CHP 12: Decisions Decisions
Another apology for disappearing off the face of the planet. This time I blame all the new projects I've started, a blog and an ebook novel. Anyway, back to fanfic related news. So, I added more details to my outline for this story and I'm completely satisfied with the direction it's going in, but I'm also completely sure it's going to take forever to finish! So many details o.O I'll try to take my time with editing and not get impatient, but don't shoot me if my grammar isn't impeccable. *Crossing fingers, please let there be no plot holes!*
Kurokawa Kazunari: Hmm, I'll have to go back and do more editing later. Thanks for letting me know though and yeah, I think my writing style might have a tad bit of randomness to it. It might be the ADD jk lol.
RandomBlackGuy: The compliments are greatly appreciated.
Detrametal: Thanks again for PMing me and for your interesting and lengthy review. I didn't respond to your last question about And'r and Kori yet, so I'll do so here. And'r is jealous of Kori. I didn't really create much of a back story for that because it didn't seem necessary to the plot, but yeah, basically she's just really jealous of her and enjoys making her life miserable. She acts very similar to the way she did in the Titans animated series only more vicious because of the vibe I'm going for in this story. Also, about your rant on Dick, totally justified. I've been around guys that act like him as well and, yes, it is infuriating. Don't worry though, he does have a lot of good qualities. Even though he's kind of a selfish character in this story he is progressing in positive ways. There are small instances, especially in this chapter that show he does care what happens to Rachel and even that he respects Kori enough to listen to her. These moments are subtle though.
-Disclaimer- I don't own the Teen Titans
"Hi!"
"Hello."
"You must be Rachel. My name is Nicole, I'll be conducting your interview for the day. Please go ahead and take a seat over there." She pointed at a row of white arm chairs near the dressing rooms.
I nodded, going to sit down when I saw Kori and her sister And'r walk in, grazing the racks. They would shop here. I inwardly groaned, dawning a straight face.
"Oh look!" I heard Kori squeal, when she spotted me in the corner.
"Hi." I managed to choke out, giving a tight lipped smile.
"I did not know that you worked here?"
And'r gave her sister a haughty sideways glance. "Why do you STILL talk like that? You've been in US longer than I have and you still talk weird." She broke out in a over-the-top fit of laughter.
Kori shrunk back, with a sudden darkness to her face.
"I don't work here. I'm interviewing." I said, ignoring her sister. It was blatantly obvious And'r was trying to get attention with her obnoxious laugh. I couldn't stand when people did that. It reminded me of the girls in grade school that would tease me about my pale skin and laugh as loud as they possibly could in front of boys they liked. I suppose some people never matured.
Nicole came out from behind the dressing rooms holding a clipboard. "Are you ready?" She smiled.
I nodded.
"See you!" Kori waved, perking up again. And'r just smirked.
"Hey, Rachel!" Kori called out. "We are still meeting, correct? Victor sent me a message."
I respond with a silent nod and soft smile before following Nicole into the back room.
"How early can you start?"
"Uhhh..."
"Like if I ask you to come in a 12 today could you?"
"Uhhh..."
I glanced at Nicole's frightening smile and then back at my phone, back at Nicole, and then back at my phone, back at my phone, then back at Nicole. Her left eye was beginning to twitch ever so slightly.
It was 10 already, was this lady cracked out? She didn't honestly expect me to leave for 2 hours and come back. After thinking about it for all of two seconds, I gave her a blank stare, sighing inwardly.
"Today wouldn't be ideal."
"Oh, okay, what about tomorrow at 10 then?"
"That's fine."
"See you then."
I shook her hand before leaving her office, heading back into the main store. A knot was beginning to form in the pit of my stomach. My first job... I glanced at the plushy pink pillows, the bedazzled alarm clocks, the rainbow sequence dresses, the Jeanie Pants, and the Rompers on display. The stereos were blasting "Like a G6" and "Barbie Girl" simultaneously...fuck my life.
