Sorry I haven't been updating. -shrugs and smiles sheepishly-

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Chapter Two: Love's Canvas

Kori looked at the sky then dipped the tip of her paint brush into the orange and painted a strip of the color on the top of her canvas for part of the sun set. She looked back up at the sky then washed the orange off her brush and did the same thing with the yellow, pastel blue, and pink. She added white puffs with some gray shadows for clouds. Then she began working on the sun.

The lights in the room dimmed. She looked behind her. The last girl besides her was standing near the switch. Her name was Barbara, but everyone called her Babs or Batgirl. "You're the last one, so when you're done with your part of the painting for the art show, close everything down, okay?" She asked with a smile. Kori smiled back and nodded for a reply.

Kori stood up and wiped her hands on her painting pants. They had little streaks of red and blue and green and other colors she's worked with. She looked at her finished painting. She always got a ribbon, but never for first prize. She's worked on many over the summer. Flowers, rushing waters, all sorts of nature and wild life.

All she needed left is a portrait of a person. It could be a self-portrait, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to do one of herself or not.

Kori grabbed her bag that she designed and made during high school. It was lavender with rhinestone covered buckles. The zippers were little pastel colored hearts. She walked over to the door and slipped her Old Navy flip-flops. Then she headed out and over to the coffee lounge.

As she walked in the door, the aroma of sweet vanillas filled her nostrils. Other scents such as sugar, the cream in different types of pastries, and numerous tea flavors were in the crisp air. The scents were warm and welcoming into the lounge but the cool air from the air conditioner chilled her body. The sounds of the college students laughing, the pin ball games, and the clicking of keys from people laptops filled her ears.

She walked over to the counter and sat down on one of the barstools. The waiter walked behind the counter and came over to her. She smiled seeing who it was. "Hey, Roy." She said. He smiled and nodded in reply.

"The usual?" He asked. Kori laughed and nodded.

"A French vanilla turbo twist with a six cream and six sugar. Medium." She told him. He arched his eyebrow as a sly grin slipped out of his lips.

"That's new, you usually get a small." He said Kori smiled and laughed. He slid one over to her. She caught it and slid it closer to her chest. She grabbed some napkins and a straw. She pulled two dollars out of her ripped light denim jeans. He gave it back to her.

"It's on the house." He said. She smiled and awkwardly took it back.

"Thanks." She said then turned around and walked out of the coffee lounge. She knew he always liked her- every since middle school, actually. She liked him back, too. They were both too shy to ask one another out, even though they both knew they liked each other.

She was going to ask him out on her last year, and was planning to but then she met Robin. She knew practically everything about Robin by just asking around. Especially Babs. She was his best friend when he lived in Gotham with Bruce Wayne. Then in middle school he met Victor and Raven.

Kori looked at her watch. It was getting late and she had a class early in the morning. She also was planning to go out for a late night bite with Karen. Kori headed back to her dorm room.

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She closed the door behind her quietly. She dropped her bag on her maple wood desk next to her sliver laptop with stickers of hearts and flowers on it. She collapsed on her bed and looked over at the other two beds. Raven's was empty, but Kitten's had a silky and strappy red dress and matching pumps on it. The shower was running, which meant Kitten snatched another date with an innocent freshmen.

When it came to Kitten, she didn't care if she was older then the guy. As long as he was in high school or older. She thought it was sexy and attractive when she made out with a younger boy. But of course, she'd go out on one date, make out with him, then never see him again. And days later when the boy would come up to say hi to her, she wouldn't even recognize the kid.

Then the bathroom door opened. Kitten came out with a light green bathrobe on that was higher than her knees. Her bathrobe was as short as mini skirts- same with everything else she owned besides her pants and capris.

"Hey, dork." That was her first sentence to Kori. But Kori didn't expect much from the icy witch queen herself. Kori simply rolled her eyes. She's learned to live with it- not that she had a choice, really. It was that, or bow down to slut.

"Hello, Kitten." Kori replied. She knew even if Kitten acted rude and obnoxious, that didn't mean she had to, too. Besides, Kori was taught to be kind and generous to everyone- even the people who hated her, and who she disliked strongly. She was also taught never to hate, only strongly dislike.

Kitten looked at her. "Well, are you going to look away, or leave? I don't want you watching me dress!" She exclaimed. Kori frowned and left the room saying nothing. There was no point. She simply walked across the hall to Karen's to see what she was doing.

"Hey, girl." Karen said when she saw Kori walk in. Kori smiled. Karen threw a light denim skirt. The bottom trim had cheetah print. Kori smiled in awe and looked at Karen why was smiling.

