(A/N) Hey Guys, I'm using my sisters account because I no longer have access to mine and I didn't want to have to start all over.
I'm known as RICHRDxJHNxGRYSN and I haven't been on here in years. I recently looked up an old unfinished story and felt inspired to try to finish it. There were plenty of comments asking me to return even after all this time so I hope you can all find me through here. I'll be continuing Define Love so long as it deems worthy of you guys. We will see how this goes!
Since I no longer have access to that account I will be posting future chapters from this profile but I cannot upload chapters 1-6 which you will have to read on my original page. I found this raw outline of chapter 7 from way back on my computer and I added a little to it, but if it turns out people are able to find this story still and truly do want me to continue... then I'll gladly put forth my dedicated effort as I once did.
You can find my previous profile and stories through this profiles favorite authors tab.
Thanks again guys,... RICHRDxJHNxGRYSN
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Chapter 7: Where Was I?
"Knock it off, sweetheart," The muffled voice said with a tired laugh, trying to flow through the cracks of Kori's muddled sleep driven thoughts.
Dubbing the voice nothing more than the continuation of her wonderfully vivid dream world Kori shifted in closer to the beacon of warmth wrapped around her. Ugh, X was so comfortable to sleep on. Why he insisted on trying to pull her from such a pleasant dream, she wasn't quite sure. Determined to fight off the unrelenting pull of her mind trying to shake her back to reality, Kori nuzzled her face further into her boyfriends chest. Her half alert mind was aware they were tangled in a mess of limbs and she wasn't ready to part from such comfort. Yet the voice rang out again, even more annoyed, at the insufferable sharp knocks sounding from somewhere within the room.
"Go away."
The body around her shifted once more, tugging her closer and earning a dreamy smile from Kori. She ran her chilled hand up and around his back, taking shelter in the warmth found beneath his shirt.
"You better stop that soon or it's going to get awkward as hell for the both us here shortly," The voice said, nudging at her arm playfully, only to pull her closer immediately after.
Kori's mind skidded to a halt, her dreams bleeding away into a blank canvas of black. Why would it get awkward exactly? What the hell did that even mean? Before full recognition of her situation could be realized, the sound of a door squeaking open caused both bodies to jolt in confusion.
"Well don't you two look the perfect picture of comfy."
"Rachel?" Kori said, staring up from her place on the couch. Hold on, wait a damn second. What was going on here? She blinked up at the arched brow hovering over her from Rachel's displeased stance as she entered the living room. Shaking her head to spark her mind fully awake, Kori cleared her throat. "How did you get in here?"
The body beneath her squirmed, aggravated at the intrusion. Placing an arm over his eyes, Richard growled. "Can you both have this conversation somewhere else? It's too early for conversation with the way you kept me up all night, Kor."
Kori's eyes widened for a moment as she took in the position she found herself in. Okay, deep breaths. Everything's fine. Her and Richard had slept like this on countless occasions without any weirdness. So why then, as she stared down at him, did her stomach sink? Oh, I know, maybe it's because while she currently ignored the suspicious narrowed eyes staring at her from Rachel, her mind could focus on only one thing. The dream she had just been ripped out of was nothing short of intimate. And while, yes, its contents was of Xavier and not Richard she couldn't stop the odd feeling in her gut when she realized it was not her boyfriend she had fully been prepared to fondle inappropriately.
Kori sat up as best she could, trying to ignore the irrefutable comfort she was currently wrapped up in. Still, as she unraveled her body from her previous angle tangled on the couch with Richard, she couldn't stop the thoughts barreling through her mind. Sure, this was all innocent but what would have happened had Rachel not interrupted them? Would her sleep have continued the vision of her dream-world boyfriend reciprocating her affections? God, how embarrassing that would have been? Richard would have been mortified. And what the hell had he said just before Rachel arrived? It would get awkward for both of them soon? What the hell did that mean? Standing fully now, balance still a struggle, Kori glanced down at a sleeping Richard once more and her eyes shut in a wince as he adjusted the crotch of his pants.
"Something on your mind?" Rachel whispered suspiciously.
"What?" Of course not.
