By: Crystal Clear
Sora sat on the side of her bed. She thought of last summer:
Mimi had gone to Germany and Joe to summer school and Izzy to computer camp and
Tai with his dad to America's finest, New York.
She was stuck going anywhere fun with Matt. It wasn't that Matt wasn't fun...oh he was
lots of fun. He was funny, cute, strong, yet sensitive...everything a girl could want. That was
the bad thing. All the girls around seemed to look at her with envy...just cause she was
with him...like...they were dating or something.
Tai gave her the phone number where he could be reached, "If you get lonely, give me a
call and I'll keep you company."
"Thanks, you're sweet," she'd said and given him a kiss on the cheek.
He'd blushed...big time but he always did that.
Days went by and she didn't hear from Tai.
Of course, she didn't let it ruin her fun. She was skiing with Matt. To the carnival with
Matt. Shopping with Matt. Out to eat with Matt. Concerts with Matt. Guitar shows with Matt.
Baby-sitting TK...with Matt. Baby-sitting Kari...along with Matt. Watching TV with Matt...It was no
wonder everyone (including her own mother) thought they were going out.
She finally broke down and called Tai. He was conversing with his cousin that lived in
the "Big Apple". Tai said it was a blast. He also said he'd call her sometime within the next
few days...he never called so Sora wasn't sure if New York was such a big deal.
Now that she thought about it, she was better off without Tai.
All he did was cause trouble.
Tai paced his room and tried to think of a way to get revenge on Sora...*How can you
get revenge on someone who loves you?* He could've sworn Matt's voice in his head *You're such
a softy.*
"I won't let him get to me..." he reached over, picked up the phone, and dialed an old
friend.
"Sarah here," she answered.
"Sarah, this is Tai."
"Tai?" she questioned, "Oh yeah! It's been a long time."
"I know. Three years now...Listen, why don't you come down?"
"Tai, I'd love to! The thing is, I wouldn't have anywhere to stay."
"You could sleep here. I don't think my mom would mind. She trusts us."
"Okay. I'll pack and hop on a train as soon as I can."
"Great! I can't wait!"
Tai placed the phone down on the receiver, "Mom! Sarah's coming over!"
"Who?"
"Sarah! Remember my best friend in sixth grade?"
"Oh yeah...she can come but she has to sleep with Kari."
"Kay!"
Sarah grabbed her duffel bag and rapidly packed.
*Oh Tai how long it took him to finally call me*
She remembered how they used to go to each other's homes every other weekend beginning
the week after swimming camp where they first met. They were in sixth grade and unseparatable...
except those weird times when he had canceled for unexpected reasons...*what was his excuse*
He had to save the world from digital monsters or something.
Now, she'd finally get to see how he's grown up.
*Tai, here I come* she thought and raced down the stairs to tell her mom.
The doorbell rung and Kari looked through the peephole.
"Mom! Someone is here!" she said.
Tai pushed her out of the way and opened the door, "Sarah."
He looked at her.
She raised her head up and gave a shy smile. Her blonde hair was below her shoulders
and her eyes were as blue as ever.
Simultaneously:
Sarah looked at Tai as if she'd never met him before when he opened the door.
*What a hunk* she thought and stared into his dark brown eyes. She lowered her head and
heard him say her name. She raised her head slowly and gave him her most innocent smile.
Then she spoke, "Hi, Tai."
"Tai!" his mom called, "are you going to let her in or just stand there?"
"Come in?" he questioned.
Sarah giggled and reached for her bags.
"No, let me," Tai said, picking up the duffels and packing them to his room.
Kari stood in shock, "Mom, is he okay?"
Sarah stepped inside, "Kari, is that you?"
"Uh, do I know you?"
"Honey that's Sarah." her mom said walking out of the room.
"Are you serious?" Kari gave her a hug.
"Kari, you've grown...your not weird like your brother was when he was in sixth grade
are you? You don't have to go off on mysterious adventures and save the world from monsters
do you?"
Kari forced a smile, "No...he's crazy...It's so great to see you! You'll be staying in
my room! We can do manicures and facials and everything!"
"Sounds like fun, Kari, but you understand that I am here to see Tai...can't you play
with that little boy," she snapped her fingers, "oh what's his name? TK?"
"Of course! TK! Great!" Kari said with a fake smile, "Well I guess you better be getting
up to Tai's room...you two have a lot of catching up to do."
Sarah nodded and headed to Tai's room.
Tai saw Sarah enter his room and almost fell backwards, "So..."
"So, Tai master...your room is still the same," Sarah said as she looked around. She picked
up a photo of Tai and Sora, "Is that your girlfriend?"
"No!" Tai said and slammed the picture face side down on the counter, "Just a friend and
we're fighting...you remember Sora."
"Yeah...I think I do. So what do you wanna do?" she asked and sat on his bed.
"Don't do that..." Tai said and felt himself getting weak.
"What?"
