Author's Note -

Hi guys, I know I've been gone for awhile; I ran into some laptop trouble a couple weeks ago when I was planning on updating, but I'm back.

Thank you for all the reviews, follows, and favorites.

Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot.

And, here you go...

Richard

"Why are you wasting your time with her?" Babs pouts.

I left class a couple minutes early to meet Kori outside of class so we could walk to lunch together. 'I am officially whipped.'

"I thought you wanted me. We had such a nice time getting to know each other, and then out of nowhere this shit springs up from the unknown." She prowls up toward me as I back up into lockers behind me. I don't want to shove her off of me since she hasn't made any moves to touch me yet, and I would like to hear what she has to say. She was a pretty cool person to talk to; but now…not so much.

"Uh, well it was nice getting to know you, but I've been waiting way too long to be with Kori, so now's my chance. You understand that, right?" I say raising my hands to put some distance between us.

"But what happens when…you get tired of her? I know she won't be able to keep your attention for long." She says as she grabs my hands and intertwines them with her own. 'Okay, well now she's getting a little too touchy.'

"Huh, well she has for the last couple months, and I wasn't even romantically involved with her. So I think she'll be just fine."

She cups my face in her hands, "Well let me show you what you're missing out on…" She starts to lean in for a kiss. 'Now I think it's a good time to get her off of me.'

Kori

The day eased by pretty nicely, besides the nasty glares I got from Babs and her bitches all day. Even though I wouldn't exactly say Richard and I are boyfriend and girlfriend yet, and I can't really exactly claim Richard as my man yet, I can see where the hatred is coming from. I for one didn't expect to start getting so much so early, but after the little show Richard put on in front of everyone, I can absolutely say that news like that, spreads like wildfire.

The bell hasn't rung yet, but the hallways are pretty empty at the moment, since most classes get let out in a minute or so. As I walk through the halls, I can hear murmuring coming from around the corner.

I come around to see Richard back up into a locker while Babs is practically molesting him with her hands and leaning in to kiss him. 'Oh, I KNOW he could have gotten that bitch off him if he wanted.'

"What the hell is this?" I demand as I grab Babs by the hair and yank her claws off Richard as he stands there staring like a lifeless doll. 'Oh, so nobody can speak now?'

"I just asked you two a question. Or should I leave you two to finish your little tete-a-tete?" I snap while glaring at a smirking Babs.

"Kori, I don't know what you saw, but it isn't what it looks like," Richard states while talking to me as if I'm some wild animal, about to pop-off in 0.7 seconds. 'Though the wild animal part isn't true, the popping off seems to be a delightful way of handling this situation.'

"Oh, it isn't what it looks like?" I mimic him. "Tell me, Richard. What the fuck did it look like?"

"Well I'm assuming it looked I was going to kiss Babs, which was not going to happen. I was seconds away from getting her off of me, but then you went all bad-bitch, and yanked her off of me before I could. I was literally in the process of sending the message from my brain to me body to—"

"Shut the fuck up, Richard," I put my hand in his face to silence him. "You're babbling. Go to lunch and save me a seat, I need to have my own little talk with Babs." He acts smartly and leaves after I dismiss him, giving me the freedom to handle this girl in front of me.

"I tried to ignore you," I say, stabbing my finger in her face. "But I guess you really want to start a war with me, don't you?" I seethe.

"Says the chick who 'isn't interested' in Richard. From what I saw, that was a whole lot of interest."

"It's none of your business who I'm interested in, and who I'm with"

"Well Kori," she says as she comes up in my face. "It kinda is when it's someone I want. I always get what I want, but it seems you'll be a little problem…wontchu?" She pouts with fake sadness, and I roll my eyes at her attempt to intimidate me.

"Firstly," I say as I hold up one finger. "Back the fuck out of my face. I can't breathe with you infesting my air," and she to my disbelief backs up ever so slightly to the point where I almost didn't notice. "Secondly," I raise another finger. "I'm not the one to play with. Have your fun and try all you want. I'll deal with it for a little while, but when it starts to get on my last nerve, you'll know. And thirdly," I say raising one more finger. "If you in any way, form, or shape interfere with my personal life and anyone in it that is the minute where my tolerance for you and your bullshit runs out immediately. Now, you can either listen to me and leave me alone, or mess with me and see what happens. Your choice. I'm usually really nice, and you know that, but don't ever mistake my friendliness for weakness. That is one thing I absolutely don't have." With that, I storm off brushing past her, not caring to listen to whatever nonsense will come pouring out off her mouth.

"So, what did the vegetarian say to his friends?" Gar asks while slurping up his tofu chicken and alfredo pasta.

"He didn't say anything, since he has no friend," Rachel smirks while looking over the pages of her book.

"NO! Gosh Rachel, you're such a downer," Gar huffs. "The vegetarian said, why don't you guys laugh at my jokes," he pouts. "It would have been funny if you didn't have to open your mouth every time I try to say something," he snaps.

"I only say things to prevent you from looking like an idiot, but you always seem to find a way to do it yourself."

"Oh, so now I'm an idiot?! Really does the Ice Princess have some more jokes, or is she too busy reading about different ways to kill people?!"

Rachel smirks again, "This book does have some good ideas," she says sarcastically.

"I am so done with you and your rusty, crusty, old booty, dirty, dry as my ass on a winters day jokes. Can't you just for one minute—"

"Guys, do something," Karen whispers as she shoves me with her elbow.

"Not in the mood. Ask Richard. He seems in the mood to talk today." I turn to look at Richard menacingly, "Right, Richie?"

He sighs, then slumps his shoulders, "Come on, Kori. Can we please talk about this some other time…in private?"

"Oh, so now he doesn't want to talk? Oh, okay, fine. We'll talk later," I snap, then start eating my drumstick like a rabid animal.

"What's up with ya'll today? Is it 'Piss off Your Friends Day'? Did I miss the memo?" Vic says, silencing us.

"No, it's not. But the name seems fitting," Gar says while he stands to leave the table. Rachel peeps up from her book to watch him leave, but makes no move to follow.

"I think somebody should go talk to him…" Karen suggests.

"He'll get over in couple minutes. Just leave him." I gape at her, and then hear Richard moving beside me.

"I'll talk to him," and with that, he was gone.

Richard

I was able to catch up to Gar as soon as I left the cafeteria since he wasn't really going anywhere exact; just wandering.

"What was all that back there?" I ask, as he sighs and leans against a random locker.

"I…I don't know. I hate how little she thinks of me. It's like I'm some dumbass to her and I have no feelings."

"Well, some would say Rachel has no feelings, but I know that's not true."

"She's always disregarding me and I just deal with it because…because I like her. I don't know why, but I do. It's pretty stupid to like someone who despises you with all their being, huh?"

"Ha, well that sounds familiar. I remember Kori not being so loving to me, but I liked her, and see how that worked out?" I reason.

"Well anyone with two eyes could tell that Kori likes you. I mean, she even liked you in 8th grade. I don't think a couple years would change that."

"You know what I think?" I ask.

"I never know what you're thinking, but I'm sure you'll tell me."

"I think deep down under that gloomy, 'I hate the world' shield that Rachel surrounds herself in, she has some feelings for you. I mean, they always say, 'Opposites attract'. So, I don't think this case is any different?"

"Really?" He looks at me as if I'm the stupidest person in the world.

"Yes, really. And, I back that up on my life. You don't see what we see when you guys interact. A little bickering never hurt anybody," I smirk while throwing arm over his shoulder.

"I really hope your right," he says as we start walking to our next class.

"Oh, I know I am."