School is over! Finally. Here's chapter 21.
'Hate Me' is soon over though…sniffffff…(seriously im gonna cry lol) but I really want to write a sequel. Tell me what you think….
But first read this chapter lol! And review please, I would really appreciate it.
By the way, thank you SO MUCH guys and gals for reviewing last chappie! I got so many reviews! Wow thanks again! –xoxo-
Disclaimer: I don't own the tt.
Richard took another sip of his orange juice and looked at Bruce. Bruce on the other hand, took a sip of his scotch. ''So, how's school?''
''On fire, really.'' Richard answered, feeling right a home.
Bruce's eyes widened in shock, ''That well hun? Wow Richard, you're really starting to impress me. I didn't know you'd be so successful on your own.''
''No really, it's on fire.''
''Yes, and I'm proud of that.''
''Bruce, it burnt. You know, with flames.''
''…'' he raised an eyebrow. ''THAT well?''
Richard rolled his eyes and looked at the time. It's been ten minutes, and he had to go meet Kori up stairs. Even though he had heard noises coming from his room, he didn't panic too much.
Bruce shrugged and grabbed the remote. ''It's been a long time, Dick. Tell me what's new? Where you want to go? What you want to do? Who you've met? You don't talk anymore. Are you on mute or what?'' he asked pressing the mute button on the remote, then he pushed 'power' and the tv turned on.
He saw a picture of Gotham High on fire. Then a female voice from the television said: ''As you all know, Gotham High burnt down almost a week ago. Officials say that the fire was an accident. No more details have been released.''
''I hope you passed your year…'' he joked.
Richard nodded.
Bruce asked once again, ''you didn't answer my questions…''
Richard thought for a moment before answering. ''I think I want to stay here, in Gotham. It's where I grew up after all, right? Why would I want to leave this place? It's my home. I can do anything here, find a job, live…''
Bruce nodded because he agreed. ''So what you're saying is, you would never leave your home?''
Richard looked away. ''That's what I'm saying.'' He hesitated.
''I won't be surprised if you do leave one day. You need to get out. Don't choke in this small city.'' He said, taking another sip.
''I'm not fed up Bruce. You've been here since I-don't- know-how-long.''
Bruce shrugged. ''I have everything here. Wayne Enterprises are here; I can't really pack up everything and move. And incase you haven't noticed, I'm not as young as you are. Though, I feel like twenty again.''
Richard laughed. ''Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. You have nothing to make you leave. You don't need to leave.''
''I wish I can. I wish I had seen the world much more when I was your age.''
''Oh no you don't. Not another ''I wish I had'' or ''when I was young…'' or ''you're so young'' conversation.''
Bruce shook his head. ''No. Nothing of that.''
''Good''
''May I go on?''
Richard nodded, as he poured himself another glass of orange juice.
Bruce continued, ''You're young, you have to see the world. Go find what you're looking for. Go find who you're looking for.''
Richard rolles his eyes, but Kori's face appeared in his mind. He looked up at Bruce. ''But I already found what I was looking for. I don't need anything else. I'm done, Bruce. I don't need the world or to see all seven wonders. I found my world.''
Bruce's head tilted to the side. ''My world is what I do. I don't know yours but if you're convinced—''
''I am.'' His eyes sparkled.
''Seems to be something great.''
''She is.''
Bruce looked at Richard. Richard looked back. ''I remember saying that.''
Richard didn't understand.
''It doesn't always last, you know. Sometimes, they're after you for something else…''
Dick shook his head, but Bruce continued;
''They don't speak from the heart. You don't see the soul anymore... But Julie—''
But Richard cut him off. ''You can't say that. She's so pure and good. I know her so well Bruce, she would never do anything like that in a million years. I could bet my life on it. She may be the only thing that could drag me out of this city. If she leaves I leave.''
''Did you tell her everything you just told me?''
He shook his head.
''What are you waiting for? She can be gone in a second. You never know when you can loose her. And when you do, it's you problem. There's no time for regrets.''
Richard stood up. ''I should……. But I have to go Bruce. I'll call sometime.''
They smiled to each other and after exiting the mansion he sneaked into the backyard to face his bedroom window. As he picked up a rock to grab her attention, he thought;
Maybe he should tell her, before it might be too late…
He took a swing and threw the rock on his window….
And again…….
Again….
He just had to wait for her to climb down that window.
