*Author's Note: Hello everyone! First, thank you so much for the reviews and critiques. I'm just so happy people are actually reading this story I am writing for fun. Second, hopefully I can help answer some burning questions within the next few chapters.

I have had insane writer's block because of what has been happening in the world and my continuation of grad school.

Thank you again for reading and your reviews! I appreciate them immensely. :)

TW: Suicide ideation and rape

Chapter 12

-One week before the party-

Sora stared at her ceiling, her eyes following a panel of the ceiling fan as she listened to the fast beat of Mimi pacing along her bedroom floor. She tore her eyes from the fan, glancing at Mimi. Mimi was deep in thought, her gaze glued to the wooden floor as she muttered to herself.

"Mimi," Sora said, sighing as her friend continued to pace. "Mimi?" Still nothing. Sora cleared her throat, "Mimi!"

The brunette's eyes snapped up to Sora's, "Did you say something?" Mimi tilted her head, resting a hand on her left hip.

Sora chuckled, "What's got you pacing so fast? I'm here if you need to talk." Her lips pulled into a soft smile, Mimi mirroring her expression.

Mimi shook her head, sighing as her gaze fell back to the ground, "I just," she walked to join Sora no her bed, motioning for the redhead to make room for her to sit, "I just feel like I can't fully trust Cam, ya know?"

Sora nodded slowly, "Why's that? He seems nice, Meems."

"Yeah…" Mimi said, "All of them are nice in the beginning until you find out they're texting half of the dance team behind your back…"

Sora's expression grew concerned, "Is he texting half of the dance team behind your back, or are you referring to your ex? Because was shit."

Mimi laughed softly, "I haven't caught Cam doing that yet," Mimi turned to Sora, "Sora, tell me if he ever seems suspicious okay?"

Sora nodded, "Anytime, Mimi. You deserve the world." Sora smiled at her friend, a bell signaling that someone was at the door, "Oh! That must be Taichi. I'll be right back." Sora stood and quickly left the room.

Mimi took a deep breath, the white comforter that covered Sora's well-made bed vibrator next to her. It's just Sora's phone, she thought to herself. Instinct took over and Mimi let her eyes glance at the screen. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. A message flashed across the screen.

From: Cam

Hey! Doing anything tonight? I thought we could get together to plan. Gotta keep this secret. Mimi can't find out.

Mimi rubbed her eyes, blinking quickly. Are they… Sora knew her biggest insecurity was men cheating on her, and that message made it seem like that's exactly what was happening. Taking a deep breath, Mimi stood and smoother out her skirt. She grabbed her purse, turning to walk out the door.

"Hey, Meems," Tai's voice said from behind her, "Where are you off to? Sora said you were joining in on scary movie night tonight." His lopsided smiled comforted her for a second. Her eyes slide to Sora, a slight sense of betrayal poked at her heart.

"O-Oh," Mimi stuttered, "Something 'secret' came up." She said, rushing between Sora and Tai as she hurried out. She couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Tai glanced at Sora, "What was that all about?"

Sora shrugged, "No idea… She did have a lot on her mind. Maybe she just wants to be alone? Cam has been planning to surprise her with that hat and dress combo she's been pouring over for the past month," Sora chuckled, "He's been super stressed. I think she's associating his behavior with her ex's."

Tai's mouth formed an 'O'. He never had much interest in Mimi's love life, "Cute hat dress combo, huh?" He yawned as he followed Sora into the living room before sitting to stretch out on her couch, "Momma Takenouchi isn't joining us tonight?"

Sora shook her head, "No she's working on an arrangement. A huge showcase is coming up. You know how she gets… Not much fun to be around." Sora rolled her eyes, clicking through movies until stopping on The Conjuring.

Tai groaned, "A ghost one? Sora…" He glanced at her, "D-Don't give me that look!"

