Everything
You Want
A/N: Hey! I'm
out with my second fanfic, finally! I hope you enjoy, and just for the
record, be on guard. This story can contain any couple throughout the plot. Any
couple. That means it could be anything from normal to yaoi to yuri to even incest.
Okay, I'm kidding. I wouldn't go that far. Just watch out and don't conclude
that it's a terrible story just because you hate the
couple. We're all entitled to our own opinion. R&R. Luv ya!
Disclaimer: Since when do I own anything
but my shoes? Digimon belongs to Toei & Bandai. The song
belongs to Vertical Horizon. So there. ^_^
*
* *
"Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in,
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind.
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it,
Now you're here and you don't know why…"
Mimi Tachikawa sat in the basking shadows
of the moonlight's glow. The night she had been waiting for so long was to
arrive in a matter of time. In approximately three nights, her first prom was to
fall… and she had the perfect date for it. He was cute, he was popular, and she
knew that not one girl in school wasn't dying to have him for a date. Heck,
even tomboyish Sora was pining over the guy! Yeah… her ideal man was the one
and only… Matt Ishida. Of course there was that little task of getting him to
ask her, but that should be no problem. That blondie would be hers in no time,
thanks to her quick charm, good looks, and heavenly personality.
3… 2… 1… and let the games begin.
Mimi sat up as she saw Matt's forest green pick up truck pull into his driveway.
She had been waiting for him to come home for what seemed like forever. She
quickly checked out her reflection in the mirror, and then stepped
out of her candy-apple red convertible. Her brand new silk skirt blew wildly in
the wind as she tried calming it while approaching her soon-to-be date.
"Hey! Matt!" she yelled, waving her
hands wildly as Matt turned and noticed her. "Fancy meeting you here!" she
giggled.
"Yeah… I live here." He casually
pointed out.
"I know that, silly!" she giggled
some more. "I was just wondering… you know, with the prom coming up and all,
everyone's asking out everyone else, and I just realized that I don't really
have a date so-"
"You were wondering if I'd go with
you." Matt finished for her.
"Yeah! So… you want to?"
Matt raised his eyebrows. "No
offense or anything, Mimi, but school dances aren't really my scene."
"Oh, that's no problem, my dad could
just-" Mimi stopped, suddenly realizing what Matt had just said. Was he…
rejecting her? She began to feel dizzy. Nobody had ever said no to her before.
But why?
"Mimi…" Matt started to laugh.
"Relax. My band's playing there that night. And I don't have a date either, so
if you want me to be yours, I'll be happy to."
Mimi breathed a sigh of relief. So
he didn't say no.
"That's
great!" she exclaimed, with a big grin on her face. "Well, I'll let you go now!
See you at school tomorrow! And don't forget to vote for me for prom queen!"
Mimi walked back to her car with her head up high. This was going to be the
best prom yet!
Everything
You Want
A/N: Okay,
I swear I tried to get rid of the underlining, but my stupid computer and lack
of technology intelligence (or just intelligence itself) is keeping me from fixing
it, so please bear with it. It's not killing you or anything. Uh… this story
has many different couples in it. A lovely love triangle. Yeah… well I have
nothing against any of these couples, and just because they might be a couple
at some point, don't necessarily mean I support them. I can't get too much into detail w/o giving away
the whole story, so just be on your guard. Any couple is possible. Yaoi and
Yuri included.
Disclaimer:
Since when do I own anything but my shoes? Digimon belongs to Toei &
Bandai. The song belongs to Vertical Horizon. Infringement is not intended. Now
read. Please.
* * *
"Somewhere
there's speaking
It's
already coming in,
Oh and it's
rising at the back of your mind.
You never
could get it
Unless you
were fed it,
Now you're
here and you don't know why…"
Mimi
Tachikawa sat in the basking shadows of the moonlight's glow. The night she had
been waiting for so long was to arrive in a matter of time. In approximately
three nights, her first prom was to fall… and she had the perfect date for it.
He was cute, he was popular, and she knew that not one girl in school wasn't
dying to have him for a date. Heck, even tomboyish Sora was pining over the
guy! Yeah… her ideal man was the one and only… Matt Ishida. Of course there was
that little task of getting him to ask her, but that should be no problem. That
blondie would be hers in no time, thanks to her quick charm, good looks, and
heavenly personality.
