Chapter 14 - Sticky Situation
The next day found my group making our way to school under the harsh glare of the sun. I raised my head, smiling at the cloudless sky as I walked along with a slight skip in my step. For once, I was anticipating going to school with nothing but positive thoughts guiding my steps. I didn't care about the hot conditions, and soon enough I was happily humming one of my favorite songs in my head without even realizing it.
I couldn't help but beam at anyone who passed me, and while I was aware that they were giving me weird looks, I simply didn't care.
In that moment, I became aware of just how much my mood depended on my friends and wondered if this was a good thing or not. With Richard a little happier and more open to me, it was like I'd been transformed by that simple act alone.
As I turned to look behind me at my friends, I heard Karen whisper to Jenny; "She's like a love struck puppy."
The pink haired girl nodded and replied. "I've never seen her so happy. I don't know what happened last night, but its like she's a different person."
I looked ahead again, a little concerned that I hinged so much of my emotions on other peoples mood. Richard wasn't exactly the best person to latch my entire mood of the day on, his own feelings switched so often it was difficult to keep up with him. Still, I knew it was just something I tended to do, if Rachel or my other friends got depressed I was sure to follow.
Speaking of Rachel, she hadn't spoken much on the way to school. My brows furrowed as I turned my head, catching sight of the goth. She looked more annoyed than usual, her skin a shade paler. I frowned and looked away, a little worried that I'd been too self absorbed in my own thoughts to notice.
I wonder whats annoyed her. Perhaps its Gar? No I'm sure she would have shared something like that with us. If I know Rachel it'll be something either really privet, or just something she doesn't want to mention infront of Karen and Jenny. If that's the case it'll be because they wouldn't agree with her...
I caught sight of a poster and a light bulb went off in my head. Its the dance tonight!
"Hey guys, do you have dresses for tonight?" I turned around to face my friends as we entered school. Sure enough Rachel groaned, her shoulders going tense.
"Nope not yet. We're going after school and bringing sunshine here with us. Just you wait Rae, we'll find you the sassiest dress there is!" Karen smiled broadly.
"More like the sluttiest dress," mumbled Rachel under her breath, Karen choose to ignore her.
"You coming?"
"Yeah, I don't have one yet either. Actually to tell you the truth I haven't been clothes shopping since I moved here." I smiled a little uncertainly. Koma didn't give me much of an allowance but I had enough for this, it would just have to be a little cheaper than the usual flashy dress for the occasion.
Rachel seemed to understand as she shrugged. "If I have my way then I won't be buying anything special. I'll help you look for the kind of thing you want. "
I nodded happily and with that continued down the halls of the school, completely ignoring the odd stares I received when I beamed at them for no reason.
OOO
Later on in the day it was double Art, which was fine since it was my favorite subject. I'd been moved up a set due to my last few assignments being such a success.
With this change, I was now in the same class as Richard, who sat next to me. I never did understand why he was in the top set, thinking perhaps it was because of his adoptive father, but now I knew that wasn't the case.
Maybe it was because of what happened the night before, but I suddenly saw whatever he did in a new way. I didn't judge him harshly anymore, and for that, I was able to look through his sketch book with his permission.
Stunning pieces leaped up out of the pages at me, the raw colours he used and the emotions crafted in each line captivated the eye. His art was so different from what I'd expected that I was literally speechless for so long that Richard grew concerned.
It made me wonder how I could have thought him so shallow when he had such a meaningful talent like this. When I asked him why he didn't pursue this more, he replied with; "Art isn't a skill I need for when I'm older and forming a business of my own. What I need to focus on is academic studies and then I'll go from there."
Somehow, I knew this reply wasn't from his own mouth, but his father. It made me a little sad that this talent he had would be squashed later on in life to make room for the business world, so I didn't bring it up again.
We moved on to talk about ourselves, and how we used to be.
"How did it go again? Oh yeah, 'in future keep that trap shut Grayson, or I will personally shove that cheap hair gel bottle you use down your throat for yesterdays events!' Or something like that." He smirked as my face went red.
"Well what about when you admitted you enjoyed annoying me, before you pushed me in the water fountain!?" I crossed my arms.
Richard looked at me apologetically, "not my best moment I'll give you that."
As silence fell over us, I thought about a few other details from our old rivalry. "Why did you call me Princess anyway? I'm not from royalty."
He shrugged. "Easiest thing to come up with. Is my hair really that bad?"