"Sit on my bed like that..."
"Oh yeah...you've matured and have your manly urges now," she giggled.
"HEY!" Tai exclaimed and jumped on her.
She fell onto the bed and he tickled her furiously, "Take it back!" he said.
Sarah roared with laughter, "Stop! Stop! I give! I take it back!"
Tai stopped and looked down at her. He wanted to lean down and take advantage of the
position but he thought *I have to wait till later* He rolled off her and stared at the ceiling.
"I guess I was being cruel," Sarah said sitting up, "you know what? I guess you are
different from other guys our age...you're completely stupid!" she gave a cry and jumped on to
him and tickled him hard like he'd done her.
"Sarah! NO fair!!!" he said.
Kari walked in and saw the two having a usual wrestling tickle match...*I wish I had
someone that close...oh TK...* she closed the door.
"Enough!" Sarah said and Tai stopped.
They sat up and Sarah fixed her hair, "Don't you think we're a little old for this?"
"No," Tai said, still laughing, "Let's go to the mall."
Matt tuned up his guitar on stage and he saw Tai enter the mall followed by a chick that
caught his eye, "I'll be back guys."
He jogged forward, "Tai! Hey! Why don't we stop fighting? It was all a misunderstanding."
Tai smiled to himself *This is my chance he thought*, "Alright Matt."
"So, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Matt asked looking Sarah up and
down.
Tai opened his mouth to speak but Sarah spoke first, "I'm Sarah...how are you Matt?"
Matt looked confused, "No you're not."
"You're still the same, Matt old buddy. A fast talking, sizzling hot guy who can get
any girl he wants...but refuses to commit."
Matt's anger boiled inside him. *Calm down* he thought* you have to make her think you've
changed or you won't have a chance with her, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that." he said.
Sarah laughed, "You do that..." she paused, "Aren't you going to get mad?"
"No...You've changed, Sarah."
"Well I guess you have too," she said and sat on a nearby bench, "So, you still playing
guitar?"
Matt nodded.
"I've really been wanting to learn how to play the bass but my dad won't pay for
lessons."
"I could show you some cords if you want," Matt offered.
"Sure...I'll be back in a minute, Tai."
"Go on!" he said.
Tai sat back and watched Matt and Sarah. Matt would say something charming or funny and
Tai would see Sarah laugh or giggle. He watched how as Matt helped her put on the bass, he
"accidentally" brushed her thigh. Of course they both laughed but Tai knew Matt was moving in for
the kill *Tai you're a genius*
Sora sat on the side of her bed. She thought of last summer:
Mimi had gone to Germany and Joe to summer school and Izzy to computer camp and
Tai with his dad to America's finest, New York.
She was stuck going anywhere fun with Matt. It wasn't that Matt wasn't fun...oh he was
lots of fun. He was funny, cute, strong, yet sensitive...everything a girl could want. That was
the bad thing. All the girls around seemed to look at her with envy...just cause she was
with him...like...they were dating or something.
Tai gave her the phone number where he could be reached, "If you get lonely, give me a
call and I'll keep you company."
"Thanks, you're sweet," she'd said and given him a kiss on the cheek.
He'd blushed...big time but he always did that.
Days went by and she didn't hear from Tai.
Of course, she didn't let it ruin her fun. She was skiing with Matt. To the carnival with
Matt. Shopping with Matt. Out to eat with Matt. Concerts with Matt. Guitar shows with Matt.
Baby-sitting TK...with Matt. Baby-sitting Kari...along with Matt. Watching TV with Matt...It was no
wonder everyone (including her own mother) thought they were going out.
She finally broke down and called Tai. He was conversing with his cousin that lived in
the "Big Apple". Tai said it was a blast. He also said he'd call her sometime within the next
few days...he never called so Sora wasn't sure if New York was such a big deal.
Now that she thought about it, she was better off without Tai.
All he did was cause trouble.
Tai paced his room and tried to think of a way to get revenge on Sora...*How can you
get revenge on someone who loves you?* He could've sworn Matt's voice in his head *You're such
a softy.*
"I won't let him get to me..." he reached over, picked up the phone, and dialed an old
friend.
"Sarah here," she answered.
"Sarah, this is Tai."
"Tai?" she questioned, "Oh yeah! It's been a long time."
"I know. Three years now...Listen, why don't you come down?"
"Tai, I'd love to! The thing is, I wouldn't have anywhere to stay."
"You could sleep here. I don't think my mom would mind. She trusts us."
"Okay. I'll pack and hop on a train as soon as I can."
"Great! I can't wait!"
Tai placed the phone down on the receiver, "Mom! Sarah's coming over!"
"Who?"
"Sarah! Remember my best friend in sixth grade?"
"Oh yeah...she can come but she has to sleep with Kari."
"Kay!"
Sarah grabbed her duffel bag and rapidly packed.
