I'm baaaaaak! This one here is Chapter 12 : New Found Friends. This chapter is focused on the growing relationships between all of the people in the house, particularly Leta, Rei, Sora and Ken. Thanks to all of my reviewers. Sorry about the wait for this chapter. I had lost interest in this story and was almost tempted to stop, but you guys make we want to continue, so keep the reviews coming! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!! Now, on with the story.
Leta sat in bed, staring out the window with a bored expression on her face. It had been three days since the last battle with the Digimon Kaizer and she had still not been allowed out of bed. She tried to sneak out, but each time was caught by either Rei or Matt. They had been like prison guards keeping her under a strict lockdown, and it was beginning to drive her crazy. The first day she could understand them being worried and wanting her to stay in bed, but after the second day their constant nervousness had begun to bother her. She knew what she could handle and knew that she was quite capable of walking around. She was about to get up and leave when her bedroom door swung open and Matt walked in. He pulled a chair out from underneath the desk and placed it next to her bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked her, placing a hand on her forehead.
"I don't have a fever." she told him crossly, swatting his hand away from her face. "And I'll tell you how I am. I'm miserable!" Matt raised his eyebrows. "You two have kept me locked in this room for three days! Three days!" said, raising three fingers to emphasize her point. "I'm fine! And I refuse to lay in bed and waste another day while you and Rei play doctor!" With that Leta through off her covers and tried to stand up, but when she did a shooting pain ran through her body and she dropped back down to the bed, clutching her side. Leta's eyes filled with tears at her own weakness and dropped her head in her hands.
Matt had listened with shock as Leta yelled. He knew she was getting restless, but he hadn't expected her to be this angry. When she tried to stand he knew that she wasn't ready, so he was expecting it when she fell. Matt stood and knelt in front of her, covering her hands with his. "It's okay." he whispered soothingly.
"No it's not!" she yelled, laying on her back and staring at the ceiling. She felt her bed move as Matt laid down next to her. "I'm not used to this." she said quietly, snaking her hand about until it met his.
"No one expected this to happen." he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Why did it happen?" he asked, sitting up and leaning over her. "What made you throw yourself in front of Sora?"
Leta rolled to face him, guilt clouding her eyes. "I don't know." she said honestly. "I guess I just couldn't let Sora suffer anymore if I could help it." Leta looked at Matt, blushed and stared back at the ceiling. "I already caused her so much pain."
Matt saw more tears forming in the corners of Leta's eyes and drew her close. He held her until the tears subsided, all the while whispering comforting words to her. When she was done Matt wiped the wetness from her cheeks. "You didn't do anything." Matt told her.
"I did." Leta said forcefully, pulling from Matt's embrace. "I took you, no I STOLE you!" Matt laughed. "And what did I say that was funny?" she asked annoyed.
"You can't steal someone that doesn't want to be stolen." Leta's eyes widened and Matt laughed again. "I liked Sora when I first met her. I was about twelve then. For a few years I was happy with the relationship, but deep down I knew she wasn't the one. And from the first time you insulted me I knew you were something special, I just didn't want to admit it." Leta blushed, half from embarrassment and half from the memory of the way she and Rei treated him when they first met. "That, and the fact that Rei is really scary and I thought she would kill me if I tried anything."
Leta laughed. "She's not that bad." After a few moments her expression turned serious again. "But I think that me saving Sora was my way of apologizing. She didn't get hurt did she? I don't remember much about that day."
"No, she didn't get hurt." Matt told her. "Leta the human shield did a pretty good job of protecting her." Leta smiled, pleased with herself. "How about this." Matt proposed, "What if you rest for a while and I'll carry you downstairs for dinner? At least you'll get some company other than your jailers."
A huge grin spread across Leta's face. "You'd do that for me?" Matt nodded. "Yes!" Leta cried happily, throwing her arms around him.
Matt returned her hug and smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too." she replied, lightly caressing his face. Letting her emotions take control Leta pulled Mat onto the bed and kissed him, entwining her hands around his neck and playing with the soft hair at the nape of his neck. Pulling her even closer Matt placed gentle kisses down her neck., creating sensations that Leta had never felt before. She sighed and reached her hand up and unbuttoned the top button in his shirt. Matt drew back and looked into her eyes. Leta stared back at him, love shining in her eyes. Without another word she completely unbuttoned his shirt and gently began to pull it from his shoulders. Matt allowed the thin fabric to fall and lowered himself back onto the bed, pulling her in for another kiss. Just as their lips were about to meet-
Knock, knock!
