My Notes: Ok this is my FIRST OFFICIAL SORATO FAN FIC! YEA!! :o) Hehe. Anyways, this came to me in a dream so I hope you like it.
This is addressed to the Sorato fans: Please PLEASE review! I luv to hear from my fellow Yamato/Sora friends. I'm a sucker for reviews and, if I get enough encouragement, I may even do another Sorato. ^_^
To everyone else: Please PLEASE if your not a Sorato fan, still read this. I'm just hoping some people out there are mature enough not to base a review upon my couple pairing and hopefully instead my skill at writing or the plot. Also, I may write a Sorato today and a Taiora tomorrow, it all depends upon how the mood grabs me (though I'm neither a lemon fan nor a Yuri/Taiato. If I ever wrote one I'm afraid I wouldn't do it justice :)
K well that's enough from me. Good God, maybe I should call this 'My Insane Ramblings That Go On and On' instead. Ha ha. Now on with the fic!
::.::Pretty Baby::.::By ~*Jasmine*~
Chapter Five: Scraps And BruisesIt was a usual dull Monday morning. Gilded light seeped in through the classroom windows and Mr. Pedrin sat behind his desk, watching the students as they performed over the frames of his glasses. As students filled up in groups to give their presentations, the rest of the class attempted unsuccessfully not to drift off into unconsciousness. Sora strummed her fingers distractedly on the top of her desk. She pushed a strand of cinnamon hair behind her ear and crossed and recrossed her legs a few dozen times, trying her best to seem interested. However she couldn't help from having her gaze drift back to Yamato every other minute; he was sitting slouched in his chair, his arms folded over his chest. 'He's being unusually silent. He hasn't even looked at me once... God, I can't blame him for hating me. I even hate me a little. I just wish things hadn't turned out like this.'
Mimi and Jyou wrapped up their presentation and then walked to their seats, Mimi giving Jyou a victory hug for a job well done.
Mr. Pedrin smiled and his caterpillar mustache stretched across his lip. "Ok, well that was very informative. Thank you, Mimi and Jyou. Now up next is... Sora and Yamato," he told the class.
Sora stood and walked to the front of the room, holding the models in her palms gently. She wore black pants that fit to her long slender legs and a sleeveless powder blue turtleneck shirt. Matt followed, sliding from his seat and striding up front, his hands digging into his denim pockets. He was wearing a plain black button down shirt, untucked and slightly wrinkled. Sora glanced once at his face, trying to read his emotions, but his features were still and expressionless, his eyes never matching hers.
The auburn haired girl held out the marshmallow, multihued structures for the class to view and began, "Thank you, Mr. Pedrin. For our material we chose the edible option of..."
Yamato suddenly interjected loudly, a feigned smile wide on his face, "Edible panties! Come on, there's enough for the whole class!" The students all broke out into raucous laughter at his antics and Mr. Pedrin furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance, ticking off points on the tally sheet with his red pen.
Sora glanced at him icily and in confusion. Plastering on a grin she spoke over the din of voices, "Ha ha. What a kidder he is!" Then she tried to direct everyone's attention back to their models, continuing on, "Actually we used marshmallows, and to stick them together we used toothpicks..."
Matt met her gaze and there was vicious malice in his pallid eyes. He propped his hands on his sides and questioned with a click of his tongue, "Toothpick? Well that's just plain rude. I'm not that small down there, am I? I wasn't last night, according to you."
Again the class erupted in spouts of laughter and the girl with the platinum hair and heavily caked face giggled and bit her lip, her eyes never leaving the front of Matt's pants. Sora's high cheeks flushed petal pink and she hissed in a hushed tone, her crimson eyes swollen wide, "What are you doing! Are you purposely trying to get me a bad grade, Matt?"
The young man with the disheveled flaxen hair smirked and yet his grief was thinly veiled. "Just shooting to have a memorable presentation like you want," he whispered in return.
The husky teacher cut in finally and snapped sharply, "Matt, please control yourself. Thank you."
