Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner
Chapter 1: Questioning
Takeru laid awake. It had been awhile since he had felt restless. He tossed and turned, unable to still get to sleep. He had too much on his mind, to be honest. He didn't know what to think of what was happening in his life lately. It all seemed so unreal, and yet, he knew it was completely real.
It all had started two days ago, after school.
Takeru was setting outside on a bench while waiting for Hikari. She was supposed to meet him there after school so they could meet up with the rest of the old Digidestined. They were having a small get together. Everyone had agreed to go. He was setting there, minding his own business when Daisuke joined him on the bench.
"Some day, huh?" Daisuke asked. He stretched and leaned back on the bench, causing him to slouch a bit.
"I'd say," Takeru replied. He was a bit annoyed at Daisuke's uninvited company.
"So, who are ya waiting for?" Daisuke asked. He looked at Takeru, who was still a bit annoyed.
"Hikari-chan," Takeru replied.
"Oh, well..." Daisuke was interrupted by Takeru standing up, and leaving him there. "Where ya goin'?"
Takeru ignored the boy and kept walking. He knew where Hikari was, it was just a matter of getting to her before she left to go meet him at their arranged spot.
"Hey, I asked you where you were going," Daisuke stated as he caught up to Takeru.
"I'm going to meet her somewhere else," Takeru replied.
"Cool, can I come?" Daisuke asked.
Takeru froze in his track and glared at Daisuke. Takeru had been having a bad day, he wasn't in a really good mood to put up with Daisuke today. He then spoke up and replied, "No, Daisuke, you can't come."
"Well,why not?" Daisuke asked.
"You sure do ask a lot of questions," Takeru stated. He looked at Daisuke and smiled. He thought about it, and then realized that Daisuke does ask a lot of questions.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?" Daisuke asked.
"Nothing, forget it," Takeru answered. He kept smiling as he began to walk again. Daisuke still followed.
They made their way up the halls of the school and to the classroom Hikari was supposed to be in. They walked to the door and saw Hikari chatting away to Miyako. Hikari looked at Takeru and then put her hand over her mouth.
"Am I late?" she asked through her hand.
Takeru shook his head and replied, "No."
Hikari removed her hand from her over her mouth and then looked at Miyako. Both had grown silent and it was awkward. Daisuke was the first to say something, "Man, let's get out of here and get some food."
"Is that all you think about?" Miyako asked from annoyance.
"No, I think about other things, like video games," Daisuke replied. Hikari and Takeru giggled a little. Then stopped when Daisuke glared at them.
"We have to meet the other's at Yamato's place," Takeru explained. "It's already 3, and the meeting starts at 4, so we still have some time."
"I need to change these clothes," Hikari explained. She tugged on her shirt. Takeru rolled his eyes. She always did this now they finally became teenagers.
"Well, we better go, or we'll be late," Takeru stated.
"So, where are ya goin'?" Daisuke asked.
"To a reunion of the old Digidestined," Takeru explained.
"Oh, well, can I come?" Daisuke asked.
"No, it's for the OLD Digidestined," Takeru stated. Daisuke looked a little sad, but shrugged it off.
"Not like I wanna go anyway," Daisuke replied. Takeru rolled his eyes to Daisuke's response. Daisuke never let anything like this get to him, it was like he was putting on an act for someone.
"Let's go," Hikari said. She walked with her backpack on her back and they walked out the door. They walked down the hall, leaving Daisuke and Miyako to themselves.
Takeru and Hikari arrived at the reunion together, along with Taichi. They were dressed pretty casual, but not too casual. The rest of the Digidestined were there except Jyou. Jyou was running a little late with all of his studying.
"I'm so glad you could make!" Mimi chimed as she hugged each of the new arrivals.
"Thanks, but you're not hosting the reunion this time," Taichi said.
"I know, I just haven't seen you guys in a really long time!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
Takeru felt a bit uncomfortable around Mimi when she did stuff like this, not that she really knew she was doing it completely. Takeru looked at Hikari as Mimi walked away, linking arms with Taichi, telling him all about America.
"I feel bad," Hikari stated.
"Why?" Takeru asked.
"The newer Digidestined aren't able to attend this," she explained.
"Don't worry about it, they get to hang out with each other," Takeru comforted. He knew that the old group only got together every once in awhile as it was, they didn't need the other newer Digidestined there.
Takeru walked over and sat on Yamato's couch. He sat back and watched as the other conversed between each other. He was surprised when Koushiro sat next to him. He didn't say anything, he just sat there. Takeru felt strange. Koushiro wasn't speaking, and Takeru was practically by himself.
The rest of that night was practically event less, except when Taichi spilled his punch on Yamato's carpet, that didn't settle too well with Yamato. That was pretty much it, Takeru sat on the side, feeling sick little bit afterwards.