She swallowed her tears and pushed her fears further back into her mind. She didn't feel like getting up. She just stayed there, lying down under Richard's clothes in his closet. Everything smelled like his cologne. She filled her lungs with the smell. She closed her eyes but there was no difference… it was a pitch black as when she had them open.
Kori sat up straight in the dark and rubbed her temples. She swung the closet door open and crawled out. Then, she grabbed the gym bag that Richard had packed earlier and sat by the window.
Now she just had to wait…
If this stalking thing continues, I don't know what I'm going to do, she thought
She looked out the window………. Nobody.
Hey, long time no talk, her conscience said.
Long time no think.
Yeah whatever.
Silence.
''Where is he?''
She paced back and forth.
To answer your question, you can always move… her conscience suggested.
Move? My life is here. I worked so hard for it.
You have a better idea?
…
No. She didn't have a better idea.
But moving would mean leaving everything behind. My dreams of becoming a painter, Rachel, Gar… Richard. I'd rather die than—
Maybe everything that's happening is just telling you that this is not your life. That Gotham City wasn't meant to be your home… that your dream isn't meant to be fulfilled here, that you and Richard were not made for each other…
How can you say that? Kori protested.
I-I'm just looking at the facts…… trying to look further. Maybe it's not just a test that life's giving you or something to prove that you're stronger than you really are. It may be a message telling you to get out of this place… To look further.
You are driving me nuts.
You are not open-minded.
Can you just leave me alone?
Can you just take what I said in consideration?
I will if you leave.
I can't, I'm your conscience.
Shit.
Kori laid down on Richard's bed and waited for a signal.
….and she thought…
She did take in consideration what her conscience had told her.
What else to do? This 'game' was getting more and more dangerous every second.
But she made up her mind. She already made her decision. Nothing was going to make her think otherwise.
She quickly got up and grabbed the packed bag. She swung the window open and dropped the bag on the ground outside. She crawled on the window and grabbed a vine that made its way up to the window. Then she climbed out the window, shutting it behind her, and down the wall slowly.
Half way down she heard a door open and Richard's voice saying 'bye' to someone. She looked down and jumped.
Landing firmly on her feet, she grabbed the bag and ran towards the gate. Hiding behind a small bush between the fence and the gate's door, she watched Richard making his way to his window. He picked up a rock or two and threw it on his window.
Then he sat down and waited.
Nothing.
She felt sorry, knowing that no one would climb down that window… but she had no other choice… even if she did, she already did what she had to do. It couldn't be reversed. Kori silently grabbed the bag and crawled her way out.
She had to go somewhere where Richard would think she would go. A friend's house? Her apartment? She had to think fast. She had to make a plan that would work and she had to have someone that would cooperate.
Reaching the sidewalk, she looked back and saw Richard's silhouette grabbing another rock and throw it on the window before starting to pace back and forth nervously. She shook her head and started jogging back to her apartment with some annoying emotion taking her over:
Guilt.
''Kori…come on…'' he whispered secretly to himself. He paced back and forth nervously, looking around, over his shoulder. He felt like a burglar that would soon get caught. He looked up at the window. He saw no silhouette near it. He wanted to see her now more than ever.
''Kori.''
No answer.
''Kori!''
Silence……. Maybe just a little bit louder….
''KORI!''
Her name echoed but she didn't answer.
He couldn't take it anymore. He tried to convince himself that she was safe…maybe sleeping, but horrible images and thoughts invaded his mind. He ran back to the front door, pushed open and a confused Bruce stared at him.
''Bruce, I-I have to check something. Two seconds…''
He was already at the top of the stairs when Bruce answered a nonchalant 'sure'. As Richard was running down the hallway to his bedroom door, he really started to panic. Swinging the door open, he looked around for a safe, smiling Kori.
Nothing.
A bed, some things on the floor but no Kori.
Walking back to the door he screamed for Bruce. ''Bruce! I have a serious problem.''
Bruce grabbed Richard by the shoulder to calm him down. ''I have a problem too. Alfred found a body at the bottom of the pool and the cops are on their way.''
''Bruce I can explain.''
''I don't even want to know.''
Richard looked away. Why do I always have to get in trouble when I try to do something right?
''Bruce they were trying to get Kori!''
Silence.
Shit.
''Kori?''
''Long story…''
''I don't care.'' He said giving him a friendly smile. ''You get outta here before the cops get here okay? I'll call you if I get more info. Now get the hell out before I find another body somewhere else in this house.''
''Mansion.'' Richard corrected.
''Mansion, house, whatever. They're called synonyms. Like Richard and dumb.''