3… 2… 1…
and let the games begin. Mimi sat up as she saw Matt's forest green pick up
truck pull into his driveway. She had been waiting for him to come home for
what seemed like forever. She quickly checked out her reflection in the mirror,
and then stepped out of her candy-apple red convertible. Her brand new silk
skirt blew wildly in the wind as she tried calming it while approaching her
soon-to-be date.
"Hey!
Matt!" she yelled, waving her hands wildly as Matt turned and noticed her.
"Fancy meeting you here!" she giggled.
"Yeah… I
live here." He casually pointed out.
"I know
that, silly!" she giggled some more. "I was just wondering… you know, with the
prom coming up and all, everyone's asking out everyone else, and I just
realized that I don't really have a date so-"
"You were
wondering if I'd go with you." Matt finished for her.
"Yeah! So…
you want to?"
Matt raised
his eyebrows. "No offense or anything, Mimi, but school dances aren't really my
scene."
"Oh, that's
no problem, my dad could just-" Mimi stopped, suddenly realizing what Matt had just
said. Was he… rejecting her? She began to feel dizzy. Nobody had ever said no
to her before. But why?
"Mimi…"
Matt started to laugh. "Relax. My band's playing there that night. And I don't
have a date either, so if you want me to be yours, I'll be happy to."
Mimi
breathed a sigh of relief. So he didn't say no.
"That's great!" she exclaimed, with a big grin on
her face. "Well, I'll let you go now! See you at school tomorrow! And don't
forget to vote for me for prom queen!" Mimi walked back to her car with her
head up high. This was going to be the best prom yet!
* * *
"God, Mimi,
it's 11 in the evening! I need my rest for the exams this week!"
Mimi looked
into the tired eyes of her friend Joe Kido, not being able to stifle the
giddiness bursting within her. She needed some clothing advice, and she needed
it now!
"What looks
better on me, a mature, sexy hot pink, or maybe a more innocent shade of pale?"
Joe rolled
his eyes, unable to control his sarcasm.
"Personally,
I don't care if you're wearing pigskin on the barbeque, I want to go to sleep,
so please Mimi, come
back tomorrow!"
Mimi gave
him a forlorn look and narrowed her eyes.
"Joe Kido,
if you think for one minute I'm gonna take that crap from you, you better think
again, because it's my night to shine and I really want to look good for
my prom date!" she paused for a moment before going on again. "Now you should
consider yourself lucky I came to you for fashion advice, because that means
you're one of the cool people, and I trust the opinions of cool people."
"Like I
really care…" Joe muttered under his breath.
"What did
you say?"
Joe ignored
her question.
"So who's
the sad mammal you chose for your date?"
Mimi
suddenly forgot all her anger and gave Joe a flirtatious grin.
"I believe that's for me to know," she turned
around and walked out the door. "… And you to find out!"
Joe stared at the back of her wavy brown hair for a
moment then yelled, "I'll find out who it is! Just wait and see!"
Mimi smiled to herself. "I know you will." She
whispered as she disappeared from sight.
Joe closed the door and ran a hand through his long
blue hair. Mimi seemed awfully excited about prom. Her win for queen was nearly
guaranteed, but she couldn't be that happy about it, could she? No… it was something
else. Maybe… her date! Who could it be? A flicker of hope flew through his
mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Would Mimi Tachikawa, the most popular girl
in school, want to go with him on the biggest night of her life? Ha! Like he
even had a chance.
*
* *
"Oh my God! Did you hear? Mimi
Tachikawa's going to prom with Matt Ishida!"
"No way! He's so fine!"
"I know! Why would he want to go
with a bimbo like her when he could have a goddess like me?"
The sound of gossip was in the air that
morning as Joe stepped into school. So that was who Mimi's date is. He
thought, somewhat disappointed. Oh well, Joe, you can't have everything. He
rounded the corner to his locker and spied on Tilley Washi as she hung up the
last of her campaign posters on the wall. Tilley was Mimi's competition, if you
could even call it that, since she wasn't exactly… pretty. Why, she couldn't
even get a decent campaign manager!
Joe opened his locker and took out
some badges he made for Mimi's own campaign. She had assigned him the position
as her manager, probably because of his tendency of being reliable, whether he
liked it or not. And he liked it. Although he didn't like to admit it, he was
fond of the 15-year-old girl. Wow. Him, a senior, in love with a mere sophomore.
