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Chapter 9-Look after you


"Kori…"

I turn around and see him approaching me. I feel my heart pounding and can't help but smile at him.

"Richard?" I say.

We're finally face to face. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his body. I run my hands along his built chest.

I look in his eyes. "Richard what are y-"

"Shh…" He cuts me off and puts his finger to my lips to silence me.

I don't say another word. He puts one of his hands on my cheek and pulls my face into his and our lips are inches away-

The ringing of my alarm abruptly wakes me up and I groan. I'm way too exhausted for school. Dick and I stayed up late working on our article.

'Richard.'

I remember the dream I just had moments ago. We almost kissed in the dream and I feel a little taken aback. It's odd for me to dream about him like that. And now every time I see him, I'm going to feel weird. Great.

I get off of bed and go straight to my shower. I don't hesitate to go straight into the cold water. Maybe this cold water will make me think straight and not have dreams about my friend anymore. Not to mention he has a girlfriend.

I finish washing myself and wrap a towel around my body. I step in front of my closet and my eyes scan around it looking for something to wear. I settle on a short sleeve purple V-neck, jeans and gray toms. I curl my hair a little and put on a little makeup. I finish getting ready and go downstairs.

I greet my mother and sister and only give my mother a hug. I make myself a bowl of cereal and sit with them at the breakfast table.

"So mom, my friend Richard is probably coming over almost every day for the next two weeks." I say casually.

My mother stops drinking her coffee and gives me an odd look. "Who is Richard and why?"

"I told you he's my friend from school and we need to work on this article together. Please mother it's important." I tell her.

She sighs. "Honey please don't make me go over safe se-"

I quickly cut her off. "Mother ew no! He's just my friend! And we're only working on this article I promise."

I hear Koma laugh at me and my mother's conversation, but ignore it.

"Alright. But only for two hours every time he comes over got it?" She says sternly.

I smile and nod my head. I give my mother a kiss on the cheek and leave the house and go into Koma's car.


Koma drops me off at school and I head for my locker like usual. I see everyone except Dick at my locker.

"Hi everyone." I greet them with a warm smile.

They all greet me.

"Have you seen playboy?" Gar asks me.

"No, I haven't seen 'playboy'." I say to him.

I feel a warm hand on my shoulder and freeze.

"Hey guys." Dick says.

They all greet him.

"Hey partner." He says to me.

I hadn't realized I'd feel so awkward with him now since my dream. I slowly turn around and face him.

I give him an awkward smile. "Heeeey…you."

He chuckles at me. "See you at lunch. I got to go meet Barbara."

He gives me one last pat on the shoulder and I watch him walk away from me. I feel relieved, but weird at the same time.


During journalism, I ask my teacher if I can go to the bathroom and he lets me. All day, I've been feeling so weird. I can't stop thinking about the dream I had about Rich. Especially since I have a class with him right now, I could barely concentrate on our work. And the fact that he's coming to my house almost every day makes me nervous.

As I'm walking to the bathroom, I hear someone walking behind me, but dismiss it.

"Hey cutie." Xavier says.

I turn around and look at him. "Oh hi."

"So I couldn't help, but notice you and Grayson talking to each other in class." He says.

"Oh...yeah." I say confused.

He gets closer to me. "I thought I told you about that kid. He's an ass and you're still talking to him? Even after he hurt your feelings?" He says more bitterly.

I feel tense and back away from him. "Uh, it's fine. We worked things out."

Suddenly he grabs my arm and it stings. "Stop fooling around with that kid. He's bad news."

I attempt to yank my arm away from him. "I can handle myself Xavier. Stop acting like you're my boyfriend."

Now, he grabs my other arm and slams me against the lockers. I look into his eyes with fear and he has no remorse in his eyes.

"You're naïve. You don't know anything about him. I could treat you so much better." He grits through his teeth.

I say nothing. I still try to yank away from him, but he's much stronger than I am. I can't get out of his grip.

"Xavier please stop." I plead.

Unexpectedly, he presses his lips hard onto mine. I feel so disgusted and I can't push him off, he has ahold of my arms. I squirm around, but it does nothing.

Suddenly, Xavier is knocked down on the ground. My eyes widen when I see him on the floor with a bloody nose and mouth. I look to my left and see Rich.

"Richard-"I begin to say.

"Don't touch her!" He screams. I see his fists are clenched so tight that his knuckles are white. His eyes are burning with anger. This isn't the same guy I know. I've never seen him so angry and it's actually scaring me.

"Shut the hell up Grayson! You don't know how to treat a woman!" He yells viciously.

Xavier wipes the blood off his face with arm and gets ready to hit Richard.

"Stop!" I scream.

A teacher rushes out of their classroom and looks at the scene, horrified.

"What is going on here?!" The teacher demands to know.

"He was sexually harassing her, so I punched him to get him off of her." Dick says firmly.

The teacher looks at me. "Is this true?"

"Yes." I quickly answer.

She points to Xavier. "You're going to the office. Now. " She looks back at Rich and I. "I'll have the principal call you two up when he's finished with him."

Xaiver groans and follows the teacher to the office. He looks back at Rich and I and gives us both a hard glare.

I can hear myself breathing heavily. I fall back against the lockers and Rich immediately stands in front of me and puts his hands on my shoulders to hold me up.

"Kori are you okay?" He asks.

I look into his eyes. They're no longer filled with hatred; more of concern. It's hard for me to look away from them.

"I'm fine." I finally say.

"What else did he do to you?" He asks, more worried.

I shake my head. "He just grabbed my arms-"

Richard looks at my arms, disturbed. I look at them too and realize that my red marks are turning into bruises.

"Oh…" Is all I can say.

"Kori, I swear I'll beat him so hard he won't be able to walk." Rich says strictly.

"Rich please don't I'm fine." I beg.

"No you're not!" He shouts.

I shake at his voice. He immediately notices how much he scared me. He wraps his arms around me and brings my body into his.

"Kori…" He says.

'Oh God. The dream.'

"I'm sorry." He says sorrowfully.

"Richard it's okay I promise." I say.

My face is buried into his chest. I breathe in his scent again. It's a scent I can't forget. And his body is so strong and warm. I have never felt so safe.

He lets go of me.

"If you hadn't come here in time…thank you." I say with a small smile.

"I won't let anyone hurt you." He says firmly.

Although I feel shaken up from what just happened, I believe him. Richard is going to protect me.

He puts his arm around my shoulder.

"We should probably get to the office." He says with a small smile.

I smile at him and we walk to the office.