Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine. Neither are the lyrics. More info about them at the bottom. My sister invented the band. On with the story!
The next day, Matt staggered into school, still high from his triumph the night before.
"Boy, you look terrible!" said Akemi cheerfully. "And you didn't even come out with us!"
"I look terrible? Have you looked in a mirror this morning?" asked Matt jokingly.
"Haven't been home yet. These are the spare clothes I keep in my locker, just in case." said Akemi smugly. Matt shook his head in a mixture of amusement and amazement that Akemi never failed to get laid after a gig.
"Was she good?"
"He. And yes, he was." Matt laughed.
"Any of the others get laid?" he asked as they walked into their form room. He thought he saw Tai twitch in his seat in the middle of the back row, but figured he must have imagined it.
"Gendo obviously. I think Istu too. Toshiki went home alone at about three-ish. He had some really ugly girl stalking him, so he left before she could rape him!" Matt snickered as the two collapsed into their desks.
"Hey Matt" said Tai cheerfully.
"Morning." said Matt, yawning. Akemi nodded a greeting before placing his head in his arms and closing his eyes. Matt yawned. He drifted through the day in a half-asleep haze, but he did register that Tai was behaving slightly oddly.
"What's up?" he asked as the two were walking home.
"Nothing." said Tai.
"You've been really quiet all day. Are you sure there's nothing bothering you?"
"Yeah. Did you go out with the band last night?" asked Tai, trying to change the subject.
"Nope. Took TK home, then went home myself."
"Why do you always take him home? He's old enough to look after himself."
"Habit, I guess. I like talking to him on the train."
Silence fell. Matt wasn't quite sure why Tai had asked, and he knew there was something Tai wasn't telling him. Tai for his part was trying to understand the feelings inside him. He was sure Matt had been looking at him when he'd sung that song, was sure Matt had meant something by it, but wasn't sure what.
'Liar' a little part of his brain whispered. 'You know what he was trying to say' Tai pushed it firmly aside.
"What do you do when you go out with the band?" asked Tai when they had almost reached Matt's home. Alarm bells began to ring in Matt's head.
"What do you mean?" he asked lightly, picking his pace up slightly. He and Tai never discussed the band and their activities. Matt knew Tai didn't really approve of drinking, drugs and casual sex. Matt (who enjoyed all three) was therefore careful about what he told Tai. The band all kept secrets very well, and they usually went to another area for their wilder exploits. He and Tai never discussed sex, he hadn't even told Tai when he'd got laid.
"I heard you talking to Akemi this morning, about last night."
"Akemi's a slut" said Matt hopefully. "Don't judge us all by him" He prayed that that would be the end of this discussion. He was nearly home - surely Tai would forget about this now.
"Have you had sex?" asked Tai, sounding nervous.
"Why?" asked Matt, deciding to find out what was bothering his friend. "Come on in" he said resignedly. Tai followed him in and they headed for the kitchen where Matt put the kettle on for a cup of coffee.
"Have you and Mari fallen out?" he asked bluntly. Tai shook his head.
"Well, something's bothering you." said Matt calmly. "You can tell me you know. Do you want to go further than she does? Does she want to go further than you do?"
"I just got out of bed on the wrong side this morning. Really, I don't have a problem." said Tai determinedly. The kettle boiled and Matt got up to make the coffee. When he'd made it he sat down again and looked at his friend.
"You never answered my question" said Tai suddenly, taking a sip of his coffee.
"What question?" asked Matt, stalling for time as he tried to decide whether or not to be truthful.
"Have you had sex?"
"Yes. Why do you want to know? Have you?" asked Matt, aware that asking two questions made him sound defensive, but really wanting to know the answer to both. Even in his tired state, the knowledge that he and Tai had the whole house to themselves for hours was sending a current of awareness through him.
"No." admitted Tai. "I was talking to Mari, and she said she knows that sort of thing about all her friends, and one of her mates fancies you."
"Who?" asked Matt immediately, running all of Mari's friends through his head, trying to decide if any of Mari's friends were worth the bother of the pretence of a long-term relationship just to screw them.
"She didn't say" said Tai. Matt shrugged and stopped evaluating Mari's friends.
"Mari asked if I was a virgin?" he said thoughtfully.
"I guess, technically." said Tai, blushing and staring at the floor.
"Tell her no" said Matt, finishing his coffee and reaching out his hand to take Tai's mug, allowing his fingers to 'accidentally' brush Tai's and enjoying the tingle that shot through him. He turned away to wash the mugs in the sink and so missed the blush that crossed Tai's face.
"How old were you?" Tai asked curiously.
"Thirteen" said Matt cautiously.
"THIRTEEN!" yelped Tai. "Before or after we were in the Digiworld?"
"After."
"Did you even know the band then?"
"Akemi, yes. I'd seen Gendo a couple of times. The others, no. I led myself astray." said Matt with a snicker.
"Where?" asked Tai, obviously not hearing a word Matt was saying , totally focused on that sudden revelation.
"The park." said Matt, rinsing the mugs and turning to face Tai, inwardly cursing himself for letting the conversation go in this direction and for being dim enough to start telling the truth.
"I used to go there to hang round with my mates. We'd drink and gossip - you know what it's like" said Matt calmly. "I got off with the best looking one. She was fifteen, her name was Misato and I was her third."
"How long did you go out with her for?" asked Tai. He sounded stunned.
"Nearly five months" said Matt calmly.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. That was my first heterosexual experience." hinted Matt. He waited a moment to see if Tai would ask. The other boy remained silent.
"I first slept with another boy when I was fifteen." he said quickly, before he could lose his nerve.
"You slept with a boy?"
"Yes. I swing both ways."
"Why didn't you say?" asked Tai. He sounded shocked, almost hurt.
"You've never asked, and I don't really have a problem with it. I didn't need to talk it out and accept it or anything. It's just how I am."
"You have sex often then?"
"Not really" said Matt, thinking that about once a week wasn't really often, especially not if you looked at the rest of his band. An uncomfortable silence fell.
"Are you OK with this?" asked Matt. He knew Tai wasn't, knew Tai was shocked, that was why he hadn't told him.
"Just... surprised, that's all." said Tai. He looked strange. Matt had never seen him look like that before.
"I'd best be going." said Tai, sounding distant.
"We are still friends, aren't we?" said Matt. "I haven't driven you away?"
"Why shouldn't we be? What you do is your business."
"OK then." Matt stood up to show his friend to the door.
"I don't want anything to come between us Tai" he said as Tai left. Matt groaned to himself as he watched Tai walk away. He seemed to have been saying that a lot recently.
When Tai was out of sight he collapsed in front of the telly, burying his face in his hands. What had possessed him to tell Tai the truth about his sex life? The fact that he knew didn't make him feel any better.
"Look, he's not interested." he said out loud. "Your sex life is none of his business, there was no need to go blabbing everything as if he was a priest or something. He wouldn't have known if I'd lied." 'You would though' said his subconscious. Matt groaned and turned up the volume on the TV.
Tai was walking home, his mind in turmoil. Matt, definitely not a virgin by any standards, and bisexual as well. Tai couldn't believe that he hadn't known something that major about his best friend.
"Why do I care so much?" he said out loud, immediately looking around in embarrassment to see if anyone had seen him talking to himself. Apparently no one had, and Tai walked on frowning.
'It's not as if it makes any difference to me' he thought. 'I've got a girlfriend, and anyway, Matt's my best friend. He's just Matt, and who he sleeps with is his business. So why do I feel so - nervous - about it? Nervous isn't the right word, tense might be more like it. I'm missing something, I know it, but what?" Tai spent the whole evening brooding about what he had just found out, and was uncharacteristically silent.
The next morning Matt was waiting for Tai at the usual place. He chattered more than usual, putting his friends silence down to shock at what Matt had told him the night before and thinking he needed to show Tai he was still the same person, virgin or not. By the time they reached school however, Matt was feeling miserable. Why had he told Tai the truth? He'd gone and ruined everything. He knew Tai didn't want to be friends with him now. Why hadn't he just lied and said that he was a virgin? Even if he'd told the truth, why had he told so much of the truth? He could just have said fifteen, glossed over the finer details. Matt dropped gloomily into his desk next to Akemi.
"Who's not getting any then?" said Akemi cheerfully by way of a greeting. "Honestly Matt, you haven't been out with us for ages. Sexual frustration just isn't you. Suffering may be good for the soul, but it's not good for the temper! What do you say to going out after practice?" Matt thought quickly. He was really tempted by the offer - it'd been over a week since he'd got laid - but he could see from the way Tai had stiffened slightly in his seat that he had heard every word. Should he go out, have some fun and risk losing his friendship with Tai? Did have any chance at a relationship with Tai anyway, or was it time to cut his losses? Luckily he was saved from having to answer by the appearance of the teacher who immediately demanded silence. He managed to avoid Akemi's eye. As soon as the teacher left the room, he said quickly
"I think my dad's home tonight. I don't think I could get away."
"Poor Matt" said Akemi sympathetically. "Let us know when he goes back to working late - you can come with us then." Matt nodded, glancing quickly at Tai and smiling to himself as he saw his friend relax.
To his surprise, Tai was waiting for him in their usual spot at the end of school, swinging into step beside him without speaking.
"I thought you might not be here." said Matt after a while, desperate to break the silence that had fallen.
"Why?"
"You've been strange with me lately - I thought you might be freaked by what I told you."
"I am a bit" confessed Tai.
"I'm sorry." said Matt. "I supposed I should really have mentioned it."
"It's OK" said Tai. There was a slight pause, then Tai took a deep breath.
