Chapter 5: Make it all better

Vic, Karen, Kori, and Richard all arrived at Wayne Manor around seven. When they walked up to the ginormous mansion, Bruce was standing at the door with his girlfriend, Diana, greeting people.

WhenRichard and his friends approached his adoptive father, Bruce gave a warm smile. "It's nice to finally see you, son. Vic, Karen." The handsome man nodded at Richard's two familiar friends. When his eyes landed on Kori though, he smiled. "Well, you're a new one. Who might you be?" He asked politely.

Richard placed a hand on the small of Kori's back and slightly nudged her forward. "Bruce, this is my friend, Kori Anders."

Kori held out a hand for him and he kissed it lightly. She blushed and giggled. "It's nice to meet you sir."

"The pleasure is all mine." Bruce replied.

Richard laughed uncomfortably and moved on into the house. "Alright, were leaving now. Hey Diana." Diana smiled her beautiful smile and the four teens went inside.

On the inside, it was packed with adults dressed in expensive dresses and suits. There were tall wine glasses and a variety of appetizers being served by classy servers. Richard led his friends towards the ballroom. There were even more people in there.

"Oh my gosh! Vic, look how pretty everything is!" Karen beamed and clutched Vic's arm.

He looked back at Richard while Karen whisked him away to the dance floor. "If I'm not back in ten, you better come get me!"

Richard laughed and gave a thumbs up along with a sarcastic smile. He turned back to Kori and asked, "You hungry or thirsty?"

Kori shrugged her shoulders. "Uhh, sure."

He motioned her towards the buffet table and they began piling their plates with all sorts of food items. Once they were done, Richard to her to follow him and she did.

They went upstairs where no one was and at first, Kori was nervous. But she felt better once he led her out onto a huge stone balcony that overlooked the front yard scenery. The stars above glistened and she lied widely. For once, she actually felt...alive.

"This is beautiful!" She boasted as she set her plate of food on the railing.

Richard did the same and laughed. "Yeah, this is my favorite place to come to in this mansion when I want to enjoy the peace and quiet."

Down below, Bruce and Diana were still greeting guests and limos kept coming and going.

Kori took a bite of a club sandwich and stared out into the open. "I've always wanted to know what this was like."

"What what was like?" He asked thoroughly confused.

She looked over at him and the wind blew her red hair around her like a long cape. He bit his tongue and felt his cheeks burn.

She laughed and shook her head. "I've always wanted to know what the wildlife was like."

Richard snorted. "Trust me, this is not the wildlife."

"Closest I've ever been to a party."

He raised his eyebrows in surprise but quickly gathered his composure. This was Kori Anders. She never went to parties anyway.

"Uhh, maybe I could take you to one someday." He said stepping closer to her.

She stared up at him with her giant emerald orbs. "Maybe...I don't know."

He took another step towards her and she took one back slightly. Richard looked at her solemnly. "What's your happy place Kori?"

She looked into his blue eyes and back down a his lips. Was she...no.

"Music. Singing..."

He smiled and turned back to the railing. "I can tell. You killed that solo by the way. I bet you'll get it." He said referring back to Thursday's choir auditions.

She smiled widely at him. "Really? You think so?"

"Nope." Her heart deflated and he laughed. Turning to her he said, "I know so."

TT

"You're not so bad Richard." Kori said as her and Richard walked back down the stairs.

He laughed and placed his hand on her back again. Chills were sent through her body.

"Neither are you, nerd." He replied.

Now it was her turn to laugh and she punched him playfully. He grasped his arm as if he were really hurt.

"Oh c'mon you whimp." She mocked.

He laughed and pulled her out onto the dance floor. Karen and Vic were out there too, dancing the night away. Even though it was a slow song, they still danced pretty well.

"I can sing but I can't dance." Kori said taking a step back from him. She rubbed her arm uncomfortably.

Richard took her hand and said, "Take my hand," she took his hand and he pulled her a little bit closer to him. "Take a breath," she took a breath but sudden shock hit her like a ton of bricks. He knew the song too? "Close your eyes." She did as she was told and was completely and utterly surprised he was saying the words to the song she'd sang in her room just last week. How did he know? "And take one step."

