Chapter 9 - R vs K part 1

As we walked silently to school, I could feel the questioning gazes of my friends upon me. I didn't want them to start asking questions, after all I had been quiet for a long while now, and I would usually make sure to put on a happy face to stop them from worrying.

This time however, I just couldn't, all I could think about was Richard and the events from the day before. I didn't want them to ask about it, after all boy troubles weren't exactly on the top priority list right now when we were studying.

My hands were deep into my pockets, eyes down cast watching the pavement, deep in thought.

From the corner of my eye, I watched as Jenny (who was feeling better) nudged Rachel who sighed before asking:

"Kori? You alright?"

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the pavement. Rachel decided not to push me into explaining and so the silence continued. Inside my head was a different story to what I was showing on the outside. I never usually kept my feelings inside, but today was different. Later on I had my English lesson... which would mean being in the same room as him. Not knowing what to do was frustrating. How was I supposed to act?

So what if Richard is going be there, its not that much of a big deal...I don't even have to talk to him.

Sighing deeply to myself, I couldn't help but regret a few of my past actions towards him. In some ways I thought that we could have been friends but obviously if Richard didn't, did that mean I would have to go back to hating him? The problem there is that, I don't hate him.

It felt strange admitting it, but now that I knew a little about Richards past, I couldn't see him in a egotistical way any more. From the moment I met him, it had felt as though he was covering something up. It wasn't from his cold demeanour, or actions towards me in the past.

To me it was much simpler than that, just from the look in his eyes. It was almost like no happiness had lit them up since...well I knew how that felt. I suppose that was why I felt so connected to him. We had something in common among other things like...

The desire to win an argument, the competitive streak and...well I didn't really know him yet, but I at least wanted to make the effort to try.

Sighing for the umpteenth time, I purposefully walked into school, it was time to face the inevitable.

OOO

Later on in the school day, it was the dreaded English. Richard would soon be sitting behind me in the classroom where I had first confronted him, and hopefully past actions would not repeat themselves today.

Rachel had finally gotten my fears out in the open in Geography, and so I had told my friends everything. They were happy to give some advice, and seemed ecstatic to bring up the subject of a 'boy talk'. Our lesson was forgotten, and instead they focused on ideas on something to do with Richard and I.

"Just play it cool," advised Karen as we walked into English.

"He probably won't even talk to me..." I said quietly.

The bell rang and as I turned my head to look at the doorway, Richard walked though the threshold. He sat down without a backwards glance towards me, and began to chatter amongst his friends. I rolled her eyes towards the ceiling, no surprise there. Knew that was going to happen.

My mind thought back to the school active day, and Richards competitive reaction to it. Maybe if I can become his rival I can connect with him.

"Okay guys what do I do now?" I whispered to my friends in confusion, Jenny shrugged.

No I know what to do, become Richards rival. Its a perfect way to connect with him, seeing as the school active day is tomorrow.

Theoretically boys liked to compete, the boys back home had done, and I was certain it was the same at this school.

"Just talk to him, its easy! Look I'm doing it right now" joked Karen. I sighed and taking a breath, turned to face Richard.

"And you know what I just realised! The school active day's initials are S.A.D!" Gar laughed hysterically along with Vic, Richard was writing in his note book.

Feeling my heart rate rise and warmth spreading over my cheeks, I took a breath and closed my eyes, slowing it down.

"May I help you?"

My body froze, opening my eyes, Richard had looked up from his note book and was now staring at me strangely.

"What?" I snapped defensively, feeling my eyes widen at my sharp tone. I hadnt meant to, but my anger seemed to spike around him. Trying to justify myself and the strange emotions plaguing my mind, I spoke up.

"We got knocked out yesterday, along with blamed for the mess in the sports hall, and yet you still don't want to make peace?" I folded my arms, and watched as Richard straightened his shoulders, meeting the challenge in my words already. Perhaps my theory on boys was correct, they do like challenges.

"I never said we couldn't make peace, why do you girls always assume stuff. You come out with wild and irrational assumptions all the time. Look, just because I didn't want to tell you what happened with X all those years ago, doesn't mean I hate you." Richard crossed his own arms defensively. His statement didn't register in my mind, and I continued on agitated.

"Well you have a funny way of showing it, I only want to help you." I was aware that my voice had gotten louder.

"What do I need help with! And besides, even if I needed help, I wouldn't go to you for it" Richards voice also got louder.

"You obviously have problems you jerk! Look how your yelling!"

"Me yelling! Your doing it too Princess!"

"All right, tha'll do my duckies!" The teacher Mr Mod stepped in, putting his scrawny hands on his hips.

"Don't ya have to decor'ate the sport hall for tommora?" The Brit eyed us suspiciously and we slowly nodded.

"Well then hop to it, and stop disruptin mi class" Mr Mod rolled his eyes and walked off again out of the classroom. That left Richard and I to gather our things, scowling at one another as we walked out the door.

