Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Writing fanfics (and originals) are my main goals for this summer.
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The Doctor, the Model and the Rock Star
Part I
"Are you okay?"
Joe looked at Tai, Izzy, Sora, and Davis. They were all looking at him, big questions on their faces asking, "Are you okay?"
He stuttered for a moment. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. Why? Do I look like I'm not okay?"
Tai looked unsure about what his answer will be. "You don't look like you're okay."
"It's just that TK, Kari and the rest are taking long. I mean, you said two o' clock, right?"
Tai shook his head. "I said two thirty."
"Yeah, and I came along because we were playing soccer," offered Davis.
Joe was surprised. "Then what am I doing here?!"
"You told us to come a half an hour early," reminded Sora.
He looked at her, surprised again. "I did?"
Izzy closed his laptop. "Joe, you're quite strange lately. Is something wrong?"
The doctor examined his situation, both lately and at that moment. They were under a tree at a park near Highton View Terrace in Odaiba. This was a monthly meeting of the Digidestined, both new and old, to update each other on what's happening. There only five of them now, and soon the others would be arriving. Lately, Joe has been kind of confused about something. Izzy was his best friend among others, and he can't lie to him.
"It's something on my head," he answered finally after a little while. "I'm just so confused."
"About what?" asked Tai.
Joe looked at his four friends in front of him. Tai and Sora were sitting against a tree, a couple of feet between the two of them. They were said to be having a relationship, but neither of the two really said anything.
"It's about a girl."
No sooner did the word 'girl' come out did Tai and Davis, who was kind of out of place to be doing so, started teasing him.
"For real? All right, Joe!!! I never thought you'd ever like a girl! Is she as smart as you? Have you asked her out? I bet she turned you down! Ha ha!!! I thought you were afraid of girls! The only time I saw you with a girl was when—actually, I never saw you with a girl before! Ha ha ha!"
"That's kind of mean, Tai, Davis." That came from Sora.
"Sorry," was all Tai and Davis could say in a meek tone. They both returned to their teasing mode. "But, man! Joe! A girl! I bet your brother's rejoicing right now that finally he can teach you something out of academics!"
Joe looked at Tai in a straight face. "My brother's not exactly a babe magnet."
It was Sora who answered. "Still, though. Joe, you like a girl? What's her name? What is she like?"
"Oh, she's wonderful," Joe sighed. He was thinking of her face, that bright smile and her affectionate way of speaking. "She's just wonderful."
"Is she in any of your classes?" asked Izzy. No one really expected him to join in on the conversation, but, hey, the more the merrier.
"No."
"Is she smart?"
"Not particularly."
"Is she sporty?" That was Tai. "Does she like soccer?"
"I think she prefers more girly things, you know?"
"Is she as cute as Kari?" asked Davis, followed by the threat "Don't even think about hitting on my sister, Davis" by Tai.
"Definitely," was the enthusiastic answer from Joe.
"Is she nice?" asked Sora.
"Oh, yeah. Her smile could brighten up a room." Joe turned into a dream-like state. Thinking about her makes him feel… well, good, if he just had a moment or day.
"What's her name?" Tai, Izzy, Sora, and Davis prodded.
"Mimi."
TK, Kari, Yolei and Cody have been walking for a good fifteen minutes when they crossed pathways with Matt, fresh from his band's Japan-wide tour, and Mimi, who's visiting from New York. It was good to see them again. They haven't seen the two of them in the longest time. Matt is starting to be a big hit around Japan and lots of girls like him. Mimi was in line to be another successful model in New York.
The two were laughing as they walked and the four DigiDestined could only stare at them.
"Are they that close?" asked Yolei.
"Guess so," answered TK.
Yolei looked at him and turned to wave to Matt and Mimi. "Hey, Matt!! Mimi!"
The two looked at her and smiled. Mimi ran to join them and Matt followed.
"Hi, you guys," greeted Mimi. The others greeted her.
"Are you on your way to the meeting?" asked Kari.
"Yes, but we were planning to stop by the candy store," answered Mimi.
Matt explained what Mimi answered. "You know. Buy everyone a treat or two."
"Oh," TK said. "You better make it good!"
