Love, Football, and Superheros - your Average Highschool Story

Chapter Six - Redd

Well, here we are at chapter six, and the teenage drama bomb drops. Anyway, we're currently at 39 reviews, so let's just go for 50. Also tomarrow I'll be posting two chapters, and I'll explain why in chapters seven's author's note.

Monday, August 31st 8:55 AM - Jump City High School art class

Kori's POV

I walk into my class of art, well aware I have a goofy grin on my face, but I do not care. I have no reason to stop smiling. My whole weekend was spent with Richard. Saturdy we went bowling with our friends. It was most fun, until Gar slid down the isle of bowling to knock over the pins and we were forced to leave. Sunday, Richard and I had what he called a lazy day. Our friends were busy, so we did the snuggling on the couch and watched many differnt movies. I learned very quickly that I did not like Freddy Krugar, so I hid the Nightmare On Elm Street dvds under the couch when Richard went into the kitchen to retrieve us some of the popped corn. During the whole weekend the kiss had not been brought up, but I did not mind. He acted no differnt toward me, so it did not matter, however I am curious if he liked it or not. I enjoyed it very much, and hope that it is not the last, but I do not believe simply asking for another one is acceptable. It is odd though. At some points during the weekend, mostly during the movie watching on sunday, our eyes would meet and I believed he was about to do the kissing of me, but he did not. He always made an excuse to get up, or he would turn back to the movie. He can be very frustrating at times. Regardless I wished to do something for him, since he had done so much for me. I had to think hard. There was no point in purchasing him something. He has everything, so I decided to make him something. After Richard had went to bed last night, I got on the computer, and went to the images of Google. Remembering the story Richard had told me about his parents, I did the searching of the Flying Graysons, and found a poster that depicted a man and woman, along side a young Richard. I printed it out, and brought it with me today. I decided I would paint the image on a large canvas for him. It would take time, but it would be worth it. Gathering all the suplises I would need, I took a seat at a large rectangular desk. I begin to lightly sketch the image on to a large canvas, being extra careful that I do everything right. This had to be perfect. As I do this, I become aware that someone had set down in the desk next to me. I believe his name is Xavier Redd, but I am not sure. I had not planed on saying anything, but he gets my attention when he speeks to me.

"Hey, you're Kori right?," he asks, smiling.

I look up from my canvas at the browned haired blue eyed teen. "Umm yes," I reply

"I'm Xavier Redd," he extends his hand out. I believe he wishes to do the shaking of hands so I extend mine to him as well, but instead of shaking it he does the kissing of it, a gesture I find most odd. "I've seen you around school, and thought you were really cute, so I just had to talk to you," he says, smirking.

I do not know what to say, so I just smile and reply simply. "I thank you."

"Yeah, so I was wondering if you wanted to do something after I get out of practice today?," he asks.

I think for a moment. I have no objections on making new friends, but I already have the plans. Me, Bee, and Raven were going to the mall of shopping right after school, while they boys did the guy time. Truthfully I have no idea what the guy time is, but I am very curious. "I am sorry, I cannot. I have the plans with my friends," I inform him.

His smirk does not waiver. "You're friends with Dick Grayson, right?"

I smile at the mention of Richard. "Oh yes, he is my bestfriend," I say gleefully.

"Is he the one you're hanging out with?" he questions.

"No, I am going to the mall of shopping with Bee and Raven, he is doing the guy time with Vic and Gar. I am not sure what the guy time is, but I suspect it involves consuming large amounts of food, and the expelling bodily gases... it is apparentally humerous to males," I answer.

He raises an eybrow. "Ummm, right. Anyway since you are busy afterschool, how about you eat lunch with me?"

My lips strecth into a thin line as I think. I know Richard is going to be late for lunch today, he has to do the watching of film with Coach Garret. I guess I coud sit with him until Richard arrived. I nod. "Yes, I believe that is acceptable."

"Good, we can get to know each other better," he says with a grin.

