For ten seconds in Mimi's mind, nothing moved, with the minor exception of Matt's lips on hers. There were no complications in this kiss. There were no bystanders gawking at the very public display. It was just her and Matt locked in the moment. Their lips merged together in a way they never should have been parted from. Every held back feeling from the past few years being poured into the few fleeting seconds.
Then it happened. Reality set in. Mimi jerked away from Matt as quick as she could.
"Whats wrong with you?!" She hissed, holding her hand over her mouth.
"Mimi, are you telling me didn't feel that? Matt stepped towards her again, causing her to step back.
"I'm asking you what on earth you were thinking! You are with my best friend! Sora! Does it ring a bell?! You all spend pretty much every night together."
"So, Tai spends pretty much every night at your place!"
"Cha! Tai? Really? You're bringing him up?" Mimi threw her hand in the air. "Grow-up Matt! We're not kids anymore."
"No, we're not kids! We have one!" Matt countered, without realizing the sudden extra company.
"Um?" Mimi jumped at the new voice and turned around in alarm.
Tai was standing in the mouth of Jared's room with a dumbfounded look on his face.
"Tai!" The hand that was held over Mimi's mouth began trembling.
Matt had nothing to offer the conversation.
"Um, yeah. Jared is stirring. I'm just gonna go." Tai began walking down the hall, back towards the elevator.
"No, Tai wait! Don't go!" Mimi started to follow after him, but Matt caught her wrist.
"Let me go." She seethed.
"No, we need to go to see our son." Matt refused to let her go.
"This is all your fault. I need to fix things with Tai."
"No you don't. You don't owe him an explanation."
"Yes," Mimi managed to pull away, "I do."
Mimi left Matt in the door of Jared's room, completely unnerved.
It was at the very last second Mimi slid herself into the elevator with Tai, who looked like a man who had just lost his soul.
"Tai, listen."
"Its okay. I'm good without a back story." Tai leaned on the far wall.
"No, listen. Its a long complicated story. But, yes." Mimi swallowed hard. "Matt is-"
"Please don't say it. I don't want to hear it." Tai kept his eyes locked on the corner.
"Tai," Mimi found herself without words. Tai looked so heartbroken and it was all her fault. She should have told him before he got so attached to Jared. "He still loves you."
Tai scoffed, a bitter noise as if it was to hide other emotions, "Not gonna matter much. You and Matt can just pick right back up where you left off."
"There is nothing to pick up from. We were kids who did a stupid thing in a flush of emotions that we conceived was love."
"It wasn't stupid. You two did love each other. Now you have Jared and it works out perfectly."
"No."
Tai finally shifted his vision to look at Mimi. There was his heart completely portrayed in his eyes. It was falling apart.
"Why?"
Mimi swallowed hard. This was the right thing to do. The only fair thing to do.
She stepped closer to him, knowing the ride would soon be over. Her hands were trembling as they raised up to his face, cupping his cheeks.
She let a smile form on her face, desperately fighting the tremble that wanted to take over her lips.
She did have feelings for Tai and she knew more than well enough he had them for her. And he adored Jared. Matt was moved on with Sora, so it was only right she move on too. And who better than someone who worshiped her every step and was always there for her?
"I didn't come back for Matt." Mimi felt the elevator begin to slow down.
"You didn't come back for anyone." Tai tried to shift his head, to look away from her once more.
"You're right. But I found something worth staying for." Tears were welling in Mimi's eyes. She needed to get this out. She needed to blot Matt out and move on with her life.
Tai slowly turned to look at her once more, a doubtful look on his face.
"I'm sorry." Mimi began to lower her hands, tears spilling from her eyes slowly.
Tai caught her hands and kissed them, catching her by her surprise. The elevator had completely stopped now.
Tai pressed her hands to his cheeks, "I can wait."
Mimi caught her breath. She wanted to cry. How could one person be so understanding?
"Go take care of your baby." He was smiling, his uplifting-everything-will-be-okay smile.
Mimi couldn't hold back. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him as tight as she could.
"Thank you so much!" She cried onto his shoulder.
"Don't thank me. Just go up there and do your momma thing." He squeezed her as the elevator doors slid open.
Slowly they separated and Tai exited, holding Mimi's hand until he got out of reach. The doors closed once more, on a much more relieved Mimi.
Her mind would remain relieved until she returned to Jared's room. Where Matt was sitting in his chair, watching Jared watch television, with a very stern look on his face.
"Kiss and make-up with your boyfriend? You look very pleased with yourself." Matt muttered from where his hands were clasped together in front of his mouth.
"No, Matt, unlike you he doesn't spring kisses on people. He just hugs and walks away." Mimi walked over to her side of Jared's bed and stroked her son's soft blonde hair.
"I waited you know?" Matt reclined back in his chair, relaxing his arms on the arms of the chair.
"Matt-"
"Please tell me you felt it. In the hall. Tell me-"
"I'm not telling you anything, but thank you. You saved my son's life. I'll never be able to repay you."
"Yes there is."
Mimi sighed, "Matt." There was a slight hint of warning in her voice.
"Give up the dumb idea of you and Tai. I'll tell Sora things just aren't working out."
"That's horrible. No." Mimi's eyes narrowed at Matt.
"Two people are going to end up getting hurt. Might as well make it the two who stand a chance of healing."
Mimi took in a deep breath, then released it slowly, "Everyone has healed. Don't throw away your happiness with Sora just for a few moments of bad judgment. You're okay. I'm okay. Jared is okay."
"No one is okay. We're LYING to everyone. Actually you've been lying up until this. We had a misunderstanding once. Why can't we just put it behind us and move forward? For Jared?"
The boy in between them was looking back and forth at them. He didn't understand a word of what they were saying, but playing ping-pong with his eyes seemed to be giving the muscles a much needed work-out. He brought a small hand up and petted Matt's cheek, bringing the grown man's rant to a stop. Jared was staring up at the man in awe and wonder. At least until a yawn forced itself from his small body. After which, his attention turned to his mother with a smile. Before slowly drifting back to sleep.
"I know what's best for him. I've taken care of him all by myself and made all the choices for him so far. I don't need another opinion now. I know what's best for my son."
"What's best for him is his parents being together. To be raised with both of them in his life."
"I never said you wouldn't be in his life. But I can't be with you Matt. We tried we failed. Its okay."
Matt released a heavy sigh.
"What happens when everyone finds out? Sora won't want to be with me or be your best friend."
"You don't know that."
"Its a very likely possibility."
"I'll deal with it when it happens. Right now my only focus is my son."
"As is mine."
"Then help me take care of him, without complicating it with outside feelings."
Mimi's eyes were begging Matt. She was being as strong as she could be. But she couldn't fall back into the trap that is his adorable smile and heart stealing glances. She had moved on and grown up. That little girl seduced by his charms and words was gone.
"I have to be gone for a few weeks. Tour." Matt reclined back in his chair in defeat. There was no getting anywhere with Mimi today.
"When do you leave?"
"Supposed to be tomorrow. I was gonna invite Sora to go. She has been highly suspicious lately of me."
"You should. It would be good for you two." Mimi's heart squeezed in a contorted feeling of relief and sadness. No one ever said growing up and doing the adult thing hurt so bad.
I AM SO SORRY! I've had this wrote for a while. Well most of it at least. Then I got a second job and school and have been reading a lot. But I do hope you guys enjoyed! I'll try to be better! I promise!
RAWR