Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans.
Kori's POV
"Stop looking at me like that Silkie. I'm not going to give you any." Kori scolded at her albino Akita, who was looking longingly at her consume yet another spoonful of her cherry ice cream. Silkie's pink puppy dog eyes was beginning to tug away at her heart. "Ugh…here just keep it." The dog went to reach for the rim of the pint carton and left with haste.
There was a soft tap at her open bedroom door and Kori looked up from her bed to see Terra smiling back at her. "Hey girl. How you holding up?" she questioned. Unfortunately for Kori, she found out her friends already knew of Richard's indiscretion.
"Well if you mean after seeing my boyfriend in bed with another girl after I stupidly announced my love for him…well then yeah I'm doing just great." she said smiling sarcastically.
"Wow. Aren't we happy today?" Terra said sitting herself down beside her. "So have you talked to Richard yet?"
Kori shook her head negatively. "But it doesn't help he keeps calling every ten minutes." she gestured over to her phone.
"Don't you think you should let him explain things?"
"What's there to explain?" Kori asked.
"Kori you don't actually think he would do something like that to you, do you?"
"I thought he wouldn't, but how else would you explain it? I mean I saw it with my own eyes." Terra exhaled tiredly, convincing her was going to be harder than she thought. She thought about an alternative approach and chose to have a different discussion.
"I called you yesterday night." she admitted raising an eyebrow skeptically.
"Yeah I turned off my phone. I wasn't really up to talking with anyone."
"Actually I meant here at your house and it was pretty late too."
"Oh sorry I guess I didn't hear it." she lied knowing she wasn't very good at it. She hated lying to her, it just wasn't part of her gentle nature.
"Or maybe you just weren't home…so where were you, I was worried sick?"
"Out." she said rather dully.
"Uh…dur. Where?"
"Terra I don't have to…"
"Where Kori!" Terra raised her voice higher than intended startling Kori and herself.
"I went to Xavier's, alright." she confessed.
"Oh no Kor, you didn't…"
"Terra nothing happened Ok!" Kori prompted in advance.
"…because after last time…" before she could say anything else, Kori grabbed at both sides of Terra's face trying to speak slowly emphasizing every word for better pronunciation.
"Terra listen to me I swear nothing happened. I was just too distraught to go home and…" she let go of her face avoiding her eager eyes.
"And what?" Terra egged her to continue.
"And I'm still too in love with Richard to think of anything else." she sighed.
"So talk to him…tell him whatever it is you want to tell him."
"It's not that easy Terra. Ugh…you wouldn't understand." she plopped down on her bed in frustration.
"Understand what? About love? Because I know more than you think."
Kori looked to her blonde friend confusedly. She noticed how her face became a little angry at her comment. "Terra what's wrong?"
"Nothing Ok. I just hate it when people seem to think I'm mindless about some things."
"I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean it that way." As Kori spoke she saw the hurt in her friend's eyes. Something had happened to her, something heartbreaking.
"Who was he?"
"No one, lets just forget I said anything." she stated avoided her friend's inquisitive eyes.
"Terra please, you can tell me anything remember?" Terra closed her eyes deeply, heavily thinking on what to say.
"But if I tell you, I'm afraid you'll hate me."
"I could never hate you, come on you're like my sister." She viewed Terra fidget with her hands nervously until she softened her behavior.
"…it was Ryan." she said quickly.
"Ryan? My Ryan?" Kori patted her chest in shock.
"Please don't get angry." she cried out lifting herself off her bed.
"I'm not going to get angry. It's just…I wasn't expecting it to be Ryan. This is Ryan…my Ryan. When...wait how?" Terra breathed in slowly, fear consuming what she was about to affirm.
"Well we started seeing each other just before he left for college. But even before that we had this instant attraction, you know, and it just increased over the years. I've always had the biggest crush on him, you know that. Every time I came over and saw him and he would smile at me…he's my Richard, Kori. We felt like soul mates. We understood everything about each other…then one day he told me he had deep feelings for me. And that was all it took for me to fall in love with him. But then he went away to college. And I started seeing less and less of him. He would always be traveling with Myan on those trips or there was always school." she explained her voice breaking slightly.
