"How could she?" said Rich. "I mean, we hate Xavier. I know Kory doesn't like Xavier. I've known both Kory and Xavier since kindergarten. Xavier has always loved Kory and Kory has always ignored him. So why would she suddenly agree to go out with him?"

"Richie-POO, just chill," said Kate. This conversation annoyed her. "Kory's a big girl. Let her go out with Xavier. Why are you so jealous anyway?"

"I'm not," said Rich. "I just think there's something more going on than them going out."

"Who cares?" said Kate. "Aren't you happy with me?"

"Yes," said Rich.

"And Kory appears happy with Xavier," said Kate. "If she isn't, she'll break up with him. Right?"

"Right," said Rich. "You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for."

"I know," said Kate. "Don't you have to be in class in 30 seconds?"

"Shit! Yeah," said Rich. "Bye Kate!"

"Bye Richie-POO!" said Kate. She smiled. She was sure she had convinced Rich he wasn't in love with Kory. But still…

Later in math, everyone was working with their original partners. Rather than working, Kate was painting her nails a bright shade of pink.

"Richie-POO tells me you're going out with Xavier Red," said Kate.

Kory nodded. She wasn't really paying attention because she was working on an equation. "Is he upset?"

"No, no, not at all," said Kate. "He's quite relieved."

"What do you mean?" asked Kory. She stopped working.

"Well, I know this sounds totally ridiculous, as someone as hot as Rich would never like someone with your split ends, but he was concerned you were in love with him," Kate lied. "He thought it was kind of freaky and he's figured since you agreed to go to the dance with Xavier, you must be over him. See, he's only pretending to be your friend because your mom owns that one bakery and you always give him free chocolate croissants."

Kory didn't say anything. The bell rang.

"You are now free to go," said Mr. Wilson. "Anything you have not completed is homework. And I would go over x and y intercepts in your textbooks.

As Rich was going out the door, he spotted Kory.

"Hi Kory," he said.

"Do not 'hi Kory' me," said Kory. "And if you want chocolate croissants, you can pay for them. They are a dollar fifty."

Rich was confused. Why was Kory acting like this? "Kory?"

"Lets go, X," said Kory. Xavier put his arm around Kory's waist, and they both walked away.

Rich stood there dumbfounded. What's wrong with Kory?

Kate walked up next to Rich. "Hey Richie-POO."

"Kate, do you know why Kory's mad at me?" asked Rich.

"No," Kate lied. "Maybe she's just jealous because you've gotten popular and she hasn't."

"Maybe," said Rich. "I didn't know Kory cared so much about popularity, but then again I never imagined she'd go out with Xavier either."

"I hate it so much when people change!" said Kate. "It bugs the shit out of me! You think you know someone, and then they stab you in the back."

"You're right," said Rich. "I don't need Kory. If she doesn't wanna be friends with me anymore, that's fine. I have you and all the other pops."

"That is so true!" said Kate.

"Hey, Kate, would you mind waiting for me while I went to the bathroom?" asked Rich.

"No, not at all," said Kate. She leaned against a locker and grinned. Kory was out of the way. She wasn't going to seduce Rich any longer.

"I win!" said Tommie, beating Rich yet again at poker. So far, $60 of Rich's money was sitting in Tommie's pocket.

"Okay, you officially have all my money," said Rich.

"If you beat me, you can win it all back," suggested Tommie.

"But what if I lose?" asked Rich.

"I like your shirt," said Tommie.

"Tomasina Alexandra Cruz stay away from my man!" said Kate.

"Jeez, Kate Anne Moth, I don't even want your man. I already have a boyfriend," said Tommie. "It's just that his shirt has long sleeves, and this cafeteria is so freaking cold!"

"Well," said Tara, "You are wearing a halter top and a miniskirt, which doesn't exactly protect you from the ac."

"So are you," said Tommie defensively.

"Hold on," said Rich. "You're Tomasina Cruz?"

"Duh," said Tommie.

"You're Tom Cruz's niece? The one who is sometimes in people magazine with him?" Rich was in disbelief.

"Duh," said Tommie. "Uncle Tom is my favorite uncle. I was named after him. Why?"

"Okay, first Kate is Paris Tilton's granddaughter," said Rich. "Then Tommie is Tom Cruz's niece. What else?"

"Brion Markov is Tara's dad," said Tommie. "Well the one in all those action movies. Brion Jr. is her brother. He's on that one show."

"Chloe 101," said Kate.

"So I'm nobody to you?" asked Rich.

"Well, yeah," said Kate. "But you're a hot nobody."

"Thanks," said Rich.

"So what did I tell you?" said Kate. "You're having a good time?"

"Yeah," said Rich.

"And you don't miss Kory and the other nerds?" asked Kate.

"No," said Rich. It was a lie, but if Kory was moving on, then so was he.

"Speaking of the nerds, there's that drug addict and that smarty pants making out," said Tara.

Rich looked over to where he used to sit, known as the nerd's table by the pops. Kory was sitting on Xavier's lap, slowly kissing him while Xavier's hands were up her shirt.

For some reason, Rich wanted to grab Xavier and punch him until there was nothing left to punch. Kory never kissed guys publicly. But as Kate had pointed out, Kory had changed.

Note: I am NOT a RobKitten fan. Kory and Rich hate each other now, but they will kiss and make up.