Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. I wish I do, though… *sniff* *sniff*
Author's Note: The song is mine, mine, mine!!! Don't you dare steal it!!! I know it's weird for my gender, but I had to make it… I think it's a cool song, though. I sure would like to hear someone sing it to me. ^_^ I know, I excluded Willis fully on the last chapter, but he wasn't supposed to be there yet. This is his time to shine, so here it is.
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The Doctor, the Model, and the Rock Star
Part VIII: I Got The Girl!!!
"Do you know what's wrong with you, Izzy?"
The redhead turned to the questioner. "Joe?"
Being a bit sarcastic, Joe answered, "Do I look like Tai?"
His eyes went a bit wide in confusion. "Pardon me?"
Joe sighed. "Izzy, you've been watching her all night. Don't you think it's about time that you go up to her and ask her to dance?"
Izzy only looked down, dismayed for whatever reason may be. "She's got her eye on someone else."
"Really?" The doctor looked around, eyeing the crowd quickly for any possible competitors for Yolei's heart. He found Yolei, who was talking to Mimi. "She seems to be fretting right now. I'm pretty sure it's about you."
The genius looked only a bit annoyed. "Stop it, Joe. You're just saying that. It's not helping."
Joining the two-man huddle was Davis, who was pretty much restless and spitting mad because of what happened with Tai, and whoever was that guy who has had three dances with Sora already. Joe greeted him with a smile, trying to ease him up.
"What's up, Davis?"
Before an answer, the second goggleboy gave an angry huff. "It's Tai, and that guy, and Sora."
"What about Tai?" Izzy asked.
Davis took a look at Tai, who was now with Ken and Willis. A bit of ease showed in his face, and he almost let a smile by—Ken was actually mingling in—but no such thing right now. Tai was pouring his frustration at the two, who were just listening. Another frustrated sigh.
"He won't butt in with the guy and Sora. It's like he's too weak and—"
"Joe! Izzy! Davis!"
They looked back, and saw that it was Kari, looking a bit frazzled.
"Come on!"
Before the three could say anything, she dragged them, managing it somehow—I don't know—to the edge of the dance floor. He pointed to Sora's direction.
"He won't let her go. I think he's had too many drinks."
Looking at Sora, they could tell that she was uncomfortable with her situation. He was definitely crowding her.
"Well, what do you expect us to do?" Joe asked. He was turning into the Joe they knew—the one who always panicked at the tiniest sound his ear could detect.
Kari couldn't believe him.
"Joe!" she exclaimed through the loud music. "Do something! You look as old as him!"
Trapped, he thought. He had to do something. Being the oldest, he had to do something. So he straightened up, signalled for Izzy and Davis to follow, and walked over to the unplanned couple. Sora watched them approach gratefully. He only smiled at her and he tapped the guy on the shoulder.
"Excuse me?" he asked a bit uncertainly. The guy turned his head to him, looked at him, decided he was nothing, and turned back to Sora, hugging her a bit possessively this time.
Meanwhile, with Tai…
"Look!" exclaimed Tai, watching. "She doesn't even care!"
"I don't think that's the way it's supposed to work," Willis whispered to Ken.
Ken nodded. "So I heard."
Joe wouldn't take this! He demands him to get off of Sora so Tai could tell her honestly how he feels! He better listen! Taking up a bit more courage, he grabbed the guy's shoulder and made him turn around.
"I don't think you understand," Joe started. Before he could say anything more, the guy planted a fist on one of Joe's cheeks.
"Back off, loser," the guy said. He was about to turn to Sora again, but Izzy wouldn't stand for it. He just punched his friend!
"You shouldn't have done that!" Izzy exclaimed. Unimaginably, he punched the guy in the face, and it went right back to him. Joe wouldn't take this one, either, so before anything else, he punched the guy. It might not be a fair fight, a two against one, but it was the best he could do. The guy, drunk or stoned—hey, we'll never know—was infuriated at what our geeky hero just did, so he tried to give him one again, but faster-than-Superman-none-other-than-soccer-Tai came to the rescue, taking the love intruder's fist and burying his own into the other's face.
"Tai!" Sora exclaimed. At the sound of her voice, Tai turned to her to smile. He managed to, but he didn't have the chance to complete it because rock flew to his face.
Now, really, no one cared in the club because they knew that after a couple of punches everyone would back off, but this one was for real. Everyone started gathering around, like it was a bit of a marvel to look at.
Willis, who was at one side, shouted, "Go get him, Tai! For Sora!" He added, punching his fist in the air.
Eyes, widening, Sora could only say, "For me?" Mimi and Yolei rushed up to her side, squeezing between people.
