AN: Hey, guys! This is my first Taiora fanfic, also my first Digimon fanfic at all, so please be kind and leave me your honest opinion in reviews :)
This chapter is just a start, so it's not that special. The next one, which will be published if enough people read and review, will be more from Tai's pov. I honestly hope you like it because I enjoyed writing it!
Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own Digimon.
Finally Falling, chapter 1
Sora had woken up that morning earlier than usual, feeling even more tired than before she went to bed. It wasn't even 7 yet, but Sora couldn't make herself drift into sleep again, so she got up, made her bed, put some clothes on and started heading toward bathroom. Her mother had already left for work, meaning Sora had the whole bathroom just for herself. After brushing her teeth, she tied her hair in an unusually high ponytail. She had some time to spare, so she even applied some make-up. Nothing much, just mascara and eyeliner, but quite enough to make her look fresher and prettier.
It was a rainy Monday morning. Sora was an outdoors person, and gloomy weather made her feel down. The fact that she had Physics test that day didn't help, either.
About 7:30, Sora left her and mother's small apartment in Odaiba and started walking toward school. She immediately regretted putting make up on; rain was really heavy and her purple umbrella was quite weak, so she was almost all wet when she reached the school.
„Forgot to use a towel before exiting shower, eh, Takenouchi?" asked Anzu Hishoko, the bitchiest senior in Odaiba High, also Sora's classmate. A group of girls, Anzu's loyal followers and worshippers, burst out in loud laughter.
Sora ignored Anzu's remark and proceeded to her desk in the back of their classroom. She put her stuff under the desk and sat down. Feeling terrible, she took her wet Physics book out of the bag and tried to learn something before the big test. She had no time to study the day before because of tennis practice, and, honestly, she didn't even remember they had a test until their teacher, Mr. Satoshi, mentioned it two days ago.
Few minutes later, a familiar voice made her look up from the book. „Please tell me you've learned everything and you're reading it again just to make sure you know it all."
Sora had to laugh. Her long-time friend and classmate, Tai Kamiya, was looking at her with honest hope in his brown eyes. Sora had always been the hard working one of the two, so he often relied on her and didn't study for tests. „I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Tai," she replied, giving him a small smile. „I had no time to study."
Tai fell on the chair next to her and let out a loud grunt. „The last thing I need is another F," he muttered, leaning on his elbows. „I had no time to study either. Coach made us run 25 laps in 3 series yesterday. He says we cannot lose another game."
Before Sora could answer, Mr. Satoshi entered the classroom and cheerfully greeted everyone. „Good morning! Are you ready for the big test?" The whole class started murmuring, with the exception of Anzu, who proudly exclaimed she had been born ready. „You have exactly 45 minutes to complete the test, which is, I believe, more than enough. Kamiya, Toshimoto, give everyone a piece and let's get started!"
...
„Thanks for helping me, Sora," Tai said as they walked home from school. Sora and Tai lived quite near each other and often went home together. Walking to school together was a rarity, though, since Tai loved sleeping more than anything, and he'd usually leave for school 5 minutes before the class would start. „I really needed it. I swear, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have written a single word."
Sora could not help but laugh. She barely wrote anything on her own test, but she still somehow managed to tell Tai a few answers. „Right, just don't blame me when you fail."
Taichi nudged her with his shoulder, saying, „At least I won't be the only one who failed, then."
„I should have listened to my mom when she said you were bad influence," Sora joked.
Tai laughed. He knew Sora was joking, but he could perfectly picture her mom actually saying it. He liked Sora's mom, but she seemed to be having some problems with him. She'd never openly say it, but it was pretty obvious. „Yeah, you should have," he continued the joke. „I will make you do bad things, like drink coffee."
„That's one thing I'd love to do right now," said Sora. „Let's go grab some coffee, what'd you say?"
Tai reached in his pocket and pulled out some money. He grinned at Sora and said, „My treat!"
...
The nearest coffee shop was one of the best in town, with the best coffee and very polite and fast waiters. Sora had been there only once before with Mimi, but Tai loved hanging out with his soccer teammates there.
„Nice to see you again, Kamiya," a tall waiter smiled at Tai. His eyes were landed on Sora for a moment, and Tai seemed to notice because he was trying to suppress laughter. The waiter looked at Tai again, and said, „May I take your and your girlfriend's orders now, please?"