Kori shook her head and pulled Rachel by the wrist toward her room. Anything to create a little more distance between Richard and the growing pit in her stomach. Things could have gotten real weird back there. And how would she have justified herself? Something told her her friendship with Richard would be even more strained if she had to attempt a nonchalant 'oh sorry I was having a simple sex dream' explanation. Yes, she was telling Richard this weekend about her less than platonic relationship with X but that was later. He couldn't know she was reliving the last intimate night shared with her boyfriend. She didn't have one, remember? And, right now? Right now she needed to pull herself together and remember how to breathe.
The taunting laughter following behind her made Kori halt. Spinning around to Rachel she forced her into her room, shutting the door with urgency. "What are you even doing here?" Kori laughed, unamused, hands thrown up at her sides. "How did you get in again?"
"Door was unlocked," Rachel replied with a smirk, sitting down at the edge of Kori's bed. Crossing her arms, Rachel stared at Kori trying to understand the level of anxiety pulsating through her body and ricocheting off her own wall of humor. "I did knock."
The two stared at one another in silent confusion before Kori whimpered to herself. Hands on her head, hoping to scratch away at the twisted disorder of her mind, Kori rushed into her closet.
"So are we still getting coffee and heading to the library, or what?"
"Library?" Oh, that's right. The world didn't just stop because her thoughts decided to slink back to high school vibe drama. College, professors, schoolwork paused for no one. Better get that mind back on track. "Of course. I still have that paper to finish and submit before I leave with Richard."
"So I take it X was more than accommodating to your need to slip away with Dick for the weekend?" Rachel asked, rolling her eyes.
"Yes," Kori admitted with guilt. Forcing a sweatshirt over her mess of hair she sagged against her closet door. Legs bent at the knee, she placed her head in her hands and sighed in defeat. "Of course he was. Ugh, I don't deserve him."
Rachel stood, hands thrust into her own hoody. "Your words, not mine."
'Tell that to your tone', Kori thought to herself.
"I know what you think about this whole situation, and I get it, but... I'm working on making things better," Kori said in a low whisper. She looked over to Rachel with a sad shrug, her lips in a weary pout. "I told X that I'd tell Richard about us this weekend."
Rachel paused, eyes wide as she took a step back in surprised. "Really?" She laughed to herself. Now Kori's behavior this morning made more sense. "Wow. I'm... I'm really proud of you. To be honest, I thought for sure you'd be putting X through hell for months before you got the courage to remember who you are."
Kori sighed, taking to her feet and stepping to Rachel, hands at her hips. "I've got this." She forced a nod and smiled confidently, looping her arm through Rachel's. "It'll be difficult at first, but you were right, I almost fell right back under Richard's thumb. This weekend will be great. He and I can do a little bestie bonding and then I'll tell him. Sure, he will be mad, and then he'll just... he'll just get over it."
"Right. And if he doesn't, best case scenario, I get my roommate back."
Well, that instantly let sadness creep right back into Kori. That wasn't what she wanted at all. Not that she had anything against Rachel, but moving out hadn't even crossed her mind as a consequence. He wouldn't really kick her out would he? There's no way. He wouldn't be that upset as to go that far. Would he?
"Oh stop with the pouting," Rachel sighed, tugging Kori down the hallway. "Coffee makes everything better. Let's get out of here."
Just as they reached the front door, Richard's voice brought them to a stop. "Where are you guys off to?" His tired eyes locked onto Kori's in a serious manner as he stood from the couch. "Are you forgetting we have kind of big plans today?"
"Of course not dork," Kori smiled, warmly. "I'll be back in a few hours. Just grabbing coffee and headed to finish my paper that's due. I told you last night I'm not leaving campus until its done, remember."
Silence. It was brief, but it was there. And it said more than Richard could understand at the moment. Kori seemed a little off, but reminding himself they had spent the night cuddled in each others arms, he shrugged let it go.
"Alright," he yawned, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I'll go for a run before I start packing." He groggily wandered over to Kori and placed a tender kiss on her cheek. "Bring me some coffee back, will ya?"
"Of course."
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Sweat dripped from his body as Richard brought his run to a walk, weaving his way through the crowd. Gar stood, confused, staring at his phone just outside his building. Curious, Richard took a deep inhale to even out his stressed breath.
"Waiting on someone?" He called out to his friend.
Jerking his head up to the familiar voice, Gar said, "Oh, hey Dick. Nice, I was actually just up at your place. I think I left my keys there. You headed up?"