"Ryan never said anything to anyone."
"We thought it would be best if we kept it a secret."
"Why did you stop seeing each other then?"
"Ryan said I deserved better. I mean what does that mean? He was the best for me. So what if he was always busy…he knew I'd wait for him. I'm a patient person. Or maybe it's because I'm just too immature for him now. Now that he hangs around with college girls. But I loved him…I still do." she put in plain words, her eyes becoming glassy.
"I'm so sorry Terra. I had no idea. I can't believe Ryan would be this way." Kori raised herself from her bed and embraced her best friend in a compassionate hug.
"Kori, I see the same love coming from Richard for you. Do you really want to give all that up?" she muttered still hugging her friend.
Then the ringing of Kori's phone stormed throughout the room. They both directed their faces toward it. Without permission, Terra scurried to the phone and answered it before Kori could stop her. "Hello?" she replied waiting for a response. "I know Richard but I don't think she feels like talking right now." she looked to Kori who also gazed away from her. "Look why don't you two talk tomorrow at school."
'Why did you say that?' Kori mouthed silently so Richard wouldn't hear her.
"No. We won't be there all morning. Kori and I have this cheerleading assembly to go to. Alright talk to her during lunch." All the while Kori crossed her arms in a livid sense. "Don't worry. Yeah we'll see you tomorrow." Terra hung up the phone not ready for her friend's vocal glare.
"Terra! You know its funny. It seems like no one is on my side here. It's like no one cares he cheated on me." she declared speaking with her hands.
"That's not it and you know it. We love you Kor and we just believe that he would never do anything to hurt you. Talk to him, give him a second chance."
"I just can't. I love him insanely but I don't think I can."
"Well if you're willing to give up on him so easily, then maybe you don't deserve him." Before Kori could say anything else, Terra had already headed out the door.
Xavier's POV
The halls of Gotham West Academy were full of activity that Monday morning. The rain shower outside did nothing to stop the talk of Richard's wild party that weekend. The morning came all too quickly for Xavier as he strutted into his second period class. He entered and lazily sat into his seat. After several greetings from his classmates, he took out his car magazine and began flipping through it before class began.
"Hey Xavier." the platinum blonde landed herself right in front of his desk. He raised his head lifting his eyes to see the girl but immediately looked back down.
"What do you want Kitten?" he questioned frustratingly, turning another page of his magazine.
"I just wanted to tell you there's no need to thank me."
"Thank you? For what?" he said irate. Her presence was already making him flustered.
"Like you don't know." she smirked slyly after seeing X's full attention directed at her. "I saw Kori's car outside your house Saturday night. I came by to pay you a…visit. And who did I happen to see?" she mocked.
"It wasn't like that Kitten. Nothing happened, alright."
"Uh huh." she taunted him with disbelief. "I guess it doesn't matter anyways since Richard and I were enjoying ourselves that night too!" she laughed. X looked at her disgustingly.
"What did you do to her?" he said in a venomous tone.
"Well since you decided not to take me upon my offer, I had to work at it alone sweetheart." X shook his head with regret.
"I should have known this was part of your brilliant scheme." he said sardonically. "Here I actually thought that bastard was serious about her." He looked up to see her bubbly demeanor showing brightly. If he knew anything about Kitten, she was hiding something. "There's more isn't there?" She shrugged and her plastic smile gave away what he feared to be a positive answer. But still refusing to talk, he knew he'd have to bring out his charms. He tenderly touched her chin and sent the slightest quiver pulsating through her body. "Come on. You can tell me." he said with a sultry accent. And that was all she needed…
"Well lets just say I got a little help from Daddy's lab." she confessed giggling away.
"Huh?" he asked baffled. She moved in closer to his face out of the others' earshot.
"I just slipped him some GHB and viola…"
"You drugged him? You mean he wasn't even awake? He didn't know anything?" X was bemused. He wanted to believe that Richard knew exactly what he was doing, but if what Kitten said was true, then it wasn't his fault. If he wasn't even fucking awake.
"Well only to speed things up before Kori got there. We would have slept together soon enough." she crossed her arms angrily. Was X trying to imply that the only way Richard would be with her was if he was drugged? How dare he! I can get Richard anytime I want! And I'll prove it!