"You know that Turn Around song?" he said, staring hard at his feet.
"Yes."
"Were you staring at me when you sang it?"
"Yes." said Matt quietly. He knew it was now or never. "I wrote it for you. I wanted to tell you that if you ever want me, I'll be here. Just as a friend if that's you want, but if you want more I could offer that too." 'If you want more I could offer that too?' thought Matt in disgust. 'How lame is that? You can write songs, but when it comes to actually talking to people, you suck.'
"I'm sorry." he said quickly. "I know you're happy with Mari - you probably think the very idea is disgusting. I just wanted to let you know that things could be different some time. Just because everyone thinks straight is the way to be, life isn't always like that. I didn't dare actually tell you, so I wrote you a song."
"I don't think it's disgusting." said Tai thoughtfully. "I'm not sure what I think to be honest. Are you saying you'd like us to date?"
"Yes." said Matt, trying to stop his voice trembling.
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I'd have to break up with Mari, and she might think I'd two-timed her or something."
"It's OK." said Matt quickly. "If you change your mind though..."
"Yeah." said Tai, sounding thoughtful. Matt was walking through a haze of misery, interpreting his friends vocal tones was the last thing on his mind. He'd thought for a second there... He forced down a sob, and turned off towards his home.
"See you tomorrow" he said cheerfully.
"Have a good practice!" said Tai. Matt walked quickly the remaining distance home, fighting back tears all the way. He opened the door quickly, pushing through it and slamming it closed behind him, and leaning against it, his whole body shaking with the force of his sobs.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" he raged through his tears. "You knew you didn't have a chance! Things will change now, whether you like it or not - he'll never be comfortable with you now!" Matt stormed off to his room and collapsed onto the bed, crying heartbrokenly.
When he had cried himself out, he went to make himself a sandwich before the band practice.
'It could be worse' he told himself tiredly. 'He's still your friend, and he didn't say that he hates you, or that he'd never consider it. It might be OK.' He ate the sandwich mechanically, thinking about band practice. Suddenly Akemi's invitation that morning came back to him. Maybe it was just what he needed, a way of getting over Tai. Yes, that was it! Drown his sorrows, have some fun, get laid.. 'A plan with no downside' though Matt, already feeling more cheerful. He went to grab his guitar and his money before heading to practice.
Practice went well. Gendo was in a great mood, and despite Matt's returning gloom he always found it hard to mope around the band. They practised 'Turn Around' and Matt hit several wrong notes as he thought about his conversation with Tai earlier.
"See? Sexual frustration is bad for the talent as well" said Akemi smugly.
"What's your excuse then?" asked Istu with a grin. Akemi gave him a withering glance and continued:
"Sure you won't come out with us Yama?"
"You've talked me into it" said Matt determinedly. Screw Tai! If he didn't want him, Matt could find someone who did. "Where are we going?"
"All right!" yelled Gendo, slapping high-fives with Toshiki.
"Look out Earth, the slime's coming home!" laughed Istu. "The band has been let out of its cage!"
"OK" said Akemi, becoming businesslike at the deeply important task of arranging a night's drinking. He began to outline a plan, the rest of the band chipping in at intervals as they packed away.
Matt grinned as he downed his shot and looked around the club. It was early yet, but there were already some nice-looking people of both sexes in there. He felt better already, partly due to the alcohol but mostly due to being out with the band and the prospect of a night of fun. Akemi had already gone over to some rather nice girls and was flirting shamelessly. Matt and Gendo exchanged glances before ordering themselves beers and wandering over to a table to join the rest of the band.
"What are you looking for tonight then?" asked Gendo cheerfully.
"Haven't decided" said Matt thoughtfully. "I'll see what I get offered."
"I'm always here if you want me!" said Istu immediately. All three groaned.
"You always say that, and he always refuses." pointed out Toshiki. "You'd think you'd learn your lesson."
"I'm hoping that if I pester him enough he'll give in just to shut me up." said Istu cheerfully.
"And then you'd say 'Remember how good it was? Shall we do it again?' and I'd never be free of you!" said Matt with a grin. "The answer's still no Istu." For a minute he though of Tai - wasn't that basically what he'd said to him, 'I'm always here if you want me?' It sounded so pathetic. Angrily he pushed all thoughts of Tai out of his head and drank from his pint.
Several drinks later, Matt had managed to get himself a pretty brunette who had indicated that she was interested in more than just kissing. Matt's mood had definitely improved. Akemi had disappeared with some redhead, Gendo was entwined with a blonde, and Istu had managed to pull the bloke behind the bar, who didn't look much older than they were. Toshiki, perhaps to compensate for the previous week when he'd gone home alone had managed to acquire not one but two stunningly pretty girls, both of whom were draped around him.
"We'll be leaving now." said Toshiki with a grin, interrupting Matt's musings. The girls smiled at him.
"Have a good night." said Matt. "Maybe I'll see you two around sometime!" he said to the girls with his most flirtatious smile. They both laughed and went off with Toshiki. Matt returned his attentions to his girl, who didn't seem to have been too bothered by that exchange.
The rest of the night passed in a steadily-increasing blur. Matt knew he'd gone well over his limit, knew he'd feel really terrible tomorrow even if he wasn't throwing up, knew there was no way he would be able to pretend he hadn't been out. 'So?' he thought belligerently. 'I'm old enough to do what I like!'
"Shall we go?" he asked the girl, pulling away from her slightly to look into her eyes. "Sounds good to me" The two stumbled out of the club and headed for Matt's house. He knew his dad would only be home at seven in the morning, plenty of time to get her out before his dad got back. When they got there, they headed straight for his room. At about four in the morning, Matt phoned for a taxi to take her home. When she had gone he collapsed into an exhausted and satisfied sleep.
Tai stood on the corner, shifting his weight from foot to foot irritably. 'Where the hell is he?' he thought angrily. 'We'll be late if he doesn't hurry! Guess I'd better go and see if he's overslept.' He glanced at his watch and decided to run.
Matt was woken by the harsh buzzing of the doorbell. He groaned, and staggered out of bed to answer it.
"Tai?" he said fuzzily, squinting at the dark haired boy.
"What the hell are you doing? We're going to be late!"
"What time is it?" asked Matt, leaving the door open and heading for the kitchen to get some Paracetamol.
"We have ten minutes to get to school, and you aren't even dressed yet!" Matt groaned and swallowed two of the tablets, shoving the bottle in his pocket for later.
"You'd probably best go, tell them I'll be there soon." said Matt, breathing deeply to quell his nausea and heading for his room as quickly as he could to grab some clothes.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Tai, following him into the bedroom, much to Matt's annoyance. He knew that as soon as Tai got into the room he would know exactly what was wrong. Then again, Tai was a virgin, maybe wouldn't recognise the signs. He shrugged, grabbed some clothes from the drawer and began to change quickly, grumbling to himself about the pain in his head, his misbehaving stomach and the injustice of school in the mornings.
"Just go Tai! You'll be late." said Matt, throwing a comb and a tube of gel into his bag and preparing to begin the process of walking to school.
"We can run. Come on, it's not too late yet."
"Run? Hah hah, you're so funny" said Matt with as much sarcasm as he could muster at eight in the morning on only four hours sleep and an excess of alcohol. He put on some sunglasses and headed out the door, gesturing for Tai to close it behind him.
"You've been drinking, haven't you?" said Tai, closing the door obediently and trying to hurry Matt along.
"Yes." said Matt, walking as quickly as he could along the pavement.
"I thought you weren't going out with the band" said Tai, proving to Matt that he had been listening in.
"Changed my mind." he said shortly, trying not to be sick. "Look Tai, you run ahead, tell them I overslept. No sense in us both being late."
"You'll get run over or something. Can't you go any quicker?"
"Not without throwing up. This is pushing it." Tai sighed in exasperation. Matt gave him a killer glare from behind the sunglasses and forced his complaining body into a run. This ended very quickly, as Matt had said it would. When he finished throwing up, he wiped his arm across his mouth and said irritably.
"Will you just go away? Stop looking at me like I'm some sort of freak and go and tell them I'm on my way!"
"You drink too much."
"I hardly drink at all, and it's none of your damn business!" Matt began to move again, more quickly than before, but still slower than Tai would have liked.
They both appeared in registration five minutes before it ended. Matt collapsed in the desk next to Akemi.
"Why are you two so late?" demanded the teacher.
"I overslept" said Matt gloomily. "Tai insisted on waiting for me."
"I had expected better from both of you" said the teacher in irritation, before sending Tai to get them both marked in. Matt put his head down on the desk and groaned.
"The sunglasses were a good idea." said Akemi. "May have to remember that." Matt grunted.
"How was your brunette?" he asked, sounding less lively than usual, but still too awake for someone who'd probably had less sleep than Matt had. Matt had his head on the desk and didn't see Tai come back into the room.
"Lovely" he said, feeling a tingle go through him at the memory. "Very experienced, did everything I asked."
"Rating?" asked Akemi professionally. Matt frowned to himself.
"Eight, maybe nine?" He didn't hear Tai's shocked gasp.
"I don't suppose you remember her name?" said Akemi wistfully. "Mine was only a six."
"I couldn't hear it properly. Too loud. I've forgotten now anyway."
"Did she say she went there often?" asked Akemi hopefully.
"No, first time. I remember that. She said she might come back though." said Matt "Now stop asking me questions, I'm dying here!"
"You're only hung over. Sex is more important than being coddled."
"Screw you Akemi."
"Ask Istu." Matt groaned. At that point the bell went and he dragged himself to his first lesson. He didn't see Tai again until break. The four older Digidestined still at school tended to meet up at break. Matt got to the bench second and collapsed onto it with a groan.
