"Slow Burn" (def.): an attraction for someone that is not instant, but grows over time.
-x-
Chapter Eight: Awkward is the Watchword
-x-
His hands traveled over her skin, his mouth placed hot open mouthed kisses along her jaw, trailing roughly across her chin then down to her neck. A gasp escaped her as he expertly trailed his tongue across the sensitive flesh along the nape of her neck, he had just bitten. She felt herself arching against him, her back lifting off the mattress in an effort to press herself closer to him.
"Eager." He purred against her skin, the uneven reverberation sending tremors down her spine.
She rid him of his shirt as soon as she willed her hands to move and he repaid the favor instantly, before burying his face in her soft, supple breasts.
His hand dipped into her underwear and she was surprised she wasn't wearing pants, had he rid her of those too? Or had just not been wearing any the whole time?
The questions were silenced as soon as she allowed him to brush his finger against her center. When he slipped a finger into her folds, she couldn't control the moan that left her lips, couldn't control as she thrust her hips against him. All coherency left her, once his mouth began its descent to her stomach. She mewled when he slipped another finger inside her, her breath coming out in rough pants as her fingers threaded into his soft blonde hair…
"Matt, please don't stop."
And she felt him smirk against her stomach, as he pumped his fingers languidly inside her. "Will you beg me?" He whispered.
At that moment, he could've asked her to sign her soul to him and she would have, with all the glorious things he was doing to her body.
"Please." She reiterated, her voice low and throaty.
He groaned into her skin abruptly pulling his hand out of her now soaking panties. Before she could make a sound to protest, he had claimed her lips roughly for his own, taking fistfuls of her soft brown hair between his fingers. She bit his bottom lip and heard him let out a hiss, pulling back her head with light tug. A moan left her mouth at her hair being pulled and she was almost embarrassed by it, but he just smirked at her.
"Do you like that Mimi?
"Mimi?"
"Mimi!"
The brunette awoke with a shock, chest heaving up and down and eyes unfocused. As her brain began reeling, trying to process what had just happened and that it was indeed only a dream, she saw Sora smiling at her from the other side of the room. "Sorry to wake you, I'm sure the dream you were having was absolutely riveting." She paused to send Mimi a wink. "But we're gonna be late for class if you don't get a move on."
Mimi blinked a few times, looking at the time on her phone.
"Who was it about?" Sora sipped her coffee with a mischievous glint in her eye, clearly reveling in the whole thing.
Mimi rolled her eyes, jumping out of bed and heading towards the closet.
"Must've been good, had you tangled up in your sheets."
"It's been a while, Sor. Things get frustrating." Mimi said with an unabashed grin. "Not all of us have hot goalie boys at our beck and call, you know." She pulled her shirt over her head, throwing it to the floor.
Sora got up from the bed, moving to stand behind Mimi, "Well, hot goalie boys or not, I can…" She trailed her fingers over the skin of Mimi's bare back. "Maybe, help you… with those frustrations."
The brunette sucked in a surprised breath, "Sora…" She breathed out. "I thought you'd never offer." She turned around with a wicked smile.
Sora giggled, rubbing her hands over Mimi's upper arms. "You have such a nice body." She pouted ruefully, examining the girl with unwavering intensity.
"Shut it, tennis star. You're bod is to die for." She tugged at the end of a scarlet lock. "Besides, look at those legs!"
Sora wasted no time in putting a hand behind Mimi's neck. "I've never actually…with a girl before." She said, a light blush rising in her cheeks.
Mimi laughed her twinkly tinkerbell laugh, "Oh how fun, it'll be so experimental." She said melodically, claiming Sora's lips for her own. "Very college." She winked.
"Matt."
"What was that, Mimi?"
"Matt."
Her voice grew louder.
"Ishida!"
Matt sat up in his bed just as suddenly as Mimi's voice had turned into Tai's. "What the hell, bro! Where are the damn house keys I'm going to be late." The brunette barged in, and Matt scrambled to pull the sheets over his legs.
