Disclaimer: Anything you recognize from Digimon, Dream Street, or Play, I don't own. Anything you recognize previously from this story, such as Jack, Corbette, Corey, Kevin, Sakira, Annabelle, and Cammie, I own.

A/N - It's hard to ever believe I didn't want to write this. Now that I'm in my second year of this story (Ah!), and double digits (Double Ah!), the plot should be thickening. I'm not sure, but I think the end may be in sight. On second thought, we've still got a long way to go (I hope).

This chapter shouldn't be quite as intense as the last; it's a little lighter. There's another concert, Matt's date, Corbette getting slapped, and Corey and Annabelle having a heart-to-heart.

Shout outs to Dreamer4, Dark Gamer, Light Gamer, Somnium87, Knight, EvilTenchi, SaturnsChild, Galassos Gal 127, PhoniexChild, Wolfie, TogetherAgain, ArchangelUK, Arylwren, Digicowboy, Blackout12, Phire Phoenix, Authormon, Insane Friend 02, alfogamer2, Takari's Baybee, Immia, AlexPG13, and shadow2k. Dedication to DJ Clue (of course) for helping me get this far.

The Ishida Brothers

By: Hopeful Writer

Chapter 10 - Exchanged Words

"You know, I've never seen a concert from backstage," Annabelle admitted, as she watched the boys get made up. Somewhere nearby, Play was warming up for their numbers, and Sakira was sitting next to Annabelle, waiting to have her own makeup done.

"Trust me, it's the best view," Kevin piped up. The woman doing his makeup glowered at him, and he silenced immediately. Sakira hid a smirk.

"It's an entirely different experience than watching it from the audience," she told the fan. "You not only watch the dances and stuff, but also the audience reactions. It's the closest to being on stage except actually performing." She grinned wickedly. "But the best part is right before and after the concert, when the boys are freaking out the most." Her voice dropped to a loud whisper, which everyone in the room could hear. "Matt actually prays before each concert."

"Hey!" he cried indignantly. "So what?"

The girls giggled. "It's just amusing, that's all," Sakira replied through her laughter.

Matt, who had been effectively quieted by his makeup advisor, took to glaring at the girls, obviously offended.

By the time everyone had makeup on, hair styled, and warm ups done, the concert was nearly set to start. They all ran through their pre-show habits (yes, Matt did pray), while Annabelle watched in a sort of bewildered amusement. Finally, they settled for five minutes before Sakira would sing.

"You okay?" Corbette asked, plopping down next to Annabelle.

"Sure, fine, why wouldn't I be?" she responded in a rush. She knew she hardly sounded convincing, and Corbette's raised eyebrow only supported that feeling. "Well, okay, I'm not fine. But I'm not as bad as I was yesterday. I think I'm still sort of in shock. It's like, like I just came to see a concert. It'll hit soon, and then I won't be fine anymore, but… but I've got you guys to help me through it, right?"

She looked positively terrified at the idea of the shock wearing off, and Corbette nodded firmly. "If you don't feel like you can handle it on your own, say the word and I'll be here for you."

Annabelle didn't miss it when he said 'I' instead of 'we', but she didn't have a chance to comment because Sakira was about to start performing. "Good luck," Corey called, while Kevin gave her a kiss on the cheek.

TK, Matt, and Corbette were now running some drills while they waited for their turn to perform. Kevin was watching Sakira sing and dance, a dazed expression on his face, and Corey was watching Kevin, fighting not to laugh.

Annabelle had to admit, Sakira was right. It was entirely different on this side of the curtain. The audience (especially the male portion) was watching Sakira while cheering and singing along. It was moving to watch all those people cheering, almost like she was the one they were cheering for.

Then Play performed. Annabelle noted with amusement that the dazed look Kevin had once had was now at home on Corey's boyish face. She shook her head. Boys never understood love.

When it was finally The Ishida Brothers turn to perform, the cheering was at such an intense volume, Anais covered her ears. "I wish our fans were as loud as this," she admitted. "Of course, it is their tour, so most of their fans are here." Rosie nodded in agreement.

Annabelle had her eyes fixed on the younger of the Ishida twins. Corbette was singing his part of Feel the Rain, which he and Matt sang together. Annabelle thought they were so cute at concerts, especially when they dressed exactly the same, but in different colors. It amazed her how she could always tell which one was which, but everyone else seemed to have problems with it. She had always had a gift for finding little differences though, probably from living with Patrick and Ryan, who were also identical.

A beam from the spotlight caught Corbette's hair, making it shimmer just as he began to sing his solo, Someone to Hold Me Tonight. The cheering in the audience was deafening, but Annabelle didn't hear it. She could only hear Corbette sing. She didn't even hear Sakira, who was next to her, say to Faye, "Damn, she's head over heels."

The concert ended and the singers signed autographs within the hour. Finally, they were ready to go back to the hotel. Until a girl with dirty-blonde hair approached Matt. "Can you go out tonight?" she asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

He glanced helplessly at Corbette, but the latter seemed out of ideas. Matt let his head droop in defeat and nodded. "Sure, Cammie, I can go out. I have to be back by nine though."

