Well here is Chapter 8.

Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for reviewing and please continue.

- CiStarr


I think you guys know all the Characters by now
But here are all of them:

Kori Anders (Starfire): Story told by her

Xavier Red (Red X): Kori ex-boyfriend

Richard Grayson (Robin): Xavier Rival, Kori next boyfriend

Karen Beecher (Bee): One of Kori's best friends

Rachel Roth (Raven): One of Kori's best friends

Jasmine "Jas" Height (Jinx): One of Kori's best friends

Garfield "Gar" Logan (BeastBoy): Rachael Boyfriend

Roy Harper (Speedy): Jasmine Boyfriend

Victor "Vic" Stone (Cyborg): Karen boyfriend

Vincent Red: Xavier older Brother

Valarie McKnight: Vincent's Girlfriend

Ryan Anders (Wildfire): Kori's Brother

Antonia "Toni" Monetti (Argent): Ryan Girlfriend

Kathryn Walker (Kitten): Kori's enemy

Tara Markow (Tara): Kitten's Cousin


Recap: "Do not underestimate," Dr. Black continued, "what you can receive next year in college. For even the smallest lessons will prove beneficial once you enter the real world. Study your courses! Study your teachers! Study your fellow students! Study your dorm! Even study the extracurricular activities! Some of you may think it's a bit farfetched. However, trust me when I say college is meant to help you step up to the game of life. Note, next year in whatever school you may attend, that being successful in college is more than learning your major. To fully get the most out of the experience, keep in mind, it's learning the campus!"


Chapter 8

You know, it's weird. I had waited all my life to be a senior in high school, and it seemed like it would never come. Shucks, now that it was finally here, my senior year is fading fast, more and more each day. Just another reminder that time is precious. The last thing I want, come June, is regrets.

Xavier and I have been able to finally be kind to one another. Everyone who predicted that he and Kitten would break up by Halloween was way off the mark. The two of them seemed as close as peanut butter and jelly on a sandwich. And you know how tight they stick together.

Unfortunately, I'm still battling my feelings. I've come to the conclusion, though, that a part of me will always love him. However, I just accept the fact that it is what it is and move on. Two nights ago, Kitten called me at home. To this day, I still haven't been able to figure out what the point of her call was. It was weird. She was direct, yet very evasive at the same time.

~Flashback~

It was one of the rare times I have the house to myself. I have finish all of my chores for the day and just sat on the couch to relax. Then my phone had rung. I didn't bother check the caller id to see who it was.

"Hello?"

"Hey Kori," a familiar female voice said, "So, I hear you haven't found a date to the ball yet. I know several guys…"

Not wanting to hear her input or voice, I cut her off, "What do you care? No, as a matter of fact, I don't want to know why you're interested."

"Don't get upset, Kori," Kitten uttered with fake concern, "I was just trying to help you out of a desperate situation. Anyway… moving on… Have you spoken to Xavier lately?"

~End of flashback~

Now for her to be asking me that question there must be some tension. My mother always told me that what looks good on the outside isn't always as it appears. Yet, I didn't pry. I simply kept my distance and ended the conversation.

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Lots of people I know don't celebrate Halloween. Even my parents have changed their feels on the holiday. See, when Ryan and I were six and four, our parents let us dress up and trick or treat. About two years after that, their tune switched. Mostly because they feel it was getting too dangerous.

Of course as children you just can't take away candy and costumes and expect us to understand. Luckily, the town intervened with a magnificent solution. Every October 31st, there is a big dress up bash for young adults, called Fright Night. Before chattering, playing games, and digging into the refreshments, we each say what we are.

This year, I was Iron man but in a women costume style. It was red and gold character inspired dress with matching gloves, boot covers and eye mask. Rachael was Strangelings Candle in the Dark. It was fantasy and Gothic artwork, a burgundy and black belted dress with a skull motif surrounding the hem, black wings and a choker with a charm. She wore her black boot that went just below her knees and had a heel. Jasmine was Stitch Witch. It was a wickedly-hot witch costume! Her costume was an all-black dress that cut right above her knees. The arms were fitted around her biceps and triceps that got loosen from the elbow down. She had some black laced up boot that reached her mid-calf.

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There were about thirty people there. Everyone had talked about their outfit except Karen. She kept disappearing. One minute she was behind, and then the next second she'd be gone. Lastly, after everyone had spoken, she stood up and made a comment.

Karen was full of emotion. She said, "I chose the adulterous women."

I was shocked when I viewed her outfit. She kept her coat on until she spoke. When she pulled it off, holes and dirt were all over her rangy costume. It looked like she hadn't changed in months. Tears trickled down her face. She dashed out of the room and I followed her. Although we hadn't talked in a while, I couldn't imagine what would make her so upset. I searched everywhere and couldn't find her. I caught up with her in the bathroom. Luckily no one was in there.

I placed my arm around her, "what's wrong?" She held back her tears and said nothing. Karen sharply turned and moved to the other side of the room. It was crystal clear that she was in pain. I tried again to get her to open up.