''Very funny.'' He said, running down the stairs and out the front door.
Slamming the door behind him he looked around for any police car and listened carefully for any siren. Nothing. He ran out of the yard and ended up on the sidewalk. Taking a right he made his way to Kori's place to check on her. Maybe she would be there…
But then he thought… wouldn't her stalker think of her apartment as a first place to go look for her? Hell yeah…
Stopping next to a phone booth, he put his hand in his pocket, desperately searching for a quarter. Pulling one out of his pocket, he slipped it in the phone and dialed the number he knew by heart since kindergarten. Crossing his arms on his chest, he waited of an answer.
It rung once….twice… until a familiar voice picked up.
''Hello?''
''Hey, this is Richard.''
''Oh Richard, hi! What's up with you, calling at this hour of the night?''
''You have to help me Rachel.''
''What's wrong? Is the sky on the verge of falling?''
''No, no sky is falling. But please tell me Kori's with you.''
Silence. ''Woah. How did you know? Are you suddenly telepathic or what?''
''Rach—''
''Yes she's here. We had a sleepover planned tonight. Didn't she tell you? Anyways, we were watching a movie, so do you mind?''
Richard pressed his ear against the phone. He heard screams.
''Horror movie? Kori isn't too scared?'' he joked.
''Nah. She's a strong girl.''
He heard Kori's laugh echo in his ear.
"Umm…we'll continue our movie now. Okay?''
''Oh. Eh. Sorry. Tell her that I… will see her tomorrow are her place. Okay?''
''Yeah yeah, Romeo. Goodbye now.''
Richard hung up after Rachel and took a deep breath. As long as Kori was safe, he was okay. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She was safe, at Rachel's house, someplace where nobody could think of finding her.
He calmly walked back home…
Rachel hung up and looked at Kori. She smirked. ''Okay. You can stop faking now.''
Kori quickly turned off the TV and grabbed another pair of jeans from Rachel's closet, placing it in another backpack. ''Thanks Rach. I knew that I could count on you.''
''Well we are best friends right?''
Kori shrugged as a sad smile appeared on her face. ''We didn't seem to be few weeks ago.''
Rachel sighed. ''I'm sorry I didn't believe you. But your crazy ideas about Wilson seemed so…stupid. Nothing personal.'' She said letting out a small chuckle.
Kori smiled. ''No problem.'' She packed more clothes in the bag. ''They might have been stupid to you but to me they were real. It could be him and it could be someone else. I don't know, you don't know and I can't stand having to look over my shoulder every two seconds.''
''We can find who's doing this. You don't have to leave.''
''I don't want to live in fear by the time we find him!'' she said, furiously zipping the bag.
Rachel folded another pair of jeans. ''I'm on your side. The GPD is on your side. Richard and Xavier are on your side. Could you ask for more? We're here to help you.''
''The GPD is teamed up with Wilson. Xavier is in jail for no reason at all. You seem to be my only friend now.''
''How about Richard? He's been saving your life since the beginning.''
Kori shrugged and grabbed the pair of jeans from Rachel's hands. ''Richard….is also a good friend of mine. But I still have to leave. I want to start over again.''
Rachel sighed. ''As you wish.''
''But you swear to keep this between us. I trust you.''
''I swear.''
Kori smiled. ''Thanks Rach. I can always count on you.''
Rachel smiled sadly, zipping up the bag. ''You're ready to go.''
Kori picked up the bag and walked towards the door. ''I don't know how to thank you Rachel.''
''Just call.'' Came a sad response.
Rachel then took out a small piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to her. ''A friend of mine works in the painting domain with her boyfriend. They're looking for people who've got talent, so I told them about you. It was supposed to be a surprise but since this came up, I just had to tell you know.''
''Does it come with a good pay?''
''Only if what you paint pleases them.''
''Great! Thanks!''
The two girls smiled. ''When you get there, call them and tell them that you're Kori Anders a friend of Rachel Roth, okay?''
Kori nodded.
''And the other number is my cell phone. Call me anytime.''
Kori nodded sadly and walked over to Rachel, giving her a big hug. Rachel hugged her back remembering great memories.
''Well, I've gotta go. See ya 'round.''
''See ya…''
Rachel looked at Kori walk away.
She was gone.
Sorry if it wasn't an interesting chapter but I guarantee you that the next will be good…. I hope. Lol.
There has to be chapter like this to make the next one good. I think the next one will be up soon though, because I have inspiration. :)
Please review.
-cryingdove, xoxo.