Chapter 7 - Fights
"I'm gonna kill him!"
Karen marched down the street in front of me, practically fuming.
Walking to Jenny's house, myself and Rachel followed our irate friend, who's manic rage had woken up half the neighbourhood. The cause of this outburst was something I had said just a few moments ago, merely telling her what had happened at the water fountain, had sent Karen into a raging frenzy. She was practically venting out her anger towards the spoiled playboy for the whole world to know.
"How dare that dude beat you up like that! No one hurts my friends and lives!" Karen fumed while ringing the door bell of Jenny's house. In a way I was glad Karen hadn't been there yesterday after the incident, it would have been difficult dealing with my emotions, and also keeping Karen's anger in check.
"He didn't beat me up, he just"-
My voice trailed off as a pale face came to the window of the door, opening it was a very tired looking Jenny. She rubbed her eye lid and mumbled
"Hi guys, I'm sorry but I keep being sick, so I'm gonna stay in today." Jenny coughed after she spoke, her eyes watering.
"Oh okay we'll check up on you later, I hope your all right." I said, a little disappointed and worried all at once.
"Get well soon" said Rachel in her monotone.
We left the house, and began to talk again once we were at the end of her driveway.
"I hope she will be okay" I said, thinking back to how Jenny had helped me out yesterday. She was a good friend, and I wondered how I could repay her for her help. I had been hoping she could help me out with curbing Karen's anger, seeing as how Jenny was the only one capable of calming her. My eyes looked up towards the clouds as I wondered what Richard would do to me today. Was he capable of more humiliation?
"She'll be fine...Richard wont" joked Karen, at least I hoped she was joking. I took in her appearance for a moment, noticing that her fashion sense had changed today. Her usual yellow and black top had been exchanged for a white knee high dress and gold belt. She had star ear rings, with matching necklace and white high heels with bows on.
"Someone wants to impress Vic" Rachel whispered to me, and I couldn't help but giggle.
Entering the school a little early, I noticed a crowd of people around what appeared to be a poster.
"Oh no, not again" said Rachel.
"What is it?" I asked, quite intrigued and trying to get a glimpse of said poster.
"Go have a look" Rachel said, rolling her eyes as Karen ran off to talk to Vic, who was leaning against the lockers waiting for her. I shrugged and pushed slightly through the crowd to look at the poster. Looking up at the wrinkled yellow paper, I gulped. The murmur of the excited students around me blurred away as my eyes scanned the words slowly.
It read: 'School active day - who will be the best athlete team? Four student per team! Boys Vs Girls. Sign up now!'
Now I see what Rachel meant - I'm dead. After the principles lecture on to do something constructive, I will have to compete in this.
"Only one group of girls is going win in that tournament...ours" Rachel said appearing next to me out of nowhere. The others students must have walked away, as only a few of them lingered around now. Had I been looking at the poster for so long? I wonder why Rachel would want to compete?
"I have to earn extra credit as well, and my extra time in the library isn't enough. This should prove to be interesting anyway." Rachel gave a tentative smile, and I stared disbelievingly at her for a moment.
"It's not like I need to earn extra credit, but I'll join your team. Don't worry Kori, we'll beat that jerk." Karen joined us, putting her hands on her hips and looking quite determined. I blinked and felt despair weigh me down from her words. Of course, Richard would sign up for this. He excells at sport, and even if he didnt, he'd join just to make sure I'd loose.
I shook my head and tried to think positive. I can do this! I'm not bad a sport myself!
"Thinking about joining the tournament Kori?" My back immediately tensed, and I pushed my crimson hair from my eyes as I turned to see him approach me. At least he didn't call me Anders.
Richard and Wally walked over to us, Vic smiled from his place by Karen's side, greeting them warmly. Wally returned it, before he turned his eyes on us, looking around as if searching for something missing.
"Hey, where's Jenny?"said Wally, brow furrowing.
"She's unwell and won't be coming to school" answered Rachel, dead pan expression in tact.
I could have sworn I saw a flicker of sadness cross his face from her answer.
Giggling to myself, I thought of Jenny and how she would react if I told her that the number one track star was looking for her. My friends truly did like the boys of Richards gang, Karen with Vic, Rachel with Gar, Jenny with Wally. It made me wonder privately to myself, what it would be like if I was with Richard. An image presented itself to me then, one of all of us just hanging out easily, I was wrapped in Richards arms, a contented smile on my face.
I blanched. I swear I just threw up in my mouth.
"Whats so funny?" Richard faced me, and my face heated up when I couldn't stop thinking about what I had just imagined. I forcefully pushed it away and tried to act confident, the hands trembling at my sides told another story. What was wrong with me?
