"You mean to say, you faced Rika's wrath, and lived!" Kazu gasped.
"Yes. It's not that amazing," Takato shrugged, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Yes it is! You know that just as well as the rest of the world!" Kazu cried, making a few kids in the lunchroom turn and stare at him.
"No need to yell. All I did was convince her to talk," Takato sighed.
"And how in the world did you do that?" Kenta wanted to know.
"I'm just good like that," Takato replied. He couldn't help but grin. Jeri raised and eyebrow.
Leaning over, and whispering so only Takato could hear, she said, "Or cute like that."
"Huh?" Takato looked at her funny.
"I'll tell you what I mean later, but not while they are here," Jeri gestured to Kazu, Kenta, and Henry.
"Oh-kay," Takato said slowly, almost not sure if he should listen to her. But of course he would, just because that was how he was. She was his friend and he would listen to her.
"What are you to whispering about?" Henry eyed them.
"Nothing," Jeri replied, flashing a smile. Henry rolled his eyes and went back to his lunch. The rest of the lunch was filled with small talk, except Takato. He was thinking to himself, remaining silent.
---End of School---
Takato shoved his stuff in his backpack, and zipped it up. Slamming his locker shut, he pulled his backpack over one shoulder and walked out the front door of the school. He leaned against a tree, waiting for Kazu and Kenta. He mulled over what Jeri had told him at lunch. 'I think she likes you. But I could be paranoid, which I doubt, but you never know.'
"There is no way she likes me," Takato mumbled to himself. "Can she?"
"Hey Takato!" A voice called. Takato looked up from the leaf he was watching, and saw Rika.
"H-hey Rika," Takato stammered.
"Do you know where Jeri is? She called me on my cell about 5 minutes ago and said to meet her here. But she's not here," Rika sighed.
"How'd you get here so fast?" Takato asked.
"Oh, I was about a block away. I do have to pass your school to get home, and my school gets out sooner then yours," Rika shrugged.
"Oh," Takato replied, looking back at his leaf.
"Well, are you going to answer me? Where is Jeri?" Rika re-asked.
"Oh, umm, still inside I guess. I'm waiting for Kazu and Kenta," Takato replied.
"Whatever," Rika sighed and sat on the nearby bench. Crossing her legs, she sat deep in thought. It seemed to be forever before Jeri came out, when it was really only about 5 minutes.
"Rika! Great! I've wanted to talk to you for awhile now. Come on, let's walk and talk!" Jeri smiled. Rika sighed and stood.
"Later Takato!" Jeri called.
"See ya, Takato," Rika sighed and followed the brunette. Takato watched them go, thinking to himself.
"Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if Rika liked me," He smiled, watching her walk off.
"Hey Chumley, whatcha watching?" Kazu asked as he popped out of nowhere.
"Huh? Oh, nothing!" Takato said quickly, looking away. But Kazu wasn't fooled. He looked in the direction Takato was looking and saw Jeri and Rika turn the corner.
"You were watching Jeri and Rika?" Kazu stated the obvious.
"Well, I wanted to know where they were going. Not to mention, you took forever! I was bored!" Takato defended himself. Kazu and Kenta seemed to except this and no more was said about it as the boys walked home. They talked about other things. Mostly Digimon.
"Well, see ya," Takato called as he split off to go his way home. He walked alone, listening to the world around him. He was both listening and tuning it out. When a thought crept into his mind, he tuned out the world. When he shook away the thought because theirs no way it was possible, he heard the world. You guessed it. He was thinking about Rika and what Jeri had said. Yes, to begin with he had a crush on Jeri, but that passed. He never seemed to think of Rika like that. True, a thought or two had crept into his mind about Rika, but he never thought much of it. Was it because he was still mulling over Jeri then? If he hadn't of liked Jeri, would he have noticed Rika in a different way?
"Takato, is that you?" A voice asked as he walked through the park, his shortcut home.
"Huh," Takato whirled around to look at who had spoken. It was Rika.
"Hey Takato, mind if I walk with you for a bit?" Rika asked.
"No, I don't mind," Takato replied. Rika jogged to get up with him.
"So, what did Jeri want," Takato asked.
"She asked me some questions. About you, actually. And we walked through the park a bit, hence how I'm here now," Rika shrugged.
"What did Jeri ask you?" Takato knew his curiosity was getting the better of him, but he couldn't help it.
"If I liked you," Rika answered, not missing a beat. She had no intention of lying to him. If she was going to lie, she would lie about something more interesting. And to someone else. Most likely to Ryo or Kazu and Kenta.
"Really?" Takato raised an eyebrow. "And what did you answer?" Takato found himself hoping she would say she did. And he truly did hope so.
"Why should I tell you?" Rika asked, teasing him.
"Because I want to know, I mean, sense it is about me!" Takato replied.
"Well, that's no reason to tell you," Rika said.
"Ah, come on! I want to know!" Takato couldn't help but whine a little.
"Okay, I tell you. But on one condition," Rika said.
"Okay, what?" Takato answered.
"As you should know, I'm a great runner. And I've joined the track team at my school. So, in order to find the answer, you have to catch me," Rika replied, smiling.
"What! That's not-" Takato didn't get time to answer. Rika had taken off. She ran fast, down the path, and Takato did the only choice he had. He raced after her. But he wasn't even close to fast enough to catch her. She was out of his sight before Takato could realize it. Defeated, he slunk home.
So what'd you think? Please review and I'll try to update sooner!