Pitiful.
He began to walk towards his first
class when he spotted Mimi by the water fountain. She was talking to Sora about
something. He walked closer and decided to listen in on their conversation.
"…
you are so lucky. You guys make the sweetest couple."
"I know. He's so nice, too. But why
do you seem so disturbed about it? Do you like Matt?"
Sora sighed. "No, it's just, well, I
always thought you and Joe would end up dating. I mean, you and Matt hardly
ever had a conversation together, and Joe seems to care a lot about you. Have
you ever thought about that?"
"Oh, him? He's like an annoying
weed." Mimi answered. "Joe's nice and everything, he's just kind of… nerdish.
What would people think if I were with him? My reputation would be ruined! He's
just not my type of guy… " her voice trailed off as she spotted Joe standing
behind an old school banner, looking like his heart tore into a million pieces.
Oh no… she thought as she hurriedly pushed her way past Sora and walked
towards the poignant spectator.
"Joe!" she yelled, but it was too
late. He was gone.
"But under the skinned knees and the skid
marks,
Past the places where you used to learn,
You howl and listen,
Listen and wait for
Echoes of Angels that won't return…"
"You traitor!"
"Huh?" Matt peered up at the angry
face of his friend, Tai Kamiya. "Oh hey, Tai, what's up?"
"When were you planning to tell me
you were engaged to Mimi? I didn't even know you guys were an item! Dude, I'm
supposed to be your best friend!!"
Matt sat there in confusion before
registering what his brown-haired buddy had just said. "Um, Tai, I think you
should know that 1) I'm not engaged to Mimi, 2) We're not an item, I'm only
taking her to the dance as part of friendship, and 3) Why are you acting so
jealous?"
"I'm not jealous! It's just that I
suspect you to tell me these things."
"We're not girls, Tai. Don't act
like one."
"I'm not acting like a girl!" Tai rolled
his eyes. "Did you know that Mimi's telling the whole school how you
romantically swept her off her feet last night and begged to go to the prom
with her?"
"No way," Matt stood up. "Please
tell me you're lying."
"Nope."
"Damn…" he closed his eyes. Why
would Mimi be spreading rumors about them? She knew how much he hated gossip!
And didn't he clarify the fact they'd only be going as friends? He was probably
going to have to confront her about this.
"So the rumors aren't true then?"
Tai hopefully inquired.
"No. She asked me. And I only like
her as a friend, nothing more." Matt said. "Now excuse me, I've gotta go do
something."
Tai watched as his friend stormed
down the halls in a cloud of fury. Should I believe him? He wondered.
What was he thinking? Matt was his best friend! Why would he say anything
otherwise?
* * *
This is all my fault… Mimi
sat down on a wooden bench and sighed. She shouldn't have said those things
about Joe. He was almost like her best friend. Almost. And what she did could
have really hurt the campaign. God, Mimi, stop being such a bitch! She
thought. She just hurt one of her friends' feelings, and naturally all she
could think about was herself. How selfish. How inconsiderate. Why was she like
this? Why couldn't she just have kept her big mouth shut?
"Who do you think you are?"
Mimi looked up and saw the looming
figure of Matt Ishida. Great. He was right there when she needed him the most.
What a great boyfriend.
"I'm not your boyfriend. And don't
even think of saying I was flirting with you last night, 'cause I wasn't. How
could you say all that BS about 'us'?"
Mimi sat there, bewildered, as Matt
ranted on and on about numerous things he'd heard throughout the day.
"But… I never said any of that stuff…"
she tried to explain.
"Oh really?!!" Matt proclaimed in
disbelief. "Just like you never told anyone we were an item?!"
"But we are, aren't we?" Mimi
questioned.
"NO!!" Matt sat down and gave Mimi a
sidelong glance. "I'm sorry Mimi, but I just don't feel anything for you. The
only reason I'm going to the dance with you was because we were friends, and I
felt sorry that the prom queen didn't have a date."
Mimi felt herself melting quicker
and quicker into the depths of hurt and disbelief. Why is he being so mean? She
thought. Does he really mean the words he's saying?
