Notes: Oy, this chapter might be a little sketchy, and it's somewhat shorter than the first. I sort of rushed through the beginning, but it sort of slows down towards the end. Anyway, thank you for the nice reviews so far. Glad you're enjoying it so far, and I hope you like this chapter! ^_^

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SORA:

            I straightened up the table in the living room, throwing excess papers and letters to the side and placing a nice blue vase with daisies in them in the middle. I stepped back to look at it and I smiled.

Perfect.

            I had just spent three hours cleaning my house, checking in every nook and cranny for dust, straightening crooked picture frames on the wall, and wiping away every speck of dirt I saw. A lot of people call me a neat freak. I don't think I am, but if I know someone is coming over for any reason, I make sure my house doesn't look like a total pigsty.

            I sat down to rest for a moment, and I checked my watch. It's 5:49. Matt called today and said he was coming over at six. Great. Just enough time to think about this evening's schedule. When Matt got here, I would have him help me out with the snacks incase Mimi comes over with an appetite. And then… then…

            I rubbed my temples and yawned. Conversation. Yes, start a conversation. Then offer to make dinner. Ask if she wants anything else… Wait, if I make dinner, how many places should I set? I held up my fingers. Matt, that was one… Mimi, that was two… And then there was Tai.

'Maybe I'll just let him chew on finger sandwiches…' I thought bitterly. But then, that would be rude. I blinked. I'll serve him dinner. It's not like I'm mad at him or anything…

Am I?

No, of course not. I have no reason to be. He's my friend. My friend who's now dating my other friend.

It was now 5:55. I swallowed.

My friend who's now dating my other friend.

A wave of nausea seemed to hit me, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Why did I care? Tai has every right in the world to go out with Mimi. That's their business if they want to spend every waking moment together. But this feeling though… Could it be… Jealousy?

            No. That was impossible. I've never been jealous before, and I wasn't planning on starting now. I've been close to it, but never actually to the point where I was in deep envy of someone else. Nah, I had to be mistaking this feeling with fatigue, of course. I've been working all day… Who wouldn't feel funny?

My friend is dating my other friend. My friend Tai is in love with Mimi.

The doorbell rang and I practically fell off the couch. I stood up shakily and walked towards the door. I prayed it wasn't Mimi or Tai. I wasn't ready for them yet.

I didn't think I'd ever be ready.

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YAMATO:


            I was standing at the door, looking down at myself to see if I looked all right. I was wearing my not-quite-dressy khaki colored slacks, a loose fitting black silk shirt, and black loafers. I wasn't trying to be too fancy, but just enough to make me look good. I sniffed the air around me too. Was I wearing too much cologne? Dammit.

'Geez Matt, it's not like you're going to meet the bloody queen of England…'

But it sure as hell felt like it. I wanted to at least look decent when Mimi arrived. It'd been so long since I'd seen her… Not that I was excited or anything. No, I had to keep it cool. Mimi was a friend, nothing more. Sure, I had liked her at one point- maybe even loved her, but I'll never admit that to anyone –but that was then, and this is now. But I still wondered if she was still that same little vixen I'd known four years ago…

'Matt, you idiot. You've got a girlfriend already, so stop thinking about that. What, are you going to steal Tai's girl again?'

            I ran a hand through my hair and took a deep breath as I waited for Sora to answer the door. What was taking so long? I took another deep breath, and then I saw the door knob turn. I looked up from my shoes and stared at the girl in front of me.

Sora stared back at me. She looked like a wreck. Her usually neat and glossy red hair was all over the place, and she had small bags under her eyes. She also looked like she'd been working a lot today, and like something was bothering her.

"Hey babe. What's up?" I asked, trying to sound cheerful. She didn't reply and just yanked me into her house.

She slammed the door and told me to sit down. I did so without question. I knew not to say anything when she was like this. I definitely shouldn't have kept her up last night… But then my curiosity won out.

"So, is Mimi here yet?" I asked innocently. She paced silently in front of me.

"No, not yet."

"Oh. Is something wrong?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"I said no!" she snapped, and I jumped. Then I knew she wasn't kidding around. When she yelled liked that, something was most definitely wrong.

"You're under a lot of tension. Come sit next to me." I said with a soft smile. I didn't want to force her. I had to make this as simple as possible.

"I'm fine. Really." she said, but she sat down next to me anyway.

 I turned her so that her back was facing me and I placed my hands carefully on her shoulders. I began massaging her neck and shoulders, feeling for any knots or tension points. She sighed in relief from in front of me and I grinned as I leaned forward to plant a light kiss on her neck. She shivered and moved away to turn around and face me. She smiled.

"Thanks Matt. I needed that."

