She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not: Part 5
LeaMarie F. Metallium

TK opened the door to his dad's apartment. Matt and him had made plans to play soccer at the park that morning. Matt hadn't shown up and TK had gotten worried.
"Matt?" TK called out. "Are you here?"
TK noticed that Matt's bedroom door was closed. Matt only closed it when he was sleeping or changing.
TK knocked. "Matt?" He asked as he opened the door.
"Did ya forget to set your-OHMYGOD! MATT!" TK yelled.
Matt and LeaMarie were cuddled up together blankets just barely covering Lea and Matt.
Matt had Lea pulled up tightly to him. One of Matt's arms was draped over Lea while the other one was pulling her tightly to his chest.
Lea was laying half on Matt half off. Her head was nestled under Matt's chin. One hand was resting peacefully on Matt's chest the other was laying on her hip. One of Lea's legs was sticking out from under the blankets. The blankets and Matt hid her chest from view. Lea's arm was clearly naked while Matt was covered from the waist down.
"Matt! WHAT IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU THINKING?" TK demanded. "MOM AND DAD ARE GOING TO KILL YOU!" TK continued yelling.
Meanwhile Matt and Lea had finally woken up. Both were ignoring TK's ranting.
"Morning, Matt," Lea whispered.
"Morning. Sleep well?"
Lea nodded her head. "Perfectly. You?"
"I don't think I've ever slept better," he whispered.
"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO A WORD I'M SAYING?" TK demanded, his face turning red.
"Oh, we were going to meet up at the park today, weren't we?" Matt asked TK. "Sorry, I overslept," Matt said trying to sit up. "Honey, could I sit up?"
Lea sighed, rolled off of Matt, and sat up. The covers slipped off of her, revealing half of her chest.
"Oh, GOD!" TK cried running out of the room.
Lea glanced down. "Oops," She giggled, pulling the strap back up.
Matt chuckled. "How did you not notice that?" He asked.
"I'm not awake yet!" She told him, flopping down onto the bed.
Matt shook his head. "I'm going to get up and take a quick shower. OK?" Matt asked.
"K, but can I use your phone? I need to get a change of clothes before I head back," Lea giggled.
"Yeah, I could imagine Tai's reaction."
"Kinda like your brother's?" Lea asked him smiling.
"Yeah," Matt said standing up, and grabbing a pair of red and white hearted boxers.
Lea smiled. "Cute boxers."
Matt glanced down at the material. "Thanks."
Lea got up. I'm going to make that call and then some tea," She announced, as she walked out the door.
TK had a tissue up to his nose. He glared at Lea as she walked in.
"Morning, TK," She said smiling politely.
TK just muttered something unintelligible.
Lea grabbed the phone and punched in the number.
"Hello?" Joe asked tiredly.
"Hi, Joe! Can I talk to Tiki?"
"Yeah, sure. Hang on a sec." Joe covered the receiver. "Tiki, Lea's on the phone for you."
There was a slight pause the Tiki asked, "Hello?"
"Hey, Tiki?"
"Hey, Lea! What's up?" She asked sounding mildly sleepy.
"I was wondering if you could meet me over at that little café by Joe's?" Lea asked nervously.
"Yeah, sure, when?"
"In about an hour? And could you bring a change of clothes for me?" Lea could feel Tiki's eyes widen.
"Where are you?"
"Matt's place."
"Oh, really?" Tiki asked a smile in her voice.
"Hey, Joe! Guess where Lea is!"
Lea heard a faint, "Where?"
"Ready for this? Matt's!" Tiki giggled.
"And Tai said I was a sly dog."
"Can I borrow some clothes?" Lea snapped.
"Of, course."
"Thank you!" Lea cried sounding exasperated.
"You wouldn't need clothes if you'd slept in your own bed!" TK yelled.
"Who was that?" Tiki asked.
"Matt's disgruntled little brother," Lea responded smiling.
"Oh, tell him we said hi!" Tiki said cheerfully.
"Is it Matt?" Joe asked in the background.
"No, it's TK," Tiki told Joe. Then to Lea, "Tell Matt hi too!"
Lea smiled. "Ok. I'll see ya in an hour."
"Bye!"
Lea hung up the phone. "Joe and Tiki want me to say 'Hi' to you," Lea told TK.
"Why's she there so early?" He asked.
"She's staying there. She's just like a puppy! She followed him home one day and been there ever since!" Lea called walking to the kitchen.
TK followed her. "Didn't seem like it took her long to get the phone."
