The Morning After
Disclaimer: Digimon doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Akiyoshi Hongo, Toei Animation, and BanDai. I'm just borrowing the characters, and I am not receiving and profit for writing this piece of fiction.
Notes: Thoughts are in italics. I want to dedicate this part to Digital Master, for being really sweet and emailing me about my story. Oh, and tremendous "Thank you"s are in order for everyone who reviewed saying that they like this story. It really means a lot, and encourages me to write.
Started:
February 6, 2001
Finished: February 11, 2001 (Record
timing!)
Part 4: What Happens When...
Sora shook her head. She didn't believe what the woman was telling her. She didn't WANT to believe it.
"But, I...no, no, no, no, no..." Sora let her face drop into her hands. A moment later, she brought her head back up, and looked at Dr. Mizowaki. "I don't understand how this could have happened...I've never...you know, I've never..." Sora stopped herself short, remembering a certain 'something' that had happened with Matt about a week ago...
"Oh, shit." she said quietly.
"Would you like me to get you anything, dear?" Dr. Mizowaki said, kindly. Sora thought for a second. She stood up quickly, but stumbled slightly. She brought her hand to her forehead.
"Aspirin, Tylenol, something...I have to go..." Sora was still confused by everything. "I can get some from...Tai..." Sora slowly walked towards the door.
"Oh, wait, Sora." Sora turned back.
"Yes?"
"Call me in a few days, alright?"
"Okay, th...thank you."
And with that, Sora opened the door, and walked out, closing it behind her. As she walked down the hallway, she noticed Tai, who was still waiting for her. He spotted her, and as she got closer, he noticed the crestfallen look on his friend's face. He immediately worried.
"Sora...what's the matter?" he said. Sora looked up at him, frowning.
"It's nothing."
"Nothing? I don't believe you!" Tai said, a little upset she wouldn't tell him.
"I can't talk about it here, okay?" Sora explained.
"Oh, I see." he said, understanding. Well, you know, not completely, but almost. Tai turned and put his arm around Sora's shoulder.
"Come on, let's get home, okay?" he suggested. Sora nodded. He led her out to the car, and like a gentleman, he pulled open the door for Sora. She quickly ducked to get in, and Tai shut the door behind her, then ran over to his side.
The ride to Sora's house was mostly silent. Sora spent most of it staring out of the window, not having anything to say. Tai just didn't have a clue WHAT to say.
When they arrived at their destination, Sora was the first one through the door. She practically ran into her apartment, and plopped down on the grey couch.
Tai walked into the kitchen, and grabbed a clear glass. He filled it with water from the tap and brought it to Sora. He saw she was lying face-down on the couch, her hands beneath her head.
"Sora?" Tai asked. Sora looked up, and Tai saw that her eyes were red, like she had been crying. Tai set the glass down, then sat down beside his friend.
"Sora, talk to me...what's wrong?" Sora moved her legs up, so Tai could fully sit on the couch. She huddled up, and looked towards the floor.
"..."
"I...Tai, you're my best friend, right?"
"Yeah, sure."
"That's a yes. And I can trust you with any secret, right?"
Tai nodded. He knew this was getting a bit serious.
"What, you're not gonna, like...die or anything, are you?" He said, trying to...well, cheer her up. Nice try, Tai thought.
"No...worse than that..." Sora didn't even hear any of his humour.
"Um, it gets worse than that?"
"Well, possibly...if I told you something, you'd have to promise not to tell ANYONE. Okay?"
Tai nodded again.
"I'm..." Sora paused.
"Yes?"
"I'm...pre..."
"You're...pretty? Yes, I know that one already..." Sora blushed.
"No! Tai, stop trying to be funny..."
"Well, than what is it?" Tai laughed.
"Look, Tai, this is serious, okay? I mean, take it seriously! After all, it's not every day you have to tell people that you're pregnant..." Sora stopped, realizing she's spoke too soon. "Oops."
"Wh...what?" Tai shook his head, as if he'd heard wrong.
"I'm...pregnant. I'm going to have a baby...and stuff." Sora said, looking away.
"How the *hell* is that possible?" Tai said, standing up.
"Well, I don't really want to have to tell you all that, this isn't health class..." Sora said, sort of trying to be funny.
"Don't do that Sora. You know what I mean."
"..."
"How old are you again?" Tai asked rhetorically.
"I'm...almost 16."
