy said.

"OK!" I ran very fast and hugged Mommy as tight as I could. Mommy always told me that a real hug is a hug that makes the other person feel like they ran a lot and can't breathe good. Mommy always gives me those kinds of hugs.

"Sweetheart, I have to go soon, but I want to give you something first." Mommy pulled out a heart, a heart necklace. It was really shiny and pretty and there's a really really big diamond in the middle.

"It's so pretty! I want it Mommy, I want it!" I jumped up and down so that Mommy would give me the heart.

"Shh, I am going to give it to you.." Then she put it on my neck. "Do you like it?"

"YES!"

"I'm glad you do… Now, mommy's going to go get some groceries. But before I go, sweetie, promise me that you will never lose it, ok?"

"OK!"

Mommy smiled at me and then hugged me real tight. She left. I waited for a really really long time and opened my arms real big so that I could hug Mommy when she comes back. I waited and I waited and waited like she told me to. I got tired and Daddy told me to go to sleep. I waited until daddy left and waited some more. Then I was tired and slept…

Present

I felt the tears coming, but stopped myself, I grasped the pendant and felt the cold radiate through my hands.

I promise mom, I promise…

At School

"MS. ANDERS! …. for once, you are not late!" Mr. Green said with a slightly cheerful tone.

"This is a first, and I am truly impressed. Keep this up and you might see a decrease in the number of times you and I will need to see each other."

"Thanks…" I replied with a sigh of relief.

"Why! In fact this might be the start of something new… And why! There are so man-…"

Knock Knock Knock.

"One moment please Ms. Anders! We will continue this conversation later!"

Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have come to school early… Being the first one here is so AWKWARD. Great plan Anders.

"Sorry to interrupt Mr. Green, I just had to drop off my paper. I'm sorry I couldn't turn it in on time… I promise you it won't happen again"

Oh no….. please don't be him, please don't be him. I looked to the doorway. It was Richard, talking to Mr. Green.

SHIT. OK… UH… HIDE.

I grabbed the textbook nearest to me and created a barrier to cover my face. Whew…

"Kori?..." Richard called.

NO. no nononono Don't come closer…

I felt someone peering over. I put the textbook down and to no surprise Richard was there, grinning as if this was the most amusing thing he had ever witnessed.

"Kori, if you're going to hide, you might want to try a hoodie or a hat, anyone can spot your red hair from a mile away." He commented with a smirk.

"Well you know what! I wasn't .. hiding… I was… deeply engrossed by this book.." I shot back, holding the book up to him as proof.

"Really now…" He came closer. "What were you reading about?"

"Uhh…." I glanced over the cover: The Cold War. "I was reading about the Cold War… Duh."

"Of course you were… You're a bit early don't you think?" He said, as he took a seat right next to mine and turned to face my direction.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I've never seen you come this early before; in fact no one comes this early."

"You're here. So that makes the two of us."

He chuckled. "True that, but I actually had a legitimate excuse. What's yours?"

"Me… I just…wanted to come early for a change… Why? Is that a problem?"

"No, actually its nice. I have to come early to meet with Coach Lee and discuss strategies and matches and when practice times should be. But that only takes a couple minutes, so I don't have anything to do for the next 40 minutes before school starts. So, I'm glad you're here, Kori." He finished with smile.

I blushed softly. "Well… Don't count on it happening again, I just… couldn't sleep and I needed to get out of the house early… " I trailed off. I said too much…. Shoot..

"Oh? Nightmare? Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. It's nothing… Really."

"Kori. You are a terrible liar." Richard commented, smirking

My face turned red. " I am NOT! I can… lie… when I want to…" Shit… that came out wrong…..

Richard laughed hard. And when I mean hard, I mean like really hard, truly LOL-ing.

"Kori… you definitely are the worst liar I have ever met!"

I couldn't take it. I knew he was just kidding, but having to hear another flaw was enough. "You know what Richard, not everyone is perfect!" I grabbed my bag and stormed out of Mr. Green's room.

I felt a hand catch my wrist and spin me around.

"Kori… I'm sorry… I shouldn't have made fun of you." Richard looked into my eyes.

"Leave. Me. Alone. I don't need this." He doesn't understand, he doesn't understand what it's like and never will. I turned towards the hall and stormed off without looking back.

"My parents are dead."

I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned to face Richard.

"What did you say?" I walked towards him slowly and looked him in the eye.

"You think I'm perfect?" He took a step forward, until our lips could almost touch… "That's where you're wrong. And you heard me. My parents are dead. Gone…"

My world just seemed to slow down. I wanted to slap myself. Hard. And then realization hit.

Richard Grayson was just as pained and torn up as I was.

Oh Dear Agony…