***Author's Note***
This is my first actual Taiora fic, so please give me a break and review! I was inspired to write this when I saw people in our school getting Valentine balloons. And BTW, when I say odd or even day, I'm talking about a block scheduling. If you don't know what that is, just e-mail me and I'll explain if you want. I'm just too lazy to explain in the fic. Also, I'm going to use dollars as the money instead cause I have no idea how the Japanese money works.
*Disclaimer: I don't own anything except this computer I used to type this but and Maura, Sam, Jim, and Carlie. Jim and Carlie are just people I made for this fic only.
*Dedication: To ~*Liz*~ who's e-mail is taiorafan so this is for her. :) And to I Am Canadian AKA Mandie and lastly to Innosence. You guys are one reason I keep writing and also to all reviewers out there! Thank you!
Valentine Balloons
Part 1
By: ME jus1digigirl *Maura*
Tai Kamiya walked down the hall of Obidia High towards his locker. It was ten Tuesday morning and as he walked, he glanced at the walls, which were decorated with paper hearts, romantic pictures, and posters telling of the upcoming Valentine's Day dance. He sighed as he reached his locker and twirled the combination lock. One thing, one single, solitary thought, had been nagging him the past few days. How to ask Sora.
The dance was tomorrow night and he was running out of time. Of course, he had had more than enough time to ask but the question never came out of his mouth. And this particular dance was special. He had to ask at the right time and do everything the right way. Sighing again as he opening his locker and exchanged books, he thought of various ways to ask a girl to a dance.
But no, this wasn't just any girl. This was Sora Tackenouchi, one of his best friends and the girl of his dreams. He closed the locker door and proceeded down the hall to his next class, which was English. Unfortunately, he didn't have any classes with Sora today since it was an odd day. But he did see Maura Saiyun, his best friend since diaperhood. Maybe he should talk to her about asking Sora. Afterall, Maura was Sora's best friend too as well as Tai's.
Tai walked into the classroom and took his usual seat in the back. He sat waiting for Maura as the rest of the class filed in. Where is she? he thought. They had walked to school together that morning and she hadn't mentioned any doctor's appointments. Maybe she's sick. He recalled their conversation that morning and remembered Maura complaining about a slight headache and having a cold.
The bell sounded and everyone quieted down. And Maura hadn't come. Tai frowned. He would have to go over to her house after school or deal with his problem himself. Taking out his notebook, he began copying down notes the teacher had put up on the overhead.
* * * * *
Sora sat in her desk and stared at the clock, which read 1:40. She was nervous because she would be meeting Tai at their usual meeting place under a tree near between both the middle and high school. The Digidestined Tree they liked to call it. Normally, Maura, Matt, Izzy, and the others met their too everyday for about fifteen minutes to talk, but she knew today, they had other plans. And the fact that Maura had gone home early. So it would be just her and Tai. Of course, Tai didn't know that. She hoped.
She sighed as she glanced up at the wall clock once more thinking it was broken. Sure, tenth grade history was boring but normally, it didn't feel this long. She felt like her heart would burst with anticipation and hope that Tai would finally ask her. What better place and time would there be? Seeing that there was only two minutes left till the bell, she quickly packed up her bag and waited.
Brring! Brring!
Sora jumped up quickly at the sound along with the rest of the students and ran out to the hall. Before she could walk to the tree, she had to make a stop at her locker. Walking down the hall, she noticed many students holding pink and red heart shaped balloons in their hands. She smiled at the thought of Tai sending her a balloon. It would be nice to receive one from him even though it wasn't different from others.
As she reached her locker, she saw Tai waiting there and her hopes rose. Maybe he couldn't wait to ask her at the tree. Maybe he would ask her now. Or maybe he just wanted to say hi. She tried not to get her hopes too high as she waved and smiled at the boy.
"Hey Sora. How's it going?" he asked returning her smile with a warm one.
"Pretty good. Ready to go to the tree?" Sora asked willing her hands not to tremble as she spun the dial on her locker.
Tai's smile dropped, "Uh...I'm sorry Sora." he looked down and continued, "I can't today. Sorry. I have to get home and get ready for soccer practice. I also have to give Maura her assignments." He kept talking to the floor. "I'm really sorry."
Sora tried not to show any emotion and forced a smile onto her face, "That's okay. Really, it is. The other's couldn't make it either. Just go home and tell Maura I hope she feels better for the dance tomorrow."
"Sure. Well," Tai shifted his backpack. "I'll see you around." he smiled once more and walked away.
As soon as he did, Sora felt tears well up in her eyes. NO! I will not cry! she commanded herself and wiped her eyes. She was so sure he would ask her today. The dance was tomorrow night! Time was running short. Maybe he got scared and would ask her tomorrow. She sighed and closed the locker door. Tomorrow. There was still tomorrow.
* * * * *
You idiot! Tai mentally smacked himself. He pushed the door open and stepped outside. Tai was furious with himself. Sora's locker was the perfect time and place to ask her. Of course, the Digidestined Tree would have been an even better place seeing as how they would have been alone. He kept walking with his head bent down in thought. He was so angry with himself that he didn't even notice that he was walking straight into someone.
