Authors Note: What can I say? Well my computer broke and I am so lucky that I had saved these chapters or I would have been unbelievably sad. But it has taken me ages to be able to access it and I still don't have a laptop ( I also have really important exams coming but I felt like I owed it to update after so long. Enjoy!

Much love,

Crystal

Chapter 10: Sparks

Richard groaned as he rolled over on his bed. He had known her for such a short time but already she was all he could think of. Laughing green eyes, bouncing red hair, long tan legs, that smile…Muffling his frustration in a pillow he glanced at the phone book. What made her so different? Why did he care what she thought? Why did he not mind her company? Why did he actually want to see her again? He couldn't answer those questions and the only person who could...

Whatever he was, he was no coward. Picking up the phone he dialled her number.

Kori adjusted her dress carefully, legs crossed while she sat on the sofa in the main room. Roy poked his head round the door. "You all right?"

She nodded patting down her hair. "Do I look ok Roy?"

He grinned. "You're gorgeous babe. Don't let him tell you any different."

She tried to smile in agreement but her nervous gaze flicked to the clock instead. "Oh God, he should be here soon." Getting up she ran to the mirror to check her lipstick before trying to tug down the purple mini skirt. "Do you feel this is too short Roy? He will not find me too…forward?"

Finally the red headed male came out of the kitchen eyes twinkling. "Kor, tell me seriously what's wrong? I've never seen you so nervous before. And you've got to admit it no matter how rich or good looking he is he's just a guy."

She shook her head. "Oh Roy, I do not think you'd understand."

The twinkle faded slightly. "Do you want to tell me?" Her eyes were trained intently on a patch of carpet where she had spilt some mustard. Sighing Roy put an arm around her shoulders. "Can I tell you something?"

She nodded.

"A few days ago I met this girl. She was amazing. Gorgeous, fun, blonde, a total knock out. You think I didn't feel nervous when I asked her out? Sure I might've hidden it, but it was still there. I didn't let that stop me though Kori. I went out with her and I found…I found something that I would seriously regret having lost. The thing is I'm scared of a lot of things. Everyone is when it comes to that. I'm scared that maybe my car will crash when I'm racing, I'm scared that people who are counting on me to win will be disappointed, I was scared of my parents reactions when they found what I did. But if I let all that hold me back where would I be Kor? Stuck in an office while the job I truly loved was done by people who weren't afraid to take that chance. If you think this is your chance Kori…take it."

Eyes slightly shiny Kori hugged him tightly. He slipped his other arm around her waist holding her close. "You'll be fine babe." Looking up she stood on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek…just as the door opened and a stunned Richard stood in the doorway

Tearing away from Roy at once she ran to the door just in time to see an angry Richard storming down the corridor. "Richard! Please wait a minute! You do not understand!" Seeing that there was no way he was coming back she ran after him. The elevator doors started to close just as she stuck her hand in. Panting she peeked in at his face. "Please…you have to listen to me…,"

He snarled. "Go away Koriand'r. I really don't want to talk to you right now."

Her voice was firm as she walked in ignoring her surprise at the use of her real name. "Maybe not, but the world is not always about what you want Dick."

He flinched at the nickname but his gaze was stony as he stared at the wall opposite her head. "So? What do you want to say? Suppose you've come up with some pathetic excuse and are going to try and feed it to me."

"Are you simply going to insult me or are you going to listen to what I have to say?"

He didn't reply and she took that as a sign to continue. "That boy in my apartment…I may have mentioned him before. His name is Roy and he's…a very good friend of mine." Richard snorted. "The thing is," she twisted her shirt nervously. "I was rather apprehensive about going out with you…because…because before I knew who you were you were just Richard. I didn't have to worry about protocol or embarrassing myself but now suddenly you're different and I wasn't sure why you'd be so interested in me anymore. After all who am I but poor little reject Kori Anders?" She smiled just a tad bitterly. "And then Roy told me about forgetting your fears. About just trying, reaching for that thing that at first you are absolutely sure you could never reach. So I did. And I've found you." Her eyes were soft as she stared at him intently. "And for once in my life I've made a decision I don't think I could ever regret." She turned and realised that neither of them had pressed a button in the elevator yet. Stepping out of the still open doors she paused. "That kiss you saw, it was nothing. A friendly kiss, a thank you kiss, what ever you wish to call it, a real kiss-," She never got to finish her sentence.

He kissed her. He pulled her to him so hard that they banged into the wall behind him. But he didn't care. His lips moved against hers bruising and fierce. He didn't want to think about what he was doing. For once in his life he wanted to do something because he felt like it, because it made him feel warm inside, because it felt right. She wound her hands into his hair and he lifted her up off the ground slightly. She murmured against his lips and regaining some of his senses he pulled away breathing heavily. He looked up to see her eyes wide open, hair dishevelled and lips pink. Damn if he didn't want to kiss her again. Remembering her unfinished sentence he couldn't help grinning. "That's a real kiss."