"Hi Matt. Good night?" asked Sora with a grin.
"Very." said Matt, adjusting his sunglasses.
"I think Tai's a bit upset about it. He said something to me that sounded outraged, but we were in the corridor and I didn't hear what it was."
Matt groaned again.
"Hung over?" asked Izzy, appearing with his trusty laptop and giving Matt a probing glance. "Tai won't be happy."
"I know. I didn't mean to drink so much, but I got a bit carried away." said Matt gloomily, turning his head to try and stop the sun shining in his eyes.
"Do you often drink on school nights?" asked Izzy curiously. All the older Digidestined had seen Matt hungover, but that was normally on Sunday mornings.
"Sometimes" said Matt noncommittally, closing his eyes.
"Why's Tai so mad anyway?" asked Sora. "I mean, we all know you drink, but Tai seems madder this time than usual. Has something happened?"
Matt opened his eyes and looked round, checking no one else was near enough to overhear. He knew what he was about to do was probably stupid, but what the hell.
"Yesterday I told him I'd like us to date" he said expressionlessly. "He said probably not, he's happy with Mari."
"Ouch" commented Izzy.
"So I went for a drink with the band (Sora groaned) to cheer myself up, and I had several drinks too many, and there was a pretty girl as well, and I think he probably thinks I was playing with him or something - not serious about him or whatever."
"And were you?" asked Izzy curiously. Matt glared at him.
"Of course I wasn't! Tai's my best friend - I wouldn't jeopardise our friendship by telling him something like that as a joke!"
"Why did you tell him?" Matt shook his head, his quick eyes spotting Tai making his way towards them. He leaned back against the bench and closed his eyes again.
"So how was your evening?" he asked. "Start talking, 'cos he'll know we were talking about him if you don't." Sora began talking about a programme on the television the previous evening, and when Tai arrived he found Izzy and Sora deep in discussion. Matt was leaning back, his eyes closed, looking peaceful.
"Hi" he said.
"Hello Tai." chorused Izzy and Sora before returning to their conversation. Matt just grunted.
"You feeling better?" he asked Matt, his voice sounding a bit chilly.
"Fine. Fit as a fiddle in fact." lied Matt calmly, not opening his eyes.
"Coming to get lunch?"
"Maybe not ready for solid food yet!" said Matt, opening his eyes and grinning at his friend. "I hope you don't get into too much trouble for that late this morning"
"So do I" said Tai, then fell silent.
"We need to talk" he said after a pause. "Coming for a walk?"
"OK" said Matt, the hangover suddenly seeming to return in full force. The two stood up.
"See you later" said Matt.
"Oh, are you two going?" asked Sora. "Yeah, see you in Maths." Matt groaned at the thought and Sora giggled. She and Izzy stood up as well and headed off in separate directions, leaving Matt and Tai alone. They walked silently for several minutes, then Tai said
"Why did you do that?" Matt debated asking 'What?' but decided that Tai was in no mood for any sort of joke.
"I just wanted to have some fun. I was fed up, thought I'd enjoy some distraction."
"So drunk you can hardly walk and some girl who's name you can't remember? Yeah, sounds like it was a really great night." aid Tai sarcastically.
"Tai, just because I told you I like you doesn't mean that you own me or something" said Matt flatly. "Just because I fancy you doesn't mean I can't sleep with other people."
"Casual sex with a girl you can't remember? I thought you said you weren't like Akemi!" said Tai viciously.
"Maybe I told Akemi I can't remember her because I don't want her to be passed around the band!" said Matt, getting angry in turn, but still trying to keep his cool. "That has happened with people who've been good you know. Akemi gave them a good rating, and since then everyone in the band has slept with them! Maybe I lied to him to save her from that. Did you even consider that? And besides, you shouldn't be listening to our private conversations!"
"You both talk so loudly it's hard not to hear them! Akemi, 'I'm such a stud, I can screw anyone' Nakatsuru and you, Matt 'I'm so desirable' Ishida. You think the whole world revolves around sex, and don't even think that maybe everyone doesn't think that being able to screw three different girls in one night is a good thing! People think you're a slut if you act like that."
"How did we get onto this? It's not your business who I choose to sleep with, or what people think of me. I'll try not to talk about my sex life when you can hear me if it'll make you feel better, but I don't see why you care."
"Because I like you too, OK? If I wasn't seeing Mari, I'd go out with you like a shot!" shouted Tai, blushing a fiery red. "Are you happy now?"
"What?!" gasped Matt. His knees seemed to suddenly be made of jelly, he sat down quickly on a tree root.
"I like Mari, and I don't want to break up with her just in case this is a huge mistake," said Tai, the colour still staining his face. "I mean, this is a big step, and I'd rather wait until Mari and I break up before doing anything about this. Turns out I was right. You aren't serious about me, breaking up with Mari would have been a mistake."
"Tai, you refused me! I asked you out, you said no. You didn't say, 'Maybe later' or 'Ask me again tomorrow' Even if you had, you still can't expect me to hang around waiting for you for ever, while you're dating Mari." said Matt, pushing away the little voice which was telling him that that was exactly what he was doing. "It just isn't fair. We aren't dating, you can't claim me so I can still see who I like. We've been best friends for years Tai. I don't just fancy you, I love you. I would hate to lose your friendship but you're being unfair. If you can see Mari, I can see people too."
"But it's different!"
"How? Because you two have been going out for four months and that girl was just a one-night stand? I have no emotional commitment to her. If anything it's not fair you being with Mari because you actually like her! That girl knew what things were like from the start, knew that ours would not be a lasting relationship. She's no threat to you Tai, but Mari is a threat to me."
"But I can't break up with her just like that! It's not fair to her."
"I'm not asking you to." said Matt tiredly, taking a deep breath. "All I'm saying is don't get all possessive on me. You're seeing her, I can see people if I want to. When you guys break up - when you've decided what you want - then you can get possessive, but not before. OK?"
"I understand." said Tai sulkily. "If you have to screw about, can you not tell me about it?"
"Sure. Come on, you won't get any dinner if you don't go now."
They walked back to school in silence. Matt broke away before Tai reached the cafeteria, heading for the music rooms. He suddenly had the urge to play his guitar and make all his problems disappear. When he reached them, he found (as per usual after a night out) the rest of the band had had the same idea, and he spent the rest of lunchtime discussing the previous evening, and having an unscheduled band practice. Matt felt much calmer when he walked into registration. This new-found calm diminished slightly when he saw Tai (who grinned at him) but he just took a deep breath and prepared to sit out the rest of the day as best he could.
Relations between the two were slightly strained over the next two weeks before they worked out how to be around each other. Tai seemed to be just as much in love with Mari as he had ever been, although he no longer talked to Matt about her. Matt for his part was careful not to mention his exploits with the band anywhere where Tai might hear him. Matt tried to the whole business out of his head, knowing that the whole business was in Tai's hands and there was very little he could do about any of it. The state of affairs was definitely making Matt more tense than usual though. He knew the band had noticed something was wrong, and knew that they'd be asking him about it soon. He had already decided to tell them. Sometimes the band would have helpful suggestions. More likely they'd have many, completely useless suggestions, but at least they'd make him laugh, and he knew he could trust them to keep it secret.
That time came that evening during band practice.
"Hello! Earth to Matt!" called Akemi.
"What?" asked Matt, startled.
"You weren't listening to any of that, were you?"
"Sorry." said Matt with a grin. "What were you saying?"
"We were talking about the gig in two weeks." said Akemi, sounding miffed. "What's wrong with you Matt? You've been acting really oddly."
"It's Tai" said Matt. "We've been having 'issues' recently, and it's starting to bother me."
"Go on" said Gendo, moving into a more comfortable position. "We're listening." Matt grinned at him and continued.
"I like Tai. As in like. I wrote that Turn Around song for him"
"Oh, clever!" said Toshiki appreciatively.
"He asked me if I liked him two days after the concert - the day we last went out. I said yes, and I'd be interested if he split up with Mari. He said he wasn't sure - didn't want to break up with Mari in case our relationship was just a big mistake. I agreed - I don't exactly have lots of options after all. Then I came out with you lot that night to drown my sorrows, and Tai got all possessive on me, told me that he liked me too. We had a fight, but sort of negotiated a truce, which basically involves not discussing any of it. Now he's still with Mari and they look more in love than ever, and I'm where I was before, except that I have to be really careful who I sleep with because Tai disapproves of casual sex!"
"Ouch!" said Istu softly. "No wonder you've been preoccupied." The fact that he didn't immediately offer himself as a stand-in for Tai showed that he was taking Matt's dilemma seriously.
"And in some ways it's even worse now, because I know that he actually does like me, so every smile he gives me I keep going over, using all his actions as proof that he's going to break up with her soon and go out with me instead." said Matt gloomily. "What do you think I should do?"
"Seduce him" said Akemi immediately. "Force his hand. If he sleeps with you, he'll probably break up with her out of guilt, and then the coast is clear for you - and because you've slept together once he'll be more likely to come back for a repeat performance."
"I don't think so" said Gendo thoughtfully. "If Matt actually breaks them up, Tai'll be angry with Matt for manipulating him, and may refuse to go out with him anyway"
"That's what I thought."
"I could seduce Mari. If Tai found out, he'd split with her, Matt would be in the clear and Tai'd probably come running to him for reassurance about his charisma, sexual prowess etc. and Matt's laughing." suggested Akemi enthusiastically.