"Ow!" a boy's voice said. "Watch it!"
Tai looked up expecting to see an angry face but instead saw a bunch of balloons. "Umm...sorry."
The hands holding the balloons moved to reveal the face of a boy from Tai's soccer team. "Hey Tai. It's okay. But you'd better be careful. You almost made me left go of these," he gestured to the balloons with his head.
Tai took a step back so he wasn't standing so close to the boy. "Sorry Jim. Who're they for?"
Jim smiled widely, "Who else?"
Tai was confused.
Jim saw this confusion in his face and sighed, "They're for Carlie of course! I wanted to surprise her. She's already left so I'm leaving these at her desk in first period. She'll find 'em tomorrow morning and be so happy! I can already picture her smile!" Jim sighed but this time it was a happy one.
"Oh," Tai said and then asked, "But won't they pop by tomorrow morning?"
Jim shook his head. "Nope. They'll stay up for at least two days. Besides, I'm buying her flowers that'll last even longer for the dance tomorrow."
Now Tai's brain was reeling. He could buy Sora balloons from the school! Why hadn't he thought of it before?
"Say, how much do the balloons cost anyway?" Tai asked hoping he had some money.
"Hmm. It depends on a lot. If you want a single, a couple, a few, or a bunch, and if you want the balloons to be shaped or not. With words and designs or not. All that stuff."
Tai sighed as he looked at his friend exasperatedly, "Jim, just give me an estimate!"
"Oh. Why didn't you say so? Let's see, one balloon is seventy-five cents. Add twenty-five cents if you want it to be a heart. If you buy a bunch, each balloon is fifty-cents. And with words, add another, uh...twenty-five cents. I think. Those are all just guesses. I was so excited to buy balloons for Carlie that I didn't realize how much I was paying."
"Smart," Tai muttered as he jammed a hand in his pocket hoping to find some change. "Shoot!" he quickly put his backpack down on the grass, knelt down, and dug though it looking for some green or silver. "Man! I have no money!" Tai stood back up and hoisted up his bag.
"Well, it's okay. You still have tomorrow." Jim said hoping to make Tai feel better.
"Yeah," Tai agreed. "Tomorrow. There's still tomorrow."
* * * * *
Ring! Ring!
"Hewo?"
"Uh...Maura? Is that you?"
"Soba! Hi! Yub! It's me. I hab a cold." Maura said as she sat up. She had been lying on the sofa watching TV since she had come home at nine that morning. It was very frustrating because she had been waiting for hours to find out whether Tai had finally asked Sora to the dance or not. Now, she would find out.
"I'm sorry. I hope you feel better for the dance tomorrow." Sora's voice came from the other end of the line.
"Thanks. Be too. So, dib he ask-ACHOO!" Maura quickly grabbed a couple of tissues and jammed them to her nose and sneezed again. "ACHOO!" she sniffed and turned back to the phone. "Sobby. I was sabing, dib he ask you?"
The answer she got was a very depressed sounding sigh.
"Whab! He dibn't! Why thab Tai!" Maura yelled with outrage. "I'be been hinting at hib to ask you."
Sora sighed again. "Thanks Maura, but don't forget, there's still tomorrow."
Maura sniffled. "Yeab, there's still tobborrow. In fact, there's obly tobborrow."
* * * * *
Tai strolled up the walkway to Maura's house. He would ask her what Sora would think of balloons. It would be perfect. And he'd attach a note to it telling her to meet him somewhere but not signing his name. Perfect! he thought. But first, he would ask Maura how she would feel about getting something like that. He wanted it to be perfect for Sora so he would first need a girl's opinion.
He walked up the front steps and rang the doorbell while peering through the window. A few seconds later, Maura came wearing a robe and slippers. Man! She really must be sick! he thought. She never wore her robe and slippers in front of anyone if she could help it.
He waited for her to open the door and as soon as she did, she yanked him inside.
"Whoa!" Tai yelled as he stumbled and dropped some books and papers from his hand.
"Sobby," Maura apologized. "I hab the flu anb it's cold oubside." She picked up the books and papers and asked, "Are these for be?"
Tai nodded, "Your homework."
"Wonberful. Bub now, you'b better go bebore you geb sick too." she said and with that, she opened the door once more and pushed him out with a wave.
Tai waved back and then cut through the lawn to his own house. He sighed as he realized he hadn't gotten to talk to Maura about his problem. Oh well. He would take a few bucks to school tomorrow and go along with his balloon plan and hope it worked.
***Author's Note***
I was trying to make this a one-part fic but I couldn't. I'm sorry! I swear I tried but I decided to put the day of the dance as second part. I guess this part is kinda short but oh well. I wanted to get it posted and I can't think of writing the second part yet which will probably turn out long. Anyway, for my first Taiora, how was it? Review please. Thanks. And like the colors? ^_^ Hope it wasn't too hard to read!
*Maura*