Matt, who had drank his weight in vodka just the night before, was cursing Tai for not only being awake before noon but for having the audacity to be so boisterous.
Did the guy ever get a hang over?
"Kamiya, how the fuck am I supposed to know where your keys are." He growled.
Tai, who had a muffin stuffed in his mouth, only shrugged. "I just know I had to have given them to you because I was plastered last night." He could see crumbs falling out of the soccer star's mouth, giving him a natural repellent to the feelings he had been having moments ago.
Thankfully, Tai's disgusting eating habits were beginning to get the blood flowing to other places and fast.
"Did you ever think you didn't bring them out in the first place?"
Tai waved him off with a hand, "I'm not that reckless." He sounded so sure, but Matt knew he was full of it.
Tai was the very definition of careless.
The blonde had had just about enough when soccer star decided to go peering into his closet, touching his beloved guitar with chocolate chip muffin hands.
"You've got maybe three seconds to get out." If only he could get up right now, he would've literally kicked Tai out on his ass.
Tai ignored the blonde, "Yo, why didn't you bring a girl home last night?"
"Maybe because I live with you."
"You just seriously need to get laid, man. All that pent up aggression could be put to good use." And if the words coming out of the brunette's mouth weren't annoying enough, he had the nerve to sound like a psychologist while saying them. "I know some girls that would be interested, a little busted in the face but you know you can work your way up…"
"Three."
"They'd literally jump at the chance, you gotta hear the way half of these bimbos talk about you—
"Two."
"And if it was Mimi, then it can be arranged as well. You two are weird about admitting shit but—
"You're dead, Kamiya." Matt barked, a murderous glare shot towards the brunette as he moved to get off his bed.
And Tai, who knew that homicidal look from a mile away, ran out of the room with a small yelp.
-x-
She stared at the ceiling, hands folded over her stomach, a glaring headache pulsing behind her eyes without the strength to move.
Sora had left advil and a glass of water beside her bed before leaving to start her day, but Mimi couldn't bring herself to take it.
I don't deserve relief, this hangover is rightful punishment.
Her conscious was being dramatic again, but still, she felt compelled to listen and dwell in her pathetic, comatose state.
Because it was closing in on two PM and she was still in bed and she probably should have gone out and enjoyed the day a bit with her best friend, but she couldn't because she was absolutely mortified by her actions from the night before.
She hadn't seen Matt the rest of the night and it was probably for the best too because who knows what her drunk self would have done at that point, she practically accosted the guy on sight.
She cringed painfully at the memory, why was she so unable to control herself.
It was Matt of all people, what the hell!
He hadn't said a word to her, and it wouldn't have been too peculiar under normal circumstances, but given what happened the night before, she only had to assume he felt just as weird and confused as she did.
Then again, it's Matt, so who knows. Emotions aren't really his thing…
She blew up a strand of hair, squeezing shut her hazel eyes, trying desperately to erase the segmented memories from her brain.
It was bleary, but vivid at the same time.
And more than being able to see the moments, she could feel them, smell him, practically taste…
She shook her head, instantly regretting it when she felt a pang of pain in the back of her head.
She grabbed the pillow beside her and shoved it over her face before letting out an aggravated scream into it.
"Why do you have to be so emotionally stunted, Ishida." She complained.
If it was anyone else, it wouldn't have been a big deal. But Matt was such a wild card, so damn unpredictable.
And so freakin' unreadable…
She'd always hated that about him, how aloof he was. Closed off, and detached.
It was hard being his friend, easier now than ever before, but hard enough still.
Matt wasn't open, ever and it was always a guessing game with him. To an extent, she understood him and she understood that things that came naturally for her, didn't for him. He had become so used to people letting him down at such a young age, he never quite learned how to trust properly. And while she knew how much he cared for everyone he loved, that didn't exactly extend to allowing them in.
Mimi reached to grab her phone off her side table, the time flashed at her 1:46PM.
If only she had something to do, she would be more motivated to get herself together.
But Sora was at some club meeting or maybe she'd said it was Tennis or maybe it was neither and she was just with Sam but either way she was unavailable for the day.
