Disclaimer- you know the drill by now. I don't anything to do with Digimon
Histroy Repeated
Chapter five
Kari pushed open her apartment door and flopped down on the coach beside her elder brother. He was staring at the T.V with a distant look in his eyes. She knew him to well to think that he was watching some mindless talk show.
" What's up with you?" She asked playfully, " Don't tell me you lost another game of soccer and now your whole world is going to fall apart,"
He shrugged and made some groaning sound.
" Okay then let me see. The cafeteria was all out of pizza at lunch. No? You've just found out the moons not made of cheese. Oh I know! Someone told you the power rangers aren't real again," She laughed remembering some of the arguments they had as children.
He didn't move, just stared at the colourful screen. Normally she would have at least got a playful punch on the arm.
" Tai are you alright?" She asked gently. Something was defiantly wrong with her big brother this time.
" No," He sighed and folded his arms,
" What's the matter?"
" You wouldn't understand," he muttered,
" Try me,"
" Believe me Kari you wouldn't understand. I don't even understand so how could you,"
" Tai you know you can talk to me. You may still think I'm eight years old but I can try to help you,"
He sighed and stared up at the ceiling.
" I just. . Just did something really stupid today, to someone I really care about,"
" Someone whose name begins with s?"
" Look it doesn't matter Kari. Just leave it out okay,"
" I just want to know what's wrong. What did you do to her?"
" Nothing,"
" You must have done something if you're this upset,"
" I'm not upset. I'm just mad at my self,"
" Why?"
" Because some really weird stuffs going on and I can't control it or stop it. I don't want to hurt her, but I feel like that's all that I'm doing,"
" You really like her don't you Tai?" Kari asked smiling kindly,
" How could I not like her,"
" Then what ever you've done she'll understand. If you really didn't mean to hurt her,"
" I don't know what's going on Kari. I think about her all the time. I can't get her out of my head. I like her so much, but I'm really scared I'm going to hurt her,"
" Why?"
" It's just this feeling I have. Some times . . .Kari you know how when we were little we used to make up those stories about ghosts,"
" Yeah,"
" And you used to swear you saw one in my room once,"
" Yeah," She started to laugh,
" Well sometimes I feel as though I'm being . . .watched. Like there's someone else in the room behind me. Then sometimes at night I can swear I can hear voices, I just can't work out what they're saying,"
" Are you saying your being haunted!" Kari burst into laughter, Tai was always trying to wind her up.
" Kari I'm not joking," he whispered. His face was deadly serious, not even a glint of a smile showed in his eyes.
" You are serious aren't you," She whispered, " Why?"
" I don't know. It just feels like someone's always beside me. And when . . .when I'm with Sora I feel it even more. It's like it's trying to reach out and grab her. Then today it almost did. I can't explain what happened, but I just started making out with her and . . .and it wasn't me making out. It was like someone else was in my body and had pushed me to the back of my mind,"
" So you reckon your ghost friend has the hot's for Sora?" Kari grinned mischievously.
" Kari it's not funny,"
" I know. Look Tai I don't know what's going on. Maybe your imagination is just running away with you or something,"
" Yeah probably," he muttered,
" Or maybe you should call in the exorcist," She laughed.
He picked up a cushion and hit her around the back of her head playfully.
" It must of been brilliant," Sora sighed as she listened to her friend Jodi talk about her vacation in Hawaii. She stuffed her gym kit into her bag and grinned at Jodi,
" It was! I really really wish I was back there," Jodi sighed dreamily, " So what's been going on around here while I've been spending two weeks in the sun, sea and up to my elbows in hot surfers,"
" Oh my gosh I totally forgot to tell you guys," Mimi cried frowning a hand up to her mouth," You'll never guess what matt told me this morning,"
" Matt?" Jodi asked devishly. She sat down on the bench in the girl's locker rooms and waited for an explanation.
" Please Jodi don't even ask, she'll never shut up," Sora warned her,
" Who's Matt?" Jodi asked ignoring Sora's groans,
" Matt is the cutest, sweetest, gourgest, talentest, funniest guy in the whole world," Mimi smiled forgetting what she was going to say.
" Are you going out," Jodi asked eagerly,
" Yep. For two weeks now,"
" Mimi what were you going to tell us?" Sora asked quickly before her friend could get into another long conversation about how great matt is.