Lea smirked. "It didn't." She put the kettle on the stove. "You didn't hear this from me," Lea said spinning around to face TK.
He nodded his head nervously.
"Officially, Tiki's in Jim's old room, unofficially she's in Joe's!" She told him eyes glinting. "Is everyone having sex?" TK demanded.
Lea smiled. "You're jumping to conclusions. You think that just because two people are sharing a bed, means that they're having sex too!" Lea accessed.
Matt walked out wearing a pair of khakis and a green T-shirt. He walked over to Lea and wrapped his arms around her.
Lea looked up oat him. "You smell good."
"Thanks. Bathroom's all free if you want," Matt offered.
"Is that a hint?"
Matt shook his head. "No."
"Ok, see you in about five." Lea leaned up and gently kissed him on the cheek.
Matt let her go. "I also put some things out for you. Your dress was still kind of damp."
"Thanks." Lea walked out.
TK rolled his eyes. "So, how long until she moves in?" TK asked sarcastically.
Matt sighed. "TK, sit down. I wanna talk with you."
TK and Matt went into the living room and took a seat.
"TK, I know you didn't want Lea and I to go out, but we really like each other."
Matt paused. "And I'll admit we've been moving kinda fast, but we're both ok with that!" Matt told him.
"Kinda fast?" TK asked sarcastically. "She's been here what? A month? And you've already got her spending the night!" TK yelled, standing up.
"TK, sit down," Matt gently ordered.
TK started pacing, instead. "I thought you knew better! What if you've gotten her pregnant?" TK demanded.
"We didn't have sex!" Matt yelled, catching TK in mid step.
"But I saw-"
"Lea and I in bed together!" Matt snapped.
Silence filled the room.
Matt leaned back into his chair and ran his hand through his hair. "TK, I didn't mean to yell," Matt apologized.
TK sat down again. "So...you guys didn't..." TK trailed off.
Matt sighed again. "Last night the four of us went to a club. Things got a little...physically intense between me and Lea." Matt paused remembering the feeling of Lea's lips on his. "Then the storm hit. It was to far back to her apartment, and this one's closer, so I brought her back here. We got ready for bed. Then we started playing with each other."
TK's eyes widen.
"NOT LIKE THAT! We were tickling each other. And then...let's just say we kept our pants on."
Lea walked in caring a tray with tea and cookies.
"I thought you might be hungry," She told Matt.
"Thanks. You look cute," Matt noted the blue boxers and blue T-shirt.
"Thanks. Do I look ok to go in public?"
"Yeah, you look fine."
TK stared at the floor. "I'm sorry for throwing that fit."
Lea smiled. "It's alright. You were just being protective."
Matt smiled at the two.
"I should get going. I've gotta meet Tiki and get some other clothes." She glanced down at the shorts.
"Alright. I'll talk to you later." Matt stood up to walk her to the door. "By the way...Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?" Matt asked smiling at her.
"Sure. That'd be great," Lea smiled at him.
"Ok, so I'll pick you up at the apartment at 7:00, alright?"
"Sounds great. See ya then," Lea said, smiling up at him.
Matt leaned down and kissed her gently. "Bye."
"Bye." Lea opened the door. "Bye, TK."
"Bye."
"Ok, back to what we were talking about." Matt sat down again. "TK, I'm happy with Lea. And I think she's happy with me."
TK nodded, trying to suppress a protective instinct telling him not to back down. "I guess you're old enough to handle yourself," he sighed. "But for my sake, be careful, okay?" Matt nodded his head. "For you, I'll be careful."
TK smiled. "Thanks, Bro."
"But I want you to start treating Lea with a little more respect. She doesn't deserve to be snapped at all the time, okay?"
TK nodded. "All right, I'll try."
"Good. Now let's get ready to go!"

Lea met Tiki at the appointed café, and went to change in the bathroom, while Tiki ordered coffee. She came back out in black jeans and a red tank top, Matt's clothes tucked under her arm.
"Welcome back, Oneesan," Tiki said, mixing Japanese and English (also known as Japish by her Japanese class back home.)
"Thanks, little sister." Lea sat down and picked up the coffee inhaling the steam and getting a slight buzz off of it.
"So?..." Tiki asked after a moment. Lea looked up, confused expression on her face.
"What?"
"Whaddaya mean, 'What?'!" Tiki shrieked, trying not to draw attention. "You spent the night at a boy's house, you gotta tell me what happened!"
Lea shrank into her chair, blushing. "Not so loud!"
"Well then how about English? You gotta tell me!" Tiki begged.