Reluctantly Matt sat up, a frown on his lips. He looked down at Leta, who had a smile and a slight flush on her face. Matt picked up his shirt, walked to the door and opened it. Sora stood on the other side, hands clasped behind her back and eyes looking nervously at the floor. When the door was opened she was shocked to see a shirtless Matt open it. She looked at him, unknown emotions flashing through her eyes. "Can I talk to Leta?" she asked quietly.
As soon as Matt realized who was behind the door he had begun to put his shirt back on, but when Sora had asked to see Leta he stopped. "Why?"
"I..." Sora paused, as if forcing herself to say what she didn't want to. "I want to apologize."
Matt opened the door further, allowing Sora to walk past him. She entered the room and found Leta sitting on the bed, adjusting the covers around her. Sora blushed, realizing what she had interrupted. "Hi, Leta." she said quietly, breaking the silence in the room.
Leta looked at Sora. "Hi." she repeated.
Matt glanced from girl to girl, sensing the tension in the air. Buttoning up his shirt he walked over to Leta and gave her a quick kiss. "I'm gonna leave you two alone." he said, heading towards the door. "If you need me, I'll be in my room."
When Matt had left Sora sat in the chair next to the bed and gazed at Leta. It was easy to see what had attracted Matt. She was very beautiful. Her curly brown hair fell just below her shoulders, framing her face and accenting her emerald eyes. Although Leta was rather tall, her body was lean and feminine. Add all that to the wonderful personality and Sora finally admitted to herself that she didn't really have a chance against her.
"So," Leta asked nervously, "what did you want?"
"I wanted to apologize." Sora replied. Leta's eyes widened in surprise before confusion set in. "Apologize for the way I've been acting." Sora sighed, fixing her brown eyes on the floor. "It's not your fault that Matt feels the way he does, but I took it out on you."
"I want to apologize to you too."
"For what?" Sora said, "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I did." Leta said forcefully. "I didn't even stop to think about your feelings before I went and fell in love with your boyfriend."
"I think I lost Matt before you ever showed up." Sora smiled, a look of acceptance flashing through her deep russet eyes. "Things hadn't been the same as they were when we first met. I could tell he wasn't happy..." she paused, wiping a tear from her eyes, "But I was selfish. I wouldn't let him leave. As long as he was with me, I didn't care if he was happy or not." Leta placed her hand on Sora's shoulder, urging her on. "And then you showed up...and he looked at you the way he used to look at me. It was then that I knew no matter how hard I tried to hold on, it was over. But...I wouldn't admit it....and I was jealous. I took my anger out on you...and I'm sorry."
Leta had sat through Sora's entire story with tears filling her eyes and fighting back the urge to hug the girl in front of her, but when she apologized again Leta threw caution to the wind and embraced the crying girl. At first Sora stiffened at Leta's touch, flinching away from her. But after a few seconds Sora also broke down and returned the hug. "I guess this means we're friends now." Leta said, pulling herself away from Sora.
"I guess so." Sora said, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I didn't think you'd hear me out. I'm glad that you did."
Leta returned the smile, laying back on the pillows and wiping the moistness from her eyes. "This whole healing process is making me really emotional."
"Thank you." Sora said quietly.
Leta looked up, confusion dancing in her eyes. "For what?"
"If it weren't for me you wouldn't have to be going through a healing process." Sora frowned. " I can't seem to do anything right, can I?"
"I actually think this was a good thing." Leta said, gesturing at her wound. "If it weren't for this we would still be at each others throats, but we're not. We're friends. Who would have thought that the stupid Digimon Kaizer would actually do something good."
"I bet he'd kill himself if he knew." Sora laughed. "But don't worry about him," She said, suddenly serious, "When we're done with him he wont know what hit him."
"I can't wait to see that." Leta said, closing her eyes and sighing.