"Sora, what's going on?" Yolei asked.
"Tai…" She couldn't complete it. A detailed story, it was, and she couldn't tell it while there was a fight going on.
Cody and TK rushed to the scene. They were conversing about steps to take to push Yolei and Izzy over the edge when they figured everyone going to the dance floor. Wanting to see what the commotion was, here they are. They sided up with Willis, Davis and Ken. The first two were shouting encouragement and insults.
"Davis, what's going on?" Cody asked.
"Tai and that guy are fighting!" Davis answered in between insults.
"We can see that," TK answered. "How did it happen?"
No answer came, but other bigger guys did. They headed straight for our four soon-to-be-heroes, ignoring Cody. They were obviously the stoned/drunk guy's friends, and they were there to help. A punch at Davis started it all, and all hell for the Digidestined broke loose.
Sora, Mimi, Yolei, Kari and Cody could only look at them. After the fat dude punched Davis, Willis punched the attacker, and another punched Willis. Just like that, the ramble started. Being the older, more sensible ones, Izzy and Joe tried to break it up, but they only got themselves in. Even Ken, who was not known to get into these kind of fistfights, had to join in!
A punch here, a kick there, some pulling of ears and hairs—everything was all wrong!
No, no!!! Cody thought. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Tai was supposed to tell Sora during a slow dance, forget about the roses he "sent" to her and the e-mail she "sent" to him, and get on with the coupling. All that Izzy was supposed to do was start talking to Yolei and melt her to her knees with the words "I like you more than a friend" and that would have been it!!! But nooo, they had to get into a fight!
Back to the ramble floor, it seems that our heroes are getting creamed Big Time. Tai's nose was bleeding; Davis had a pretty bad mark on his cheek; Ken's lips had split and dripping in blood; Willis was gaily punching others even though he had a bruise on his head; T.K.'s clothes' sleeves were ripped; Joe's glasses were broken; and Izzy seems to have swollen cheek. It was a big disaster for their first time at a club.
Five huge, muscled bouncers arrived at the scene, breaking everything up. Finding the guy that wouldn't let Sora go, they knew who was guilty of starting it all.
"Your ban's not done till two days from now," one bouncer said, the same guy who was at the door. He grabbed the dude at his shirt. "You're banned from here forever." Saying that, the other bouncers and him walked out with eight drunk SOB's.
The female population of the present Digidestineds rushed to the guys and sat them down. Before they could ask any questions, Matt came running to them.
"Are you guys okay?" he asked. "One of the guys told me what was going on. I tried to come here as soon as I can but the manager said that I should stay backstage before I performed." A pause. "Are you okay?"
Some small nods were given by sullen faces, all beet red and a few with clotted blood. The girls only looked at Matt and he at them. The looks didn't mean anything, but it was enough to say, "This shouldn't have happened."
The drummer of Matt's band came to him, saying, "Hey, we're due in a few minutes!" Matt nodded. He turned to the others and said, "Well, I've got to go, guys. I'll see you afterwards." With that, he ran away.
Because of a woman's compassion, Sora took on Tai, Mimi on Joe, Yolei on Izzy (even though she was hesitant at first), and Kari on the rest, although, really, it was a meeting.
"That was bad," Davis commented. "There wasn't supposed to be a fight."
"And I wasn't supposed to get in one, either," T.K. said.
Willis only smiled. "It was one heck of a good one, though."
Ken shook his head. "I don't think my mom will say the same thing."
Cody looked at them. He sighed deeply and looked down. "It was all wrong."
Kari heard him, and she nodded in agreement. "We shouldn't have pushed them to it or this wouldn't have happened."
"It's all my fault," Cody said. He was taking full blame for it, although it was unaccounted for.
"Don't blame yourself, Cody," Willis said. "I'm sure they'll realize their feelings after that one." He meant the ramble.
"They had better," said a bitter T.K. "After what we just went through, they should."
Kari laughed. After the confusion and stress, it was the only thing she could do. "It's all right, T.K.," she said. "I think they are." She looked behind her to the three huddled forms. The others followed. They couldn't hear what they were saying, but they knew.
"Are you all right, Izzy?" Yolei asked, concerned. She wanted to brush hair away from his face, but she didn't dare. She wouldn't step over the line.
Izzy nodded. "I think I have a bruise on the back of my head, though." He felt it with his fingers, finding a little bump. "Yeah, I do."
"Do you want something to drink?" Yolei offered. She was going to be as hospitable as possible.
Izzy was thirsty, and he felt it only when she asked. "Yes, but I'll get one for myself." He started to stand up, but Yolei stopped him.