I nod, smiling before I return to my sketching. When class ends, he hugs me abruptly. I am not sure I like that. Before he releases me from the hug, he whispers into my ear, "see you in lunch cutie." As he walks away I do not feel right, almost guilty, which I do not know why. Shaking it off, I go to english, where I meet Bee. We talk about are trip to the mall this afternoon, but I do not bring up me planning to sit with Xavier at lunch because I do not see the point in it. After english I meet Gar in fourth period. It was a rather boring class. Usually I would look foward to this period beause I knew Richard would be waiting for me after, but that would not be the case today, so the period sucked, as they say. When the bell rings I walk out of class with Gar, but am suprised to find find Xaiver leaning up against the wall, waiting for me. I am not sure how he knew I had this class this period. He walks up to me smirking, and speaks

"Hey cutie, thought I escort you to lunch," he says, extending his hand for me to take it. I frown as I glance at his hand. I do not think I should be holding hands with him, so I place both my hands behind my back, but still smile sweetly up at him. "I thank you, that is most nice."

Next to me, I notice Gar's eyes are wide and his mouth is agape. His skin is also a couple shades lighter than normal. As I am about to ask him if he is feeling well, Xavier places a hand on my back and leads me toward the lunchroom. Gar runs passed us, but I think nothing of it, figuring he is just haungry as always.

Monday, August 31st 11:35 AM - Jump City Highschool lunchroom

Normal POV

Gar rushed to his group's lunchroom table in such a panic that he actually crashed into it, managing to jar the table slightly. Everone at the table turned to him in confusion.

"What the hell is wrong with you?," Vic questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"We got a huuuuge problem," Gar exlaimed.

"What?," Raven, Vic, and Bee all asked in unison.

Gar just pointed to the lunchroom door, with great timing to, because right as he did Kori walked through the door with Xavier at her side.

Everyone's face at the table, now echoed Gar's.

"What the...," Bee trailed off, as she watched Kori and Xavier take seat at the circular table where all Xavier's friends sat.

"I don't know, when we came out of class he was just there waiting on her. Dudes what are we gonna do? Dick's gonna kill em," Gar questioned in a panic.

"I'll go get her," Bee said as she began to stand, but halted when Vic grabbed her hand.

"I don't think that'a good idea Bee."

She was about to protest when Raven interjected. "He's right. We don't know what's going on, and it's not our place to tell her who she can and can't sit with. It's best if we just wait for Dick to get here, and we'll go from there."

Everyone nodded uneasily, knowing this was probally not gonna go well. About ten minutes later Richard strode into the lunchroom, hands in his pockets. He made his way to table, but as neared he saw that Kori was missing.

"Where's Kori?," he asked, standing in front of his friends.

They all traded glances, as if deciding who would tell him. Raven was the one closest to him, so it somehow fell on her to break the news.
"She's umm... over there," Raven pointed, not wanting to voice where 'over there' was.

Richard raised an eyebrow at his friends before following Raven's finger to where she pointed. What he found he didn't like. He didn't know rather he was angry or... heartbroken. There Kori was sitting with Xavier, and to make it worse he was holding her hand and whipering in her ear. Richard had seen all he needed to. 'I guess I was wrong about her afterall. She's just like every other girl. How stupid could I be to get attached to her? But whatever I'm done with this,' he thought to himself before turning and storming out of the lunchroom, leaving his friends there, not really knowing what to do.

"Should we go after him?," Vic asked.

"No, he's angry right now. There's no use in talking to him right now, he'll just blow up on whoever trys," Raven reponded.

Everyone sat in uneasy silence for about a minute, before Kori walked over to the table, and took a seat. Everyone looked at her kind of oddly, but she didn't seem to notice. "Greetings friends," she smiled. She then looked around the lunchroom, before turning back to her friends. "Where is Richard? I am certain I saw him enter."

Everyone traded glances once more.

"Well...," Raven began.