" Oh some one started a fire in the girls bathroom on the second floor of the English corridor. Any way Matt's in a band and-"
" What!" Sora cried,
" Yea apparently it was deliberate as well,"
" To bad they didn't burn the whole place down," Jodi laughed,
" Who would try and do that though?" Sora said thoughtfully.
" Anyway as I was saying Matt's in a band, he's the lead singer and he also plays the guitar. He's really good at it as well. And he works in that little old fashioned diner around the corner from the park. His got really cool blonde spiky hair and these fabulous blue eyes,"
" Hey Mimi why don't you go and fetch your shoe," Sora laughed as she picked Mimi's shoe of the floor and threw it into the long row of showerheads, anything to get Mimi to shut up for a little while.
" Sora!" Mimi cried as she ran down the tiled floor to fetch her trainer.
Jodi gave Sora an evil look. Sora knew just what her friend was about to do. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to tell her to stop. But it was too late.
Jodi's hand slammed down on the button to turn on all twelve showers.
Mimi's screams echoed around the empty changing room as cold water soaked through her uniform and drenched her skin.
" I'm going to kill you!" She howled.
" Run!" Jodi screamed,
Sora didn't have any choice but to get out of there right now. She followed Jodi out of the locker room, down the crowded corridors and crashing into their biology classroom.
" You really shouldn't have done that Jodi," Sora said sternly as they fell into their seats.
" I know,"
Neither of them could hold it in any longer. They burst into wild laughter.
" Did you see the look on her face," Jodi panted, " She looked like a drowned rat.
" Poor Mimi," Sora managed to choke out. She thought her sides were going to split with laughter.
It felt so good to be joking around with Jodi again. She hadn't laughed like this in ages. Well she had laughed like this when she was with Tai, but she didn't think she'd be laughing with him for a while again. It had been two days since she last spoke to him. All right it wasn't that long, but it felt an age.
She hadn't seen him around school and she hadn't been to the diner, she wasn't exactly avoiding him, just keeping out of his way. She'd felt miserable lately, she didn't know why exactly. No she did know why, it was because she hadn't been around him. But she'd never admit to being so pathetic. Laughing like this with Jodi was a godsend.
" Could Sora Tacknouche please report to the principals office," The crackely voice over the classroom speaker demanded.
Sora instantly stopped laughing. She had never been asked to go to the principal's office before, never.
" Oh Sora's been a bad girl," Jodi laughed, " What have you been up to Sora while I've been away,"
" Nothing," Wild thoughts ran through her mind as she walked down the now empty corridors. Mimi hadn't turned up to biology, Sora guessed she had gone home. Mimi wouldn't go to the principal just because they had played a joke on her.
What if something had happened at home? What if something had happened to her parents or Gemma or Ryan? She quickened her pace. Or what about nanny? She hadn't been very well lately, everyone knew that.
" I've come to see Mr Carhill," She informed the receptionist.
The old woman gave her an unreadable look, the wrinkles at the side of her mouth seemed to sag a little.
" Go in, he's waiting for you," Her dry voice told Sora.
Sora took a deep breath and slowly opened the glass door to Mr Carhill office. Mr Carhill sat behind a wooden desk stroking his stubble grey beard as he watched her enter. Infront of the desk sat her mother with a blank expression across her normal soft face. Across the room form her mother sat a female police office with blonde hair tied up in a bun. An empty chair sat in-between them.
Oh god something was wrong. Something terrible must have happened.
" Uh, Miss Tacknouche, please have a seat," Mr Carhill said indicating to the empty chair.
" What's happened?" She blurted out before she could control her dread.
" I was hoping you could tell us that Sora," He answered blankly.
Sora glanced at her mother as she sat down. She had tears forming her amber eyes, she was crying but her mother never cried.
" I believe you would have heard of the fire started in one of girls bathrooms last night Sora?"
She nodded her head dumbly.
" Well I am sorry to inform you that a witness has come forward this morning. They have told us that they saw you coming out of that bathroom at around the time of the fire,"
Sora stared at him in disbelief. What was he trying to say?
" We have reason to believe that you purposely started that fire last night Sora,"
" What!" She cried shocked, " Why would I do that!"