"That plan actually has some good points" said Toshiki thoughtfully. "It would be better if the seducer wasn't someone obviously connected with Matt or the band though - a distant cousin who doesn't share the name and could be trusted to keep his mouth shut would be ideal. That might work in tandem with my idea. This whole thing started with the Turn Around song, right? You could sing that, then another song for Tai. He'll know what it means, she won't. Tai'll be touched that you've written him not one but two songs, and might decided that he want you, not her, especially if we follow it with a song about either a spurned lover or a faithful relationship."
"That could work. The third song is laying it on a bit thick though" said Istu. "Tai'd know that we know then, and he might not like that."
"True. Besides, we don't have any songs like that anyway" agreed Toshiki.
"One problem" said Matt thoughtfully. "I haven't written him two songs."
"So we'll write the second one now, the five of us, and say you wrote it. No problem."
Istu jumped up and grabbed a sheet of paper.
"OK, what do we want to say?"
"Take me now!" laughed Akemi. "Screw me, not her!" He grinned at the others, not at all bothered by the withering looks they directed at him.
" 'I wanna be your boyfriend' sums that up." said Gendo, writing it down.
"That's not going to be obvious?" asked Istu. "If we start with that, we might as well use Akemi's suggestion.
"That'd be the chorus, duh!" said Akemi. "We need to hammer the point home, and repeating it over and over should do that nicely."
Matt reached for the paper and pencil, frowning as he roughed out lyrics, helped (or hindered) by the rest of the band.
"Shall we try and fit it to a tune now?" asked Gendo cheerfully when they had a working outline of the song.
"I've already done that!" said Matt in surprise. "I'll sing it to you, then you can fit your stuff around it."
"Let's go!" yelled Istu.
Two hours later, they had to call it a night, but the song was coming on well.
"If this work's, it's a great idea of yours Toshiki" said Matt as they began to walk home.
"It can't hurt anyway." said Toshiki philosophically.
"True" said Matt. He went home in a much better mood than he had been in since he and Tai had fought.
The next two weeks were spent polishing up the new song and practising hard.
"This is an important gig for you Matt. We need to be brilliant!" pointed out Gendo, and everyone agreed.
When the evening finally arrived, Matt felt strangely calm. He knew that even if this didn't work, there were other options. After all, whenever the band were involved, things tended to happen quickly, and surprisingly often (considering the ideas they came up with) they worked out for the best. Still, he wanted to impress Tai. He could see him standing there, next to Mari, with TK, Davis, Kari and Sora. Matt took a deep breathe, exchanged glances with the band and launched into the first song.
Three songs later and it was time for Turn Around.
"This was written for some one special." announced Matt. Normally he was left to make up the dialogue as he went along, but this evening it was carefully written by the whole band. "I won't tell you who, they know. Yes folks, it's Turn Around!" The audience yelled and the band launched into it. Matt saw Tai blush slightly as Sora and Kari shot glances at him. TK looked slightly confused and Davis didn't seem to notice anything funny going on.
Over the tumultuous applause, Matt said.
"And here's one more song for that special someone. I wanna be your boyfriend!" There was some laughter from the audience and an anticipatory murmur.
"Here goes" he heard Gendo mutter as he began to play.
"Sitting here so close together
So far we're just friends but I'm wondering whether I am imagining
That you have really got a thing for me
Like I think you do when you smile and that smile's for me.
I wanna tell you 'Hey, you I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm trying to say I want to be your number one.
Hey, you, I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm gonna make you love me
I'm gonna make you love me before I'm done.
Late at night when I can't sleep
Picture in my mind, I see you and me
I tell you what I want to be; you tell me you're in love with me
I know it's so good in a dream that in life it's just gotta be
Hey, you, I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm trying to say I want to be your number one
Hey, you, I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm gonna make you love me before I'm done."
When the song finished, he could see the Digidestined all laughing. Tai seemed to be avoiding his eye, but Matt was so hyped by his performance he didn't care. 'Nothing I can do now!' he thought giddily.
"You liked that? Then you'll like this!" he yelled and they began the next song.
"Do you think it worked?" asked Toshiki when their set was over and they were backstage.
"I've no idea!" laughed Matt. "Only one way to find out! I'll see you tomorrow!"
"What have we done? What sort of monster are we creating? A clean-living, monogamous Matt! Don't do it Yama-boy!" moaned Akemi. Matt snickered, fastened the catches on his guitar case and headed out into the mob.
"That was amazing Ishida!" yelled some boy Matt didn't even know. He nodded, and headed for Tai's hair (which was visible above the crowd). Before he could speak to Tai however, he was ambushed by TK who was grinning from ear to ear.
"That was great Matt! Why didn't you tell me you liked someone? Who do you like?"
"That would be telling!" grinned Matt. "You liked it though?"
"Of course! I always like your stuff!" said TK
"Obviously!" said Kari, manoeuvring Matt between Davis and herself. "You're a great singer, and your songwriting's ace as well!"
Matt grinned. "Come on, let's go" he said. "It's hot in here."
"I always wonder how you can sing when you jump around so much" said Davis, trying to get next to Kari again.
"It's a trade secret!" laughed Matt.
"It's considerable practice." said Tai at the same time.
"Shh, that WAS the secret!" said Matt, giving his friend a mock-reproving glance. Tai was arm-in-arm with Mari, but Matt thought they looked somehow different, though he couldn't explain it. He didn't have time to brood on it however, chatting to TK and the others about the gig and exchanging greetings with his fans didn't leave him time to discuss anything with Tai.
Tai talked about the gig all the way to school the next morning, but didn't mention the fact that Matt had now written him not one but two songs. Matt had now come down form the high he'd been on the night before and was now tired. This wasn't helped by Tai's avoiding the subject of their relationship. When he saw Mari waiting outside the classroom he was in for his second lesson, his feeling of resentment grew. It intensified when she stepped forward to speak to him.
"I don't know where Tai is." he said quickly. "He's not in here now though."
"Actually" said Mari, blushing slightly. "I wanted to talk to you, not him."
"Oh?" said Matt curiously. "Go on then, but be quick or we'll both be late!"
"This is going to sound silly, but did you write those songs for me?" Matt felt his face freeze. Mari must have interpreted this as a sign of embarrassment and not total shock and surprise because she continued:
"Since I started going out with Tai, I've been spending quite a bit of time with you, and I've come to realise I like you as more as a friend. If you want to go out somewhere we could if you like."
"Mari, I don't know what to say. I'm really sorry, but I don't feel anything more than friendship for you. And even if I did, Tai's my best friend. I couldn't do that to him." 'and I hate you anyway you scheming witch, keeping Tai from me!'
"Oh God, I'm sorry. I thought you felt the same way, thought I'd seen you looking at me. I didn't mean... Will you not say anything to Tai about this?"
"I won't, but I think you should. Preferably not details, but you obviously don't love him if you're asking me out while you're seeing him. Perhaps it'd be better if you broke up with him now, rather than making him look a fool."
"Tai and I have a good thing going. I don't want to break up with him"
"Then that's your choice." said Matt shortly, feeling incredibly irritated with Mari. "See you around" He spun on his heel and walked off, fuming.
"Woah Matt, what's wrong with you?" asked Akemi that lunchtime. Matt had chosen to eat the band that day, Sora had tennis practice, Izzy had computer club and Tai was with Mari.
"That bitch asked me out!" he said in a vicious whisper.
"You're kidding!" said Gendo in amazement. "I take it you told her no."
"Yeah. I also told her maybe she should break up with Tai, and she said she wasn't going to."
"That sucks!" said Akemi in disgust, taking a bite of his meal.
"It means she's looking. If we can just find the right seducer, we're in business." pointed out Toshiki. "Does TK know that she's Tai's girl?"
"Yes, everyone knows. Why TK?"
"Because he looks like you, idiot, and if she can't have you she might want him." said Istu.
"You stay away from my brother!" said Matt, only half joking.
"OK, said Toshiki. "We're looking for a blue-eyed blond with crazy hair, preferably male, who can't be traced back to us. Any suggestions?"
"Nope." said Akemi helpfully, starting on dessert.
"Can't we just pick someone up in a bar and bribe them to do it?" said Istu. "Then we'd be completely clear."
"A Matt Ishida lookalike competition!" said Akemi suddenly. "It'd be perfect!"
"Oh no!" said Matt. "That's a terrible idea!"
"That's a great idea!" said Gendo, beginning to laugh. "It'd be hysterical for us, embarrassing for you and there'd be loads of people who look like you to tempt Mari. It's perfect!"
"It's awful! I'd be completely humiliated!"
"The course of true love never did run smooth" said Istu wisely. "I love the idea!" Millions of Matt lookalikes for me to seduce"
"For you to be rejected by, you mean!" laughed Akemi. "Look Matt, if you have a better plan then now is the time to say, because otherwise this goes ahead."
"Anything is better than this!"
"Do you want to go out with Tai or don't you?" asked Toshiki. "This is the best way. Mari gets tempted into cheating in a way that we can't be blamed for, either by her or by Tai. We didn't know she liked you after all, and neither did you or you'd have told him. See?"
"I suppose." said Matt gloomily. "You lot better buy me a LOT of drinks if this doesn't work."
"It will." Akemi promised cheerfully. "Believe me, it will."
I hope you liked that! The song is by Farrah, (on their debut album 'Moustache'. I saw them (along with 4 * Mary aka. Dingoes ate my Baby from BtVS) live at the Lomas club in Liverpool and was so impressed I bought their album. If you go to www.farrah.co.uk you can hear the song, and probably order the album. GO THERE! (after you've REVIEWED!) They are really good! Any suggestions for the next part? Review! The next part will be here when I get back from my holiday (Prague, Auschwitz - around Eastern Europe on a bus. 10 days. Should be good!). REVIEW!