I giggled, shaking my head. "No, it was just particularly bad that day. I've noticed that you barely use it anymore though, I hope its not because of what I said."
Another thought occurred to me then. "Did you surrender on the School Active Day because I beat you, or did you just let me win?"
He hesitated then and turned back to his work. After a moment, he replied. "I wanted to make you doubt your win so that you wouldn't think you'd actually beaten me. In reality, you had though. I didn't deal with it in the best way, but I just couldn't believe I'd lost to you."
Smiling, I turned back to my own work. "Thank you for telling me that."
In the past I probably would've bragged about the fact that he lost to a girl, and rubbed my victory in his face. As Richard nodded silently, a content expression on his usually stern face, I knew that I preferred how we were now rather than how we used to be.
Changing the subject, I asked a random question."Whats your favorite hobby?"
"If riding my motorcycle counts as a hobby I guess that would be it."
When I asked why, he replied with; "Well, I just like the feeling of being free...that's why I love to ride my R- cycle through the outskirts of the city."
I couldn't help but burst into a fit of giggles at the name. Richard frowned and tried to defend himself.
"I got it when I was a little younger alright, its a great motorbike even with a name like that. Besides you haven't told me yours." He smiled and I stopped laughing.
I put my hand on my chin as if to symbolize I was doing some serious thinking, when I suddenly snapped my fingers. "We're doing it right now."
"What? Talking?"
"No silly! Art of course!" Playfully punching his arm, I noticed him wince and reminded myself not to do it in the future. It might have been a term of endearment in Tameran but I got the feeling it wasn't the same in Jump.
Richard however seemed to be having a good time talking to me, it was...nice. I smiled at the thought of us being friends, we did seem to get along alright without having to force ourselves to be nice to one another.
"So...are you going to the dance?" I looked over to him and noticed him make a face similar to the one Rachel had made earlier.
"Maybe...I've never really liked dancing that much."
I nodded in understanding. "I enjoy it, but I must admit I'm not very good at it. I'll still be going with my friends though."
Richard looked up at me and smiled slightly. "I doubt very much that you can't dance Kori, what with the way you fight. I'll see if I can go. I know for a fact that my friends will be there too."
The bell rang which signaled the end of Art and the start of lunch.
Richard and I packed our books away and walked over to the exit. He surprised me by politely holding open the door for me, so I smiled in thanks.
Out of the class room he stopped next to the art lockers to put his books away whilst I leaned against them, waiting for him to finish. I wasn't sure if I should awkwardly hang around or not, but it seemed rude to simply leave and I was enjoying my time with him.
Soon enough, he broached the subject on his own, shutting his locker door."So its lunch, do you want to eat together?...I mean, not together but with our friends, well of course together but I mean we.."-
"I'd love too." I smiled for what seemed like the hundredth time at one of Richards attempts to make friendly small talk. First there was the collar pulling, then the stuttering of words along with rubbing the back of his neck. I giggled, he looked quite cute when he was nervous.
Richard smiled and hesitated, before saying; "You know, if you want to ride the R-cycle with me I could take you around the city one day."
My lips tilted up into a smile and I knew my eyes were shining at the thought. "That would be amazing Richard."
He seemed a little happier after this, but just as we walked around the corner together we ran into someone unexpected.
"Xaviour! How are you?" I couldn't help but ask. Despite appearances X and I had formed a friendship, even it was an awkward one. I suddenly remembered just who it was I was standing next to and noticed that Richards shoulders had tensed.
Xaviour paid him no mind. "I'm fine Cutie, yourself?"
I winced at the nickname, knowing how it would appear to someone else. There wasn't anything between the smoker and myself, it was simply what he called me, nothing more.
"Oh I'm fine. Richard and I were just going to lunch." The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them, my mind and friendly nature that wanted everyone to get along getting the better of me.
"Would you like to join us?"
Both Xaviour and Richard looked laughably shocked at the suggestion. Xaviour was the first to recover. "I don't think that's such a wise idea. Besides I don't think I could eat with Richie here, what with him scoffing food that was meant for the upper class. Old Bruce Wayne would have a heart attack if he saw him breaking bread with the poor."
Richards hands clenched into fists. "I don't eat like those people, spending money to gorge myself on only the highest food available. I'm not like them at all."