"Oh nothing, just imagining your face when we win" I smiled sweetly despite my confusing emotions.
"What ever. You better have someone good at Karate, as I'm sure you know that's one of the main events." It was Richards turn to smile, and my hands fisted as my eyes hardened into a glare.
"Well it just so happens, I can do that." Ah, there went my confidence. Kori! Shut up! You cant do karate!
"You?" Richard said with a questioning gaze, I looked away nervously then, but luckily someone saved me from answering.
"Aww, you scared?" Karen cut in.
"No... um lets go Rich!" Vic also cut in, sensing the conflict that was threatening to surface between Karen and his best friend. Wally nodded and hastily began dragging Richard away before another scenario happend. Walking away from us, the group of boys vanished around the corner, I made an excuse to my friends that I needed to visit my newly acquired locker.
I knew it was wrong, but I had actually left to follow the boys. I had noticed Richard giving me a look before he had been promptly dragged away, and I wanted to know what it was about. I listened in when I had reached my locker, peering around the corner to look at them.
"Oh yeah well, you can frown all you want but you know that you caused it. You're just being mean to her because you like her" Vic's voice echoed down the hallway.
"What?" Richard snapped.
"You really need to get rid of that dark cloud of anger in you, or else you'll never be happy." Wally spoke as if he was a wise old man, which caused me to blink in confusion. Was what Vic said true? No it wasn't possible, I was positive Richard hated me. The millionaire only answered indifferently
"What ever."
OOO
Later on I coincidentally had sport, but upon entering I remembered that Rachel and Karen weren't in my group, and Jenny wasn't with me today. I was alone, and I scanned the rest of the students, searching for a partner. Everyone else was paired up, apart from one boy. My eyes widened and I groaned out loud.
"You have got to be kidding me." There was Richard in all his glory, looking rather bored as he gazed off at nothing.
"Alright everyone get into pairs." The teacher Mr J Rancid instructed. My eyes narrowed as I watched Richards every move I will kill you Richard, if you dare.
Richard looked around, obviously noticing everyone was in pairs, except for me. My heart gave a thump when he blinked his blue eyes at me, before they became cold.
"Perfect" he mumbled under his breath, we stood in silence, staring at each other with malice in our eyes.
"Okay, you two together, your going on the rock climbing wall."
We stood rigid now, both of us glaring daggers at the teacher who gave us some final words of encouragement.
"The aim is to help one another and become better acquainted with your new buddy."
I huffed and turned away, stomping to the rock climbing wall while Richard followed behind me quietly. We both seemed to be thinking the same thing for once.
'Stupid teacher.'
After that, because Richard and I were the worst pair in sport, we had to put away the sports equipment. I glared daggers at the basket ball I was holding.
I think I'm cursed, to be forever be put in situations like this with my worst enemy.
My eyes glanced up at the ebony haired boy, his back was turned away from me as he cleared away the soccer balls, shoving them into the storage area. I silently compared the two sides of Richard Grayson, thinking about how most girls viewed him as cute, handsome and mysterious.
I smiled as my mind helpfully supplied his lesser traits of how he was obnoxious, self-centered and egotistical to contradict this. Eyes lowered to the ground, I wondered which side of him was his true face.
I decided to stay in silence while we worked, but the silence was broken after a few minutes, by a band of boys who came into the sports hall laughing.
Richard dropped a soccer ball to the ground and stood up.
"Ah look who it is guys." One boy said with hazel eyes glittering in amusement. He approached us calmly, hands shoved in his pockets and an easy going attitude despite Richard's less than welcoming reaction. I noticed him tense and glare harshly at the newcomer.
"Shut it Xaviour."
Xaviour narrowed his eyes and shrugged. "Well it looks like your manners haven't improved much, despite being adopted by a millionaire huh kid?" Xaviour then seemed to dismiss his presence easily enough when he leveled his gaze at me. He stepped closer to where I stood and I thoroughly confused by this development.
"Lay one finger on her, and I will break it the like the last time we fought." Richards voice halted X in place, giving Richard enough time to come forward then, and stood in front of me in an almost protective manner. My eyes widened in surprise.
"Just get going and I wont have to hurt you." He said with a hard edge to his voice.
Who are these guys? What is happening? They seem to know Richard.
"Whats your name Cutie?" Xaviour said, ignoring Richards threats and turning his attention to me. I frowned and stepped beside Richard to hopefully show that I could take care of myself. I wanted to calm this tension that had crept up between us and the newcomers, so I tried being polite.
"Give me your names, and I will give you mine." I glanced at Richard, and saw that he was very still. His body was tense, like in a fighting stance. Guessing that it was because he had been in a fight with these boys before, for once I actually felt...concerned for him.