Yamato turned his head to face Mr. Pedrin and smiled winningly. "No, sir, thank you. It was such a good idea to have Sora and I work together. You were right; all we needed to do was get to know each other. And boy did we, if you get my meaning," he gushed, wagging his eyebrows suggestively, "Sora sure can put out! I had no idea tennis could make someone that flexible..." The students by now were being rocked with laughter, slapping their desktops.
Sora could feel anger and humility rising scarlet in her face. She tried to remain dignified as she shouted urgently, "He's joking everyone! That is not true at all."
The blonde haired boy faced her once again, finally meeting her directly in the eyes and yet still keeping up the façade of this being just one giant joke; another attempt at getting under Ms Popular's skin. "Its not? Why don't you say what you really mean then, huh Prom Queen? That you wouldn't touch someone like me with a ten-foot pole," he inquired.
The young woman could feel the tears brimming in her glistening sunset eyes. Taking in a breath, she shook her head softly, spraying strands of scarlet hair across her face, and replied quietly, "That's a lie..."
The grin twisted and grew taut, fake. "Well at least not in public right? Around everyone I'm a leper to you aren't I? Watch out guys, I have the dreaded 'misfit' disease. Its highly contagious, you can only not get it if you act like I'm lower than human life," he mocked, his joke growing menacing.
She could feel a tear threatening to fall and she held her chin higher, saying, "Matt, I know you're mad but please, this is not the time and place..."
The smile was only a slight fracture now; Yamato's eyes were flecked with anger. 'She tore your heart out again, you let her do it, you stupid fool.' He spat, "No, you know what Sor? I think this is the perfect fucking time and place - in front of everyone. They all think so highly of you, there's this damn mystique around you. 'Perfect little Sora can never do anything wrong.' Well maybe if they opened their eyes they would see just exactly the kind of person you really are - someone who could give a shit about anyone but herself. You treat people like crap and then expect everyone to buy your bull that you're this great person." The laughter had dissolved and the class was looking on with shocked, puzzled stares now. Sora too shared in their sentiment, unable to respond, her breath shallow in her lungs. "You even had me fooled. I thought 'Hey maybe this girl isn't so bad; maybe she isn't the shallow and vain brat I always thought she was. Maybe I judged too soon.' God was I an idiot! You're still the same old Sora, still a selfish snot," he continued cruelly, finding relief in the metallic flecks of hurt and discomfort bubbling in the beauty's eyes.
Mr. Pedrin stood from his desk and shouted, "Yamato Ishida, that's enough! You have always been one for class theatrics but this is crossing the line, young man."
Yamato swung around, a crooked smile slipping roguishly on his lips. He snickered, "What a surprise, Mr. Pedrin sticking up for his prized pupil."
The husky man glared defensively and questioned with an edged, straining anger, "Are you suggesting I favor some of my students over others? How dare you, Matt."
The blonde haired boy knew he was treading over dangerous grounds with his teacher but at this point he could care less. "No, I think I'm doing a little more than suggesting, sir. I bet Sora wouldn't have had to say one word just now - she could have made her models out of used gum - and you still would have given her an 'A'," he stated matter-of-factly.
Mr. Pedrin stood from his desk and tore off his small glasses, his eyes glinting with the flare of a temper. "I grade all my students on a level basis, even though I don't see why I have to explain myself to you," he said in almost a shout.
Sora took a step foreword, her hands clenched in fists by her sides. The petite girl cried out in indignant, "Yes, I work for my grades! Maybe if you spent less time jerking off you'd get the same good grades, instead of whining about it." Her previous grief was now being penetrated by anger. 'After all, who is he to judge anyone? He's just some asshole who is always down on everybody! I hurt him, I know I have, but he's taking things too far.'
Yamato's body was rigid, his words tainted with grief and pain. "I guess you're right, I guess I should just follow your example huh Prom Queen? Hey, maybe I should join the tennis team just so I can wear those uniform short skirts? Then I can date an asshole jock and put out on the first date. Maybe I can give up all shreds of my humanity and become a soulless bitch while I'm at it?" he taunted, glowering.
