It was the first day of October. The air was fresh and the leaves had turned their golden brown color. Dick sped down the road in his new convertible. Another present given to him by Bruce. It wasn't some suit or lecture, it was a car, a fast one at that and Dick was enjoying it immensely.

The car came to a stop and Dick beeped the horn. A few seconds later Kori emerged from her house. She was wearing a blue jean skirt with a baby blue top and some white sneakers. Dick leaned over and opened the door for her. She climbed in and shut the door.

"I see your enjoying the car." Kori said with a smile.

"Yupe, Bruce may be a old man but he sure knows how to pick cars."

"How is Bruce anyway?"

"Happy and in love. That Diana girl is really good for him."

"That's good." Kori said, leaning back in the leather seat and closing her eyes.

She made herself comfortable and enjoyed the ride. That's when she felt a change in the cars direction. She's been riding to school with Dick for a long time. She knew when they weren't going the right way. She opened her eyes and looked behind her. Dick didn't take the turn to get to school. In fact he went the opposite. She looked over to Dick and raised a brow.

"Uh, Dick, school's that way."

"I know. I promised Ashley I'd pick her up."

Kori leaned back in her seat and sighed. "Of course...the blonde one from french class...how could I forget."

Dick raised a brow at her sudden sarcastic remark. Kori wasn't really the one for sarcastic remarks. That was more of Raven's field. He saw Ashley house and noticed she was standing outside, a annoyed expression on her face. The car came to a stop and Ashley glared at Kori with venom in her eyes.

"Hey, babe. What's up."

"Oh, nothing really just that your late," she said with anger in her voice. "What took you so long?"

"I had to pick up Kori."

"Right. Kori."

"Let's not do this now. Just get in the car."

Ashley reached for the front door but stopped when she saw the place was taken by Kori. She sat in the back and put her seat belt on. Dick took off and no one said a word. Kori however felt extremely uncomfortable. She could feel Ashley's eyes burning a hole in her back. But why was she so angry? Kori and Dick were just friends. She had nothing to worry about. Kori would never think of stealing another girls boyfriend. The car came to a stop and Kori's thoughts were broken.

"Kori, you comin' or what?" asked Dick, his arm around Ashley's waist.

Kori nodded and grabbed her back pack.

ART CLASS

Raven yawned for what seemed like the hundredth time today. Her eyes were half closed, her chin resting in her hand as she some what listened to what the teacher had to say. Today it was just her and Kori in class. Karen had got this period off because she had to help the music teacher.

"Hey, you okay?"

Raven turned her head to see a very concerned Kori.

"Yeah, I'm just tired."

"Your parents?"

"Yeah."

Out of all of her friends, Raven trusted Kori the most. Kori, besides herself, was the only one who knew what was going on in the Roth household. Raven's parents had been arguing a lot. Raven wasn't sure how long her mother could put up with her fathers crap.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Raven shook her head. She didn't feel like talking about her life. She was a private person and tended to keep things to herself. Her friends knew this and excepted it.

"So what's up with you. Your parents call yet?"

"Yes. They are still in Italy but they said they would come back in November."

"So what's all this I hear about Ashley."

"I don't know. I think she dislikes me, but I hope not. I really wanna get to know her better and become her friend for Dick."

"Kori, your to nice."

LUNCH

The gang had taken their table at lunch and they all sat down to eat their food. Everyone seemed relax except for Gar. He was scratching his head, his eyes fixed on his paper. He had stayed up all night playing video games and didn't do his math homework so he was doing it now before class. The only problem was he didn't have a clue what to do. He banged his head on the table getting stares from his friends.

"Gar, are you alright man?" Vic asked.

"No I'm not alright! I didn't do my math homework and once I get to class I'm a dead man!"

"You are screwed," Karen said. "Ms.Rouge didn't get the title of meanest bitch for nothing."

"One of you guys have to help me!"

They all looked away. Gar sighed.

"Okay, Gar," began Kori. "You can copy my homework."

"Yes! Thanks Kori, you're the best."

Kori opened her back pack and began to look for her homework. "It's not in my back pack. I must of left in my locker by accident. I'll go get it."

"I'll come with you." said Dick, getting up from his seat and following Kori.

---

Kori and Dick walked in the halls in silence. The hallway was quiet because most people was at lunch this time.

"You know, you gotta stop letting Gar copy your homework."

"I don't do it all the time," Kori said. "And your one to talk. I always help you with your homework."

"Okay, you have a point."

They arrived at her locker and Kori tugged at the door. It wouldn't open.

"Kori, what's taking so long?"

"I can't open my locker."

"Here let me see."

He walked up behind her and pulled at her locker.

"It's stuck."

"I can see that." Kori said, pushing him aside.

Kori pulled at the locker door until it finally opened. She was caught off guard and fell backwards. She crashed into Dick and they fell to the ground, Kori landing on top of Dick. Their faces were inches away from each other and they both had red faces.

"Well, you two look comfortable."

They looked up and saw Ashley. She had her arms crossed and had fury in her eyes. Dick and Kori pulled away from each other and stood up.

"Babe, it's not what it looks like."

"Then what is it exactly?"

"Dick was trying to help me open my locker."

"I wasn't taking to you tramp!"

"Hold on! You call me whatever you like, but don't you dare talk to Kori like that!"

Kori was startled by the way Dick defended her. Ashley's face turned red with anger.

"Fine! I don't care!" Ashley walked away.

Dick turned to face Kori.

"Go after her."

"What?"

"Dick, she had every right to be mad. Just go and try to explain to her it was an accident. I'll go back to the others and make up an excuse," Kori said, holding up a paper. "Besides, Gar still needs my homework."