"Mimi, I hate to do this, but I'm gonna have to break our
date. I don't think I can handle this whole 'us' thing. Besides, you're cute,
I'm sure you can find another date." And with that, he took off down the hall,
not looking back for a second.
The whole world had collapsed for
Mimi, and it was all because of her big mouth. Why did she always have to
stretch the truth? Why couldn't she have kept her thoughts and opinions to herself?
Why couldn't she be more like Sora? Nobody ever gets mad at Sora, she
thought sadly. Everyone respects her because they could trust her. But no
one can ever trust me. I'll always be Mimi the Liar.
"How could you?" Mimi vaguely heard a voice say. "I know I'm
a big nerd and a geek and everything, and that you'd never go for a guy like
me, but we were friends. Friends don't talk about each other that way. How
could you be so cruel to me? Am I just an annoying weed like you say I am,
because I could always get out of your way. That's what you want, isn't it?
Well, let me tell you something! Even if I may act like a jack-ass, it doesn't
mean I am one, so if you're willing to give up a perfectly good friendship
based on looks alone, that just proves your own shallowness, and egotistical
persona, so don't think I can't dump you first, because I can. Just because I'm
a coward doesn't give you the right to step all over me like an over-used rug,
Mimi. I can't believe you could be such a self-centered bitch!"
Mimi glanced up at the distressed
expression on Joe Kido's face before bursting into tears.
"I-I'm so sorry Joe!" she sobbed. "I
know how snobby I'm being, and I'm sorry. I never meant any of those things I
said. I'll understand it if you never want to talk to me again. If I were you,
I'd hate me too." Then she sunk down onto the floor and bawled her eyes out
like a baby.
"Mimi…" Then, before she knew it,
Joe picked her up by the arms and set her back down on the bench. "It'll be
okay, Mimi." He whispered, gently caressing her soft hair. "I'll always be
there for you, no matter what."
"I know…" she replied softly. Joe…
why are you being so good to me? After what I said… how come? They sat
there a few minutes more, neither of them speaking a word. Mimi then realized
how right that moment felt… and yet it was horribly wrong.
"He's everything you want,
he's everything you need,
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be,
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time,
But he means nothing to you
and you don't know why…"
Joe sighed as he stood on the cold porch
of an endearing home. He was about to do something he vowed he'd never do in
his entire life. C'mon Joe, you can do this. He knocked on the door. After
a few moments, the familiar bucket hat of TK Takaishi appeared, along with a
friendly smile.
"Hey Joe! I haven't seen you in a
while! Whatcha been up to lately?"
"Not much," Joe answered. "I was
just wondering if I could talk to Matt."
"Um, yeah, sure, let me get him for
you." TK ran inside and Joe could hear the distinct cries for his older brother
throughout the house. "He'll be right down!!" TK yelled. After some time, Matt
finally reached the door, dressed in nothing but a t-shirt and boxers.
"Hey Joe, what's up?"
"I need to ask a favor of you." Joe
replied. "Can I come in?"
"Oh sure!" Matt stepped back letting
the blue-haired boy through the doorway. He led Joe to the living room where
Kari and TK were watching a movie. "So whaddya wanna talk about?"
Joe stole a look at the two younger
kids who were taking interest in the conversation. "Um, do you think we could
go somewhere a little more… private?" he asked.
"Okay…" Matt said uncertainly as he
walked Joe to his bedroom. "So now what?"
Joe trailed his eyes towards the
open door. "Well, do you think you can close the door?"
Matt rolled his eyes, exasperated,
as he trudged towards his door and closed it. "Happy?"
"Are you sure no one can hear
us?" Joe stipulated.
Matt threw his hands up in
frustration. "Joe, the only other private place we can go to is the bathroom,
and trust me, you don't want to go there!"
"Okay, okay!" Joe pushed his glasses
up. "So I heard you dumped Mimi."
"How could I? We were never together
in the first place." Matt bluntly stated.
"You hurt her feelings, you know."
Matt sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I
yelled at her like that, and I admit, I may have overreacted a little, but you
would too, if some girl started saying untrue things about you."
"But that's the difference between
the both of us!" Joe cried. "While you continue to push all the girls away, I'm
here wishing I was you! Can't you see how many girls would die to go out with
you, and how many guys would die to be you? God, Matt, are you blind or
something? You have everything! You're everything a girl could ever want and
more! Why are you always acting like a callous fool?"
