Fragments of Me
A/N: Okay, just a few things to take care of before I start the chapter. Firstly, dear reader, it is imperative that you know that there is a giant spider haunting my room. I've seen it four times, and every time I try to hunt it, it disappears into thin air. I am terrified of spiders, and it's scaring the heebie-jeebies out of me. I was shaking like a leaf after last night's sighting. ::Shudder::
Next thing: I thought this was really neat. I checked the stats of my story last night. And get this! At the end of Chapter 9, my story was exactly 19,999 words long! Haha. I think that's cool. ::proud of herself for no reason::
Lastly: In this chapter things will be going kind of fast. I'm sorry for that, but it's just how things go. I don't want to spend a lot of time doing stuff that won't really help the plot along. It's one thing if it's a nice conversation between two people that establishes a relationship, but quite another if I'm just describing what they did all day. I'm sorry, and I really hope that it doesn't bother you all very much. Thank you!
It's Complicated
Matt stifled a moan and began to clean himself up. He should feel ashamed for using his friend like this! Images of her eyes, legs, hands, breasts... all of them hand propelled him above and beyond the call of his need. He had never desired a woman like this before.
Sure, he'd wanted a woman sexually before, but this was different. He yearned for her. He pined for her touch with every fiber of his being. A fire burned within him, and only Mimi could quench it's thirst while at the same time feeding his flame. His breath was ragged, and sweat ran down his brow to sting his eyes. She encompassed him in her essence, and he was her willing slave.
Not that he'd ever admit that to her.
No, he could never admit to this kind of raw sexual lust. Not to Mimi. It was risking too much. There was so much on the line: not just their friendship, but also their friends. If Mimi and he fell out, it would be almost impossible for their friends to remain neutral. This was complicated.
And poor Mimi! Obviously something traumatic had happened between she and Michael. The fact that one of her best friends was burning his way through a box of tissues thinking of her was not going to help her fragile state of mind.
After mopping up his mess and cooling off a bit, Matt decided that he needed a cold glass of water. He changed his shirt (and boxers) and padded to the kitchen in his bare feet. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, almost as though he could brush the dirty thoughts from his mind. And oh, were his thoughts ever dirty! Matt was very aware of the cornucopia of wicked, dirty fantasies that lingered in this brain. They all revolved around Mimi.
Oh, jeez! As though just thinking about her brought her before him, Mimi stood at the kitchen counter looking dazed. A bottle of hard whiskey and an empty glass sat on the counter. Matt had a sneaking suspicion that this wasn't Mimi's first glass for the night. What time was it anyway? The microwave clock beamed 1:53 AM.
What was Mimi doing up (and drinking) at nearly 2AM? In the dark no less! The kitchen was lit only by the light of the tiny clock and a small nightlight Matt had put in after slamming his foot into the counter in the dark a few too many times.
She was in a skimpy nightgown. It must have been either pink or white because it shone just a few shades lighter than Mimi's pale skin. Her hair was hanging down around her in waves, looking tousled. Her eyes were large and glassy.
"Mimi?" Matt called out softly, not wanting to scare her. Mimi didn't answer. She just picked up the bottle of whiskey and poured another generous helping into her glass (followed quickly by a more-than-generous swig). Matt walked over to her, concerned.
"Mimi? Are you okay?" Mimi's head slowly turned to look at him. Her eyes swung lazily back and forth as she attempted to bring him into focus. Succeeding, she gave him a drowsy smile.
"Oh, I'm alright. How are you?" Her voice wasn't slurred, but she spoke in a sing-song manner. The sweet tang of whiskey was heavy on her breath.
"I'm stellar, thanks. What are you doing up?"
Mimi sighed and stared off into nothing again. "I just... couldn't sleep. I have a lot on my mind, I guess. What are you doing up?" Mimi asked taking another drink of the fine amber liquid.
Matt blushed and murmured something about not being able to sleep either. "Do you want to talk about what's on your mind?" Matt folded his arms over his chest as he observed her.
"No," Mimi said with a giggle. Matt felt a rock settle in the pit of his stomach.
Great, I've traumatized her into a drunken stupor. "Mimi, is this because we kissed again? Is that what's bothering you?"
Mimi's head swung around to him, a troubled expression on her face. "No. No, I quite liked the kissing thing. We should do that more."