"I made it for you. It matches this cute shirt I made, too." She held up a white halter top with a cheetah print trim like the skirt on the top and bottom. Kori gazed at the flawless shirt and skirt. She snatched the shirt from Karen.

"How did you do this, Karen?" She asked her. She shrugged.

"You've got your way or expressing yourself in art, and I've got mine." She said.

"I could wear this to the art show! Speaking of the art show, you're coming, right?" She asked. Karen laughed and ran over to Kori. "Girl, wouldn't miss your big day for the world!" She said. Kori smiled sweetly. "Now, I know you look very nice in your painting pants and coca-cola shirt, but you are going to change, aren't you?" She asked Kori. She smiled and nodded.

"Of course, I am! I've got these nice pair of pants and a new shirt." Kori told her. Karen was over at her closet picking things up then rejecting them by throwing them behind her. Kori was standing there and the were falling on her. Karen finally settled a pair of white capris and light blue crop top.

"Hey, is Rae goin' with us?" Karen asked as she strapped on her new light blue and yellow Roos. Kori shook her head with a sort of disappointed look on her face. Karen shrugged.

"Oh well, she's just missing the fun." Karen said. Kori and Karen laughed it off. Then Kori left with a smile and went to go change into her out fit. Only minutes later Kori came out with her glamorous outfit on. She had on a pair of light denim pants, her Old Navy flip-flops on, and a black tube-top on with big gold rhinestones in the middle forming a star.

"Let's jet." Karen said as they two left their building and went into the open air. The walked back over to the lounge. Karen, who totally knew Kori and Roy had a crush on each other, loved to pest them both secretly about it. Kori just hoped that Roy's shift was over for the night. One long summer isn't enough to make Karen forget.

Now that Kori had a new crush, she didn't want to tell anyone except Raven, who actually guessed. Kori knew if she were to tell Karen, she'd go and tell everyone on campus she sees- even people she doesn't know.

"So, heard you little 'boyfriend' works here this year." Karen always had to bring up guys at the most horrible times imaginable. Especially the time's people wish she never knew about their crushes.

"One, he's not my boyfriend, and so what if he works here?" Kori asked her. She smiled slyly and shrugged with a sarcastic flow in it. Kori rolled her eyes with a smile. They walked up to the front counter. Roy wasn't there, there was another kid. He was wiping down the counter with all the coffee makers and teapots and such.

Karen began snapping her fingers. "Hey! Can we get some service over here? Maybe we should just go some place else." She joked. Kori nudged her in the arm. Karen let out a choking kind of sound. She began rubbing her arm with a smirk.

"Sorry. I'm filling in for Roy. I don't actually work here." The boy said without turning around. The he threw the washcloth in the sink and turned around. Kori gasped and tried to back away from the counter. But her hand gripped onto it and wouldn't let go.

It was Robin.

"Are you okay?" He asked Kori. She gulped. Then her throat went dry. Goosebumps appeared on her arms. She smiled and nodded since she couldn't speak. If it was that hard to even look at Robin, it had to be incredibly difficult to look at him and talk to him.

Karen looked over at Kori suspiciously.

"Hey, Robbie, when's Roy comin' back?" Karen asked. Karen knew Robin because of Raven. Everybody would think he's only knowable from Raven, but he became popular when he was 'adopted' by Bruce Wayne.

"He's coming back around seven." Robin replied.

"Oh, okay. We'll come back later, then. Thanks Robbie." Karen grabbed Kori's arm and walked towards the door. Robin called for her. Karen turned around.

"Yes, Robbie?" She asked.

"Don't call me Robbie." He said. She smiled and laughed.

"Why not?" She replied.

"Because it's almost as bad as what Kitten calls me- Robbie-poo." He said. He and Karen began to laugh. Even though Kitten could get any guy wrapped around her finger, Roy, Victor, and Robin were the only guys besides all the geeks that never went on a date or made out with her before. And none of those guys were interested in her, anyway, so it all worked out in the end.

Robin was a laid back type who really didn't care for the girls that would constantly primp themselves for stupid stuff like just going class or going to work. Or even playing sports with masks. He liked the girls that were unique and didn't follow the crowd. That's why Raven is his best friend besides Victor.

"You like Robin, too? Why did I tell you about loving two guys at the same time?" Karen asked. Kori looked up at her with a smirk on her face. Karen had a smile on hers.

"I don't like Roy." Kori said.

"Oh, so you have a crush on Robin now?" Karen asked.

"Yes." Kori gasped. She couldn't believe she had just said that- and to Karen! Karen gasped and laughed too. Kori clasped her hand of her mouth and ran back to her dorm. Karen didn't notice until two minutes after.

"Uh, Kori? Kori? KORI!" Karen shrugged. "Where'd she go?" She asked herself out loud.