"Yeah, yeah," Matt said, waving his hand, dismissing TK. "Come on, Mimi. We don't want to be late. We still have to pick." He started to walk in another direction. Mimi smiled at the four younger kids and followed Matt.
The four of the new Digidestined continued walking to the park. When they reached it, they saw Tai, Izzy, Sora and Davis leaning forward, seemingly trying to hear Joe. Joe stopped talking when they saw the four coming.
"Hey, guys!" greeted Kari. "What's up?"
"
"Davis!" the four older shouted at him. "You shouldn't have said it out loud," scolded Sora.
"Sorry," Davis apologized. "I just couldn't help it."
TK, Kari, Yolei and Cody looked at Joe.
"Is it true?" asked Cody.
Joe nodded like a little kid despite his age. The four who just arrived studied him, who was looking down at his hands. Finally, TK said, "Well, it's hard not to. Mimi's very pretty."
"Have you told her yet?" Cody asked again.
"Well, no," Joe answered.
"Can I tell her?" asked Yolei excitedly.
"No!" He looked at the new arrivals. "Promise me you won't tell anyone about this."
"We promised," they chorused. They sat down on the grass under the shade.
Kari started the conversation again. "We saw her and Matt walking together to the candy store to buy us all a treat."
Tai leaned on the tree, clasping his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. "Knowing Mimi, it'll probably be pink lollipops, pink bubble gums and pink gummy bears."
"Watermelon flavor isn't so bad," countered Sora, obviously offended. Tai looked alert and put up his hands in surrender.
"All right, I know," he hurriedly said. "Don't get mad."
"I'm not," said Sora, annoyed. She turned to Joe. "So, Joe, are you planing to tell her?"
Joe thought about it for a moment. Should he? Nah, too much competition. It won't be worth the wasted breath if she'll just think it's cute—at least that's how he thinks it would go. Lots of guys have probably told her that. She might even have a boyfriend in the U.S. already. "No," he answered out.
"Why not?!" they all shouted at him. He almost jumped from his position in surprise and moved at least an inch or two farther from the rest.
"Don't attack me," he said, a quiver in his voice. He was clearly taken aback by their little chorus of question.
"But, Joe," Tai started to reason out, "you'll regret not having told her."
"Oh, yeah?" challenged Joe. "How do you know?"
"Well…" Tai started fiddling with his fingers. "Let's just say I kinda went through the same thing before."
Davis looked amused. "Really? Who's the girl?"
"It's none of your business," Tai answered. "But I know I should have told her."
"Is she still around?" asked Kari. Tai nodded. "Then maybe you should tell her."
"I can't," was all Tai said and he started to look nervous. Well, he thought, she's very near. I can't believe I can't get the courage just to tell her I like her more than a friend!!!
A question whispered in Sora's head. Is it me? I swear he looks at me like he likes me. As if he really likes me.
Joe suddenly sat up. He looked past Izzy, who was sitting across from him.
"They're here," Joe whispered. "Now, remember. Don't say anything. I don't want her to stop talking to me."
"Don't worry, Joe," said Izzy. "We all understand how you really feel."
That
one coming from Izzy made everyone look at him. Izzy blushed and tried to defend himself. "I'm just trying to be sympathetic!" he exclaimed.Matt and Mimi walked across the field to where the rest of the Digidestined was gathered. They were having such a good time in each other's company they weren't even aware of the others looking at them. Teenagers around were watching them and thinking how cute a couple they make.
"Well," said Mimi, "my photographer said the camera loves me"
"I'm sure they do," said Matt, half-joking and half sincerely. "I've seen the pictures and you look great in them!" he continued, dropping a hint.
"Thank you," Mimi said.
The rest of the Digidestined watched them coming closer. They seemed to be walking so slow and they were going in lazy zigzags, not sure of where to go. Tai's eyes darted back from them and to Joe, who was looking somewhere else, far from the two's direction, and back to them again and back to Joe. He noticed that Joe didn't even show any indication that he felt something for Mimi. Not even the slightest hint of jealousy was on his face.
"Joe, are you going to last through this whole meeting?" asked Tai.
Joe nodded. "What made you think I won't?"
Tai was unsure how to answer. "They're holding hands right now."
The next thing Joe knew was that he was falling in a bottomless pit, then he just saw black.