"Look Xavier, we should probably talk," said Kory. She was starting to feel guilty because Xavier liked her so much and she was just using him.

"Whatever you say Babe," said Xavier.

"Look, I don't actually like you. Well I like you but I don't like you like you," said Kory. "I was only using you to make Rich jealous."

"And?" asked Xavier.

"Huh?" said Kory.

"Please," said Xavier. "You love Rich. Everyone with half a brain knows that. You have never liked me. So why would you suddenly agree to go to the dance with me? Because Rich hates me."

"Am I that obvious?" asked Kory.

"About loving Rich?" asked Xavier. "Yeah. The only one who doesn't know is Rich."

"Oh," said Kory.

"It's okay Babe," said Xavier. "I'll still help you."

"Really?" said Kory.

"Really," said Xavier.

Rich was miserable. He was sitting alone in his room, staring out the window, watching raindrops fall. He missed Kory. He missed Gar and Rachel and Vic and Karen too.

It wasn't that he didn't like the pops. He did. But now Kory hated him.

Why did she have to go out with stupid Xavier anyway? What the hell was she trying to achieve? Unless she actually liked Xavier. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! That could never happen! Never! Because that would be wrong! Because…

"I love her," said Rich.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Rich's cousin, Allie. She was visiting for a few days.

"Girl trouble," said Rich.

"What kind of girl trouble?" asked Allie.

"Remember Kory?" asked Rich.

"Yeah," said Allie.

"Remember Kate?" asked Rich.

"Uh-huh," said Allie.

"Okay. So I ask Kate out. And suddenly, Kory hates me and starts acting like a total slut around her new boyfriend, Xavier."

"Isn't that the guy you hate?" interrupted Allie.

"Yeah. So I start to wonder. Why am I so jealous of Xavier when I have my own girlfriend?"

"Why?" asked Allie.

Rich took a deep breath. "I'm in love with Kory."

"So what are you going to do?" asked Allie.

"I have no idea," admitted Rich. "I could stay with Kate to make Kory jealous. I could kick Xavier's ass. I could write Kory an anonymous love note and see if she traces it to me. I could flat out tell Kory how I feel. What should I do?"

"I would stay with Kate and talk to Kory. If Kory still hates you, you'll just have to live," said Allie.

"Okay," said Rich.

The next day at school…

Karen, Kory, and Rachel were in the bathroom applying makeup.

"Did you talk to X?" asked Karen.

"Yes," said Kory.

"He's okay?" asked Rachel.

"Yes," said Kory.

"Really?" asked Karen.

"He wants to make Rich mad," said Kory. "Do you have any mascara?"

"Yeah," said Rachel. "It's not waterproof though. Do you have watery eyes?"

"Not really," said Kory.

"Okay," said Rachel. She handed over the goody.

"Hey is someone crying?" asked Karen.

Kory and Rachel listened. Sure enough, there were muffled sobs coming from stall number two.

"Hey are you okay?" asked Rachel.

"No! Leave me alone loser!" exclaimed the crier.

"I'm not helping that bitch," said Karen.

"Me neither," said Rachel.

"We only want to help," said Kory.

The stall opened. It was none other than snobby Tara Markov. Except her hair was really frizzy and there were black mascara smears all over her eyes and her clothes didn't even match.

"Don't you hate me, too?" asked Tara.

"I don't really know you," said Kory.

"Everyone hates me," said Tara. "I'm the worst person in the world."

"I'm sure that isn't true," said Kory.

"Kory, she's friends with Kate," said Rachel.

"Kory, let's go," said Karen.

"I've morphed into the exact thing I used to fear," said Tara. "I'm a bitch."

"What do you mean?" asked Kory.

"I've never told anyone this," said Tara. "I used to be the dork. Not even like you guys, much lower than that. I'd have no one to sit with at lunch and no parties to go to. No friends. None."

"What did you do?" asked Kory.

"I was fat and ugly," said Tara. "All the girls would make fun of me, and even some of the guys. People didn't ignore me, they loved to hate me."

"But aren't you that famous guy's daughter?" asked Kory.

"Yes, but he doesn't know I exist," said Tara. "I was the result of an affair. If his wife found out, it wouldn't be pretty."

"When did you become popular?" asked Kory.

"My mom let me transfer schools," said Tara. "The summer in between seventh and eighth grade, I lost fifty pounds thanks to bulimia, I got my hair professionally straightened, I switched my glasses with contacts, and I got new clothes. So when I started eighth grade at Paradise Mountain, I strutted in and acted like I owned the place. Kate and Tommie immediately noticed, since they were the ones who acted like that. So they wanted to be friends with me, and I was instantly one of the most popular girls in school."

Tara sighed. "I never meant to be such a bitch. I just didn't want to be the dork again. Sorry if I ever did anything to hurt your feelings."

"It's okay," said Kory. Rachel and Karen didn't say anything.

"Crap," said Tara. "School's gonna start soon and I'm ugly."

"Let me help you," said Kory. She did Tara's hair and makeup.

"Thanks," said Tara.

"Nice outfit," said Rachel.

Kory looked from Tara's striped shorts and polka dotted shirt combo to her tank top and skirt.

"Switch with me," said Kory.

"No," said Tara.

"Yes," said Kory. "I don't care if people make fun of me. But you do."

"You are the nicest person I know," said Tara. "I wish there were more of you in the world."

"Thanks," said Kory.

Later in math…

"Xavier, what is your problem!" said Rich. "You date my best friend and turn her against me! Why?"

"Richard Grayson, you are so stupid," said Xavier.

"What's going on?" asked Rich.

"I think the answer to number 7 is x + y 41," said Xavier.

"That has to be like the ugliest outfit ever," said Kate.

"Thank you," said Kory.

"Did you not hear me?" said Kate. "I just insulted you."

"I know," said Kory.

"What the fuck?" said Kate. "You're such a loser. What's number 10?"

"Well I don't think you would want an answer from a loser," said Kory.

Kate screamed in frustration. The whole class looked over.

"Miss Moth would you like a detention?" asked Mr. Wilson.

"Whatever!" screamed Kate, taking a detention slip. "I'm so irritated! I don't even know anything anymore!" She got up and stormed out of class.

"Well, then," said Mr. Wilson. "Mr. Grayson, what number are you on?"

"Number 11," said Rich.

"Detention," said Mr. Wilson. "You should be on number twelve."

Rich's mouth dropped all the way to the floor.

"I'm already on number 13," bragged Gar.

"Detention for you too," said Mr. Wilson. "No smart alecks in my class. You are not in preschool anymore. This is high school and you must do what it takes to succeed. Any questions?"

Xavier raised his hand. "Can I go to the bathroom?"

"Detention for you too," said Mr. Wilson. The bell rang.

"Class dismissed," said Mr. Wilson.

As the class left, Rich saw Kory holding hands with Xavier.

"Kory!" called Rich.

"What do you want Rich?" asked Kory.

"We need to talk," said Rich.

"Your girlfriend told me enough," said Kory.

"Kate? What exactly did Kate say?" asked Rich.

But Kory had disappeared into the huge crowd and Rich could not find her.