Sora noticed this and stood up. "Well, I'm gonna go so you can get some rest." Leta nodded her thank-you. "I'll talk to you later. And thanks, for everything." Sora opened the door and walked out, running headlong into Rei. Noticing who it was, Sora sighed, waiting for the insults. But none came. Looking up Sora saw that Rei was gazing at her with an unreadable expression on her face. Not wanting to fight with Rei Sora mumbled her apology and began walking away.
"Sora wait!" Rei called.
Sora turned and watched as Rei walked over to her. "Yes?"
"I wanted to..." Rei paused, obviously fighting herself, "I wanted to say I'm sorry...for hitting you." Sora's eyes widened in shock. Rei was apologizing to her. "I didn't think before I did it. I just kept picturing Leta in my mind, and I lost control. I'm sorry."
Sora's unconsciously raised her hand to the place where Rei slapped her. "Don't worry about it." She smiled, "we all do things we're not proud of and if I was in your place I probably would have done the same thing." Sore knew that Rei wasn't going to say anymore so she smiled to herself. While she was walking away she couldn't help thinking that this was going to be a great day.
Rei watched Sora walk away. 'I feel a lot better now.' Turning on her heel she walked towards the living room with a smile on her face. She turned a corner and came face to face with Ken. He was standing in his doorway with a mysterious smile playing on his lips. Rei froze on the spot, staring into ken's lifeless blue eyes. And then, Ken bowed. It wasn't just a small inclination of the head, he bent from the waist and moved his arms in a sweeping fashion. Rei didn't know what to make of it, but she found herself walking towards him. Ken's smile broadened as she made her way closer. It was a slow pace, but in ten steps she found herself inches away from him. Ken slowly reached out his hand, gradually bringing it up to her face. Rei closed her eyes and leaned in, letting Ken trail his fingers down her skin. She sighed and opened them again, seeing something flicker in Ken's eyes. Rei took another step closer to him, closer to something she was afraid of. Ken lowered his head, once again caressing her face. Rei trailed her fingers across his chest, standing on her toes, bringing their lips closer and closer and closer...
"Rei, where are you?"
Tai's voice pulled Rei back into reality. She stepped back, still looking into Ken's eyes. "I'm up here." she called, moving further away from Ken, but never once taking her eyes off of him.
Tai came up the stairs. When he saw Rei and Ken a slight frown crossed his face before being replaced with his normal smile. "I need to talk to you." He told Rei.
Rei looked away from ken and to Tai. She smiled and nodded her head. Taking one last glance at Ken she found him gone and his bedroom door closed. Rei frowned at the door, before leaving with Tai.
*****
Tai had led Rei to the Living room, where he sat her on the couch, seating himself on the coffee-table directly across from her. He took her hands in his and sighed. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while now."
Rei looked up. "What?"
"You see, the truth is," Tai paused, noticing Rei's far off expression. 'She's not even listening, is she?" he thought to himself. "Rei."
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?'
Rei blushed. "Nothing, I'm just a little...preoccupied." Rei didn't tell him that Ken was occupying all her thoughts, or that they had almost kissed, or that she had wanted to kiss him. 'I need to go, be alone.' she thought to herself. "Tai, can we do this another time?"
Tai fought the urge to tell her no and scream out how much he loved her. "Sure." he said, plastering fake smile on his face.
"Thanks." Rei said, ruffling his hair and walking out of the room.
When she was gone Tai sat on the couch. It was warm where she had been sitting. Laying back Tai allowed his thoughts to wander. He pictured what would happen when he told Rei how he felt. She would throw her arms around him and they would share their first kiss. It was supposed to be magic, she wasn't supposed to be distracted and leave before he got a chance to tell her. "Why me." Tai said out loud, closing his eyes. Images of him and Rei together danced around his imagination.
Sorry. I'm not really proud of this chapter. I kinda forced it out so I could get on with the next ones. I have big plans for this story. It started out in my mind as a small thing with four or five chapters, but it's going to end up with about twenty-two! Well, this chap was sorta interesting. Leta and Matt were getting a little frisky. Too bad Sora had to interrupt. And what's this, Rei wanted ken to kiss her. Poor Tai, he's going to be upset when her finds this out. In the next chapter Ken and Rei spend some time getting to know each other better and Leta and Matt hit the town for their first official date.
Stay tuned for Chapter 13 : Roses and Soccer Lessons