Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: I have a contact in Japan, and I think I remember him saying school starts in April. So just bear that in mind.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Doctor, the Model, and the Rock Star
Part III: Stumped Guys Club Meeting
Izzy had been so busy the last night figuring out DNA digivolving that he forgot about time the next morning.
"Izzy, dear," his mother called, knocking on the door. "Time to wake up. It's already twelve in the afternoon."
As soon as he heard the time, he bolted up and ran to the bathroom. "I can't believe I forgot to wake up!"
He heard the phone ring and his mother answer it. He was brushing his teeth when she knocked on the bathroom door.
"Izzy," she said, "Yolei was on the phone. She said that you were supposed to come over two hours ago."
The computer whiz snapped up in realization, momentarily going back to when he promised Yolei he'd come over to help her with creating her own videos.
"Okay, mom," he said through a foamy mouth. "Thanks." He finished brushing his teeth and went out. He found his mother looking right at him. She had a serious expression on mixed with concern.
"What's wrong, mom?" Izzy asked cautiously.
"Do you have a girlfriend, Izzy?" she asked in a serious tone. "You don't have to lie. I just want you to know that if you have any question with rela…"
Izzy felt his face turn getting hotter. His dad, unexpectedly, came to see what was happening right after he heard the word "girlfriend."
"My son has a girlfriend?!" he exclaimed. "Congratulations, son!" he said, whacking Izzy on the back.
"Eh…"
"What's her name?"
Izzy, who had always been honest, answered, "She's not really my girlfriend… she's more of a girl friend, you know?"
"Oh…" Izzy's parents' faces fell down.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I just don't have one. It's too early for me."
His mother was the first to recover from the shock. "That's okay. Now run along or Yolei will get madder at you."
"Yes," he said, bowing down to show respect. With that, he rushed off to put on his shoes and went out.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Tai had been walking around town for the past two hours or so with his head down, thinking, which isn't his strongest point. Okay, so it might be one, but never the subject about girls.
Maybe I should ask Kari, he thought. Nah… that would give me away.
"Hey, Tai!"
Tai looked up and saw Matt running to his direction. "Oh, hey, Matt. What's up?"
"Dilemma," Matt answered. He fell in step beside Tai. As much as he hated saying the mushy truth, he did this time. "It's about a girl."
Tai's serious face broke into an expression torn between shock and the usually grinning Tai.
"Don't say anything," Matt threatened, "or else."
"Sure," Tai said, pressing down a laugh. "Who's the girl?"
"Well…" Matt trailed off. Should he tell Tai? Why shouldn't he? Because he might blab it out. But he might be able to help. "It's Mimi," he answered
"No kidding???" exclaimed Tai.
The rock star looked mad. "You think I'd kid around about girls?"
Tai shrugged. "I don't know. Why wouldn't you? I mean, lots of girls like you."
"As if!" Matt exclaimed. "Why does everyone tell me that? It get more annoying every time."
Tai shook his head. Leave it to Matt to be numb. Mr. No-autographs-please had always been like that. You'd have to beat the guy in the head to get him to see that a girl likes him. Jun was an exception, though.
"Well, okay," Tai said, shrugging. "What's with her?"
"I like her…" Matt started. He was having second thoughts whether he should go on.
"What's wrong with that?"
Matt looked at Tai, annoyed. "I wasn't done yet."
"Oh." He focused all his attention on what Matt was going to say.
"Anyway, as I was saying, I like her. I really like her. I was thinking of telling her." Then there was a long pause.
Tai snapped up from his concentration. "My cue." He cleared his throat. "Go tell her then."
"How?" So that was the question, Tai thought. How do you tell her anyway?
"Beats me," he answered. "I was just thinking of the same thing."
Matt was surprised. "You like Mimi?"
Tai shook his head. "No…" Should the soccer star tell the rock star who he's been thinking a lot of lately about? Why not? They've know each other for a long time. Heck, they were friends before they knew it, and they had a lot in common, more than some friends did, like being a DigiDestined.