"Just sit," she said, pushing him gently down. "I'll get it." She went away for a full two minutes. It was enough time for Izzy to practice his line. He ran the whole thing through his head, and how it was supposed to go. She returned with a smile.
He smiled gratefully at her and took the drink. He expected it to be some sort of acidic drink so he was surprised to find a mix of orange and mango juice. He looked at her questioningly. She answered; "I know… it kinda stuck when we went to the mall…" She was shy about it, and looked away.
Izzy took a drink and set the juice down. He cleared his throat. "Yolei, I…" He trailed off. How was he supposed to say it again???
"Yeah?" This time when she looked, there was a certain shine in her eyes, much like the one Izzy had in part 2. She was hoping so hard that it would be that he likes her, and then she would say she likes him, and then…
Izzy said it fast, almost awkwardly. "Yolei, I like you, and have liked you ever since when, and I was kinda hoping that you'd go out with me. I know I'm not the best guy around, and that you like Ken, too, but my true self is the best I could offer, and I'm hoping that would be enough."
Yolei smiled. It was that blissful kind. She smiled sweetly at him, and he was happy that she did. Heck, he was thrilled that she did! So does that mean…?
Yolei kissed him on the cheek. "This is where we'll start," she whispered.
"As long as we're starting," he whispered back.
"Tai, are you sure you're okay?" Sora asked. "Your cheeks are swollen!" She was wiping him with a cloth of cold water.
Tai nodded, making sure not to wince. "I'm okay," he answered.
"No, you're not," Sora said.
"I am," he insisted, avoiding to wince again.
That wasn't true, and Sora knew it. Why does Tai have to be the macho kind of guy? Getting mad, she stood up and hit him on ever so lightly the shoulder. He did wince, and even grimaced a bit.
"Taichi Kamiya, why do you have to lie? You know you're hurt, and even I know you're hurt! Why don't you just admit it!?"
Tai was taken aback by this sudden outrage. Wow… she looks cute when mad, he thought, but that's not the point. He brought himself back to the outer world and answered her, avoiding the subject as much as he can. She started picking apart his macho cover, saying that he was lying more than ever, yadda, yadda, yadda, and even started to hit him at the places she knew were hurting. He was sure it was a big mess out there. How did she figure that out?
"I'm okay because you're here!" Tai admitted. The hitting stopped instantly.
"What did you say?"
He thought about his answer for a moment. "That didn't come out right," he answered sheepishly.
"Sora, I hope you're not mad," he said.
"You're right I am!" she pretended to be mad. Secretly she was hoping he'd say it again. But that was a fat chance, and that's being sarcastic.
Tai smiled that smile that always melted her. "I know you're not mad." He thought she was going to give and smile, too, but she still was mad.
"Tai, you're being such a jerk acting like that!" she told him. A few people looked in their direction, and he smiled, apologizing for nothing because it was already loud.
"Why do you always have to pretend, Tai?" she asked rhetorically. He wasn't supposed to answer but he did, turning it into a fight—again.
"Me? I never pretend!" - "You always pretend! Your macho cover doesn't impress me or anybody!" - "I'm not trying to impress anybody!" - "Then why all this hero stunt! You think I don't know what's going on?!" (I know, she's being a bit hysterical) - "Nothing's going on!" - "Oh, why don't you just admit it?!" - "Admit what? That I like you?!"
"You do?"
This time her face was as calm as an angel: her cheeks were red with her past fury, and her eyes were twinkling, with tears or what. To Tai this was the most beautiful memory of her that he could keep. It may be dark, but in the eyes of someone whose first love is right in front of him, the dark was no problem.
Before he said anything, he sat her down. "Sora, for a long, long time already," he exhaled, "I like you. And I've been praying and doing everything I can to have like me too. I went to a wishing well yesterday just so today would work out great."
She was silent for a long time. It felt like eternity to Tai that he burst out saying, "Say something."
She smiled. "It must've worked the first time."
Unexpectedly Tai grinned. "Hey, guys!" he shouted over to the new Digidestined. They've been watching, so the two heard a chorus of unturned heads answer, "What?!"
"Sora's my girl!!!" was the triumphant cry. It was followed by cheering from the other group.
"Says who?!" Sora exclaimed.
Tai grinned some more. Pulling Sora to her feet, he put her arms around her and whispered, "Says me," and he kissed her.
Meanwhile with Joe and Mimi…
As usual, the model was very caring and sincere. Just like Sora, she was wiping off blood marks on Joe's face, which he got from someone's ring.
"I don't understand how trying to stop it had you included. I never thought that you'd get into a fight," she commented.
"You've forgotten the Digital World already?"