She took a step and they began to move together rhythmically. She kept her eyes closed enjoying the way their bodies flowed to the was actually dancing! He picked her up and spun her around a few times and she giggled each time. This might just had been the best night of her life. And who would've thought it would've been Richard Grayson to make that happen.

But as usual, things always turn sour.

"Well! Look who got a makeover!" Shouted a girl from behind where Richard and Kori were dancing.

They both turned around to see Babs. Richard cursed himself for forgetting that Babs would be here.

Babs place her hands on her hips. She looked great in her dark blue silk ball gown. "I almost didn't recognize you." She had a bit of a sneer in her voice and she glared slightly at Kori.

Kori pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and looked downward a bit. "Oh.. Um, thank you."

Richard's jaw clenched and he could feel the tension rising in the air. He took Kori's hand and began to lead her away. "Well were gonna go get a drink. Nice seeing you, Babs."

"Oh wait!" She grabbed Richard's arm before he left and he turned to face her. "I wasn't done yet."

"I don't really care." He replied sternly.

Babs scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Aw look, Richard is helping out with the needy." He turned to Kori and smiled thoughtfully. By now, some people turned to see the commotion going on between Bruce Wayne's kid and Babs Gordon. "It's cute that you think you can fit in Anders. But changing your look isn't going to do much. You'll always be a loser."

Richard didn't know how to reply. He knew people were watching and when he turned to look at Kori, her face was red.

"Thank you." She said to Babs.

Babs laughed. "Excuse me?"

Kori let go of Richard's hand. "Thank you for reminding why I don't ever come to these things and why I avoid people like you."

"Oh honey, we avoid you. I mean, c'mon. You're nothing but a pathetic geek."

Kori didn't say anything. Neither did Richard.

"Aw," Babs pressed on, "Are you gonna cry?"

Kori's eyes filled with tears and she tried not to let them run over. But once one fell, she didn't know what else to do. She was embarrassed, angry, and hurt. So she turned around and ran.

Vic and Karen had seen the end of the small scene and the people around them began to go back to dancing. Richard shouted Kori's name and turned angrily back to a smiling Babs.

"You know, now I remember why we broke up. Not only are you a cheating whore but your also a conniving bitch." With that said, Richard ran after Kori, leaving a surprised yet seething Babs behind. Vic and Karen tried to hold in laughter but miserably failed.

Kori ran out of the front door and into the night. She had hot tears running down her pretty face and once she got half way down the long driveway, she tripped and let out a yelp.

Now, her dress was slightly ruined, she had a large scrape on her knee, and her ankle felt like a truck had run over it.

"Kori!" Richard's voice rang out through the night air and Kori turned around to see him running towards her.

She didn't want to see him or be near him. But she couldn't really move with a swollen ankle. So she sat and cried.

Once Richard got to her, he bent down and was breathing a little heavy. He looked at Kori's tear stained face to her now blue ankle.

"Oh god, Kori, I'm sorry." He placed his hand on her shoulder and the other around her waist. He heaved her up and she leaned on him for support.

"Richard."

"Yes Kori?" He stared into her sad green eyes.

"I want to go home."

No! He thought. He didn't want her to leave. He was actually enjoying himself with her and they were both having fun!

"Hey, don't listen to Babs. She-

"I want to go home! Please..."

Richard flinched at her slight outburst but if he put himself in her shoes, and if he was a girl, he'd want to go home too. So he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll take you home."

She nodded and closed her eyes, letting a few more tears escape. Richard picked her up bridal style and carried her to his car. She was as light as a puppy dog to him.

The whole car ride back was engulfed with silence and sniffles. Richard couldn't help but feel bad and he wished Babs was a guy so he could punch her for hurting Kori. But why did he care so much? This was just a dumb bet that he wanted to win! That's it! Or was there more...no. No, there wasn't anything more than that. Ugh, his head hurt and he just wanted the night to end.