Tai had an away game and she wondered how the hell any of them would even be functional enough to play tonight, but that was their problem, not hers.
And normally, she wouldn't even have to think twice about popping up at the loft and making Matt hang out with her, but today she could barely even think about it long enough without shuddering.
He probably thinks I'm such a creep…
She resisted the urge to let out another scream, "Drunk Mimi—you and I have to have a serious chat about actions and consequences." She grumbled.
-x-
The Pavillion, was located in the middle of campus, a field of lush greenery, architected in a wide stepping stone fashion, each step stretching the width of the entire field as it descended where it eventually met the concrete of the sidewalk. It was the only place on campus where people went solely to relax and hang out.
"You know what sucks?"
"Hm?"
"The weather's about to get colder."
"So?"
Tai hopped onto the railing he was leaning against, "So, we're not going to see any more of this." He nodded towards a group of girls laid out in shorts and tank tops and bathing suit tops.
Matt just let out an unamused snort, "You really are a dog, aren't you." He mentioned offhandedly.
"If it means I appreciate the female form, then sure. Call me king of the dogs." He grinned.
"As you wish, your lowness."
Tai ignored the blonde as he waived over a pair of girls in the distance, it took Matt a second to realize that it wasn't just some of his fan girls he was calling over because he was bored. It was verily indeed Sora and Mimi, he'd know that orange-red hair anywhere.
He felt his stomach drop, his vivid dream from the other morning coming back to him with a vengeance.
Before he could say or do anything else, the girls had closed the distance between them. Sora was dressed in a simple white t-shirt and cut-off jean shorts. While Mimi had opted for a white sundress with a halter neck, giving him a distracted view of her cleavage.
He kept his gaze over her head, barely grunting out a greeting as the two of them situated themselves between the two boys.
Mimi was talking a mile a minute, complaining about something that had happened during her practice, while Tai and Sora struggled to keep up. He wasn't listening though, he was having hard enough of a time just standing with the two of them after the ridiculous positions he'd seen them in in his mind.
It was not okay for him to imagine his two closest girlfriends that way, regardless of how hot other guys might think they are.
He was sure that Sora and Mimi were probably the subject of many a guy's fantasies, but they were off limits to him. He was not allowed to objectify the two of them that way.
He swallowed a dry lump in his throat.
"What's his problem?" He vaguely heard Sora say, seeing the redhead jab a thumb at him unabashedly through his peripheral vision.
Tai shrugged a shoulder, "You know mister gloom and doom, he just begs to have something to brood over." He said, animatedly exasperated. "Besides, it's not like Mimi gives anyone room to get in a word edgewise, anyway." He goaded the brunette with a smirk.
Mimi scowled at him, "You are so rude!" She shrieked, shoving his shoulder.
But she knew why he was acting so strange, she was almost certain of it. Because they hadn't seen each other since the club, which was going on five days ago. Literally barely spoke to each other, save over text here and there, but this was the first time they had been face to face. She was sure he was regretting getting so close to her, probably wishing it never happened.
He didn't see her that way, she knew that, and he was drunk that night (as was she) and maybe they let something get carried away a little more than it should have.
She could literally punch herself in the face for it, more specifically, punch her drunk self in the face.
Because really, it was her fault.
And Sober Mimi was the one having to deal with the consequences.
At a loss for how to fix it, how to make him look at her, she just averted her gaze. Keeping her hazel eyes darting around on everything else but him.
"Earth to Ishida, are you going to come out of your vegetative state sometime today or are we stuck with this permanently mute version of yourself." Sora snapped her fingers in front of the blonde's eyes.
"Oooh! Mime Matt!" Tai said excitedly. "Okay, wait I got this. Right now, you're stuck in an invisible box, right? Right!" He exclaimed energetically, leaping off the railing and landing in front of Matt.
Mimi could see the nerve jumping at the side of Matt's head, brows furrowing, jaw clenching.
She paled, Tai was in for it now.
