Dishing out another one for all of you, I seriously hope at least one person is still reading this…

Ken: I'm sure someone is.

Fordina: That's reassuring I guess.

Ken: You guess?

Fordina: Yeah. That's all you get to-night Ken-chan.

Okay, don't own Digmon, or anybody in this fic, all real people, very real indeed..

Enjoy!

" - " = Talking.

' - ' = Thinking.

Through the Years:

A Story about Me

By: Fordina

Chapter 17- Coming to An Understanding

"Jen… We've been here for hours!" I complained as we exited another shop. We had lost Angela somewhere along the way. Who knows where she went off to.

"Oh stop complaining! I'm just getting started!" I sigh and look down at my watch. Krymity Jones!

"Jen! We've been here for like… five hours! And you're just getting started?!"

"Well yeah! I'm a shopper girl! And by the end of this trip you will be too!" Oh gods…

"Oh gods…"

"Hey look!" Jen said pointing to one of the booths that they have all around the sidewalks of the Mall.

"What…?!" I groaned as she pulled me towards one of them.

"See? The Mall has something for everyone!" She said showing me a cart that was full of precious gems.

Holy krymity! They have a crystal ball! And it's a beaut too. I walk over to it and check out the price. As usual way too much for me.

"What is it?" Jen asked walking up beside me.

"It's a crystal. Like the ones that those fake psychics use," I told her. "I'm trying to learn how to use one for real… But I can't really learn until I can afford to buy one," I laughed. "But I keep spending my money on Tarot decks…"

"You'll get one," The way she said that… "You'll get one."… She's going to do something stupid. I just know it.

"You're not going to go and do something stupid like buy me one… Right?"

"Of course not!" That didn't convince me.

"Jennifer promise me that you won't be stupid and spend all that money on me okay?"

"Hey, can't I spend a little money on my friends without being yelled at?!" Defensive.

"Calm down. I wasn't yelling okay? I just don't want you blowing all your hard earned money on something as stupid as this crystal, or me."

"Stop that," Huh?

"Stop what?"

"Stop putting yourself down! You do it way too much!"

"I… put myself down?"

"All the time! Just now you called yourself stupid, before you were inquiring that you weren't pretty, you always say that you aren't good enough," I stopped her.

"But I always thought those things were true," I'm truly confused.

"Well they aren't okay? You're smart, you're pretty, Ken will vouch with me on that one, and you are good enough okay?"

Geez… Seriously I'm not used to people caring. So I practically have to walk away from to Jen to hide well… All the emotions that are on my face I guess.

"Traci?" She asked coming up behind me.

"I know that I tend to put myself down a lot… Okay all the time… But really, that's all I know how to do… I've never been a positive person like you Jen. Probably never will be. But… I'm willing to give it a go for a little while," I said turning back around.

"Good."

When we got back to my house I opened the door to a very, very angry Taichi.

"Oh… Hi Taichi," I said hesitantly. "Um… How's it goin'?" I asked trying to slip past him.

"Traci! How could you just leave me here?!" He yelled throwing his hands up into the air. "Do you know how close I came to being caught by whoever that guy was?!" Still yelling.

"I'm sorry Taichi! Okay? I didn't mean to forget, but Jen and I had planned to go shopping and I didn't know that she took so long to shop!"

"She's one of your best friends! How can you not know how long it takes for her to shop?!"

"I don't know! I just kinda re-met her at the beginning of this year y'know! And will you please stop yelling at me?!" I was near tears here. Today had not been one of the best days.

"Look, Traci I'm sorry. It looks like you've had a rough day," Taichi said walking over to me.

"Yeah… I guess you could say that," I said wiping a tear that slipped from my eye off my cheek.

"Care to share?"

I smiled, "Not really…"

"Oh c'mon, it'll make you feel better," He put a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine… Really…" I said looking up at him.

"Hey, just know that I'm here if you need me 'kay?" He pulled me into a hug.

"Yeah… Thanks Taichi," I said hugging him back.

Tbc…

Hmm… this one is a little bit corny… I just realized this…

Ken: Just?

Fordina: Yes, just.

Ken: Sure?

Fordina: Yes! I am! Seriously! Geez Ken-chan… :: shakes head :: I think you've been hanging around Daisuke too much lately.

Ken: :: shakes head ::

Fordina: :: nods head ::

Ken: :: shakes head ::

Fordina: :: nods head ::

Ken: :: shakes head ::

Fordina: :: nods he—:: Hold on… I'm not doing this with you! Okay, please all you lovely people that are reading this… drop a review for me? ^o^ Thank you all!