"Karen," I said while walking closer to her, "you know you can tell me anything. I love you and care deeply about everything in your life. Whatever is bothering you, together we can fix it. Open up to me, please, Karen."

She blurted out, "I'm pregnant, OKAY? There, I said it. Are you happy? Now leave me alone." She tried to walk out the door. I blocked it. She reached to push me out of the way.

I begged, "Let me talk to you. You can't just something like that and try to leave."

"Kori, please don't tell anybody. I'll never forgive you if you do."

"Talk to me… talk. I won't say anything to anyone. You have to believe I won't"

She began to open up as she plopped down on the floor, "well, you know… umm… Vic and I aren't even together anymore, right?"

I nodded my head, holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come. What, why, who, how. Okay, I knew how.

"My period hasn't come yet and I'm a few days late. I got a pregnancy test. Shoot, I got five pregnancy test. They were in the same box. I took three of them and they all came back positive. I don't know what I'm gonna do. My mom will kill me," She paused and sobbed.

Then she continued, "He's with somebody else. I do still love him though. But… but, we're just kids. We surely can't have a kid. This is crazy!"

It was hard seeing my buddy in utter despair. This is one of the many reasons why I'm happy to have not done it yet, because when we do, this is a classic example of the mess we get in. Oh yeah, it does feel good when you're in the moment of passion. Then everything is great.

She's right though. My friend is just a teenager. Karen's seventeen years old. How can she have a baby? How can any high school girl carry that type of burden?

I went over to her and wiped some of her tears away. I held her as close as I could. Her pain was mine. My heart was breaking, yet I was so glad it wasn't me. Only a few months ago I was willing to give Xavier everything, every part of me, every inch of me. Just so he'd stay with me. This could have been my end result. I could have become pregnant.

What's worse is the fact that Xavier still probably would have broken up with me anyway. I'm trying to go to college. Full-time mom is not what I want to major in.

"Karen," I softly said, "We're gonna fix this. Some way we'll make this better. Don't ask me how. Right now, I have no answers. Just trust me, we'll get things back on track."

"Please help me, Kori. Help me. I don't know what to do."

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That night I tossed and turned for hours, I was trying to find a way that Karen could get out of this mess. My friend is pregnant. The very thought gave me chills. And Victor, her two-timing ex-boyfriend, had no idea of his new responsibility, he's off gallivanting, trying to get with some other girl. Now isn't that crazy? Hope she doesn't end up pregnant too.

When stuff like this happens, I wonder why we girls stress ourselves to date these jerks. Why do we fantasize about them? Why are we always up in their faces? Sucks, we make ourselves available to their every call. We bend over backwards to please them, only to be let down in the end.

I want so bad to talk to my mom about this. But… you know, I say, "I have a friend who is pregnant," and she'll automatically assume it's me. Who really ever believes the "I have a friend" story?

But this time, I do have a friend. The question is, how can I get my mom to believe it? She knows that I've been upset for a while. I just bet if I share this, she'll jump to the wrong conclusion. That settles that. I can't talk to her. Then my phone rang.

Why is my phone ringing at this hour. It's almost midnight. I hurried, grabbed the phone and said, "Who's trying to get me in trouble?"

"Hey Kori, it's me," Karen said, sounding a little better.

"Well, I sure haven't gotten you off my mind."

"I'm feeling ok."

"What do you mean?"

"Because," She took a deep breath, "I thought about this thing and I got a solution."

"A solution?"

Karen abruptly announced, "I'm going to have an abortion."

An abortion? I just knew I didn't hear right. No way is that what she said. My buddy could never kill anyone. Ok, true enough I did pass the thought of killing myself a few months ago. But when I thought it all out, I was just joking. Karen is too scared to squash a fly. She says the fly's spirit will haunt her forever, therefore, I just know she'd never be able to handle killing her own flesh and blood.

She broke the silence and asserted, "Kori, did you hear me? I wanna get rid of this thing."

"This thing? This thing? Are you crazy!" I yelled. "Karen, how can you ever think of taking someone else's life?"

"It's easy enough for you to be condescending. Just think about it," Karen Stated, "It's not your baby. You're not the one that's having a baby. You're not the poor little pregnant girl. What if it were you? Just imagine, miss perfect, if you were having Xavier's baby. Now remember, you dread to tell him because he dumped you for someone else. Seriously, ask yourself, what would you do?"

Little did she know I had already asked myself that question time and time again. No answer came to mind, though. I was like a block of ice stored in the back of the freezer for weeks, frozen solid. I couldn't thaw myself out to think how I'd react if I was her.

Karen proceeded, plainly distraught. "Ok, Kori, since you can't give me an answer, maybe hearing it told that way makes you more sympathetic to what I'm going through. The option of giving the baby up for adoption isn't appealing."

Why not? That may be your best option. This way both you and the baby would benefit.