"And I take it Kori saw you two together in bed."
"It was so sad X. I feel really bad for her. But she was going to find out eventually that Richard and I had feelings for each other, you know." she laughed at the idea of the redhead's hard luck.
"No. What's sad is the fact that you had to drug Grayson in order for him to touch you. That's what's sad." Xavier remarked before looking back to his magazine.
"Boys and girls to your seats, quickly." the Chemistry teacher, Mr. Chang, ordered in his thick Chinese accent. Kitten who glared defiantly at X, retreated to her seat.
Richard's POV
Richard stared at his watch, then to the classroom clock mounted on the wall. Since Kori's absence in their first period class, he was anxious to speak with her. He had to explain everything that happened, only he wasn't even sure himself. But if he knew anything, it was he loved Kori with all his might. And he wasn't going away that easily.
"And cosine is the periodic function…" Mr. Numeroso stopped his lesson mid-sentence after a knock at the door. "Enter."
In came a scrawny teen with a note in hand. The office aide handed the note to the teacher and quickly left. The class remained quiet, anticipating which lucky student would be able to leave this dreadful class.
"Mr. Grayson, you're needed in the principal's office." Richard looked oddly at him wondering if he was in trouble. He took hold of his things and exited the classroom. Once outside he started to walk in the direction of the office.
"Hey gorgeous." he looked to his left seeing Kitten leaning against the lockers, hand crossed, waiting for him.
"Get away from me." he threatened as he continued walking.
"Wait we need to talk." she ran up to him stopping him from leaving.
"Do you mind, I'm needed in the principal's office right now."
"No you're not." she chuckled. Richard stopped and turned to look at her. "Men. They'll do anything you want with just a wink and a smile. I just needed you out of class."
"Leave me alone Kitten."
"Wait. I was just thinking that maybe for our first date we could…"
"First date? I'm not going out with you."
"What? But I thought you liked me!" she appeared to be dim-witted of Richard's rejection.
"Liked you? Kitten I…don't…like…you! I don't want you!" he reiterated.
"Yes you do. You just haven't realized it yet. If it wasn't for Kori…"
He grasped her forearms, trying his best to make her understand. "Kitten, listen to me. We will…never…be together. Never…ever…be together. I don't know how to make it anymore clearer to you!" His attempt at making her see his detestation for her was short lived, however…
"You're making a big mistake Richard."
"Just stay away from me. Don't look at me. Don't talk to me. Don't even think of me…do you under…stand?" he warned abhorrently while releasing her.
"Yes." she seethed through gritted teeth. Her manipulation, her scheming…it was all for nothing.
"Good." he emphasized through clenched teeth before he began leaving…
"You really shouldn't think so highly of her you know. Do you even know where she was Saturday night?" she insinuated, desperate for one more malign effort.
"I'm not listening to you anymore." he glared at her, uninterested in her suggestions.
"Well you should listen, unless of course you don't care about her and X, together."
"You're lying. She wouldn't…"
"Do that." she finished for him. "No wonder X looked so happy this morning." she scoffed. The doubting look on Richard's face was priceless. "Go on, ask her. I'll be waiting for you when you finally realize how much of a slut she really is." Kitten headed to the end of the hall back to her classroom. She turned back one more time to see Richard still standing where she had left him, like a little lost child.
Xavier's POV
Xavier had a call from nature and received permission to go to the men's room. After learning of Kitten's grand plan, he despised Richard. Why could he not have been conscious that night? Why couldn't he have known exactly what he was doing? Then that would mean he was just another pretentious asshole who cheated on his girlfriend. Like you dipshit. But ultimately he wasn't conscious, he didn't even know what was happening. This would mean that he, technically, was faithful to Kori. But of course, only X knew of this, no one else.
Instead of going straight back to his American History class, he decided to cruise through the halls a bit. He would randomly choose doors and drive-by knock at them only to leave before they were answered. Smiling widely at his pranks, he turned the corner and found his favorite person in the hallways. This should be fun. He wondered why he remained there motionless. He continued straight ahead and saw Richard turn to face him. It was beyond his control but X couldn't stop smiling. Then seeing Richard's hopeless expression made him grin from ear to ear.
