Chapter Fifteen: What Goes Around...

(Rachel Roth's POV)

Alright... so obviously there was some sort of tension occurring between Dick and Kori. Call it a hunch but as I stood beside Dick and Crystal just outside school, I could tell from his demeanor that he was nothing but pissed off. I wasn't sure why... or if I even cared at the moment, but in the end not even his attempt to shield his eyes with his black shades could distract the mind from the obvious... something had happened between Kori and Dick that had him in a mood.

I was certain it had something to do with the fact that Kori had been spending time with Roy a lot... and I mean a lot. Since we came back from New York, Roy was all over kori... all the time. And while she denied him her friendship for a while... eventually she gave. Not that I blame her... if Dick was too scared to initiate his oh so obvious feelings for Kori... then he didn't deserve her in my opinion, and that in no way means she had to wait around for him. As it were,... her naive mind could not comprehend the obvious signals Dick had sent her in moments of weakness... the entire scenario, for me,... was becoming nothing short of annoying.

...annoying right up until I spotted Kori arrive just now. My eyes widened as she pulled up on the back of Roy's bike. My interest was immediately sparked. I looked to Dick... no, he hadn't noticed them yet... and it was probably for the best... Kori handed her helmet to Roy, who in turn accepted it and drew her in for a kiss. Now,... I'm sure its clear that I am currently thriving off this moment.. the entire scene like a movie for me right now... but it's only because it served as the best distraction for my own problems... which unfortunately were stabbing at my mind constantly.

My eyes were snapping back and forth between Kori and Roy who approached slowly, and Dick, who had still yet to notice them. I may not be one for drama,... but this was Kori... she didn't date. The truth... I was proud she had finally taken a leap... sure it was a leap in the opposite side of where Dick was... but this alone made it all the better.

She stepped to us, looking as adorable as she always did in her preppy outfit. This was it... Dick's head turned in their direction. I smiled to myself as he clenched his fists in annoyance... and I just knew behind those pursed lips his teeth were grinding in frustration. What surprised me... he didn't say anything... he didn't do anything. He just remained there frozen in a rage as the two walked hand in hand toward us.

"Hey... Kori..." I said awkwardly.

She looked to me with a smile, but her mind was more focused on Dick. Her nervousness surfacing as she looked to him. "Hey Dick."

It sounded like more of a question ... but either way, I'm certain it would have resulted in the same reply. Dick nodded, and from the angle I was at, I noticed his blue eyes trail down to the new couples joined hands, from behind his shades.

"Roy Harper..." Crystal's obnoxious voice sounded.

I looked to Roy now, observing him in my silence. He was actually very handsome... he was no Richard but he was easily worthy of Kori's affection. He stood in a leather jacket over a red shirt, a pair of faded jeans and a pair of converse... it was not that my mind realized he was actually a lot like Dick. They both dressed in the same fashion, sported the same ride, same blue eyes... and... now I understood why Kori was so taken with him. He was Dick... except, as far as we knew... he wasn't an ass. In the end, I was happy for Kori, she deserved some happiness aside from the moody one she found herself with daily, with our group. I wasn't one to match her overly excited personality, ... Gar, he was too much for anyone most of the time,... Vic, he was always busy with Karen, she had him wrapped around his finger... and Dick... well, in my opinion, he was getting everything he deserved right now. If he wanted Kori, all he would have to do is bat those eyes at her and she would be... but since he refused to take the leap... Kori made one of her own.

Roy smiled at Crystal... a charming smile. "Crystal... yea, I've heard a lot about you."

The awkwardness in the situation was completely obvious to everyone, even those who randomly walked passed us... and I loved every minute of it. Call me crazy, but I seemed to find awkwardness entirely too fascinating... I found humor in it even.

My brow raised as Roy looked to Dick, now. He hesitated in his words, then said, "Hey Dick..."

The anger on his face was nothing short of perfection. We all knew,... even Crystal... that Dick was not happy with this moment, and while he was doing his best to endure the moment... there was no way he wanted to actually become friends with Roy.

Dick hesitated, not in nervousness... no... in anger. He knew he would have to choose his words carefully as to not upset Kori... and what I couldn't understand is what made him want to withhold his true feelings. Nothing ever stopped him before. Now, before Dick could speak... and after a brief silence... Kori cleared her throat speaking... anticipating Dick's anger which would follow if he in fact had to speak with Roy.

She stepped back at an angle, taking Roy's hand into both of hers nervously, her eyes cast down at the ground. "Well... we should go. Don't want to be late."

As the two walked away I looked to Dick, his eyes focused on watching them enter the school, his scowl never subsiding... well,... until I chuckled to myself. He snapped his gaze to mine. "What?"

I shrugged. "Nothing... nothing that isn't already obvious to everyone here."