"He's mad at you," Gar blurted out.

"He is mad at me? Why?," Kori asked urgently.

"He and Xavier don't really like each other," Raven explained.

"It's actually alot deeper then that. You see, when Dick came to Jump, he kinda overshadowed Xavier. Ever since then anything or anyone Richard has, Xavier trys to take away from him," Vic elaborated.

"Yeah, and it's pretty common knowlede around school now that you and Richard are... well, whatever you two are, and Xavier want's to pull you apart because he knows it'll hurt Dick," Bee added in.

Kori's eyes widend, now understanding. "That... he... ahhhh," she screamed frustratedly. "I must go find Richard, and talk to him."

"Actually that's just gonna make things worse. You can't really talk to him when he's mad," Raven replied.

Kori buried her face in her hands. "Oh, this is all my fault. I should have seen what he was doing."

Bee moved from her seat to sat beside Kori. "Hey girl, it's gonna be okay," Bee comforted, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's just... how did you feel when you saw those girl's on Dick after practice?," she asked.

"I did not like it," Kori replied without looking up.

"Well, this is kinda like that, except it would be like Richard sitting with Kitten," Bee explained.

Kori just plopped her head down on the table, now seeing the magnitued of the situation. If she had seen Richard hanging out with Kitten she would probally be just as mad as he was now.

"Relax Kor, you guys live in the same house, it's not he can avoid you forever," Gar said, in an attempt to cheer her up. It didn't work. The rest of lunch she was silent, on the verge of crying. It wasn't Richard being mad at her that upset her, it was the thought of losing him. She had only known him a week, but she felt like she'd known him her whole life. He truly was her best friend, and even though she didn't understand their relationship, she cared about him more than anyone on this palnet, and maybe even more than anyone on Tameran. When the bell rung Vic escorted her to class. She walked down the hallway with her head hung. She didn't want to see anyone who wasn't Richard at the moment. In class Vic tried to cheer her up with jokes as they worked on their lab project together, but it didn't work. It was like a storm cloud was hanging over her head, and only Richard coud make the sun come out. It was a scary thing to know that a single person could control your hapiness so fully, but that was apart of being Tameranian. Their emotions were stronger than humans, it made them who they were. When the bell for the next period rung she became hopeful. Maybe she could talk to Richard and explain everything that happend. When she walked through the door she had expected to see Richard and Gar sitting on the bleechers where they always did, but instead she only found Gar. She saw him shake his head from across the gym. She got the message, Richard wasn't in there. Sighing, she went to change into her gym close. After she finished changing in she saw kitten approaching out of the corner of her eye.

"Rumor around school is you and Dickie-poo broke up," she said with a smirk.

Kori was so ready to shoot a starbolt right in Kitten's face, but that wouldn't be good for anyone. "We did not break up. We are not together to break up," Kori replied, gritting her teeth.

Kitten continued to smirk. "Well whatever, all I know is he is going to be mine again."

"He was not yours to begin with," Kori snapped, begining to fume. She had to get out of the lockeroom before she exploded. Kori pushed past Kitten and exited the lockeroom. Tears were falling down her face, some of anger, some of sadness. Gar saw that she was crying, and jumped off the bleachers, rushing to her.

"Hey Kor, what wrong?," Gar asked, forcing her to look at him.

"Kitten," Kori replied, as she wrapped her arms around herself.

Gar growled at Kitten walked out of the lockeroom with a satisfied smile on her face. "C'mon Kor, lets go sit down," he said, taking her arm, and leading back to the bleachers. Kori laid her head on Gar's shoulder, and just cried. 'Why is this so hard?,' she asked herself. 'I just want to be with Richard,' she admitted to herself.

"Don't worry Kor. Raven said he wasn't in last period either, but his car's still here, so he hasn't left," Gar said in an attempt to calm her. When she did not respond he continued. You know, the only reason he's mad is because he really cares about you."