Yep, she'd drunk, Matt thought.
Mimi eyed Matt with a tender expression (which Matt was completely unaware of because he was much too caught up in his own thoughts). "Don't leave, Matt," she whispered. If she had whispered this during the day, the sounds of the world would have drowned her out, but as it was, the world had laid to rest. All was quiet, and Matt heard her.
"I'll be here all night, honey," Matt said reaching out and resting a hand tenderly on her arm.
Mimi sighed. "That's not what I meant..."
Mimi poured more whiskey into her glass and handed it to him. "Here, it will help you sleep," Mimi said, swaying a bit. She smiled wanly at him, picked up the bottle of whiskey and stumbled down the hall to her room.
After a few more gulps of whiskey, Mimi curled up under her covers. She felt rather content at the moment, even knowing doom lay ahead of her. The whiskey gave her a warm, floating feeling, and she rather liked it. She giggled and said "Thank you," out loud to the bottle on her nightstand.
Matt just didn't understand. He didn't understand anything. How the hell was she supposed to keep their relationship strictly platonic when he kept looking so damn gorgeous. She giggled some more. "Matt's pretty!" she announced to no one in particular. This greatly amused her.
But soon Matt would leave on his business trip. She would be here alone, and Michael would track her down. She didn't want to go back to America. She wanted to stay with pretty boy (snicker).
What time was it in America anyway? Surely it was a reasonable time. Mimi sat up and groped for her cell phone. It took her awhile, but eventually she had typed out a decent message.
Don't come. He'll beat U up and U won't B pretty anymore.
Decent, it seems, lies in the eye of the beholder... Mimi hit the 'send' button and the message flew off to New York City. Five minutes later, she received a response.
Who?
Mimi frowned at the message. What a stupid question!
Matt, of course! Send.
Matt Ishida? Ur friend? Reply.
Who else? Stop being a soar loser. Go die. Send.
With that, Mimi turned off her phone and let the whiskey whisk her off to dreamland.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!" Matt said cheerfully, handing Mimi a glass of water and two aspirin. Mimi groaned. She had a splitting headache.
"I feel like a truck hit me in my sleep: a really big truck."
" You look like you were hit by a truck."
"Go jump off a cliff, Ishida. I'm in no mood," Mimi snapped.
"You're always such a ray of sunshine in the morning, Mimi. Today you're even brighter than usual." Mimi hissed in response. "Very mature," Matt remarked. Mimi just groaned again.
The next few days flew by. Matt was constantly at the office trying to prepare the studio for his absence. Apparently he was going to China to watch a band he was producing shoot their first music video.
Mimi was kept busy helping Sora at the flower shop. She took calls for orders while Sora handled the flowers themselves. Summer was quickly turning to fall, so a lot of last minute 'I want good weather' wedding came up. Mimi even had a job interview or two to attend.
She had sent her portfolio and resume to nearly every modeling agency in Odaiba. They were all impressed with her work, very few didn't want her. Now she was going to each of them in turn to decide where she would get the best deal and feel most comfortable working.
Mimi spent a lot of effort trying to tactfully evade any contact with Michael. He was becoming increasingly persistent. As time drew closer and closer to Matt's departure date, Mimi began to have doubts about her decision not to tell Matt about Michael. If he knew, surely Matt would do something.
And that was the problem. If Mimi told Matt that Michael was flying to Japan to take Mimi back, Matt would stay by her side. He wouldn't dream of going on a trip, even for business, knowing that Mimi was in danger.
She wasn't sure 'danger' was quite the right word for her situation, but the idea of Michael on her doorstep scared her enough to warrant its use. There were reasons, after all, that she had left without telling him.
She considered getting a new cell phone number, but the vague memories of her drunken foray into text messaging had made that a non-issue. Michael knew whom she was staying with now, so him pestering her through her cell phone was the least of her worries. One call from Michael to any telephone operator, and he would know just where she was.
Perhaps Michael wouldn't come at all. He may think he's Prince Charming come to sweep her gallantly off her pretty little feet, but Michael was bound to have a hard time of it. He spoke no Japanese whatsoever, and Mimi was willing to put money on Michael never stooping low enough to actually attempt to learn another language, even for her.