" That's what we are hoping to find out Sora,"
" But I didn't. I'd never do that. Who ever told you they saw me was lying. I'd never do anything like that. I only heard about the fire this morning. Honest,"
" There I told you my Sora would never do that," her mother cried breaking her silence.
" Can you tell us where you were at five o'clock last night Sora?"
Where was she last night? She was wondering aimlessly through the park. Trying to escape from any sense of human life. She had found a deserted area where she knew no one ever came. She had sat down under a tree and cried for an hour, for no good reason only that she wanted to cry.
" I . . .I was in the park,"
" Was anyone with you?" the police officer asked.
" No, just me,"
" So you don't have anyone to back up your explanation?"
" No, but. . .but that doesn't mean I did it. I didn't do it I swear that I didn't,"
The argument she had with Tai suddenly sprung into her head as she said those last words.
" But our witness swears they saw you running down the English corridor,"
" I didn't . . ."
" I'm sorry Miss Tacknouche and Mrs Tacknouche. But I'm afraid Sora will have to be suspended until we get to the bottom of this investigation,"
" But I didn't do it!"
" You can't suspend her!"
" I'm very sorry, it's standard procedure you understand. Just so everyone's minds are at rest until this case is solved,"
" NO I DO'NT UNDERSTANDS! I haven't done anything wrong!" Sora shouted jumping out of her seat.
" You will be allowed back on school property when every thing has been cleared up. But until then I would be grateful if you would stay at home. Of course if you are found guilty Sora, you'll be expelled from this school,"
" I can't believe this! Your making my daughter miss out on the education she has a right to because some little brat told you they saw her. When they obviously didn't,"
" Do you know where your daughter was yesterday afternoon?" The policewoman asked Sora's mother.
" In the park like she says! Come on Sora I don't want to stay around here for a minute longer,"
Her Mother grabbed Sora's arm and pulled her out of the office and down the deserted corridor.
" Sora!" A familiar voice called out to her. She spun around and her heart jumped into her throat as she saw Tai leaning against the wall outside the principals reception.
" Sora how come you had to go see Carhill?" He asked softly,
" Come on Sora we don't have time to talk," Her Mother snapped as she dragged her down the hall.
" Sora what's going on?" Tai asked urgency quivered in his voice,
" Talk to you later Tai," She called as tried to keep up with her mother.
" Sora this is so ridiculous!" Mimi cried down the phone, she had obviously forgiven Sora for her prank this afternoon.
" You're telling me," Sora mumbled.
" Where would anyone get the idea that you're an arsonist? That's just so stupid!"
" Someone told them they saw me," Sora whispered. It was still hard to believe that anyone would make up something so serious as that. Something that could totally destroy her life.
" Who would do such an awful thing!"
" I don't know Mimi. I'm just so . . .so confused. I can't think straight. I feel really hurt, but angry at the same time. And I . . .I . . .oh I don't know what I'm going to do Mim,"
" Don't worry Sora. I know you didn't do it everyone who knows you would never believe you'd do such a thing,"
" Thanks Mimi,"
" You should have seen our class in History. They were all up in arms shouting that it was so stupid and you should be allowed back in school,"
Sora smiled at that thought, she had always tried hard to be nice to people and she had a lot of good friends around her to show for it.
" And you should have seen what Tai did today at lunch. I was sitting at a table with him, matt and Jodi and this guy were behind us saying that . . .oh that you were. . er,"
" Go ahead and say it Mimi,"
" That you were a psychopathic arsonist and it was really obvious that you had done it. I was sitting there listening to what he was saying and I was really close to turning around and giving him a piece of my mind. Then Tai turns around and smacks the guy full blow in the mouth. This boys just standing there holding his jaw in fear. And then Tai starts telling him if he ever hears him call you anything again he'll beat the living crap out of him. Did you hear that Sora? He said he'd kill him for you,"
" He didn't mean that Mimi," Sora whispered, she was glad she was talking on the phone so her friend couldn't see her blush.
" He really likes you Sora, I know he doe's. You're really lucky, because that was a really sweet and brave thing he did for you,"
" Yeah well . . ."
" I know that you think I don't listen to you, but I know you really like him too. So why have you suddenly stopped speaking to each other?"
