Chapter 9: Love is in the air

Kori quickly stood up before Fang could reach her. She began to stall a little in hopes somebody would come knocking down the door. Someone like Richard.

"Why are you such a jerk?" She asked. Maybe that wasn't the best approach.

"I'm not. I just wanna have some fun. Don't you?" He stopped walking and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Kori also stopped and noticed a slight tear in her dress. She sighed and looked up to see Fang standing right in front of her. She gasped and stepped back.

He grabbed ahold of her face and crashed his lips hard on hers. She screamed against the forced kiss and pulled away. He went back for another one and she slapped him hard on the face. He clutched his reddening cheek and chuckled.

"You sure are gonna pay for that."

Kori's eyes went wide as he advanced towards her. He grabbed the back of her hair and pulled.

"AGHH!" She screamed in pain.

Just then a loud beating sounded on the door. "KORI!" It was Richard.

"Richard! Help!-Ahh!" She screamed again as Fang threw her on the ground.

Outside, Richard jiggled the door knob. He growled in frustration and turned around to his friends. "It won't open!"

"What's going on in there?" Cassie asked exasperated.

"Move over," Vic said as he made his way towards the door. He lifted his foot and kicked down the door.

Everyone took a second-if that-to be amazed by what Vic had just done. Richard quickly made his way in and what he saw made his blood boil.

Fang was straddling Kori, who was beneath him struggling to get out of his grasp.

Richard picked Fang up roughly and punched him in the face. "What'd I tell you!?" He punched him again and again.

Cassie, Jade, Karen, and Rachel made their way over to Kori. The guys tried to take Richard off of Fang which was quite a struggle.

"Richard!" Kori yelled. "Richard, stop!"

It must've been the sound of her voice that made him stop beating the hell out of Fang because he finally restrained himself from throwing another punch. He rolled off of Fang and breathed heavily. For a split second, Richard made eye contact with a sad looking Kori.

"We'll take him to security." Alain said and heaved Fang up with Wally. The two boys left with him and Richard also stood up.

"C'mon, lets get out of here before anyone else sees." Rachel said monotonously. Everyone agreed and Karen helped Kori up.

As they made their way out of the bathroom, Richard walked over to Kori. They held back from the group for a few minutes. "I'm sorry." He used a hand, the non bloody one, to brush back a piece of her hair.

Kori sniffed and looked down. "It okay."

Richard felt horrible. He'd left her alone and she'd almost gotten severely hurt. Then, he almost put a guy in the hospital for beating the shit out of him right in front of her.

All of a sudden, Kori threw her arms around his neck and nuzzled her face in his shoulder. At first, Richard stood there utterly surprised. But then, he wrapped his strong arms around her and muttered into her hair, "I'm here for you. It's okay..."

TT

The next morning was Sunday and Richard had Roy and Vic stay the night. Wally, Alain, Conner, and Gar had gone home due to the lack of sleep and all the girls stayed at Cassie's. They were actually going shopping later on today.

Alfred was in the kitchen preparing some breakfast for the guys, who were upstairs in the gym.

"I just don't see how Fang got away with what he did last night." Roy said as he punched a punching bag.

Richard switched the song on his phone to some dub step and walked over to another punching bag. "Like I said, there was no proof."

"Poor Kori though." Vic added.

"I think she's fine...we talked last night." Richard said. He punched the bag harder and it swung back hard.

Roy stopped for a sec and looked at Richard. "That bet still on?"

Richard stopped. The bet...he started to forget about it and here Roy is planting it in his mind all over again. But the question was...did he want to forget about it?

"I don't know. Is it?" He shot back.

Roy shook his head and moved over to the bench press. "I don't know man. You and Kori have been getting really close. You guys are practically boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Okay," Richard turned to face his best friend. "No were not. We're just kind of...dating. It's confusing. She's like my girl best friend now."

"Well for being just friends, you two are pretty close." Vic said.

Richard couldn't work out. He wasn't in the zone. "Well the bet is still on. It's too late to back out."

Roy got up and walked over to Richard. He placed a firm hand on his shoulder and looked into Richard's confused yet freaked out eyes. He then said, "It's never too late."

Three...

Two...

One...

"Dude are you gay?" Richard asked and Vic busted up laughing.