The next day, Matt staggered into school, still high from his triumph the night before.
"Boy, you look terrible!" said Akemi cheerfully. "And you didn't even come out with us!"
"I look terrible? Have you looked in a mirror this morning?" asked Matt jokingly.
"Haven't been home yet. These are the spare clothes I keep in my locker, just in case." said Akemi smugly. Matt shook his head in a mixture of amusement and amazement that Akemi never failed to get laid after a gig.
"Was she good?"
"He. And yes, he was." Matt laughed.
"Any of the others get laid?" he asked as they walked into their form room. He thought he saw Tai twitch in his seat in the middle of the back row, but figured he must have imagined it.
"Gendo obviously. I think Istu too. Toshiki went home alone at about three-ish. He had some really ugly girl stalking him, so he left before she could rape him!" Matt snickered as the two collapsed into their desks.
"Hey Matt" said Tai cheerfully.
"Morning." said Matt, yawning. Akemi nodded a greeting before placing his head in his arms and closing his eyes. Matt yawned. He drifted through the day in a half-asleep haze, but he did register that Tai was behaving slightly oddly.
"What's up?" he asked as the two were walking home.
"Nothing." said Tai.
"You've been really quiet all day. Are you sure there's nothing bothering you?"
"Yeah. Did you go out with the band last night?" asked Tai, trying to change the subject.
"Nope. Took TK home, then went home myself."
"Why do you always take him home? He's old enough to look after himself."
"Habit, I guess. I like talking to him on the train."
Silence fell. Matt wasn't quite sure why Tai had asked, and he knew there was something Tai wasn't telling him. Tai for his part was trying to understand the feelings inside him. He was sure Matt had been looking at him when he'd sung that song, was sure Matt had meant something by it, but wasn't sure what.
'Liar' a little part of his brain whispered. 'You know what he was trying to say' Tai pushed it firmly aside.
"What do you do when you go out with the band?" asked Tai when they had almost reached Matt's home. Alarm bells began to ring in Matt's head.
"What do you mean?" he asked lightly, picking his pace up slightly. He and Tai never discussed the band and their activities. Matt knew Tai didn't really approve of drinking, drugs and casual sex. Matt (who enjoyed all three) was therefore careful about what he told Tai. The band all kept secrets very well, and they usually went to another area for their wilder exploits. He and Tai never discussed sex, he hadn't even told Tai when he'd got laid.
"I heard you talking to Akemi this morning, about last night."
"Akemi's a slut" said Matt hopefully. "Don't judge us all by him" He prayed that that would be the end of this discussion. He was nearly home - surely Tai would forget about this now.
"Have you had sex?" asked Tai, sounding nervous.
"Why?" asked Matt, deciding to find out what was bothering his friend. "Come on in" he said resignedly. Tai followed him in and they headed for the kitchen where Matt put the kettle on for a cup of coffee.
"Have you and Mari fallen out?" he asked bluntly. Tai shook his head.
"Well, something's bothering you." said Matt calmly. "You can tell me you know. Do you want to go further than she does? Does she want to go further than you do?"
"I just got out of bed on the wrong side this morning. Really, I don't have a problem." said Tai determinedly. The kettle boiled and Matt got up to make the coffee. When he'd made it he sat down again and looked at his friend.
"You never answered my question" said Tai suddenly, taking a sip of his coffee.
"What question?" asked Matt, stalling for time as he tried to decide whether or not to be truthful.
"Have you had sex?"
"Yes. Why do you want to know? Have you?" asked Matt, aware that asking two questions made him sound defensive, but really wanting to know the answer to both. Even in his tired state, the knowledge that he and Tai had the whole house to themselves for hours was sending a current of awareness through him.
"No." admitted Tai. "I was talking to Mari, and she said she knows that sort of thing about all her friends, and one of her mates fancies you."
"Who?" asked Matt immediately, running all of Mari's friends through his head, trying to decide if any of Mari's friends were worth the bother of the pretence of a long-term relationship just to screw them.
"She didn't say" said Tai. Matt shrugged and stopped evaluating Mari's friends.
"Mari asked if I was a virgin?" he said thoughtfully.
"I guess, technically." said Tai, blushing and staring at the floor.
"Tell her no" said Matt, finishing his coffee and reaching out his hand to take Tai's mug, allowing his fingers to 'accidentally' brush Tai's and enjoying the tingle that shot through him. He turned away to wash the mugs in the sink and so missed the blush that crossed Tai's face.
"How old were you?" Tai asked curiously.
"Thirteen" said Matt cautiously.
"THIRTEEN!" yelped Tai. "Before or after we were in the Digiworld?"
"After."
"Did you even know the band then?"
"Akemi, yes. I'd seen Gendo a couple of times. The others, no. I led myself astray." said Matt with a snicker.
"Where?" asked Tai, obviously not hearing a word Matt was saying , totally focused on that sudden revelation.
"The park." said Matt, rinsing the mugs and turning to face Tai, inwardly cursing himself for letting the conversation go in this direction and for being dim enough to start telling the truth.
"I used to go there to hang round with my mates. We'd drink and gossip - you know what it's like" said Matt calmly. "I got off with the best looking one. She was fifteen, her name was Misato and I was her third."
"How long did you go out with her for?" asked Tai. He sounded stunned.
"Nearly five months" said Matt calmly.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. That was my first heterosexual experience." hinted Matt. He waited a moment to see if Tai would ask. The other boy remained silent.
"I first slept with another boy when I was fifteen." he said quickly, before he could lose his nerve.
"You slept with a boy?"
"Yes. I swing both ways."
"Why didn't you say?" asked Tai. He sounded shocked, almost hurt.
"You've never asked, and I don't really have a problem with it. I didn't need to talk it out and accept it or anything. It's just how I am."
"You have sex often then?"
"Not really" said Matt, thinking that about once a week wasn't really often, especially not if you looked at the rest of his band. An uncomfortable silence fell.
"Are you OK with this?" asked Matt. He knew Tai wasn't, knew Tai was shocked, that was why he hadn't told him.
"Just... surprised, that's all." said Tai. He looked strange. Matt had never seen him look like that before.
"I'd best be going." said Tai, sounding distant.
"We are still friends, aren't we?" said Matt. "I haven't driven you away?"
"Why shouldn't we be? What you do is your business."
"OK then." Matt stood up to show his friend to the door.
"I don't want anything to come between us Tai" he said as Tai left. Matt groaned to himself as he watched Tai walk away. He seemed to have been saying that a lot recently.
When Tai was out of sight he collapsed in front of the telly, burying his face in his hands. What had possessed him to tell Tai the truth about his sex life? The fact that he knew didn't make him feel any better.
"Look, he's not interested." he said out loud. "Your sex life is none of his business, there was no need to go blabbing everything as if he was a priest or something. He wouldn't have known if I'd lied." 'You would though' said his subconscious. Matt groaned and turned up the volume on the TV.
Tai was walking home, his mind in turmoil. Matt, definitely not a virgin by any standards, and bisexual as well. Tai couldn't believe that he hadn't known something that major about his best friend.
"Why do I care so much?" he said out loud, immediately looking around in embarrassment to see if anyone had seen him talking to himself. Apparently no one had, and Tai walked on frowning.
'It's not as if it makes any difference to me' he thought. 'I've got a girlfriend, and anyway, Matt's my best friend. He's just Matt, and who he sleeps with is his business. So why do I feel so - nervous - about it? Nervous isn't the right word, tense might be more like it. I'm missing something, I know it, but what?" Tai spent the whole evening brooding about what he had just found out, and was uncharacteristically silent.
The next morning Matt was waiting for Tai at the usual place. He chattered more than usual, putting his friends silence down to shock at what Matt had told him the night before and thinking he needed to show Tai he was still the same person, virgin or not. By the time they reached school however, Matt was feeling miserable. Why had he told Tai the truth? He'd gone and ruined everything. He knew Tai didn't want to be friends with him now. Why hadn't he just lied and said that he was a virgin? Even if he'd told the truth, why had he told so much of the truth? He could just have said fifteen, glossed over the finer details. Matt dropped gloomily into his desk next to Akemi.
"Who's not getting any then?" said Akemi cheerfully by way of a greeting. "Honestly Matt, you haven't been out with us for ages. Sexual frustration just isn't you. Suffering may be good for the soul, but it's not good for the temper! What do you say to going out after practice?" Matt thought quickly. He was really tempted by the offer - it'd been over a week since he'd got laid - but he could see from the way Tai had stiffened slightly in his seat that he had heard every word. Should he go out, have some fun and risk losing his friendship with Tai? Did have any chance at a relationship with Tai anyway, or was it time to cut his losses? Luckily he was saved from having to answer by the appearance of the teacher who immediately demanded silence. He managed to avoid Akemi's eye. As soon as the teacher left the room, he said quickly
"I think my dad's home tonight. I don't think I could get away."
"Poor Matt" said Akemi sympathetically. "Let us know when he goes back to working late - you can come with us then." Matt nodded, glancing quickly at Tai and smiling to himself as he saw his friend relax.
To his surprise, Tai was waiting for him in their usual spot at the end of school, swinging into step beside him without speaking.
"I thought you might not be here." said Matt after a while, desperate to break the silence that had fallen.
"Why?"
"You've been strange with me lately - I thought you might be freaked by what I told you."
"I am a bit" confessed Tai.
"I'm sorry." said Matt. "I supposed I should really have mentioned it."
"It's OK" said Tai. There was a slight pause, then Tai took a deep breath.
"You know that Turn Around song?" he said, staring hard at his feet.
"Yes."