"You have no right to say that about
me!" Matt yelled. "You don't know me at all, so don't you dare go judging
people you've hardly ever talked to!"
Joe was silent at this. He did know
Matt. He knew Matt a long time ago when they were kids, and he knew that Matt
would never turn his back on any of his friends. There was something bothering
Matt, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Look, all I'm asking is that you
give Mimi a chance. If you don't like her, then you can go ahead and do
whatever you want. I don't care. Just give her a chance. Take her to the
dance."
Matt sat there for a moment before
speaking. "Okay. Fine. If take her to the stupid dance, will you stop bothering
me?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Good. I'm sorry I yelled at you,
and can you please leave."
"Okay." Joe stood up and walked
towards the door.
"Joe?"
"Huh?"
"You should voice your opinions more
often. People will really listen."
Joe turned red at this, and muttered
a quick, "Thank you" before letting himself out.
Matt sat there with his head on his
pillow before taking out his guitar. He strummed a few chords, then stopped. Joe's
right. He thought. What was wrong with him? He was getting moodier and
moodier by the day. Why did he have such a problem with going to a simple dance
with a beautiful girl? It was what normal high school kids did. Besides, he'd probably
have the time of his life with Mimi. He just had to give her a chance. But why
did he feel so doubtful about it? It was a part of life! Many people had said
that he and Mimi made a great couple, but he never thought more of it. Maybe
I do like her, I just don't know it yet…he thought uneasily. Maybe he was
just afraid of commitment. After all,
it was the number one thing guys were afraid of these days, right?
* * *
Joe sighed as he walked down the
cold gusty roads. He had done it. He had conquered his fears and had stood up
to Matt. But for what? To make Mimi happy. A voice in his head
whispered. It was right. Joe had given up any breathing chance he had with
Mimi, and told Matt to take her. And he doubted that Matt had even wanted her.
But as fate would have it, he'd end up alone and miserable no matter what the
outcome. Well at least he knew he had courage. It may not be as strong as Tai's
courage, but it was courage nonetheless.
But you don't care about that, do
you? The voice in his head had aroused again. It was right. Right now, Joe
couldn't care less if he had the courage to lead a one-man army against
millions of evil Digimon. The only thing he cared about was Mimi, and it was
tearing him up inside, knowing the fact that he could never have her.
"You're waiting for someone to put you
together,
You're waiting for someone to push you
away,
There's always another wound to discover,
There's always something more you wish
he'd say…"
It was the next day at school. The
prom was tomorrow, and Mimi was one short a date. Who can I possibly go with
now? She asked herself. Matt was her last chance to go with anyone at all!
She was a complete and total wreck. Who would want her now?
"Uh, Mimi?"
Mimi looked up at the sound of her
name. It was Matt. "Yes, Matt?"
"Look, about yesterday…" Matt
paused, apparently lost for words. C'mon Ishida, just say it! He ran his fingers through his hair,
contemplating what to say next. "I'm uh, sorry about what I said to you
yesterday, and I just want you to um, know that I didn't mean anything I said
and that I'd be happy to take you to the dance tomorrow." There. He said it. He
breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Mimi. She looked as if nothing had
happened.
"Why, Matt, that was very sweet of
you to ask again, but if I was interested in going with a friend, then I might
as well have asked Joe or Tai or God forbid, Sora."
Matt gawked in disbelief. He had
asked her to the dance, and now she was declining?! What more did she
want from him? Suddenly an idea came to his head. Kiss her! Matt was
startled at the sudden thought. As popular as he was, he had never kissed a
girl, much less asked one out until now. Kiss her! The voice said again.
What was going on? Should he listen to it? Aw, what the heck, what'd he have to
lose?
Mimi gasped in surprise as Matt
leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. What was he doing? Eventually, she relaxed and smiled to
herself. This is kinda fun! She thought. Maybe a little tongue… Suddenly
a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Just friends, huh?"
Matt and Mimi abruptly broke apart
and glanced at their interruption. There, standing against the wall a few feet
away from them was Tai.
"You know Matt, I actually believed
you there for a second when you told me you had no interest in Mimi,
whatsoever. I guess I was wrong to believe you." Tai shook his head and walked away.
"Tai!" Matt began to chase after him
when he remembered Mimi standing there. "Oh crap…" He muttered to himself.
