Thanks everybody for reading and reviewing!
I guess to some people the couplings got a little bit hectic, sorry about that. I tried to fix up Chapter 6 so it made a little more sense.
For those of you who understood the drama a little better, thanks.
Special shout out to kilala223! GOOD LUCK WITH WINTER GUARD!

Well here we go. Enjoy!


Chapter 7
Lies


"What did I do?" Joe begged, actually on his knees while hugging Jun's, his head pressed against her stomach. "Please, just tell me how to fix this! I promise I can make it better."

"I don't want to do it this way. But for the baby," she paused, running a hand through Joe's blue hair. "For the baby's sake we can't do this anymore." Jun said, tears streaming down her face. "I have to go, we are leaving tomorrow morning, I'm really sorry." She pulled him to his feet and kissed him softly before she pushed him back and walked away.

"CUT!" The drama teacher yelled. "That was really good. I don't understand why you people aren't in the show. You would be perfect."

"Mrs. Yukku, this is just for a grade, I don't see myself pursuing acting," Jun said walking back to Joe in the middle of the stage, "I'm good with my hands."

"Is that true Joe?" a random guy yelled out from the seats of the theater.

"Detention, Mr. Takanka."

The bell rang loudly, reminding the students that they still had one more class before the school day ended.

"Well I have athletics right now. See you later." Jun kissed Joe and ran off to the gym.

She ran into Mimi on the way into the girls' locker room. "Hey."

"Hey J," Mimi said walking to her locker. Their lockers, along with Sora's, were down the same isle. They turned the corner and found Sora hurriedly stuffing her backpack in her locker. "Sora, where have you been? I've been looking for you."

"Yeah, sorry about that. My mom needed me." Sora said turning away from them.

"So you've been at home for the last week and not coming to school? What is your excuse for that?" Jun asked as she pulled out her cheer warm-ups.

"My mom needed me." Sora repeated, a bit more forcibly. "I got practice, we'll hang out later."

"Are you coming home tonight? My dad called, he asked about you." Mimi said as she finished changing into her own cheer clothes and was pulling her hair into a ponytail.

"I don't know, alright, Mimi?" Sora said, leaving her best friends bewildered by her attitude.


"Damn, I hate study hall," Matt groaned as he mindlessly flipped the pages of his chemistry book. "Izzy, you hanging out with us tonight? We're gonna shoot some pool at my place."

"Umm, I don't know man. I got a lot of homework to do and my mom wants me at home…" Izzy rambled on as Matt gave him a weird look.

"Dude, you've bailed on us every night this week. What the hell are you doing?"

"Nothing," Izzy said a bit too quickly. He could feel his palms began to sweat as Matt turned his whole body to face Izzy. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at Matt. "Nothing; my dad's on a business trip and my mom doesn't like to be home alone."

"I don't buy it," Matt said.

"Buy what?" Tai asked, sitting down.

"Nothing," Izzy answered looking up at Tai's looming figure. "Aren't you supposed to be at practice?"

"Naw. Cancelled, the coach didn't show. And as captain it was my decision whether or not to continue practice."

"So you didn't continue," Izzy said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat as Matt continued to glare at him.

"Yup. But I have that one kid… what's his name? You know, the one who's obsessed with Kari." Tai snapped his fingers trying to remember his name. "Ah, I got it! Davis. That's his name."

"Jun's little brother?"

"Yeah, I have him playing goalie to the girls' team. He was terrified. It was funny." Tai said chuckling darkly. "Hey, have any of you seen Sora lately?"

"No." Matt said shaking his head.

"Uh," Izzy started, tugging at the collar of his shirt that had suddenly become unbearably tight. "No I haven't."

"Izzy, what the hell is up with you!?" Matt demanded.

"Gentlemen, need I remind you that you are in the library for study hall. Stop talking and study!" the librarian scolded.

"Sorry." they all said in unison.

"So how is the bet going guys?" Tai asked. "I'm up to five."

"Five!" Izzy croaked. "We've only been in school for about a month!"

"Your point?" Matt asked, still not shaking the glare he was throwing at Izzy. "I've gotten seven."

Tai patted Matt on the back. "Wow, you're gonna give me a run for my money. What 'bout you Iz?"

"Yeah, Izzy, what about you?" Matt smirked, knowing Izzy was definitely hiding something.