"This is all your fault!" Echoed down the halls around us, as we walked I was certain the class was listening to our second argument. I wasnt enterly sure, but I could have sworn that I heard Gar say something like:

"Hey, who wants to bet on when they will get together?"

OOO

As we set to work decorating the sports hall for tomorrows event, we both threw arguments back and forth. Strangely enough the words were not filled with malice or ill feeling, we were simply speaking our minds. To anyone else, it looked as though we were bitter enemies, but we found a strange sort of companionship in the way we spoke.

"There's no way can you beat me in karate." Richard mumbled as he set up the chairs.

"We will see...so you ready to be beaten by a bunch of girls?" I smiled to myself as I put up the streamers.

I was on a big ladder set against the wall as I hooked up streamers to surround the walls. It gave it a ceremonial look, but the colours were a bit too bright and nauseating. On the ground below, Richard was setting up the mats and chairs.

"Well even if you do win, I'll still win in a way." I looked down towards him and noticed that Richard had also smiled.

"What do you mean?" I said, wobbling slightly.

Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I settled for glaring into space. Richard certainly was a gentlemen, making the girl do all the scary stuff on the ladder.

"I'll just say I let you win, that way everyone will just think of me as nice, and not weak."

My frown resurfaced, and I sighed, he really was getting on my nerves.

"You're a real coward aren't you?"

"No, I'm just cleaver" he argued in a defensive tone.

Smiling to myself as I thought of a plan, my foot knocked the box of streamers off the ladder, an innocent look upon my face. It hit Richard directly in the face, and my smile widened, doing a silent victory dance. I fought the urge to laugh as I watched him get tangled in the pink and blue streamers that felt out from the container.

"Hey! What was that for?" He yelled, untangling himself from the swirls. He looked quite cute wrapped up in the baby pink decorations.

"No reason." I laughed,

"just thought it would be fun" I giggled at the image of my bitter rival. He looked so grumpy and yet adorable that I couldn't help it.

My laughter doubled into all out hysterics at the face he pulled and the ladder began to wobble, causing it to sway. I froze in alarm, but my head felt dizzy from the laughter. The latter swayed too precariously to the right, and I lost my footing, giving a cry of fear as I lost my balance.

X'hal! I'm going to die!

Instead of joy filled laughter, my scream now echoed around the sports hall as I fell from her ladder down to earth. My eyes squeezed shut in panic, but before I hit the hard wood floor, a pair of strong arms grabbed hold of me.

Opening my eyes slowly, I started as Richard looked down at me. He was holding me very close, closer than I had ever been near a boy. But he was warm, and strangely felt safe to me. He was still and silent and I said nothing in return, so we stayed that way for awaile, not really knowing how much time had passed. I guess in hindsight it must have looked strange to anyone watching us, at that moment we looked alot like a couple.

I finally broke the silence, swallowing nervously.

"Um...t-thank you for that."

Richard blinked and I watched as many emotions passed along his features. I could see why he wore sunglasses now, his eyes were too expressive and it must have made him feel vulnerable to have them off.

"Y-yeah no problem at all. Your kind of clumsy you know that?" Richard's eyes danced with amusement and I tried to get a hold of my fluttering heart. I was quite sure he could hear it thumping loudly.

He still hasn't put me down...

I was shocked when his shoulders began to shake and he chuckled to himself. I had never heard Richard laugh sincerely before, it was...nice. I smiled, though I was quite confused.

"What's so funny?"

He laughed again, the sound was light hearted and so different from how he usually acted.

"Nothing, just your expression. Pretty hopeless aren't you Princess?"

I snapped out of my trance at once, irritation flaring up once more as I gestured to myself in his arms.

"Well you can put me down now, I'm fine."

Richard looked down at me for a moment, and then at the floor as if only just realising that he had yet to release me. His face went slightly red and he awkwardly put me down, I stepped back slightly once my legs had touched down on the floor.

Silence fell over us and I didn't know how to break it, I was surprised but slightly glad when Richard did.

"Well looks like we're done here."

He was right, the sports hall looked lovely, even with the weird color scheme. It had been ordered by vice principle Mr K Moth, (who I later realised was Kittens father) but despite the girlish colours, the hall still looked pretty nice after its make over.

I smiled proudly. After our episode with Xaviour, I wasn't sure how Richard would act around me any more, but we had worked together. Repairing and redecorating the entire sports hall, in an almost civil environment. He also saved me... I looked at him for a moment, unsure how to act.

"Yeah... well I'll see you tomorrow Mr Moth said we could go once we were done." I said this looking away from him awkwardly. He mumbled a good bye and left shortly after.

Standing alone for a few moments, I was thinking about what had just happened.

Summing it all up in my mind, I did the one thing that I felt like doing - Smile.

ooo

Awwwww, Kori and Richard bonding! yay! But next ...du dun dunnnnn! Its the REAL tournament! And even if our favorite couple is bonding, more drama is set to come! I will try to update soon! review!