He was about to pass him up when Xavier, being his bold self, scorned…"Cheer up, kid. After all you still have Kitten." Still grinning broadly, he walked past him and continued back to his classroom, not looking at him anymore.
"You. You had something to do with this. Didn't you?" he asked quickly, staring coldly at Xavier. X instantly rounded himself to gaze at him.
"Come again?" he asked cool and collectedly.
"You heard me. You and Kitten. It was your idea, wasn't it?"
"You being a cheating son of bitch was your idea, pal. Not mine."
"Be a man for once and tell the truth, X. This was your way of getting Kori back."
"You know what, blame me if you want kid. I really don't care." he turned back again, not wanting to look at Richard's ignorant face.
As X walked further, he felt something lock onto his torso and crash him into the nearby lockers. The sudden impact sent a vigorous pain through his body. He maneuvered himself out of Richard's stomach hold and pushed Richard away. But this did nothing to stop his rage. Richard lunged at him and tackled him to the ground causing Xavier to punch him square in the jaw. Although he pierced open his lip, the afflicted wound was nothing to Richard. He sent a blow straight to X's eye making him wail out at the stinging sensation.
While stunned from his attack, X felt himself being lifted up by Richard as he grabbed his shirt only to once again be slammed into the lockers. Fucking prick is tougher than I thought.
"What's wrong X, I thought this wasn't over?" Richard taunted. Richard charged and went for an uppercut but Xavier dodged it, causing Richard to slam his hand in the locker instead.
"It isn't over, asshole." X retaliated with a punch to his side cheek. The small drops of blood on the floor in no way matched the their crimson faces. Xavier was a skilled wrestler and grappler, trying his best maneuvers on Richard, but to no avail. Richard was a master martial artist and knew his way out of many fighting situations.
The sound of the scuffling in the hallways summoned teachers away from their classes and out into the halls, where they shouted at the brawling boys. They were once again on the ground, forcefully wrestling each other. Richard had the upper hand sending hard blows as X struggled underneath him.
"That's enough!" Mr. Wilson roared. Richard looked toward the shouting teacher which enabled Xavier some time to garner him into a choke hold. "I said that's enough!" Mr. Wilson shouted once more. He went to the hostile teens and began prying them apart. A little help was given from Mr. Blud, the Drama teacher, who was also summoned outside after hearing the loud collisions with the lockers. After a long battle, they finally succeeded in forcing the twosome away from each other.
"He started it!" shouted Xavier, who was being held back tightly by Mr. Wilson.
"Yeah and I'll finish it too, you fuck!" boomed Richard, who began lunging forward to reach X. Mr. Blud was having a hard time keeping him under control.
The sounds of gasps and whispers were heard from the snoopy students who began gawking at the fighters. "Back to your classes!" warned Mr. Wilson. Quickly they retreated back to their seats, now with even better news than the party to gossip about.
"Mr. Redd you will report immediately to the principal's office."
"Why me? He started it!"
"Mr. Grayson you will also report to the principal's office and wait for your turn to see Mr. Cerebrum. Is that understood?" Richard said nothing throughout the bickering of orders. He stayed shrilly quiet, only looking evilly at Xavier.
Mr. Wilson who was shaking X under his hold, let go after Xavier violently removed himself from his containment…"I'm going!" he bellowed raising his hands in a surrendering manner. Mr. Wilson followed alongside him making sure he indeed did go the principal's office. Mr. Blud, who had since let go of Richard, followed behind him to make certain he went as well.
Kori's POV
The school bus had pulled into the parking lot allowing the cheerleaders to depart the vehicle. The horde of girls chanting 'We're number one!' were told to quiet down once they entered the halls of the grand academy. Kori, who was usually the one most full of merriment, walked next to Terra cheerless.
"Great! We got to school earlier than expected. Lunch is next, so stop being afraid and talk to him." Terra advised. She and Kori walked past Kolette's classroom and peeked through the window, playfully sticking their tongues out at her. Immediately Kolette spotted them and raised her hand. The next thing they knew she was heading towards them. As she opened the door and before they said anything…
"Kori! You'll never believe what happened!" she shrieked excitedly.