"What look?" Sora was trying to hold back her laughter, her eyes shining with the knowledge that Tai wouldn't be able to make it through the first half without screaming at a jump scare. She knew how much her friend hated ghost movies. He always liked the slasher films more.

"Fine. Fine," Tai sighed, grabbing a pillow as he burrowed deeper into the couch.

"So comforting," Sora smirked, commenting on his choice of pillow as she picked his legs up to sit on the couch.

"Well I have to settle for a pillow because someone," his eyes glared at her, "is against cuddling out of fright."

Sora blinked at him, "I will never understand how a single individual can be so dramatic," she shook her head, "And you smell like grass…"

"I had practice!" Tai threw his arms up dramatically.

"Shhh," Sora shushed him, her laughter bubbling through, "I'm starting the movie, Taichi."

Sora pressed play, the title flashing across the screen as the eerie music flooded the room.

Tai took a deep breath, "Okay absolutely not, Sor." He pulled the pillow up against his chin, "I mean if you really want to I trust you…"

"Shh," Sora chuckled, both of them jumping as a loud bang came from the speakers.

"Ha!" Tai sat up, "Finally! You got got! It's been three years in the making but it happened. Wow."

"What?!" Sora said, "I didn't even jump, Tai." She rolled her eyes, waving her hand as she stood to grab the snacks, "I sneezed."

Tai shook his head, "Sneezed…" He muttered, his eyes following her as she hummed in the kitchen. Scary movie nights were his favorite nights.

—

-3 days before the party-

"Mimi!" Sora said as she hurried down the hall, "Hey… Why aren't you answering my texts?"

Mimi turned from her locker, "Hm? Oh, Sora hi! What texts?" Mimi stuffed a book into her locker before opening a tube of lip gloss.

"My text about grabbing coffee after class? Or my other text asking how your weekend went? Or maybe the one of me checking in on you…?" Sora eyed her friend, sensing her change in body language.

"Those texts," Mimi said, "I'm sorry I didn't reply. I just assumed since you've been texting my boyfriend secrets that you didn't need to keep tabs on me anymore." She shot Sora a stiff smile.

Sora gave her a confused look, "What?" Realization hit her, "Mimi no… Thats' not-"

"Whatever, Sora," Mimi sighed, "It's probably nothing, right? That's what we said about my ex anyway. I'll see you at lunch!" Mimi smiled and hurried toward her next class.

"Okay…" Sora let out a long breath, turning to walk to her class. "Taichi!" She said, joining Tai as he walked to class, "She's mad I think."

Tai shrugged, "Eh, she'll get over it…" They stopped at his locker, Sora leaning against the cool metal as Tai rummaged through for his book, "No one can stay mad at you, Sor."

Sora's phone dinged. She glanced at her screen, a message from Tanner flashed across as a notification. "Oh we have to cancel scary movie night this week," Sora mumbled as she unlocked her phone to reply.

"What?" Tai moved his locker door to look at her, "Why? We never cancel. It's like our thing you know?"

"Hm?" Sora put her phone back into her bag, "Yeah our thing… Tanner and I are going to watch The Shining. I guess he's never seen it. What a shame, right?" She chuckled.

Tai bit his lip, "Shame. Yeah."

"Um… He also wants to walk home with me today so… I mean you can walk with us but…" She stuttered, hoping to not hurt his feelings.

"Oh got it," Tai did his best to sound unbothered, "That's fine. I was going to stay late to run some extra laps anyway…" He closed his locker, meeting her eyes. He eyed her, "It's fine. Really, Sor. You get that boy." He nudged her, giving her a small smile.

"Okay, Taichi. If you say so. See you in class," she smiled before turning and walking in the opposite direction of their class. He knew she was going to see him.

Tai didn't consider himself a jealous person, especially if the girl he had been crushing on since the sixth grade was happy. That's all that ever matter to him. But today, her cancelling plans only to make the same ones with someone else made his heart feel heavy.

Tai was yanked from his thoughts as he felt a hand pat his shoulder. "All that courage and you still can't tell her how you feel?"