"Alright, drat. Not the box thing. Okay, I'll get it don't tell me." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I gotta say, you're a shitty mime, but—
"Don't you have anything better to do than be a menace to society?" Sora intervened, hands on her hips.
Tai shifted his attention to the redhead, "Now that you mention it, I probably do." She hated the look on his face after he said that.
Sora's eyes widened when he started to get closer to her, "What are you doing?" She asked cautiously, taking a few steps backwards.
When Tai began waggling his fingers towards her, she yelled out an uncharacteristically girlish screech. "Don't you dare, Taichi Kamiya. I swear on everything that's holy I will murder you if you come near me with those."
Tai, who had never been deterred by Sora's idle threats just grinned, "I'll give you a head start Takenouchi. Let's see who's really faster."
Sora knew he wasn't kidding and to get away from his stupid childish antics, she took off in the opposite direction.
True to his word, Tai counted to ten before taking off after her. "Here comes the tickle monster Sora…" And before either Matt or Mimi could protest, the pair was out of sight.
Leaving them looking around searchingly, waiting for something to pop out of thin air so they'd have something other than what happened the other night to talk about.
Matt who was normally so incredibly hard to read, was an open book of awkwardness right now.
And while she had originally thought she would be able to address the situation, she could see it would be impossible right now.
As the seconds ticked by she could practically see steel doors closing off the vault to his thoughts, he wasn't ready.
"You know, I um. I have to…" He was fumbling around, trying to find the right words.
The right excuse.
And it was to no avail, because all he could see was her stupid red dress and those glorious long legs and how she felt wrapped up in him and it was driving him crazy.
She shook her head, "Yeah, me too." She wasn't going to force him into a corner, when Matt wanted to talk, he would.
Right now, he just looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but standing in front of her.
And Mimi would oblige him that.
"I'll see you, Mimi." He looked at her briefly, before shoving his hands in his pockets.
She didn't say anything else to him, just watching him turn and walk away.
With a shake of her head, she accepted that this was most likely how she should have expected their first meeting to go anyway.
If he felt any of what she was feeling, especially the confusion, his response was to shut it all off and push it aside until he was ready to handle it.
Unfortunately, that probably equated to pushing her away too.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Zoe and her posse of blonde airheads waving her over with all too much enthusiasm.
With a steadying breath she put on a rehearsed smile, waving back before heading over to them.
-x-
"Matt sure was acting weird today, huh?" Sora mentioned as the two got ready for bed.
Mimi pulled a brush through her hear. "Heh…yeah. Weird." She said nervously, her eyes darting around the room cautiously.
Sora gave her a side eye glance, "Okay…now what's your problem?" She arched a brow.
"Me? Nothing!" She exclaimed quickly. "Why, why would anything be…" She didn't bother finishing the statement.
She was a shit liar.
"Huh, I guess that's exactly how someone who isn't hiding absolutely anything behaves." The redhead rolled her eyes.
Mimi chewed her bottom lip between her teeth, internally agonizing over whether or not she should let Sora in on the real reason Matt had been acting so funny.
Namely, that is was all her fault.
Sora held an impatient auburn gaze on the brunette, waiting for her to get settled into bed. "Well, are you going to come out with it or not?" She asked.
Mimi sighed, long and dramatically. "Whatever do you mean." She stalled miserably, knowing the moment of truth was impending.
She wondered how Sora would react…
"Seriously, M? What is the deal?"
"Ugh fine but there's an unspoken 'no judgement' clause in our friendship, you are aware of that right?"
Sora shook her head, "Yes, Mimi. I didn't need clarification." She said flatly. "Can you just spit it out already, you're giving me anxiety!"
"I know, but I needed reassurance." The brunette said. "Besides, I feel like you're gonna think way too much into it and I don't want to be confused because seriously I'm already confused and—
"Mimi, I love you but if you waste any more time rambling I might have to hit you." Sora warned.
"Alright, alright." Mimi held her hands up at either side. "But keep in mind that I was veeeery intoxicated." She stipulated.
Sora nodded.
"And I was not in sound mind or body."
