Hey Guys!

Thanks for reading this story so far! I hope you enjoy this chapter; it is extra long and hopefully a little more interesting. I want to apologize because the last two chapters haven't been that great.

Unfortunately, this will probably be the last time I update for a little while. School is starting up for me again and finals are coming up. But to make up for it, I made this a lengthy chapter.

I really hope this chapter will be better than the last. Thanks for reading and please enjoy!

I love y'all so much!

-JB11

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.

Everything Changes: Chapter 3

TT

Kori felt a little awkward. After introductions, everyone continued their conversations and Kori just listened, afraid to engage. Kori sat quietly and watched the friends converse with each other.

The boy called Richard was very intriguing. His black hair was styled so as to appear wind-swept. His crystalline blue eyes that he hid behind his dark sunglasses were full of emotion, but if one didn't know, he would appear cold-hearted and uncaring. Every once in a while, Kori thought the boy would glance at her, but his sunglasses made it difficult to tell.

Finally, the girl named Rachel noticed that Kori was alone and closed her book and engaged her in conversation. "So, Kori," she started. "Where are you from?" As soon as Rachel spoke, the sandy haired boy, Gar, turned toward the two girls and listened in. Kori noticed the gesture and realized that the boy must like Rachel.

"I come from an island country in the Mediterranean Sea, Tamaran. It is very small."

"I'm assuming English isn't your first language then," Rachel said, although her statement sounded more like a question.

"Yes, my country has its own language."

"I think I've heard of Tamaran before," Karen stated.

Kori noticed that everyone was now involved in the conversation and were interested to learn about Kori.

"What do you like to do outside of school?" Rachel asked.

"I am a gymnast and I take karate lessons. I also do some modeling," Kori said, almost as an afterthought.

"You model?!" Karen asked her mouth agape and her eyes wide in shock. Everyone was looking at her in surprise now. "Who do you model for?"

"I do a lot of modeling for Victoria's Secret and Pink," Kori said uncomfortably. She was feeling a little self conscious and like an outsider. Chancing a glance at Richard, Kori noticed he seemed slightly uncomfortable when she said Victoria's Secret. Karen gaped at Kori.

"Do you have your wings?"

"Ah, no. But I have my halo," Kori said.

"Halo?" Karen asked.

"Oh, yes. Before a model gets her wings, she must first earn her halo, which one gets after working with them for a while."

"Oh, wow," Karen said in awe. "No wonder I thought you looked familiar. I've seen you in some of my magazines and catalogues before!"

"Yes, you probably recognized me from your magazines. Next time you get a catalogue from Victoria's Secret read the part about the models. I am called Starfire." (I honestly have no idea about modeling. I made up the halo thing.)

"Ooo girl, we have got to go shopping together! Hey Rach!"

Rachel glared at Karen. Apparently the girl didn't like nicknames.

"You wanna go shopping with Kori and I sometime? We can have a sleepover."

"Fine."

"Yes! Here Kori, give me your phone. I'll put in my number."

After adding herself to Kori's contacts, Karen passed the phone around to the others and they did the same. When the phone finally reached Richard, he hesitated slightly, but then added himself anyway.

"Hey Richard," Vic said. "Didn't you say you had something for us?"

"Oh right, here." Richard pulled out a half sheet of paper and handed one to everyone, including Kori. "I'm having a back to school party Friday night. It'll be fun. You guys should come early and help me decorate."

"Dude, do you remember the last time we helped you get ready for a party?" Gar asked. "Victor ate all the snacks before the guests arrived!"

"Hey, I wasn't the only one snacking, Green Bean!" The boys began bickering over who ate more of what.

Kori leaned towards Richard, "Are they always like this?"

Richard sighed, "Yeah, they're always fighting over something or another."

Richard and Kori continued talking about little things and learned a little more about each other. Kori learned that Richard lived with his adopted father Bruce Wayne and that his parents died when he was young. Richard was surprised at himself, he usually never told anyone about his parents especially people he had just met, but Kori seemed so genuine and he felt as if he could tell her anything. She was really warming up to him Richard learned about Kori's family and that she had a pet cat named Silkie.

As the obnoxiously bright yellow bus pulled up to Gotham High, Kori glanced out the window and gasped. The school was so large, it looked like an airport. Kori was amazed. "This is our school?"

Richard chuckled. "Yup."

"What's your schedule, Kori?" Rachel asked after she had marked her place in her book and carefully put it in her backpack as everyone on the bus stood and stepped off the tall steps of the bus into the cool crisp autumn air.

Kori handed Rachel a slightly crumpled piece of paper that read:

1 Biology-Ms. Ivy Rm. 3102

2 Algebra 2- Mr. Numerous Rm. 1346

3 Physical Education- Mr. Mammoth Rm. 702

4 European History- Mr. Mod Rm. 2217

Lunch

Study Hall

5 Choir- Ms. Canary Rm. 2135

6 English- Mr. Mumbo Rm. 1293

"We have Biology, Euro, and English together," Rachel announced.