„We're not dating," Sora quickly explained. „But we'd like two cups of espresso."
The waiter nodded and gave her a warm smile. „I'll be right back."
Tai was trying his best not to laugh, but Sora knew him and his childish attitude too well not to notice. „What?"
„Oh, nothing," Tai replied, smirking. „It's just that the waiter seemed pretty relieved when you said we weren't dating."
„So?" Sora snapped a bit harsher than she should have.
„Come on, I know you noticed the way he looked at you, Sora." Tai's grin grew wider when Sora's cheeks turned red, indicating she was embarrassed.
The waiter returned with their espressos and two glasses of water, and carefully put them on the table. „That'll be 25, please," he said. Tai gave him 30, saying, „Keep the change."
After politely saying thank you, the waiter smiled at Sora and left, making Tai laugh again. „I really think you should give him your number or something."
„Excuse me, Casanova, but that's not how it goes, you know," Sora replied, picking up her espresso. It was really hot, so she started blowing to make it colder. „Besides, he's just being polite."
„Polite my ass," scoffed Tai. „I've been a customer for few years now and he's never looked at me like that before!" When Sora gave him a weird look, he added, „You know what I mean!"
„Actually, I don't."
„Sora-„
„Okay, okay, let's say he does have a thing for me," Sora said. She brought the cup to her lips and slowly slurped some coffee before realizing it's still too hot. Tai laughed at her as she quickly reached for some water and clogged it down in a matter of seconds. „Shut up," she managed to mutter. „I was saying, if he actually liked me, that would change nothing."
„Why not?" Tai asked, grabbing his own cup. „He's a cool guy."
„Why are you so eager to set me up with him?" Sora asked, giving him a suspicious look.
„I'm not," Tai replied and drank some espresso. „I just like seeing your cheeks all red and how you stop thinking logically when you feel awkward."
If Sora's cheeks were red before, they were definitely crimson now. Tai has never mentioned any of her actions or the way she looked before, yet he seemed to notice the tiniest gestures she did, no matter how embarrassing they were. It was usually her who had an eye for details, not him, so it surprised her beyond belief.
„I honestly don't know what to say, Tai," Sora started, trying not to sound too excited over the fact that he noticed something so little and irrelevant about her.
„To what?" Tai asked, finishing his espresso and taking his cellphone out of his pocket. „It's almost 3 pm," he said. „I'm supposed to pick up Kari from dance practice. Wanna come with me?"
Sora quickly finished the rest of her drink and nodded. „Sure," she said, pushed the chair away and got up. They took their umbrellas from the umbrella stand and stepped out in rain, which was falling unceasingly.
„I didn't know Kari was a dancer," Sora said when they started walking.
„She's not," Tai chuckled. „She gave up photography and chose dance about two weeks ago. Her friends made fun of her because she wasn't girly enough."
„Not girly enough?" Sora cried, sounding appalled. „What kind of friends are that?"
Tai shrugged. „Anyway, I, being a caring brother I am, told her she's stupid for giving up her passion and making a fool out of herself. She really sucks at dancing, you know."
„Wow, aren't you sympathetic," said Sora, rolling her eyes. Tai was usually a wonderful big brother to Kari, but he sometimes didn't know how to say the truth nicely to people he cared about.
After few minutes of small talk and trying to stay dry in heavy rain, they reached their destination. „We're here," Tai stated. Kari excited the building half a minute later and all three continued walking home. Sora's building was a block farther than Tai and Kari's, so she said goodbye to them and turned to leave, but Tai stopped her. „Wait, Sora," he said, signaling Kari to get inside. Sora noticed how he awkwardly looked away when he approached her, but didn't say anything. „Let's walk to school together tomorrow, okay?"
Sora gave him a confused look. „Tai, you do realize I leave earlier than you?"
„I know, I know," he replied. His free hand flew up to the back of his head, awkwardly mussing up his moist hair. „But I'll wake up, I promise!"
„Okay, then," Sora smiled at him. „If you don't wake up on time, though, I'm leaving without you."
They shared a laugh and Tai nodded in agreement. With one last goodbye, Sora quickened her pace toward her building.
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