Hey guys! Thanks for sticking with me here is chapter 4!
I DO NOT OWN!
Richard's POV
"Richard are you sure you are the all of right? You have been acting odd since we left the party." Kori asks her voice full of concern as I speed down the main drag to the closest Walmart. Even though Rachael's words were ringing in my ears I couldn't help but snicker at her English blunder.
"Yea, Kori, don't worry I'm alright. Just tired." I answered as I watched her take her bottom lip between her teeth from the corner of my eye.
"If you are that tired we do not have to do the watching of movies, and eat all of the junk." Kori tells me. "I can go back to my place, and you can go back to yours. That way you can get some sleep. I do not want to keep you up."
"Naw, don't worry about it. I wanna hang out with you and the mutt, plus I can stay up as late as I want because I don't have to practice; so I'm yours for the entire night." I tell her causing a huge smile to brighten her features.
"Ok, if you are sure. What kind of ice cream do you want?" Kori asks as I pull into a parking spot.
"Oh, Ms. Stone if I am breaking diet we are going all out. We are going to make chocolate Sundays with all of the fixings." I tell her as my mouth practically watering just talking about it.
"Planning on getting chocolate wasted Mr. Grayson?" Kori giggled as I reached into my back seat to get my going out disguise.
"Look at you, using a movie reference! I've never been so proud. Hell yea, we are gonna get hella chocolate wasted!" I yelled putting on a pair of dark sunglasses and a red beanie.
"Why are you putting that on?" Kori questioned with an adorable confused look on her face. "I thought you moved on from the sunglasses."
"I don't really want to deal with people tonight. I just want us to have fun, and not have to worry about the hassle of being Richard Grayson for the night. I just want to be a normal guy who is going to buy some snacks for a beautiful girl." I tell her giving her my famous panty dropper smile, or that's what others apparently call it. Kori merely scoffed at me and shook her head.
"If you think I am letting you pay you are insane. All of this was my idea." Kori tells me as she gets out of the car.
"You are the one that's out of their damn mind if you think I'm letting you pay." I retaliate making her huff and cross her slender arms over her chest.
"Richard, it is the least I can do. Not only did you take me to the party tonight, but you helped me unpack last night as well. The least you can do is let me buy you some sweets to say thank you." The goddess next to me pouted causing me to laugh before I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
"Does it really mean that much to you?" I question squeezing her to me as I notice her shiver.
"It really does." Kori responds smiling up at me before we walk through the automatic doors. "Just let me do this without you complaining." She tells me pinching my side making me jump.
"Fair enough Stone. You win, let's make our way to the ice cream isle." I tell her as I lead her around the large store. It wasn't long before Kori seemed to go into a daze.
"I will be right back." She murmured before making her way to the end of the freezer isle. I quickly sent a text to Vic that we were at the store and I'd keep an eye on his little sister. It wasn't long before I felt couple taps on the back of my shoulder.
"Hey, buddy, I think it's time to take your girl back to the looney bin." The guy laughed pointing over to Kori who was talking adamantly with her hands to… well…no one.
"How about you watch your fucking mouth, huh buddy." I growl at him before shoving past him, and making my way over to Kori who still was talking with such emotion it honestly worried me.
"Kor, you ok, ready to get some ice cream?" I ask her causing her to gasp, and turn my way only for a moment before looking back to where she was shortly before.
"Yes, of course, sorry, I just got lost in my own head for a moment." Kori explained but she didn't look at me in fact she was looking at my shirt with her bottom lip between her teeth.
"No worries, let's just go get our ice cream." I tell her trying my best to try to ignore that I just witnessed her having a full-blown conversation with herself.
"I am thinking that people recognize you, for people are doing the staring." Kori whispers which immediately makes my head snap up to take in my surroundings. However, the only people staring were looking in pure bewilderment, and they weren't looking at me.
"Kor, trust me all of those eyes are on you not me." I say as she makes a sighing sound before she hip checked me.
