Part 3
Matt trudged up the stairs to his old apartment building, wondering if maybe TK knew more about Matt's relationship, or what there had been, then he let on and was startled out of his thoughts by the sight of Sora.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Tai's at work so I came to get some of my stuff. I heard about you and Tai, congratulations," he said just barely keeping the bitterness out of his voice.
"Oh," she said realizing he had probably been at TK's. "Well I guess if he's at work I'll go home then. Night Matt."
"Night," he echoed taking the few remaining steps to the door and unlocking it. He was worried when the knob turned easily in his hand, but just figured that Tai had left it unlocked for him.
The dark apartment allayed his worries that Tai hadn't left yet and he flipped the light. He walked into the kitchen, wondering why he could smell orange juice. He wasn't happy to see the plastic cup sitting in an orange puddle. As messy as Tai was he normally cleaned up whatever he spilled just in case it stained.
He threw the cup in the sick and sopped up the sticky, drying liquid with a wash towel and putting the carton back into the fridge. Then with a sign he forced himself to go back to the bedroom he had shared with Tai, not really wanting to because of all the memories he knew were waiting.
When he opened the door he could just make out the figure on the bed. He flipped on the light, illuminating both the room and Tai.
"What are you doing here?" Tai demanded throwing his arm over his eyes.
"I came to get my stuff. You're supposed to be gone by now, you normally are."
Tai moved his arm to look at the clock and swore. He jumped off the bed and took three or four steps before falling to his hands and knees. Matt had shoved the nearly empty trashcan under Tai's face by the time his knees had hit the floor.
Tai tried to stand back up and shove the trashcan out of his way, but thought better of it as he threw up noisily into it.
"Go away Matt," Tai rasped out, scrubbing his mouth with the back of his hand. "I have to go to work."
"You are sick Tai, you can't go to work. Get back in bed and I'll call them for you."
Tai just glared at Matt as he sat back on his calves.
"Moshi moshi," a voice answered on the second ring.
"I'm calling to let you know that Yagami Tachi won't be going to work this evening."
"Tai?" the voice asked sounding concerned. "Why? What happened?"
"He's sick."
"All right, tell him I hope he gets better. Bye." Matt hung up and found that Tai was still staring at him.
"I don't need you to try and take care of me."
"You need someone too," Matt snapped irately. "Because you aren't going to do it yourself. You need to go see a doctor Tai. One could probably give you some medicine or something to help you."
"I don't need a," Tai cut off abruptly, swallowing repeatedly, trying to ignore the foul taste rising in the back of his throat. Matt helped Tai to his feet and grabbed the bucket and led his ex-boyfriend to the bathroom.
Tai fairly dove at the toilet when they got there and puked. After a minute he flushed the toilet and sat heavily against the wall. Matt emptied the trashcan as best he could and flushed that away too and rinsed it out.
"This doesn't change anything," Tai said when Matt handed him a cup full of water. "I still hate you." Ignoring the cup of water he began to sob, and he knew it wasn't just the pain thudding through his body.
"I know Tai. But I've always been your friend, that's the only reason I'm still here." Tai cried harder, his shoulders shaking almost violently. Matt watched Tai, hardly able to believe how heavy and exhausted he felt all of a sudden. There was a long silence only punctuated by Tai's shaky sobs of breath.
"Do you want me to call Sora before I leave?" Matt asked, using every once of control he had not to sound bitter or close to tears himself.
"No," Tai said and it sounded almost like a moan.
"She's your girlfriend Tai, you should at least let her try and help you."
"No, please m-Matt, don't go." Matt couldn't have left if he wanted too, for the second time that day he was frozen in his spot. "D-do you n-know, what I did? She's, in love with me, my best friend. And because I-i wanted to make you hurt like I was." Tai said brokenly. For a second his throat locked and he couldn't say anything. "I let her th-think I was in, in love with h-her, but I-i'm in l-love with you."
"Tai, please stop crying, you're just going to make yourself sick again."
"I don't care!" he howled. "W-why do you? I'm j-just a stupid j-jock."
"That's not true." Matt knelt beside Tai and lifted Tai's chin so that he could look him in the eyes. "Tai, you know that's not true. Don't even try professing your love; you have a girl friend, a job, an apartment and a spot on one of the town's soccer team. You have everything you want, without me and you'll do just fine."
