Chapter Nine – Lollipops again
"Budge up," TK complained, shoving Daisuke out of his space by the sauna wall.
"Well, if you'd just keep your big feet to yourself-"
"Both of you, shut up!" Tai hissed. "If we get caught in here, we'll be dead meat!"
The boys were huddled in a group in the women's changing rooms outside the wooden wall of the sauna, their ears pressed to the boards to hear what was being said inside. If anyone came in and saw them, they'd probably get kicked out of the building.
"Uh, don't you think we shouldn't be in here?" Cody asked doubtfully.
"The probability of our being caught is extremely high," Izzy whispered, looking around fervently.
"Well, that's why we're gonna have to be extra quiet-" Tai broke off as they all heard the same thing – the sound of a door opening.
"Quick!" he whispered frantically. He swung open the nearest door and darted in, closing it softly after everyone was inside.
Footsteps sounded throughout the room but receded quickly, along with the sound of the door closing again.
Joe let out a long breath. "Phew, that was close."
"Uh – guys…" Izzy said behind them. His voice sounded slightly odd.
"What is it, Izzy?" Tai asked, turning round.
And then they saw where they were.
"Duuuude…" Matt said in a strangled voice. "I really, really do not want to be in here…"
They were in the women's toilets.
"Oooooh…" Sora sighed, resting her head on the hot wooden boards of the steamy sauna. "Why haven't I discovered these before?"
Mimi adjusted her towel and leaned back against the wall. "I've gotta convince Mama to put one of these in our house."
"When you do, think how fantastic sleepovers at your place'll be, Mimi!" giggled Yolei. "You'll never get rid of us!"
"You know, I bet they boys would really love this," Kari commented. "TK's always going on about how achy he gets after basketball practice. A couple of these places in the school gym and bingo! Problem solved."
"Matt wouldn't like it," Sora mused. "It'd make his gel melt."
Yolei started giggling, infecting Mimi, too. Soon all the girls were laughing.
"I've never seen Matt with flat hair!" Yolei said. "I bet he looks really weird."
"Hey Jun, you've only mentioned Matt once throughout the whole day," Mimi said with interest. "I'd thought you'd be pumping us for information."
Jun blushed. "Well, I wouldn't want you to think that was the only reason I came along. Which it wasn't," she added hastily.
Sora nodded. "We know you didn't," she told her. "But since we're on the subject, is there anything you really, really want to know about him?"
"Yeah, c'mon, give us an excuse to dish the dirt!" Mimi leant forward excitedly.
"Well…" Jun chewed her lip, beginning to grin. "I… I always wanted to know…"
"What?" Kari asked, shifting into a more comfortable position.
Jun cocked her head to one side. "Is there anything really, really embarrassing you've ever seen him do? Something totally cringeworthy?"
"I'm impressed," Mimi said approvingly. "I thought you'd ask what kind of girl he likes, what personality…"
"I already know that," Jun interrupted. "Not me."
Mimi fell silent, unable to think of anything to say.
Jun shrugged. "It's ok. I'm getting used to it."
"I'm sure that's not true, Jun," Sora said softly, giving her a comforting squeeze.
"You know it is. Hey, don't worry about it, ok?" Jun gave a weak smile. "You haven't answered my question yet."
"Well," Sora said, suddenly grinning like a dervish, "None of the rest of you know this, but me and Tai once found him with a lollipop, trying to…"
Having gotten out of the toilets faster than Mimi away from Numemon, the boys were again huddled against the sauna wall listening carefully to the girls' conversation.
Everyone turned to stare at Matt, whose normally pale features had turned bright red.
"You did what with a lollipop?" said TK disbelievingly.
"Dude," Daisuke exclaimed, screwing up his face. "That's pretty -beep- ed up."
"Is that even possible?" Izzy queried, frowning.
"Well, maybe if it's small–" Joe began.
"Shut up!" Matt spat. "I never did that, ever!"
"Yeah you did," Tai guffawed. "I was the one that caught you, remember?"
"Shut up," Matt repeated, scarlet. "I never did anything like that. Never. Ok?"
"Ok, Matt," TK said, tears forming in his eyes through the effort of keeping down his laughter. "Whatever you say."
The entire group apart from Matt burst into silent hysterics, tears streaming down their cheeks.
"Ew," Mimi exclaimed, her hand over her mouth.
"I will never look at him the same way again," declared Jun, lost for words.
"You're not kidding," Yolei said emphatically.
"Totally," Kari agreed, wrinkling her nose.
Rumpleteasza: (giggling fit) Ok! Mini competition! C'mon, you people, I'm dying to hear your ideas of what Matt did with the lollipop. Most original/ disgusting/humorous suggestions win... um... Izzy's soul!
Koushiro: (offscreen) HEY!
Rumpleteasza: Shut it, minion, you know you love it really.
Koushiro: -beep- you.
Rumpleteasza: You love it! You slaaaag!
Koushiro: …
Rumpleteasza: … right. Next chapter, then.
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