" Oh you noticed then,"
" Yes and matt has. He says that Tai's been really depressed. What happened?"
" Nothing really. It was just a little stupid thing. I guess . . .I think that things were moving to fast and that just scared me a little bit,"
" Moving to fast?"
" Yeah,"
" What happened really Sora?"
" We were . . .we were just making out and I.. I don't know why but it scared me. I know that is a totally lame thing to say, but . . .it was so hot and passionate . . .I've never felt like that before,"
" So you broke up with him because you like him?"
" No! And anyway we were never really properly together,"
" You don't have to declare that your boyfriend and girlfriend to be going out. And it looked pretty serious to me,"
" Well I do like him, I'm just not ready for this yet,"
" Look Sora I've really got to go, my dads been yelling at me about the phone bill again. I'll speak to you tomorrow okay? Bye!"
The line went dead as she clicked the phone back into its cradle. Sora sighed and rolled on to her bed. Why was everything in her life suddenly swirling down the plughole when it had been so great? Why did everything always go wrong for her?
" Sora, Sora hunny wake up," Her mother whispered gently shaking her,
" What's wrong?" She mumbled, she glanced over at her clock 8:50. She wasn't allowed to go to school today so why was she being waken up so early?
" The school called hunny. They want to have another interview with you this morning in half an hour. Go get dressed and we'll leave as soon as you're ready.
Typical. Even when she wasn't allowed in the building school could still get her out of bed. The one good thing about suspension was that she got to lie in. It was Thursday, that meant she would be having geography right now. Poor fools who had to go to school. Maybe the time off wasn't going to be so bad.
" Miss Tachenouche we believe that you weren't telling us the whole truth about where you were on Tuesday night," Mr Carhill said sternly. He linked his hands together and leant forward in his leather chair.
" I told you I was in the park,"
" Alone?"
" Yes alone,"
" Well it has come to our attention by a friend of yours that you were not as you say alone,"
" What?"
" Who were you with in the park Sora?"
" I wasn't with anyone,"
" A Mr Kamiya would deny that," a slight smile raised at the corner of her principal's lips,
" Tai?"
" Yes, he can and will account for your whereabouts on the night of the fire at five o'clock. Also the police have found no trace of you being in the bathroom at the start of the fire. So if you will except our pardon, you may return to class right away,"
" Uh. . Okay," She muttered blankly.
" See I don't know why you didn't believe my Sora in the first place," Her Mother snapped at Mr Carhill.
" Well if Sora would have told us who she was really with then we could have saved on allot of trouble and hassle. But your daughter decided to protect her friend instead obviously. Mr Kamiya has explained to us the situation already. Now I believe your next lesson will be starting soon Sora. Of you go now,"
Sora gave a puzzled look at Mr Carhill and then left the office leaving her mother behind.
What was going? That's all she ever seemed to ask herself lately. Tai had lied for her. He must have made some story about her being with him, but he was working on Tuesday.
A hand grabbed hold of her arm as she mingled into the crowded hallway.
" Sora," Tai said quietly, " Are they letting you back in?"
" Tai what did you do?" She asked curiously.
He grinned down at her, his eyes sparked with energy and happiness.
" I just told them you were with me in the park on Tuesday after school. But I didn't want you to tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to find out about us,"
" But that's a lie," She whispered.
" Well I wasn't going to let them expel you for something you hadn't done,"
" But you could really get into trouble for lying to the police Tai. Really big trouble,"
" And you could get in even bigger trouble for setting fire to a building,"
" But I didn't,"
" I know, that's why I told them you were with me. I don't care what they do to me,"
She stared into those deep brown pools filled with life and warmth.
" I'm really. . .I'm really sorry about the other day Sora. Can you forgive me,"
She reached up and drew him into a long passionate kiss. Right now she couldn't think of anything else she wanted to do more. He had saved her. He had risked his own well being to protect her.
" I'll take that as a yes," he grinned foolishly as they broke away.
She kissed him again lightly and softly.
" Defiantly a yes then,"
She watched as that girl slobbered all over Tai. So she was back again then. She was defiantly a lot harder to get rid of then others before her. Oh well she'd just have to try harder next time. And next time she would succeed.
Authors note- and there's chapter five. Six will be up as soon as I get time to do it. See ya soon and hope you like it so far.
