Chapter Six- And I So Hate Consequences

"You're pregnant?" her friends asked in unison, expressions shocked.

Kori nodded, looking down at her legs and smoothing the hem of her pleated skirt. "It's Roy's," she spat bitterly.

"Kori," Karen said quietly, looking straight into Kori's bottle green eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am," she snapped. "I took one of my mother's pregnancy tests because I was late."

"What are you going to do?" Rachel queried, amethyst eyes searching Kori's face for an answer.

"I don't know," Kori admitted, biting her lip to keep from wailing.

"Shut up, Rachel, can't you see she's upset?" Karen scolded. "Come here, Kori."

Karen embraced her upset friend again, glaring at Rachel, who was leaning against a sink.

Rachel shrugged. "I'm just curious, Karen."

"I am afraid," Kori mumbled into Karen's shoulder. "My parents shall hate me and Richard won't love me anymore."

Rachel snorted. "Your parents adore you, Kor. And Richard has loved you since the day you met."

"That is all going to change," Kori protested gloomily. "My father will be ashamed of me."

"They don't know?" Karen asked, frowning. "Why?"

"I was too s-scared," she slurred.

Karen rubbed her back soothingly. "Lucky for him that he's already dead. Because I would kill him if he hadn't croaked."

"What's done is done," Rachel replied. "Kori…what about Richard?"

"I have no idea," Kori said sadly. "I am unsure of what his reaction shall be."

The three remained in the ladies' room until the bell rang. Health had been their last class of the day, and Richard was waiting outside the bathroom when they left it.

"Kori," he breathed. "Everything OK?" he added, noticing her bloodshot eyes. He advanced, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Kori stared at the ground. "I have to talk to you," she uttered softly.

He nodded, and looked at Karen and Rachel. "Is she OK, girls?" he asked, biting his lip.

"I can't really say," Rachel said, walking in the direction of her locker.

"Karen?"

She shook her head, chestnut brown eyes forlorn.

"Alright, Kor," he murmured. Richard found her hand and entwined his fingers through hers. "Hey, Vic!"

Vic turned and smiled at his friends. "Hey, Kor," he said gently. "You feeling better now?"

Kori shook her head in disagreement. "No, but I thank you for asking, Vic," she replied.

"Hey, can you have Gar drop Kori's car off at her house?" Richard inquired. "She says we need to talk. I'll bring her home."

"Sure, no problem."

Kori fished her keys out of her purse and handed them to him.

"I hope you feel better," Victor told her kindly.

"Thank you."

Richard gave his friend a half smile in thanks and led his girlfriend away.

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Richard stopped at Starbuck's and bought them both coffees.

"Here," he said, his voice thick with sympathy as he reentered his silver convertible. "I understand why you freaked out in Health. It's OK."

Kori sipped the coffee and stared at her feet. "Thank you for trying," she mumbled finally.

"Trying?" he repeated, frowning. "I don't understand."

"The reason I left is only partly because of Roy's actions. There is another, and much bigger, side of the problem, Richard," she snapped.

"OK. What's going on?" he asked, trying to make eye contact with her.

"We have to break up," Kori said, refusing to meet his gaze and continuing to stare at her feet.

Richard nearly spit out the swig of coffee that was in his mouth. "W-Why?" he spluttered.

"You cannot possibly love me anymore when I tell you what I am about to tell you," Kori wailed, unbuckling her seatbelt and climbing into his lap.

"Kori," he whispered, "I would rather die than break up with you."

She lifted her tearstained face to look into his icy blue eyes. Kori knew they were sincere. A weak smile was given.

"You mean the world to me," Richard continued. "I hate him for ruining your life. It was supposed to be us…together like that. But I know that nothing could ever make me stop loving you."

"He really has ruined my life," Kori admitted. "I'm gonnahaveababy," she uttered quickly.

"Can I have that last bit again?"

Kori took a deep breath. "I'm going to have a baby."

"Oh…my…God," Richard breathed. "But you can't have his baby…"

Kori nodded and sniffled. "It's true, Richard."

He tightened his embrace on her willowy figure. "I don't understand why you want to break up," he responded after a while. "I'll help you."

"By doing what?" Kori questioned harshly. "I'm pregnant by someone I hate. It's my responsibility to care for this child, no matter how much I hate his or her father."

"I'll help you," Richard echoed. "I'll marry you."

"No," Kori said firmly. "No way will I let you sacrifice your future for me."

"But I love you," Richard reminded her gently, kissing her cheek. "And everyone will think it's my baby anyway."