"Got it, Mimi. I understand the effects of intoxication just fine, thank you."
Another sigh, "So like I think I know why Matt was so awkward today and it has to do with the other night." She began.
Sora looked at her, "When? Aurelia's?"
Mimi nodded in affirmation, "Yes, something kind of happened… and I think he just feels weird around me now." She said despondently.
Sora's eyes widened. "Wait, what?" She practically demanded. "And I'm just hearing about this now?" She asked incredulously.
"Now, now, S. You were quite busy Saturday night." She reminded the redhead in a chaste manner. "And I was quite hungover Sunday."
Still relatively unconvinced, Sora just remained silent, waiting for Mimi to continue.
"And I mean I thought it was brushed under the rug." She added for good measure.
"Whatever, what actually happened?"
"Me and Matt danced." Mimi confessed.
"Okay and?" Sora wouldn't believe that's all there was to it, a dance wouldn't have Matt out of sorts.
That was for damn sure.
"Okay, it wasn't like a friendly dance either." She said, averting her gaze. "I was kind of aggressive." She was mortified when she thought back to how she practically dragged the blonde into a corner.
Mortified, but strangely curious.
She shook her head vigorously. "So maybe really aggressive." She groaned. "Not that he wasn't into it, because he so was." Mimi added hastily, almost in defense of herself.
So far, Sora didn't really see the big deal.
And she was beginning to think maybe Mimi had the wrong idea.
Seeing the look of apathy, the brunette then admitted. "And I think he was or we were…if you hadn't come." She was flustered again, feeling the heat rising to her cheeks as she willed herself to say it out loud.
Sora made a forward motion with her hands in anticipation, trying desperately to get Mimi to finish the statement already so she could finally understand what was going on.
"I think if you wouldn't have came to get me, I…" Mimi swallowed dryly. "Matt and I… we would have kissed." She barely whispered.
But Sora heard it.
And soon after a guffaw of amusement could be heard from her side of the room. "Is that it?" She laughed uncontrollably.
As the red embarrassment swiftly turned to anger across Mimi's delicate features. "I knew I shouldn't have told you!" She turned her face crossly.
Sora wiped at the corners of eyes, trying desperately to abate her laughter. "Mimi." She said as gently as possible. "I get why you might think it, but I really don't think it's the reason Matt was being so bizarre today." Truthfully, the redhead was almost all the way convinced it had indeed, just been one of his moods.
As Taichi had professed.
Mimi looked at her through offended hazel eyes, "Well if you almost kissed Tai don't you think it would be freakin' awkward?" She asked with a glare.
But she knew the question was impertinent as soon as she asked it because Tai was the master of uncomfortable situations, he wouldn't have batted an eyelash. And Sora was empathetic enough to be able to pick up on his indifference and put it all behind her as well.
Sora waited for Mimi to answer her own question.
"Okay, fine. You and Matt then."
Sora tapped her chin thoughtfully to humor the brunette. "Honestly, Meems. I think the almost part is what's maybe more awkward." She said honestly. "So while I don't think Matt was being unusual because of that, if you think so, I say the answer is simple."
Mimi perked up at the mention of a quick fix.
"Just kiss him." She shrugged.
Mimi's jaw dropped, eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. "You've lost it." She sputtered in disbelief. "You're absolutely insane."
Sora, unfazed by the insults, just went on. "Well, think about it. You guys came really close to almost doing something and now it's causing a rift, according to you." She unfailingly made sure to add the last part in.
Mimi scowled.
"And now you guys are in this space of limbo where you can't stop thinking about the thing that could have happened but didn't."
She hated where this line of logic was going.
Sora was out of her mind.
"And that's the thing that's actually bothering you. What might've happened if it happened. You've probably got all these question like 'what would it have been like kiss him' 'would it have led to something more' etc." She continued as if she were talking about weather patterns or the leaves changing color. "And I mean, it's not like you can go back in time erase this from happening so you guys can go back to normal, so now all you can do is try to rectify the current situation. Which brings me back to the original point."
"You've gone completely mental, Takenouchi."