I walked out to the parking lot sighing. My hands were full of paperwork, tax forms, privacy contracts, background check information, the works. At least I got a job, I thought to myself, glancing back at the mall entrance. For some reason I had this feeling like someone had just taken a monstrous shit on my shoulders.
Thankfully a distraction hit. My ass cheek was buzzing, so I pulled out my phone. Dick, I sneered at the screen. I was looking forward to not dealing with him until six tonight. I rubbed my temples, reading the text. Here goes the emotional roller coaster all over again.
"You rang?" I raised an eyebrow, taking a disinterested bite out of a Snickers bar that I'd picked up from a vending machine on the way out of the interview.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because I need some help..."
I felt his irritation through the phone.
"What now?"
"I have to do some..."
"Some what?"
"Shopping." He hissed. "Vic text me earlier, asking me to get some supplies for operation Gar this evening."
"So, text him back and tell him to do it." My eyebrows knit together as I discovered a burnt peanut in my Snickers.
"I tried that." Dick growled. "He said he has to manage the apartment until 5, so he can't."
"Figures..."
"Are you home? I'll come by and pick you up."
"The mall, but look I gotta go."
"Fine, I'll be there in 20."
I ended the call, looking up at a cluster fuck of people just hanging out in the parking lot a few yards away. I recognized a few faces in the crowd. The main ones being Kori and And'r.
And'r tossed her hair hair over her shoulder and rolled her eyes in my direction turning her attention back to the others in the group, but Kori waved looking, if anything, relieved to run into me again. I nodded acknowledging her and was about to walk off in the other direction, but then I heard someone shout "fugly hoe" at the back of my head. There was a chorus of laughter that broke out subsequently when I turned back to face them.
"Oh daang Zack guess that bitch heard you bro!"
"I don't give a fuck, she is an ugly hoe, I wasn't lying. Bitch is as white as a ghost and her eyes are sunken like a crack whore."
"But she got some nice boobs though, you put a bag on her face and get that shit from the back."The one that was talking elbowed Zack then pointed at me and then his crotch and started humping the air and laughing.
I started walking toward them and their laughing got louder. And'r turned to smirk and laugh along with some of the other girls. When she did Kori shrunk back, putting her head down.
"You dooches are blind." Adon snorted, spitting on the ground near my feet. I stood just a yard away from him. He glanced over at Kori with a smug look on his face grabbing his stack. " Ay hoe invite your fine ass friend to the party tonight and I'll do both of you this time."
When he turned back to face me I was three inches from him with my pocket knife at his throat. A wicked grin forming on my lips when his eyes widened. With my thumb I closed the knife slowly, tucking it into my back pocket before kneeing him hard in the balls. He hollered out in anguish and the world around us grew dark. I couldn't see anything, just his face, just him and I was going to tare that fucker apart.
I threw myself on top of him while he clutched his groin in pain, still shouting. Knees nailed to his chest, I landed endless punches. The skin from my left knuckle busted as another punch landed against his nose. A loud crack was heard and blood shot out like a geyser.
"She's going to kill him get her off!" Faint shouts echoed around me.
I couldn't stop. I wouldn't. My nails dug deep into the sides of his head, ripping his hair from his scalp and raising his head from the pavement before slamming it down. I did it again, then again!
"STOPPP! STOP! SOMEONE STOP HER!"
You're just like your daddy aren't you Rache? Kill him, shut his ass up for good, kill him!
From my back pocket I reached for my knife, but a hand was there, clasped around my wrist.
"Don't."
The voice came small and calm, but it was enough. I turned to see Kori there. She had pushed through the crowd, which was petrified in place. My arms fell slack and my head hung low, the world around me was still dark, her light was struggling to make its way through. I felt her hands grip me, pulling me from Adon's bloodied mass.
Just then, a loud honk erupted, braking up the monotony.
"Rachel?" Dick's deep and questioning voice pierced my ears.