"Why so early?" She didn't seem to really care about the answer; she was too excited about going out with him.

"We're leaving for another city tomorrow, and Jack wants us up early."

She threaded her arm through his. "Then we ought to enjoy our time together. Let's go."

* ~ * ~ *

Matt was about thirty seconds short of banging his head against the table. He still couldn't figure out how he was roped into this date. He had taken Cammie to a fairly expensive restaurant because it was a good fifteen minutes from the hotel and he would need to leave earlier to bring her home. Cammie was talking non-stop (now it was something about her dress), and he just couldn't put up with her high-pitched voice any longer. He checked his watch, which read 8:34. Exactly one minute had passed since the last time he checked it. Maybe it was broken. Yes, that must have been it.

"Excuse me," he muttered, interrupting her in the middle of a sentence. "I need to use the bathroom."

Entering the boys' bathroom, he ran the cold water and splashed some on his face. "Just ten more minutes, buddy. You can do it. Then you can take her home and be done with this vile, vile thing."

"You're Corbette Ishida, aren't you?" someone asked.

Matt cursed silently, then turned to see a wiry boy with chocolate hair at the sink next to him. "No, I'm Matt," he corrected gruffly.

"Oh, sorry," the kid apologized, looking abashed. "I took my girlfriend to see your concert earlier," he added. "No offense, but boy bands aren't quite my thing." He grabbed a few paper towels to dry his hands.

"Ah." Inwardly, Matt wondered how this guy could possibly have a girlfriend. "Great." He checked his watch again. 8:36. He sighed. "I should get back to my… date. See you around."

"Bye."

Matt left the bathroom and checked his watch again. Still 8:36. Damn. He couldn't take anymore of this. He sat across from Cammie again, and she started talking again like he hadn't even left. At a lull in the conversation (8:41), he asked, "Did the bill come left? We should get going."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I paid for it already. We'll leave whenever you're ready. I'd love to do this again sometime, how about you? Can I call you?"

Matt bit his lip. "Um, I don't think that's such a good idea."

She looked so crestfallen that he almost felt bad. Almost. "Why not?"

"I sort of, er, have a girlfriend back home. I think she'd kill me if she knew I was on a date."

Cammie sighed, tears welling in her dark eyes. "Oh, that's okay. I'm sorry about all this, then. You see, I have a habit of becoming… obsessed with my favorite singers and actors. I'm sorry."

Matt felt quite bad now. "Don't worry. It's okay, honest. I'm explain everything to her if I have to."

He drove her home in silence. He thought she finally understood that he didn't want to be with her. As he walked her to the door, she completely contradicted this thought. "I had a great time, Matt," she said quietly. "I'd love to do this again, even if it's just as friends. Your girlfriend would never know."

It sounded like she was tempting him, but it was making him nauseous instead. "Cammie, we've been through this—" She cut him off by kissing his on the lips, hard.

As he struggled to pull away, he heard the worst sound he could have ever heard. The flash of a camera. He broke away from Cammie and saw someone running away. He swore.

He turned to Cammie furiously. "We can't ever do this again," he told her firmly. "Never."

With that, he left for his car. When he arrived back at the hotel, Corbette was laying on his back, staring at the ceiling. He rolled over, took one look at Matt's face and attempted a grin. "That bad, huh?"

"Someone took a picture of her kissing me."

"Damn."

"How was your night?" Matt asked.

Corbette's smile faded. "Not too good either. I was kissed and slapped within seconds of each other. And it wasn't even my fault!"

Matt flopped onto his own bed. "Our track record with women isn't that good, huh?"

"I don't know. You and Sora have always got on pretty well."

"We've only ever been friends, Corbette."

The other boy shrugged. "Okay. So maybe our track record isn't that great." He turned out the lights. "See you tomorrow."

"Night."

* ~ * ~ *

*This takes place while Matt is on his date.*

Corbette and TK watched Matt drive off with Cammie, barely restraining their laughter. "How does he get into these messes?" TK wondered.

Corbette shook his head. "It's the Ishida charm, I tell you."

"Sure, sure. The charm that you guys haven't got?"

"Hey, shut up!"

TK started to respond, then frowned suddenly. He shuffled off to go talk to Corey, Faye, and Anna who were comparing notes about the concert. Corbette watched him, sighing and wondering where the bubbly, happy boy was hiding. He looked around. Sakira and Kevin were talking to Anais and Rosie. It was obvious from Kevin's red face that the girls were talking about boys, and he was stuck in the middle. Annabelle hung on the outskirts, not really included in their conversation. Corbette motioned her over and they boarded the tour bus to go back to the hotel.

Once there, Corbette and Annabelle were engrossed in a conversation about the better band, Good Charlotte (who Corbette loved) or BBMak (who Annabelle thought was far superior). "They're weak," Corbette complained, shaking his head. "Their music is too quiet."

"You're weak. You just can't handle the realness of their songs."