"I know Richard, I just wanted to take the attention off of me." Kori spoke clearly wanting me to forget what I just saw. "So, I was thinking we could get brownie batter ice cream, since it is your favorite. Maybe we could get some whipped cream and….."
"Woah, wait a minute you remember my favorite ice cream flavor?" I interrupted smiling like the fucking idiot I was for making her blush, and take her bottom lip between her teeth in embarrassment.
"Of course, I remember, the first time I ever had ice cream was with you and that was the flavor you had. I am not shocked that you do not recall it, it was so long ago." She mumbled wrapping her arms around herself as we entered the frozen food section indicating she was cold. I immediately took my jacket off and wrapped it around her as she shivered against me.
"It was a long time ago, a good 11 years ago, and it was your first 4th of July by then you were here for only a few months. Not only that but it was your first time coming to the manor, and you kept calling me Mr. Grayson or sir because you didn't see me as a friend and were trying to be so polite so I'd like you. You were terrified of me back then." I remanence to her getting angry at the memory of how scared she was of not only me but both the middle and higher social classes.
"I did not want to be, but even back then you were the rich "bad boy" that had the world in the palm of your hand. You were highly intimidating back then, and where I come from the only people who had money are the Gordinians that invaded our country to take over Tamaran." She spoke softly to me grabbing the ice cream off the shelf.
"You still afraid?" I question putting one of my arms against the glass door next to her head, and my other arm on the opened door, so her small frame was boxed within my large one. Kori turned so she was now facing me, a small crooked smile on her gorgeous face.
"Should I be?" She questioned quietly, so quietly I barley heard her.
"Not of me, never of me." I tell her cupping the side of her neck.
Fuck, her skin is just as soft as I remember.
"But I am." Kori mumbled as her big doe eyes looking up at me, and her slender fingers wrapping around mine.
"You are what?" I questioned tracing the tattoo on the veins of her neck.
"Afraid." She answered before swallowing hard. "Not of you, but being here, back in Jump. I feel as if five years has not changed anything, and I fear it never will." Kori reveals looking me straight in my face, and I silently I thanked God I was wearing my sunglasses.
"You shouldn't be, things have really…" I started off.
"Do not fucking do that! Do not act like things have changed, because they have not. I heard what that man said to you, I am not the oblivious, I see how people look at me. They look at me like I have fucking two heads, or that I have the green skin. I am the freak of Jump, and no matter what I try do it is never going to be enough." The goddess in front of me rants with her eyes full of tears that she refuses to let fall, and her lips tremble softly, but she bites them to keep the sob in.
She never used to let people see her cry, but I have, to many times. I know all of her tells before she would do so, first it's the watery eyes, then the trembling lips, next she pinches herself to try and bring herself back to reality. I hate that I know these things about her, but I do, and it fucking kills me.
"I cannot talk about this here." She rushed out from under my arm before quickly spinning on her heel and practically dashed the way we came in.
"Kori! Kori, stop, slow down!" I yell as I take off after her. "Hey, if you don't wanna talk, fine! But you are gonna listen to me!" I fume as I catch up to her making her stop. I grab her arm and spin her towards me.
I know I'm being rough with her, but I can't seem to settle down. I can't stop now, my temper, I can never control it. Once the beast is out its cage it can't be controlled, that's what makes me an amazing fighter, but an awful companion for women.
"First off, who gives a flying fuck what that guy said? He smelled like straight booze and looked homeless. Two, I know you aren't oblivious, never said you were. Finally, there is nothing wrong with you, you are a little quirky so the fuck what. I love that about you!" I hissed at her making her stance relax and her fists loosen.
"You are right, it does not matter what he thinks." Kori mumbled before timidly looking up at me, but her eyes held so much passion and determination. "Do you agree with him?"
"What?" I asked shocked by her question.
"Do you think I am in the need of being locked up?" Kori timidly shot back at me.
"Of course, not." I respond not looking at her, only to have my sunglasses ripped off my face.
