Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon

Good Match- Part#8

It was one of those "biting-your-nails-till-they-practically-get-chewed-off" sort of days. You know the ones I mean. The ones where you're anticipating something, but are worried that it won't happen, and that makes you nervous.


Well, that was at least true for Mimi, Sora, Tai, and Joe. Matt felt totally in control of the situation he was in, which, of course, he wasn't.


Now let's backtrack and take a look at why they were all so nervous or, in Matt's case, perfectly peachy.


Okay, let's start with Mimi. She was scared that Matt wouldn't realize that his chance with Sora was quickly slipping away and would miss the opportunity to ask her to the dance. She was also very worried that Joe may never ask her, this thought had been at the back of her mind all week.


Now onto Sora. She wanted more than anything for Matt to ask her out before the day was over- so she wouldn't have to go with Tai. But at the same time she didn't want to hurt Tai's feelings, even if he had been a total jerk so far that week.


Tai himself wished fervently that this thing that had been going around the school about Matt and Sora being a couple was just a rumor, and that she really did like himself just as much as he did her. But he knew that if Matt was the one she wanted, he'd just have to step aside. She just had to say the words.


Joe on the other hand was much too busy worrying about how he was going to pluck up enough courage to ask Mimi to the dance before the day was over. It had taken an entire week last time. This thought in mind, he really had no time to think about Matt, Sora, or Tai.


Now for Matt, the only one that seemed to be enjoying the day. He planned to ask Sora that night, after his concert. He was going to make a big spectacle out of it- calling her onto the stage, serenading her with his latest song, then asking her in front of the entire audience. He was totally cool, calm, and collected.

~~~~

The morning had crawled by for everyone. It seemed the day was going too slowly, being dragged down by anticipation for Homecoming and all.


Joe looked onto the crowds of students chattering happily and giggling flirtaciously in the cafeteria dejectedly. "Why can't I have that?" he thought, annoyed.


'Can we sit here?'


Joe looked up to stare into the face of none other than Jun, Matt's biggest fan. She batted her eyelashes suggestively, Joe only felt the urge to throw away the rest of his lunch and leave. Instead he stood up to the girl.


'I'm actually saving these seats for a few friends of mine. They should be here any minute.'


'By friends do you mean Matt Ishida?' asked a girl behind Jun. She wore a bright pink tube top and short shorts, even with the weather getting increasingly colder. It was definetely one of Jun's close friends.


'Ya, Matt happens to be one of those people. Why do you ask?'


The girls suddenly burst into excited squeals of happiness and began jumping up and down. Joe only shook his head disgustedly.


'I told you he was friends with Matt! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!'


'Ya, ya Narie, congratulations' As Jun said this she sat down in one of the empty seats around the table. Her friends quickly followed her example. They had by now settled down and began to fix their hair and make up, hoping Matt would catch them at their best.


'Umm...I thought I told you that those seats were taken?' Joe made it sound more of a statement than a question.


'Yes, but we are personal guests of Mr. Ishida. He will no doubt understand.' said Jun indignantly. Joe felt like hitting her. Hard.


'I really don't think he'll-'


'Would you please be quiet? We are letting you stay here, aren't we? The least you could do is show us some courtesy!' Jun made it sound as if he was in the wrong.


Joe looked desperately around the room, in hope of some peer help, but what he found was much better. Matt was waving to him from outside the cafeteria, through one of the windows. Joe didn't need to be told twice.


'Where are you going?' asked Jun, not really paying attention.


'To the principle. Fans aren't supposed to bother Matt during school hours. He can make you leave us alone.'


'Well! There's gratitude for you! I let him sit here....' But Joe didn't hear anymore, he was already out the door.

~~~~

When Joe got outside, he found Matt and Mimi waiting for him by the tree- their usual after school meeting place. He looked around for Sora but couldn't see her anywhere.


'Before you say anything, Sora's eating lunch with Tai today. So its just us.' Mimi had obviously been reading his mind. He looked at Matt to see his reaction, but his face was blank and expressionless.


They remained silent for the next few moments, each trying to think of something to say to break the unbearable silence.


'So...Are you guys gonna make it to my show tonight?' Mimi shot a quick glance at Joe. She had been waiting for him to ask her to that at the same time as the dance.


'Well...I might. It depends if Sora's going. She's got a lot on her mind at the moment.' Matt quickly turned towards Mimi, knocking his pop can over in the process. It was empty anyway.


'What do you mean, Mims? Sora might not go?' Matt sounded desperate, and made no move to cover up the worriedness in his eyes.


'Well she never said she was, did she? I'm not going to assume anything...But...Why do you ask anyway?'


Matt eagerly told them about his plan. Everything from the serenading to the kiss he would give her on her hand after she said yes, like a gentleman would have done.