Kori wiped her eyes. "I know," she replied weakly.

Kori managed to calm herslef enough to sit up straight, but she still wasn't feeling much better on the inside. The rest of the period was spent jogging as they did everyday. After class she walked solemnly to pre-cal, Gar at her side. When she enterd the room her heart soared. There he was. Richard was sitting in his normal desk, with black sunglasses over his eyes. "Richard," she exclaimed as she rushed to him.

He did not repond or even look at her.

Kori saw that he was still angry, and tried to explain. "Richard please, let me explain. I did not...," she began before Richard abruptly stood and walked past her.

"I have to use the bathroom," he told the teacher, before walking out the room, not waiting for permission.

Kori stood momentarally stunned, but then a feeling of anger came over her. "I have to the bathroom as well," she said, before storming out of the room after him.

The teacher just blinked twice and sighed. "I'm getting to old for this," he mutterd to himself.

In the hall Kori walked quickly down the empty hallway to catch up to Richard. "Richard," she called, but he did not turn around. "Richard," she tried again.
Seeing her calls weren't working, she quickend her pace and grabed his shoulder, using some of her Tameranian strength to force him to face her.

"What?," he snapped.

"You will give me a chance to explain," she demanded. "I am sorry, but I did not realize what Xavier was doing, if I did I would not have sat with him."

"It was bad enough you sat with him, but that's not why I'm mad. I saw you and him holding hands at lunch," Richard replied angrily, trying to turn and walk away, but her grip was to tight.

"You did not!," she defended herslef. "You may have saw him grab my hand, but if you had done the watching you would have saw that I pulled away. He tried to touch me many times, but I did not let him."

Kori saw Richard's face soften, and she released her death grip on his shoulder. He took a few steps to the side, so that he was leaning against the wall. Now realising he was being an idiot the entire time he sighed. "I'm sorry," he said truthfully.

Kori was suprised by his apology. She was the one who did wrong. "You are sorry?"

"Yeah. I acted like a child, and stormed out without seeing what the whole story was. Will you forgive me?," he asked, removing his sun glasses.

Kori smiled softly, and took a step toward him. "If you will forgive me, I shall forgive you."

"I can't forgive you because I was wrong to be mad at you in the first place," he replied.

Kori reached out and took his hand, intertwinig their fingers. "We are the okay?"

Richard smiled the nodded. "Yeah..." He glanced at a door at the end of the hallway. "can I show you something?"

"But what about class?" Kori questioned.

Richard smiked. "Yeah, like we're every gonna use any of that."

Kori thought for a moment. There was really nothing to learn for her, so she just nodded. Richard smiled and led her down the hall to a staircase with a door at the top. Kori was curious where the stairs led to, but she figured she would find out when they reached the top. Once at the the door, Richard opend it, causing light to flood in. As soon as Kori's eyes adjusted to the light she saw they were on the roof of the school. Richard pulled her with him as he made his way to the chain-link fenced edge. "This is where you were?," she asked looking up at him, as they leaned against the gate.

"Yeah, I come up here sometimes when I'm not feeling like going to class," he replied, as he slid down the gate to sit down.

Kori joined him, and leaned her head on his shoulder. They sat there in comfortable silence until Richard's phone vibrated. Richard reached into his jean's pocket and pulled it out to see it was a text from Vic.
(You kids playing nice?,) it read.

Richard chuckled and showed it to Kori, who giggled.

(Yeah we're on the roof. Everything's okay, apparentally I was being a Dick,) he replied.

(Well, at least your name suits you,) Vic joked.

Kori laughed at this. Richard just frowned. (Funny.)

(You kids have fun... see you at practice.) Richard could just see Vic grinning as he sent that.

As Richard exited Vic's messaging thread, Kori noticed there were many unanswered text messages from an seemingly endless strand of girls. Kori raised an eyebrow as she looked over the screen. "Richard, why do you not reply to the girls?"

Richard shrugged. "I don't want talk to them," he answerd simply.