"You actually paid attention in class setting into motion the Apocalypse." she laughed along with Terra.
"Trust me you won't be…" she chuckled impersonating Kori…"when you find out what happened." she mocked.
"Ooh…something good I can tell." Terra became curious. If Kolette thought it was worth mentioning, it was probably either really bad or it was really good.
"X and Richard got into a major fist fight!"
"What!" both girls said. "How major?" Terra added.
"They're both in the principals office right now. We heard some noise out in the hallways, so we head out to see. And then…BOOM…X and Richard, both down on the ground throwing punches here and there. It was awesome!"
"Kole, that is not awesome!" Kori shouted. "I'm going to check on him." Kori left in the direction of the principal's office.
"Why did they fight?" Terra questioned after seeing Kori leave.
"Nobody knows. But everyone keeps saying it was over Kori." Kolette added.
Richard + Kori's POV
Kori frantically ran to the office and opened the door. There in the empty lobby was Richard, holding an ice pack to his injured lip. She also noticed he had a couple of scratch marks on his reddened cheeks. He then looked up to the door at the sound of her entering. She had never seen him so angry before. His face held a glare that sent shivers down her spine.
"Richard!" She ran up to him and sat quickly in the seat next to him. But he didn't look at her, just stared straight ahead. He held the ice pack on his lip but took it off when she sat near him. "Oh my God, what happened to you?" She went to touch his face tenderly but he pulled away.
"I'm fine." he said in a monotonic voice.
"What happened?" she asked sadly.
"Nothing. X just doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut." Another confrontation between those two was the last thing she needed to deal with.
"Not again. This isn't like you, Richard."
"How would you know?" he said rudely looking directly in her eyes.
"Because I know you." she said placing her hand in his.
"You know me yet you don't believe me, right? So you go and run to him."
"What are you talking about? To who?" she asked perplexed.
"Where were you Saturday night?" he asked clearly seeing her avoid his hard stare.
"Tell me!" he shouted not liking her quietness.
"Obviously you know, so why ask."
"Because I want to hear it from you."
"You don't understand where I'm coming from, Richard. I go to your room and see the two of you in bed…together. How do you think that me feel, huh? It's like I lost all feeling in my body. And I couldn't take it so I left." she whispered softly to him. She stared to the secretary long across the room, who had just hung up the phone and left out the door for some unexplainable reason.
"To him, you left to him." Richard seethed at the thought.
"Nothing happened between me and Xavier. I don't love him like that. Here you are, mad at me when I did nothing wrong. You're the one who slept with Kitten. At least I know how to be faithful."
"For the last time, I DIDN'T SLEEP WITH HER!" he shouted raising out of his seat.
"I think my eyes beg to differ! At least Xavier can admit when he did something wrong." Kori screamed leaping out of her seat glaring up at Richard.
"Children reduce the noise to a minimum or take it outside." Mr. Cerebrum had opened the door to his room, then shut it after his comment.
Thinking he had a point, Kori grabbed Richard's hand to talk freely outside. As she began walking she felt his hand release from hers. She viewed he had remained in the same spot. "Aren't you coming?" she asked him. Richard shook his head dubiously.
"You know Kitten was right. You really don't trust me, do you?"
"I do trust you but it's just…I'm so confused right now." her clouded mind was becoming so discouraged.
"Well let me make it easier for you…go." he stated desolately.
"What? What are you saying?" she asked nervously. This wasn't going the way she had hoped. She, by far, did not want to lose him. She wouldn't lose him…
"I'm saying I hope you have a good life Kori." The sound of a creak was heard. Richard looked to the door that was now opening up to see an enraged Xavier storming out. For a moment it seemed as if X was walking up to Kori to say something…
"Straight to class, Mr. Redd!" X looked rebelliously at the authority figure but swiftly left.
"Now Mr. Grayson, right this way." Mr. Cerebrum held the door open allowing Richard to enter. Richard hastily went through, anxious to get out of the lobby and away from the girl he loved with such ferocity. The sadness in her eyes made his heart wither but she still didn't trust him. Was this the best thing for him to do…let her go?