Takeru woke up the next morning. He looked at the clock, it was 5:56. He didn't think anything about going back to sleep, so he just got up and took a shower and ate breakfast. He walked to school early, so he could get there early to be sure he wasn't going to be late.
He walked into the school yard ,all the same high school kids there, chatting. He walked through crowd after crowd of friends that weren't even his so he could maybe find someone he knew. He continued walking until he met a familiar face. Daisuke was setting on a bench, alone. Daisuke didn't have many friends as it was ,except the Digidestined, but he more or less annoyed them. Takeru felt a sense of pity run over his heart. He, at first, didn't know rather to just go up and talk to him, or leave him alone. He knew Daisuke was probably in a sad mood, considering he was by himself. After a minute of debating, Takeru walked up to the bench.
"Daisuke-kun," Takeru said. He smiled at Daisuke raised his head smiled back. Takeru took a seat next to him. "Mind if I set here?"
Daisuke didn't reply, he only shook his head. Takeru still had the pity in his heart. He looked at Daisuke while Daisuke looked at the concrete, kicking a stray gravel.
"Why did you set with me?" Daisuke finally asked. He continued kicking the ravel and staring at the concrete.
Takeru thought for a second, then answered by saying, "I thought you could use the company."
"Why, do you even bother?" Daisuke asked. He had a sad tone to his voice, which Takeru rarely heard. Daisuke must have been thinking, something else Takeru rarely seen.
"Because," Takeru began, "We are friends, you know?"
"But, don't all of you hate me? You guys are always getting annoyed at me," Daisuke explained.
"We don't hate you, you just..." Takeru paused, looking for words that didn't sound too harsh.
"What? 'I just' what?" Daisuke asked. He lifted his head and looked at Takeru with tears in his eyes. Takeru had never really seen Daisuke cry before. He had seen him cry, but he never sounded as sad as he sounded now.
"You, just seem to try to hard to impress people," Takeru replied. He didn't mean to sound harsh, but that was the only way he could put it without truly being mean.
"I don't want to impress anyone, I only want to impress..." Daisuke trailed off as he looked back down at the concrete.
"Who?" Takeru asked.
"Nothing, forget it," Daisuke said.
"No, tell me," Takeru said. He wasn't desperate, but he knew he was coming off as desperate.
"You don't want to know," Daisuke said. He really did sound hopeless, and that worried Takeru a little.
"Yes, I do, now tell me," Takeru demanded.
Daisuke looked up at Takeru, he had a trail of tars going down his cheek, as he said, "You, Takeru, you."
Takeru let out a little gasp. He never knew that Daisuke even liked him, much less a crush! He was surprised more than he was angry. He didn't know what to say, but he wondered why Daisuke had never told him, though it might have been a little uncomfortable. Takeru finally the words and asked, "Why? Why would you want to impress me?"
"Because, you're perfect," Daisuke replied.
"How am I perfect?" Takeru asked. He was now full of questions to ask.
"You look good, you get good grades, and you're good at sports," Daisuke explained.
"Doesn't say much for my personality," Takeru commented.
"You're nice, even when you don't have to be," Daisuke began, "Of all the times you could tell me off, you haven't. You keep inside and let it go away on it's own."
"Oh," was all Takeru could think to say. He thought, then said, "You're nice, and you don't look bad, sure, you may not be the best at school, but you could be if you tried a little."
"I do try, not as much as I could, but I try," Daisuke explained. "I'm stupid."
"Don't say that, you're not stupid!" Takeru explained.
Daisuke sighed, and then looked at Takeru, and asked, "Do you know what it's like to like guys?"
Takeru though for a second, he never really thought about it before. He knew what it meant to be gay, and he knew that he wasn't really attracted to girls that much, but was he attracted to men? He never really took the time to consider this. Could he possibly be gay or bi? He would never know unless he actually dated a guy, but, could he? He thought some more, then realized, that he didn't truly know, so he replied, "I don't know."
"Would you," Daisuke paused, "consider going out with me."
Takeru got shocked by this, but, what was he to do? He knew that he couldn't just say 'no' and go about life happy, but he didn't want to say no, but he didn't know if he wanted to say yes, so he said the thing that made the most sense to him. "I'll think about it."
Daisuke got a half-hearted smile and looked away from Takeru He wiped the tears off with his sleeve and then looked back at Takeru as the bell rang. Takeru stood up, and Daisuke grabbed his. Takeru turned around and Daisuke said, "Think about, at least, 'kay?"
"I will," Takeru replied. He walked to his first period, actually thinking about Daisuke's question. The day continued like this, only, when he saw Daisuke, he would smile, like he was considering Daisuke's offer, but he still didn't know. They all ate lunch together. It wasn't as uncomfortable as Takeru thought it was. He knew he'd have an answer soon enough.