"Go ahead, Matt." Mimi whispered
quietly. "Talk to him. I'll understand."
"Really?" Matt asked her. She nodded
her head. "Thanks. See you tomorrow?" But before Mimi could answer, he was
gone.
"He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why…"
"Tai! Wait up!" Matt ran along side
of his best friend, panting every few seconds. Running was not his thing. "Tai!
Dude, let me talk to you!"
"What's there to talk about, Matt?"
"Just stop for a minute and let me
talk!" Matt said. Tai stopped, but said nothing. "Look, man, I'm sorry I lied
about not having feelings for Mimi, but things happen, and you remember what we
learned when we were kids, right? You can't change your destiny!"
Tai took a deep breath and looked at
Matt. "You don't get it, do you?"
Matt stared at Tai, confused. "What's
there not to get?"
"This isn't about whether or not you
lied to me Matt! This is about something way deeper than that, something you
obviously don't understand."
Matt felt his face heating up with
anger. Why was Tai being so complicated? "Tai, it's just a freakin' date! Why
are you being such an narrow-minded idiot about this!"
"You're the one being the idiot
Matt. You know you don't really like Mimi. It's just a cover up from the
truth."
"What truth? There's no other truth!
God, Tai, why won't you believe me?"
"It's not whether or not you believe
me, it's whether or not you believe yourself!"
Matt raised his fist at Tai. "You
have no right to tell me what I should believe in!"
"Well it's the truth, and obviously
you can't handle it!" Tai shoved Matt aside and walked away.
"Don't you dare start running away
from me, Kamiya!" he yelled.
Tai stopped and bit his lip. "That's
funny." He stated calmly. "You should take your own advice, Ishida." Then he
disappeared into the light of day.
"What does he mean by stop running
away?" Matt muttered. The truth… could it be? Matt slapped himself on the head.
How could he have been so blind! Tai liked Mimi! Oh well. That's too bad,
because she belonged to Matt now.
"But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what you're asking for,
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time,
It's only what you're waiting
for…"
It was the night of the dance. Mimi
checked herself out in the mirror and smiled. This was gonna be the perfect
night! If she had her luck, everything would go according to plan. Matt would
officially state his commitment to her, she'd be crowned prom queen, and then
she'd rise to the top of the popularity pyramid. Of course, she was already on
top, this would just assure her claim to fame.
"Mimi! You're date's here!"
"I'm coming mom!" Mimi rushed
downstairs to greet the handsome face of Matt Ishida. He looked gorgeous with
his long blond hair covering his face, and was dressed in a classy suit that
could only be Armani. Mimi tossed her hair back and stopped on the doorstep as
she striked her sexiest pose. "Hi, Matt." She cooed.
Matt turned red at the come-on,
especially in front of her parents, and muttered a quick hello before walking
Mimi to his truck. When they got in, he quickly explained his situation. "Okay,
I told you before that my band was performing. When we get there, we'll
probably have time for a quick dance before I need to get up on stage. After
that, we'll probably have a break when I can dance with you some more, then
they'll announce the prom queen. My band will perform one last song, and
afterwards, we should have the whole night to ourselves. Is that alright with
you?"
"Of course!" Mimi replied. This was
by far the best night of her life! What was better, was that everyone would
know she was with Matt! How great was that?
When they got to school, however,
Matt was called on stage early for a quick warm-up. "I'll see you later, Mimi."
He smiled, then left her with Joe to talk over her acceptance speech.
"So…you and Matt got back together,
eh?" Joe asked nervously.
"Well, yeah. Isn't he the greatest?"
"Didn't he mention anything about,
you know, how he decided to ask you out again?"
Mimi frowned. "Yeah. He told me he
just was in a crappy mood yesterday. Why do you want to know so much, anyways?"
"No reason." Joe lied. How could
Matt have taken all the credit for it? He thought. Wasn't he, Joe, the one who
talked him into asking her out? And Matt had been so reluctant about it, too.
That just angered him.
"Ooh! Look Joe!" Mimi interrupted
his thoughts. "They're starting!"