Dick nodded and ran to go find Ashley. Kori watched him leave and couldn't help but to feel a little bit upset.

"Raven's right, I am to nice."

---

"Ashley, Ashley! Wait up!"

Ashley stopped in her tracks and turned around to face Dick.

"What do you want?"

"I want to say sorry and ask for another chance." He flashed her one of his famous smiles and she smiled at him.

"I'm sorry to," she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. They pulled away and her smile faded. "Before we continue I want you to do something."

"Sure thing, babe. What is it?"

"I want you to stop being friends with Kori."

Behind his sunglasses Dick blinked his eyes. Did he hear right?

"What did you say?"

"You heard me. Stop being friends with Kori."

"I can't do that. She's my best friend."

"Well it looks like she wants to more then friends. Choose, Dick, me or her."

"That's easy. I pick Kori." Dick turned away and Ashley stood there shocked.

---

School ended and the teenagers walked out of school and headed home. Today, Raven decided to walk home. She needed a walk to clear her head. She turned the corner and made it to her street. Up ahead she saw her mother with a suit case and a cab. A million thoughts rushed into Raven's head. What was going on?

"Please sir, just one more minute." Pleaded Arella, Raven's mother, to the cab driver.

"All right lady but I ain't got all day." The cab driver said in frustration.

"Mom."

Arella turned around and faced Raven. "Raven, I'm so glad you're here, I thought I wouldn't get to say good-bye."

"Good-bye? Mom what are you talking about? Why do you have a suit case?"

"Raven...I'm leaving. I can't stay with your father any more."

"Wait...what?! Your leaving." Arella nodded. "Well I'll come to, just let-"

"Raven, you can't come. You need to finish school."

"What about you?"

"I have a old friend in Florida. I'll be staying there," Arella wrapped Raven in a hug. "I promise...one day I'll come back." She pulled away and kissed Raven on the forehead. "I love you."

She got in the cab and waved good-bye. Raven watched as the cab drove away and turn the corner. Her mother just left. The tears fell from Raven's eyes and wouldn't stop. She didn't know what to do...so she ran.

---

Kori pulled out two glasses from her kitchen cabinet and filled them with ice. Digging around the refrigerator, she found the soda and poured it into each glass. Taking each glass in hand she walked over to the table and placed one in front of Dick. In the car ride home Dick had told her what happened with Ashley. He didn't tell the full story, just the part about them breaking up.

"I'm so sorry. It was all my fault wasn't it."

Dick looked up and smiled. "No it wasn't. Ashley was a bitch and it was time to move on."

"So, Mr.Grayson, who do you want to date next?" Kori said playfully.

"To be honest...I don't know. I want a girl who isn't fake, you know?"

"Dick, you're a great guy. One day you'll meet the right girl for you."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Well...sometimes you need to look past the beauty and into someone's heart," she was speaking softly. "For all you know the girl you need could be in front of you without you knowing. You just need to take the time out to look."

Dick placed his hand on top of hers and she looked up. For some reason they couldn't look away. The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Dick leaned over to her and she closed her eyes. Their lips were so close...

Knock, Knock.

Dick and Kori were startled by the knock at the door and bumped their heads.

Kori rubbed her head. "Oww."

"I'm sorry I-I..." Dick trailed off not sure of what to say.

This time the door bell rang.

"I have to answer that." Kori said blushing.

"Uh, right."

Kori walked out of the room and Dick sighed in relief. If the door didn't get that knock they would have...he pushed the thought out of his head. The door bell rang again and Kori ran to the door. She pulled it open and was shocked at what she saw. Raven was standing at her door, she had tear stained cheeks and she was shaking.

"Raven, what happened? Are you okay?"

Raven ran into Kori's arms and started to cry. Kori stroked her hair and at this time Dick had walked in and saw the scene.

---

Raven clutched the cup in her hand. The smoke rose in the air. Kori had made her a cup of herbal tea to help calm her nerves. That was Kori, she always had some kind of snack or drink which her friend would enjoy in case one of them ever were to come over. She blew her tea and toke a sip. After she finished she placed the cup down on the small table located in front of the couch. Her, along with Dick and Kori, had settled in the living room. She told her two friends what had happened.

"Raven, I'm so sorry." Kori said.

"If you need anything, anything at all just let me know." said Dick.

"Thanks guys...for everything."

---

Hours passed by and it had become dark outside. Dick drove Raven home and after giving her the once-over to make sure she was okay, drove away. Raven sighed as the wind rushed past her. There was no avoiding it now. She made her way up to her house and slowly opened the door. She walked in and felt a sudden wave of depression hit her. How could her mom just leave like that? She walked into the kitchen and saw her dad. He had his face buried in his hands and there was a beer bottle next to him. Her and her dad was never really close but she still felt sorry for him. She slowly made her way up to him, resting her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and didn't say anything.

"Dad...I'm sorry."

"I don't need your pity." He snapped.

His sudden remark made her angry. She was only trying to help.

"Listen, I know your angry but that's no reason to get mad at me."

He stood up from his chair, knocking it down in the process. Raven stepped back when she saw the look in his eyes. His eyes were filled with rage.

"I don't need your attitude!" He grabbed her arm and squeezed it tight making Raven wince in pain. "Just stay away from me!"

He slammed her into the wall and walked away. Raven's eyes were wide in shock and in fear. Her father had hurt her.

-----------------

THANK YOU longhairedhorse, Sulan123, Agent of the Divine One AND milkshakelvr FOR REVEIWING.YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.

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