"Matt," Tai tried to protest but broke himself from Matt's grip and lunged at the toilet again, throwing up the remaining contents of his stomach. Matt rubbed his back in a soothing manner as Tai dry heaved a few times.
"Do you want to go back to your room?" Tai nodded but he wanted to scream. It had used to be their room. The other one had been Matt's purely for show. Matt allowed Tai to lean on him as they went down the hall and placed the trashcan next to the bed just in case.
Tai crawled into the bed wishing he could just delete the day from his life. He scrubbed the drying tears from his face and turned so his back was to Matt.
"What're you going t'do?" Tai asked, his voice slurring because he was so tired.
"TK's letting me stay at his and Kari's apartment until I find a place of my own. I'm going apartment hunting tomorrow."
"There's an open room here."
"I doubt Sora wants me here. She came to tell by to tell Kari her news and was gleefully telling TK that you had kicked me out."
"Who cares what she thinks. I'm going to have to break it to her tomorrow or something."
"And what are you going to tell her?" Matt asked going through the drawers and grabbing a few of his clothes.
"That I'm in love with you." Matt forced a laugh.
"You wouldn't."
"She deserves the truth when I break up with her. I'd rather lose my job then lose you," Tai told him sounding slightly offended."
"What are you talking about Tai?" Matt asked as he zipped his bag shut.
"My job, they'll fire me for being gay. Not that I haven't been the entire time I've worked there."
"You're sick Tai, just go to sleep and forget about it. Forget about everything."
"Matt, please…"
"TK's probably already wondering why I'm not back yet," Matt cut him off.
"Call him. Just don't go, please," Tai said sitting up in the bed, begging him. Matt shook his head slightly and turned to leave. Tai crawled to the end of the bed and caught Matt's arm.
"Tai, lie back down. Try to sleep on your stomach."
"Why are you making this so hard?" Tai asked Matt not letting go. "I am so unbelievably sorry for kicking you out. Stay in your own room if you want to, but please don't leave me."
"I'm calling Sora. She'll be more then happy to stay with you."
"Damn it! I don't want Sora. I'll call her myself and tell her that I'm gay if you want me to. That's what you want, isn't it? To come out."
"I want you to go back to sleep. You're sick and by the sounds of it delirious."
"I'm not delirious!" Tai shouted furiously. He let go of Matt stumbled to the living room, dialing Sora's number and putting her on speaker phone.
"Moshi moshi," Sora's voice rang out.
"Tai stop it!" Matt hissed.
"No, Sora, there's something I have to tell you. I'm so sorry, but we have to break up."
"Tai? Why? What's going on?"
"Nothing's going on, I just should have to you a long time ago. I'm gay."
"But this afternoon…" she started, remembering all the words he had said, but also realizing they had sounded hollow.
"I was upset because Matt and I had a fight and I wasn't thinking except I wanted to hurt him. I know it doesn't mean much, but I'm so sorry Sora."
"I should have listened to Kari," Sora muttered to herself. "Tai, I am hurt you lied to me, but I don't hate you. I've seen it for years, I've been told it for almost as long but I kept denying it."
"Sora," Tai tried to interrupt but she wasn't finished.
"I wish you luck and don't be surprised if I don't answer the phone or come to the door for the next few weeks."
"I understand Sora," Tai said relieved she was taking it so well. "What do you mean people have been telling you?"
"Kari and TK think you make a cute couple. I just don't see it, but then again, I'm in love with you." Sora's voice cracked at the end of her speech and Tai got the uncomfortable feeling that she was crying. "Bye."
"Bye." Tai didn't disconnect immediately and the line started beeping. He hit the button and the noise cut off, leaving him deep in thought.
"I can't believe you just did that," Matt said after a minute.
"I can't believe Kari knows." Matt stared at Tai for minute, realizing he was sway slightly.
"Tai, get back in," he cut off and caught Tai before he could hit the floor. "Crap," he muttered under his breath. He wondered if it was the first time Tai had fainted that day. Taking a deep breath he lifted Tai up in his arms and stood. He carried his ex-boyfriend to their old room and laid him on the bed.
He rolled Tai over on his stomach and pulled the covers up to his shoulders, resisting the strong urge to his kiss his cheek goodnight. They weren't a couple anymore, he couldn't do it.
With a sigh he grabbed the cordless sitting on the dresser and called TK explaining that Tai had passed out so he was going to stay there. TK had wondered if Matt was drunk, but he had smelled faintly of orange juice, not beer.