"Good Charlotte is so much better. Have you ever heard Lifestyles? It's the truth if I've ever heard it."

"Have you ever heard Still On Your Side?" Annabelle countered. "It's so sweet!" Corbette made a gagging noise, and Annabelle hit him in the ribs. Immediately Corbette responded by tickling her. She squirmed, trying to escape, until she realized her face was mere millimeters from his. The tickling had stopped, but neither one of them moved. Corbette swallowed, his arms slipping around her waist. He didn't dare breathe too hard.

It took three seconds for Annabelle to realize they were moving closer. Her eyes fluttered shut expectantly, and then she felt the soft pressure of his lips touching hers. Her head began to swim, and she was no longer conscious of which way was up. When they pulled back, she did the only thing she could do.

She slapped him.

The contact of her hand against his cheek drove them both back to reality. Her eyes suddenly widening, Annabelle realized exactly what had taken place in the last minute and ran. She couldn't go into her hotel room (Kevin and Sakira had asked for some privacy), so she knocked on the door to Corey and TK's room. Corey answered it, his expression concerned. "What's the matter?"

"I… nothing, I mean… well, I just can't go into my room and I was wondering if I could stay in yours for a little while, maybe watch some TV or something?"

He shrugged, obviously not believing her, but too polite to say anything. "Sure, TK said he was going to call Kari from the pay phone and then he was going to hit the pool for a while."

Annabelle was surprised. "Why's he calling her from the pay phone?"

Corey smiled mischievously. "I told him he wasn't allowed to call from the phone in the rooms anymore, because I needed to occasionally get a full night's sleep."

She laughed. Corey had the television on HBO, and Ace Ventura* was playing. "This is such a funny movie," she commented.

He shrugged. "I guess. It's kind of stupid, but there's nothing else on, so I'm watching it."

They sat in silence for a while as they watched. Corey broke the silence. "Did something happen between you and Corbette?" he asked quietly.

Annabelle's breath hitched. Was she that transparent? "How did you know?" she demanded.

He shrugged. "I know my brother," he said simply. "He has a bit of a reputation."

She sighed. "He kissed me. So of course, what did I do?"

"Kiss him back?"

She snorted. "No, that would have been the smart thing. I slapped him."

Corey tried very hard to wince at that, but wound up in a fit of laughter. "Aw, don't worry about it. He deserves it, I'm sure, for something of another." Then, suddenly serious, he studied her face. "You… you really like him, don't you?"

She blushed and tried to find the words, but her tongue felt swollen and her mouth felt dry. After several unsuccessful attempts, she nodded. Corey nibbled on his lip. "He likes you too, but he's not sure how to say it. See, Corbette can really flirt with girls, but only girls he's not crazy about. You, on the other hand, he can't flirt with because he's afraid to say something that will drive you away. He's head over heels for you. Trust me."

"But I slapped him," she moaned.

Corey couldn't help grinning at that. "Yeah, that may not have been the way to show your undying affection. Don't worry, he'll come around. I'm sure he's fine."

There was another long period of silence. Corey had gone back to watching Ace Ventura, while Annabelle stared at the screen, not quite comprehending what she was seeing.

This time, she broke the quiet. "What about you and Faye?" she remarked carefully, not sure how far she could push without being shunned out.

Corey turned scarlet and stared at the quilt, tracing the floral pattern with his forefinger. "What about us?" he retorted with little volume.

"Do you like her?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I've never liked a girl before."

Annabelle suppressed a sigh. This was like trying to draw blood from a stone. "Okay, when she comes into the room, how do you feel?"

He thought for a moment, a very long moment. "I don't know. Like, like I want to smile, I guess."

She beamed at him. "That's a good sign. That means you do like her."

Corey blushed and ducked his head, returning his attention to Ace Ventura. When Annabelle looked over again, a few minutes later, he had fallen asleep.

She carefully moved him to his pillow and dropped the covers over him. Planting a sisterly kiss on his forehead, she slipped out of his room and into her own, where Kevin and Sakira were also asleep. She pulled out the couch and grabbed the spare blanket and pillow from the closet. She settled in and began to drift off to sleep, remembering Corey's words. "He likes you too, but he's not sure how to say it. See, Corbette can really flirt with girls, but only girls he's not crazy about. You, on the other hand, he can't flirt with because he's afraid to say something that will drive you away. He's head over heels for you. Trust me."

She smiled as she slipped into blissful unconsciousness.

A/N - Short chapter, it's only 6 pages as opposed to my usual 9 or 10. This is kind of a bridge from the last chapter to the next, which should be a little more intense (I hope). Hope you enjoyed it! Bye – HW (lildreamer12@hotmail.com)

¡Sorry the date scene turned out so crappy. I had trouble writing it.¡

* - Is there HBO in Japan? If not, imagine it's whatever the movie station is, and imagine a Japanese movie is playing.

NEXT TIME - More from TK's point of view, we learn a little more about Sakira (in flashbacks), Sora's reaction to Matt's date, and we wind up in the hospital (again).