Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon

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Chapter 2

I stared out the window for the millionth time. It was seven-thirty and I still didn't ask Mom. What was the point? "She'll just say no." I uttered out loud. Why is Mom so overprotective all of a sudden? Is something wrong with her? Is something wrong with the whole family?

"That's why you won't ask her?" Matt asked.

"What?" I looked over at him. At the time he was rolling his neck clockwise. "What are you doing?"

"Rolling my neck. What does it look like?" He continued. I could hear the little pops in between.

I shrugged it off and continued. "Yoko asked me to hang out with her."

"Good." Matt started stretching his arms.

"Not good. Mom won't let me. I just know it."

Matt stopped and just looked at me. "Then don't tell her. She's in a whole other room. She won't notice." I was about to object but he threw in "I'll tell her you went to get ice or towels or something."

"Thanks." I smiled. And just like that, I was free.

"But one more thing. You better have your key. I mean it."

"Alright."

"I mean it. I don't want to have to wake up to you banging on the door because you can't get in."

"I promise."

"And I need you to come back."

"I will."

"I can't explain how you wind up dead or missing after getting ice."

"Got it."

"And I will need you to come back with ice."

"Sure thing."

"And if Mom finds out, you're doing my punishment."

I was going to object, but I'll do that later. "Whatever. Anything else?"

He nodded. "Have fun and ask her to be your girlfriend already."

I nodded. "Okay!"

"Another thing..."

I sighed with a smile. My brother is crazy.

"You would need money in case you guys go out to eat or whatever. I'll give you forty bucks but you'll have to bring me back something and the remaining cash."

"Wow. Thanks, Matt. You're not the one to lend cash."

"Don't remind me." He said, going back to his bass.

I stood there watching him for a minute in admiration and then confusion. "Why are you doing this for me?" I asked.

He stopped strumming and took a pause before looking at me. "I thought we were brothers. And…" he went back to strumming "…that's what brothers are for."

My lips slowly moved to a smile. "I'm going to guess that's your way of saying that you love me!"

Matt didn't refuse, argue, or look up for that matter. "Just remember the rules." He said. Then… "I might not get the chance again. Well, you might not. I mean, you only live once."

I blinked and sat down on my bed next to his. "What?" He didn't say anything. He just kept strumming. I forgot that one of the reasons for this trip was because of Matt. Lately, he's been acting kind of strange with the chaos of that music video of his. I guess Mom wants to keep him close to us before his next concert and a stay-cation was the best way to do it.

"Right." I said to end the conversation, picked up the phone, and dialed the number.

As soon as I finished confirming the plans, I gave a huge exhale of relief, deflating myself like a balloon. Now the plan is set. There is no going back. I took out my new favorite pencil and wrote down in my journal.

Best summer ever! I'm about to go out with a girl! Would this count as my first date? Should I bring flowers? Her other friends would be there, so maybe I shouldn't. I can't wait to go home and tell this to Kari. Just think about it: I met her at the beach after she nearly killed me with a volleyball. Perfect!

()()

My heart skipped a beat when someone knocked on the door at about eight thirty. It was Yoko. I just know it. But Matt looked at the peep hole anyway. "Who is it?" He asked. I knew he was teasing me.

"Just open the door!" I hissed.

But he didn't. He just walked away and let me do it. "Do you have the key?" I showed it to him. "Do you have the cash?" I took it out of my pocket. "Open your mouth."

"Wha...?" Before I could finish the word, Matt sprayed some kind of minty breath spray in my mouth, making me choke. "What was that?" I asked in between coughs.

"You don't want to go to a girl with bad breath. Now, stop choking and go out there."

With a few seconds and deep breaths, I was ready to go. I slowly opened the door to Yoko, Kimiko, Kiyoko, and Yuudai. "Hi." Yoko greeted. "Ready to go?"

I nodded. "Let's go."

"Where should we go?" Kiyoko asked as we started walking.

"Let's show T.K. all of the cool places around here." Yoko said.

"Like where?"

"Everywhere!" Kimiko fumed. "She just said that."

"Look. I just wanted to make sure. You don't have to be so crabby!" Kiyoko yelled back.

"Quit fighting unless you're going to put your bikinis back on and do it in the mud." Yuudai said. The twins rolled their eyes.

"Where should we go first?" Yoko asked, pressing the button to call the elevator.

"The mall!" Kiyoko and Kimiko cheered.

"The pier." Yuudai suggested.

Yoko looked at me. "Which seems better to you?"

I looked at the twins who had big smiles and their hands clasped in a pleading manner while Yuudai gave me the threatening look. They both looked convincing so I stuck with the golden rule of etiquette. "Ladies first."