"Just kiss him, get it over with. All the awkward tension will be out one way or the other." Sora grinned happily. "And then you can resume being friends or…"
"Enough!" Mimi interrupted her with hands over her ears. "Seriously, you're crazy and I can't hear any more of this nonsense or you'll make me join you in your insanity and then we'll both have to be committed." She couldn't let Sora go on anymore, the redhead was almost starting to make sense.
Sora just chuckled to herself, as Mimi reached over to turn off the lamp in a huff.
"Oh and Mimi?" Sora called out softly in the dark.
"What?" Mimi deadpanned.
"I actually don't think that's why Matt was off today, so I wouldn't worry about it much if I were you." And with a small little laugh, Sora turned on her side to go to sleep.
Leaving Mimi with a thousand ridiculous scenarios, hundreds of made up conversations and way too many thoughts fighting for dominance in her brain.
She wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight at this rate.
-x-
One P.M on a Saturday and the last thing Mimi was expecting was to see Taichi Kamiya on the other side of her dorm door, his muscular build hanging against the door frame with an ease that made it seem as if all the world belonged to him.
"What do you want?" She kinked an eyebrow, still clad in her pajama bottoms and a tank top.
"Nothing from you." Tai he took his index finger and pushed back the petite brunette's forehead, earning him a threatening glare. "I'm here for the redhead."
"Ah, so that's what she's been bouncing around the room for." She said knowingly. "Well, come in, then. She'll be right out." Mimi moved out of the door way, ushering the wild haired brunette inside.
Tai stepped in, "For an early riser you sure don't look it." He gave her appearance a one over, before settling himself into Sora's bed.
"I wonder what it is about you girls find attractive." Mimi rolled her eyes, getting back onto her own bed.
Tai laid back onto Sora's pillow, arms tucked behind his head. "Easy. The charm, rogueish good looks, talent." He listed off aimlessly. "Let's not forget the bod." And just for show, he lifted up the black Henley he was wearing to give Mimi a peak of his chiseled abdomen.
Mimi let out an unimpressed snort, "Oh you've left me wildly seduced." She said flatly.
"Well, don't go soaking your pan—
"Ready!" Sora announced, coming out of the bathroom. "Well, don't you look comfortable." She noted, slipping her feet into a pair of sandals.
"You know for a date, neither of you look very… dressed." Mimi griped.
"Only in an alternate universe where Tai was the total opposite of who he is, could this be considered a date." Sora shrugged into a pull over sweatshirt.
"I feel like you're being sliiiightly offensive, Sora." Tai said in a faux melancholy fashion.
"I am, please respond appropriately."
Tai heaved a sigh before hauling himself off the bed, "Try to be the nice guy and this is what you get in return." He grumbled.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go, nice guy."
"So, where are you two going on this, 'not date'" Mimi asked with air quotes.
"I was thinking the sushi place we usually go to?" Sora both answered Mimi and suggested to Tai.
"Done and done. I never argue with lunch time sushi."
"And you know I think they've started an all you can eat deal for the weekends."
Tai brightened up considerably at the mention of that, "Well, what the hell are we waiting for. Let's get out of here!" He said, grabbing her hand.
Mimi laughed as Sora struggled to keep up with Tai's frenzied pace out the door.
-x-
It had been a week, a week of meaningless, quick, absent interactions between herself and the blonde and Mimi had had enough.
She was going to squash this business with Matt once and for all, and what better time than now, when Sora and Tai were away.
No one to ask unnecessary questions.
And no one for Matt to deflect on to.
She knew it was bound to be a little tough, given the fact that Matt was hardly vocal about his feelings as it was, but this was something she needed to breach if they were ever going to move on.
Lord knows, he wouldn't be the one to do it, that was for damn sure.
She had waited long enough for him to come to her, it was evident that wasn't going to happen.
But when she rapped at the loft door, she had to swallow down the anxiety bubbling up from the pit of her stomach.
It's just Matt!
She silently chastised herself, as she waited for someone to answer the door.