Matt trudged up the stairs to his old apartment building, wondering if maybe TK knew more about Matt's relationship, or what there had been, then he let on and was startled out of his thoughts by the sight of Sora.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Tai's at work so I came to get some of my stuff. I heard about you and Tai, congratulations," he said just barely keeping the bitterness out of his voice.
"Oh," she said realizing he had probably been at TK's. "Well I guess if he's at work I'll go home then. Night Matt."
"Night," he echoed taking the few remaining steps to the door and unlocking it. He was worried when the knob turned easily in his hand, but just figured that Tai had left it unlocked for him.
The dark apartment allayed his worries that Tai hadn't left yet and he flipped the light. He walked into the kitchen, wondering why he could smell orange juice. He wasn't happy to see the plastic cup sitting in an orange puddle. As messy as Tai was he normally cleaned up whatever he spilled just in case it stained.
He threw the cup in the sick and sopped up the sticky, drying liquid with a wash towel and putting the carton back into the fridge. Then with a sign he forced himself to go back to the bedroom he had shared with Tai, not really wanting to because of all the memories he knew were waiting.
When he opened the door he could just make out the figure on the bed. He flipped on the light, illuminating both the room and Tai.
"What are you doing here?" Tai demanded throwing his arm over his eyes.
"I came to get my stuff. You're supposed to be gone by now, you normally are."
Tai moved his arm to look at the clock and swore. He jumped off the bed and took three or four steps before falling to his hands and knees. Matt had shoved the nearly empty trashcan under Tai's face by the time his knees had hit the floor.
Tai tried to stand back up and shove the trashcan out of his way, but thought better of it as he threw up noisily into it.
"Go away Matt," Tai rasped out, scrubbing his mouth with the back of his hand. "I have to go to work."
"You are sick Tai, you can't go to work. Get back in bed and I'll call them for you."
Tai just glared at Matt as he sat back on his calves.
"Moshi moshi," a voice answered on the second ring.
"I'm calling to let you know that Yagami Tachi won't be going to work this evening."
"Tai?" the voice asked sounding concerned. "Why? What happened?"
"He's sick."
"All right, tell him I hope he gets better. Bye." Matt hung up and found that Tai was still staring at him.
"I don't need you to try and take care of me."
"You need someone too," Matt snapped irately. "Because you aren't going to do it yourself. You need to go see a doctor Tai. One could probably give you some medicine or something to help you."
"I don't need a," Tai cut off abruptly, swallowing repeatedly, trying to ignore the foul taste rising in the back of his throat. Matt helped Tai to his feet and grabbed the bucket and led his ex-boyfriend to the bathroom.
Tai fairly dove at the toilet when they got there and puked. After a minute he flushed the toilet and sat heavily against the wall. Matt emptied the trashcan as best he could and flushed that away too and rinsed it out.
"This doesn't change anything," Tai said when Matt handed him a cup full of water. "I still hate you." Ignoring the cup of water he began to sob, and he knew it wasn't just the pain thudding through his body.
"I know Tai. But I've always been your friend, that's the only reason I'm still here." Tai cried harder, his shoulders shaking almost violently. Matt watched Tai, hardly able to believe how heavy and exhausted he felt all of a sudden. There was a long silence only punctuated by Tai's shaky sobs of breath.
"Do you want me to call Sora before I leave?" Matt asked, using every once of control he had not to sound bitter or close to tears himself.
"No," Tai said and it sounded almost like a moan.
"She's your girlfriend Tai, you should at least let her try and help you."
"No, please m-Matt, don't go." Matt couldn't have left if he wanted too, for the second time that day he was frozen in his spot. "D-do you n-know, what I did? She's, in love with me, my best friend. And because I-i wanted to make you hurt like I was." Tai said brokenly. For a second his throat locked and he couldn't say anything. "I let her th-think I was in, in love with h-her, but I-i'm in l-love with you."
"Tai, please stop crying, you're just going to make yourself sick again."
"I don't care!" he howled. "W-why do you? I'm j-just a stupid j-jock."
"That's not true." Matt knelt beside Tai and lifted Tai's chin so that he could look him in the eyes. "Tai, you know that's not true. Don't even try professing your love; you have a girl friend, a job, an apartment and a spot on one of the town's soccer team. You have everything you want, without me and you'll do just fine."