Richard nodded, matching Gar's pace as they entered the building. He wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone at the moment, but decided it could help to have a small distraction from his never-ending thoughts and confusion. He thought all his pent up frustration where Kori was concerned would have been alleviated after not only his hookup last night, but the fact that his evening had ended on a good note with her. Yet, he still couldn't shake the undefined feeling crowded in his chest.
When did Gar even have the time to leave his keys at his place? As it were, he hadn't even heard from him since the small get together at their place a few days ago. And the oddball was only now coming to look for them? He wondered how many places he'd had to look before he finally came to the conclusion they had to be here.
"How was the run?"
"It was good."
"Where's Kori at?" Gar inquired, snatching his keys which had been tossed on the small table near the entrance. "Aren't you guys both off to the beach house this weekend?"
Here we go again. Why is it that everyone knew his business?
"She's off with Rachel. Finishing up some last minute homework," He replied, chugging back a water bottle he stole from the fridge. Turning to face Gar, he threw a hand up at his side. "Anything else you need?"
Gar rolled his eyes, "Geeze, Dick, I was warned you'd be different when Kori got here but I didn't think you'd turn into an even shittier friend to the rest of us. No worries, I'm leaving."
Reeling in his frustration, Richard watched as Gar moved to the front door. He fully intended on letting him leave upset but instead stopped him. What do you know, perhaps the endorphins from his run did have a positive affect on him this morning.
"Look, Gar, I'm ... " Gar hesitated as Richard paused, staring at him in annoyance. "I just have a lot going on right now. No offense man. Just,... ignore me."
Gar exhaled curtly. "Whatever you say, dude."
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"It's gotta feel better being out of the house after a morning like that," Rachel teased.
Kori rolled her eyes, entering the coffee shop beside her friend. There's no way Rachel even understood the depth of that statement. She had no clue the chaos banging around in her skull. And that was good. Good for everybody to be honest. No one needed an insight to that knot of bewilderment.
"Is that X?"
Kori squinted her eyes over the crowded café. Sure enough, there stood her insanely attractive boyfriend, three coffee's at hand and a smile headed in her direction. He parked that gorgeous figure of his right in front of her, a sexy smirk on display.
"Morning, beautiful."
"What are you doing here?" Kori blushed.
"What? A guy can't get his girl her morning coffee?"
Ignoring their anticipated swooning over one another, Rachel dipped her hand between the two of them and pulled a coffee free from its place. "I'm assuming this is mine. Thanks, X." She glanced at Kori who remained all doe-eyed, before retreating. "I'll catch up with you at the library."
"Uh, sure," Kori called back to her. Her smile widened once handed a coffee of her own. A shiver ran down her spine as Xavier allowed his hand to linger on her hip, leaning in for a chaste kiss upon the corner of her mouth. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
X shrugged confidently, a hint of a smile on his lips as well. "You let me call you mine."
He winced, considering the secret they were currently caught up in. It was clear by her expression that he had unintentionally sprinkled a little guilt into her coffee instead of sugar.
Taking a deep breath, Kori brought him into a strong hug, clutching the collar of his jacket tightly. She was almost afraid to let go. "After this weekend, you wont ever have to second guess that thought again." She leaned back, stared into his uncertain but hopeful eyes. "I love you, and when I get back,..." Pulling away and sauntering a few steps away, she slapped him on his lower backside with a devious smile, "You can bet your ass I'll have a lot of fun making it up to you for being so good to me."
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"Ugh, that took way longer than I excepted. My eyes hurt from staring at the stupid computer screen."
"At least you get to sleep while Dick drives you away to a freaking beach house to relax," Rachel snorted. "I'll be stuck here trying to avoid all of the friends you seem to make everywhere you go."
Kori laughed at that. "They wont bother you if you tell them to leave you alone, Rae." She shrugged, suddenly excited to finish her packing. A little relaxation never hurt anyone. "Tell them you're busy studying. No one can give you a hard time for that."
Flinging herself back onto the small section of Kori's mattress not layered in clothing and a massive suitcase, Rachel sighed heavily. "I hate that you're in such a good mood."
"Aw, you gonna miss me, Rae," She giggled.