"Ok, Just calm down!" Lea took a deep breath and told her what happened.
Tiki listened with rapt attention, not interrupting, but eyes widening or jaw dropping at points. When Lea finished, Tiki looked at Lea in amazement, unable to think of a response.
"That's nuts," Tiki finally managed. "I bet Matt was about ready to jizz his pants when he saw you naked."
"I was only shirtless!" Lea cried out defensively.
"Ooh, are you sure Lea? I bet Matt would say different..."
"Well...what about you and Joe? Huh?"
"If you must know, I've given him my crystal already so there!"
Lea's coffee cup stopped half way to her mouth. "You did?" She asked in amazement.
"Yes..."
"Wow. You sure?"
"Yes I'm sure! Why else would I have given it to him?" Tiki demanded.
Lea sat there a few seconds. "Because you've jumped the gun?"
"I didn't jump the gun! I know these things! It's the EarthSoul's intuition! If you'd bother to tune into the FireSoul you'd feel it too!"
"I feel it! I'm just...I'm scared to give it to him all right? I can practically tell I'll be moved again! I'm happy!"
"If you were carefully tuned in, you'd understand your fear is not part of the issue. What ever happens will happen. The power behind the crystal will make it right."
Lea sighed, tears in her eyes. "I know you're right. I just don't want to bind him to me, if I'm never going to be around."
"The crystal has this strange way of working." Tiki explained calmly. "If you decided that someone is right for you, things will work out in the end. You just have to trust me on this one. And you have to trust FireSoul with everything else."
Lea looked into her coffee. "We're going out to dinner tonight." Lea paused again. "What do you think?"
"I think, before you make any rash decisions, you should sit down and have a discussion with FireSoul."
"I think I will. She's going to yell at me for not talking to her in so long."
"Yeah, she'll probably get impatient with you. But what do you expect, with her being the soul of fire, she's bound to have a temper."
Lea giggled. "Yeah, I guess the two of us really have that in common, don't we?"
"Yeah."
The two sat in silence.
"So do you have any regrets from last night?"
"Just one. TK walked in on us this morning."
Tiki winced. "That must have been pleasant."
"Yeah. I think Matt had a talk with him while I was showering. He apologized."
"Well...that's an improvement."
Lea leaned forward and took a sip of her coffee.
Tiki smirked suddenly. "We should take a walk out to the corner store."
"Why?" Lea asked drinking her coffee.
"To get you some protection for the next time!"
Lea choked. "TIKI!"
"What? Do you want to have his kid? Oh my god! You do!" Tiki yelled. "So, when will I be an aunt?"
"Will you knock it off?" Lea demanded. "I'm so glade this is in English." Lea pushed her bangs off of her face. "Plus could you imagine me having kids?" Both though for a moment.
"Yes."
"Why are we having this conversation?" Lea demanded.
"Because, Lea's a horny little girl."
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are not!"
"Are too! Wait! Dammit!"
Tiki giggled.
"I should probably get back to the Kamiya's. I should've been home hours ago."
"Get going. Tai's going to throw a fit as it is."
Lea nodded. "See-ya!"
"Tell me how everything goes."

Tai sat on the couch next to Kari.
"Where do you think she is?" Kari asked.
"My guess is, with Matt."
"But that means-"
The front door opened and Lea walked in.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Tai demanded.
Lea paused. "Are the adults here?" She asked Kari.
"No...why?"
"WHERE WERE YOU?" Tai growled.
Lea sighed. "Sit down." The three sat in the living room. "I was over at Matt's."
"I knew it!" Tai yelled jumping up. "Couldn't keep his hormones in check, could he?"
"Sit!" Lea ordered. "I know what you're thinking! We didn't have sex!"
Tai sat down. "You said-"
"Yes, I spent the night at his place. And yes, we shared a bed. But no, we didn't have sex! Last night, we went clubbing. Matt and I dance and near the end, things heated up a little. Then it started to storm so the club closed early. Matt and I decided it'd be safer for me just to go back to his place, seeing as it's closer to the club. We fought over who'd get the bed, the we decided to share it."
"How far did you go?" Tai asked.
"Kissing," Lea told Tai the small half-truth.
"Are you sure?" Tai asked looking at Lea.
"What can this guy read my mind?" Lea thought. "Yes, I'm sure."
"What took you so long to get back?" Kari asked.
"I called Tiki and made her bring me some clean clothes and we had a cup of coffee." Lea told her. "I'm going to go finish my homework, then give Tiki a call."
The two siblings watched Lea leave the room.

