Just Breathe

Disclaimer: I own nothing. End of story.

Chapter 7

- For God Sake -

I'm Not The Girl

That You Want Me To Be.

I'm Not Her

Life.

Life is short, so live it well.

That is a load of bull.

Life is the longest thing you will ever do and if anyone tries to tell you differently, then they are trying to sell you something. Life is particularly long when you're to believe you're in love with someone, but are really in love with someone else, who is getting married to another person entirely, but they're completely in love with you, or at least they were.

Now doesn't that just dull you're road carving pencil that was already pretty crappy to begin with.

Kory sat on a black leather couch, pressing what was believed to be an ice pack against her forehead, but it really looked more like a blue version of Flubber. Even after six weeks she still hadn't grown accustomed to the beautiful penthouse currently owned by Xavier Red.

It was pretty pathetic that the thing that had given her the headache was a beautifully inscribed white envelope with her (and Xavier's, but that was beside the point) name on it. One would think that a beautiful wedding invitation would excite even the most depressed of people.

Unless that invitation is for a wedding where you aren't the bride and the man you love is wedding someone else. That might put a damper on your wedding spirit.

Kory flung the blue Flubber against the wall, grabbing the white envelope from the coffee table, and walked into kitchen. She grabbed the set of matches of the fridge and walked back into the living room, heading toward the small fireplace. Soon smoked danced up through the chimney, whispering seductively for the white envelope that Kory so desperately wanted to burn.

Her hand began to shake as she felt the heat from the fire licking the tips of her fingers. The fire began a mocking dance, teasing her, telling her she couldn't burn it.

And it was right.

Kory slammed the envelope back down on the coffee table and walked into the kitchen, she reached for the bottle of vodka sitting on top of the refrigerator. She then moved to the counter, a small shot glass in her hand, and downed six shots within two minutes.

The wonders of alcohol, Kory had discovered not so long ago, how beautiful a thing it was. It made all the pain go away, if only for a little bit. Another four shots down, it would have been five, but the sound of footsteps in the living room stopped her from downing that fifth shot.

"It's not even three in the afternoon and you're already downing shots?"

Kory leaned against the counter top, giggles escaping her lips. Xavier wrapped his arms around Kory's waist, placing small kisses on her neck.

"Anytime is a good time to drink." Kory responded as she turned, grabbing his face, pulling him into a kiss.

"Oh, Richard called…." Xavier began.

Kory immediately stopped kissing him, the white envelope sitting on the coffee table began to burn in the back of her skull.

"…he said something about a wedding invitation and no response from us."

"Oh! That invitation, well it just came today, lost in the mail or something like that."

Kory broke away from their embrace before Xavier could see the lie dancing in her eyes. She grabbed the envelope off the table, which seemed to scorch her hands, and handed it to Xavier. He tore it open, scanning it quickly.

"Well it's a good thing he called, the wedding is this Saturday."

She knew it was coming, but it hit her hard, harder than she ever thought it would hit her. She forced a smile, excusing herself to the bathroom, she opened a small drawer from her white vanity, grabbing a needle. She carefully filled it up, then injected it in her arm.

"Kory?"

"I'll be out in a minute." She replied in a soft whisper.

Xavier opened the door, bending down so he was eye leveled with her. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently.

"You don't have to go through this alone."

She matched his smile as she laid her head on his chest.

"I don't deserve you." She breathed.

"He doesn't deserve you." Xavier whispered back.

Kory half laughed half sobbed at the remark. Xavier positioned himself so his back was against the bathroom wall. Kory laid her head on his shoulder and silence soon settled itself in the small room with the couple. Xavier gently ran his fingers through Kory's hair.

"Kory, I want to ask you something."

"Hmm?"

Kory raised her head from his shoulder, looking into his gorgeous grey eyes. He rummaged around his pocket for a couple of moments before pulling something out of it.

"Kory I…"

(A/N 1)

-

Richard's feet dragged gently in the white sand that laid beneath the swing set. He aimlessly swung back and forth, as if to shake all the thoughts from his mind. His head hung low, eyes glued to the ripples that had formed in his light blue jeans only moments ago. He really could have been anywhere (actually he should have been with the wedding planner, but something in his mind told him to ditch. He would pay for it later) , but for some reason he had ended up at the park.