"What kind of....idiot goes and gets herself knocked up when she's 'almost 16'?" Tai yelled. Sora let her face drop into her hands. She stayed like that for a minute, then brought it back up.
"Me, okay!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face. "My kind of idiot! It was a...mistake...it obviously wasn't supposed to happen." Sora cried even harder.
"You're damn right." Tai said. "Who's is it?"
Sora froze, hearing those words. She didn't want to tell Tai who the father was, but he did have the right to know. Sora thought about how to tell him...it would be hard, and he wouldn't like it.
"It's..." Sora paused. Tai waited for an answer, but got none.
"It's...who?"
"It's Matt." she finally said, very quietly.
"Don't mumble. Who?"
"Matt, okay? You happy?" she practically shouted this time.
"Matt? Matt Ishida? Him?"
"Yes..." she said, hesitantly. Tai felt anger rising up in him. One of his best friends, whom he trusted, got another one of his best friends pregnant. Great.
"You slept with Matt. Man, I am going to hurt that guy...I knew you liked him, but I didn't know you liked him THAT much...That's why you two have been acting so weird..."
"Tai..."
"I bet he made you do it. Didn't he? I knew I could never trust that guy..."
"Tai..."
"I swear, I'll hurt him..."
"TAI!" Sora yelled, rising to her feet.
"What?"
"It's not...all his fault." the girl explained.
"Oh, what, so this was...what, a mutual decision?"
"Well, it's not really that simple..."
"Your damn right it's not!"
"Shut up!" Sora interrupted. "Just shut up, Tai!" She brought her hands up to cover her ears. "Quit yelling and being so rude!" She yelled, hypocritically. Tai's face still held a look of anger.
"Just stop being to overprotective, okay? That's the LAST thing I need right now."
"Well, I think you need SOMEONE to keep you from screwing up all the time!" Sora was disgusted at what Tai had said. Not only disgusted, but truly hurt. That, from her *best friend*, of all people. Sora narrowed her eyes and gave Tai a malicious look.
"Get out."
"What?"
"You heard me. Get out," Sora repeated.
"But Sora, I..."
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE, TAICHI KAMIYA!" Sora screamed, a few tears streaming her face. Tai's face was full of hurt. He frowned at his friend.
"Sora, I just...care about you." This time, his voice took a gentle tone.
"Yeah, well if you're going to act like this, then I don't want you to!" Tears gathered in Tai's eyes, threatening to fall. Having not completely seen the error of his ways, Tai opened his mouth to apologize again, but stopped himself. He slowly backed away from Sora as she continued to glare at him. He turned around, and headed slowly for the front door. Before opening the door, he gave one final look at Sora, who had not changed her facial expression at all. Neither of them said anything more as Tai quietly shut the door behind him.
The -click- was all it took for Sora to break down. She knew she shouldn't have yelled at Tai like that, and she felt horrible. But she had to realize what he had said to her, yet she didn't completely want to. She hadn't actually wanted Tai to leave, but she couldn't stop herself from saying those words. Sora dropped herself back onto the couch, and letting her head fall into her hands once again, she cried harder than she ever had before.
* * *
While Tai had tried on several occasions, Sora made no effort to contact Tai the whole weekend, leaving him baffled as to what he could do to apologize. He knew he had to fix things...but how? Sora was the type of girl who was stubborn in her decisions.
Monday morning at school, Sora avoided Tai. But not because she wanted to, because she felt she had to. She felt horrible about what had happened, as did Tai. At lunch, Sora didn't wait for Tai. She wasn't even in the cafeteria. Both of them were crying on the inside, unable to confront each other.
Near the end of the day, as he got ready to go home, Tai spotted Matt standing alone at his locker. Matt spotted Tai as well and greeted him. But unfortunately, Tai's anger and emotions got the best of him. Then, Tai did the unexpected. He brought his arm up behind him, and...
*wham*
Tai's fist connected with Matt's face with incredible force. It sent Matt flying to the ground. Matt lay on the ground for only a second, before attempting to stand up. Matt got up on his feet and turned to look at Tai, along with the rest of the hallway.
Tai didn't look to impressed. Matt put his hand over his cheek.
"What the hell was that for?" Matt spat out. Matt stared at him with narrow eyes.
"That was for Sora." he said, sternly. With that, he turned and walked away from Matt.
"What? I didn't do anything to Sora!" Matt yelled after Tai. "Tai! Come back here! Tai!" But Tai was gone.