Mr. Pedrin was known for keeping his level disposition even under the most straining of situations, yet now the blood rushed over his temples and he gritted his teeth. He barked, "I've had enough, I will not have my class room turned into a three ring circus! You are working on a one-way ticket to the principal's office, young man."
The crimsoned haired beauty by Yamato's side sensed what was ahead and gazed up at the boy with plaintiff eyes. Somehow, after all he had said, Sora still found enough emotion in her to care and whisper in a hushed tone, her voice pleading, "Matt, stop. Don't."
The young man met her gaze coldly, his deep eyes narrowed, and replied icily, so that the entire class could hear, "Before I even opened my mouth I was getting a fucking 'F' anyway so what do I care?"
The teacher's round cherry cheeks bobbed as he roared intensely, "The principal! Now!" He held an arm out straight to gesture to the door and Sora watched the sullen, vindictive teen stomp off, slamming the door behind him. The class stayed silent, their eyes broad with shock.
T_TThe day was vivid and singing, a horizon of untainted blue stretching out beyond the confines of the school. The small courtyard was filled with the newborn scent of spring blossoms spilling open their pink and blue petals. The gardening kids, the teens that always walked around with dirt caked knees, were busy in the little potting shed and the tree awnings shifted restlessly with the pallid breeze. Seniors milled about, eating their lunches, since it had long been a school tradition that a senior privilege was being able to eat outside instead of having to deal with all those screeching underclassmen in the caf.
Mimi rushed up to her friend, Sora, at their usual reserved table. Her long jean skirt billowed with her movements and she was dressed in a tight fitting white tank top, her long fuchsia hair pulled half up. She skipped completely over the usual greetings and went right for the juicy stuff, questioning breathily, "Sora! What was that all about in science?"
The red head looked up at her friend and responded lacklusterly, shrugging, "I'm not sure."
Mimi slid into the chair before Sora and remarked innocently, not really getting the hint that Sora would have rather talked about anything but Yamato Ishida right about now, "He was bugging out! Yamato sure hates you."
Sora sighed at her friend's insightful observation and stared at the ground. "Can you blame him? This whole situation sucks. I'm starting to get really sick of high school," she muttered, something she would have never even thought of before. High school was her glory years, Sora wouldn't be like one of those jocks who became a balding gym teacher but she had always loved high school. Now it didn't seem all that important, all the teen gossip and drama just wasn't worth it anymore.
Just then Tai entered the courtyard flanked by his entourage of soccer players and groupies. He approached Sora, a mask of concern on his handsome tan face. "Babe, are you alright? I heard what happened, everyone is talking about it," he questioned, standing behind her as she turned to face him and placing a strong palm on her shoulder.
Sora forced out a smile although it was weary from over-use. She replied dryly, her auburn eyes glistening with sarcasm, "I'm sure they are. Ya I'm fine, it really wasn't that big of a deal."
The young man's nostrils flared and his eyes glowered with a flicker of a temper. He exclaimed with frustration, "Like Hell it wasn't! Where's this asshole, we need to work this out man to man!"
The petite girl shot up to her feet, snapping with her cinnamon eyes wide, "Tai, you'll only make things worse. Please drop it already ok?"
Tai snorted, "No way! No one talks to my girl like that." His gaze was roving over the courtyard until it rested on Yamato sitting under a tree alone. Without hesitation he stormed over towards him, his posse following.
The brunette haired boy halted over Yamato, loaming over him. "What do you think you're doing, freak?" he spat.
Yamato glanced upwards coolly, his arm propped up on one raised knee. "I think I'm sitting under a tree," he sniffed in annoyance. He normally would have left by now because he never stayed in school for lunch, but after being sent to the principals earlier that day, the school officials were already watching out for him. All they needed was to see him strolling off the school property to gain an out of school suspension.