Histroy Repeated
Chapter five
Kari pushed open her apartment door and flopped down on the coach beside her elder brother. He was staring at the T.V with a distant look in his eyes. She knew him to well to think that he was watching some mindless talk show.
" What's up with you?" She asked playfully, " Don't tell me you lost another game of soccer and now your whole world is going to fall apart,"
He shrugged and made some groaning sound.
" Okay then let me see. The cafeteria was all out of pizza at lunch. No? You've just found out the moons not made of cheese. Oh I know! Someone told you the power rangers aren't real again," She laughed remembering some of the arguments they had as children.
He didn't move, just stared at the colourful screen. Normally she would have at least got a playful punch on the arm.
" Tai are you alright?" She asked gently. Something was defiantly wrong with her big brother this time.
" No," He sighed and folded his arms,
" What's the matter?"
" You wouldn't understand," he muttered,
" Try me,"
" Believe me Kari you wouldn't understand. I don't even understand so how could you,"
" Tai you know you can talk to me. You may still think I'm eight years old but I can try to help you,"
He sighed and stared up at the ceiling.
" I just. . Just did something really stupid today, to someone I really care about,"
" Someone whose name begins with s?"
" Look it doesn't matter Kari. Just leave it out okay,"
" I just want to know what's wrong. What did you do to her?"
" Nothing,"
" You must have done something if you're this upset,"
" I'm not upset. I'm just mad at my self,"
" Why?"
" Because some really weird stuffs going on and I can't control it or stop it. I don't want to hurt her, but I feel like that's all that I'm doing,"
" You really like her don't you Tai?" Kari asked smiling kindly,
" How could I not like her,"
" Then what ever you've done she'll understand. If you really didn't mean to hurt her,"
" I don't know what's going on Kari. I think about her all the time. I can't get her out of my head. I like her so much, but I'm really scared I'm going to hurt her,"
" Why?"
" It's just this feeling I have. Some times . . .Kari you know how when we were little we used to make up those stories about ghosts,"
" Yeah,"
" And you used to swear you saw one in my room once,"
" Yeah," She started to laugh,
" Well sometimes I feel as though I'm being . . .watched. Like there's someone else in the room behind me. Then sometimes at night I can swear I can hear voices, I just can't work out what they're saying,"
" Are you saying your being haunted!" Kari burst into laughter, Tai was always trying to wind her up.
" Kari I'm not joking," he whispered. His face was deadly serious, not even a glint of a smile showed in his eyes.
" You are serious aren't you," She whispered, " Why?"
" I don't know. It just feels like someone's always beside me. And when . . .when I'm with Sora I feel it even more. It's like it's trying to reach out and grab her. Then today it almost did. I can't explain what happened, but I just started making out with her and . . .and it wasn't me making out. It was like someone else was in my body and had pushed me to the back of my mind,"
" So you reckon your ghost friend has the hot's for Sora?" Kari grinned mischievously.
" Kari it's not funny,"
" I know. Look Tai I don't know what's going on. Maybe your imagination is just running away with you or something,"
" Yeah probably," he muttered,
" Or maybe you should call in the exorcist," She laughed.
He picked up a cushion and hit her around the back of her head playfully.
" It must of been brilliant," Sora sighed as she listened to her friend Jodi talk about her vacation in Hawaii. She stuffed her gym kit into her bag and grinned at Jodi,
" It was! I really really wish I was back there," Jodi sighed dreamily, " So what's been going on around here while I've been spending two weeks in the sun, sea and up to my elbows in hot surfers,"
" Oh my gosh I totally forgot to tell you guys," Mimi cried frowning a hand up to her mouth," You'll never guess what matt told me this morning,"
" Matt?" Jodi asked devishly. She sat down on the bench in the girl's locker rooms and waited for an explanation.
" Please Jodi don't even ask, she'll never shut up," Sora warned her,
" Who's Matt?" Jodi asked ignoring Sora's groans,
" Matt is the cutest, sweetest, gourgest, talentest, funniest guy in the whole world," Mimi smiled forgetting what she was going to say.
" Are you going out," Jodi asked eagerly,
" Yep. For two weeks now,"
" Mimi what were you going to tell us?" Sora asked quickly before her friend could get into another long conversation about how great matt is.