Tai rolled his eyes, "How do I feel, Yamato?" He smirked at his friend, closing the locker.

Matt chuckled, "C'mon. Admit it already." Matt had been trying to get Tai to confess his feelings for the past three years.

"Admit what? That you're the biggest asshole in this school?" Tai's smirked broke into a grin as Yamato's face fell to an expression of annoyance.

"Exactly. That's it exactly," Matt said.

"You two flirting?" A voice said from down the hall. Kari smiled at her brother, holding up a packed lunch for him, "Mom said if you forget your lunch again she's going to stop making them for you."

Tai pouted, grabbing his lunch, "But I like how she cuts my fruit…"

Kari laughed, "Oh, Tai. I'm sure Matt would cut them just as well, if not better, for you. Right, Matt?"

Matt was looking at the ceiling, pretending he heard nothing.

"You're welcome," she smiled, her eyes sliding behind her brother's shoulder, "Is that Sora with a boy?" She giggled excitedly.

"Sora is always with a boy," Tai said back, Matt seeming to lose interest in the ceiling.

Kari waved his comment off, "Yeah, you don't count." She watched, waving at Sora as the pair passed them on their way to class.

"Why don't I count?" Tai asked.

"Why do you care so much?" Kari's words were teasing, her left eyebrow raised as she waited for him to answer. Matt leaned in closer, not wanting to miss Tai's answer.

"You'd care too if your scary movie night was cancelled," Tai grabbed his bag, "Now, Kari, if you don't mind Matt and I have to get to class. Thanks for lunch."

Matt rolled his eyes, him and Kari exchanging knowing glances.

—

-Day of the party-

Mimi sighed heavily, Cam glancing at her from the driver's seat.

"You're still mad?" He asked, rubbing his face in annoyance.

Mimi shrugged, "I mean I'm not happy. I just think it's weird how close you want to be with my best friend…"

Cam eyed her, "Mimi it's just a paper. Wouldn't you want your boyfriend and best friend to be close?"

Mimi shook her head, "Not 'secret keeping' close, Cam. I'm onto you two. This isn't my first rodeo, you know."

"Sure… Yeah sure. But when you find out that her and I aren't sneaking around you're going to feel so stupid." He groaned in annoyance as he stepped from the car, walking around the passenger side to open her's.

Mimi stepped out of the car, "I wouldn't even be surprised if you ditched me tonight to hang out with her. Not even a little." She avoided his hand and began walking to the party.

Mimi quickly found Yamato, joining him at the counter in the kitchen.

"What a surprise," Yamato said, "Late as always." He shook his head, Cam gettin this attention as he asked about Tai. "Taichi? Oh, he's over there with Sora. Doesn't hide his feelings that well when he's had a little to drink, huh."

Cam and Yamato laughed. Mimi watched. Her insecurities began to sink in — The idea of Sora texting her boyfriend. Taking him from her like her last boyfriend was taken by a dance team. She watched how she leaned into Tai, angry at the thought of Sora not feeling the same about the boy.

Cam grabbed her hand, the three joining Tai and Sora against the wall. She eyed Sora closely, trying to hide her disbelief as her boyfriend flirted with the redhead right in front of her. The text flashed in her mind. What secret were they keeping? As she opened her mouth to comment, Tanner came over and pulled Sora away.

"Good thing she's finally gone and I get your full attention, right?" Mimi said to Cam, noting her lack of worry as she watched Tanner pull Sora up the stairs. "Expected…" She muttered.

Cam turned to her, "What is going on with you tonight, Mimi? And not just tonight. You've been on it with the attitude all week."

Mimi rolled her eyes, "Nothing…"

Thirty minutes had passed and Mimi was more than pleased that Sora never returned to talk to her. She hated that she was letting her insecurities get to her, but the evidence was all there. Her ears perked up as she heard Sora being discussed at the couch. Sora and boys? Two? And now Taichi? She raised an eyebrow, too distracted by the commotion of the couch to catch Sora slipping down the stairs and running outside in tears.

