Thank you for giving some of your time to read this story. I hope you keep reading and I hope you keep enjoying it. So here is chapter two and I hope you like it just as much, if not, then more, than the last one. Dedicated to the victims of the Connecticut Sandy Hook school shooting, let's take a moment and pray for them.
-X-
"We apologize for this late reply but your audition tape got lost in the mail. However, we were able to receive it and we congratulate you for you have been accepted to Julliard's music program. You have earned full scholarship and we must say that your audition was the best of them all" read Jeri from the letter that Rika had given her.
The two girls were both sitting near the lake at a local park. Rika had given the letter to Jeri so that she could read the contents. It was this very letter that she had received the day before.
"That's the gist of it" said Rika quietly.
"Wow…Julliard? As in that prestigious theater arts school in America? But that's so far…I thought we'd all be going to college together" said Jeri.
"And we are…I just needed to tell someone to get it off my chest. Just don't tell Takato or Henry, they'll just tell me to go, I know them enough to know that they would want me to follow my dreams and take this chance" said Rika as she pulled her knees closer to her face.
"But you know I would tell you the same thing. I want you to chase your dreams" pointed out Jeri.
"But I know you won't. You want us to be together for college and although you know it's selfish, you want that more than anything. You're okay with Henry going to America but I'm your best friend…You won't let me leave. And I won't. I don't plan on leaving you guys" countered Rika.
"Rika…I want you to follow your dreams, even though I always thought you hated fame. I want you to go for what you want"
"Jeri, it's a one in a billion chance that I'll make it in the music world. There's no guarantee that I'll be that one"
"Out of every person I know and seen, you're the only one I see rocking out on stage in Madison Square Garden"
Rika smiled. "Thanks Jeri…But I've already made up my mind and you can't change it"
"I know…I just wish you would think about it"
"Think about what?" asked their blue haired friend as he appeared into view.
"Henry! When did you get here?" asked Rika.
"A few seconds ago actually. So what are you two girls talking about?" asked Henry.
"Nothing much…I got to go. I'm needed at the restaurant" said Jeri as she stood up. "I'll see you later" With that the brunette walked in the direction of her family restaurant.
"Is it okay if I join you?" asked Henry.
"It's fine…I don't mind" replied Rika.
Henry sat down next to her and pulled out a plastic bag with two boxed lunches in it. He offered one to her and she took it. "Thanks" she muttered.
"Don't mention it" smiled Henry.
Usually, being the best friends they were, they would always talk nonstop but this time there was an awkward silence in place of the usual conversation. Rika just sat quietly and watched the children laughing and playing on the other side of the lake.
"So…Julliard…" said Henry suddenly.
Rika's eyes widened in surprise and she jerked her head to face her friend. "H-How do you know about that?"
"I overheard parts of your conversation with Jeri…And I also see your acceptance letter" said Henry. He picked up her acceptance letter that had been lying in the grass where Jeri had left it.
"I know what you're going to say and I'm just going to tell you right now, no. Just because you're going to America and ditching us doesn't mean I will do the same" said Rika, surprisingly angry at him for some unknown reason.
"Why are you so angry with me?" asked Henry.
"I just feel like you're being selfish. I know that Harvard is like the best school in the world but do you have to go? The rest of us are going to the same college but it won't be the same without you" said Rika.
"...I'm sorry…I know it may seem unfair but I may never get this chance again. The same goes for you; Julliard is the best performing arts school on Earth. It'd be stupid not to go. We all want what's best for you" said Henry.
"Well why do you have this sudden interest in me, huh?!" shouted Rika as she stood up. "Why should you care? You're going to be leaving us so why bother? Are you really leaving for this opportunity or is it just because you don't want to be around us?"
Henry was speechless but being the calm and mild mannered person he was, he didn't at angry. Instead, his eyes were full of sadness. "How can you say that? You know be better than that"
"How can you leave us? Especially me! You know what I've been through! How can you just leave!" shouted Rika. Tears were now rolling down her cheeks. "How can you not care?"
"You're wrong Rika. I do care, I care so much about you" said Henry.
"No, you don't! Stop lying already!"
"I'm not lying!"
"You never cared! Why would you ever-"
"I care because I love you!"
Rika froze right on the spot. She looked up at her friend who was now standing to his full height in front of her. Her lip quivered and she was afraid. Henry could see that, she was afraid to get hurt. "You're lying…" she whispered.
"No, I'm not"
"Then prove it…"
Henry pulled her close to him and kissed, right on the lips. Rika was completely caught off guard but she soon kissed him back. It wasn't long before they had to pull away from each other for breath.
"I don't know how else I could prove it…Just know that you're the reason why I've never had girlfriend before. It's because I love you…so much…I never asked you out because I knew your heart still belonged to Ryo and not me…So I'm sorry…" whispered Henry softly.
"I'm sorry too…I'm sorry I called you a liar…I just…I don't know" muttered Rika slowly.
