Matt came home from band practise. They were even more frequent than usual because there was an important gig coming up. It was dark outside, and although he didn't wear a watch, he assumed it was about 8pm.

"Dad?" he called. There was no reply. He supposed his Dad hadn't returned from work. He was a workaholic after all. Matt threw his guitar onto a chair, and slouched down in a cushy chair in front of the TV. He was channel surfing when the phone rang. He picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" He asked.

"Hey Matt!" came a bubbly and flirtatious voice from the other end.

"Mimi?" Matt asked, getting excited.

"No silly," His hopes dashed, Matt fell dispiritedly into a chair near the phone. "It's me Sora," continued the voice "I was just wondering if you'd like to come with me to the beach tomorrow?"

Matt thought for a moment, then asked "What about Tai?"

"Tai?!" Sora's voice made the very idea sound ludicrous. "What about him?"

"Well..." Matt hesitated. "Don't you like him?"

Sora laughed as if that was absolutely hilarious "Nah, been there, done that," Matt shuddered. "But anyway, we're getting off track. Do you wanna come to the beach or not?"

Matt struggled to think of an excuse not to go. "Ummm, I think I have band practise tomorrow... sorry."

"That's okay," Sora didn't sound sad or disappointed. "But I'm going to go anyway, so do you mind if I drop by?"

Matt didn't think he could get out of that, so he said "Nah, come by if you want... well, bye," and then hung up.

He sat back down in front of the TV, but the phone beckoned. He wanted to talk to Mimi, but he wasn't sure whether she'd want to talk back. But still, you gotta be in it to win it. He picked up the phone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mimi had just arrived home when her phone started to ring. "I'll get it!" She called to her parents, and raced to answer before whoever it was on the other end hung up. She grabbed the receiver to her ear, plopped down on her bed, and said "Hello?"

"Mimi, is that you?" The male voice from the other end asked.

"Yeah," Mimi replied warily. "Who's this?"

"Ummm, it's me... Matt."

"Oh." Was Mimi's only answer.

Matt was disheartened by her tone, but he continued. "I really wanted to talk to you."

Mimi didn't know what to do. She really wanted to talk to him too, but what about Sora? Still, a short conversation couldn't hurt. "Yeah, I kinda wanted to talk to you too. We haven't kept in touch properly." Was that the right thing to say? Oh dear, Mimi was so confused. "So... I hear your band's getting pretty popular."

Matt's spirits were soaring; she wasn't avoiding him! They were actually chatting! "Yeah. It's kind of weird, the way people you don't know, know you."

"I'm sure it is," Mimi laughed. "But apart from the band, has anything interesting happened in your life?"

Matt never knew it could feel so good just to be having a conversation. "Not really. Practise pretty much dominates my life. Between that and school, I don't have that much spare time... but what about you?"

Mimi thought. Should she tell him about the dance or not? She looked down at the photo of the digi-destined group that she always kept right next to her bed. It was a photo her parents had taken for her on her last day in Japan. His face stood out from the rest. His cocky, confident, slightly arrogant smile had always made her heart melt. She supposed there was no harm in telling him. "Well, on Sunday next week my school is having a dance... but that's about all."

"Really? Who are you going with? Michael I suppose." Matt could feel the icy stab of jealousy piercing his heart. How dare Michael take her to a dance? Mimi was his! Matt proceeded to punch the stuffing out of a nearby cushion, pretending it was Michael's face.

He was only brought back from this vicious outburst by Mimi's quiet voice. "Well actually Matt, I'm not going with anyone. Yet."

Matt wondered if that was a hint. But how could that be possible? He sat back on his chair and scratched his head. He thought for a second before answering. "You know I'd go with you Mimi, if I could. But I'm here and you're, well, there."

Mimi barely heard him. She was too busy concentrating on her parent's conversation.

"But you were going to come with me to Japan, and we were going to leave Mimi with Marge." That was her Dad's voice, then followed her Mum's reply.

"Now dear, Marge is sick, and I can't just dump Mimi on her. I have to stay."

Mimi remembered that her Dad was going to Japan on business, and he was going to take her Mum with him so that she could see all her friends. Mimi had wanted to go too, but there was school to think of, so she would have had to stay with Aunty Marge, who smelt like, and was about as exciting as, over-cooked cabbage. So the news that her mother was going to stay behind made Mimi very happy. Suddenly she snapped back to attention as her Dad said something very interesting. "Fine, I'll just go alone. Either that or find someone to take the ticket."

"Hang on for just one second," Mimi said into the receiver, and then put him on hold. She walked up to her father and asked, in what she hoped was a sweet voice, "Sorry Dad, but I couldn't help overhearing. You need someone for Mama's ticket, right? Well I was thinking that maybe Matt could have the return ticket. I haven't seen him or any of my friends in ages! Please Daddy! Please oh please oh please!"

Mimi's parents looked at each other. They weren't blind. They could see young love blossoming. So her father nodded and said "Okay sweetie, Matt can have your mother's ticket to America, but he'll have to find his own way back."

Mimi was almost skipping she was so happy. She could barely contain her excitement as she said into the phone, "Guess what! Mama was going to go with Dad to Japan, but because my Aunty Marge is sick she can't. And I was wondering if you'd like her ticket back to America?"

Matt was dumbfounded. First she didn't even want to speak to him, now she was inviting him over to see her. But her definitely was not going to pass up this chance. "When's the ticket for?" He asked

"Ummm, Dad's coming home early next Saturday, so I suppose you'll have to get the plane on Friday."

Matt considered this, and then said "Hang on, I'll have to ask my Dad." Matt dropped the phone onto the chair and ran through the house trying to find his father. He knew that his Dad hadn't been home before, but he could have got back when Matt was on the phone. He stumbled through the door to his Dad's bedroom, and saw his Dad lying on his bed, reading a book and drinking coffee.

"Err, Dad?" He started, not quite knowing how to phrase the question, "Ummm, Mimi has asked me to go and visit her. She has a spare ticket for next Friday, so I can use that to get there... that is, if I can go." Matt looked hopefully at his father, who had a funny smile on his face.

He knew how much Mimi meant to Matt, and darned if he was going to stop Matt seeing the only girl he had ever truly cared about. "Sure you can go son, and you know what else I'll do? I'll buy you the return ticket. What do you think about that?"

Matt was absolutely speechless. He just stood in the doorway with his mouth hanging open. He hadn't even expected his Dad to let him go, let alone buy him the ticket back. "Wow Dad," was all he could stammer out "Thanks heaps!" He raced back to the phone, nearly tripping over the coffee table as he went. He picked up the phone and told Mimi the good news.

After they had both gotten over the shock of it all, they started chatting they way they had all those years ago, when everything was simple and carefree. They talked for over an hour, and when they hung up, they were both smiling.