The bell rang shrilly and Izzy looked up to the heavens and mouthed a silent 'Thank you.' He looked over at Tai and Matt who were clearly still waiting for an answer. "Aww, sorry guys, I'm not as lucky as either of you. I gotta go."

He ran out of the library and the parking lot. Izzy quickly jumped in the driver's seat of his dark red restored 1969 Camaro Super Sport. He hadn't even turned the car on when he felt cool hands cover his eyes.

"Hey." he said, smiling into the rearview mirror at Sora. "You ready to go home?"

She nodded and he turned the car on. "Shit," Sora cursed loudly.

Izzy looked straight ahead of him to see Mimi, Tai, and Matt standing in front of his car. Joe and Jun walked to join them.

"Thank God for tinted windows," Sora laughed as she slid deeper into the leather seats. "Don't tell them I'm here."

"Yeah, Sor, like I would." Izzy rolled down his window a few inches as Sora hid behind his seat, covered by Izzy's jacket. "What's up guys?"

"We got a challenge," Tai said. "Races are tonight."

"Who challenged?" Izzy asked.

"Takanka. Oh, and his 'posse.'" Mimi laughed making air quotes.

"Alright then, see you there." Izzy rolled the window back up. He started the car and drove out of the parking lot. "Are you going?"

"I have to," Sora said as she climbed over and settled in the passenger's seat. "Besides, I could use the money. I owe you some rent."

"It's cool. Don't worry about it. The money you make tonight is yours. You don't owe me anything. Got it?" Izzy told her.

"Thanks for everything, Izzy."


"I see you looking at me, like I'm some kind of a freak, get up out of your seat. Why don't u do something? I see you looking at me, like I got what you need, get up out of your seat. Why don't you do something?" Mimi sang as she drove to Sora's mom's apartment.

A slightly different beat kicked up and she lowered the radio and clicked on her Bluetooth. "This is Mimi."

"Hey Meems!"

"What's up, Matt?"

"What are you doing?"

"Going to Sora's place. You?"

"Me and Tai are going to fix up the cars before tonight. Drop by Joe's after you're done, and tell Sora to bring her car too. Tai said to tell you no loses tonight."

"Is he accusing me of being a loser?"

"Never. We just don't want any mistakes."

"I won't lose, I hate that bastard." Mimi said absentmindedly as she parked in front of Sora's apartment building.

"You and me both."

"Hey, I'm at Sora's. I'll be at Joe's in about an hour. See ya!" She clicked the Bluetooth and it turned off. She took the elevator up to the sixth floor and walked down the hallway to the last door.

The sign still read Takenouchi, but the tiny flower box that was once full of blooming daisies, or lilacs, honeysuckles, and roses, was now just a box of rotted plants and dead worms. Mimi pulled back from the door after ringing the bell. She waited and nobody answered. She rang the bell again.

A hacking cough was heard on the other side of the door. It swung open to reveal a woman who apparently had just rolled out of bed. "Can I help you?" the woman asked in a tone that clearly stated she wanted nothing more than for Mimi to leave and never come back.

"Uh, hello, Mrs. Takenouchi!" Mimi greeted brightly. "I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Sora's friend Mimi Tachikawa." She bowed slightly to the woman who was glaring at her evilly. "Umm, is Sora home right now?"

"I know who you are!" Mrs. Takenouchi sneered. "You're the brat of the asshole who tried to take my daughter away. Well, tell your daddy he can have Sora. I don't want her! She doesn't live here. I threw her shit out weeks ago! She is dead to me." She pushed Mimi back and slammed the door in her face.

Mimi stood there for a while, just staring at the door. The woman who'd answered the door could not be Sora's mother, that wasn't possible. And the way she spoke about Sora, it broke Mimi's heart. But if Sora wasn't home, then where was she…?

She turned on her heels and marched over the elevator, jabbing her finger into the button and waiting. It came and she walked in, ignoring the elderly couple who was motioning her to hold the doors for them. She tapped the screen of the Glyde and it sprang to life; she went through her contacts furiously until she came to the one she was looking for.

Because when I arrive, I bring the fire, Make you come alive, I can take you higher, What is this, forgot? I must now remind you, Let it rock! Let it rock! Let it rock!

"Yo, ya reached Tai. I can't get to my phone right now. Leave a message. I might call back, no promises." BEEP.

"Tai! It's Mimi. We need to talk about Sora. Something's up, and she ain't talking to me about it. I need your help. Call me."


Beta'd: PY687