Kori thought about this. "But-"

"Unless you decide to tell your parents about Roy, they'll think it's my baby. And," he added, smiling slightly, "I've always wanted to be a father."

"I do not know what to say," Kori mumbled, blushing scarlet. "Oh, Richard, how can I ever thank you?"

"You don't have to," he assured her. "I love you. No baby could ever change that."

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"Kori, darling, is something wrong? Did you and Richard have a fight?" Mrs. Anders asked as she sunk down onto Kori's canopied bed.

"No, Mother, Richard and I are not fighting. I am merely tired," she said, faking a smile.

"Kori," Mrs. Anders said warningly. "Why are you tired? And why did you run out of Health class this afternoon?"

"Mother-"

"Darling, are you pregnant?" Mrs. Anders queried. "I saw you and Richard wrapped in each others' arms in your bed a few weeks ago."

Kori hung her head. "I'm sorry Mother."

"Kori…" Mrs. Anders embraced her daughter. "Don't worry; I'll break it to Daddy. You and Richard will get married; it'll all be OK."

"Thanks for understanding, Mom," Kori wailed, burying her face in her mother's shoulder.

"My baby is having a baby," Mrs. Anders murmured. "Oh, Kori."

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"WAYNE!" Mr. Anders shouted, storming into Wayne Manor.

"Yes, Mr. Anders?" Bruce asked calmly, descending the huge winding staircase, Richard following.

"YOU!" Mr. Anders roared, pointing his index finger at Richard. "You got my daughter pregnant. How could you? Don't you know any better?"

"Excuse me, Anders, but Richard would never do anything with Kori unless he was sure they were truly in love," Bruce remarked coldly. "I've watched them; and I believe he does love Kori."

"That has nothing to do with it," Mr. Anders seethed. "They're too young to be having-"

"I love him, Daddy. I never meant to get pregnant," Kori sobbed. Richard went around Bruce's gigantic frame and enveloped her in his arms.

"I love your daughter, Mr. Anders. It was never our intention to have a baby at this point in our lives, but it'll be OK," Richard said quietly.

"Really, dear, there's no problem here. They'll get married and have the baby," Mrs. Anders said reasonably.

"Kori WILL NOT have the baby!" Mr. Anders screamed. "She'll have an abortion and never see this…punk…again!"

"Now hold on, Anders," Bruce roared. "This is Dick's baby too."

Mr. Anders snorted.

"Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere else?" Mrs. Anders suggested meekly.

"An excellent idea, Mrs. Anders," Bruce said gallantly. "To the study?"

Mr. Anders snorted once more and followed his wife into Bruce's study.

"Come on," Richard muttered. "We can listen to them."

He led Kori up another flight of stairs and down a huge and seemingly endless corridor. At last Richard stopped and opened a tiny door slowly, so as not to make it creak.

"Shh," he hissed. The two teens settled themselves in a corner. Bruce's study covered two stories and had a nice loft at the top, which was where they sat.

Richard wrapped his arm tightly around Kori's shoulders and kissed her head. "It'll be OK, Kor. I won't let us be separated."

"-She's too young! He's too young!" Mr. Anders was saying, positively spitting with rage

"I agree on that count," Bruce said coldly. "And while it was a mistake, it was one they made together. They owe it to this baby to be there for him or her. The solution is simple."

"WHAT?" Mr. Anders demanded.

"They will get married. When Kori begins to show, they will have private tutors so they will still be qualified for high school diplomas. The baby will be born and have both its mother and father there for him or her. Richard will go to work at Wayne Enterprises."

"Dear, you should try listening to Bruce," Margaret said quietly. "He makes perfect sense."

"Hmph," said Mr. Anders.

"Look at them," Richard said. "Down there deciding our futures."

"You can still tell them it isn't yours, you know," she muttered.

"No," Richard said simply.

"If you make her have an abortion she'll never forgive you," Mrs. Anders said cruelly to her husband. "Yes, it was stupid, but they've loved each other for three years. It was bound to happen sometime."

Mr. Anders did the unthinkable: he started to cry.

"I know I'm being illogical," he said. "She's my little girl. Of course I'm upset."

"I realize, dear," Mrs. Anders responded, patting her husband's arm gingerly. "Richard will take care of here and his child. You know that."

"Yes. I suppose I should apologize to them."

"Indeed. They're sitting in the loft," Bruce said, pointing.

"I'm sorry," Mr. Anders called. "Forgive me?"

"Of course, Daddy."

"You will be sure to take care of my little girl, won't you?" he asked Richard.

"I wouldn't dream of doing otherwise."

R&R!