Disclaimer: I do not own digimon.

Chapter Four.

Six years ago.

"Takuya… I need to talk to you…" she said softly over the phone. She was nervous that her stomach was hurting. But she continued to fold the clothes from her drawer. The other suitcases were already packed and neatly placed against the wall in the hallway outside of her room. She could already feel herself wanting to cry, it wasn't like her to cry. She rarely cried. Yet, lately that's all about she could do. Her hands started to tremble with anticipation as the clothing in her hand fell to the bed. She sat down and took a deep breath.

"Zoe? Are you alright? You sound terrible. I just finished soccer practise, so I'll be over in a few minutes to talk, okay?" he said, and from his voice she could tell that he was in a good mood. This made her feel even more like crap than before. "I can't wait to see you though," he added with much enthusiasm and those words made Zoe's heart lurch to full stop as she clasped a hand over her mouth to stop her from completely breaking down. It wasn't like him to say those sappy things, and she was pretty sure he was turning red the moment those words left his lips. Those were the things that she loved about him; he'd only say things to her because he meant it.

"I'm fine Takuya, I'll see you in a few minutes then… okay, bye," Zoe hung up the phone and staggered a sigh. She didn't know why she held out so long before telling her friends that she was leaving, leaving to Italy. She never normally would keep secrets from all her friends, especially Takuya. Within 15 minutes of her conversation with Takuya on the phone, the doorbell rang and she could hear her mother greeting Takuya at the door and telling him that she was upstairs. The thuds upon the wooden steps made her want to sink into a deep hole and never come out, but it was too late now, as he appeared at her doorway with a wide grin on his face.

"Hey, you," he greeted softly. He pulled her into a hug before kissing her on the forehead, then her nose, before landing on her lips and gently placing a delicate kiss on it. "I've missed you," he whispered into her hair while taking in her soft smell of vanilla and lavender. Zoe tried to pull away, but he held on tighter as if he was afraid to lose her.

"Takuya… Look at me," she insisted, but he shook his head and continued to bury his face into the crook of her neck. He was probably too embarrassed to look at her while his face was burning beet red. "You shouldn't be embarrassed to say these things to me because we have been friends for eleven years, and we've been seeing each other for over a year now," she pointed out, and he pulled away and gave her a pout.

"I was being sensitive!" he cried out dramatically like a child, "I thought girls like sensitive guys," he said throwing himself on her desk chair. She rolled her eyes in sarcasm. At least there was no tension at the moment. Takuya then noticed the suitcase on her bed and the clothes that were all over the place, "I saw some suitcases outside too, are you guys going vacationing in the middle of spring?" he joked pointing at the suitcases in the hallway. Zoe stopped midway in opening her drawer and bit her lower lip, this was it. It had to be now.

She turned around and faced him, her hair to one should have pulled him into a tight embrace, "That is why I needed to talk to you," she said heavily. The words were getting hard to say as it neared that point of no return. He pulled away and arched a brow at her in confusion.

"You're really going on vacation?" he gasped and Zoe sighed at his obliviousness and his non-existent skills at reading the atmosphere. She took his hands and held onto them tightly. Her heart started to feel a numb pain and she knew that as this conversation progressed it was going to expand until it was searing pain of a broken heart.

She took a deep breath, "I'm leaving, Takuya… I'm going to Italy. To start high school there, and finish it there," the words just fell out of her lips like a wild tundra, "My parents thought this would be an amazing opportunity to go out there, as my father hasn't been there for years, Takuya… Please understand," her voice was begging for him to, "I know I should've told you earlier, but it was on a whim… I didn't know we actually were going to go for it," she pleaded.

He was silent for a few minutes, but to Zoe it felt like decades just waiting for him to answer her. She felt his hand tighten as he looked right into her eyes, "When are you leaving?" he asked dryly. Her head lowered and the tears were about to start, she hated herself so much right now.

"Two days Takuya…" she replied looking up at him, but she could already see the flames of anger thrashing in his usually soft hazelnut coloured eyes, "I was going to tell you! But…" she tried to explain, but she couldn't. The tears were now pouring.

"So you thought you'd tell me two days before you left?" his voice was so dark and so angry. Zoe didn't know what to say to his question.

"I thought you'd understand," she said through the tears. She was wiping her tears on the back of her jacket as she watched Takuya's back. She'd understand if he wanted to leave her, she'd be ready.

He turned and walked over to her; he planted firm hands on her arms and made her look straight into his burning eyes. So it wasn't just her, Zoe could also see the pain in his eyes too, "I do… But I'm your boyfriend, Zoe. You're best friend for eleven years. I thought I'd be important enough for you to tell me these things. We could've discussed it together, but it seems like I was the last person you told," he was shaking his head at her; he'd given up, "I need some space and time to think," he mumbled. He picked up his bag and walked out of her room and down the stairs as Zoe went after him.

"Takuya! Please don't…!" she cried out, her already tear stained face was now covered in a new sheet of tears. "Takuya!" she called out. Everyone staring at her screaming his name, he didn't even look back. Zoe fell to her knees as her body was racked with waves of heartache. That was the last time they saw each other. The following days, Zoe tried to call and text him, only to be ignored in the end. The day Zoe departed she left him a message hoping he'd get it.