" Oh some one started a fire in the girls bathroom on the second floor of the English corridor. Any way Matt's in a band and-"
" What!" Sora cried,
" Yea apparently it was deliberate as well,"
" To bad they didn't burn the whole place down," Jodi laughed,
" Who would try and do that though?" Sora said thoughtfully.
" Anyway as I was saying Matt's in a band, he's the lead singer and he also plays the guitar. He's really good at it as well. And he works in that little old fashioned diner around the corner from the park. His got really cool blonde spiky hair and these fabulous blue eyes,"
" Hey Mimi why don't you go and fetch your shoe," Sora laughed as she picked Mimi's shoe of the floor and threw it into the long row of showerheads, anything to get Mimi to shut up for a little while.
" Sora!" Mimi cried as she ran down the tiled floor to fetch her trainer.
Jodi gave Sora an evil look. Sora knew just what her friend was about to do. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to tell her to stop. But it was too late.
Jodi's hand slammed down on the button to turn on all twelve showers.
Mimi's screams echoed around the empty changing room as cold water soaked through her uniform and drenched her skin.
" I'm going to kill you!" She howled.
" Run!" Jodi screamed,
Sora didn't have any choice but to get out of there right now. She followed Jodi out of the locker room, down the crowded corridors and crashing into their biology classroom.
" You really shouldn't have done that Jodi," Sora said sternly as they fell into their seats.
" I know,"
Neither of them could hold it in any longer. They burst into wild laughter.
" Did you see the look on her face," Jodi panted, " She looked like a drowned rat.
" Poor Mimi," Sora managed to choke out. She thought her sides were going to split with laughter.
It felt so good to be joking around with Jodi again. She hadn't laughed like this in ages. Well she had laughed like this when she was with Tai, but she didn't think she'd be laughing with him for a while again. It had been two days since she last spoke to him. All right it wasn't that long, but it felt an age.
She hadn't seen him around school and she hadn't been to the diner, she wasn't exactly avoiding him, just keeping out of his way. She'd felt miserable lately, she didn't know why exactly. No she did know why, it was because she hadn't been around him. But she'd never admit to being so pathetic. Laughing like this with Jodi was a godsend.
" Could Sora Tacknouche please report to the principals office," The crackely voice over the classroom speaker demanded.
Sora instantly stopped laughing. She had never been asked to go to the principal's office before, never.
" Oh Sora's been a bad girl," Jodi laughed, " What have you been up to Sora while I've been away,"
" Nothing," Wild thoughts ran through her mind as she walked down the now empty corridors. Mimi hadn't turned up to biology, Sora guessed she had gone home. Mimi wouldn't go to the principal just because they had played a joke on her.
What if something had happened at home? What if something had happened to her parents or Gemma or Ryan? She quickened her pace. Or what about nanny? She hadn't been very well lately, everyone knew that.
" I've come to see Mr Carhill," She informed the receptionist.
The old woman gave her an unreadable look, the wrinkles at the side of her mouth seemed to sag a little.
" Go in, he's waiting for you," Her dry voice told Sora.
Sora took a deep breath and slowly opened the glass door to Mr Carhill office. Mr Carhill sat behind a wooden desk stroking his stubble grey beard as he watched her enter. Infront of the desk sat her mother with a blank expression across her normal soft face. Across the room form her mother sat a female police office with blonde hair tied up in a bun. An empty chair sat in-between them.
Oh god something was wrong. Something terrible must have happened.
" Uh, Miss Tacknouche, please have a seat," Mr Carhill said indicating to the empty chair.
" What's happened?" She blurted out before she could control her dread.
" I was hoping you could tell us that Sora," He answered blankly.
Sora glanced at her mother as she sat down. She had tears forming her amber eyes, she was crying but her mother never cried.
" I believe you would have heard of the fire started in one of girls bathrooms last night Sora?"
She nodded her head dumbly.
" Well I am sorry to inform you that a witness has come forward this morning. They have told us that they saw you coming out of that bathroom at around the time of the fire,"
Sora stared at him in disbelief. What was he trying to say?
" We have reason to believe that you purposely started that fire last night Sora,"
" What!" She cried shocked, " Why would I do that!"