"Were you staring at me when you sang it?"
"Yes." said Matt quietly. He knew it was now or never. "I wrote it for you. I wanted to tell you that if you ever want me, I'll be here. Just as a friend if that's you want, but if you want more I could offer that too." 'If you want more I could offer that too?' thought Matt in disgust. 'How lame is that? You can write songs, but when it comes to actually talking to people, you suck.'
"I'm sorry." he said quickly. "I know you're happy with Mari - you probably think the very idea is disgusting. I just wanted to let you know that things could be different some time. Just because everyone thinks straight is the way to be, life isn't always like that. I didn't dare actually tell you, so I wrote you a song."
"I don't think it's disgusting." said Tai thoughtfully. "I'm not sure what I think to be honest. Are you saying you'd like us to date?"
"Yes." said Matt, trying to stop his voice trembling.
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I'd have to break up with Mari, and she might think I'd two-timed her or something."
"It's OK." said Matt quickly. "If you change your mind though..."
"Yeah." said Tai, sounding thoughtful. Matt was walking through a haze of misery, interpreting his friends vocal tones was the last thing on his mind. He'd thought for a second there... He forced down a sob, and turned off towards his home.
"See you tomorrow" he said cheerfully.
"Have a good practice!" said Tai. Matt walked quickly the remaining distance home, fighting back tears all the way. He opened the door quickly, pushing through it and slamming it closed behind him, and leaning against it, his whole body shaking with the force of his sobs.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" he raged through his tears. "You knew you didn't have a chance! Things will change now, whether you like it or not - he'll never be comfortable with you now!" Matt stormed off to his room and collapsed onto the bed, crying heartbrokenly.
When he had cried himself out, he went to make himself a sandwich before the band practice.
'It could be worse' he told himself tiredly. 'He's still your friend, and he didn't say that he hates you, or that he'd never consider it. It might be OK.' He ate the sandwich mechanically, thinking about band practice. Suddenly Akemi's invitation that morning came back to him. Maybe it was just what he needed, a way of getting over Tai. Yes, that was it! Drown his sorrows, have some fun, get laid.. 'A plan with no downside' though Matt, already feeling more cheerful. He went to grab his guitar and his money before heading to practice.
Practice went well. Gendo was in a great mood, and despite Matt's returning gloom he always found it hard to mope around the band. They practised 'Turn Around' and Matt hit several wrong notes as he thought about his conversation with Tai earlier.
"See? Sexual frustration is bad for the talent as well" said Akemi smugly.
"What's your excuse then?" asked Istu with a grin. Akemi gave him a withering glance and continued:
"Sure you won't come out with us Yama?"
"You've talked me into it" said Matt determinedly. Screw Tai! If he didn't want him, Matt could find someone who did. "Where are we going?"
"All right!" yelled Gendo, slapping high-fives with Toshiki.
"Look out Earth, the slime's coming home!" laughed Istu. "The band has been let out of its cage!"
"OK" said Akemi, becoming businesslike at the deeply important task of arranging a night's drinking. He began to outline a plan, the rest of the band chipping in at intervals as they packed away.
Matt grinned as he downed his shot and looked around the club. It was early yet, but there were already some nice-looking people of both sexes in there. He felt better already, partly due to the alcohol but mostly due to being out with the band and the prospect of a night of fun. Akemi had already gone over to some rather nice girls and was flirting shamelessly. Matt and Gendo exchanged glances before ordering themselves beers and wandering over to a table to join the rest of the band.
"What are you looking for tonight then?" asked Gendo cheerfully.
"Haven't decided" said Matt thoughtfully. "I'll see what I get offered."
"I'm always here if you want me!" said Istu immediately. All three groaned.
"You always say that, and he always refuses." pointed out Toshiki. "You'd think you'd learn your lesson."
"I'm hoping that if I pester him enough he'll give in just to shut me up." said Istu cheerfully.
"And then you'd say 'Remember how good it was? Shall we do it again?' and I'd never be free of you!" said Matt with a grin. "The answer's still no Istu." For a minute he though of Tai - wasn't that basically what he'd said to him, 'I'm always here if you want me?' It sounded so pathetic. Angrily he pushed all thoughts of Tai out of his head and drank from his pint.
Several drinks later, Matt had managed to get himself a pretty brunette who had indicated that she was interested in more than just kissing. Matt's mood had definitely improved. Akemi had disappeared with some redhead, Gendo was entwined with a blonde, and Istu had managed to pull the bloke behind the bar, who didn't look much older than they were. Toshiki, perhaps to compensate for the previous week when he'd gone home alone had managed to acquire not one but two stunningly pretty girls, both of whom were draped around him.
"We'll be leaving now." said Toshiki with a grin, interrupting Matt's musings. The girls smiled at him.
"Have a good night." said Matt. "Maybe I'll see you two around sometime!" he said to the girls with his most flirtatious smile. They both laughed and went off with Toshiki. Matt returned his attentions to his girl, who didn't seem to have been too bothered by that exchange.
The rest of the night passed in a steadily-increasing blur. Matt knew he'd gone well over his limit, knew he'd feel really terrible tomorrow even if he wasn't throwing up, knew there was no way he would be able to pretend he hadn't been out. 'So?' he thought belligerently. 'I'm old enough to do what I like!'
"Shall we go?" he asked the girl, pulling away from her slightly to look into her eyes. "Sounds good to me" The two stumbled out of the club and headed for Matt's house. He knew his dad would only be home at seven in the morning, plenty of time to get her out before his dad got back. When they got there, they headed straight for his room. At about four in the morning, Matt phoned for a taxi to take her home. When she had gone he collapsed into an exhausted and satisfied sleep.
Tai stood on the corner, shifting his weight from foot to foot irritably. 'Where the hell is he?' he thought angrily. 'We'll be late if he doesn't hurry! Guess I'd better go and see if he's overslept.' He glanced at his watch and decided to run.
Matt was woken by the harsh buzzing of the doorbell. He groaned, and staggered out of bed to answer it.
"Tai?" he said fuzzily, squinting at the dark haired boy.
"What the hell are you doing? We're going to be late!"
"What time is it?" asked Matt, leaving the door open and heading for the kitchen to get some Paracetamol.
"We have ten minutes to get to school, and you aren't even dressed yet!" Matt groaned and swallowed two of the tablets, shoving the bottle in his pocket for later.
"You'd probably best go, tell them I'll be there soon." said Matt, breathing deeply to quell his nausea and heading for his room as quickly as he could to grab some clothes.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Tai, following him into the bedroom, much to Matt's annoyance. He knew that as soon as Tai got into the room he would know exactly what was wrong. Then again, Tai was a virgin, maybe wouldn't recognise the signs. He shrugged, grabbed some clothes from the drawer and began to change quickly, grumbling to himself about the pain in his head, his misbehaving stomach and the injustice of school in the mornings.
"Just go Tai! You'll be late." said Matt, throwing a comb and a tube of gel into his bag and preparing to begin the process of walking to school.
"We can run. Come on, it's not too late yet."
"Run? Hah hah, you're so funny" said Matt with as much sarcasm as he could muster at eight in the morning on only four hours sleep and an excess of alcohol. He put on some sunglasses and headed out the door, gesturing for Tai to close it behind him.
"You've been drinking, haven't you?" said Tai, closing the door obediently and trying to hurry Matt along.
"Yes." said Matt, walking as quickly as he could along the pavement.
"I thought you weren't going out with the band" said Tai, proving to Matt that he had been listening in.
"Changed my mind." he said shortly, trying not to be sick. "Look Tai, you run ahead, tell them I overslept. No sense in us both being late."
"You'll get run over or something. Can't you go any quicker?"
"Not without throwing up. This is pushing it." Tai sighed in exasperation. Matt gave him a killer glare from behind the sunglasses and forced his complaining body into a run. This ended very quickly, as Matt had said it would. When he finished throwing up, he wiped his arm across his mouth and said irritably.
"Will you just go away? Stop looking at me like I'm some sort of freak and go and tell them I'm on my way!"
"You drink too much."
"I hardly drink at all, and it's none of your damn business!" Matt began to move again, more quickly than before, but still slower than Tai would have liked.
They both appeared in registration five minutes before it ended. Matt collapsed in the desk next to Akemi.
"Why are you two so late?" demanded the teacher.
"I overslept" said Matt gloomily. "Tai insisted on waiting for me."
"I had expected better from both of you" said the teacher in irritation, before sending Tai to get them both marked in. Matt put his head down on the desk and groaned.
"The sunglasses were a good idea." said Akemi. "May have to remember that." Matt grunted.
"How was your brunette?" he asked, sounding less lively than usual, but still too awake for someone who'd probably had less sleep than Matt had. Matt had his head on the desk and didn't see Tai come back into the room.
"Lovely" he said, feeling a tingle go through him at the memory. "Very experienced, did everything I asked."
"Rating?" asked Akemi professionally. Matt frowned to himself.
"Eight, maybe nine?" He didn't hear Tai's shocked gasp.
"I don't suppose you remember her name?" said Akemi wistfully. "Mine was only a six."
"I couldn't hear it properly. Too loud. I've forgotten now anyway."
"Did she say she went there often?" asked Akemi hopefully.
"No, first time. I remember that. She said she might come back though." said Matt "Now stop asking me questions, I'm dying here!"
"You're only hung over. Sex is more important than being coddled."
"Screw you Akemi."
"Ask Istu." Matt groaned. At that point the bell went and he dragged himself to his first lesson. He didn't see Tai again until break. The four older Digidestined still at school tended to meet up at break. Matt got to the bench second and collapsed onto it with a groan.