"What the...?" I'm going to have to talk to Sora. I think Tai's gone crazy! Matt thought, his hand still on his red cheek.
* * *
*ring*
"I'm not home..."
*ring*
"No, shut up!"
*ring*
"God, why won't June leave me alone?" Matt said, walking over to the telephone. He picked the receiver up, and brought it to his mouth. "I'm sorry, Matt can't come to the phone right now. Please leave a message after..."
"Matt?" the voice said. Uh oh, it's not June... Matt took a guess at who it was.
"Sora?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Oh, Hi," Matt said, a bit uncomfortably.
"Look, Matt...I know that...well, I know we haven't exactly been the best of friends the last little while."
"Yeah."
"But, I...I really want things to go back to how they were. I don't want to have to avoid any more of my friends..."
"You have to avoid someone else? Who?" Matt interrupted.
"Well...uh, Tai."
"Tai? Why, what happened?" Matt asked, concerned.
"Well, I'll tell you later. Actually, that's why I called. I need to talk to you, but in person. Are you busy tonight?" Sora queried.
"No. Imagine that, Mr. Popularity has nothing to do on a Friday night," Matt joked. Sora laughed a little.
"Well, I hardly ever do anything on Friday nights. As opposed to you, I'm not exactly Miss. Popularity," Sora told Matt, but she didn't joke.
"Oh, I'm sure I can fix that," Matt laughed. Sora got back on track.
"Um, so if you're not busy, can you come over a little later? I can make you...us...some dinner, and then we can talk. Sound alright to you?" She asked, and Matt agreed. They said their respective goodbyes, and hung up.
Sora had been thinking about it all week. Wondering how she might tell Matt that he's the father of her child. But, it's never easy for anyone, right? Well, if you don't plan it then it's hard. To set her mind at ease, Sora decided to start preparing dinner. She took a small, silver pot from the cupboard, as well as some pasta from the drawer. She put water in the pot, and placed the pot on the stove. She sprinkled a little bit of salt in the water, turned the heat on, and placed the silver lid on the pot. Around a half and hour later, as Sora was putting the finishing touches on the meal she made, there was a knock at the door.
Ooh, Matt's here...
Sora went to the door, and smiled as she opened it to Matt's face. She let the boy into her apartment. There was a minute of silence between the two as Matt took off his shoes and coat, and put them both in the closet. Matt looked at Sora and smiled, bringing on still more silence. Neither of them *really* knew what to say. Sure, they had seen each other at school, and they had talked since...then...but, it wasn't like they'd ever been alone like that in a while. Matt looked at Sora. Sora returned the look, and bit her bottom lip.
Then, as neither of them expected it, Matt walked toward Sora and kissed her deeply, almost knocking Sora off her feet. In order to keep her balance, Sora moved to lean up against the wall. Wow, I can't say I hate this... Thought Sora. What did I just do that for? Matt pondered. The kiss lingered, remaining deep, until the phone rang, bringing Sora and Matt back to reality. Sora pulled away from Matt.
"I'd better go get that..." She ran to the phone, hoping not to miss it.
"Hello? Takenouchi residence, Sora speaking. How may I help you? No, I'm sorry, my mother isn't home right now. May I take a message?" Sora grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. "Mm-hm. Mm-hm. Okay, thanks Yuuko, I'll tell her you called. Sayonara." With that, Sora hung up the phone. She sighed deeply, then returned to Matt. Both of them blushing, they looked at each other.
"Oh, uh...sorry about that, Sora," Matt apologized.
"Not a problem, Matt. Hey, I didn't resist, did I?" Sora said, sweatdropping. Matt laughed.
"No, you certainly did not."
"Anyway, I think dinner's getting cold. I hope you like spaghetti," Sora said, leading Matt into the kitchen.
"Well, it beats mystery meat, that's for sure."
"Couldn't agree more." Sora took two plates with spaghetti on them, and set them on the table. One in front of Matt, and one for herself. Matt sat on a chair, and Sora sat across from him. "I hope you're not still torturing TK with that stuff," Sora chuckled.
"Nah, now it's something different," Matt joked. Both Matt and Sora ate and talked the hour away, enjoying each other's company. Wow, that girl sure can eat a lot... Matt thought, watching Sora. After they finished the meal, Sora took the dishes to the dishwasher, and cleaned up with kitchen. Matt offered to help on several occasions, but Sora denied him. After she was done, Sora moved to her bedroom, alluding Matt to follow her. Her did so, and they entered her bedroom.
