She would sometimes tease Mimi about liking Matt and she had to admit, he was cute. "Oh come on, Sora," whined Mimi as she sat down next to her friend. "I don't like him, yeah he's cute...but that's it."
"Whatever you say, Mimi. Anyway, Jake is taking the rest of the gang horseback riding. Wanna come?" Mimi stared at Sora as if she was crazy. "What!? Me ride a smelly ol' horse!?" Sora grinned, "Matt'll be there." Mimi's expression changed. "He will?" Sora couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. Mimi glared angrily at her, "What's so funny!?"
"You deny you like him yet when I mention his name you change your mind!" Sora continued laughing while Mimi sulked. "Well, at least I don't like some big-haired weirdo!" Sora choked as Mimi now began laughing. They both looked at each other for a second and started laughing again.
"Man, where's Sora?" protested Tai. He was leaning against the gate of where the others waited for their horses. "Don't worry, Tai," said Kari, next to him. "She can take care of herself." Tai sighed and stood up straight. "I guess..."
"Okay! Everybody here?" Jake asked as he walked past Tai with a clipboard in his hand. "All except Matt and Mimi," answered Joe. "Don't forget about Sora," chimed in Izzy. "She went to check on Mimi," Tai ended with a bit of annoyance in his voice.
"I'm back!" yelled out Sora as she ran up to them. "Sorry it took me so long but Mimi had to search through the whole room in order to find her clothes."
"Is it my fault the whole room is a mess!"
"Now, now, calm down," said Jake as he looked at a sheet of paper on his clipboard. "I've assigned horses to each of you. It's all according to your height and weight and hopefully I got things right." Jake looked up from the clipboard. "Ah! Hey, Matt!" Jake waved his hand toward Matt's direction. Matt frowned coolly and walked over to Jake. "Where have you been, Matt? You didn't say anything when you left."
"Sorry, I was just looking around," answered Matt, his hands in his pockets and eyes cast down. "Anyway, would you like to join us? We're going horseback riding. You could ride Li-"
"That's okay," interrupted Matt. "I'm a bit tired." Matt began to walk away from the group.
"Hey, Matt?" He turned around to face the person who had just spoken. "Are you sure you can't come with us?" Matt sighed at his little brother's question. "Oh come on, Matt!" said Jake with a smile. The others also tried to get Matt to stay. "Fine," answered Matt, giving in. "But don't expect me to actually enjoy it."
"That's the spirit!" yelled out Jake and the others laughed.
"It won't hurt you, Mimi. Come on, just place your foot-"
"I know, I know. I've gotten on a horse before," answered Mimi. "Really?" asked Jake surprised. "Who taught you?" Mimi bit her lower lip, unsure if she should tell him.
She glanced over at Matt who was leaning against his assigned horse. The horse stepped aside and Matt fell back onto the dusty ground. He quickly stumbled to get up and dusted himself off as if nothing happened.
Mimi giggled and looked back at Jake. "I forgot." Jake nodded and helped her up onto the horse. "Okay. Everyone ready? Let's ride!" Jake hopped up onto his horse and pulled back on the reins. The horse responded to the order of the reins and neighed as it stood up on it's hind legs. "Yeehhaaww!!"
Tai shook his head. "Typical cowboy. I bet I could do that better..."
"Sure, Tai," answered Sora as she leaned right, directing the horse to Jake's direction. Tai sighed as he followed Sora.
"Arrgh! Move you dumb horse!" cried Mimi in frustration. "We're cowboys, not pirates, Mimi," said TK snickering with Kari. "Matt, why don't you help her?" asked Jake, stopping to wait. "Fine," mumbled Matt as he rode over to her and took the horse's reins. Mimi watched as he took the reins in his gloved hand and tugged on it slightly. Mimi held on to the seat as her horse began to walk along with Matt's.
She kept her eye on his gloved hand. Maybe that's why he always has them on... He's hiding something...
"Mimi?"
"Huh?" Mimi raised her head to find Matt's concerned blue eyes staring at her. "You seem a bit.. spaced out. You okay?" Mimi nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine..." Matt softly nodded, yet still didn't believe her.
The group continued through the rocky path into the woods. The deeper they went, the rougher the trail got.
"Matt! We're falling behind, hurry up!" Matt grunted as he struggled to get both horses to go over a fallen log. "I'm doing the best I can, Mimi! Can't you see how hard it is to be controlling two horses?" Mimi pouted. "How hard could it be?"
"You obviously haven't ridden before so will you just shut up!?"
"Don't you talk to me like that!"
"Oh yeah? Well, I'll talk to you-" Mimi gasped, interrupting him, as she cried, "Watch out!" Matt turned to look ahead. He pulled back on his reins as a tree branch fell right in front of them. Matt's horse neighed as it stepped back but Mimi's horse didn't.
Panicking the horse reared away from the branch and took of into the woods. Matt had lost grips of the horse's reins and had fallen of his horse. "Mimi!" yelled out Matt as stumbled to get up. Mimi's horse was nearly out of sight. Acting quickly, he jumped onto his horse and rode off after her.