"I'll live," Rachel snorted. Its not that she even desired a boyfriend like X who had spent their whole library work time practically sexting Kori, but she would admit of being jealous of Kori's happiness. Her own frustrations lay not merely with being bothered by all her friends, simply that she kept finding herself running into one of them rather frequently. The one named Gar. If she thought long enough, she might even consider the possibility of him stalking her. Which of course made no sense, but it seemed no matter how out of the ordinary she changed her schedule the damn guy kept popping up. Always smiling, always giddy for conversation. So yea, now... now Rachel resided in frustration quite frequently. He was like a dog she couldn't shake.
"You ready?" Richard's voice broke through both Kori and Rachels thoughts which had continued on separately. "Come on, everyone's here to send us off."
Jumping up and down with a squeal, Kori swiftly closed the zipper of her suitcase and launched it at Richard. A low grunt escaped him at the weight being demanded at him him without warning and he tossed an arm around Kori, speaking one last time to the group of friends huddled in front of them.
"Vic," He shouted, unable to keep the excited grin off his face. "You're in charge. Party all night tonight but only you and your girl can stay. Everyone out after 2."
Among the few cheers, from Vic, the others joined in with groans of insecurity. Did Richard not trust them? Weren't they all friends? Gar glared at Vic who seemed oblivious to his bout of unfairness and jealousy. Where was the loyalty?
All the excitement however died at the sound of someone clearing their throat at the threshold of the front door. They turned to find Xavier Redd, confidence oozing out of every pore he owned.
Kori couldn't even hide the giddy smile that developed over her even as she successfully ignored the sudden stiffness in Richards posture at the sight of him.
"Give me a minute with him," She beamed, forcing herself from Richard's territorial hold.
Her breath caught in her chest, everyone else disappeared from focus as she moved toward X. His lips parted for a second before he bit the side of his lip, eyes dancing mischievously.
Bringing his voice to a sultry whisper, he leaned toward Kori as she neared. "Didn't really think I'd let you leave without saying a proper goodbye, did you?"
Licking her lips, Kori nervously brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, glancing back at Richard to ensure she had privacy to respond appropriately. "I was hoping I'd get to see you again before I left."
X soaked in her blush, reveling in it. He smirked at Richard from over her shoulder, enjoying the hell out of the anger he found in his eyes. Looking back at Kori, he stepped ever closer and brought her hand to his lips. "I don't know what's worse, watching him with you or having to hold back just cuz Prince Gotham lurks near."
"Just until the weekend," She purred, inching closer still. She wrapped her arms around him, unable to stop herself and held onto him tightly, speaking sweetly in his ear. "I am so going to miss you."
X tightened his grip around her waist and winked at Richard who drew closer having lost all patience. "Just know, if he touches you... and I hear about it..." He pulled away, giving off a little tsk tsk sound that made her skin ripple with goosebumps. The dangerous look in his eyes, while definitely not one she had seen, still somehow managed to entice her. "He and I simply not getting along will be the least of his problems. I'll go out of my to ensure he knows your mine and I'm yours and that there's nothing he can do about it."
Kori hesitated. It was clear X was in no way joking around. The fierceness in his eyes was deadly and she wasn't quite sure what to do with the intensity staring not at her, but over her shoulder.
Swallowing hard, she placed a hand on his cheek and brought his attention back to her with a soft tone. "Xavier..."
Finally noticing the uncertainty she emanated back to him, he shut his eyes and took a calming breath. With a kiss to her cheek, he gave her one last smile. "It's ok, babe. It's about respect. That's all. I'm giving more then he's worth at this point. I'd never do anything to hurt you. I-"
"Are we done here?" Richard interrupted.
Clearing her throat, Kori shook off her anxiety and forced a smile up at Richard. She took his hand and waved one last goodbye to everyone. "Lets go, Bestie!"
She chose not to acknowledge the arrogant smirk Richard sent to X as he let them pass and she tugged him out into the hall. Here goes everything. This weekend would surely be enlightening.
A few moments later, after the intensity of whatever the hell that moment between Kori, Dick, and X was, from within the living room Rachel made her move to the front door, ignoring the triumphant cheers of 'DADDDY'S GONE! TIME TO PARTY!' from Vic. She was right there, raising her hand to the door, almost completely out of notice and...
"Whoa, you aren't staying, Rae?"
There was that voice again,.. turning Rachel looked up to the forest green eyes of Gar.