*Oh Tai how long it took him to finally call me*
She remembered how they used to go to each other's homes every other weekend beginning
the week after swimming camp where they first met. They were in sixth grade and unseparatable...
except those weird times when he had canceled for unexpected reasons...*what was his excuse*
He had to save the world from digital monsters or something.
Now, she'd finally get to see how he's grown up.
*Tai, here I come* she thought and raced down the stairs to tell her mom.
The doorbell rung and Kari looked through the peephole.
"Mom! Someone is here!" she said.
Tai pushed her out of the way and opened the door, "Sarah."
He looked at her.
She raised her head up and gave a shy smile. Her blonde hair was below her shoulders
and her eyes were as blue as ever.
Simultaneously:
Sarah looked at Tai as if she'd never met him before when he opened the door.
*What a hunk* she thought and stared into his dark brown eyes. She lowered her head and
heard him say her name. She raised her head slowly and gave him her most innocent smile.
Then she spoke, "Hi, Tai."
"Tai!" his mom called, "are you going to let her in or just stand there?"
"Come in?" he questioned.
Sarah giggled and reached for her bags.
"No, let me," Tai said, picking up the duffels and packing them to his room.
Kari stood in shock, "Mom, is he okay?"
Sarah stepped inside, "Kari, is that you?"
"Uh, do I know you?"
"Honey that's Sarah." her mom said walking out of the room.
"Are you serious?" Kari gave her a hug.
"Kari, you've grown...your not weird like your brother was when he was in sixth grade
are you? You don't have to go off on mysterious adventures and save the world from monsters
do you?"
Kari forced a smile, "No...he's crazy...It's so great to see you! You'll be staying in
my room! We can do manicures and facials and everything!"
"Sounds like fun, Kari, but you understand that I am here to see Tai...can't you play
with that little boy," she snapped her fingers, "oh what's his name? TK?"
"Of course! TK! Great!" Kari said with a fake smile, "Well I guess you better be getting
up to Tai's room...you two have a lot of catching up to do."
Sarah nodded and headed to Tai's room.
Tai saw Sarah enter his room and almost fell backwards, "So..."
"So, Tai master...your room is still the same," Sarah said as she looked around. She picked
up a photo of Tai and Sora, "Is that your girlfriend?"
"No!" Tai said and slammed the picture face side down on the counter, "Just a friend and
we're fighting...you remember Sora."
"Yeah...I think I do. So what do you wanna do?" she asked and sat on his bed.
"Don't do that..." Tai said and felt himself getting weak.
"What?"
"Sit on my bed like that..."
"Oh yeah...you've matured and have your manly urges now," she giggled.
"HEY!" Tai exclaimed and jumped on her.
She fell onto the bed and he tickled her furiously, "Take it back!" he said.
Sarah roared with laughter, "Stop! Stop! I give! I take it back!"
Tai stopped and looked down at her. He wanted to lean down and take advantage of the
position but he thought *I have to wait till later* He rolled off her and stared at the ceiling.
"I guess I was being cruel," Sarah said sitting up, "you know what? I guess you are
different from other guys our age...you're completely stupid!" she gave a cry and jumped on to
him and tickled him hard like he'd done her.
"Sarah! NO fair!!!" he said.
Kari walked in and saw the two having a usual wrestling tickle match...*I wish I had
someone that close...oh TK...* she closed the door.
"Enough!" Sarah said and Tai stopped.
They sat up and Sarah fixed her hair, "Don't you think we're a little old for this?"
"No," Tai said, still laughing, "Let's go to the mall."
Matt tuned up his guitar on stage and he saw Tai enter the mall followed by a chick that
caught his eye, "I'll be back guys."
He jogged forward, "Tai! Hey! Why don't we stop fighting? It was all a misunderstanding."
Tai smiled to himself *This is my chance he thought*, "Alright Matt."
"So, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Matt asked looking Sarah up and
down.
Tai opened his mouth to speak but Sarah spoke first, "I'm Sarah...how are you Matt?"
Matt looked confused, "No you're not."
"You're still the same, Matt old buddy. A fast talking, sizzling hot guy who can get
any girl he wants...but refuses to commit."
Matt's anger boiled inside him. *Calm down* he thought* you have to make her think you've
changed or you won't have a chance with her, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that." he said.
Sarah laughed, "You do that..." she paused, "Aren't you going to get mad?"
"No...You've changed, Sarah."
"Well I guess you have too," she said and sat on a nearby bench, "So, you still playing
guitar?"
Matt nodded.
"I've really been wanting to learn how to play the bass but my dad won't pay for
lessons."
"I could show you some cords if you want," Matt offered.
"Sure...I'll be back in a minute, Tai."
"Go on!" he said.
Tai sat back and watched Matt and Sarah. Matt would say something charming or funny and
Tai would see Sarah laugh or giggle. He watched how as Matt helped her put on the bass, he
"accidentally" brushed her thigh. Of course they both laughed but Tai knew Matt was moving in for
the kill *Tai you're a genius*