Matt walked up to the microphone and
cleared his voice. "Um, ladies and gents! Welcome and good evening! I know your
all excited, and so am I, and I'd like to introduce you to my band. I'm Matt
Ishida, and this is the Garuru Pack. I don't want to bore you all now, so just
sit tight and listen to our…groovy tunes?" Matt looked at the drummer who had
written the speech earlier and gave him a weird look. "Er, um, yeah, just
listen to the music. 1, 2, 3, JAM!"
Mimi watched attentively as her
boyfriend rocked the bass while singing his latest hit. She never realized how
hot he looked on stage with his shirt unbuttoned. She was so lucky to have him.
"Joe c'mon, let's dance!" She pulled Joe onto the dance floor and displayed her
best moves while Joe stood there, red in the face.
"Mimi, I don't think I want to do
this." He mumbled.
"Joe, it's easy! You just shake your
hips to the left, and shake it to the right, and-"
"I said, I don't want to do this!"
Joe yelled, and stormed off into the crowd.
"Whoa, talk about major PMS." Mimi
remarked, looking for someone else to dance with. "Hey, Izzy!"
"Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where you might have
turned
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return…"
"Calm down, Kido." Joe said to himself as he watched Mimi pull a flabbergasted Izzy along for a dance. It was obvious how much Izzy was hating it, but what could he say? He hated Matt. That's all he knew right then. He should've left him in that cave when they were kids. How many times had Joe managed to save Matt's carcass, and not be thanked for doing so? Plenty. Matt Ishida had some nerve trying to be the big man on campus. Just look at him, Mr. Big shot performing on stage, just knowing about the millions of girls willing to die for his attention. What was Joe feeling? No, not jealousy. Anger. He was angry. He was angry at Matt for taking everything he had for granted. He was angry at Mimi for not seeing who truly cared about her, who her real friends were. But most of all, he was angry at himself for letting her get away. Not only did he let he get away, he encouraged it. What was he thinking, letting Matt have Mimi? Matt didn't deserve her! She deserved better than that! Oh, and like you're any better? Joe thought to himself. He knew he wasn't. If he deserved Mimi, then he would've had the sense to tell her that years ago, when they were in the Digiworld. But he was too chicken to do it then, just like he was too chicken to do it now. The reason he told Matt to go with Mimi wasn't because he wanted Mimi to be happy. He knew she would never be truly happy with Matt. No, he pushed Matt toward her because he was too scared to deal with the truth. The truth that he was in love with Mimi Tachikawa.
"Hey, everyone, I'd like to present to you a song I wrote a couple of weeks ago." Matt's voice interrupted Joe's thoughts. "I didn't know it then, but this song was inspired by the reason I'm alive." Matt glanced around the crowd and locked his eyes with Mimi's. "Mimi Tachikawa, this one's for you: When I'm feelin' down / And I'm all alone / You'll be there / On the healin' throne / You know just what to say / When my world's a mess / It's because of you that I'm the best…" Matt paused for the short guitar interlude. He kept his eyes focused on Mimi until he noticed something out of the corner of his eye: Tai. What was he doing here? Tai had always hated dances, so why was he here? Whatever the reason, Matt quickly dismissed it and took the mike again. "We were friends for life / That you can't deny / No matter what we shared / It could be no lie / You are the one / You're my everything / All the happiness / In my world, you bring…" Matt's eyes left Mimi's once again, and landed on Tai's. Tai shook his head and, Matt could've sworn he saw something he hadn't seen in Tai in a long time: Tears. There was something about the way Tai looked at him that made Matt dizzy. What was wrong with him? Why did he suddenly feel like his stomach was in his mouth? There was no time for Matt to worry about that though, he had to perform. "Can you hear me? / You're my therapy for the soul / Can you see me? / You're the one that's in control / 'Cause when the ride is over / And the sun shines through/ You'll find out that I'm / Just another part of you. / Yeah… another part of you."
Matt stepped back, his head beginning to hurt. He could swear he heard Tai's voice echoing in his head. "Don't run from the truth, Matt," it was saying. What truth was he talking about? If Tai really did like Mimi… no it wasn't that. If his friend liked her, he would've said something already. So what was it? Matt felt like he knew, but for some reason, something was keeping him from remembering. Remembering what? The answer was so close…
"Man, you're up!" he heard the guitar front man whisper to him. But Matt couldn't answer. The "truth", whatever it was, was just within his grasp, and he knew if he started singing again, he'd never figure it out. What could it be?