After school, he went home and laid on his bed and did some homework. His mom came in late, and he was asleep when she came in. He had fallen asleep in his clothes and on top of his covers. He was so tired of just thinking all day. He had practically been quiet all day. He still wasn't sure.
Takeru got up the next morning, but he felt weird. He didn't know why, he just did. He knew he had to give Daisuke an answer soon, but he still hadn't made up his mind. He decided he was going to go to school, but, he wasn't going to school, instead, he was going to Yamato's.
He walked down the street, back pack on his back and ready for school, only, he wasn't going to school. He stopped by Yamato's apartment. He knocked on the door and waited. he waited for a reply and finally, the door opened. In the doorway stood a rather tired Yamato.
"I have to talk to you!" Takeru exclaimed. He invited himself in and Yamato closed the door after a few seconds of realize what was going on.
"What do you need?" Yamato asked. He was actually pretty curious as to why Takeru had skipped school to come to his house.
"I have to talk to you about something," Takeru explained. "It's very important."
"Well, spill it," Yamato demanded.
"Well, there's this person, and they like me, but I don't know if I like them back," Takeru began but was interrupted by Yamato.
"Who is 'this person' exactly?"
"Well, it's really hard to just say it out loud," Takeru explained.
"Well, who is she? Do I know her?" Yamato began questioning. "Is she at your school? Is she a Digidestined? I need some sort of details, Takeru."
"Well, 'they' would be a 'he'." Takeru explained.
Yamato's eyes grew big as he looked at his little brother. "Who is he!?"
"I'll tell you, but please don't tell anyone," Takeru pleaded.
"Okay, okay, I won't tell anyone, know who is it?" Yamato asked.
"Daisuke," Takeru mumbled,. He looked at the floor. He was blushing, why was he blushing at something like this?
"Motomiya Daisuke?" Yamato asked.
"Yeah," Takeru replied.
"Oh, man, this is really deep, huh?" Yamato asked. Takeru could feel tension building inside him. Was Yamato making fun of him, or was he actually a bit concerned?
"Yeah," Takeru replied.
"Well, what do you think of him? Wait, are you even... you know?" Yamato asked.
"I don't know!" Takeru exclaimed. He had never acted like this, much less felt like this. He was so confused. He felt like he didn't even know himself anymore.
"Takeru, if you like him, then go for it, if not, then tell him," Yamato explained. "There's nothing you can do."
"I don't know if I like him or not, I don't know anything anymore!" Takeru began to let out that tension.
"Whoa, little bro, don't get so wound up, just... follow your heart," Yamato said. "I know it's a cheesy line, but it's all you can really do."
"Yeah," Takeru replied. He calmed down and then looked at Yamato. "I need to think this through."
"Okay," Yamato said. "Now, what about school?"
"Oh no! I forgot about school!" Takeru yelled.
"It's okay, you should take a day off, you need to relax," Yamato stated. He took Takeru's back-pack and sat it in the kitchen floor. He directed Takeru to his couch and made him lay down on it. "Now, stay here and relax."
Takeru nodded as he drifted off to sleep sooner than he thought he would.
Takeru woke up. He didn't quite know where he was at first, but soon realized. He looked around, and heard the shower running; Yamato must have been in the shower. He got up, and looked at the time, the clock read "10:42" He had another four hours before school let out and he could go home. He didn't know how he'd spend the rest of the day. So, he sat back down and turned on the TV. He watched the news for a long time, not noticing Yamato moving around in the kitchen and basically everywhere else in the apartment. He watched the news for about two hours, but it seemed longer with the way it kept repeating itself. Yamato finally disturbed Takeru, by saying, "You hungry?"
Takeru felt his stomach growl at just the thought of food. "Yeah," he replied.
"Okay, I'll fix something," Yamato responded. He walked into the kitchen and began to cook.
Takeru arrived home, around the time he usually did, not like his mom was there to know what time he usually came home. He walked over to the refrigerator. He opened up and saw the left overs from two nights ago. He frowned at the food that was in there. None of looked even half good. He shut the door and laid down on the couch. He didn't fall asleep. He thought, thought about everything in the past two days and basically everything in between. He didn't know how to answer Daisuke's question, yet. Though, he had a pretty good idea what he was going to say, but wasn't sure of the answer. So, he thought more about it.
He thought for a long time, and when his mom came in from work, she asked, "How was school?"
"Fine," he lied.
"That's great, what is tomorrow?" she asked.
"Saturday," he replied. He always gave her short answers when he thought about something. He didn't like to talk when he was thinking, it distracted him.
He got up, and went to his room, he called out to his mom he was going to bed early tonight, because he was tired. That was another lie. He laid down, but began to think some more. He thought so much lately, that his brain was beginning to actually hurt. He thought and thought. He tossed and he turned. He couldn't sleep. He then, finally came up with a final answer, and he knew it would be the right answer. e finally fell asleep on that thought.