Chapter 11: Rain soothes the pain

Drip...drip...drip...

"And I...will stumble and fall..." Drip...drip...drip...

"Still learning to love...just starting to crawl..."

Drip...

"Say something...I'm giving up on you..."

Kori turned off her radio and blew her nose into yet another tissue. She threw it helplessly on the ground and wiped her tear stained face.

It was Sunday, 3pm, and Kori didn't get up from her bed once today. She laid in bed crying her eyes out wishing that last night was just a dream. But Richard's constant calls and texts kept reminding her it was real.

Kori sighed heavily and forced herself to get up. She walked into her bathroom and slowly lifted her head to see her reflection. Her hair lost its glow and could be compared to a birds nest. Her usually happy filled green eyes were now dull and sad and she no longer held the angelic face. Instead, it was emotionless and full of sorrow.

Kori heard her phone beep again signaling another text message. She picked it up and saw it was from Richard. It read: Kori, please PLEASE talk to me. :( I messed up and I want to explain...I'm so sorry.

She hit delete for what seemed like the hundredth time and chucked her phone across the room. Luckily, it landed on the giant teddy bear Richard had won her at one of JC's carnivals in September. Maybe it wasn't so lucky.

After brushing her teeth and taking out her contacts, she slipped into a nice hot shower. While in there, she cried some more and thought about all the memories they'd spent together and the first time she knew she was in love with him.

They'd only started being boyfriend and girlfriend a couple days ago but it felt like they've been together for months...maybe that's why it hurt so bad.

When she emerged from the shower, she headed to her closet but heard her phone go off again. Sighing, she retrieved it and for once, the text wasn't from Richard. It was from Karen and it said: Hey girl...I'm so sorry. But please just hear Richard out. It'll be-

Kori didnt finish reading it for she threw it onto her bed. Karen knew about the bet too and didn't bother to tell her. So why shouldn't she be mad at Karen?

A knock sounded at her door.

"Kori honey?" It was her mom. "I just wanted to bring you in something to eat and drink."

Kori sniffed and pointed to her desk."Just set it there. Thanks mommy."

Luan set the tray of grilled cheese, strawberries, and hot chocolate on the white desk and looked sadly at her daughter. "I'm sorry darling." She sat down in the rolling chair that went with the desk. "I know he hurt you, but you can't keep yourself locked up in here. It's not healthy."

"Well," Kori slipped on a t shirt and athletic shorts and put on her glasses. She was too lazy to put in her contacts and didn't care what she looked like right now. "When you get your heart broken, let me know how it feels."

Luan watched her daughter flop onto her bed full of tissues. She walked over and sat down next to her. "Kori, you're a strong girl. Maybe..maybe you should talk to him?"

Kori sniffed and sat up. "Mom, I don't want to talk to him. Everything he's said or done...was just for a bet. He used me! There's no explaining.." She didn't bother to wipe away the tears that flowed down her rosy cheeks. But her mom did. "Oh sweetheart," she stroked Kori's wet hair and kissed her forehead. "It'll be okay. Maybe along the way Richard really did develop feelings for you. In my opinion, what he did was beyond wrong but you should hear him out."

Kori thought this over. How could she face him after everything? She would burst into tears or yell and scram at him or maybe even throw something at him. But her mom was right, she was strong and would pull through this.

"You're probably right...maybe wrong. I don't know, I'll think about it."

Luan kissed Kori once more before she got up. As she walked to the door, she looked back at Kori and smiled. "I've seen the way he looks at you, honey. It was the same way your father looked at me when we were your age." And with that she walked out of the door.

TT

Richard stared at the wall of Roy's bedroom. He sat in the red armchair in the corner of the room and hadn't moved in over an hour. His friends, Karen, Rachel, Wally, Vic, and Roy were all downstairs cleaning up from last night's mess.

After the events with Kori last night, Richard tried to chase after her but Jade, Alain, and Gar had stopped him. They were thoroughly mad at him now. So since he didn't chase after her-more like couldn't-he went up to Roy's room, drank at least seven beers in a row, and fell asleep. Basically, he drowned out his sorrows but apparently not for long.

When he awoke, not only did he have a massive headache but he also had a heartache. Never in a million years did he want to hurt Kori. But he did, and he hated himself for it.

She wouldn't answer his phone calls, texts, or emails. He didn't know what else to do and he felt lost without her. For the first time in his life, Richard had been dumped by the only girl he's ever actually loved.

A knock sounded at the door. "Hey man." It was Roy. He was carrying a black trash bag with him that looked about halfway full.

Richard nodded at him. He didn't bother saying anything for his tongue was dry and he was afraid he might cry if he did say something.

Roy walked over to his bedside table and began throwing away all the empty beer cans. It was silent between the two friends besides the clanking of the cans and the birds chirping outside.