At the sight of the closed door, he was no longer in sight. Her heartbeat slowed to a stock-still rhythm, or it appeared to. Was he gone from her life? It was all her fault, she should have believed him. Richard wouldn't hurt her, right? Now that he might be gone, why did things look a little clearer to her. You know Kitten was right. You really don't trust me, do you? Kitten! Oh how she was so sick and tired of that name! Of that person, really.
"Mrs. Adams?" the secretary who had appeared at the time of Mr. Cerebrum's scolding, was seated behind her desk.
"Yes sweetie."
"Could you please tell me what class Kitten Moth is in right now, you see I have a message to give her."
Kitten's POV
"Kitten try to get one right for once. The answer begins with T and ends in exas!"
"……." Kitten looked to the student seated beside her in a desperate attempt for an answer. The brunette girl simply rolled her eyes and avoided her. Kitten prayed a sigh of relief at the sound of the light tapping on the classroom door.
"Thank you! Come in please!" exclaimed Mrs. Haden, excessively tired from Kitten's consecutive wrong answers. As the door opened Kitten gawked at the smiling redhead who held the door ajar.
"Mrs. Haden, I'm sorry to interrupt but Ms. Moth is needed in the principal's office immediately." Kori beckoned cheerily. Kitten gulped largely and began nervously stuttering.
"Where's the note…she doesn't have a slip with her." Kitten questioned her teacher tensely.
"Oh Ms. Moth, we do not want to keep Mr. Cerebrum waiting." she ordered with enthusiasm, glad she was about to be rid of her.
"Yes Kitten we don't want to keep him waiting." Kori added her smile fading into a tiny smirk. Taking her time, Kitten gathered her things together. What is Kori doing here now, she was supposed to be at an assembly. Needless to say, she was frightened. But then again this was Kori, she'd never hurt a fly.
She walked up toward the door and Kori politely held it open for her.
"Thank you, Mrs. Haden." Kori stated before she left with Kitten.
They walked side by side and the redhead remained jarringly quiet. Kitten had to walk in close proximity to the lockers since Kori didn't let her move much.
"So…" Kitten was about to finish until Kori had slammed her hand against the locker, blocking Kitten's path. Kitten flinched at the sound of the bang and looked up sideways towards the now fuming girl. Now she scared shitless.
"So I've heard you've been a busy kitty." she alleged with a hint of odium to her.
"I don't know what you're talking about Kori." she fumbled with the words. She implored for someone, anyone to appear and get her out of this situation.
"Oh, I think you do." she said matter-of-factly.
"Look if this about me and Richard…"
"This is about me and you." she had now slammed her other free hand into the locker. Kitten had no way of escaping her now that Kori was completely in her face. With their height imbalance, Kori had to swoop down to match their eye level.
"I don't what the hell your problem is but this vendetta you have against me…it ends now." she said menacingly. She had done everything possible to respect Kitten throughout their stressed friendship. Unfortunately you can only go so far until you realize out that their spiteful and cruel temperament is solely their character. And Kori wanted nothing to do with her anymore.
"You hate me and I get that. From now on you stay away from me and my friends, especially Rachel. And Richard and I may not be together anymore but I'll be damned if I'm going to let you have him." Kori's loathing stare lingered straight at her before she decided she'd seen enough of her unsightly face. She removed herself from the lockers and turned to leave.
"Whatever bitch…as long as you don't have Richard, I'll deal." she scoffed.
Unexpectedly she saw Kori turn right back around and sent a flying punch straight to her face. Internally she felt a crack and reached to her nose where she felt blood gushing madly. "Oh my God! Oh my God! You broke my nose!" she muffled then wailed out in a horrendous agony. Only then again, she felt a strong uppercut connect with her jaw until she saw nothing but a dull black.
Wow...this took longer than I thought. This chapter is the longest one I've done so far. I hope it's up to par, if not then...well sorry. Well Kitten got dissed by X, then Richard and now Kori. Although I might torture her some more later. Just a few more chapters to go before I'm done. But anyways thanks to those special repeat reviewers, I love ya! Oh and sorry if I haven't included your names in these chapters, I've been trying to concentrate on the writing so far. And my new reviewers: Kory Anders, TTHPfan, Mysia. You guys rock!