Kari woke up on Tai's sofa. She felt a little uncomfortable and cramped, but refreshed. Shee vaguely heard the doorbell ring, and Amelia go to answer it.
"Hello? Oh hi! Come on in!"
"Thanks." Kari's ears pricked at the sound of Matt's voice.
"Well! We didn't expect you to drop by. Talk quietly, Kari's asleep on the sofa."
"Will do, Amelia. Is she okay?"
"As good as can be expected after a nasty event like that happened. I know TK isn't a bad guy, he's just, you know, a little dense sometimes." Kari heard Matt mumble agreement, and heard Tai's faint call from the bedroom.
"Excuse me a second. Coming honey!" She heard Amelia leave the room. There was silence for a while, then Kari heard Matt walk over and sit down in the armchair next to her.
"Kari? Are you awake?" he whispered. Kari kept her eyes shut. She heard Matt sigh.
"Kari, I'm sorry TK is such an ass. He hasn't told me anything, but-" he sighed. "I wish-" he sighed again. "I'm not saying this right." He remained silent for a while, and Kari debated whether or not to'wake up'. Then Matt spoke again. "You look very beautiful when you sleep. You're like an angel on earth." Kari's mind whirled. Matt? No way!
"Matt?" Tai walked in. Matt looked up.
"Oh, morning Tai! Sorry to come so early."
"It's fine, Matt really! What can I do you for?" She heard the guys walk away, talking. Kari opened her eyes and sat up.
"I have to go home."
Matt started at the sound of Kari's voice. He and Tai looked at her. Her hair was all ruffled, and the pajamas she'd borrowed off Amelia were too big which made her look smaller and more delicate. Matt felt the urge to hold her tight, to take care of her and protect her always. He watched as she gathered her clothes and headed to the bathroom, then emerge dressed and ready to go.
"Thanks for letting me stay here, Tai, it gave me time to get my head together."
"No probs, sis. Anytime." She headed for the door. Matt stepped after her.
"I'll give you a lift home, if you like. I was going anyway." She turned back and looked at him. Then she smiled and nodded.
"I'd like that. Thanks." Matt smiled back.
"See ya later tonight then Tai?"
"Yeah dude, sure." They did a silly handshake that they'd done since high school, slapped high fives and then Matt left.
"So Kari, are you going to let him off?"
"I dunno." They walked the rest of the way to Matt's bomb car in silence. The car trip was silent too, but Matt snuck glances at her every now and again. Kari noticed and glanced back. When their eyes met time after time, Matt couldn't help but laugh.
"This is rediculous!" he laughed. Kari giggled, a sweet sound that made Matt's spine tingle. After that, every time they made eye contact in the car, Matt would smirk and Kari would grin foolishly.
~This is stupid Kari! What are you doing? You're acting like a silly school girl, that's what!~ she mentally chided herslf, and glanced at Matt. He glanced back, and snorted with holding in laughter. That made Kari really laugh. Then Matt pulled over the car. Kari stopped laughing. Matt sighed.
"I have to do this."
"I know."
Silence. Then Kari gathered her nerve and got out of the car. Matt got out too.
"Don't let him mess you around." Kari smiled nervously.
"Okay. Thanks Matt." She walked inside and took the elevator up to their flat. Took out her keys. Unlocked the door. And went in.
"TK?" Takeru looked up from the TV.
"Oh. Hi, Hikari." Kari walked past him to their room. She put her bag down on her half of the bed and looked at the photo next to her bed. They looked so happy- they'd been happy. Just moved in. Only 18. So sure it was the right thing to do. Kari found herself wishing she had waited, like her mother had wanted.
~I don't love him. I don't want to be in this relationship.~
It hit her suddenly, suddenly realising something she'd already known.
"But what am I to do?"
"Kari?" TK stood in the doorway, looking slightly messed up.
"Takeru. This isn't working. I don't trust you any more." ~There. I said it.~
"What?"
"Didn't you hear me?"
"Yeah, I did, but-"
"TK, go away. Go get drunk with Davis or something." Kari turned her back back to TK, picking up her book. TK scrunched his hands into fists.
"Fine." She heard him stomp out, and the front door slam shut, before she let herself burst into tears.
Downstairs in the street, Matt sat in his car, watching Kari's apartment door. He saw TK leave. Then he got out of the car and headed up.