"Hi Matt. Good night?" asked Sora with a grin.
"Very." said Matt, adjusting his sunglasses.
"I think Tai's a bit upset about it. He said something to me that sounded outraged, but we were in the corridor and I didn't hear what it was."
Matt groaned again.
"Hung over?" asked Izzy, appearing with his trusty laptop and giving Matt a probing glance. "Tai won't be happy."
"I know. I didn't mean to drink so much, but I got a bit carried away." said Matt gloomily, turning his head to try and stop the sun shining in his eyes.
"Do you often drink on school nights?" asked Izzy curiously. All the older Digidestined had seen Matt hungover, but that was normally on Sunday mornings.
"Sometimes" said Matt noncommittally, closing his eyes.
"Why's Tai so mad anyway?" asked Sora. "I mean, we all know you drink, but Tai seems madder this time than usual. Has something happened?"
Matt opened his eyes and looked round, checking no one else was near enough to overhear. He knew what he was about to do was probably stupid, but what the hell.
"Yesterday I told him I'd like us to date" he said expressionlessly. "He said probably not, he's happy with Mari."
"Ouch" commented Izzy.
"So I went for a drink with the band (Sora groaned) to cheer myself up, and I had several drinks too many, and there was a pretty girl as well, and I think he probably thinks I was playing with him or something - not serious about him or whatever."
"And were you?" asked Izzy curiously. Matt glared at him.
"Of course I wasn't! Tai's my best friend - I wouldn't jeopardise our friendship by telling him something like that as a joke!"
"Why did you tell him?" Matt shook his head, his quick eyes spotting Tai making his way towards them. He leaned back against the bench and closed his eyes again.
"So how was your evening?" he asked. "Start talking, 'cos he'll know we were talking about him if you don't." Sora began talking about a programme on the television the previous evening, and when Tai arrived he found Izzy and Sora deep in discussion. Matt was leaning back, his eyes closed, looking peaceful.
"Hi" he said.
"Hello Tai." chorused Izzy and Sora before returning to their conversation. Matt just grunted.
"You feeling better?" he asked Matt, his voice sounding a bit chilly.
"Fine. Fit as a fiddle in fact." lied Matt calmly, not opening his eyes.
"Coming to get lunch?"
"Maybe not ready for solid food yet!" said Matt, opening his eyes and grinning at his friend. "I hope you don't get into too much trouble for that late this morning"
"So do I" said Tai, then fell silent.
"We need to talk" he said after a pause. "Coming for a walk?"
"OK" said Matt, the hangover suddenly seeming to return in full force. The two stood up.
"See you later" said Matt.
"Oh, are you two going?" asked Sora. "Yeah, see you in Maths." Matt groaned at the thought and Sora giggled. She and Izzy stood up as well and headed off in separate directions, leaving Matt and Tai alone. They walked silently for several minutes, then Tai said
"Why did you do that?" Matt debated asking 'What?' but decided that Tai was in no mood for any sort of joke.
"I just wanted to have some fun. I was fed up, thought I'd enjoy some distraction."
"So drunk you can hardly walk and some girl who's name you can't remember? Yeah, sounds like it was a really great night." aid Tai sarcastically.
"Tai, just because I told you I like you doesn't mean that you own me or something" said Matt flatly. "Just because I fancy you doesn't mean I can't sleep with other people."
"Casual sex with a girl you can't remember? I thought you said you weren't like Akemi!" said Tai viciously.
"Maybe I told Akemi I can't remember her because I don't want her to be passed around the band!" said Matt, getting angry in turn, but still trying to keep his cool. "That has happened with people who've been good you know. Akemi gave them a good rating, and since then everyone in the band has slept with them! Maybe I lied to him to save her from that. Did you even consider that? And besides, you shouldn't be listening to our private conversations!"
"You both talk so loudly it's hard not to hear them! Akemi, 'I'm such a stud, I can screw anyone' Nakatsuru and you, Matt 'I'm so desirable' Ishida. You think the whole world revolves around sex, and don't even think that maybe everyone doesn't think that being able to screw three different girls in one night is a good thing! People think you're a slut if you act like that."
"How did we get onto this? It's not your business who I choose to sleep with, or what people think of me. I'll try not to talk about my sex life when you can hear me if it'll make you feel better, but I don't see why you care."
"Because I like you too, OK? If I wasn't seeing Mari, I'd go out with you like a shot!" shouted Tai, blushing a fiery red. "Are you happy now?"
"What?!" gasped Matt. His knees seemed to suddenly be made of jelly, he sat down quickly on a tree root.
"I like Mari, and I don't want to break up with her just in case this is a huge mistake," said Tai, the colour still staining his face. "I mean, this is a big step, and I'd rather wait until Mari and I break up before doing anything about this. Turns out I was right. You aren't serious about me, breaking up with Mari would have been a mistake."
"Tai, you refused me! I asked you out, you said no. You didn't say, 'Maybe later' or 'Ask me again tomorrow' Even if you had, you still can't expect me to hang around waiting for you for ever, while you're dating Mari." said Matt, pushing away the little voice which was telling him that that was exactly what he was doing. "It just isn't fair. We aren't dating, you can't claim me so I can still see who I like. We've been best friends for years Tai. I don't just fancy you, I love you. I would hate to lose your friendship but you're being unfair. If you can see Mari, I can see people too."
"But it's different!"
"How? Because you two have been going out for four months and that girl was just a one-night stand? I have no emotional commitment to her. If anything it's not fair you being with Mari because you actually like her! That girl knew what things were like from the start, knew that ours would not be a lasting relationship. She's no threat to you Tai, but Mari is a threat to me."
"But I can't break up with her just like that! It's not fair to her."
"I'm not asking you to." said Matt tiredly, taking a deep breath. "All I'm saying is don't get all possessive on me. You're seeing her, I can see people if I want to. When you guys break up - when you've decided what you want - then you can get possessive, but not before. OK?"
"I understand." said Tai sulkily. "If you have to screw about, can you not tell me about it?"
"Sure. Come on, you won't get any dinner if you don't go now."
They walked back to school in silence. Matt broke away before Tai reached the cafeteria, heading for the music rooms. He suddenly had the urge to play his guitar and make all his problems disappear. When he reached them, he found (as per usual after a night out) the rest of the band had had the same idea, and he spent the rest of lunchtime discussing the previous evening, and having an unscheduled band practice. Matt felt much calmer when he walked into registration. This new-found calm diminished slightly when he saw Tai (who grinned at him) but he just took a deep breath and prepared to sit out the rest of the day as best he could.
Relations between the two were slightly strained over the next two weeks before they worked out how to be around each other. Tai seemed to be just as much in love with Mari as he had ever been, although he no longer talked to Matt about her. Matt for his part was careful not to mention his exploits with the band anywhere where Tai might hear him. Matt tried to the whole business out of his head, knowing that the whole business was in Tai's hands and there was very little he could do about any of it. The state of affairs was definitely making Matt more tense than usual though. He knew the band had noticed something was wrong, and knew that they'd be asking him about it soon. He had already decided to tell them. Sometimes the band would have helpful suggestions. More likely they'd have many, completely useless suggestions, but at least they'd make him laugh, and he knew he could trust them to keep it secret.
That time came that evening during band practice.
"Hello! Earth to Matt!" called Akemi.
"What?" asked Matt, startled.
"You weren't listening to any of that, were you?"
"Sorry." said Matt with a grin. "What were you saying?"
"We were talking about the gig in two weeks." said Akemi, sounding miffed. "What's wrong with you Matt? You've been acting really oddly."
"It's Tai" said Matt. "We've been having 'issues' recently, and it's starting to bother me."
"Go on" said Gendo, moving into a more comfortable position. "We're listening." Matt grinned at him and continued.
"I like Tai. As in like. I wrote that Turn Around song for him"
"Oh, clever!" said Toshiki appreciatively.
"He asked me if I liked him two days after the concert - the day we last went out. I said yes, and I'd be interested if he split up with Mari. He said he wasn't sure - didn't want to break up with Mari in case our relationship was just a big mistake. I agreed - I don't exactly have lots of options after all. Then I came out with you lot that night to drown my sorrows, and Tai got all possessive on me, told me that he liked me too. We had a fight, but sort of negotiated a truce, which basically involves not discussing any of it. Now he's still with Mari and they look more in love than ever, and I'm where I was before, except that I have to be really careful who I sleep with because Tai disapproves of casual sex!"
"Ouch!" said Istu softly. "No wonder you've been preoccupied." The fact that he didn't immediately offer himself as a stand-in for Tai showed that he was taking Matt's dilemma seriously.
"And in some ways it's even worse now, because I know that he actually does like me, so every smile he gives me I keep going over, using all his actions as proof that he's going to break up with her soon and go out with me instead." said Matt gloomily. "What do you think I should do?"
"Seduce him" said Akemi immediately. "Force his hand. If he sleeps with you, he'll probably break up with her out of guilt, and then the coast is clear for you - and because you've slept together once he'll be more likely to come back for a repeat performance."
"I don't think so" said Gendo thoughtfully. "If Matt actually breaks them up, Tai'll be angry with Matt for manipulating him, and may refuse to go out with him anyway"
"That's what I thought."
"I could seduce Mari. If Tai found out, he'd split with her, Matt would be in the clear and Tai'd probably come running to him for reassurance about his charisma, sexual prowess etc. and Matt's laughing." suggested Akemi enthusiastically.
