It's been about five months since Kori first moved here, and we've been going out ever since she helped tutor me in history. All my friends adore her and we always hang out together. But Babs is still a problem. I've tried to get them to meet so many times, but Babs keeps delaying it. I don't want her to get hurt so I let it be. Sure I still hang out with Babs, though not as often as we used to. It's different to see each other now because of all the unspoken words between us. The gap will just get bigger if we leave it alone, and I was terrified of losing my oldest and best friend. That's why I wanted my best friend to get to know Kori, so I invited them both to the mall to hang out. Let's just say it didn't go to well. Kori was genuinely interested in getting to know Barbara, but Babs didn't want anything to do with Kori. Every time Kori and I touched or flirted with each other (which I tried to limit because of Babs) she would glare at Kori. She remained icily silent for almost the entire visit which wasn't actually very long considering that she ran out of the mall when Kori inquired if she was seeing anyone. I tried to run after her but she left before I could catch up to her. Needless to say, Kori felt horrible, and she tried calling Babs to apologize, but Babs wouldn't answer her cell. Now I'm really screwed.

I went over to see Babs to try and sort things out the next day. She opened up the door, but once she saw it was me she attempted to close it. My reflexes reacted and I extended my hand to catch the door right before it slammed shut. She glared at me with her red rimmed eyes and my grip slackened. I really hope she hadn't just been crying over me, but I know better.

"Hey Babs, listen can I please come in. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry and to explain everything," I waited for a response, but one never came. I sighed and continued, still standing on the door step because she hadn't let me in yet.

"So anyway, I'm sorry that the meeting with Kori went so badly, she didn't know about us, and it's not her fault. But Babs, I really think that you'd like her a lot if you got to know her. She's nice, sweet, and really smart, oh and you know that she's Starfire right? The newest member of the Teen Titans, she can fight really well and-" I stopped when I saw the anguished and furious expression that was forming on her face and thought that maybe singing Kori's praises hadn't been the best move. I tried explaining again.

"Sorry Babs, I was trying to explain that she's not just a random, one night stand kind of girl, I don't know if that makes things easier between us, but hopefully it helps." She was still silent, I was hoping that she would let me in, but I didn't want to push it.

"Richard, if anything it would make me feel better if she was a 'one night stand kind of girl' because then you might get over her! With this wonderful Kori, you've basically just said that she's better than I was, and I just wish that she never came along, and that you could love me the same way you love her," she paused and she was visibly on the brink of tears again, that bothered me, the Batgirl I used to know, before we dated never ever cried and it hurt that I was the one that had made her cry so much.

"Maybe it would be best if we had always just been friends," she whispered so quietly that I had to strain to hear her. A single tear fell from her eye. Then without looking at me she slowly pried my fingers off the door, and shut it gently.

"Goodbye Richard," I heard her say softly.

"Bye Babs"

Besides a few brief encounters in school, I never saw much of her for a while, but I knew that was how she wanted it, and there was no way I was going to hurt her anymore than I already had. Kori realized that I was sad, and I was grateful that she and all my other friends tried so hard to cheer me up, but it was pointless. Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't depressed or anything serious, just a little quieter and sad. It bugged the hell out of Roy and Gar, but it helped me become even closer to Kori.

As for Kori and I, we dated through the rest of senior year, and it wasn't till after graduation that I began to have any doubts about our relationship.