—

-The following days-

Tai wasn't sure how he would feel when he saw Sora the next day. He glanced up as she entered the classroom, giving her a small smile as she slid into her usual seat behind him.

"Hey," her voice a soft whisper as she tried to get his attention. Tai took a deep breath, turning in his seat to look at her. He took her in, noting the empty look in her eyes that replaced the usual caring gaze.

"What's up?" He asked, hoping she didn't notice his change in tone towards her. Tai wasn't sure what happened last night, but a part of him felt betrayed.

"Why didn't you reply to my text? I really needed someone to talk to," he noticed the shaky breath she took in as she glanced down to her lap, avoiding Kim's gaze from the other side of the room, "I had a really bad night."

Tai raised an eyebrow, "Didn't sound like you did…" Hurt and disbelief flashed across her face, "A-And Mimi gets mad at everyone so I wouldn't look too much into it…"

Before she could reply, Tai spoke again, "Sora, I… I need to do some work before class starts." He knew she knew it was a lie, but she nodded, her attention turning to the window to the left of her desk.

Mimi stared at Cam has he went through his locker, his phone dinging. She quickly grabbed it, "Hey! Mimi."

"Oh would you look at that," she said. A message from Sora flashed across the screen, "How weird! Oh and it says the secret went over perfectly yesterday. Ordered and ready to go… Whatever that means but…"

Cam grabbed his phone back, "I'll see you tonight, Mimi. I'm going to get some studying done in the library."

Sora sat outside on a bench in front of the school, the tears that fell from her friends rejecting her at lunch had finally stopped. "I just don't understand… They won't listen…" She glanced at her phone, a message from Kari popping up.

From: Kar Bear

Kar Bear: Are you okay? I don't really know the whole story but this doesn't sound like you…

Sora: I've been better. It's not what it sounds like. Idk why Tai and Mimi are reacting like this.

Kar Bear: Mimi thinks you're stealing her bf… So… She's just mad. I think Tai is just butthurt that you've been spending more time with other guys that aren't him.

Sora: Makes sense. This is just so much bigger than that…

Sora: What do Izzy and T.K. think?

Kar Bear: No one really knows what to think. Mimi has been going on about her 'evidence' for the past 30 minutes and Tai is sulking. I think Yamato believes everyone…

Sora: Awesome. Thanks for the text Kar. I'm heading home for the day.

Kar Bear: Here for you!

Sora smiled at her phone before walking home. She walked slowly, a numb feeling beginning to take over. Once she got home she noticed her phone was spammed with notifications… None from her friends. Messages kept coming, accusing her of a new thing every time. She screamed in frustration, throwing her phone to the ground.

Her mom rushed in, "Sora what was that?" Sora shook her head, leaving her phone on the floor as she hurried to her room.

Her mom picked up the phone, sighing as the cracked screen gave one last flash of light before going out. "She'll have to get herself a new one… Teenagers." Her mom rolled her eyes.

Three days passed and Sora couldn't bring herself to go to school. Toshiko knocked on her door daily, only receiving soft replies. She began to grow worried, forcing Sora's door open.

"What do you want?" Sora muttered from her bed, her curtains closed and her body covered by the thick comforter.

"I just came to check on you," Toshiko sat on the edge of Sora's bed, "I haven't heard from you in a few days and you haven't been eating. Are you okay, honey?"

Sora sat up slowly, shaking her head quickly, "N-No…" She tried to hold it back, but the sight of her mom sitting on the edge of her bed to comfort her drove the tears out. Sobs racked her body as her mother pulled her in, her fingers running through Sora's hair.

"Shhh… Shh.. It's okay my love… It's okay… Can I help?" She asked calmly, letting Sora cry into her shoulder.