She only smiled in answer. "Does it hurt?" she asked when she damped his face with a towel with cold water. Joe shook his head and she continued, concentrating on her task at hand. Joe was looking at her, just small glimpses so that it won't be too obvious. In the dark, it wasn't very easy to see, so a glimpse was more than a glimpse. More like a stare for thirty seconds, look away for ten. Thirty seconds, then ten. She finally saw him and stopped her little treatment instantly.
"Is there something on my face?" she asked. She touched her skin lightly, wanting to wipe whatever it was.
Joe just smiled and shook his head. "You look really pretty, actually," he answered.
Mimi felt her cheeks flush. She's heard the phrase "You look beautiful," but "you look really pretty" sincerely had more effect.
"Thank you," she said meekly. She started to wipe his face again, but Joe stopped her hand midway. She was surprised, but only lightly. She looked at him questioningly.
"Mimi, I…"
"Hey, guys, this is McK The DJ! How's it going??!!"
Practically everyone in the crowd shouted in answer.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. I said, HOW'S IT GOING??!!"
An even louder answer rose, it even felt like there was a big gust of wind in the club. (Ewww…)
"Yeah, I figured that," the DJ answered with a smirk—you can tell from his voice. "Well, now, you all know that I know the reason you came here… ain't I right?"
Another gust of wind.
"So… shall I keep you waiting?"
The girls whined loudly, and that includes Mimi. Joe just looked at her, a bit surprised. He should have known. And right when he was about to start the confession!
"Of course not, girls. I'm sweet. You love me, don't ya?" the DJ teased.
"We love you, McK!!!" they all chorused.
"So I'm not going to keep you waiting any longer. What you've come here for—of course, other than me—Teenage Wolves!!!"
Bright lights went on the stage to reveal Matt and his band already there. The girls cheered and Matt's following whooped out.
"All hail Matt!" the Digidestined shouted through the noise. And as if it was something to be answered to, all the girls shrieked.
"How're you all doing tonight?" Matt spoke into the microphone.
Another gust of wind.
"I didn't hear you!!!"
An even bigger gust, biggest as it could possibly get.
"All right," he said smiling. At that, a strum of the base guitar was followed by a catchy beat on the drums, followed by a drowned out electric guitar. The keyboards followed, filling out the empty spaces. This was the intro, one of their newest songs.
For fifty minutes, they were singing nonstop, jumping up and down on stage, and filling the club with the loud bass. The Digidestined were going along with the crowd, acting like fans even when Matt dedicated two songs to them, for the inspiration made in the Digital World. The DW wasn't mentioned, though, but whoever was in the info, they knew what it was about.
Joe acted like he was really having fun, hard as it was. His head was pounding, and he was getting a headache already. He was almost deaf from the constant screams and the bass, and he knew his ears were going to ring afterwards. Even the others were smiling at him, seeming to say, "All right, Joe! You're actually having fun!"
But deep inside, Joe was broken to pieces. Whatever it was that was holding him outside, it was darn strong. Maybe it was the sight of Mimi. He didn't want her to see him broken and crying of something as silly as a disrupted confession. He has to be strong. Girls like that. Man, of all the times… Maybe it wasn't meant to be, he thought. The signs were all there—Matt being better, the interruption, them spending more time together, both being really popular, being so… what's the word? Oh, heck, it doesn't matter. All that he knew was that it wasn't meant to be, and that he might as well enjoy the few moments he'll have of having her close.
In the midst of these thoughts, Matt's voice came and introduced the next song. He was smiling from ear to ear.
"Now, this next song's dedicated to a very special someone that I've known for quite a long time. She's really special—"
"Marry me, Matt!!!" (That was June over a megaphone thing.)
"—and I just want her to know what a dream this all is. And that I think I'll only come back to reality when we part. Good times or the worst, it's never going to come close to being a nightmare."
And then the acoustic guitar started.
Oh, man, thought Tai. Not good. Definitely not good.
"Joe…" Sora could only whisper. Poor Joe.
Hey, girl, you know this isn't a dream
I like you, but it isn't easy to say
The same train of though ran through the rest of the Digidestineds, except for Mimi (and Willis and Ken). She still had no clue. A kind of quiet came over the group that Willis and Mimi didn't notice. TK only wanted to watch. Ken noticed it fast, being the observer of this new group he was hanging out with. He picked up the reason why when all eyes rested on Joe. Joe, however, felt the eyes on him. He ignored it and smiled anyway.
And you know, everything's not what it seems
Like when I thought that you were coming
My way
"Go, Matt!" he cheered as the drums started, trying to swallow back his heart. Be still, my heart and guts. I feel kinda nauseous now. Romantically speaking, his heart was pounding hard against his chest that he wouldn't be surprised if it drowns out the crowd and sound system. He felt as if there was a lump in his throat, his heart trying hard to get out and present itself to Mimi.
