Tai banged on the door to his friend's room. "Matt! Hey, Matt! C'mon out buddy! What's going on? Is anything wrong? You haven't been to school in a week, you've canceled your next concert, and your dad hasn't seen your face for days! What's up, man?"
Matt studied his figure in the mirror. 'God, I look horrible.' He thought. "Tai, go away!"
"Let me in!"
"Go away!"
"Let me in!"
"Go away!"
"Let me in!"
"I don't feel like talking to anybody!"
"Well, that's too bad!"
"Go away!"
"No!"
Matt slid to the floor, leaning on the frame, his voice hoarse from yelling. He sat there for a few minutes, fingering his flat, lifeless hair. "Tai? You still there?" He called out tentatively.
"Uh huh."
"Do you have any hair gel?"
"No, Odaiba's all out. Why? Don't you have enou--. . .? Oh, ooohhhhhhhhh, oh, oh, ohhh. I see. You've run out of hair gel, haven't you? I knew it! I absolutely knew it! Oh my God! I have to see this! Open up, Matty, open up or I'll break the door down!"
"GO AWAY!"
"Come on! Let me see, I promise I won't tell anyone!"
"Well, all right, if you promise not to tell. . . or show!"
"Or show, I promise!"
"Well, ok . . . but only for a minute." He turned off the light and opened the door. Tai scooted in before he could change his mind and slam it shut.
"Dude, what's with the lights?" Before Matt could stop him, Tai switched on the light, and found Matt sunk into a corner, his hair over his eyes and his arms resting on his knees. "Hey, buddy, you all right?"
"Do I look all right?" the other boy muttered.
"Stand up so I can get a better look at you." Tai's curiosity was peaked; he could see some of his friend's hair but he didn't have the full picture. And he wanted the full picture.
Matt rose to his feet in a half-slouched stance and kept his face down. "I don't know why you want to see me, I look horrible." There was a slight break to his voice.
"Don't say that." Tai liked the way he looked. He had chosen an outfit that perfectly complemented his new hair, which was much like Ken's, only longer and, of course, blond. It was comprised of a pair of extra baggy grey pants and a black tank top. (A/N: In case you're wondering, it's the same tank he wore in the episode where he and Ken went to Mexico.) Tai had to admit, it was very attractive.
"Why not? It's true." He sniffed.
Tai walked over to him and lifted his chin with two fingers. "You shouldn't say it because it's not true." He was slightly shocked to see tears starting in the other boy's eyes. He put his arms around his friend's shoulders and hugged him tight for a few minutes. Then he drew back a bit, letting his arms slide down until they were around Matt's waist. He was glad to see the tears were gone and he didn't look so sad. "Don't start thinking I'm bent or anything, but in these clothes and with that hair, you're absolutely gorgeous. Dude, you were right not to go outside. All the girls and boys would be running after you, man." An all too familiar feeling fluttering in his stomach. ::It's a good thing he doesn't know I'm gay.::
Matt looked at him sheepishly. "Even you?" he asked quietly.
"I've got you here; I don't need to run." As soon as he said it, Tai became painfully aware of how suggestive that sounded, especially along with the fact that he was holding Matt in his arms and backed into a corner. He could feel heat in his face and knew he was blushing. He let go of his friend and stood uncomfortably. There was an unreadable emotion in Matt's eyes.
They stood there like that for a minute.
Then Matt grabbed Tai's wrist and dragged him over to the couch and sat down. "Tai?"
"Yeah, Matt?"
"Never mind."
"Okay."
We sat in silence. Matt looked sad again. Tai put his arm around his shoulders again and gave him a squeeze. "Cheer up, buddy, I told you, you look good."
Matt leaned into me and shook his head. "It's not that…"
"Then what is it?"
"It's nothing."
"Are you sure? If anything's wrong, you know you can tell me. You're my best friend. And come to think of it, you should know that, too. Man, I'm not good with words, but you get the gist of what I'm trying to say, right?"
Matt nodded his head, somewhat reluctantly. "Tai?"
Tai didn't have time to answer. He found himself flat on his back, with his head nestled into a pillow. He didn't notice that much, because Matt was on top of him, his lips nestled over his friend's. His tongue hungrily explored the brunette's mouth.
Without thinking, Tai braced his hands against Matt's chest and pushed him off, scrambling to the other side of the room. He leaned against the wall and stared back at his friend.
"Tai, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have." Matt sat forlornly on the far side of the couch, his hands clasped before him. "It's just… you're so… you." ::What if he hates me?:: "I—I think I love you." He whispered.
::This—this changes everything…:: Tai thought.
Sorry folks, I was just going to make this a one-parter, but I've run out of ideas, so tell me what you think should happen and whoever's idea I like the best I will use. And I'll mention your name too. So pretty please help me out. TAITO FOREVER!