Six weeks.

It seemed pretty pathetic that he was depressed because a girl, that wasn't his bride-to-be, hadn't walked back into his life the same moment she walked out.

Yep, pretty pathetic.

He was getting married, it should have been a week of thrills, chills, and excitement, but lately it just filled him with dread. The closer he was to the wedding, the farther away he was from Kory. He didn't like how that worked out.

"Somehow I knew you'd be here."

A smile gracefully played across Richard's lips, he didn't have to look to know who it was. The swing next to him lightly shook as Kory sat herself down gently in the seat. His head cocked to the side, as to get a better look at her. Her hair was wildly strewn down her back, a dark purple sun dress wrapped perfectly around her figure, and her emerald eyes were sparkling like always.

"Shouldn't you be with a wedding planner?' She asked.

"Shouldn't you be with Xavier?" He retorted.

Kory half chuckled as she shoved her toes deeper into the cold sand. Richard remained quiet as his eyes wandered around the empty park, a small smile tugged on his lips. He suddenly stood up, making Kory cock an eyebrow, and he stood in front of her, holding out his hand.

"What?" She asked, a smile also finding its way to her lips.

"Take my hand, I want to dance with you."

Kory stared down at the hand, part of her wanting to smack it, but more of her wanted to take it. Richard waited patiently, knowing she of all people wouldn't be able to resist.

"But there's no music."

"There doesn't have to be."

Kory pressed her lips together, but temptation won and she grabbed the hand in front of her. Richard pulled her close, putting his arm around her waist, they slowly began to sway to the silent music. Kory laid her head against his chest, slowly releasing a breath of air. (A/N 2)

"Remember when you had to dance with Kitten at her prom?"

Richard chuckled as they continued to sway slowly in the park.

"Sadly, I do. She was insane, what a horrible date, but it was worth it…."

Kory looked up, a puzzled expression overcame her tanned face.

" …because I got to dance with you."

Even after all these years Kory's cheeks never failed to turn a bright rosy red, Richard only smiled in response. For a few moments they danced in complete silence, which felt like heaven for both of them.

"Kory, what happened to us?"

Kory buried her into Richard's chest, fighting back tears.

"T-thing happen Richard, you forgot and met someone else."

Richard stopped in mid turn, Kory slowly pulled away from his warm body.

"No, something happened before the accident."

"I've got to go, Xavier will be wondering where I am."

Kory began running down the park path, but was stopped when she felt Richard's hand wrapped around her arm. Any attempt at breaking free would have been futile so she stood there, swaying gently as Richard slowly released her.

"I waited so long for you Richard, oh god how I waited," Kory stifled a laughed as she turned to look at Richard, "and Rachel, Gar, Victor, they all told me you would come around, that you really cared, but you never came."

"Kory, we could never be something, not after what Slade did to you. He knew you were my weakness, that's why he hurt you. It was all because of me!"

Kory bit her bottom lip as Richard ran a hand through his hair, turned and began walking a bit up the path, stopping, and turning back to face her.

"I wanted to be with you, but seeing you so, so broken. It killed my inside and I could never let him hurt you like that ever again, I could never feel the way I did for you ever again." The last part came out in more of a whisper.

"You could have risked it! I loved you! I loved you and I still do!" Kory screamed as she ran up to him, punching him softly, forgetting her alien powers, in the shoulder. "I loved you more than anything, but instead you pushed me away so Slade couldn't see it. Then you fell in love with someone else."

Richard placed his hand on her cheek as he wiped a tear away.

"But I'm still in love with you." He breathed.

"It doesn't work like that Richard, you're getting married, and so am I."

Richard's eyes widened as his hand dropped down to his side, Kory turned away from him as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"What?"

"Xavier asked me to marry him and I said yes. We're leaving tomorrow, getting on a train to New York City." (A/N 3)

She started walking down the path as Richard stood dumbfound, unable to move,

"Kory, you can't." He released in a horsed whisper.