Roy hit him playfully and scowled. "No, I'm just trying to do the right thing. Plus, I'm into Jade now." He said the last part in a dreamy way.

"The bet was your idea!" Richard yelled.

Roy threw his hands up in defense. "Hey! You had your chance to back down a few minutes ago."

Richard looked away. He should call the bet off. It'd be the right thing to do, especially since him and Kori were so close now. And he finally had new friends that fit in perfectly. He had to think so more though...why was it so damn hard to call off the bet?

He knew why.

He was too afraid to admit that he was in love with Kori Anders.

TT

Cassie, Kori, Rachel, Karen, and Jade were in downtown Jump City doing some much needed shopping. Especially since winter was coming up. It was about 1 pm and the girls had been to about six stores, hadn't eaten yet, and kept getting attacked by the paparazzi.

Luckily, they'd all brought sunglasses an Kori wore a cute hat so the papas weren't that bad.

"I'm starved! Can we go eat somewhere?" Karen asked adjusting her Chanel handbag.

"Mmm. A burger sounds delish right now." Cassie said.

Kori agreed and they headed into 54th street and grill. When in there, they were seated at six person table and ordered their drinks and food.

"So, what's the latest news between you guys?" Karen asked in attempt to start up a conversation.

"Well, mine and Conner's three year anniversary is coming up!" Cassie beamed and her blue eyes flashed with excitement.

"Aww, that's so cute and so long!" Jade said.

"I know!" She brushed back her blonde bangs and looked at Jade hopefully. "And you and Roy?"

All eyes were on Jade now. "What about me and Roy?" A smile was threatening to form on her face.

Kori lightly hit Jade. "We know you like him! C'mon, admit it."

Jade smiled mischievously at Kori. "Only if you admit first that you like Richard."

Okay...so what if she did? Or...didn't. Ugh, she didn't want to say anything! Sure, these girls were her best friends but she'd never felt this way about anyone before.

Kori fumbled with the hem of her white sweater. "I..." They waited but she but her lip and held back.

"You don't have to say anything." Rachel said sipping on her sweet tea.

Kori twirled a lock of red hair around her finger and stared at the table. "Honestly, I don't like him."

A few gasps were heard at her little table and all eyes, even Rachel's, went wide.

"Shut up!"

"What?"

"Kori!?"

Kori shook her head and put her face in her hands. She sighed and looked up at their upset faces. "I love him."

TT

Sunday night, Richard had asked Kori out the the movies. She excitedly accepted his offer and now, they were in JC Cinema seeing a movie called, Last Chance.

Richard had thought it was ridiculous that they were seeing a sappy romance movie. He'd always swore he'd never see one if them but after Kori begged him to go see it-and after using 'The Look'-he reluctantly said yes. He couldn't resist her sad puppy dog green eyes.

The movie was about halfway in and it was actually pretty good. It was about this guy who was always considered a nerd and got picked on a lot in high school. But after ten years, he meets up with the girl of his dreams who was Miss Popular when they were in school. He falls for her all over again and tries to win her heart but as of right now, she considers then friends.

Richard knew how it would end. He'd get the girl and they'd get married and-

"Do you like the movie so far?" Kori interrupted his thoughts.

He nodded unsurely as if trying to keep his cool. "Uh, yeah. It's ight."

She giggled and looked back at the screen. A smile creeped onto his handsome face and he looked over at her. She sure was gorgeous with her fluffy purple sweater and curly red locks.

Richard looked at her hand that was resting on the arm if the chair. 'It sure looks lonely...Maybe it'd like to meet my hand.' He laughed at his own thought. Kori whipped her head to him questionably and his face flushed red. Thank god it was dark in there.

"What's so funny?" She asked.

He looked at the screen of Miss Popular crying. "This part was funny."

Kori's mouth dropped and she had sad eyes again. "Her dad just died."

Richard's eyes went wide in alarm and he quickly said, "Oh, um-I was just kidding?"

She stared at him confusingly and looked back at the screen. Richard wanted to kick himself in the head for being such an idiot.

About an hour later, the movie ended and Richard escorted Kori out of the theatre. The movie ended just as he figured it would: The guy gets the girl, they get married, and so on and so forth.