'Matt, don't get ahead of yourself here. What if she says no?'Joe knew that had been a bad thing to say as soon as he saw the hope in Matt's eyes die.


'But you said that all I had to do was ask and she'd say yes for sure! Now you're telling me she'll say no? What am I supposed to believe!?'


'Matt, quiet down a bit. We're just making informed assumptions here. Even though we both think she'll say yes, there is a chance she may say no.' Matt seemed to calm down as Mimi said this, but the worry lines that had creased themselves on Matt's forehead only moments before were still as clear as ever.


'What should I do? Will she say yes to Tai? Is that why she's eating lunch with him? Should I ask her soon and forget the concert idea?' All those questions came tumbling out one after the other, Joe and Mimi both found it hard to keep up.


'I think you should ask her as soon as you can get her alone, and if that's before the concert, than forget that idea' Joe tried to sound reasonable, but Matt's desperation was beggining to rub off on him.


Mimi seemed to be the only one still holding onto her sanity: 'I doubt very much that she'll say yes to Tai, and I know for a fact that she's only eating lunch with him because she hasn't yet this week' She took a bite out of her sandwich and seemed to be enjoying it, that is until she saw both Matt an Joe's faces.


'Omigod, you guys don't look so hot. Stop breathing so fast! Should I get some paper bags?' Both Joe and Matt quickly calmed down soon after that, and began to finish their lunch and act normally again- although they were both very silent.


Mimi was the first to speak, again: 'Geez...I know why Matt may be getting a little nervous, but why you Joe?'


Matt stared coldly at Mimi as he chewed on his own sandwich. 'Uhhh...No offense meant Matt, its just that if I thought my reputation may be scarred forever because I didn't have a date for some stupid dance, I would be very nervous...'


Matt's eyes bulged at this and he looked down. He obviously hadn't considered all the details to Sora rejecting him.
Joe didn't answer Mimi's question at all. He figured she must already know and just want to get it out of him anyway. It was true.


Mimi broke the silence once more: 'Joe, can I umm...talk to you for a sec? Alone?' Joe nodded and got up swiftly. He suddenely felt very light, kinda like he was on air.


They walked far enough away to be sure that Matt or anyone else couldn't here them. There, Mimi stopped and shifted nervously on both feet. Joe stopped too and stared at her with moch curiousity.


'What is it Mimi?'


'I...well...Do you....'


'Yes....Do I what?' He persisted. Joe was suddenely beggining to feel giddy, it was taking him over.


'I was wondering if you wanted...I mean you don't have to, but if you felt like going-' Mimi was cut of as Joe wrapped his arms around her and whispered "yes" in her ear before placing his lips on hers. She returned his kiss, deepening it, and wrapped her arms around him at the same time.


The kiss ended shortly after that, with both feeling as if it hadn't been long enough. They looked at each other and broke out into smiles, then Joe took her and and she rested her head against his shoulder as they began walking back to the spot where they had left Matt only moments before.


'You know...I only wanted to ask you if you wanted to come over tonight to see if we can't work out Matt's problem' Mimi looked up at Joe as his face turned a colour very close to crimson and laughed, feeling as if nothing could be better than that moment.


'Well, I see someone finally swallowed their nerves. Now I'm the only dateless person in the school. Couldn't you guys have held off another day?' Matt said this as both his friends sat down across from him, he tried to sound serious but he was all smiles.


'Oh go jump in a lake!' said Mimi, still laughing at Joe's face. It now looked a rosy-red. 'Besides, Tai, Sora and Jun still don't have dates, you're not the only one'


Matt's face suddenely hardened and he became serious: 'Are you guys sure that Sora will say yes? At least more than 50% positive?'


Joe nodded, but it was Mimi who spoke next: 'Matt, from what Sora told me about your little guitar lesson, 'Matt became red as red as Joe at this' she will definetely say yes to you. But don't chance fate, ask her as soon as you can, okay?' Matt nodded.


'Right, well I have to get to class. It's my turn to water the cactus. Coming Mimi?' Matt eyed Joe suspiciously as they both left him to walk to his locker alone. "What a lame excuse..." He thought as he walked down the hall shaking his head and smiling.


But as he reached his locker he forgot the cuteness of the couple and began worrying about bigger problems, like trying to get Sora alone when they had no classes together in the afternoon...


~~~~The end of Chapter#8~~~~

A/N: So what did you think? I kinda liked that chapter myself...Anyway, I'm always ready for constructive critisicm. The next, and last, chapter should be out at the latest Saturday. This one was a bit late itself because of a sudden case of writer's block, but thats hopefully over with now. So remember to look out for the next part! 'Till then - minda