Yoko smiled with a raised eyebrow towards Yuudai. It looked like a what-did-I-tell-you expression. He just rolled his eyes. "I like the way he thinks." She said. Kimiko and Kiyoko smiled at each other in the same suspicious way. I was just standing their confused as the elevator doors opened. I wonder if I'm going to get initiated or something.

When we got inside, Kiyoko headed straight for one corner as Kimiko headed for the other. Yoko just looked at them as Yuudai pressed the button to go to the lobby. He was a bit taller than me so he had to flex a few ab muscles to get to it. As the doors closed and we started going down, no one really said anything. It was pretty quiet save for the humming of the elevator. "Gosh, I hate elevators." Kiyoko squeaked. She was grabbing onto the rails with a heavy grip.

The very second the doors opened again, Kiyoko squeezed herself right out. "She's been afraid of elevators since she got stuck in one for an hour." Yoko explained.

While we were in the lobby, a huge group of teenagers came in being rowdy while holding stuffed animals. They also had their faces painted with butterflies, dolphins, lions, and dragons. "See!" Yuudai said. "I told you we should have gone to the pier."

"Why?" Yoko asked.

"Yeah. What's the big deal with the pier?" Kiyoko asked.

"There's a huge festival going on there." He said. "You know, with rides and food and stuff."

"Why didn't you say something?" Kiyoko scolded. "Let's go there instead!"

We all looked at Kimiko who had her arms crossed and pouted just like Mimi would. She had the final decision. "Fine. We'll just go to the mall another time." She said.

"Great!" Kiyoko cheered. "Let's hurry up!"

Boy was it dark outside. I could barely see my hands in front of my face and the stars didn't really help. But they were beautiful. They were sprinkled on the sky in such a carefree manner. You don't get stars like these everywhere. The sky went nicely with the rocks we were walking on along the beach. The ocean waves crashed against them every so often. It was very scenic. Well, what I can see of it was anyway. Yuudai was showing us this short cut.

"Are you sure we won't die?" Kimiko asked. "I can barely see and these rocks are pretty wobbly." She had a point. Even though these rocks were flat enough to kind of walk on, there was a chance we would fall off. That's when I remembered one of Matt's rules to make it back to the hotel alive.

"I'm sure." He said. "Just balance yourself."

Once we were off, the lights from the festival started to become visible. It was amazing how far from the hotel we were. "I see it!" Kiyoko cheered.

"Good! My feet are starting to hurt. Flip flops weren't made for rock climbing, you know." Kimiko complained.

"Shut up, will you?" Kiyoko spat.

"Make me!" Kimiko snapped back. The two lunged at each other and just started fighting! They were clawing at each other and pulling hair and calling each other plenty of colorful words.

"Kiyoko, Kimiko, stop it!" Yoko commanded, stepping in between them. Cautiously of course. "The festival is right over there. Can you guys last a few feet without killing each other?"

The girls huffed and straightened up their clothes. "Fine." They said.

And we were off again.

By the time we got there, fingers were pointing at all of the things we could do. People were screaming and yelling on the rollercoasters and eating cotton candy. It was such a huge party! If only I knew what we were celebrating. There were even clowns dancing around and making balloon animals and whatnot. One clown came towards us being overly excited, causing Yoko to scream and bury her face into my chest. In response, I wrapped my arms around her until the clown got the picture and left.

"He's gone now." I told her, letting go. I practically had to yell over the loud people and music.

"Are you sure?" She saw for herself. "Sorry. I hate clowns."

Before I could comfort her by telling her Matt is the same way, Yuudai jumped in front and said "Let's go get our tickets." That's right. We aren't even inside yet!

"Remember yesterday's bet." She told him. "Losers have to pay."

"What?" Kiyoko asked. "I can't hear you!"

"Cough up the dough!" Yuudai demanded.

"Oh." She started digging into her little purse as Yuudai dug in his pockets. "Oh, damn. I think I left my wallet at the house."

"No, you didn't. I have it." Kimiko handed it over. "I knew you would try to forget it on purpose so I brought it."

Kiyoko snatched it with the darkest of scowls and behind gritted teeth she said "Thank you."

Yoko held my hand. "Because you're the guest, you don't have to pay."

"No no!" Yuudai protested as he handed the ticket guy the money. "We're just paying for the tickets which cover the rides and games. Food and other stuff come from your pocket."

I shrugged. "I don't mind." I really preferred it that way. If I was just given money from someone who isn't family, I would feel guilty all night.

"Come on." Yoko pulled me into the rest to the crowd with her.

It was one of the best nights of my life! There were so many rides we rode on, so many games we played. I even won Yoko a pink unicorn and a brown monkey. She named the monkey T-monk and the unicorn Kay. Put them together and you get T.K. How symbolic! Oh, yeah! You won't believe what I got Matt. It was a T-shirt with his band on it. His band, The Teenage Wolves, is really popular here! I mean, some of his songs kept playing on the loud speakers. My friends (except for Yuudai) were in total shock when I told them. That's my brother!