On the bright side, Kori's parents liked him. Well, hopefully they still would after tonight.

TT

On Saturday, Kori spent most of the day studying for tests that were weeks away, playing the piano, and sulking. She felt like a baby that she was still upset but Babs really hit her sensitive spot.

Richard had tried calling her a total of twenty six times and left ten text messages. She ignored him most of the time and she knew she shouldn't have been punishing him but for some reason, she felt as if some of it was his fault.

Her parents asked her what happened last night and she didn't say much. She just said on the way out to the car, she'd tripped and fell in her four inch heels. They left it at that.

Now, Kori sat in her room at noon, scrolling down her newsfeed on Facebook. She wore an oversized t shirt, athletic shorts, and her glasses. But this time, she kept her hair down and flowing and her legs were exposed for once. She actually admired the way she looked last night.

Her stomach growled ad she clutched it. She hadn't eaten since yesterday at the party. She pushed back her chair and headed to the kitchen for lunch. Ryan was at a friend's house, Luan was spending the day with one of her close friends, and Myan was up in Gotham for business. So she had the whole big house to herself.

She searched the cabinets for something that could fulfill her empty stomach. Figuring there was nothing in her kitchen to satisfy her, she picked up the phone to order pizza.

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang.

"What the..." She held the phone in her hand and headed to the door wondering who could possibly be visiting her.

When she opened the door, Richard was on the other side looking so handsome in a fitted black t shirt and dark wash jeans. He had on his black shades and his hair was gelled to perfection.

"Kori." Was all he said and looked relieved when he saw her.

She sighed and leaned on the threshold. "What do you want Richard..."

"I want you to know that I'm sorry for last night. Babs is a bitch and everyone knows it. I'm sorry."

Kori looked intently at him. He came all this way-not that it was far but still-just to tell her how sorry he was. And this was Richard, a boy she knew as a douchebag. Maybe she was dreaming.

"It's fine. I forgive you..."

"Then why do you still sound upset?" He asked unconvinced.

She brushed back her long hair and shook her head. "I gotta go...I've got homework." She lied.

He put his hand on the door to keep her from shutting it. "Let me take you out for lunch. Are you hungry?"

"No." She lied again. Then, as if on cue, her stomach growled. She shut her eyes and cursed in her head. Richard laughed and said, "Uh, it sounds like you're hungry to me. I'll give you a few to change." He walked back to his car and she stared at his retreating form in astonishment.

Knowing there was no way out of this, she turned back around and headed up to her room to get dressed.

TT

They'd gone to Jump City's local diner. It was just what Kori wanted. She'd ordered a chocolate shake, a cheeseburger with only mustard, and fries. Richard had ordered the same minus the mustard and Kori's appetite amused him.

"Why are you smiling at me?" She asked him as she popped a few fries in her mouth.

Richard laughed and shook his head. "For such a tiny girl you sure do know how to chow down."

Kori raised an eyebrow and slightly smiled. "Well, looks can be deceiving."

"Yes, yes they can." He replied and looked down at his food. He suddenly wasn't so hungry anymore.

"So," she started, startling him out of his thoughts. "Aren't you scared your friends will see us together?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Why should I?"

She scoffed and picked up her bag to leave. Richard stood up just as quickly, thoroughly surprised and confused.

"Wait! What did I say wrong?" He asked urging her to sit back down.

She shook her head and looked down at her feet. "It's what you didn't say."

"Kori, I'm not following." He still didn't know why she was so upset.

She sighed and sat back down. He did the same and waited patiently for an explanation.

"I just don't get why...why you are all of a sudden so interested in me."

He swallowed hard and looked away. Then, clearing his throat he said, "Is it so bad to just want to get to know you? That's all Kori." Every word that leaked out of his mouth felt like poison and he suddenly wished he'd never made the bet. But if he hadn't..he'd never be friends with Kori.

"You promise?" She suddenly asked pulling him out of his thoughts.

He stared at her. Her emerald orbs full of hope met his sapphire ones. But...if he wanted to win this bet, he had to do what he had to do.

"I promise."