A few minutes passed, maybe more, maybe less, but she was about to turn around none the less, when she heard shuffling on the other side.
All of a sudden a million thoughts came flying at her at once.
What if he was with a girl?
What if said girl answered the door?
What if the reason he had taken so long to answer was because him and said girl were hooking up?
What if she had just interrupted it and now one or both of them were coming to answer the door in their half-naked, frustrated state?
She had a few seconds, if she broke out into a sprint she'd be able to make the elevator.
Oh, who am I kidding, as if I'd be able to sprint anything on a good day, even. She internally rolled her eyes at herself.
It wasn't even a moment later that the door creaked open, and she was met with a pair of wide blue eyes.
He stood there, half asleep, in just a pair of boxers and nothing else and she felt like she was going to faint.
His eyes focused on her as she shifted from foot to foot.
"Surprised to see me?"
-x-
A/N: Well… this is awkward ;)
I know I promised a shorter wait time and basically I did the opposite and then I decide to leave off on a cliffhanger. I'M THE WORST.
But I'll let you guys in on a secret. I actually have the interaction between Matt and Mimi written (it was included in the chapter but I deleted it) so I'll make you a deal: If I end up taking longer than say about TWO WEEKS to update, I will edit this chapter and add the scene in so you guys aren't waiting months. Sound fair? And that way if you guys forget, I'll just PM everyone who reviewed so they know to check the story because I don't think FF notifies you if a chapter has been edited. Do we have a deal?
A million apologies to my beautiful, wonderful, perfect readers who bless me with such amazing reviews. YOU'RE ALL THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE.
Fact: I was originally going to title this chapter "I Dream of Mimi" but I figured it would be so lame if you guys had never heard of the old American sitcom "I Dream of Jeanie" which it was meant to be a play on words on. But if you guys would have gotten the reference let me know so I can lament not taking a creative risk (insert stream of tears emoji)
Please review, I know I don't deserve them but I love them (begs)
Now on to my favorite part, interacting with you lovely people:
Isabel Black: Miss no longer, my dear reader. The wait was over tell me how you liked it! The reference was actually from Harry Potter, when Ron says: Hey Hermione, you're a girl. And Hermione says: Oh, well spotted! And gets mad and walks away, lol, one of my favorite parts of GoF.
Guest: I now command the wait to cease its murdering of you my lovely guest reviewer. Please let me know what you thought!
Midori Aoi: Thank you so much! It means a lot that you love the story so much, I really do pour my heart and soul into every chapter so it feels really great when its well received. I'm not sure how well I tackled the awkwardness, but I tried my best! Looking forward to hearing what you thought of this installment.
Lecka-chan: LOL, I figured I'd have at least one person ticked off at Sora for having such horrendous timing. Haha, I love Taiora, if you've read any of my other stuff then you know I'm a sucker for a taiora ending, so who knows ;) Don't worry about the English, I wouldn't have even known it was your second language had you not told me, I understood you absolutely perfectly. Thank you so much for the review, I'm so incredibly happy you're enjoying my story so far. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Guest (2): I love hearing that people can sit through my story without getting bored, I try to keep it as interesting and innovative as I can and I really do spend a lot of time trying to come up with fun original ideas, so thank you so much for saying that! IT MAKES ME SO EMOTIONAL WHEN PEOPLE STILL TALK ABOUT POLAR OPPOSITES (crying face again); when I say it was my baby I mean and the fact that people still read it and remember it and actually think its one of the best in the fandom makes my heart too big for my chest. THANK YOU. Hope to hear from you soon!
SingerofYesterday: LOL, making matt all flustered around mimi was my favorite part of writing that whole chapter. It was so fun to make him something other than cool, aloof and so collected. As for your theory about just a few more little moments like that and it'll release the flood gates—you may be right ;)
Silentuser: Y U SO SWEET!? I could cry, your words were so kind and my heart is full because I have such amazing reviewers and readers. This fandom is small but we all support each other so much and I love that. You know, writing Tai has always been the most fun for me and I always say this but it's because of how flexible his character is. I love writing him as this frat boy athlete playboy with only two things on his mind, it's just hilarious. I hope you liked this chapter as much as the other ones, please let me know how it was.