She explained, "For one, I'd have to actually give birth. I'm not trying to be selfish, but then the world would know I was pregnant. Secondly, the child would more than likely be scarred. You know, from not having its real mom and dad. Worst of all, the parents could be horrible people. Don't even tell me that I could pick the people myself. Shucks, even though that is an option, those couples are on their best behavior. Just my luck, I'd choose the wrong couple. I can see it now. Twenty years down the road, this baby would come, track me down, and blame me for everything that's wrong in his or her life." Karen finally hushed up. She burst into tears. I tried to calm her down.

"Adoption isn't as bad as you make it seem."

Even though I uttered those positive words, deep inside my soul I kinda felt she had a point. I just couldn't let Karen know I felt that way. There was no way honesty would be a good thing in this situation. Even though my friend wouldn't know how I felt, at least I could be truthful to myself. So, in silent conclusion, I guess you could say I softened up. For it was evident to me that if it were me I'd probably… more than likely… definitely… terminate too.

"Karen I don't know exactly what to do. However, I will find out." I promised.

"Kori!" Karen shouted harshly. "I thought we discussed earlier that this information is not to be shared with anyone?"

"Well, this whole situation is getting to me. But, hey, I gave you my word. So count on me to keep this to myself. Surely you do not want to hear this, but, because I love you you're gonna hear it anyway. Karen, you need to tell Vic as soon as possible. Let's be honest. This is his baby too. Isn't it?"

"Of course, Kori. With all that I'm dealing with, I can't believe you went THERE! I'll decide when to tell him, okay?" Karen snapped. "Just let me do it my own way, in my own time."

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All week, Karen wasn't the same. My vibrant, fun-filled, living life to the fullest friend was just the opposite. It was eerie. She wasn't even eating like she used to. Only one meal a day, sometimes. And that was only those Slim Fast cans.

Trying to justify her actions she moaned, "Certainly I can't eat because I'm putting on weight being pregnant. I've got to stay slender, so that no one can tell."

Even though her reasoning kinda made sense, it was so stupid. I couldn't tell her that because then she'd alienate me too. It was important that I allow her to tell in me with what she was doing. X'hal forbid she'd faint during cheerleading practice. If something like that happened, at least I'd be able to explain to the medical examiner her every move.

I too was getting weary. At night this awful predicament was causing me to lose sleep. I'd try to count sheep, but all I could think about was Karen and her plight.

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It was a dreary, wet day when Karen called me over to her place. I didn't have a clue what she wanted, but I felt yucky driving all the way there. Probably because I knew whatever she wanted to discuss would depress me. How ironic, my mood matched the weather.

"What took you so long, girl?" Karen said with anxiously, while snatching me in the house.

"Quit pulling me! I got here as fast as I could. You wouldn't tell me over the phone what this is all about. So, it couldn't be that impor…"

"Oh hush up," Karen mandated as she cut me off.

She was busy, cleaning some of everything. She dashed from the kitchen, to the bathroom, to the den. You would have thought someone had spun me around and around, as dizzy as I felt from watching my busy buddy.

"Karen, what is wrong with you?" I finally yelled.

"I've decided to do what you've been bugging me to do all week," She quickly blurted out, as she ran past me spraying some of her mom's perfume through the house.

What is she talking about? I had no clue. Realistically, there were several things I had been to do. Eat, talk with someone, confirm this pregnancy with a doctor, and…

Before I could finish my thought, I heard a car door slam. Peeping out the window, I was surprise to see who I saw. Looked like Karen was about to do the one other thing I was just about to think about… Tell Victor.

I should have known something like this was up. Karen cleaning? She hates cleaning. She'd rather leave a ring around her bathtub and still bathe in it than clean. Luckily, her mother doesn't allow such laziness. Now, I got it. This is all for Vic.

"Alright, I'm gonna sit here. Kori, you get the door."

The stupid boy rang the door repeatedly, trying to be funny, just ignorant. AS I walked to open it, I wondered why I was here at all. This should be a private moment between them.

Karen said sitting down on the coach, "I'm so nervous."

"It'll be okay," I said, but really not so sure myself how he'd react.

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The three of us had been sitting around for about fifteen minutes. I thought maybe Karen was waiting for me to excuse myself. She would then be able to break the news. Surely that was it. She wanted me for moral support.

"Well, let me leave you two alone," I got up to walk out the room.

Karen stood up and asserted, "Oh no, Kori! You can't leave. Don't you have something to tell Vic?"

"I do?" I was confused, looking at her like she was crazy.

Vic divulged, "Ah yeah, little lady, my girl told me that you have to tell me something. What's up?"

You should have seen Karen's eyes. She was so pitiful. I couldn't believe she actually wanted me to tell him. I reasoned that he'd probably go off on us both. It's true that I wanted to help Karen though this, but telling Vic that he's probably a father is way more involved than I needed to be.

I sat back down, took a very deep breath, and told Victor everything. There was a long pause. The room was so still that I could count the number of raindrops falling outside.

Finally, Vic spoke. Surprisingly, he was subdued. He went over to Karen. Touching her stomach, he sputtered in a partial daze, "Expecting… maybe… baby?


Well that was Chapter 8.
Hope ya enjoyed it like the other chapters.
Please review and let me know how you like it.

Chapter 9 should be up by Saturday or Sunday.