I left no room for him to argue with me, which I'm confident he would have loved at a time like this. I stepped into the school, catching up to Kori with a sigh. "Well... you've managed to piss one person off today, and school hasn't even started yet." I gave her a slight elbow to her side. "Good for you."

She paused looking to Roy. "Hey,... I'll see you later alright?" As he vanished... so did that bubbly smile. It melted into an hysteric frown. "I don't know what to do."

I rolled my eyes. "You haven't done anything wrong."

She shook her head. "Come on Rachel... you saw Dick... you saw how upset he was. I... I don't know if I can continue this...I..."

"Fuck that." I snapped, tossing a book into my locker and pulling my hood over my head. "Look... I told you, you haven't done anything wrong. If Dick wants to act like a child then let him..." I shrugged. "... he'll get over it."

"You don't understand..."

"Oh, believe me I do..." I sent her a smile, which immediately seemed to soften her mood. I continued as we walked down the hallway now. "Look, Dick has no reason to be upset with you."

"Yes but he clearly is."

I rolled my eyes... I wasn't one to talk about something like this for too long, and was glad when we finally reached our class. I paused before the door. "So what..." she paused flinching slightly as if I had hit her upside the head. "... I'm glad he's upset...maybe now he'll appreciate your 'friendship' more."

As I laughed she gave me a glare... which I easily ignored, tuning in as the teacher began speaking. It was quiet for a moment between her and I, but I could see Kori fidgeting with herself the entire time. She was doing that annoying thing again... you know the one... where she becomes so enveloped in her own thoughts that everything around her ceases to exist.

I ignored her as best I could but once I noticed her reach for her phone I looked to her. "No... I don't think so."

She hesitated, her eyes moving frantically over my expression. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you dare do what you're thinking. Let him suffer."

She exhaled slowly, her mind not fully pleased with my take on the moment. She paused staring down at her phone in anticipation. "But... you saw him Rachel ... I should text him... see if he's ok."

I rolled my eyes. "Do what you want Kori. I'm just saying..." I paused as the teacher looked to me narrow eyed. I rolled my eyes then pulled my phone from my pocket to continue speaking with Kori... which let me just draw attention to... most of the teachers in this school had no issue,... in fact, it seemed as though they even preferred us texting rather than talking. Maybe because they didn't appreciate being interrupted, but why then would it be alright for us to text, obviously ignoring them anyway. Regardless...

RACHEL: If you text Dick, then you're willingly offering yourself to be apart of this game he's playing with you... DONT.

I paused as Kori finished reading my text then looked to me confused.

KORI: What game are you talking about?"

I rolled my eyes.. why even bother helping her if she was so ignorant of his ways. It surprised me that she could read Dick merely by an expression on his face.. they finished each others sentences sometimes, but when it came to something like this she was still completely numb and oblivious to the way he always drew her back into his keep.

I paused looking to her irritated, the thought of dropping the subject all together crossing my mind. But I knew I couldn't, and I knew if I did, Kori would end up feeling so guilty about this situation she would probably end things with Roy, shattering her only chance at freedom from Richard's constant grasp around her. Don't get me wrong... I almost would prefer Dick and Kori as a couple merely because they practically were in my eyes, and while I was secretly rooting for him... this moment was perfect. If anything it would be the slap across the face he needed to realize Kori wasn't eternally his... not unless he decided to make a move.

RACHEL: Kori... trust me on this. You text him and he's going to give you a guilt trip about losing you... when he hasn't. You're entitled to your own life outside of Dick's world.

KORI: So I just leave him alone?

I sighed.

RACHEL: Let him come to you first. I guarantee he's hoping for you to text him... so don't.

I looked to Kori as she returned her phone to her pocket with much hesitation. I gave her a confident nod then gave my attention to our rambling teacher who was completely off topic at the moment.

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When the bell rang I lifted myself from my seat, pausing as the rush of my peers stormed out the door. Kori followed me, both of us greeted, now, in the hallway by... my problem at the moment... Gar... but he wasn't alone, he had that attention seeking girl Terra at his side. If it isn't obvious I wasn't very fond of this girl... in fact I would rather enjoy wiping that smirk across her face right off.

She faced me, her smirk gleaming. "Rachel..."

I ignored her, looking to Gar. "English?"

He nodded looking to Terra now, with his eager... pathetic... ridiculously obvious eyes... "I'll see you during the lunch... alright?"

I arched a brow in irritation as Terra flung her long blond hair from her face. "Alright... see you then dude."

Gar looked to Kori now. "So... I heard you and Roy were a couple... that's cool."

I enjoyed this moment, for Kori had actually taken my advice and instead of cowering in nerves, actually lifted her chest in a deep inhaled then said, "Yes... I am very happy about it."