"Matt," Tai tried to protest but broke himself from Matt's grip and lunged at the toilet again, throwing up the remaining contents of his stomach. Matt rubbed his back in a soothing manner as Tai dry heaved a few times.
"Do you want to go back to your room?" Tai nodded but he wanted to scream. It had used to be their room. The other one had been Matt's purely for show. Matt allowed Tai to lean on him as they went down the hall and placed the trashcan next to the bed just in case.
Tai crawled into the bed wishing he could just delete the day from his life. He scrubbed the drying tears from his face and turned so his back was to Matt.
"What're you going t'do?" Tai asked, his voice slurring because he was so tired.
"TK's letting me stay at his and Kari's apartment until I find a place of my own. I'm going apartment hunting tomorrow."
"There's an open room here."
"I doubt Sora wants me here. She came to tell by to tell Kari her news and was gleefully telling TK that you had kicked me out."
"Who cares what she thinks. I'm going to have to break it to her tomorrow or something."
"And what are you going to tell her?" Matt asked going through the drawers and grabbing a few of his clothes.
"That I'm in love with you." Matt forced a laugh.
"You wouldn't."
"She deserves the truth when I break up with her. I'd rather lose my job then lose you," Tai told him sounding slightly offended."
"What are you talking about Tai?" Matt asked as he zipped his bag shut.
"My job, they'll fire me for being gay. Not that I haven't been the entire time I've worked there."
"You're sick Tai, just go to sleep and forget about it. Forget about everything."
"Matt, please…"
"TK's probably already wondering why I'm not back yet," Matt cut him off.
"Call him. Just don't go, please," Tai said sitting up in the bed, begging him. Matt shook his head slightly and turned to leave. Tai crawled to the end of the bed and caught Matt's arm.
"Tai, lie back down. Try to sleep on your stomach."
"Why are you making this so hard?" Tai asked Matt not letting go. "I am so unbelievably sorry for kicking you out. Stay in your own room if you want to, but please don't leave me."
"I'm calling Sora. She'll be more then happy to stay with you."
"Damn it! I don't want Sora. I'll call her myself and tell her that I'm gay if you want me to. That's what you want, isn't it? To come out."
"I want you to go back to sleep. You're sick and by the sounds of it delirious."
"I'm not delirious!" Tai shouted furiously. He let go of Matt stumbled to the living room, dialing Sora's number and putting her on speaker phone.
"Moshi moshi," Sora's voice rang out.
"Tai stop it!" Matt hissed.
"No, Sora, there's something I have to tell you. I'm so sorry, but we have to break up."
"Tai? Why? What's going on?"
"Nothing's going on, I just should have to you a long time ago. I'm gay."
"But this afternoon…" she started, remembering all the words he had said, but also realizing they had sounded hollow.
"I was upset because Matt and I had a fight and I wasn't thinking except I wanted to hurt him. I know it doesn't mean much, but I'm so sorry Sora."
"I should have listened to Kari," Sora muttered to herself. "Tai, I am hurt you lied to me, but I don't hate you. I've seen it for years, I've been told it for almost as long but I kept denying it."
"Sora," Tai tried to interrupt but she wasn't finished.
"I wish you luck and don't be surprised if I don't answer the phone or come to the door for the next few weeks."
"I understand Sora," Tai said relieved she was taking it so well. "What do you mean people have been telling you?"
"Kari and TK think you make a cute couple. I just don't see it, but then again, I'm in love with you." Sora's voice cracked at the end of her speech and Tai got the uncomfortable feeling that she was crying. "Bye."
"Bye." Tai didn't disconnect immediately and the line started beeping. He hit the button and the noise cut off, leaving him deep in thought.
"I can't believe you just did that," Matt said after a minute.
"I can't believe Kari knows." Matt stared at Tai for minute, realizing he was sway slightly.
"Tai, get back in," he cut off and caught Tai before he could hit the floor. "Crap," he muttered under his breath. He wondered if it was the first time Tai had fainted that day. Taking a deep breath he lifted Tai up in his arms and stood. He carried his ex-boyfriend to their old room and laid him on the bed.
He rolled Tai over on his stomach and pulled the covers up to his shoulders, resisting the strong urge to his kiss his cheek goodnight. They weren't a couple anymore, he couldn't do it.
With a sigh he grabbed the cordless sitting on the dresser and called TK explaining that Tai had passed out so he was going to stay there. TK had wondered if Matt was drunk, but he had smelled faintly of orange juice, not beer.