On Her Own

Chapter 16

Richard knew this was going to happen. She'd had a hard time telling him about what had happened, he hadn't expected her to have an easy time talking about it with the dean.

"Rach, look at me." She did as he asked.

"You are probably one of the strongest people I know. You can do this." He paused looking at her before adding, "Lets go." And with that he wrapped an arm around her waist and walked with her back into the deans office.

The dean looked up as the two of them walked in. "Mr. Grayson, I believe I asked you to wait out there."

Rachel sat in her chair from before, tugging on the silver chain while Richard stood behind it. "We tried that. Now we're trying it this way." He leaned down and put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

For a while they were all silent, Richard and the dean looking at each other while Rachel stared blankly out the window where it was snowing again. After a few minutes of this the dean finally broke the silence.

"Rachel, we both know why you're here. A friend of yours came to me and told me an interesting tale. Would you like to tell me about your relationship with Roy Harper?"

It took a moment for that to sink in for Rachel. When she realized what had been said she turned in her chair and looked despairingly at Richard for a moment before getting up and walking to the window.

"Roy was my friend once, or I had thought he was…he followed me out of a halloween party one night. He was drunk, he pushed me into the side of a truck and ripped the skirt and tights I had on. Someone came and stopped him, I don't know who, I couldn't see a face." She paused and took a deep breath before continuing with how she had thought that it would be over once he had sobered up. She went on with how he cornered her in her room a few weeks later, how he ripped her clothes, and forced himself on her. Finally she finished with, "…and yesterday he trapped me in my room and did it all again." With that she turned and walked out of the office. Silent tears were falling down her cheeks.

"Mr. Harper won't be returning next semester, the college has a no tolerance policy. Does anyone else know about this?" The dean asked Richard.

"Rachels roommate, Toni and my own roommate, Victor." The dean nodded as Richard turned to follow his girlfriend.

By the time Richard had caught up with Rachel she had already left the building and was on the path leading to their dorm rooms.

Walking next to her Richard reached for her hand only for her to yank it away. "Rachel?"

She sped up a bit more, not wanting to talk to him at the moment. But he simply lengthened his stride and easily caught up, moving in front of her. "Hey, what's wrong?"

She looked up at him, her eyes red. "How could you?" Her voice was strained, trying to keep it from cracking.

"Rach-"

"How could you go and tell him that about me?" Rachel stepped back when he reached out to her. She used a fist to wipe away the traitorous tears that had fallen. "How could you Richie!"

He slowly reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Rachel, I didn't tell anyone. Victor told the dean. He came back to the room late last night looking wasted and told me that he saved you after that party and that he finally went to the dean, telling him the whole story."

Rachel looked down at the ground, the still falling snow making her hair darker. "I know he saved me…Roy told me…"

Richard wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on top of hers. "It's alright baby, you never have to see him again." He pulled her a little closer to him, he could feel her clutching at his shirt. "It's over, forever."

Two hour later Rachel was flipping across the spring floor while Richard leaned along the wall with two bags of their clothes, talking on the phone.

Rachel walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his chest. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders squeezing lightly, listening to whoever was on the other end of the phone call. Letting go, she grabbed her water bottle and took a long drink.

"Yeah, she'll be fine. She's strong. She's been flipping across the spring floor for over an hour now." She could hear pride in his voice and she smiled mentally. He put a hand over the receiver and asked, "Feeling better now baby?" Nodding she kissed his cheek before going back over to the floor.

When he hung up his phone twenty minutes later, he looked up to see his girlfriend walking along the perimeter of the mats on her hands. "Rachel?"

She stopped where she was for a moment before changing direction and walking towards him. When she was only about two feet away from him she kicked down from her handstand. "You almost ready to go?"

She nodded and brushed some stray hair behind her ears. "Can I shower before we go? Do I have time?" Richard nodded, they had just under an hour till their ride got there.

When Rachel stepped out of the shower she was shocked to see Richard leaning against the wall, smirking. "So this is what the girls changing room looks like."

He smirked as she hit him on the side of the head as she walked by. "Would you like something to put on?" She stopped and turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. Richard pulled a folded outfit from being his back and pressed a kiss to her forehead when he handed her the clothes.

With a small smile she left him in the middle of the hall and walked off to get dressed. As she pulled on the black skinny jeans and loose tank top she thanked the heavens that her boyfriend had a good fashion sense.

Once again dressed, she found him back in the gym, walking on the low balance beam.

He hadn't realized she was standing behind him till she burst out laughing when he lost his balance and jumped safely to the floor a foot below him. "What are you doing?" She asked walking over towards the beam.

He shrugged. "It's harder to stay on one of these things than it looks. You try it," He stepped back so she could climb on with plenty of space.

Walking past him, she patted him on the shoulder before climbing on the high beam and walking across effortlessly. "It doesn't seem that hard." She smirked down at him.

"Now that's just not fair," He whined lightly, causing her to laugh. Rachel motioned for him to climb up with her and he did just that, wobbling the entire time. Moving closer, she took his hands and helped him get his balance.

Once he was upright and she was pretty sure he wouldn't fall off, she stepped back and lunged into a handstand. He gaped at her, "How do you balance on this thing?"

Kicking down, she smiled at him. "I squeeze, here," She poked him lightly in the stomach. "and here," She pressed down gently on his shoulders. "and here." Crouching down, she trailed a finger up and down his legs. She felt him shiver under her fingers. Stepping back, she gave him a shy smile.

Grinning he carefully closed the space between them, wrapping his arms around her. A second after she had been pressed against his chest, he started wobbling again and dragged them both off the beam and sent them crashing onto the crash mat below them.

They both landed on their sides in each others arms, laughing. Rachel inched closer, snuggling against his chest. "That was fun." She murmured into his chest.

Lifting her chin he kissed her softly. Pulling back he put their foreheads together briefly before kissing her again, slowly deepening it. He ran his hand absentmindedly through her hair before it settled on her lower back, pulling her closer. One of Rachels hands left his shoulders and crept up under his shirt, pulling away timidly when his phone started ringing in his back pocket. When he answered it she pulled away and sat up, nervously finger combing her hair.

Richard reached for her hand with one of his and squeezed it before tucking his phone back into his pocket. "Are you ready to go to the manor and meet Bruce?"

She nodded slowly getting to her feet. They went over to the wall and grabbed their bags before leaving the gym. Rachel stopped suddenly, seeing the limo that was idling in front of the colleges gymnasium. Richard left his bag by the door to the limo before walking back over to her. "I told him not to send the limo." He said simply like it was the most common thing in the world. She just stood there for a few minutes, looking between him and the black limousine where someone was getting out of the drivers side.

"Ah Master Richard, it is so good to see you again."

He laughed. "It's good to see you too Alfred." Richard glanced at the man standing by the door to the limo before taking Rachels duffle from her and wrapping his arm around her waist, slowly guiding her forward. "Alfred this is Rachel, the one I told you was coming home with me."

Alfred bowed slightly. "Hello Miss Rachel." She could do nothing but nod, still in shock that they were leaving in a limo.

Alfred reached for the bag Richard was holding but he simply moved it out of reach. "I can put this in the back, I'm a big boy Alfred." Alfred shook his head slightly and laughed a bit as he made his way back to the drivers seat. After tossing both their duffle bags in the back he climbed into the back seat beside Rachel.

Resting her head on his shoulder she felt him place a soft kiss on the top of her head and murmur, "Wayne Manor awaits."

So, I think that's gonna be the end. I fell like this is a good place to end it, but if you want more review and tell me what you want to read!