"I have Math, P.E., and Choir with you," Karen said while peering at Kori's schedule over Rachel's shoulder.

The boys came to see what Karen and Rachel were looking at.

"Dude, we all have Biology together!" Gar said gesturing to himself, Kori, Rachel, Vic, and Richard.

"We have almost the exact same schedule," Richard said to Kori. Kori's blushed, but she wasn't quite sure why. It's not like she likes Richard or anything, right? I mean she couldn't, could she? They had just met even though it felt as if they had known each other for months, years, decades, lifetimes.

"We should get going. Don't want to be late to our first class, lil' lady," Vic said. Kori smiled up at him, Vic was so nice and kind, and like the caring older brother she never had.

The group made their way into the entrance of the school where kids were greeting their friends, engaging in the usual first day chatter about the summer and vacations, and immediately all eyes turned towards Kori, her fiery red hair and perfect features setting her apart.

A crowd of horny teenage boys separated Kori from her new friends. Calls of "Damn, you're fine," and whistles overwhelmed Kori. A couple boys asked for her number and one even asked to taste her juices. Kori was confused. 'Was I supposed to bring juice? All I have brought is water,' she thought. Soon the crowd was so thick, Kori started to feel claustrophobic. Everywhere she looked there were bodies pressing closer and closer towards her, like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. Her breaths came short and fast and she began to panic, frozen in fear. A pair of strong, chiseled arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her up, dragging her away from the mess. Those arms belonged to the one and only Richard Grayson.

Richard set Kori down and she turned towards him, buried her face in his chest, and grasped his upper arms. Rachel, Karen, Vic, and Gar created a protective barrier all around the two. Somewhere in the fray, Richard had lost his sunglasses and was now staring intently down at the top of Kori's head. "Kori, are you ok?" he said softly, his voice laced with concern.

Kori looked up into Richard's clear eyes full of worry for her and felt a spark of electricity run through her. "Yes, yes I'm fine. I thank you for saving me," Kori stammered, still breathing heavily.

Richard embraced her in a gentle hug and held her close to him, shielding her from the outside world. For a blissful moment, it was just Richard and Kori, a moment frozen in time for both. "Don't worry, I won't let anybody hurt you," he said tenderly.

"Yeah, we got your back, lil' lady."

"Besides, we could always sick Rachel on them," Gar said with a goofy grin on his face.

Kori gazed at her friends with watery eyes and smiled. They had only known each other for barely an hour and her friends had already accepted her as one of their own and were sticking up for her.

"I know what will make you feel better, some tofu brownies!" Gar said gleefully.

Everyone groaned. Kori wrinkled her nose in distaste, "I am not so sure I would like that."

Richard smiled at Kori, she looked so cute when she wrinkled her nose like that and she was so innocent.

"Let's get to class. I don't want to be late and we should keep you away from those boys," Rachel said in her usual monotone although she was concerned for Kori's safety, the girl had really grown on her.

"Okay, I'll see y'all later. Take care, Kori!" Karen said and disappeared into the crowds heading to her class.

The five friends made their way to class, still in a protective formation around Kori. Richard held her hand the entire way, for protection of course, or so that's what he told himself.

The friends entered the classroom. The room was scattered with desks combined into tables of four, except for one table of five, the perfect size for the group. Victor sat at the head of the table and Gar sat at the end with Rachel right next to him. Before taking his own seat, Richard pulled the chair out across from Rachel and gestured for Kori to sit there. Rachel raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing.

Kori gazed around the room with its white-washed walls and white tiled flooring. Exotic plants had been placed in front of the window sills and an aquarium of freshwater fish and two little frogs stood by the door. The walls were lined with lab stations complete with gas valves and sinks and black counter tops and decorated with a variety of posters. Above the lab stations were cabinets most likely filled with supplies and other useful science stuff.

Richard watched Kori gaze around the room in wonder. 'She is just too adorable,' he thought. The scrapping of a chair on the floor interrupted is reverie. The chair was placed right next to his desk and a girl with red curly hair and blue plopped down in it, a move which she must of assumed was graceful, but really wasn't. "Dick! I missed you so much!" the voice of Barbara Gordon squealed with much enthusiasm.

Kori looked at the girl in shock. 'Who was this girl talking to Richard? And why did she call him "Dick"?'

"Kori, this is my girlfriend Barbara. Barbara, this is my friend Kori," Richard said. Barbara glared at Kori her face clearing displaying her distaste for Kori. When Richard turned to look at Barbara, Barbara put on a smile and held her hand out for Kori to shake.

"Please, call me Babs." Gar snickered and Babs's eyes flickered to him narrowed and then returned to scrutinize Kori again.

"It is very nice to meet you," Kori said warily. Babs continued chatting with Richard and twirling her hair in her fingers. Kori may have just met her, but Kori knew that Babs was putting on an innocent girl act for Richard, but on the inside that girl was as evil as the devil himself.