Mimi looked at Matt inquisitively as he stood on the stage, staring into space. What was his problem? Did he forget the words? She noticed the guy with the guitar nudge him a couple of times, but there was no response. Finally, she heard someone yell something that she took as a joke at first, but watched in horror at what was about to happen.
"Yo, Ishida, quit staring at Kamiya like he's your freakin' soul mate, and sing!"
Kamiya. Soul mate. Suddenly it hit Matt like a hundred mile hurricane. Everything, the alibis, the arguments, they weren't about him and Mimi! They were about something else entirely! And the song… it wasn't for Mimi at all! He wrote the song for Tai! Tai was the reason he didn't feel right around girls! He had been fooling himself all those years, and Tai knew, but didn't say anything! Well Matt wouldn't deny it any longer. He knew that Tai was the man for him.
Matt jumped down from the stage and pushed his way past the crowd towards Tai. "Tai," he whispered. "I'm sorry."
"That's okay." Tai whispered back. "I'm sorry for bursting out on you like that earlier."
"Why did you come? You knew I'd be with Mimi."
"I know. But I couldn't miss my best friend's first live performance."
Matt smiled. "I'm not gonna lie to us anymore, Tai. I'm ready to handle the truth."
"I'm glad. Let's get outta here."
Everyone stared at the twosome, wondering what was happening. They all were rendered speechless as Tai and Matt walked out of the gym, and into the night. No one said a word until Mimi finally spoke up. "I can't believe it… how could this happen…" She felt herself loose control of her feet and ran outside to look for Matt, but found herself a second too late. Matt was gone. Mimi was on the verge of tears when she heard the faint voice of the school principal, ready to announce the winner of prom queen. She quickly composed herself and walked back into the gym.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure that we will dismiss tonight's event and focus on the real deal: Our Prom Queen. And king of course, but we all know how much smarter girls are than boys." A nervous laughter flowed through the gym as the principal raised the scroll in her hand containing the winner's name and said, "This year's Prom Queen honor will belong to… Tilley Washi!"
Mimi felt herself collapse onto the ground. How could she lose everything in one night? Her campaign, her boyfriend, what was next? Her sanity? She could feel her reputation slide further and further away from her and onto Tilley Washi. Mimi knew she would no longer be popular after this. Would she even have any friends? She glanced around and spotted her clique crowded around Tilley. So she had lost her friends too.
"Mimi, are you okay?" Mimi looked up to find Joe holding out a hand to help her up. How could she have forgotten about Joe?
"Oh Joe, it's terrible." She gasped. "Matt's not what I thought he was, and that Tilley slut won my title and stole all my friends…"
"It's okay." Joe whispered. "I'm here."
Mimi burst into tears. "Joe… I don't know what I'd do without you…"
"How 'bout I take you home?" Joe suggested. "We'll take my car."
"Yes, please." Mimi wiped her eyes. Joe was always there when she needed him. How could she have forgotten that? Ever since they were kids, he was there to bail her out, and had always been with her when she needed him the most. Why couldn't she be happy with him?
"He's
everything you want
he's
everything you need
He's
everything inside of you
That
you wish you could be
He says
all the right things
At
exactly the right time
But he
means nothing to you
And you
don't know why…"
"Thank you so much."
"Yeah…" Joe felt himself turn red. "Don't mention it." He walked Mimi to her door and stopped. Mimi was still crying and he felt he owed her something. Like what, the truth? He could just imagine himself telling her about the secret crush he had on her for 6 years… yeah, like that would go over well.
"Thanks again, Joe." Mimi smiled sadly and began to open the door.
"I am
everything you want
I am
everything you need
I am
everything inside of you
that
you wish you could be
I say
all the right things
At
exactly the right time,
But I
mean nothing to you
And I
don't know why…"
"Mimi… wait!" Joe heard himself say. "I…I love you." There. He had said it. All the feelings he had pent up inside of him was finally out in the open. He stared at Mimi and tried to read her reaction.
"Oh, Joe…"
"Why…"
Mimi shook her head. "I'm sorry Joe. I don't feel the same way."
Joe felt like a knife had been jabbed right through his stomach. She had rejected him. Funny, it hurt more than he had anticipated.
"Goodbye, Joe." She whispered as she stepped into her house.
"I
don't know…"
The door closed.