Maybe when I see you on the streets tomorrow
Maybe then I'll be strong enough to admit how I feel
Every time I see you my heart twists in sorrow
But when you smile at me my heart just starts to heal
If only she knew, Joe thought, gazing sadly at her. I really like you, Mimi. I really, really like you.
And as if a rift of wind caught it, the words were sent to Mimi's ears. She picked it up clearly. She turned around to Joe, who was still looking at her.
"What did you say?" she asked him.
"I really like you, Mimi. I really, really like you," he whispered in answer. Then "reality" knocked him on the head and he instantly felt ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry, Mimi, I didn't meant to say it."
You know you're not like any other
You're more than just an ordinary
"You don't like me then?" she asked softly.
Girl, when you start playing with a lock of your heart
I can't help thinking just how much I'm lucky
To be close to you
"I do!" Joe blurted out. "But Matt's got you already. I'm sorry for ruining it…"
Maybe when I see you on the streets tomorrow
Maybe then I'll be strong enough to admit how I feel
"No, you're not," she touched his lips. And with one move, she kissed him.
Every time I see you my heart twists in sorrow…
The singing stopped and the crowd became quiet—literally. The spotlight sought out the girl the song was dedicated to and it found her kissing someone else. Matt stood there, awe-struck. It was too much to ask for, her love and affection. He knew it wasn't meant to be. He took his guitar strap off his shoulders and walked away. The spotlight didn't bother to follow him.
After the mini concert, the Digidestined went to the dressing rooms to try and comfort Matt. Everyone was happy for Joe and Mimi, who decided to stay outside, but they were also down and sad for Matt. How do you comfort him now?
"We're really sorry for that thing, man," Tai started.
"It's okay," Matt said. Everyone thought he wasn't going to talk, but now that he did, it was better!
"Okay?" Davis repeated. "How?"
"Our manager said I should get a girlfriend, famous and all, to project the image of the band," he answered looking down. Then he looked at them. "Bad idea."
"You were using Mimi??!!" the girls exclaimed at him.
Matt instantly backed off, the others trying to protect him.
"No, I wasn't," he answered. "ItriedtoaskhertobemygirlbutitwastoolateIwasn'ttoosureanywaygeezcalmdown," he explained as fast as he could. Yup, he succeeded. The words ran into one another. The girls' eyes only narrowed to slits.
"Excuse me," a tiny voice asked.
Everyone looked the speaker's direction and found a pretty face. She was biting her lips, not sure whether to go on or not.
"Yeah?" Matt asked from behind the others.
"Matt?" she called out.
Like Moses with the Red Sea (or was it another one?) the boys' bodies parted. And Matt saw a petite girl, blond hair and cherry lips and pink cheeks. She looked uncomfortable in her clothes, a bootleg and a tight fitting top.
"Yeah?"
"Can I have your autograph, please?" she asked, batting her eyelashes the way only French girls could. And they thought she was French because her accent said so.
"Sure," Matt said, walking over to her. "What's your name?"
"Catherine," she said with a full French accent.
Matt nodded and wrote on the notebook pad that she handed him. After he signed it, he handed it back to her. She looked at it and her eyes widened. "Do you mean this?" she asked him. His "autograph" said, 'Hey, Catherine, Would you like to go out tomorrow night? Matt Ishida'
"Yeah. So do you want to?" Matt answered.
"Tomorrow night," she answered him. "Eight."
Matt nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow night, then."
"Bye," she waved to him shyly. As soon as she was out of sight, the others' eyes went wide.
"You didn't do what you just did!" Yolei said.
"Sure did," Tai answered for him. He turned to Matt and whacked him on the back. "You da man, Matt! Way to go!"
"So, no hard feelings with Joe?" Izzy wanted to make sure.
"None at all," Matt answered. "I was being forced to do it."
"MAAATTTTT!!!!!!!!"
"RUUUNNNN!!!" Joe came in, holding Mimi's hand.
Now, ya don't need to know what happened. Without asking or looking, they all ran to the same direction—Exit Doors.
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Hm… I hope you liked it! Matt didn't so much as suffer from his "lost" of Mimi because as he explained, he was forced to do it as a publicity stunt. I don't think Mimi or anyone should be used that way, so that was the ending! Big BIG "Thank you!" to Ismini for helping me with the endings. I thought I could think of another way out, but I was limited to only a few choices, which she showed me. At least Matt got a girl, huh? He's probably going to be happier with her, anyway. Well, Ciao!