I was limp like raw meat dangled over Kori's shoulder. It felt like I was floating on air as she carried me to Dick's car, positioning me upright in the front seat.
"What did I do?" My eyes met Kori's, remorse washing over me in heavy waves.
Kori bit her lip as if stuck in between decisions. "Hold the car for a moment," she told Dick, running back over to the group of wide eyed gawking teens.
Both Dick and I watched in silence as Kori and And'r talked. We were too far away to hear what was being said, but from the look on And'r's face she was livid. Kori merely folded her arms in defiance while a long pause was held between them before Kori broke away, coming back to the car.
"I can explain the situation later if you let me ride with you guys."
Dick nodded, dumbstruck and Kori climbed in the backseat. She was so tall that her head touched the top of the ceiling even when she sat down.
"I'm a monster." I hung my head.
"You are not a monster." Kori reached from the back seat, patting me on the shoulder. "You just have unhealthy ways of expressing your anger."
"Right." Dick agreed, stone faced. He stared straight ahead, both hands on the wheel as we pulled into the packed Super Mart.
The car jerked to a halt and Kori and Dick sat in silence for a moment, but I jumped out. It was so awkward being the center of attention. I felt too much like the troubled child waiting for punishment. Kori didn't leave me to stew in my own anxiety for long, she was right behind me. Dick, on the other hand, went the opposite direction looking for a cart. He caught up to join us soon after choosing the cleanest cart he could find, unfortunately it was the one that constantly went sideways when you pushed it.
"So what does Vic want us to get for tonight?"
"Not much," Dick gave a one cheeked smirk "Just a little food and a lot of booze.
"And you're buying?" I raised an eyebrow wondering how we were supposed to get away with buying alcohol. I was only 19 and there was no way Kori was older than 20.
"I'm 22," Dick responded as if reading both Kori and I's mind. He casually grabbed a couple kegs of beer and some wine coolers. I took one of the packs of wine coolers out of his hand, turning it over to skim through the ingredients.
"High fructose corn syrup," I grimaced. "You actually drink this stuff?"
He shrugged, calmly pushing the cart through the alcohol isle, which was abnormally long. I folded my arms under my armpits, looking around at all the obnoxious shoppers. Two women in their early twenties twerked past us, catching the eye of a forty year old man. His head followed their butts as they switched to the end of the isle. Dick, on the other hand, hadn't payed much attention. His eyelids drooped as if he was ready for a midday nap.
At the end of the isle was a pregnant woman surrounded by five wild kids. Two were pulling on her legs, one was hanging on the end of the cart, and two were crouched over as if they were getting ready for a race.
Behind her, hoards of people passed, their whole conversations were completely intelligible even though I was more than several feet away.
"Don't these people have anywhere else to be on a Monday afternoon?" I sulked. Crowds were obnoxious and I loathed them.
A young man with his pants hanging down past his boxers waddled between Dick and I. His elbow ribbed me right in the chest, but he kept on walking. Dick's face immediately changed from boredom to a scowl. His lips tightened and he opened his mouth as if he were going to say something when a hand reached up and grabbed the cart.
"This is plenty of alcohol, let us go to a different isle." I turned to see Kori smile.
He nodded, realizing the cart was halfway full with beer kegs, wine coolers, and champagne. "Alright, I picked out all the alcohol, you guys figure out what we're supposed to eat."
Kori and I both nodded, but I planned to let her do most of the food shopping. It was bad enough just standing in Super Mart, the shopping part made it even worse. I folded my arms in irritation, making note of the smell of poopy baby diapers & wet dog food, the heavy scuff marks on the floor, and the rabid shoppers.
"Kori can choose, I don't really care, I'm not picky."
"Okay, I want tacos!" She exclaimed beaming from ear to ear, running off with the cart toward the ethnic foods isle.
Dick and I dragged behind her.
"Excitable, isn't she" Dick smirked.