"You don't have an answer for me yet do you?" asked Henry.
"I'm just confused right now…"
"Well you don't have to answer me right now but you should answer back to Julliard…I can wait…But this chance may never come again"
"I'll think about it…"
Rika quickly pulled away from his warm embrace and picked up the boxed lunch he had given her. She turned away from him. "Goodbye Henry…" she said quietly.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow" called Henry.
"…Bye…" With that, the auburn haired girl ran back towards her home.
-X-
"He told you he loved you and then he kissed you?" said Jeri in shock on the phone.
"Jeri breathe, you sound as if you're about to explode" commented Rika.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll compose myself" said Jeri as she took in deep breaths. "Well what did you tell him?"
"I didn't have an answer for him. I'm not sure if I should get a new boyfriend especially one that's going to move to another country" shrugged Rika, she jumped onto her couch.
"Oh, come on Rika, long distance relationships are so romantic! And I always thought you two looked cute together!" said Jeri.
"Don't go fan girl on me. Long distance relationships never work out anyway" said Rika.
"Sorry, again" giggled Jeri. "But why don't you have an answer? I mean, Henry's one of the cutest boys we know. He's handsome, smart, athletic, and the nicest guy we have ever met"
Rika opened her mouth to say something when the doorbell rang. She rolled her eyes, sighed, and walked to the door. "Jeri, there's a lot going through my mind right now. With the letter to Julliard and Henry leaving, the last thing I need is drama" She opened the door and froze.
"Hey" greeted Ryo.
"Got to go Jeri, drama just arrived" said Rika as she hung up. "R-Ryo? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be studying in New York right now?"
Although Ryo had moved to London to continue his studies, he also traveled to New York to do some studying there as well. He sort of moved in between both depending on the time of year. Since it was summer, he was supposed to be in New York.
"I came back to see you" said Ryo with his signature smile.
"But why now? You visit all the time but you said that you had no time to visit this year" said Rika.
"Well, yeah, initially that was how it was but I recently saw your audition to Julliard" said Ryo.
"How did you see my audition?" asked Rika.
"It was posted online. All students that were accepted have their auditions posted on their site. I remember you telling me that you wanted to be in that school so I checked out the site and found your audition. It was amazing!" said Ryo.
"Thanks" blushed Rika.
"And…I know it was a cover but I have a feeling you were singing about me" said Ryo as he took hold of her hands. "The song…it was Taylor Swift's Come Back…Be Here. You sang that because you wanted me to come back and be here with you" said Ryo as he stroked her cheeks. He pressed his forehead upon her own and she felt her heart skip a beat.
You said it in a simple way
4 AM the second day
How strange how I don't know you at all
Stumble through the long goodbye
One more kiss then catch your flight
Right when I was just about to fall
Rika thought back to the day Ryo had left. She remembered how they were both saying their goodbyes if only to prolong the distance. She didn't want him to go and he didn't want to leave. A memory that would always replay in her mind was their very last kiss.
I told myself "Don't get attached"
But in my mind I play it back
Spinnin' faster than the plane that took you
She felt all the memories she spent with Ryo rush back into her head. Every single time they danced together, embraced, kissed, and shared a laugh. She remembered every minute she spent in his car or when they sat on the roof counting the stars. By then, it was too late not to get attached to him.
This is when the feeling sinks in
I don't want to miss you like this
Come back…be here
Come back…be here
Well he was finally back and she was in his arms once again. She felt this lips press against hers and she felt herself closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck. Even though it should've felt like heaven, it didn't something was missing.
I guess you're in New York today
I don't wanna miss you this way
Come back…be here
Come back…be here
"Stop" said Rika, pulling away.
"What's wrong?" asked Ryo.
"I can't…Ryo…I'm very confused right now and I just don't think I can be with you anymore. I still love you but I just think that after all this time apart…I just don't think we have our spark anymore" said Rika.
"I see…" said Ryo after a moment of silence. "Then come back with me"
"What?" said Rika.
"Come with me to London and to New York. We'll bring back that old spark" said Ryo.
"I-I don't know what to say" stuttered Rika.
"I understand but please just think about it" pleaded Ryo.
"I appreciate the offer, really I do…But right now…I just need some time to be alone" said Rika.
"…Is there someone else?"
"I don't know…Maybe"
"It's fine…I know it was stupid of me to think that things would be the same after all this time. Here's the hotel I'm staying at so if you want, just swing by anytime" said Ryo as he gave her a piece of paper. "I wish you the best of luck"
"Thanks" said Rika quietly as she watched him walk away. Rika sighed and leaned her back on the wall. She looked up at the sky. "Oh Renamon…What am I going to do?" she whispered. She turned back and walked into her empty house.
Come back…be here
Come back…be here
-X-
I keep forgetting to mention, I do not own Digimon nor do I own the song, Come Back…Be Here, that is owned by Taylor Swift. Hope you all enjoyed and don't forget to leave a review.