The more Mimi thought it through, the more she was able to convince herself that Michael wouldn't come. She focused all of her energy into positive thinking (though realistic thinking would benefit her more at present). Mimi had become so used to depending on herself, she had completely shut down the idea of asking for help. She'd never developed any close friendships in America; she was always working from a young age. And then Michael came along. He was possessive and territorial. He limited the social circles she was allowed to take part in.
Tuesday morning, Mimi woke to cloudy skies, promising days of rain. The apartment was still and silent around her. Matt had left. There was no one aroma of fresh-brewed coffee to welcome her, nor were there sounds of the morning news or cooking breakfast to greet her. She was alone.
She was fine though, really. She was totally capable of looking out for herself. What she wasn't prepared for, wasn't expecting, was the overwhelming loneliness. It had never occurred to her that she might actually miss Matt. Waking up to Matt every morning was comforting. The apartment seemed dark and foreign to her. She felt almost as though she was locked in a distant castle tower, denied the warmth of human presence.
Well, this was certainly silly! All she had to do was get up and get out of the house. She could go and see if Sora needed help at Fine Flora, or maybe she would call TK to schedule a photo shoot. Yes, that's what she'd do. She would give him a call around lunchtime. In the meantime, she would find plenty of things to keep her occupied.
Mimi pulled on her robe and made her way to the kitchen. There was a note on the counter from Matt saying he'd be back in two weeks if everything went as planned. He had also written a list of numbers she could call to get a hold of him. She smiled at the paper, noting how he signed it 'Yours, Yamato.'
Surely he wasn't trying to confess something there. No, he was just being nice. More and more Mimi wondered just where it was she and Matt were headed. Things between them had been so wonderful lately. They didn't fight. They laughed and teased one another. They even hugged now and then, blushing furiously the whole time.
Just as Mimi was getting ready to head out to Sora's, the doorbell rang. Who could that be? Maybe a package had arrived for Matt. He sometimes ordered books or CDs online. Mimi pulled open the door, and to her surprise the package was for her.
"Tachikawa Mimi?" the delivery boy asked.
"Hai," Mimi responded.
"Could you sign here please? Arigato." The boy turned around and picked something off the floor. He handed Mimi a giant bouquet of the most perfect white lilies. Mimi's mouth dropped open. She nearly forgot to thank that delivery boy before shutting the door.
Mimi set the flowers in a vase on the coffee table and looked for a card. Maybe she had a secret admirer! Yeah, right. Or better yet, maybe Matt was trying to win her over. He was doing a great job of it! Mimi smiled as she opened the tiny cream colored envelope and pulled out the card.
Mimi, I know you're angry. You have every right to be, but give me just one more chance. I am sorry. I love you. Love, Michael.
She couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible. How... how could he be doing this? Surely she was hallucinating. She read the card over and over, trying to find any hope of understanding. None came. No matter how many times she read the card, she could not make sense of Michael's gift.
Maybe... just maybe he really was sorry for what he'd done. He could really want her back. They had been together for five years; that wasn't something to ignore. There had been something between them. There had to be. There was no reason for them to have stayed together for so long otherwise.
Well, sitting in the living room staring into nothing wasn't going to help her any. She couldn't really do anything about this. Not yet, anyway. Even if she were to put the lilies down the garbage disposal in spite, that wouldn't stop Michael from coming. Besides, having helped Sora so much at Fine Flora, she had developed a liking for pretty plants, and these were positively gorgeous!
Mimi groaned in frustration. She was about ready to rip out all of her hair. Why must men be so infuriating?!
Mimi stood with a huff and made her way to the flower shop. So caught up in her thinking, Mimi actually walked past the store and had to back track.
Yanking open the door, Mimi wanted to tear the little bell off the wall. Did it have to sound so cheerful? Didn't it understand how complicated her life had just become? She must have looked terrifying because two old women in the store were staring at her with wide, startled expressions. Mimi forced a smile, but it probably just made her look even worse.
"Hey, Mimi. I was wondering where you were going when you walked past," Sora called out, hanging up the phone. With one glance at her disheveled friend, Sora's happy face fell. "Ut-oh. What's today's crisis?"
"Oh, it's a doozy."
"It always is with you, Meems. Come on in and tell Sora all about it."
A/N: Did you like it? I really hope you did. In the next chapter, Mimi will be having her photo shoot with TK. Who knows what will happen next in her crazy, mixed up life! Please review! Your reviews mean so much to me!!
-Kess