I hadn't taken time to ask Kori what she'd said to And'r because of all the other people in Super Mart, but now that we were back in the parking lot my mind was consumed with thoughts of the fight earlier. I was scared, scared Adon would press charges. If he did I was screwed. My record looked bad enough without charges of assault & battery along with attempted man slaughter.
"Kori?" I stopped her, while she was piling groceries in the back seat.
"Hmm? She turned to face me smiling, but then went back to what she was doing.
Dick ignored us both, continuing to put groceries away as quickly as possible. I could tell he was just as irritated about being at Super Mart as I was.
"I was wondering what you said to And'r earlier. You never told us what happened."
"Oh," She said. "I just told her that if Adon pressed charges I would also, then there would be no more parties."
I didn't get it. "But didn't you already press charges?"
"No," she said. "I told the officer to keep it on file, but that I could not remember enough. I didn't want to upset And'r. If I pressed charges she would get in trouble with our parents and then the parties would end."
I dropped the subject after that, the sadness in her voice as she talked about her sister was clearly evident.
"Are you two ready to take this stuff to Vic's" Dick interrupted.
We both gave a nod before hopping back in the car.
I switched places with Kori on the way to Vic's because I was tired of hearing her say ouch each time we hit a speed bump and her head smacked the ceiling. She seemed appreciative and talked non stop the entire way to the complex, about random things too. It was weird the way she interacted with Dick. Though he was stone faced she persisted to ask him questions, never taking time to realize how self absorbed he was, or that he wasn't taking her questions seriously.
"-And then my mom told me that I should not shave my legs because I would get the tiny bumps and they are not cute on a girl with long legs. I went a whole year without shaving!" Kori laughed. "Do you shave? How often? Do you grow a beard or a mustache?" She reached over to poke his face, but he grabbed her hand.
"Let's discuss that later. I think we should get the groceries into Vic's."
Kori slumped and gave a childish pout, but perked back up within seconds and was immediately helping carry bags into the leasing office.
"Woah, ya'll got a lot." Vic opened the front door as the three of us lugged in bags.
"Well it's not like you gave us a list." Dick snarled.
Vic just shrugged and directed us to a table in the residents kitchen where we could set everything.
"Is this where we'll be?" I asked.
"No," Vic shook his head. "Too public, I have my own apartment on site. I'll just take all this stuff up to my place later."
"Cool..." The room fell silent as all of us looked around at each other before I spoke up. "Vic why are you being so nice about all of this and helping us move?"
"I'm just a cool guy," he shrugged. "And..."
"And what?" My eyelids narrowed into thin slits.
"And I get a huge bonus if you guys sign this lease."
"Figures." I grumbled.
"So what now?" Dick asked.
"You guys are free to hang out here until I'm off." Vic suggested. "I'll be done at 5."
5 o'clock rolled around, but there was still an hour before operation Gar was set to commence. Kori had done most of the organizing once Vic got us up to his place. His one bedroom had enough room for thirty house guests, so we had no problem finding space to set up. Kori quickly got busy in the kitchen, and she pulled me in with her, setting up a little space at the counter for me to chop lettuce and tomatoes.
I sighed, getting a knife out and slicing while stone faced. She, on the other hand, wore a look of sheer bliss. She grated the cheese and heated a skillet with oil.
"HEEY! Watch it!" Vic shouted, running over to help her as hot grease popped out from the pan and started a mini fire on the stove.
Dick looked over nonchalantly, and gave a faint chuckle as he was putting more items away. He paused a moment when he got to a large bottle of mustard.
"Wait, why did we buy a huge bottle of mustard?"
Kori turned from the stove where Vic was trying to smother the small fire and get new oil to fry the tortillas.
"Um..." She tapped her index fingers together nervously, looking at the ceiling "no reason."
Raising an eyebrow and shaking his head, Dick tossed the mustard in the fridge with the rest of the extra food items. He put the wine coolers in the freezer, the champagne in the fridge, and left the beer on the counter.
"Well," he said plopping down in a recliner and propping his feet up on an ottoman. "My work here is done." He grabbed a remote and flipped on a MMA fight.