"What, the massage or the kiss? I can give you more of the latter if you want…"

"No thanks, Romeo."

"Ah. Fine. So what was wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Are you worried about this whole visit thing?"

"…Yes. I guess I am." She frowned at me and looked down at the floor. "It's kind of silly, actually. I have no reason to be worried or anything." She bit her lip when she said this. I knew she was lying, about what she was really worried about though, I wasn't sure.

"Aren't you happy about seeing Mimi?" I asked.

"Of course."

"Then there should be no problem." I said, and I leaned forward to give her another kiss. She pulled back and looked at me hesitantly. I blinked. Then she scrunched up her nose.

"Matt, are you wearing too much cologne?"

Before I could answer, the doorbell rang.

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SORA:

            I got up to answer the door. It was 6:05. Why was Mimi so early? I rubbed my eyes and opened the door. The sight that greeted me was enough to make me step back a few times and gather my bearings.

            Mimi was standing there in loud orange capris and a white and orange tank top, her arms wound around Tai's neck, and Tai's arm firmly around her waist. Tai also had on a bright orange jersey and baggy, dark denim blue jeans. They were like twins. You couldn't miss them for miles. I thought I was going to be sick.

"Well, well, well. Look at you, Mimi. It's great to see you again." I said, putting on the best fake smile I could muster. She grinned back and launched herself at me.

"Sora! It's been so long! Look at you! You live in your own house, you've got your own business, AND you've got a boyfriend!" she said excitedly.

I clenched my teeth. "Yeah. Why don't you come in? Matt's in there. It's the first room to your left." I said.

"Really? Sweet!" she said as she ran inside. I turned and looked at Tai. He smiled sheepishly at me.

"Um, hi Sora." he said quietly. I fought the urge to slam the door in his face.

"Hi." I said dryly. Even as I said this, I wasn't sure what made me feel so angry at him. He hadn't done anything to me…

"Er… Can I come in?" he asked unsurely. I nodded and stepped to the side. He entered, and I almost slammed the door shut. He turned to look at me.

"You look nice." he said with a soft smile.

I hated it when he smiled at me like that. It made me feel funny.

"Thanks." I said. Since when are blue jeans and a t-shirt 'nice'? Was he being sarcastic?

I wanted to ask him, but I changed my mind. Instead, we both headed for the living room.

When we entered, Mimi was chattering happily with Matt, and he actually seemed to be enjoying it. Or maybe he was just enjoying the fact that she was all over him. She was clinging and hugging him like there was no tomorrow. Strangely enough, I didn't feel the least bit jealous. But then, maybe that was because I trusted Matt not to let her get too carried away… I think.

When Tai sat down on the couch too, Mimi practically crawled right into his lap and kept right on talking. I almost felt mortified. And then… I felt jealous. And it was so awkward! Tai didn't mean anything to me, yet I felt the need to be jealous.

'Maybe it's because you never got the chance to be with him like that…'

I cursed my own traitorous thoughts. Suddenly, I was really thirsty.

"Um, I'm going to get drinks." I said, turning around and heading for the kitchen quickly.

"Need some help?" Mimi called from the living room.

"No!" I yelled back, trying to not to sound too mean. I just needed to be alone, even if only for a few moments. I wished it could have been longer though.

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TAICHI:

            Something was obviously wrong with Sora, but I couldn't be sure what. I wanted to get up and ask, but I didn't know if that would be part of Mimi's plan. She seemed completely oblivious, going on and on with Matt, telling him funny stories from America and such. It was amazing how much she got him to laugh and actually talk back within a matter of minutes. That only happens to me when I make him mad, and he only laughs when I tell him about my stupid mistakes because he actually thinks I am stupid. But, it's all in good fun, so I never take offense.

            I stared at the ground and decided not to include myself in their conversation as I tried to think of what could be wrong with Sora. It wasn't until I heard my name called did I look up.

"Tai? Something wrong?" Mimi asked me. I shook my head numbly in response. Matt was even looking at me with some concern. Then he looked away.

"Maybe Sora does need some help in the kitchen." He said. "It's taking her an awful long time to get those drinks."

Mimi nodded enthusiastically and winked at me as Matt was still turned away.

"I think I'll go help her out." Matt said, starting to stand up.

"No!" Mimi cried, grabbing his arm and tugging him back down. She got out of my lap and then turned to smile at me. "Let Tai do it. I have so much more to tell you, Matt."

Matt blinked in confusion, but nodded anyway. I half smiled and stood, walking out of the living room.

'Thanks, Mimi.' I thought silently. Now I had two things on my mind. The first thing wasn't as important as the second, but still a concern.

Where the heck was her kitchen?

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TBC…