Kory stopped, turned around and ran into his arms, giving him a sweet, but quick kiss on the lips. She then backed away as more tears fell down her cheeks.

"Good-bye Richard, I'll always love you."

She then turned and walked away.

I die each time you turn away.

{Love Song Requiem by Trading Yesterday}

-

Babs sadly stared at the clock as her wedding planner, Judy, tapped her pen against a pad of paper. There was some last minute things they needed to go over and the absence of the groom was more than aggravating for both women sitting together in silence. As aggravating as this was, it was nothing compared to the six weeks of planning they had gone through, getting ready for the wedding, and yet Richard seemed to be distant the whole time.

She felt that when Richard looked at her, he wasn't seeing her, he was seeing someone else. She could tell by the hurt look in his eyes, even though it only lasted a second or two, he would then shake his head and smile at her, like he hadn't seen the other girl at all. As hard as Babs did to brush it off as nothing more than just mourning over her, she just couldn't get past the hurt she felt every time that looked filled his eyes.

One time it got to be too much.

Babs blinked her eyes as Richard walked into the living room, just now returning from one of his many boys nights out. (Gar and Victor claimed it was the last time he could go out a free man before getting married, they were joking of course.) Richard seemed a bit more out of it than normal, but none of the less he greeted his future bride with a dashing smile and a sweet kiss on the lips.

For the first time in their relationship an awkward silence settled itself between them, happy to find a new couple to poke fun at. Richard fumbled with something in his pocket and a small, emerald star keychain fell to the ground. Both Babs and Richard bent down to pick it up, both bumping heads and chuckling like idiots. To make matters worse their hands found the keychain at the same time.

Babs bit her lip stifling a smile as did Richard, they both locked eyes and for a moment, it seemed almost perfect, until it came. The hurt and pain washed over Richard's face, consuming his eyes like fire consuming a forest and Babs knew. She knew he wasn't looking at the same girl anymore. The anger and hurt hit Babs harder than she could have imagined and she couldn't stand being looked at like that.

"I'm not her Richard!"

This brought him out of his trance fast and he was quick to embrace her, stroking her hair as she sobbed into his chest.

"I know, I'm sorry. I don't want you to be her." Richard whispered in her ear.

"I'm just not her."

A small kiss on her cheek brought her out of her memory as the chair next to her was filled with they boy they had been waiting for. Richard smiled, apologized for being late, and began the last preparations.

"You're late!" Babs half whispered half giggled in his ear.

He responded with a goofy smile, which made it harder for her to surpass the laughter from bursting out. Richard took her hand, kissing it lightly.

"I love you."

Babs smiled, but there it was again, only for a moment, but she could easily recognize it. Richard blinked and the smile returned to his lips as if the moment never happened and Babs did all she could to keep her smile on her face.

"Let's get married." He whispered confidently.

"Let's get married." She responded with much less confidence than she had ever had in her life.

(A/N 5)

-

A/N 1: What did he ask her???!!! What did he ask her??!!! Xavier's so sweet : D

A/N 2: I like moments like that, it kind of reminded me of that moment in The Notebook when he asked her to dance, so sweet and adorable, all things fluff and more.

A/N 3: Looks like question one was answered.

A/N 4: Love that song and I thought it went well with how the moment ended, well at least I though it did xD

A/N 5: Poor Babs, all Richard sees is someone else, and it looks like she's reaching her breaking point.

Yes! I'M NOT DEAD! School is such a killer, so is swim practice…..but I was able to get on and do small parts and I was finally able to finish up this chapter. *Whips sweat from forehead*

Anyways, big shout out THANK YOU to all my reviewers. SERIOUSLY, it means a lot even if you only type like a letter! Well maybe more than a letter…….but big thanks anyways! Eh next chapter, I have no idea when it will be up, maybe not for a while, maybe sooner than you think. It just depends on my time and how well I can manage it, but don't fret cause I'm going to finish the story to the end! So as always review! Review! Review!

Peace Out

Vballqueen1792(A/N 4)