A ginger haired boy spoke, who stood a little to the side of Xaviour. He smiled smugly at me, an air of arrogance and slight aggression clinging to him. I felt my confidence wane.
"The name's Roy Harper." He then looked at my body, eyes travelling over my figure. I fought the urge to retch.
A second boy who had stunning good looks, with long white hair spoke up.
"My name is Malchoir Nole, I believe I've seen you around school before with Raven."
It wasnt exactly a question, but I felt like I had to respond anyway.
"Yes, she and I are friends."
Malchior nodded, and smiled in a charming sort of way. I knew it was fake, but he did seem to have a way about him that made me automaticlly blush when he turned his startling blue eyes on me.
"Yes I thought so, she and I used to date."
Ah that stopped all of my thoughts about him in an instant. Richard muttered something under his breath then that caught my attention
"that is until you cheated on her."
Malchoir glared at him, and Xaviour stepped forward holding his hands out "come on Richard, cant old friends catch up? How about we talk about the good old days? I'm sure this girl would love to know about the time you pick pocketed, or when you spray painted on that church or"-
"Shut. Up." Richard clenched his fists at his sides. I couldn't help but put a tentative hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.
"Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you, any kindness little Robin gets, he lashes out at you later. It is after all, what he does best." Xaviour said dryly, his eyes seeming to watch my every move.
I was so caught up in my own thoughts, that I didn't notice Richard lose it.
"It's not like your any better X, you turned me into this, so don't try and play innocent here!" Richard lunged forward without warning, hitting X in the jaw harshly. X staggered back, all pretense dropped from his form, and his easy going attitude was replaced with a sense of loathing. Somehow Xaviour kept talking after wiping his bleeding mouth on his sleeve.
"I didn't turn you into this, your parents deaths did."
He smiled mockingly at Richard, who grabbed a fistful of Xaviour's shirt, ready to hit him again. He seemed to hesitate slightly however, at the mention of his parents, and Xaviour landed a punch while he was distracted. This gave Roy the opportunity as he grabbed Richard, and pushed him against the wall none too gently.
"Sorry pal, but you turned away from our group long ago, and you're either with us or against us." Malchoir stepped up calmly beside Roy as he held Richard. He then surprised me by punching Richard in the stomach. My eyes widened when Roy dropped him, and Richards breath shuddered out of him before his body collapsed onto the floor.
I stood frozen and still, utterly speechless.
Richard had lost his parents too? My mind replayed the words over and over, holding a hand to my chest and feeling my heart hammer wildly. He was the same as me.
I almost didn't here Xaviour speak "I'd get out of here if I were you Cutie."
I much prefer princess. My mind said numbly as I raised my head to look at him.
"We're gonna tear this hall up, and blame it on bird boy here" smiled Roy who gestured to Richard on the floor.
I felt my blood boil and race hotly under my skin. Richard had defended me, so I was going to do the same for him.
"I'm not going anywhere." I said calmly, ignoring their surprised looks as I walked over to Richard and knelt beside him. He looked up at me with unfocused blue eyes, he was breathing raggedly and holding his stomach in pain.
The two boys, Malchior and Roy began to snicker. Xaviour merely put his hands in his pockets, seemingly uninterested.
"Why, what can you possibly do?" Roy said between laughs which only served to heighten my anger.
I stood with my fists clenched, and turned to them, adrenalin pumping through my veins.
"We'll give you one last chance girl. Leave now and we won't have to hurt you." Malchior's face became quite serious as he approached me, but I didn't move an inch.
"Fine, have it your way" he said, almost at my side, his charming smile turning cruel.
"Mal."
The white haired boy stopped and looked back at Xaviour, who was lighting a cigarette. The lighter sparked a flame that lit up his dull hazel eyes, which for a moment, were full of disapproval.
"The girl isn't involved in this, why not let her go?"
There was a silence from the other two boys, who looked at their supposed leader. Even I was confused.
Roy frowned "shes a witness." Malchoir seemed to agree with him
X breathed out, a trail of smoke wafted into the air. He leveled his gaze at Malchior, sneering slightly.
"Well beating her up because its convenient sounds a little twisted to me."
While they semi argued, I thought that this would be my chance to do something. I looked up at Malchior who seemed to be distracted, and was about to use whatever means I could to knock him out, when I felt something hit the back of my own head.
I realized a little too late, that I had been so focused on Xaviour that I hadn't seen Roy move. As my body fell to the ground, I noticed that Xaviour's expression was still filled with distaste. I winced in pain as I hit the floor, then everything then went dark.
ooo
wow, that was long, and oh dear what happened to Kori? you'll have to wait for the next chapter..