AN: Chapter Nine!!!!!!! Sorry for the wait. so there will be three more chapters, at least i think. i'll update as soon as i can, just got a job today so i might be busy a lot.

Disclamier: i own nothing in this story, i do, however own the story.

Chapter Nine

Kori's house, Kori's pov

I had fallen asleep sometime after Richard and Komi had left, never making it to my reruns, let alone my room. I was awoken by someone shaking me gently.

"Kori, Kori, wake up." Richard's voice reached my sleep muddled brain.

His voice confused me and I thought I was dreaming. "You're not real." I mumbled.

"Kori, yes I am. I'm here, really." Richard stated rather convincingly. He wrapped his arms around my torso and helped me sit up.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with the 'ever so perfect angel' Komi?" I asked, slowly coming to realize he was sitting in front of me.

"No. I'm here for you." He stated looking me straight in the eyes.

"Why?" I asked cocking my head.

"You're cute when you get confused." He smiled my lop-sided smile. I glared at him, wondering what pain he was going to put me through this time.

"Would you cut the crap and tell me the exact reason you're here." I growled, thinking with fear I was turning into Rachel.

"I love you Kori." Richard stated seriously.

"Huh?..." I stuttered, eyes widening and jaw slipping open.

"I was confused, Kori. I thought Komi was the one I wanted, she tricked me…everyone, into thinking she's the most perfect being in the world and making me think I had the best in the world. But, Rachel helped me realize Komi is the exact opposite…you're the perfect one, the best ever. I was just too blind to see it." Richard explained.

"You like me? Why?" I asked still confused.

"I love you Kori, how could I not? You're beautiful," I snorted at that comment and Richard gave me a stern look, "yes, you're beautiful. This may sound cliché but I'm going to say it anyway. Kori, you have the face of an angel, the body of a goddess, hair of fire and eyes of emerald diamonds. And I don't care how stupid that sounds, it's true. And you're not just beautiful on the outside, like Komi, you're beautiful on the inside. Kori, you're the sweetest, generous, gifted girl I have ever met and as we got closer through the years, I couldn't help fall in love with you. I'm just a stupid jerk and I didn't realize that until Rachel so bluntly told me tonight," he smiled at that comment. "Kori, will you please be my Kori?" he asked, smiling my wonderful lop-sided smile.

"I don't know." I smiled. "Only if you keep complimenting me." I smiled slyly.

"Ok." He smiled back. "Hm…let me think. You're so wonderful that you decorated the whole gym, which looks amazing by the way, by yourself. You're so loving you stayed up to all hours that night you made Rachel's headpiece, and yes I watched until you went to bed, call me overprotective. And I know you watch out for Gar and Vic. You're so selfless, you never even tried to break me and Komi up, and I know now that Komi would have done just that, done everything in here power to break someone up, but you didn't. And last but not least, you are the cutest thing right now, face all puffy, eyes sleepy, that I just wanna kiss ya all over." Richard ended with a mischievous look in his eyes.

He leaned forward, eyes closing slowly, but right before his lips touched mine, I spoke, eyes closed, heart beating. "Not now Richard, I'm not ready. You're not fully forgiven."

"Ok." he smiled understandingly. "Come on…"he continued, standing, taking my hand and pulling me up, "…we're gonna be late to the dance if we don't hurry."

"The dance? But Richard I don't have a costume." was all I could stumble out.

"Already took care of it." Richard smiled.

"But what about Komi?" I asked, still confused about what was happening.

"What about Komi?" Richard asked as a reply.

"You went with her, what are you going to say when you walk in with me?"

"I'll publicly make a display, and break if off with Komi." he stated seriously.

"Really?"

"Yeah." he smiled my lop-sided smile, then got down on one knee. "Kori, I love you, I'd do anything for you, especially publicly humiliate your sister. So, will you, Kori Anders, agree to me escorting you to the annual Halloween costume ball?" he smiled up at me.

"Sure…but I still don't have a costume." I informed him.

"Follow me." he replied, taking my hand and helping me climb down the tree to his house.

An: yea!! Richard finally told her. please, please tell me if i murdered this chapter, i just couldn't get what i wanted Richard to say out right. if it sucks, tell me and i'll fix it. please review!!! Just three more chapter's and i'll be done, yes. and after i finish this story i will be submitting another one, it will be a whole different story line, and they'll be older.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and 'favorited' my story, i love you all for sticking with me.

Signed-Unrestrained