Gar nodded, then looked to me with an annoying roll of his eyes. He threw and arm around me as Kori left and sighed. "Well... it's just you and me I guess. Hey... what are you doin' after school? I was thinking maybe..."

"No..."

"Huh?" he said looking to me confused. "I didn't even get the chance to tell you what I was thinking."

Shoving his arm away from me I continued down the hallway. "Don't need to hear it... my answers gong to be no either way."

Sure, I guess you could say I was slightly more on edge around Gar, for obvious reasons in which you already know so I will not waste my time choking out an explanation, but... still... I didn't know why I pushed him away. He was annoying... loud... extremely UN-funny... the list goes on... and yet... I don't know, I don't even think my temper was a result, entirely, of him,... but rather Terra. There was something I didn't like about her... and it would only continue to worsen, especially since Gar had basically invited her to everything our group of friends did now.

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(Dick Grayson's POV)

Nothing... I stared down at my phone since I last saw Kori... and nothing. I wasn't sure what game she was playing, or that it was even her pulling the strings in the first place. I could have sworn I saw Rachel talking to her quite forcefully within the hallway earlier. I could be wrong,... and to be honest I didn't care otherwise... what I knew, was that Kori was avoiding me. And sure, I realize I told her I was happy for her and Roy,... the memory of these words as they came from me... it made me gag. She knew I wasn't happy for her, and I knew she wasn't happy with him... or maybe I don't know as much as I think I do. The reality of the situation was that my mind was far too clouded with anger and regret to make any logical assumption at the moment.

Anger, obviously because I wanted nothing more than to give Roy the beating I always wanted to, and regret... regret... I couldn't explain. I was clearly being selfish with Kori and while all of you know that I have no intentions of voicing my feelings for Kori... that didn't mean I didn't want to.. Which, of course this whole situation is becoming one big mind fuck for me... I mean... I wasn't just angry with Roy...no, I was angry at myself for not being able to keep Kori from slipping through my fingers and running to Roy,... but I was also upset with Kori. And, I realize this might sound... confusing... or... maybe even lacking any sense at all... but before... when I saw Kori I was frustrated because of all these pent-up feelings for her which I could not act on. And now... I was angry at her because she wasn't mine... not at all.

I kept telling myself it was only a matter of time until she would leave this guy, and I would have every reason to defend her against him... which I was looking forward too. And yet... each time I saw her with him a little piece me died... anger and regret filling the cracks. She seemed... dare I say... happy? Not content... not sufficient... no,... she seemed happy. That smile... that heavenly smile which once belonged to me, and could only be found being sent in my direction ... it was now his. Which I'm sure sounds like another teenage dramatization of the situation... but again, everything with Kori and I was different in the grand scheme of things, friendship wise, it always had been and always would be.

I could feel myself in this internal fight against my own emotions. The illogical side of my brain, the side deprived of reality,... was screaming for me to just grab her... sweep her off her feet and make the move I'd been silently contemplating in my dreams. And yet, the logical side of my brain,... the stronger, more dominating thoughts... they told me to just keep admiring her from the distance. After all it's what I had always done... but then again, my illogical side would constantly peek through, reminding me of where this got me.

In the end, I was the best friend... and all the closeness we shared, innocent embraces and nights spent sleeping in each others arms... they would soon fade. I don't know, maybe I am thinking too much about this... but... how could I not?

"She's not going to text you." I heard a monotone voice sound beside me.

I looked to Rachel, quickly placing my phone in my pocket. I glanced around the classroom,... it was empty... even the teacher had left... and I was still here... consumed in my own torturous thoughts. I cleared my throat looking to Rachel and noticing a smirk beneath that guarded exterior.

"What's so funny?"

She shrugged, her violet eyes teasing me with obvious withheld information. "Are you coming to lunch or should I just let you get back to ... whatever you were doing?"

I ran a hand through my hair... a heavy sigh escaping me. Gathering my things, I followed Rachel into the hallway, ... I was silent... she however was taunting me with suspicious glances in which I attempted to ignore. It bothered me though... I knew why she was so smug in this moment.

We entered the food court, the volume of those around us instantly rising. My eyes scanned around the area for Kori... but she wasn't there... not yet at least. I joined Rachel at the table, Crystal finding her way to me within a few minutes. Everyone around me was in conversation ... conversation that echoed around me in a dazed, drawn out muffle of unrecognizable voices. I hated this... I hated feeling like this... I hadn't been submerged in an emotion such as this in a long time. The last time was as a result of Kori too... just like now... only, this time... it seemed as though there was nothing that would be able to stop it... that it would just keep going, getting worse each day.

I'm not going to say I was depressed about this whole Roy and Kori thing... I wouldn't allow myself that escape route. No... I was angry... I told myself. Which was partially true, and yet no amount of the anger I felt could shed light to the pain which had surfaced in my chest as Kori's giggle stabbed at my thoughts sharply. I turned... she was still a short distance away, approaching the table in which we all sat at slowly... yes, Roy at her side.