X sneered and seemed unable to stop himself from continuing. "Really? Well if you don't spend money on food what do you spend it on? Actually is that money even yours or is it technically Bruces? I bet you've never worked an honest day in your life so really its not yours at all."
"Xaviour." I warned, frowning at him. He was usually so laid back whenever I talked to him, I couldn't understand why he got so agitated whenever he saw Richard.
"I don't have to explain myself to scum like you." Richard leveled his gaze with X, who only smirked.
"Scum am I? It wasn't long ago that you were scum too, so what does that make you now?" The two were quite close now. Richards fists were clenched and shaking. Xaviours gaze was flat and steady, like an animals.
Seeing that Richard wouldn't snap without one more tentative push, Xaviour continued on. "Ah wait a minute, I can recall one day you did work for money, but it wasn't an honest days work. Say do you still have that money Rich? If you spend that there'd be no problem, it would be your own hard earned cash. Then again there'd be the moral conflict of spending stolen money now wouldn't there?"
The smoker got his wish as Richard grabbed his collar, slamming him against the lockers harshly. X winced and gritted his teeth, staring back at him silently as Richard raised his fist.
"Richard! Please don't!" I cried out.
He hesitated, letting his fist stay poised for a long moment before he dropped it at his side. Before letting him go however, Richard whispered harshly to Xaviour.
"When are you going to let this crap go? There's no reason for us to fight anymore."
With that said he let go of his collar, stepping away a few paces.
At that moment Roy Harper walked around the corner, spotting our little group almost instantly. He looked a touch sweaty, probably just coming from archery class, which I'd heard he excelled at. Since the last time I'd seen him at the gym, X had told me that he and Roy weren't friends anymore, which I gathered from the frosty glare they gave each other.
He took out the blue gum he was chewing and held it towards Richards ebony hair. My eyes widened in alarm.
Richard was simply minding his own business when he seemed to notice the sticky substance pressed into his hair. I yelled Roy's name in anger, and a little bit of worry seeped into my voice. We'd just avoided one fight and now here he was trying to start another?!
Richard turned around, fire blazing in his eyes as he locked gazes with Roy.
For a second time that day, he surprised me by holding himself back.
I could see from where I was standing the conflict in his eyes. Anger rebelled inside him, it probably screamed and shouted in his mind, but Richard was heedless to its call. He kept himself contained for no reason I could think of, but as he pushed down his emotions I caught his eye.
It was then that he really seemed to relax, the fight going out of him. I could only tilt my head quizzically at this new turn of events.
Roy stood looking smug, he had his arms folded and an evil glint in his eye, but Richard just smiled passively and walked away.
Roy and X stood at the empty space were Richard had been, eyes wide with identical looks of confusion on their faces. I'd been expecting another fight and Roy had obviously been looking for one. We all snapped out of our surprised stances and stood together in an awkward silence for a few moments.
Xaviour then turned to Roy. "Seriously man, putting chewing gum in his hair? What are you five?"
Roy glared and turned away, muttering to himself. "That guy takes way too much pride in his looks. I thought it'd bring him down to our level."
Xaviour shrugged and looked back at me as the red head left us alone. "Can't argue with him there."
"I thought you were my friend." I snapped, crossing my arms.
"I am." X leaned against the lockers, looking slightly annoyed.
"Then please don't ridicule Richard again. He and I might not be close friends, but I still don't like to see anyone put down like that, its not fair." I was about to leave, walking past his slouched form when his words stopped me.
"He's not good enough for you Cutie."
I turned back, frowning. "Richard and I are not an item."
He took out his red lighter, rolling it around in his fingers. "Yet."
My heel turned and I soon found myself close to him, poking a finger at his chest. "Listen X, I might not know everything about Richard but I don't need to in order to be his friend. I know next to nothing about you, but we're friends...or at least I thought we were."
His hazel eyes looked into mine with an unreadable expression lighting their depths. I hadn't noticed it before, but they looked tired, his face showed signs that he truly was exhausted.
Turning, I stomped down the sympathy that rose in me, saying; "And what right do you have to tell me who I can and cannot date?"
I walked away, but before I turned a corner I caught his quiet reply. "None at all."
I left in search of bubble gum head, marching down the schools empty halls. As my footsteps echoed all around me, hanging in the air, I pondered over why he hadn't reacted.
Maybe he didn't realize? Or maybe he just didn't want a fight? It seems a little out of character to me that such a normally hot headed guy wouldn't snap in that kind of situation. I'll never understand him.