"Woah, you're not thinking..."
"No, Matt. Silly. I just need to talk to you, and this place is comforting...nice and...uh...what's the word? Oh, whatever. Could you sit down please, Matt?" Matt agreed, and the two of them sat on Sora's bed. Matt started to wonder what Sora was planning on tell him. Was it good news? Bad? Matt hoped the former, but the look on Sora's face told him otherwise.
"Is it serious, Sora?"
"Well, not really." Sora blatantly lied.
"Oh, okay." Matt sighed in his head. At least he wouldn't have to worry about Sora. She could take care of herself, anyway.
"Matt, I'm going to tell you something important. And I need you to...well, keep your cool. It's coming to come as...um, well I honestly don't know what it'll be like for you. But, uh...here it goes," Sora said, then she cleared her throat. "I'm pregnant."
She waited for a reaction from Matt, but none came. Matt honestly didn't know what to think. So, he quickly came up with a solution. He laughed.
"Oh, very funny! I get it, ha ha!" He looked at Sora, hoping that was the case. Sora couldn't understand what Matt was doing.
"Oh, right. Ha ha, you caught me...wow, you're smart," she said sarcastically. "In all seriousness, Matt...this isn't the kind of thing you joke about..."
"So, then you're..."
"...really pregnant."
"But you said it wasn't serious. This is serious, Sora." Matt couldn't believe his ears. Sora? The Sora he knew? She hasn't ever...Oh, shit... He thought, but Sora interrupted him.
"Well, I didn't want you to worry."
"Who says I would have worried?"
"I know you, Matt. You would have worried."
"You're right. I would have worried, but with good cause, Sora."
Sora smiled. She knew she could count on Matt to care. He always had. While he may not have always shown it, Matt was one of the most caring guys Sora could think of. Always helping, and thinking of others. After all, think of what had happened their first time in the Digital World. Matt always thought of his little brother, TK, before himself. In fact, Matt and TK's relationship brought on a new meaning of the term 'brotherly love' for Sora.
"Thanks a lot, Matt. But, that isn't it...there's another thing you need to know..."
"Wait, as far as I know, you've only ever...uh, you know...once..."
"...you're..."
"...then I'm..."
"The father." Matt and Sora said simultaneously. Matt became wide-eyed.
"Oh, I see..."
"Matt, I'm sorry."
Oh my god, I'm a father... Ah! What am I going to tell my dad? My mom, TK...TAI?? Oh, wait, Tai...
"Matt?"
Wait a second, maybe that's why...that's why he's avoiding Sora and punched me...damn overprotective bastard...
"Matt? Hello? Anybody in there? I need a reaction." Sora told him.
"Well, I...Sora, I really don't know what to say...I'm sorry for...I'm sorry for that whole night...I shouldn't have invited you, and I should have been watching you, and..." Matt said, feeling like he had let Sora down.
"But Matt, I'm not."
"Not what?" Matt asked, perplexed.
"Sorry about the whole night. I'm glad you asked me. I'm glad we got to dance, and I got to know more about you, and I'm glad we...well, sort of glad we..."
"You're sort of glad I slept with you?" Matt finished for her.
"Well, uh...I obviously wouldn't have chosen to do it at nearly 16, but...well, I..." Sora blushed. "It wasn't all that bad. I...liked it." Matt blushed as well, and looked at his hands.
"Me too," he admitted. This caused Sora to blush even more. "But Sora, obviously I'm not going to say I'm completely happy with the repercussions, but...it IS mine, so...I'm willing to assume all responsibility," Matt expressed, smiling. Sora almost felt like crying. She...well, she hadn't expected that from Matt. No matter how caring she knew he was, she didn't expect him to take full responsibility, and stay with her. In fact, Sora did start crying.
"Oh, Matt...thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. Thank you!" Matt nodded, and pulled Sora into a hug. She acknowledged, and hugged Matt back. They held each other in a tight embrace, until something dawned on Sora. She let go of him and pulled back.
"Um, Matt...I just realized something. I still need to tell my mom!"
"Oh. Well, I hope that goes over okay. I'll be with you, of course, but still... Oh, hey, I still need an explanation of something."
"What's that?"
"You and Tai. Why are you two avoiding each other?"