"That was so good." Kori said hugging her coat around her.

Richard took out his keys and stared at the pretty street lights. "It was."

"Thanks for taking me." She smiled up at him and took his hand in hers.

Richard wrapped his hand around hers tighter and suddenly felt warmer. "Your welcome." This was his chance, he had to kiss her. He wanted to feel her soft lips against his. It was a perfect moment under the stars, holding hands, staring longingly into each other's eyes.

She moved closer to him, her face suddenly serious and relaxed. He copied her and cupped one of her smooth cheeks. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they inched closer and closer.

Finally, their lips met and it was as if fireworks were going off all around them. It was just such a perfect moment on a beautiful night. She was a perfect height for him and he was an excellent kisser. Their mouths moved rhythmically and for her first actual kiss-she didn't dare count the nasty one Fang gave her last night-she was pretty good at it.

The need for air came up and they pulled apart, green eyes meeting blue ones. He caressed her face and she smiled up at him.

"That was nice." She said.

He laughed, picked her up and spun her around. Man he was in love with her. And never would he have thought it would be Kori Anders to steal his heart.

As he set her small figure down, she giggled. He made her happy. He made her forget about all the bad things, about how bad Babs hurt him, about that stupid bet. She made him feel...real. So the next question he asked her nearly swept her off her feet.

"Kori Anders, will you be my official girlfriend?"

TT

The next week in school, the news about Kori and Richard being boyfriend and girlfriend spread like melting butter on a flat surface. It wasn't really a surprise but then again, it was.

As the new hot couple walked down the hallway hand in hand, people stared and people glared. They didn't care though, they were happy together. Their friends were happy for them and knew before everyone. Heck, they could see this coming from a mile away!

As they walked into show choir, Kori took her spot next to Gar and Richard sat next to Roy and Vic.

"Well don't you look happy?" Gar said with a cheesy smile.

Kori blushed and playfully hit him. "Actually, I am." She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "And I bet you know why!"

He leaned back in his chair as if he was playing it cool. "Well, only that you're dating Richard Grayson. The next teen idol in Jump City after Conner Kent!"

"Bingo! But that's not why I'm dating him. There's so much more to him than just the looks and fame..."

Gar nodded solemnly and could tell his best friend truly did like him. For once, she was not only happy on the inside, but also on the outside.

"Hey, whatta bout you and Rachel?" She asked nudging him from his thoughts. "You've been flirting with her like crazy!"

He laughed and looked down sadly. "I like her but...she doesn't like me. I think I'm not up to her standards."

Kori looked at him as if he'd just shot Bambi. "That's a load of crap! Gar," she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know she likes you too. Every time you're around her, she tenses up. And she blushes like crazy when you just look at her!"

Gar's eyes went wide in excitement. "Really?"

She nodded and bit he lip. "Besides, what's not to like about you!"

He laughed and agreed with her jokingly. Just then, Fang walked in class and Gar's smile vanished. Kori noticed this and turned around. She froze.

Fang walked over to her. "Hey Kori."

She stood up, trying to look big and unafraid. It was only then that she noticed the white gauze on Fang's nose and his purplish-black eye. Richard banged him up pretty bad.

"What do you want." It was more of a demand than a question from her.

He laughed nonchalantly. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for Saturday night."

Kori looked taken aback by his surprise. Never in a million years would she have thought Fang would apologize to her. But she also didn't think she'd be dating Richard Grayson and look where she's at.

Just then, Kori felt a strong arm encircle her waist. He didn't have to turn her head to know who it was.

"Fang. What do think you're doing?" Richard spat while tightening his grip on Kori slightly.

Fag threw up his hands in defense. "I just wanted to apologize. I was drunk and stupid-

"Yeah you were." Richard said, cutting him off.

"And Kori, I'm sorry. Plus, since we're singing a duet we might as well get along."

Kori nodded and crossed her arms. "I agree. But don't try anything stupid or I'll tazer your ass."

"After I kick your ass-again." Richard added.

Fang laughed and nodded in agreement. Then the bell rang, signaling the beginning of class. Everyone took their seats and began to rehearse.

Fang sat back feeling satisfied with his work. The plan was going well which meant Babs would be more than happier to reward him. Maybe being the bad guy was good sometimes.