"You talk to me," Kori reasoned.

Richard just smiled as he leaned his head on hers. "You're differnt than them."

"How?," Kori asked, not knowing if that was a good or bad thing.

"I don't know, I actually care about you," he responded.

Kori smiled, but continued to press. "Like you care about Raven and Bee?"

"Well, kinda like that, but differnt too," he answered, trying to be careful what he said.

"Differnt? How?," Kori asked in her best innocent tone.

Richard cringed. Either she was really oblivious or really smart. which, he didn't know. "Ummm, just differnt."

"Is differnt good?," she questioned.

"I think so," he admitted.

Kori just smiled and retook Richard's hand. They sat and talked about everything ranging from to how musterd and peanut butter would taste mixed together, to why whales were considerd mammals and not fish. Eventually the bell rung and they had to part, which neither of them liked very much. "See you tonight," Richard sid, handing her the car keys, so Raven could drive them to the mall.

"I shall see you tonight," she replied giving him a tight hug. As she walked to the door, she paused and turned back to him. "Richard?"

"Yeah?"

"I do not wish to argue anymore. I do not like crying," Kori replied

Richard's breath hitched. He didn't know she had cried. Gathering himself he nodded. "We won't."

Kori gave him a one more smile, before walking off to find Bee and Raven.

Tuesday, September 1st 8:55 AM - Jump City Highscool art room

Kori's POV

I walk into the room of art, collect my suplies, and take a seat. After yesterday I just want a nice calm day. Me and Richard are the okay now, which I am beyond happy about. After I returned from the mall of shopping last night me and Richard did the wrestling on the couch. I let him pin me, but he is quite strong for a human, and very difficult to catch. After we watched Troy. I would not admit this to Richard, but Brad Pitt is most attractive. Before the movie had ended, Richard suddely became sleepy, and went to bed. I am still suspicious about that, but have not questioned him on it.

As I space out my suplies, and begin to work on my sketch, Xavier sets down next to me. I am furious at him, but I remain completely quite and try to focus on my work. That is until he trys to talk to me.

"Hey cutie," he smiles at me.

I look at him, my eyes glaring. "Do not talk to me," I snarl.

"Did I do something?," he asks as if he didn't know.

"Yes, you purposefully attempted to make me and Richard fight. I do not like you deceiving me, but trying to come between me and Richard is not the thing to do," I say in a threatening tone.

He sighs and holds his hands up in defense. "Okay, I admit that was my original goal, but after talking with you in lunch it changed. I think you're really funny and obviously cute. Just give me a chance to show you that I'm not like he probally says I am. One date, that's it."

"No, Richard would not like that, and I have strong suspiscion that I would not either," I say definately.

"So what? You just do everything he tell you to do?," he questions.

"Yes," I answer straightly.

He raises an eyebrow, obviously not expecting that answer.

"Richard would not tell me anything that is wrong or anything that would hurt me. I trust him," I elaborate.

"You know he's not perfect like you think he is. To be honest with you, you're just his flavor of the week," Xavier says, a little anger in his tone.

I do not understand what he means and my face must have demonstrated that because he explained. "It means you're just another girl to him. He'll spend a few days with you, and then he'll forget all about you."

My mouth falls slightly agape, and mind flashes back to all the girls in Richard's phone that he would not text back. I wonder if that is what happend to them? will he truly do that me? "No," I voice. "He said I was differnt than them," I reason.

Xavier smirks. "You don't think he didn't tell every single girl he's ever been with that?"

I feel my heart cringe in my chest. Could everything Xavier saying be true? It did make sense, he was known as the playboy afterall.

Xavier just continues. "Trust me if you don't wanna get hurt, forget about Dick. Think about it," he says, getting up and moving to a seat on the other side of the room. The rest of the period I just sat there, not working, not doing anything besides replaying what Xavier said in my head. When the bell rings I rush to find Bee. I desperately need to talk to her. I find her already sitting in the english room. I walk over and take a seat, but in a position where I am facing her.