"That plan actually has some good points" said Toshiki thoughtfully. "It would be better if the seducer wasn't someone obviously connected with Matt or the band though - a distant cousin who doesn't share the name and could be trusted to keep his mouth shut would be ideal. That might work in tandem with my idea. This whole thing started with the Turn Around song, right? You could sing that, then another song for Tai. He'll know what it means, she won't. Tai'll be touched that you've written him not one but two songs, and might decided that he want you, not her, especially if we follow it with a song about either a spurned lover or a faithful relationship."
"That could work. The third song is laying it on a bit thick though" said Istu. "Tai'd know that we know then, and he might not like that."
"True. Besides, we don't have any songs like that anyway" agreed Toshiki.
"One problem" said Matt thoughtfully. "I haven't written him two songs."
"So we'll write the second one now, the five of us, and say you wrote it. No problem."
Istu jumped up and grabbed a sheet of paper.
"OK, what do we want to say?"
"Take me now!" laughed Akemi. "Screw me, not her!" He grinned at the others, not at all bothered by the withering looks they directed at him.
" 'I wanna be your boyfriend' sums that up." said Gendo, writing it down.
"That's not going to be obvious?" asked Istu. "If we start with that, we might as well use Akemi's suggestion.
"That'd be the chorus, duh!" said Akemi. "We need to hammer the point home, and repeating it over and over should do that nicely."
Matt reached for the paper and pencil, frowning as he roughed out lyrics, helped (or hindered) by the rest of the band.
"Shall we try and fit it to a tune now?" asked Gendo cheerfully when they had a working outline of the song.
"I've already done that!" said Matt in surprise. "I'll sing it to you, then you can fit your stuff around it."
"Let's go!" yelled Istu.
Two hours later, they had to call it a night, but the song was coming on well.
"If this work's, it's a great idea of yours Toshiki" said Matt as they began to walk home.
"It can't hurt anyway." said Toshiki philosophically.
"True" said Matt. He went home in a much better mood than he had been in since he and Tai had fought.
The next two weeks were spent polishing up the new song and practising hard.
"This is an important gig for you Matt. We need to be brilliant!" pointed out Gendo, and everyone agreed.
When the evening finally arrived, Matt felt strangely calm. He knew that even if this didn't work, there were other options. After all, whenever the band were involved, things tended to happen quickly, and surprisingly often (considering the ideas they came up with) they worked out for the best. Still, he wanted to impress Tai. He could see him standing there, next to Mari, with TK, Davis, Kari and Sora. Matt took a deep breathe, exchanged glances with the band and launched into the first song.
Three songs later and it was time for Turn Around.
"This was written for some one special." announced Matt. Normally he was left to make up the dialogue as he went along, but this evening it was carefully written by the whole band. "I won't tell you who, they know. Yes folks, it's Turn Around!" The audience yelled and the band launched into it. Matt saw Tai blush slightly as Sora and Kari shot glances at him. TK looked slightly confused and Davis didn't seem to notice anything funny going on.
Over the tumultuous applause, Matt said.
"And here's one more song for that special someone. I wanna be your boyfriend!" There was some laughter from the audience and an anticipatory murmur.
"Here goes" he heard Gendo mutter as he began to play.
"Sitting here so close together
So far we're just friends but I'm wondering whether I am imagining
That you have really got a thing for me
Like I think you do when you smile and that smile's for me.
I wanna tell you 'Hey, you I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm trying to say I want to be your number one.
Hey, you, I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm gonna make you love me
I'm gonna make you love me before I'm done.
Late at night when I can't sleep
Picture in my mind, I see you and me
I tell you what I want to be; you tell me you're in love with me
I know it's so good in a dream that in life it's just gotta be
Hey, you, I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm trying to say I want to be your number one
Hey, you, I wanna be your boyfriend
I'm gonna make you love me before I'm done."
When the song finished, he could see the Digidestined all laughing. Tai seemed to be avoiding his eye, but Matt was so hyped by his performance he didn't care. 'Nothing I can do now!' he thought giddily.
"You liked that? Then you'll like this!" he yelled and they began the next song.
"Do you think it worked?" asked Toshiki when their set was over and they were backstage.
"I've no idea!" laughed Matt. "Only one way to find out! I'll see you tomorrow!"
"What have we done? What sort of monster are we creating? A clean-living, monogamous Matt! Don't do it Yama-boy!" moaned Akemi. Matt snickered, fastened the catches on his guitar case and headed out into the mob.
"That was amazing Ishida!" yelled some boy Matt didn't even know. He nodded, and headed for Tai's hair (which was visible above the crowd). Before he could speak to Tai however, he was ambushed by TK who was grinning from ear to ear.
"That was great Matt! Why didn't you tell me you liked someone? Who do you like?"
"That would be telling!" grinned Matt. "You liked it though?"
"Of course! I always like your stuff!" said TK
"Obviously!" said Kari, manoeuvring Matt between Davis and herself. "You're a great singer, and your songwriting's ace as well!"
Matt grinned. "Come on, let's go" he said. "It's hot in here."
"I always wonder how you can sing when you jump around so much" said Davis, trying to get next to Kari again.
"It's a trade secret!" laughed Matt.
"It's considerable practice." said Tai at the same time.
"Shh, that WAS the secret!" said Matt, giving his friend a mock-reproving glance. Tai was arm-in-arm with Mari, but Matt thought they looked somehow different, though he couldn't explain it. He didn't have time to brood on it however, chatting to TK and the others about the gig and exchanging greetings with his fans didn't leave him time to discuss anything with Tai.
Tai talked about the gig all the way to school the next morning, but didn't mention the fact that Matt had now written him not one but two songs. Matt had now come down form the high he'd been on the night before and was now tired. This wasn't helped by Tai's avoiding the subject of their relationship. When he saw Mari waiting outside the classroom he was in for his second lesson, his feeling of resentment grew. It intensified when she stepped forward to speak to him.
"I don't know where Tai is." he said quickly. "He's not in here now though."
"Actually" said Mari, blushing slightly. "I wanted to talk to you, not him."
"Oh?" said Matt curiously. "Go on then, but be quick or we'll both be late!"
"This is going to sound silly, but did you write those songs for me?" Matt felt his face freeze. Mari must have interpreted this as a sign of embarrassment and not total shock and surprise because she continued:
"Since I started going out with Tai, I've been spending quite a bit of time with you, and I've come to realise I like you as more as a friend. If you want to go out somewhere we could if you like."
"Mari, I don't know what to say. I'm really sorry, but I don't feel anything more than friendship for you. And even if I did, Tai's my best friend. I couldn't do that to him." 'and I hate you anyway you scheming witch, keeping Tai from me!'
"Oh God, I'm sorry. I thought you felt the same way, thought I'd seen you looking at me. I didn't mean... Will you not say anything to Tai about this?"
"I won't, but I think you should. Preferably not details, but you obviously don't love him if you're asking me out while you're seeing him. Perhaps it'd be better if you broke up with him now, rather than making him look a fool."
"Tai and I have a good thing going. I don't want to break up with him"
"Then that's your choice." said Matt shortly, feeling incredibly irritated with Mari. "See you around" He spun on his heel and walked off, fuming.
"Woah Matt, what's wrong with you?" asked Akemi that lunchtime. Matt had chosen to eat the band that day, Sora had tennis practice, Izzy had computer club and Tai was with Mari.
"That bitch asked me out!" he said in a vicious whisper.
"You're kidding!" said Gendo in amazement. "I take it you told her no."
"Yeah. I also told her maybe she should break up with Tai, and she said she wasn't going to."
"That sucks!" said Akemi in disgust, taking a bite of his meal.
"It means she's looking. If we can just find the right seducer, we're in business." pointed out Toshiki. "Does TK know that she's Tai's girl?"
"Yes, everyone knows. Why TK?"
"Because he looks like you, idiot, and if she can't have you she might want him." said Istu.
"You stay away from my brother!" said Matt, only half joking.
"OK, said Toshiki. "We're looking for a blue-eyed blond with crazy hair, preferably male, who can't be traced back to us. Any suggestions?"
"Nope." said Akemi helpfully, starting on dessert.
"Can't we just pick someone up in a bar and bribe them to do it?" said Istu. "Then we'd be completely clear."
"A Matt Ishida lookalike competition!" said Akemi suddenly. "It'd be perfect!"
"Oh no!" said Matt. "That's a terrible idea!"
"That's a great idea!" said Gendo, beginning to laugh. "It'd be hysterical for us, embarrassing for you and there'd be loads of people who look like you to tempt Mari. It's perfect!"
"It's awful! I'd be completely humiliated!"
"The course of true love never did run smooth" said Istu wisely. "I love the idea!" Millions of Matt lookalikes for me to seduce"
"For you to be rejected by, you mean!" laughed Akemi. "Look Matt, if you have a better plan then now is the time to say, because otherwise this goes ahead."
"Anything is better than this!"
"Do you want to go out with Tai or don't you?" asked Toshiki. "This is the best way. Mari gets tempted into cheating in a way that we can't be blamed for, either by her or by Tai. We didn't know she liked you after all, and neither did you or you'd have told him. See?"
"I suppose." said Matt gloomily. "You lot better buy me a LOT of drinks if this doesn't work."
"It will." Akemi promised cheerfully. "Believe me, it will."
I hope you liked that! The song is by Farrah, (on their debut album 'Moustache'. I saw them (along with 4 * Mary aka. Dingoes ate my Baby from BtVS) live at the Lomas club in Liverpool and was so impressed I bought their album. If you go to www.farrah.co.uk you can hear the song, and probably order the album. GO THERE! (after you've REVIEWED!) They are really good! Any suggestions for the next part? Review! The next part will be here when I get back from my holiday (Prague, Auschwitz - around Eastern Europe on a bus. 10 days. Should be good!). REVIEW!