Tai narrowed his dark eyes and said angrily, "Cute, real cute. Stop being a smart ass, Matt. Who do you think you are huh? You embarrassed my girlfriend in front of her entire class and made her get a bad grade."
Bands of light passed between the awning branches above to glide butter cream patterns over his pale skin. By now the teen realized this couldn't be solved without facing Tai at eye level so he stood, standing a few inches over the jock. "A 'B' hardly counts as a bad grade and why don't you say what you're really mad about, Tai? That maybe people in school have started seeing Sora differently and now there's a small chance she might not get Prom Queen? That's all you really care about anyway, your popularity," he remarked coldly.
The young man was raging, his hands balled up into fists by his side. He cried out in annoyance, "Shut your face, Ishida, before I do it for you! You are so off base sometimes, but then again it's easy to be judgmental when you don't give a fuck to begin with."
Yamato glared and shot back, "Maybe. Maybe you're right; maybe I don't give a crap about this school and these people and maybe it's easier for me to judge. Doesn't make what I say any less true though."
Sora finally broke her silence, standing beside Tai and facing Yamato. "Guys, stop it. Hasn't enough happened today already?" she questioned anxiously.
Tai shook his head, sending brown hair careening against his brow, and he spoke to her yet stared at Matt, "No, Sora. This punk needs his ass kicked; he's always running his mouth because he's a whiny little flamer."
A slight smirk came over the young man's handsome face; a soft breeze rustling his dark flaxen locks. "Ah, I knew you'd say something along those lines, all you jocks do. Funny, you're the ones who get all sweaty with the other soccer preps and then don't you guys take a nice long shower afterwards? But I guess you're just taking one for the team," he mocked, digging his hands into his jean pockets.
The shorter boy's face flushed with anger and he thrust a finger foreword, jabbing it into Matt's chest. "Listen, Yamato, I've had all I can take of you! Don't go near me and don't even think of looking at Sora understood?" he growled.
Yamato merely continued smiling smugly and shrugging. "The less I see of you the better but I don't know about Sora. For the last minute I've been undressing her with my eyes," he quipped.
This sent Tai reeling with anger and he lunged foreword. He used his forearm to push up against Yamato's shoulders and neck, crushing his windpipe and pining him against the tree trunk. With his other fist he struck out and slammed Yamato across the face. Students around gathered and gasped in shock and horror. Yamato didn't even have a chance to strike back, he was too busy grasping at Tai's arm that was wresting over his throat, slowly chocking out his air. Sora screamed, "Tai, get off!" She clutched her boyfriend's arm as he reared back to strike again and held on to it with all her strength, finally pulling Tai off the wounded boy.
She glared at Tai in anger, her pretty scarlet eyes tinged with sadness and fury. "Will you stop with this testosterone trip already? God, Tai, this is not helping anyone!" she cried, still holding onto Tai's arm encase he tried to do anything again.
Yamato was using the back of his hand to brush away a trickle of blood spilling from his lip, his right eye was beginning to swell, promising to be fresh and black with a bruise tomorrow morning. He glowered at Tai and the jock met his gaze with an equally as hostile stare. He commented, "You know, you're right. He's not even worth it. He's just a pathetic loser whose still crying over loosing his dream girl. You just never get it, man; Sora's made her decision and its me. Deal." Then Tai turned and yanked Sora away from Yamato, out of the courtyard. The young woman looked back just once, strands of hair falling over her shoulders, before turning away again, solemn grief in her eyes.
:-\
Closing Notes: Sorry, it was sorta a teaser for the Prom chapter! I was kinda mad when that person reviewed saying this was a typical fic where Tai was the bad guy and Yamato was the Prince Charming. Uh excuse me but what fic are you reading? Because in mine neither are perfect! Tai may be an ass and a jock who cares for little except his popularity, but while Yamato has always loved Sora, or did love her, he has major emotional issues and feels easier when expressing anger rather than anything else. Besides my favorite fics have always been those that take an old topic and reinvent it but o well, people have their opinions I guess... *Sigh*