Guest (3): Haha, of course the buildup needs to be slow but it'll get there. Of course there will be drama, but I live for the angst and the drama so who could expect anything less ;) thanks so much for the review, please please please drop me your opinion on this chapter as well
Supernaturalfan17980: Concensus seems to be a taiora ending, we'll see what happens ;) thanks so much for taking the time out to review my work, it truly means the world. Looking forward to hearing what you thought of this one!
OnceUponAnOriginal: LOL, I love that your DP is of Rebekah, she was so great on TVD I wish she never left (And Klaus bc ugh my Klaroline heart absolutely broke when he did) I haven't seen TVD7 yet so no spoilers! Haha, don't we all just love us some Yamato. I can't help but swoon all over him whenever I read him in stories. Something about those damn blue eyes and that stupid attitude lol I'm so happy you liked the chapter, it was a tough one to write but so satisfying after it came together because it got such a good response! Hope to hear what you thought of this one!
Guest (4): Taiora does seem to be the fan favorite, but let's be real, Tai's not ready for a relationship LOL Thank you for the compliment, so glad you're enjoying so far. Please let me know what you thought!
QuileutepackSeth16: I'm a big Mimato with a side of Michi fan too, as you can tell if you've ever read P.O lol, Mimi is just so shippable (AMIRIGHT?!) thank you for the review! Let me know how this one was!
Digimonpokemonestories: Thank you! I really love writing stories centered around the core four, but I am trying to expand a little bit and add some side stories here and there to keep up the interest. I really liked the best friends angle too, and I feel like it very well could have gone that way had Mimi and Matt kept in touch (inspo: the two second phone call in the digimon movie that launched a thousand ships) I love writing Tai, I can't stress that enough. I'll keep the takuya thing in mind, I never actually watched Frontier, I just borrow Zoe because I liked her. But I'll do so research and look into it. Thanks for the advice and the review! Hope to hear from you soon!
Scripturiens: I'm so happy to read your review, it was very insightful. LOL I think that's hilarious that I basically unknowingly stole your outfit, thanks for letting me borrow it ;) It's funny you mentioned the dialogue between Tai and Mimi because it was actually set up VERY differently, and when I mentioned in my previous A/N that there was part I just couldn't get all the way right—IT WAS THAT ONE. I had an entirely different scene, but I took it out at the last minute and made some hasty changes. The original dialogue had actually taken a more scandalous turn and I decided to cut a lot of it out because I didn't want to introduce a road I wasn't going to take them down. But I should have been less sloppy about the way I had strung it together and shouldn't have assumed no one would notice. Haha, and awkward it did get. Thank you for the constructive criticism, perhaps I will PM you soon to pick your brain about some ideas I have swimming around in this disorganized head of mine, if you don't mind, that is. And of course, I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter!
Angelic Moonlight: Haha, I had to put something in there somewhere or else the two of them would've been skirting around the subject forever. It was actually a hard scene for me to write, but I was happy with it at the end and I'm really glad you all loved it. It makes me SO HAPPY. I am so sorry the wait was so long, I honestly feel so bad about it. But I can't bring myself to post a half ass chapter, you guys deserve the best I can do. Thank you for sticking with me and for giving me so much support, it means everything. Hope to hear from you soon.
Angelxchild: LOL, Mimi is so damn shippable, damn her cuteness. I felt like I needed to do something to introduce more sexual attraction between the two of them, so dancing drunk in a nightclub was the best thing haha. Glad you liked it. I honestly love writing Sam and Sora just because its different and because we don't have much info on the older ichijoji I can kind of just mold him to my liking. Taiora is hard to resist, so who knows what happens with our favorite redhead ;) thanks for the review and I really hope to hear from you soon!
In general, you're all amazing. Thank you for all the love, support and kindness you all always show me. I love feeling like a part of something, this fandom is truly something special (okay I'm done being sappy)
Until next time!