"I'm sorry," she blushed hotly, "I'm not allowed to date."

Dick Grayson had just asked her out on a date! Her, the school nobody! It sucked that she had to refuse something she had wanted for so long. Gods, didn't she have any luck in the universe? It was a well known fact, that only people close to her knew, that Kori Ander had the biggest crush on Richard "Dick" Grayson. She had been in love with him since the beginning of junior high, her love held strong still as they moved into the same college of Gotham.

She had even ignored his dirty playboy ways!

"Oh," he looked down dejected. "Maybe if I talked to your parents they'd make an exception?" Her parents?

"My parents don't care if I date." Why would her parents care? If they had their way she wouldn't even be single anymore. Did most American parents care weather their child dated or not? Kori's parents had nearly married her off at the age of fifteen. Was that something normal American's didn't do?

He ignored her questioned and scratched the back of his head, "Is it some kind of personal goal?"

Kori out right laughed at his second guess; American's had such strange customs. "Nothing like that, Richard." She would like to think that he blushed because of the way he said her name and not because he had been wrong two times in a row, "Two of my friends have forbidden me to date."

"Your friends?" His face thick eyebrows knitted in confusion. Gods, the way the light hit his white skin, his dark hair, blue eyes; he had to be the most beautiful person in the world.

Get it together, Kori! No swooning!

"Yes," she confirmed, "my friends." Her arms tightened around the play books she had intended on reading, "Is that not normal either?"

"I'm not sure," she was thankful for his honest reply. "I've heard of people not wanting their friends to date certain people; but I've never heard of friends completely against dating."

Had Jason and Todd lied to her? They weren't bad friends but they did have a tendency to lead her astray in this new culture. If they had lied, again, she wouldn't be surprised. Just very angry!

"Can you ask me again?" Kori spoke after a minute of awkward silence.

Richard looked at the untamed redhead, eyes wide and lips slightly parted. She bestowed him with her Mrs. Universe smile and nodded her head. Richard smiled as he caught on, "Kori." He said and she hummed her acknowledgment, "Would you like to go on a date with me?"

"I'd love to, Richard." His shock passed over his expression before turning into an unabashed smile.