I will never forget that faithful day, the day that my life turned upside down. The day my best friend, girlfriend left for Italy, I didn't even both to go see her depart. She even left me a note. She posted it through my door. I've always kept the note.

You wonder why I didn't go see her depart; well I knew if I went and saw her go, it would break my heart. When she left I promised myself I would never get hurt again, and I haven't. I have been a jerk to all girls. Yet they keep coming back to me. Rei and my relationship is somewhat weird because one weekend we would argue, and she would come running back to me. That is how it has been for the last two and a half years.

As I walked into the large black metal gates which will be where I shall be staying in for the next 9 hours, this place is like a prison. A prison I call school.

I walked into the school doors, and a familiar voice called me.

"Hey Takuya!" Koji yelled, "How was your weekend?"

"Alright, Koji, yeah the weekend was okay, coach pushed me too hard in practise yesterday, and I am aching all over."

"Well you are the captain Takuya." Kouchi came up behind joining in.

I just groaned in defeat if there was one person coach had to be pushing was me, the captain of the soccer team, and the star player of Shibuya High School.

As we were walking there was a large group of people crowding two people. I wonder who the two people is, as I got closer in the crowd pushing my way through I saw who the two people was, Rei and Zoe.

"Stay away from my boyfriend!" Rei screamed.

Zoe laughed, "As if. We are only friends."

Rei launched herself at Zoe, Zoe laughed at her and side stepped out the way, Rei was laying on the floor. I didn't know what to do.

"Takuya get me up!" Rei yelled.

I had no choice but to pick up the girl, I wanted to say no and turn away, but I couldn't. I looked up at Zoe her blonde silky hair with her piercing green eyes. If you looked closely to Zoe you could tell she was hurting, I had promised to help her figure out who that boy was, from six years ago. But I know who he is. I don't want to tell her yet.

As I picked Rei up, I looked back at the blonde, "Zoe…" I tried to speak to her, but she just shook her head at me, and walked away with Sasha, Mina and Ami following after her.

"Takuya, leave that trash alone, come on we need to get to homeroom," Rei announced, fluttering her eyelashes she turned to me, "Taki, walk me to my homeroom please?"

I groaned, "Sure Rei."

We walked to her homeroom, 4B. I walked in there; the teacher knows who I am, as it is my biology class. And I turned to the corner of the room, Zoe. Shit.

"Baby, I'll see you at lunch," Rei said seductively kissing me on the lips. She turned to Zoe and gave her a smirk. I don't think Rei realised I saw that smirk; whatever Rei is up to it is not good.

I walked out of the class, saying goodbye to my biology teacher, and said I'll see him third period. Today I have 3 lessons with Zoe. Biology, gym and science, the science class is about everything, excluding biology. So that is three hours, then the two hours after school with Zoe. Can any things get any worse?

Science, what fun, our teacher Mr. Sledge is a strict teacher I wonder what he is going to make us do this semester. I took my seat next to Koji.

"Listen up class, I have an announcement." Mr. Sledge announced.

We all groaned in defeat, I took a look behind me and Zoe was sitting there, next to Ami. She looked upset, like something was bothering her. What did Rei say to her before I got there? Ami was glaring at me. Uh oh.

I turned back to my teacher; he was saying a boring lecture.

"…we are going to be doing a project, pick a name out of the hat and that is who you are working with. We will do it as boy picks, then a girl picks and so on." Our teacher said, "Koji go first."

"I got Ami." Koji shrugged.

"Once you have got your partner go sit next to them, Ami go sit next to Koji."

I got up out of my seat and went over to the side of the classroom, the teacher went through some people, then finally came over to me. "Takuya your go."

I sighed to myself, I took out a piece of paper from the hat, and opened it, I glanced down at it. No, it can't be. I looked up, then back down at it.

"So, Takuya who have you got?" Mr. Sledge asked.

"Zoe Orimoto." I announced. I took a look at her, as Mr. Sledge went round to the final students, Zoe still hasn't looked up, and I went over and sat next to my partner.

"You have three weeks to have this project completed and in to me." Mr. Sledge said writing on the white board, "I want this project with so much detail, pictures, facts and even theories..."

From then on all it seemed to me was that our teacher was saying, blah blah blah. I wasn't bothered; I have just been partnered up with Zoe, for three weeks. To do this project, we will have to see each other out of school basically every day. Uh oh. Rei won't like this.

"Oh and by the way, this is worth 80% of your final grade if you want to pass this class... I suggest you do this the right way." The teacher finished up.

"Zoe…" I started, "Please talk to me."

I don't even see why I am bothering with her, after what she done to me six years ago.

"Don't talk to me Takuya." She said bluntly.

"But we need to talk about our project…" I trailed off.

"No Takuya. You need to keep your girlfriend on a leash." And with that she packed up her stuff and walked out of the classroom.

Author Note: how do you like this chapter? Oh and i am so sorry about the late update... Read and Review.