"Matt! Mimi!" called out Jake, worriedly. Not long ago had he noticed they were missing from the group. He looked up at the sky, the sun was going down and it would soon be dark. Jake called out their names again but sighed when there was no reply.
"Don't worry, Jake," said Sora. "They'll be okay." Even though she was right, Jake just couldn't stop the thought of how his brother would react. He felt as if he had failed his older brother. Again.
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"Did you find him!?" cried a young boy. His eyes were dark yet full of hope as his father walked in through the door. "I'm sorry son, he's gone. Don't you worry though, we can always get another."
"I don't want another! I want my dog back!" Behind the father trailed another boy. His brown hair fell into his brown eyes since he had his head down. "It's all your fault!" cried the boy pointing at the one which had just entered. "You lost my dog! I hate you!"
"Now, now, it's not Jake's fault," said his father. "He's your brother and he would never do anything to hurt you."
"Well, he just did!" cried the young boy. He ran away from the room. The younger Jake just looked up at his dad, tears in his eyes and said, "I didn't mean to..."
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The older man wiped the tears from his eyes. He never forgave me then...And he'll never forgive me for losing his son...
"Mimi!" called out Matt. He urged the horse to keep moving but it wouldn't budge. Matt groaned as he got off the horse. He pulled on the horse's reins but even still the horse wouldn't walk. "Fine! Be that way you stupid horse!" cried Matt as he kicked some dirt up at the horse. "All you've done is cause me trouble!" With that, Matt ran off through the woods, leaving the horse behind.
Matt panted as he slowed down. The trees in the area were beginning to become scarce and an open field came into view. Matt coughed as he tried to regain his breath. He immediately froze when he heard a noise. Someone's whimper. He continued walking toward the field, quietly awaiting any other noise that might help.
The sound was heard again and Matt immediately recognized it. "Mimi!" Matt yelled. He took off quickly in the direction of the sound.
He came into the middle of the field and looked around. A loud sound startled him and he turned around to see Mimi's horse standing by its self. Mimi wasn't in sight. Matt sighed sadly as he approached the horse. He grabbed its reins and walked toward a log near a small hill. He tied the rein to the log and sat down at the ledge of the hill.
He closed his eyes as he tried to hold back the tears of guilt. All he had ever done since he got there was fighting with who ever wanted to help him. Especially Mimi. Anger surged through his veins at the thought of his actions. How could he have ever done that to his friend? A friend he cared so much for. "Some friend I am..." he whispered.
He gasped as his head shot up to the sound of a whimper. It was hers, he knew it. "Mimi?" he quietly whispered. "Matt?" came a soft reply. Matt looked around hoping to see her but didn't. He furrowed his eyebrows as he got up. "Where are-Ahh!" He had forgotten about the hill and had slipped on the edge. He roughly landed on his right elbow.
He winced as a sharp pain shot through his arm. "Matt!" His vision became blurry from the pain and all he could see was a figure that ran to his side. "Mimi..." were his last words before he fell unconscious.
Matt opened his eyes slowly. He winced as he tried to keep his eyes open for a bright glow fell over them. He tried to raise his right arm to block the light but ended up yelling out in pain. "Don't move your arm. You'll only end up hurting yourself more." He then felt a warm pair of hands hold his arm down. He could tell his arm was bandaged for he couldn't directly feel her touch.
He blinked a few times until his eyes adjusted to the light. He smiled as he saw her kneeling next to him, a smile on her face. "Thanks, Mimi," he said softly.
He tried to sit up but since he was having a bit of difficulty, Mimi decided to help him. She placed a hand on his back to pull him up. When he did sit up, they both blushed. They were face to face, just a few inches away from each other. He laughed nervously and turned away while she just blushed and looked down. So close yet so far... they both thought at the same time.
Mimi nervously fidgeted with his glove. She had to take it off him when she had to bandage up Matt's arm. She was lucky to have brought a few things just in cause in her purse.
"Matt?" she whispered, her eyes never leaving the glove. "Hmm?" He turned to her curiously. "How did you get that awful scar in your hand?" His eyes went wide in surprise. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He sighed and looked down at his injured arm. Half of his arm was covered in bandages and his hand was without its glove. "I never did tell you everything..."
"Then tell me," she calmly said. "It's better to let things out. Trust me." He looked back at her unsure of what he should do. She smiled and placed a hand over his hand. "Trust me," she said again, whispering this time. He nodded slightly and took a deep breath before speaking.
"I always used to ride the horse, it was like my way of getting away from home. From my parents. Every time they were together it was always yelling and arguing about things that didn't even make sense to me. There was this one time, when it got really bad. My mother was throwing things and I just couldn't take seeing that..."
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A younger Matt walks into the stable. He comes up to a medium-sized horse which walks closer to the boy near the fence that held him in. Matt smiled as he reached out and pet the horse's snout. The horse neighed softly at the affection and remained close.