"It's Sora," he finally answered after some thought.
"Yeah, right!" exclaimed Matt. "I always knew you guys had it for each other."
Tai shrugged. "I don't know if she likes me."
"Sure, she does!" insisted Matt. "Why else would she come to all the soccer games even if she's not on the team? I mean, she has her hands full with tennis."
Tai became thoughtful. That was true. Matt continued. "She even forces me and Joe and Izzy to go. For some support, she said. Even T.K. and Kari were dragged a couple of times."
"Wow…" was all the other could say. Does she really go to that extent? "I never thought that."
"Not that you really think anyway," Matt said, smirking.
"What was that supposed to mean?!"
They were cut short with another person joining them.
"Hey, Tai, Matt!" called another voice. They looked behind them and saw Joe running towards them.
"Hey, Joe!" greeted Matt and Tai. "What's up?" asked Tai.
"Problem," replied Joe. "It's been hanging over me for the past week."
"Afraid you won't ace the college entries?" teased Matt.
"Oh, no," answered the doctor. "I've that nailed." He missed the remark full blow.
"Well, what's wrong?" asked Tai again.
"It's…" he hesitated. (A/N: they seem to be doing that a lot, don't they?) Should he go on? Hm… there's a lot at risk. His reputation as Mr. Big Picture might go down the drain if he says it. But he'll take the chance. "It's a girl."
Both Matt and Tai were shocked to the bone as soon as they heard Joe say "girl." Tai didn't think he was that serious about Mimi.
"Are you serious?" asked Tai, making sure.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Joe asked back.
"Dude, I never thought you'd ever say that!" Matt said, recovering.
Joe looked hurt in an instant. "Oh. I see. You don't think I'm serious enough, do you? Well, that's okay." He turned back, ready to walk away. "I'll see you guys later."
"No! Wait!" exclaimed the other two. They grabbed Joe to join them again. "Of course we think you're serious. What do you think of us?"
"Um…"
"And what's that supposed to mean?" asked Tai.
"Uh, nothing!"
"Who's the girl?" asked Matt.
"I'd rather not say," answered Joe.
"Oh, come on!" Matt insisted. "You know who we like, right?" Joe just nodded. "So…?"
"Eh… Yeah." Joe suddenly looked nervous. "So you're saying I should tell you who?"
Matt nodded vigorously. "Uh-huh."
"Um… I'll tell you when the time comes. I don't really think I should tell you," Joe said. "I just want to find out a way to tell her."
"That's what we're trying to figure out," added Tai.
"Guys!!"
They all looked back to see Izzy rushing up to them.
"Hey, Izzy!" They all waved at him. He also joined the others. "What's up?"
"Oh, the usual," answered Izzy. "What's happening with you guys?"
"This is the official meeting of stumped guys," Joe answered. "We're trying to figure out how to tell the girls we like that we like them. You know."
Izzy nodded in understanding. "You can always tell them at Matt's band's gig tonight," he suggested.
They all looked at Izzy, surprised. Coming from Izzy, that was an exceptional suggestion.
"Yeah!" cheered Tai. "I'll go tell her tonight!"
Joe looked uncertain. "I don't know."
"Good idea," Matt said. "I just hope I don't embarrass her in front of everyone." He started running for the other side of the street.
"You're going to broadcast it in front of everyone?" asked Tai, bewildered.
"Yeah!" Matt answered, waving goodbye to them. "I'll see you guys later!"
They watched as Matt ran away. "Well, I'd better go now. I have to write out the speech I'd say." He ran down the street. "I'll tell Sora tonight!!" he yelled to no one.
"What's he going to tell me?" asked Sora from behind the remaining two. They looked back and saw the girls.
"Um..."
"Uh…"
"Well, I'd better go now. I've got to prepare for the exams."
"Yeah… I have to update my website." And the two ran off.
The girls just looked after the two.
"Well, that was weird. Izzy has a website?" asked Yolei.
"Tell me about it," agreed Mimi. "Exams? It's still June."
Kari just giggled. It helps when you know everyone's secret.