Sora shrugged, "I-I think…" her lip quivered, "Mom I was…" She shook her head, "The party I went to… Um…"

Toshiko knew from the look in Sora's eyes what had happened, "Who did it." Sora shook her head, "We can talk when you're ready little one… Please eat." She passed Sora a bowl of soup and a cup of hot tea.

"They all hate me," Sora whispered into her soup.

"Who? Toshiko asked.

"My friends…" Sora let out a small laugh, "They don't believe me… No one does."

"I believe you," Toshiko said, "And they could never hate you, Sora."

Sora shook her head again, "You didn't see the looks on their faces… Mimi thinks I was trying to steal her boyfriend and Taichi… I'm still confused by that but his feelings were there…And I was sad two days ago but now I just feel… Nothing. I feel numb."

Toshiko watched her daughter eat, "You feel numb? Have you thought of…" Sora shook her head reassuringly, "Okay. You take all of the time you need, Sora. Come talk to me when you feel like you can, okay? I'll be right outside. Did you want me to stay?"

Sora pondered her offer then shook her head, "No… I want to be alone…"

Toshiko nodded, leaving Sora to eat.

Four days later Toshiko found Sora on the bathroom floor, yelling that she had taken too many pills.

"Have any of you heard back from Sora yet?" Kari asked. She had texted Sora everyday since she stopped showing up to school, "She hasn't even opened the ones I sent last week."

Mimi shrugged, "Maybe she's just ignoring us…" But even Mimi didn't believe her words. Cam had gifted her the hat and dress the night before. She was wearing the hat and she couldn't help but feel Sora had picked it out.

Tai shook his head, "No… I went by the Takenouchi's and no one answered. Usually her mom is around but not lately." Matt shrugged, staying silent.

Kari bit her lip nervously, "I'm… Worried. It's not like her to just not respond. Even when she's angry she still gives us a space to talk."

Izzy looked up, "You all must've hurt her. I don't blame her… I wouldn't talk to you guys either."

"You literally believed us when we told you what happened last week," Mimi said, "Don't act better than us." Izzy turned a bright red, removing himself from the conversation.

"Her social media is deleted too," Kari shook her head, "Why did you guys have to do that? React with anger?"

Tai glared at his sister, "Don't put this all on us. The whole school was involved."

Kari groaned in anger, "And you let it happen. She's your best friend… Both of you." She pointed to Mimi and Tai, "And you let these people hurt her. I've never been more disappointed in anyone."

Mimi stood quickly, "She shouldn't have flirted with my boyfriend." Without looking back, Mimi grabbed her bag and stormed off.

Kari glanced at Tai, "Are you going to storm off next or own up to what you did?" Tai stood, pulling his jacket on as he grabbed his bike to leave, "I'll see you at dinner, Kari."

Kari felt a tear slip down her cheek, "And what about you two?"

Matt and Izzy both shrugged, "I don't know what to think," Izzy said, "I am beyond confused."

Sora watched the cartoons the nurses had put on for her, spooning jello into her mouth.

"Here," her mom smiled, "I got you a new phone. We changed your number so no one should be able to get ahold of you if you don't want them to."

Sora smiled, "Thank you, mom… Um… I'm sorry."

Toshiko gave her a confused look, "For what? Do not feel sorry for how you felt. Just be grateful you are here now." She leaned forward, kissing her daughter's forehead softly.

The two sat in silence, smiling at the cartoons until Sora spoke up.

"Mom," she said, "I can't go back to that school. I love living here and with you but… I can't."

Toshiko nodded, "I assumed just as much. I've already made arrangements with your father. If that's what you want and it makes you happy, then I support you."

Sora smiled, "Okay. Thank you." Sora gazed out the window, the emptiness of her friends still heavy in her heart.

—

Thank you all! I hope you enjoy. I'm hoping to get back to some fun romance times in upcoming chapters. Also hoping to be able to find time to update in my schedule.

Hope all is well and happy readings. 3