"I am so tired of you hiding behind these damn things! This is not high school, and I am not a child. I want you to fucking look at me for once, and tell me the truth!" Kori ranted her raspy voice cracking before she snapped my sunglasses in half. I grabbed her chin between my thumb and forefinger to make sure she'd get the message this time.
I knew wearing the sunglasses, bothered her but damn I never thought she'd go and break them. When did she get this feisty? It's kind of hot.
"No, absolutely not, there is not one fiber in my being that thinks that you should be locked up. So, who cares, that you are a little different, we all are. My best friend doesn't deserve to be locked up." I tell her honestly before she hugs me tightly to her, her head resting on my lower chest.
"Thank you, I am sorry I need so much reassurance. Being back here just gives me major anxiety." Kori sighs making me squeeze her tightly to me.
"I understand, you have every right to feel that way." I comfort her kissing the top of her head.
"I am the sorry for snapping your glasses. I will pay for new ones." She apologizes softly making me laugh.
"That's ok, and honey you may have to do the whole prostitution we discussed earlier to pay for the those glasses." I joked earning a smack to the chest.
"Oh come, on how much were they?" Kori asks placing her hands on her hips.
"Almost 15 grand." I reveal rubbing the back of my neck. "They are high end, designer brand." I mumble making her eyes nearly pop out of her head.
"I cannot afford that." Kori said clearly astonished by the price.
"You aren't going to, you are going to buy the ice cream, and popcorn." I tell her wrapping my arm around her guiding her back to the ice cream isle.
"I will pay you back one day." She promises, even though I know that day probably would never come.
…KORI'S POV….
"Frank, would you hold the door please." I ask the doorman who is beaming at me.
"You two planning a fun night?" Frank asks eyeing our grocery bags.
"That is the plan. You are more than welcome to come up for some ice cream after your shift if you would like." I tell the older man making him chuckle.
"No thank you, my dear, but I appreciate it. I did let Silkie out not to long ago, so he should be good for the rest of the night." Frank tells us making me worry about him walking my beast upstairs.
"Thank you so much, but he did not give you any trouble, did he?" I question.
"Not in the least, you raised a real gentleman." Frank says making me laugh and Richard scoff.
"Of course, he didn't try to eat your face when you first met him." Richard sasses before I elbow him in the ribs.
"He was not going to do the eating of you, he is just protective of his ima. Now if you will excuse me I have a baby to attend to. I thank you again, Frank." I answer going into the building with Richard warm at my heels. "Do you mind if we take the stairs?"
"Still Claustrophobic?" Richard questioned with a raise of his perfect brow, and I immediately felt self-conscious, so the only thing I did was look down and nod my head. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. I was just curious, come on let's get stepping before the ice cream melts." He spoke sweetly to me before the two of us made our way to the stairs.
Silkie, must have heard us when we finally got close to my apartment for all I heard was is loud barking and crying as well as scratching on the door.
"Someone is excited for you to come home." Richard teased making me chuckle.
"He always is, he hates when I am gone. I used to have to take him with me when I taught English, the kids and everyone just loved him." I laugh remember taking my massive beast to hang out with children while I was teaching. "Awe, it is ok, do not do the crying." I chide as we get close to the door and the scratching and crying got more intense.
"He's such a baby." Richard mumbled causing me to smack him in the chest.
"Do not make fun of him." I warn as I opened the door only or Silkie's large front paws landed on my shoulders knocking me back into Richard who seemed to effortlessly catch me.
Having his large hands on my waist made me feel something I haven't felt unless I was with my father and brother, and that was safe.
"Woah, easy there, we don't want your ima getting hurt." Richard teased rubbing my dog's face and neck getting him all the hyped up with his tail excessively.
"Alright my boys, let us eat snacks and have the night of movies." I spoke making Richard laugh as his arms remained around me while he led me inside.
"Get moving mutt, the three of us got plans." Richard says as Silkie barked is approval.
Well guys there is chapter four thanks for being so patient! : )