" That's what we are hoping to find out Sora,"
" But I didn't. I'd never do that. Who ever told you they saw me was lying. I'd never do anything like that. I only heard about the fire this morning. Honest,"
" There I told you my Sora would never do that," her mother cried breaking her silence.
" Can you tell us where you were at five o'clock last night Sora?"
Where was she last night? She was wondering aimlessly through the park. Trying to escape from any sense of human life. She had found a deserted area where she knew no one ever came. She had sat down under a tree and cried for an hour, for no good reason only that she wanted to cry.
" I . . .I was in the park,"
" Was anyone with you?" the police officer asked.
" No, just me,"
" So you don't have anyone to back up your explanation?"
" No, but. . .but that doesn't mean I did it. I didn't do it I swear that I didn't,"
The argument she had with Tai suddenly sprung into her head as she said those last words.
" But our witness swears they saw you running down the English corridor,"
" I didn't . . ."
" I'm sorry Miss Tacknouche and Mrs Tacknouche. But I'm afraid Sora will have to be suspended until we get to the bottom of this investigation,"
" But I didn't do it!"
" You can't suspend her!"
" I'm very sorry, it's standard procedure you understand. Just so everyone's minds are at rest until this case is solved,"
" NO I DO'NT UNDERSTANDS! I haven't done anything wrong!" Sora shouted jumping out of her seat.
" You will be allowed back on school property when every thing has been cleared up. But until then I would be grateful if you would stay at home. Of course if you are found guilty Sora, you'll be expelled from this school,"
" I can't believe this! Your making my daughter miss out on the education she has a right to because some little brat told you they saw her. When they obviously didn't,"
" Do you know where your daughter was yesterday afternoon?" The policewoman asked Sora's mother.
" In the park like she says! Come on Sora I don't want to stay around here for a minute longer,"
Her Mother grabbed Sora's arm and pulled her out of the office and down the deserted corridor.
" Sora!" A familiar voice called out to her. She spun around and her heart jumped into her throat as she saw Tai leaning against the wall outside the principals reception.
" Sora how come you had to go see Carhill?" He asked softly,
" Come on Sora we don't have time to talk," Her Mother snapped as she dragged her down the hall.
" Sora what's going on?" Tai asked urgency quivered in his voice,
" Talk to you later Tai," She called as tried to keep up with her mother.
" Sora this is so ridiculous!" Mimi cried down the phone, she had obviously forgiven Sora for her prank this afternoon.
" You're telling me," Sora mumbled.
" Where would anyone get the idea that you're an arsonist? That's just so stupid!"
" Someone told them they saw me," Sora whispered. It was still hard to believe that anyone would make up something so serious as that. Something that could totally destroy her life.
" Who would do such an awful thing!"
" I don't know Mimi. I'm just so . . .so confused. I can't think straight. I feel really hurt, but angry at the same time. And I . . .I . . .oh I don't know what I'm going to do Mim,"
" Don't worry Sora. I know you didn't do it everyone who knows you would never believe you'd do such a thing,"
" Thanks Mimi,"
" You should have seen our class in History. They were all up in arms shouting that it was so stupid and you should be allowed back in school,"
Sora smiled at that thought, she had always tried hard to be nice to people and she had a lot of good friends around her to show for it.
" And you should have seen what Tai did today at lunch. I was sitting at a table with him, matt and Jodi and this guy were behind us saying that . . .oh that you were. . er,"
" Go ahead and say it Mimi,"
" That you were a psychopathic arsonist and it was really obvious that you had done it. I was sitting there listening to what he was saying and I was really close to turning around and giving him a piece of my mind. Then Tai turns around and smacks the guy full blow in the mouth. This boys just standing there holding his jaw in fear. And then Tai starts telling him if he ever hears him call you anything again he'll beat the living crap out of him. Did you hear that Sora? He said he'd kill him for you,"
" He didn't mean that Mimi," Sora whispered, she was glad she was talking on the phone so her friend couldn't see her blush.
" He really likes you Sora, I know he doe's. You're really lucky, because that was a really sweet and brave thing he did for you,"
" Yeah well . . ."
" I know that you think I don't listen to you, but I know you really like him too. So why have you suddenly stopped speaking to each other?"