"Well, uh, you see..." Sora tried to find the best way to explain it to Matt. "Well, Tai was the one who took me to the doctor's office. It was after I fainted in the park. When we got to my place, I obviously had to tell him what the doctor said, and I told him about you. And then he got really mad, and said he was going to hurt you, and I told him it wasn't all your fault, and he said, 'So it was a mutual decision, then?', and I said no, and told him to stop being so overprotective, and he said all I do is screw up, to he NEEDS to protect me, and so I got really, really mad at him and told him to leave my apartment." Sora said, then took a breath.
"Wow, anyone catch a license plate number on that sentence?" Matt teased. Sora gave a half-smile.
"So, then I guess that's why he punched me."
"He WHAT?" Sora shouted out.
"He punched me," Matt repeated. "I was harmlessly getting ready to go home on Monday afternoon, and he just walked up and punched me. I asked him why, and he said, 'That was for Sora!', and then just walked away. Now I understand why."
"Oh, why that stupid baka!"
"Don't worry about it. I'm fine. But, don't be too hard on him. He was only being overprotective because he's in love with you, Sora. That's just the only way he knows how to show it," Matt confided to Sora. She was practically shocked. Tai LOVES me? Oh, do I feel like... I don't know...what DO I feel like?
"Matt, I...I don't know what to say. How do you know?"
"He told me. Plus, if he didn't, my cheek wouldn't hurt," Matt said, bringing a hand up to the bruise on his face.
"Oh, this is just great. For how long? I don't have to have to break his heart...well, unless I already have," she stated melancholically to Matt.
"Well, for a few years. Took him a while to figure it out, though."
"But, I don't understand it...why was he being such an asshole? Oh, Matt, if you could only have heard what he said to me..."
"Sora, you know Tai. He tends not to think when he speaks. In fact, a lot of the time he says something and THEN thinks about it. I'm sure he feels horrible, Sora," Matt defended.
"Yeah. Well, I feel horrible, and it wasn't even my fault. Now, with all this, I feel even worse," Sora frowed at Matt, and he did the same back. The two of them sat on Sora's bed, deep in thought.
What am I going to do about Tai? I love Matt...Tai is my best friend.
Yikes, this is all so confusing...a father at 16.
But I need to stay with Matt, for my baby's sake. She or he is obviously going to need a father.
Why was I such an idiot that night...that's why I rarely drink. Gets you into a huge mess.
If I ever did decide to go with Tai, wouldn't it hurt Matt?
But it wasn't *that* bad... Oh, get that thought out of your head!
Hey wait, what am I going to name her?
Wow, I wonder what Sora will want to name him?
A -click- interrupted Sora and Matt's train of thought.
"Sora, I'm home!"
"Oh, yikes, it's Mom!" Sora panicked. "Hi, Mom!" she yelled out to her mother.
"Calm down, Sora. It'll be fine, and I'll be with you the whole way," Matt reassured Sora.
"Thanks, Matt. I really appreciate it." Sora and Matt turned to look at one another.
"Oh, and Sora...one more thing before we go...will you be my girlfriend?" Matt wondered. Sora smacked him playfully.
"What a silly question, Matt. Of course I will," Sora told him sincerely, and smiled. Sora and Matt emerged into the living room of Sora's apartment, and Sora spotted her mother.
"Hi, Mom! How was work?"
"Oh, busy. How was your day?" Ms. Takenouchi asked, her backed turned from her daughter. Sora and Matt exchanged a glance and a smile.
"It was amazing, mom. Hey, Matt's here." Ms. Takenouchi turned to look at Matt, and smiled.
"Hello, Matt. How are you doing?" She asked.
"Oh, I'm just fine, Ms. Takenouchi. I trust everything is fine with you?" Sora chuckled at Matt's attempts of politeness.
"Why, yes. Thank you Matt, you're so polite!" The woman complemented. Both Matt and Sora smiled. But then Sora's face turned serious.
"Mom, we have something really important to tell you. And I think you'd better sit down..."
"What it is, Sora?"
"Well, you see, I..."
Wow. This part is *exactly* 4000 words. My longest one yet! Aren't you proud of me? No? Oh, okay then...
Did you enjoy the oddly-placed kissing scene? I know, I know...I'm twisted. I kinda added that, as well as the sweatdrop, to lighten the mood. It helped, right? Well, 'til next time! (Which is Part 5, I guess. Either that or Part 2 of "Can You Keep A Secret?".)
Ja ne,
lime_lizard