After we left the festival, we escaped to the area underneath the pier. The place where the waves would hit. The moon wasn't out as much so the high tide wasn't so high. Now we got to enjoy the night beauty without the clowns, the light, and the loudness.

"That was so much fun." Yoko said.

"Yeah." I said. "You guys are a lot of fun."

"You are too." We looked into each other's blue eyes. She was smiling a warm smile. Her teeth are so white.

Suddenly, Kiyoko called "Yoko, can you come over here for a second?"

"Yeah, we need to talk to you." Kimiko said.

Yoko looked at them and back at me. "I'll be back."

As she left, I sat down on the sand and buried my hands in it. I just loved the way it felt between my fingers. "T.K." Yuudai called. I looked up at him standing by one of the huge poles. "Come here."

Hesitantly, I got up. It was dark and he was in the faded shadows. Who knows what can happen to me? But I walked into the direction anyway, dusting off my hands. "Yeah?"

"Do you like Yoko?"

He asked this question so straight up. I didn't even have any kind of warning. I didn't even have time to come up with a lie or a cute little confession. How would he know anyway? Then again, Matt and Mimi knew immediately. "Is it that obvious?"

"Uh, yeah." He said, rolling his eyes and leaning on the pole. A wave of the ocean washed over our flip flops. It was so cold and full of questions. Just like my mind at the moment. There wasn't any info to warm it.

So I asked "Do you?"

He looked at me then just exploded with laughter. "You think I like Yoko?"

"Well, you're so protective of her. I just thought that's why you don't like me. You remind me of a friend back home." Another wave hit us.

"Yoko is my cousin. I protect her because a lot of the guys she comes across aren't too nice." He looked back at Yoko who was dancing in front of the other girls. It was beautiful how light she was on her feet and how graceful her arms moved. Was this choreographed? The moonlight bounced off her face so I can see her wonderful movements. He looked back at me. His cold stare took my attention from her. Yuudai must be the fifteen-year-old cousin she was talking about when we met. "You know, you're not too bad."

"I'm not?" He shook his head. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." He said. "Yoko deserves a good guy. A guy who doesn't cheat. You're not a cheater are you?"

Embarrassed, I said "I don't think so. I never had a girlfriend."

"Never?" He asked somewhat excited. I shook my head, waiting for the laughter. "So you're a newb?" I started blushing and rubbing the back of my neck. "Don't sweat it. That's cool." Just like the wave that hit our feet.

"No it's not. I'm twelve going on thirteen and I never had a girlfriend."

"Twelve?" He asked very surprised. "Holy crap, you're a baby!" I blushed again. "Well, Yoko is fourteen going on fifteen and she only had three cheating guys." He paused, pressing his lips to a thin line. "But there could be more… If Yoko likes you as much as you like her, I want you to be good to her."

"If it happens." I confirmed. "No need to worry!"

His dark eyes were still locked on mine which scared my smile away. He was serious. And by the way he looked at me, he was trying his best to trust me. He was trying to look inside me and dig out any possible reason to call everything off. Just one reason to ban me from ever seeing his cousin. But the intensity of his stare faded as a smile came up. He didn't find anything. I smiled back as the girls came back looking very excited about something.

Yoko grabbed my hand and said to Yuudai "What did you tell him?"

"The truth." He said firmly.

Yoko scoffed and took me back to the spot we were in earlier. We sat on the sand that was hard at first, but softened once I made myself comfortable. "I heard they were about to pop fireworks."

"How awesome!" Yuudai and the twins sat next to us.

"So what do you think of the place so far?" She asked, leaning a little closer.

"I like it." I said. Fireworks started exploding in the sky. The stars were covered by sparks of red and purple and gold. All of these different colors so vivid, so alive. It was gorgeous. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yeah." She leaned on my shoulder. While I was gazing at the beautiful sparks in the sky, my head rested nicely on her head. And we were comfortable. It was like we've known each other for a long time. Like she was as good of a friend as Kari is to me. Without moving, I looked over at Yoko who was just staring in delight. Her beautiful blue eyes were just glowing. Then, she looked at me with those eyes. Slowly and carefully, we removed ourselves from our comfortable positions and moved closer. And closer. We were breathing the same breath as the booming of the fireworks was almost in sync with my heart. Then our lips touched. We puckered our lips and began our first kiss.


Trivia: I took a hiatus writing this story so it was hard to remember Yoko's name. Sometimes, I called her Yuko.

A/N: Time to review! Tell me what you think! So far, I'm not getting much feedback. Just tell me what you like, what you don't, comments. Anything!