"Lazy ass," Vic glared, putting on an apron that had boobs on the front.
"I did the shopping." Dick grumbled.
"Whatever." Both Kori and I chimed in.
After Vic was finished cooking the shells and ground turkey Kori and I started helping him stuff the tacos full of tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese. Then he gave me guacamole duty. I really wished he hadn't because I suck at cooking. With my luck I figured it'd probably come out green.
"AGH!" I exclaimed, looking at the mess sitting in the bowl before me. "It's green!"
Kori snickered, covering her mouth and trying to hide her amusement.
Vic, came over and peaked over my shoulder. "Girl, it's supposed to look like that. That's how guacamole looks."
"Oh." I blushed. "You see I'm not such a good cook. I think I'll leave you two to finish the rest."
"That's fine," Vic said as he finished topping off the spicy rice and re-fried beans with extra cheese. "Did you text Gar yet?"
"No, I'm getting ready to do it now." I casually made my way over to the chair where Dick was sitting, while searching for Gar's number on my phone. He didn't say a word when I sat down in his lap.
"Oh shit."
"What?" Both Kori and Vic said at the same time.
"I just remembered something. Gar's a vegetarian."
"WHAAA?"
I shifted, to Dick's displeasure, peaking over the back of the seat at their disgruntled faces.
"You could have said that before, now what do we feed him?"
"I don't know, just stuff some of the tacos with rice and beans and throw that green shit on top." I shrugged.
I could hear Dick laughing from under me. I sat back down facing him with a grimace "Oopps."
"It's alright," Dick muttered, re-positioning me so that he could get more comfortable. "He'll be too drunk to eat anyway."
"Did he say he's coming yet?" Both Vic and Kori were seated at the dining room table their heads plastered to the glass after twenty minutes of waiting.
"He better hurry up. I went through a lot of work." Vic complained and Kori shot him a look of fiery indignation.
"Uh, I meant WE went through a lot of work." He chuckled nervously.
In the middle of the conversation someone was knocking on the door.
"Bingo." I deadpanned.
"Hey Gar," I opened the door to greet him. It took all the energy I had just to muster up a fake smile.
"What is all this?" He did a quick scan of the room, eyelids narrowed in suspicion before taking off his shoes and coming in.
"I told you already, Vic just wanted to have us all over for food, just hanging out and everything."
"We made taaacoos." Vic chimed in in a sing-songy voice.
"I'm a vegetarian." He spat out icily. "And why is he here?" Gar pointed at the arm chair where Dick was still reclined, kicking back and drinking a beer.
"Uh." He's Vic's friend. I added quickly, grabbing a glass for some champagne and taking a sip to busy my mouth. I took the rest of the bottle with me and an extra glass over to the table where Kori and Vic were already destroying the tacos. Pulling out a seat for him, I offered him some champagne.
"He's not Dick's friend, they just met!"
"That's true." Dick smirked peaking over the back seat.
"And you can't drink Rache you're 19!" He exclaimed, frowning. "These guys," he pointed around the room at Vic, Kori, and Dick are bad influences.
"Yeah and?" I smirked deviously pressing the bottle of champagne to his chest.
"Good point." He shrugged, snatching the bottle and pouring himself a glass. Then he walked over to the tacos and played Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. "So which one of these are vegetarian?"
-THE NEXT DAY-
"No NO NO!" Gar whined loudly pounding his fists against Vic's dining room table where he woke up drool stains and fork marks imprinted on his cheek. Next to him sat a thick stack of paperwork with one big signature right on the dotted line, Garfield Logan.
"You bastards! You sneaky little bastards!"
"Uh oh," Vic said from the patio where we were all hanging out. "I think he's up."
We looked through the window to see him taring through the apartment, ripping the lease agreement and throwing it in the air like confetti, kicking the couches, and throwing random objects at the window, and giving us the bird with both hands.
"Yeah, he's up," Dick smirked.