It surprised me I was able to hear her approaching, for not that I wasn't drowning head first in my thoughts... I could barely hear her now... which only proved I needed to get my mind off of her. The tightness in my chest strained even harder as Roy pulled out a chair for her, Kori sitting in her adorable bounciness. I felt myself swallow hard, lowering my gaze to my cast... trying to focus on my mind on the fact that I only had to wear this damn thing for a few more hours... but it didn't help... her voice was too toxic to me to ignore.

I wasn't sure what she was talking about, all I could focus on was her excitement. Each time she laughed it sent chills through me... which quickly came to a halt each time Roy placed a hand upon her. It was now that I took great appreciation for my sunglasses for I was certain I was narrow eyed the entire time.

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By the time the day ended, school that is... it was only about to be 4 pm... I stopped by the Manor hoping Kori would show. Now, ... while she said nothing between us would change, and I wanted to believe it but knew it was impossible, things had already changed as far as I was concerned, and it didn't matter that it was only in my own mind... the fact was... it was different now.

I waited for a long time... then, showing up late to my appointment, I sat before the nurse in with a scowl. I felt like a child now... upset because I didn't get my way. Even as the nurse spoke to me in a flirtatious manner, I couldn't focus... I didn't speak at all... only an occasional nod here and there to shut her up.

The drive home was obnoxious... my mind was running circles around what would have been so important for Kori to miss my appointment. I wouldn't have mind going alone... but she had insisted it was important to her. Anyway... I was thinking far too much... I needed to get Kori off my mind. So I did what I do best... I called Crystal. When I arrived at the Manor she stood there in her usual slutty attire... which was something I had grown to like... after all it was far easier to remove.

As I stepped from my car, I stepped to her with undefined urgency,... for her, not me... I knew perfectly well why. Bruce was in town for the rest of the night and Alfred was busy when I left, and he said he would be for the majority of the evening, so I took it as the house being empty... which it basically was. Usually if Alfred heard me shuffling around with someone he would divert his presence immediately... which I had grown to appreciate.

The moment I reached Crystal, my lips were against hers. She cooperated just as I wanted and expected from her. My lips never leaving hers in a riot of emotion I forced her passed the threshold of the Manor and backed her into a distant corner. Our lips took a pause as I peeled her skin tight shirt over her head, our lips at it once more. I lowered a hand to her waist, the other aggressively attached to the back of her neck as I kept her right where I wanted her. I could feel the excitement of the moment rise as I felt her hands remove themselves from around me and lower to my belt. I kissed at her neck now, trailing down to her collar bone as she unbuckled the latch of my belt... and then... before anything else could happen... I heard a familiar squeal sound beside me.

My eyes widened as I turned to find Kori, her cheeks flushed and eyes looking horrified back at me. "Kori!"

"No... I ... I'm so sorry I..."

I fumbled with my footing slightly as I tried to go after her as she stepped toward the door. I growled in frustration as I quickly redid the buckle on my belt, making it easier for me to walk now. I paused as Crystal pulled at my arm to prevent me from leaving.

"Come on just let her go."

I ignored her comment, taking to the door, and stepped outside. I found Kori in a panicked walk toward her car which I hadn't noticed until now. I rolled my eyes, then called after her... which she pretended she didn't hear.

"Kori!" I yelled again as I was now a few feet behind her.

She turned back to me, unable to look me in the eyes. Her voice cracked as she spoke now. "I... I'm so... sooo... sorry. I..." She lifted a hand to her forehead. "I... I thought you had the appointment today." She inhaled deeply, then raised a shaky hand, motioning to my cast free arm. "I see you ... you already ummmm..." she paused as I stepped closer to her.

"That was a while ago... after a while I just assumed you weren't coming." I snapped. I was no longer embarrassed in this moment,... my anger and feelings of jealousy and hurt surfaced now. "I waited..."

It was now that those emotional eyes focused on mine. "I... I just... I lost track of time. I was hoping you hadn't left yet."

I shrugged. "I did."

There was an awkward silence... one I spent with eyes wandering over her as if I had not seen her in years.

"I should go..."

... and as much as I didn't wanted to see her go,...as she did... I did my best to ignore the unsettling amount of rage and pain I felt... this entire moment served nothing more... to my mind... as a metaphor for our relationship as it now stood... in shambles... her walking away and me left to my thoughts.

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(A/N) Alright... here it is, chapter fifteen... I had a lot of fun with this one. I think we all love the jealousy Richard Grayson has for Kori... which there is definitely more of that on the way. For those of you still reading after all this time... I thank you yet again... please R/R... much appreciated =]