" Oh you noticed then,"
" Yes and matt has. He says that Tai's been really depressed. What happened?"
" Nothing really. It was just a little stupid thing. I guess . . .I think that things were moving to fast and that just scared me a little bit,"
" Moving to fast?"
" Yeah,"
" What happened really Sora?"
" We were . . .we were just making out and I.. I don't know why but it scared me. I know that is a totally lame thing to say, but . . .it was so hot and passionate . . .I've never felt like that before,"
" So you broke up with him because you like him?"
" No! And anyway we were never really properly together,"
" You don't have to declare that your boyfriend and girlfriend to be going out. And it looked pretty serious to me,"
" Well I do like him, I'm just not ready for this yet,"
" Look Sora I've really got to go, my dads been yelling at me about the phone bill again. I'll speak to you tomorrow okay? Bye!"
The line went dead as she clicked the phone back into its cradle. Sora sighed and rolled on to her bed. Why was everything in her life suddenly swirling down the plughole when it had been so great? Why did everything always go wrong for her?
" Sora, Sora hunny wake up," Her mother whispered gently shaking her,
" What's wrong?" She mumbled, she glanced over at her clock 8:50. She wasn't allowed to go to school today so why was she being waken up so early?
" The school called hunny. They want to have another interview with you this morning in half an hour. Go get dressed and we'll leave as soon as you're ready.
Typical. Even when she wasn't allowed in the building school could still get her out of bed. The one good thing about suspension was that she got to lie in. It was Thursday, that meant she would be having geography right now. Poor fools who had to go to school. Maybe the time off wasn't going to be so bad.
" Miss Tachenouche we believe that you weren't telling us the whole truth about where you were on Tuesday night," Mr Carhill said sternly. He linked his hands together and leant forward in his leather chair.
" I told you I was in the park,"
" Alone?"
" Yes alone,"
" Well it has come to our attention by a friend of yours that you were not as you say alone,"
" What?"
" Who were you with in the park Sora?"
" I wasn't with anyone,"
" A Mr Kamiya would deny that," a slight smile raised at the corner of her principal's lips,
" Tai?"
" Yes, he can and will account for your whereabouts on the night of the fire at five o'clock. Also the police have found no trace of you being in the bathroom at the start of the fire. So if you will except our pardon, you may return to class right away,"
" Uh. . Okay," She muttered blankly.
" See I don't know why you didn't believe my Sora in the first place," Her Mother snapped at Mr Carhill.
" Well if Sora would have told us who she was really with then we could have saved on allot of trouble and hassle. But your daughter decided to protect her friend instead obviously. Mr Kamiya has explained to us the situation already. Now I believe your next lesson will be starting soon Sora. Of you go now,"
Sora gave a puzzled look at Mr Carhill and then left the office leaving her mother behind.
What was going? That's all she ever seemed to ask herself lately. Tai had lied for her. He must have made some story about her being with him, but he was working on Tuesday.
A hand grabbed hold of her arm as she mingled into the crowded hallway.
" Sora," Tai said quietly, " Are they letting you back in?"
" Tai what did you do?" She asked curiously.
He grinned down at her, his eyes sparked with energy and happiness.
" I just told them you were with me in the park on Tuesday after school. But I didn't want you to tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to find out about us,"
" But that's a lie," She whispered.
" Well I wasn't going to let them expel you for something you hadn't done,"
" But you could really get into trouble for lying to the police Tai. Really big trouble,"
" And you could get in even bigger trouble for setting fire to a building,"
" But I didn't,"
" I know, that's why I told them you were with me. I don't care what they do to me,"
She stared into those deep brown pools filled with life and warmth.
" I'm really. . .I'm really sorry about the other day Sora. Can you forgive me,"
She reached up and drew him into a long passionate kiss. Right now she couldn't think of anything else she wanted to do more. He had saved her. He had risked his own well being to protect her.
" I'll take that as a yes," he grinned foolishly as they broke away.
She kissed him again lightly and softly.
" Defiantly a yes then,"
She watched as that girl slobbered all over Tai. So she was back again then. She was defiantly a lot harder to get rid of then others before her. Oh well she'd just have to try harder next time. And next time she would succeed.
Authors note- and there's chapter five. Six will be up as soon as I get time to do it. See ya soon and hope you like it so far.