I stopped, a thought occurring to me. Maybe its because I was there?
It was then I somehow knew where to find him.
Summoning all my courage, I walked into the boys locker room. Luckily it was lunch so that meant all the other boys wouldn't be there and soon enough I spotted Richard in front of a mirror. He was pulling and tugging at the gum in his hair, growling in frustration.
I couldn't help it, I giggled. After being so tense thinking he'd be in a fight twice today, all the tension seeped out of me at once as I laughed. Richard looked at me from his reflection in the mirror.
"Guessing you don't like your own locker room?" Richard smiled still tugging at the gum, but having no luck in removing it.
"Oh yes, that's the only reason why I'm here, to smell the lovely odor of a stinky boys locker room."
We both laughed a little but it soon stopped as Richard tugged harder on his hair. I rolled my eyes, boys. If they cannot fix something they either kick it to get it started, or if somethings stuck, simply pull harder. Of course, brute force always wins the day.
"I can help." I offered, setting down my back pack and pulling out a pair of scissors. Richard backed away slightly, eyeing the scissors.
"Oh dear, is fearless Richie poo afraid of the big bad scissors?" I smiled, stepping closer to him.
"No, I'm just afraid of the evil princess who wants to practice hair styling on my hair." Richard stepped away again.
"I know what I'm doing, my sister taught me how to style and cut hair. It's either I do this right now and get it done, or you walk around with blue gum in your hair all day." Smiling as Richard pulled a face, I pulled up a stray chair which he sat down on.
I began to cut whilst talking. "So...why didn't you hit X?"
Richard tensed and was silent for a moment before he answered. "You don't know the whole story about what happened with Xaviour when I was younger do you? Well, I guess you don't really need to. In the past I would've, but that would be giving him what he wants."
My hand paused. "Why would you hitting him, be giving him what he wants?"
He sighed, shoulders sagging. "It's Xaviours goal in life to make me miserable. Hitting him would make me feel guilty in the long run."
I continued, finally freeing the bubble gum from his hair. "You'd feel guilty about it?"
"Yeah, something happened in the past between us that I'm not proud of. Lets just leave it at that."
I bit my lip, and chose not to pursue the topic. "I see. What about Roy? Why not hit him? Even I would have been tempted to."
Richard snorted. "That's because you're a girl, you take you're hair way too seriously."
I lightly smacked him on the arm for that and he chuckled. "In all honesty after that thing with X, a guy putting gum in my hair just seemed like the most ridiculous thing to get angry about, and I couldn't help but laugh it off." He frowned.
"It's not really like me. I've never done that before."
"I'm glad you didn't fight them." I said quietly.
Richard stayed silent.
Putting the gum in a nearby bin, I wiped his shoulders for a moment, though really I hadn't done much. His hair was quite thick and would hide the uneven ends easily. After that I knelt down in front of Richard so that I could look him in the eye. "I'm glad we became friends Richard."
He blinked in surprise but a small smile graced his features. "Yeah, me too."
Suddenly we both noticed at the same time how close our face's were. I hadn't meant to lean quite as close to him as I had, but a strange feeling kept me rooted in place. I would've drawn back right away had Richards face not moved just slightly closer. His eyes really were something, their blue depths captivating me. We each leaned forward, closer and ...
The bell rang.
I shot back and fell onto the tilled floor, a yelp escaping me. Richard got out of his chair and helped me up, his hands gentle on my own. As I stood, I could feel the roughness of them, the calluses. These certainly weren't the hands of a millionaires son, they were worn workers hands that had fought hard for him in life.
"Y-your hairs done." I looked away and tried to ignore Richards gaze.
"Yeah, thanks...we didn't eat any lunch."
My stomach rumbled in agreement and I felt my face heating up as Richard laughed.
"Come on, we can't go to the next lesson on an empty stomach." He took my hand and led me out of the lockers. I got the feeling that both of us could sense the electricity running through our hands as they stayed entwined.
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Hey guys! I'm sorry I didn't update for ages but it was my birthday! So say hello to the new 15 year old! Yay! oh and to answer spazz attacks review...I will explain about Richards brother dying in a fire but first its the dance! Whoooohoooo!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx review!
Edit as of 2013: I was 15 years old when I wrote this? Well that explains allot...glad I'm finally getting around to editing this, even if it is a half assed effort. Eventually I will go over this and make it readable I promise. XD