Finally, Roy sighed and sat down on his bed. "Okay dude, you've got to lighten up. You look like shit."

Richard glared at Roy and had already taken in his appearance this morning: Messier than messy hair, grey eyes with dark under eye circles, and wrinkled clothes.

"Well I didn't exactly have the best night ever." Richard replied grimly.

"Yeah I know...I'm sorry. I know how much she meant to you."

"Means to me." He corrected and turned to face his best friend. "I screwed up one of the best things that's ever happened to me all because of a stupid bet."

Roy looked down and fumbled with his thumbs. "Babs kind of ruined it for you too."

"Yeah, but I gave her a real good beat down afterwards. Especially since she was trash talkin Kori." Karen said as she walked into the room to join the two boys.

It was true, after Kori ran out, Karen had charged after Babs. No one held the feisty girl back because no one felt sorry for her. Fortunately, Babs ended up leaving with a black eye, a bloody nose, and some ripped clothing.

"That was the best chick fight ever."Roy implied as he fist bumped Karen.

Karen smiled and it soon vanished when she saw Richard's emotionless face. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Richard baby, you needa go to her house and talk to her. Because if she isn't going to answer you after a hundred texts and calls, she isn't going to answer you after a hundred more." She squeezed his shoulder and smiled lightly in attempt to cheer him up.

Richard looked up and grinned a little. "Thanks, Kar. But...I don't even think her family would answer the door. I tried calling the home phone and Ryan picked up."

"How'd that go?" Asked Roy.

"Well, he said to never call at his home again or he would cut all of my fingers off with scissors and make me eat the for dinner. The side dish would be my toes."

Karen and Roy looked at him in a disgusted manner.

"Okay, that's weird, gross, and creepy." Karen said.

Richard nodded and flopped down on Roy's bed. "I know! AHHHH...I screwed up big time..."

Roy and Karen looked at Richard sympathetically. The boy wonder rubbed his hands down his face and sighed.

"We'll think of some way to get her back..." Karen trailed off not knowing what else to say.

"Well I hope we think of something soon because I miss her like crazy."

TT

The next week in school, word about Kori and Richard got out fast. Rumors were flying everywhere and the media was bursting with the shocking news about the teen couple's sudden break up.

Richard hasn't talked to Kori since the party last Friday night. It was Friday all over again so it'd been a week since Richard or Kori have talked, much to his dismay.

He'd attempted throughout the week to talk to her but she never gave him the time of day. She was still heartbroken about the whole thing and was piecing her heart back together very slowly. With the help of Jade, Alain, and Gar of course.

When Jade found out about the et, and how Roy had been the one to come up with it, she'd stood by Kori the entire time. She called everything off with Roy, which really hurt considering she had some strong feelings for him. Kori had insisted that she should take Roy back but the Asian denied, saying that he was no good and she couldn't be with someone who was A part of her best friend's first heartbreak.

Gar and Alain had stopped hanging out with Richard's group a little bit too. Sometimes they'd chat every now and then but other times an awkwardness would form between the two different groups.

"So, what shall we do tonight?" Jade asked Kori.

Kori sighed and shut her locker. "Actually, I'm busy."

"Lemme guess," Jade started, "Studying?"

They began walking to their first class and noticed Babs in the hallway. She was hanging all over Richard who in return looked miserable.

Kori glared and snapped her head away from the scene. "Maybe."

"C'mon Kor, you're ten times better than Babs."

They walked into English and took their seats at the front of class. Kori turned to look at Jade. "Apparently not to Richard. I was just a bet." Kori almost chocked on the word 'bet.'

Jade rolled her eyes and shook Kori. "OMG. Kori, trust me. That her meant nothing anymore. Richard actually fell for you."

Kori shook her head and turned away, not wanting to think about it anymore. Jade frowned and put a hand on her shoulder. "Lets go to a party tonight. Cassie is throwing one at her house tonight."

Kori laughed. "Haha, yeah right. I'm not going to a party to watch Richard and Babs make out all night."

Jade leaned forward. "First of all, that's not gonna happen. Second of all, you don't have to talk to him. Lastly-

"Noo." Kori said, knowing that Jade wasn't going to let this party thing go.

"Shh." Jade shushed her. "Trust me, I'm gonna get you looking hot tonight. And then Richard is going to flip." Kori raised an eyebrow. "Okay, no."

"Pleaseeeeeeeee! It'll be worth it!"

Kori sat back and sighed. "I've gotta practice my solo for the concert."

"The concert is in three weeks." Jade said.

"So?"

"So! That means you have more than enough time to hang out with me at Cassie's party tonight!" By this point, Jade had grabbed Kori's hands.

Kori rolled her eyes and thought about it for a few minutes. What could it hurt? The worst that could happen is she would show up, be completely humiliated, and regret ever going. That's not so bad, right?

"Fine, but only for an hour."

Jade couldn't contain her excitement.