A sudden crashing sound startled the horse making it rear its head back. Matt looked at the horse wide-eyed unsure of what was going on. Then the horse bit his hand, afraid and confused. Matt yelled out in pain and fell back onto the ground. He held his bleeding hand close to him as he got up and ran away from the horse back to his house.
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"My mother saw me run in crying and found out that the horse had bitten me. My mother then told my dad to get rid of the horse but he refused. That's when she told him that she wanted a divorce." Matt pulled his hand away from Mimi's and angrily wiped a few tears from his eyes as he finished.
He then carefully rubbed the scarred teeth marks left on his palm. "I would always try to cover it up but I guess I can't hide it forever."
Mimi just stared at him. He's been through so many hard things yet she had never heard him complain and there she was, the girl who had complained at everything he had denied to do and even yell at him yet still he won't push her away. Mimi sniffed as she hugged her legs to her chest.
Matt turned to her worried. "Are you okay?" he softly asked. She couldn't help it and threw herself into his arms, crying. Matt stared at her surprised but softly patted her back, closing his eyes. She wiped her tears away and whispered, "I'm sorry, Matt."
"What for?"
"For how I've been acting." He softly nuzzled her head and whispered in her ear, "don't worry about it." She smiled slightly, glad that she had apologized and him accepted. She snuggled in closer to him and closed her eyes. They both fell asleep with each others presence and warmth.
The sun rays crash over Matt's eyes he slowly opened them. The fire in front of him was out and all that emitted from it was steam. He looked down and smiled at the sleeping girl in his arms. The sun gently shone down on her delicate figure. He gently caressed her cheek with his left hand. A smile came across her lips as she took his hand in hers and looked up at him. "'Morning," he whispered, blushing slightly. She got up and stretched her arm and back.
Matt also got up. "I guess we should be getting back," he said, staring at the horse which awaited them above. He looked back at her and extended his uninjured arm. "Shall we go?" She took his hand. "Of course! I've had enough adventure for one day, not to mention all the days in the Digiworld." Matt shook his head as she went on explaining how hard it was being in the Digiworld.
"Are you sure you can ride with one hand?"
"Of course I can! How hard can it be?"
"Then could you keep your eyes on the where you're going?"
"I am!"
"Sure you are, just look ahead, Matty."
"Matty?"
"Pay attention!"
"I am! Sheesh! We're starting to sound worse than Tai and me!" They both laughed as they came into the clearing of their destination. "What do you think Jake will do?" asked Mimi. Matt remained silent for a while. "Well?" she asked. He finally decided to answer sincerely.
"I don't know." Mimi sighed letting her head drop onto Matt's back. He smirked as Mimi playfully hit his back. "I thought you were gonna say something more serious!" They both got off the horse and returned the horse to the stable.
Just before Matt could open the door, Jake came out. "Matt! Mimi!" He then hugged Matt tight...very tight...
"Help!" choked out Matt while Mimi tried to hold back her laughter. "Jake! Stop! Ow! Let go!" Jake let him go and rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed. "Oh sorry, Matt." His eyes went wide when he saw Matt's bandaged arm. "Matt! What happened to your arm!?" Matt glanced at his arm, "oh this? I...uh...fell. Mimi then helped me." He smiled at her and she returned the gestured. "Well, you better get inside. I'm gonna call a doctor to take a look at that. You had me worried, kids!" He ushered Mimi and Matt inside the house and shut the door.
Matt laid on his bed, one hand behind his head while the bandaged one rested on the side. "He's making such a big deal outta nothing. The doctor said it was nothing serious and that I should prevent moving it but that's it! Jake is making it seem like I broke my arm!" Mimi giggled at the comment.
"Reminds you of anyone?" Matt thought for a second before replying. "Joe?" Mimi nodded. "Who else!"
The suddenly opened and Mimi's parents stood at the doorway. "Mimi, sweetheart! Are you okay? We heard about how you got lost!" worriedly said her mom. "I'm fine, mom." Mimi hugged her mom in reassurance. "That's great, Princess," said her father, patting her shoulder. "We've come to pick you up. Actually all of the kids' parents have come to pick their kids up."
Mimi looked back at Matt sadly. He smiled slightly as she came up to him. "See ya then, Matt."
"See ya in school, Mimi." She smiled and leaned in towards him. Matt blushed brightly as she kissed his cheek. She turned to leave but stopped when someone called out, "Mimi, wait!" She turned to Matt surprised. He quickly jumped off the bed and ran up to her. "Wanna go for a last ride?" Completely ignoring their parents, they raced outside.
"You remember how to get on, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. You don't have to tell me twice." She got up on the back seat of the horse and wrapped her arms around his waist. Resting her head against his back, she could help but have the feeling of Dejavu. She didn't care though. She just smiled and whispered to herself, "The best way to ride is to ride with the one you care for the most..."
I'd like to thank Roaramon for helping me with the plot a bit. If it wasn't for Roaramon I would've never had the enthusiasm to finish... But I did! ^^ And I think it's all right... be nice and review. It'll make me happy and maybe (note the maybe) inspire me to write a sequel! Who knows, it's up to you, readers..