"Hey girl," she says.

"Greetings," I reply sounding more upset than attended.

"What's wrong?," she asks.

I sigh. "Xavier said that I am just Richard's flavor of the week and he will do the forgeting of me."

"And you believe him?," she asks in disbeliefe

I twidle my thumbs nervously. "It is just I know he has done this before. In his phone there are many girls he used to talk to, but he will not reply to their messages of text," I answer.

"Listen Kori, I've known Dick for over a year, and I've never seen him like this with any other girl. Trust me he really likes you, even the guys say so," Bee assures.

I perk up a little. "You are sure?"

"Yeah girl, I mean think about it, has he tried to have sex with you," she asks.

I shake my head. "No."

"Well there you go, if you were just some other girl that would be all he was after. He's head over heals for you. Quit listening to Xavier, but I think it's time you and Dick have a coversation about... whatever it is going on between y'all," she says.

I do agree with her, I think is time we had a conversation about this as well. "I shall talk to him during lunch," I inform.

"Good, I can't take no more of this sexual tension between you," she jokes and I giggle.

Tuesday, September 1st 11:35 AM - hallway

Kori's POV

After my talk with Bee, both 3rd and 4th period pass by quickly as anticipate my talk with Richard. When the 4th period bell rings I am nervous. Upon exiting the room, I find Richard in the hallway waiting for me. Gar runs ahead of us because Vic has purchased pizza today.

"Hey Kor, ready for lunch?," he asks me as he extends his hand.

I intertwine our fingers and take a deep breath before replying. "Actually Richard, I need to talk to you. May we go to the roof?" I wish to go the roof for the talk because I know we will not be disturbed.

Richard raises an eyebrow at me, but nods.

It is a silent walk to the roof. I was building up my courage and I assume Richard was trying to figure out what was so urgent that I wished to skip lunch.
When we finally reach the roof, Richard asks, "So, whats going on?"

I shift side to side, uneasy. "This morning in the class of art, Xavier said things."

His eyes narrow. "Like what?," he asks.

"He said that I am just your flavor of the week, and that you will do the forgetting of me. He said that you tell every girl they are differnt, and that to you, I am just another girl," I say, talking quickly.

Richard's fist ball, and he looks agrier than I have ever seen him. He trys to make his way to the door, but I stop him with my strength. "Richard I do not wish for you to get angry, I wish to know if what he said is true. There are many girl in your phone, but you do not talk to them. I cannot help but to wonder if that is what happend to them... if that is what will happen to me," I add more somberly.

"Do you think what he's telling you is true? That your just some girl? That I don't care about? That I lied I when I said you were differnt? Because as far as I can remember, there's never been a girl that I don't mind constantly being around, that I think about all the time, that I do my best not to screw things up with her, that I actually care what she thinks of me," he says, anger in his tone, but that does not stop me from smiling. I pratically tackle him to the ground in a hug, any doubts that I had, now completly gone. Richard is momentarally stunned as he lays on the ground with me on top of him, but then I see a smile creeps onto his face. "How could you think I'd just forget about you?," he asks much more softly.

"Xavier is very manipulative," I answer, holding onto to Richard's sides.

Richard frowns, but then a smirk crosses his face. He takes out his phone and begins to do something with it, but I cannot tell what. After a moment he hands me the phone. I notice his saver of the screen is now a picture of me that he took over the weekend. In it I am sitting on the couch laughing at the movie 21 Jump Street. He had caught me by suprise when he took it. "I can't forget you if you're there everytime I look at my phone," he says, causing my smile to grow wider. I hand him his phone back and nuzzle my head into the crook of his neck.

"Richard, may we stay here the rest of the day?," I ask.

He smiles and replys. "I'm not going anywhere." I like to think that has multiple meanings.

Things look like there going to be fine right? Sadly relationships aren't that simple.