Lea sat on her bed and pulled her backpack open. She pulled out a red velvet box and opened it. Inside was a long, red crystal, attached to a black cord by a silver wire wrapped artistically around the top. Inside there was a small fire shaped design, sparkling faintly. It was a symbol of love, something that appeared only, when the Elemental DigiDestined felt that special feeling.
"Should I give this to him?" Lea asked herself. "I want to! It feels so right!"
She flopped down onto her bed and closed her eyes.
"I want to be with him." Matt's blue eyes came to mind.
"I love him." Lea's eyes snapped open. "Did I say that?" She asked herself.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She locked her eyes onto the ones in the mirror. I look happy. She thought to herself. I haven't looked happy in years. It's because of Matt. No, not just because of him, because I love him. Lea smiled at the thought. I love him.
Lea looked down at the crystal in her hands. "I'm going to do it, tonight," She vowed.
"My crystal," she whispered, closing her eyes. "The lover's mark, the elemental charm, I have made my choice. Know your masters- The Crest of Fire, the Crest of Friendship- and bind us for eternity!"
"You're sure about this?" A voice asked.
Lea opened her eyes to see a carbon copy of herself, minus the fact that she was tinted red. She also wore a long, tank top sleeved, red dress, that fell to her feet.
"I think so."
"You think so? You're not sure?"
"I'm..."
"Yes?"
"Honestly? A little afraid."
"You, the crest holder of Fire? Afraid?" FireSoul asked in false amazement.
"I don't want to bind him to me if I can't be around."
"Why wouldn't you be around? Are you planning on dying soon?" FireSoul asked crossing her arms in front of her.
"No. My parents will end up moving me. I'm HAPPY! And you know how much they hate it when I'm happy." Lea responded.
"The crystal will make it right."
"That's what Tiki said," Lea whispered.
"She knows what she's talking about every once-in-a-while."
Lea laughed. "Yeah, I guess she does. She yelled at me for not being better in tuned with you."
"You use to be so good at hearing what I've got to say. Now, you practically ignore me," FireSoul responded.
"I'm sorry."
"I know. And you needn't fear the upcoming events. Some, yes, will be vary scary, and other's will be so great."
"Do you think this is the right thing?" Lea asked now looking a little unsure.
"I think, you know what you want better than Tiki knows what you want, myself, your parents, and the True powers. Only you can know what's right."
"It feels right." Lea responded. "I want to do it."
"So, are you sure about this?" She asked smirking.
"Yes," Lea responded.
FireSoul smiled. "It is done. Now, why haven't you talked to me in...forever!" FireSoul demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
"I lost my way."
"I can see that."
"I've been thinking, you've been guiding me again, haven't you?"
"Of course. You needed to be guided, especially with what's coming up."
"Ken's going to do something really stupid, isn't he?" Lea asked FireSoul.
"Yes. It will take all of you to fix it."
"Oh, wonderful," Lea muttered.
"You should get started on your homework. You and Matt are going to have to have a talk tonight. And not just about the crystal."
Lea winced at her tone. "You know about..."
"Last night. Yes."
"Oh. Um..."
"It's alright. Now get to that work. Oh, and make sure you get your English done. You're going to be needed it."

Ken the Digimon Emperor sat in his chair watching over the Digital world. He'd heard about some digimon appearing that hadn't been seen for years. He'd been keeping a low profile, and an eye out for them, or the DigiDestined.
"Who are these Digimon?" Ken bellowed at Wormon.
"Legend says they're the Digimon of the Elemental DigiDestined. They disappeared when the Elemental did."
"Who are these Elemental DigiDestined?" Ken asked.
"We don't know."
Ken sighed. "Do you think Flame could've been one?"
"It's possible, Master."
"I kinda wish she was here." Ken sighed again. "I miss having people around to talk to."
"You can always talk to me," Wormon offered.
"I know! I'll create the most evil digimon ever, then she'd come back!" Ken declared running off to start on his idea.
"Are you sure about that?" Worman asked softly.

TK and Kari were sitting in Kari's living room. "And there they were! From what I could tell they were both naked!" TK cried.
Kari giggled.
"What? He barely knows her and she's sleeping over! In his bed!"
Kari shook her head. "TK, relax a bit. Couldn't you see us doing that?" She asked coyly.
TK's face went red. "Y...n...um...Kari!"
Tai and Sora walked in.
"What? You can't see us all doing that?"
"Doing what?" Tai intercepted.
"Sleeping together."
Tai's eyes widened. "OH, no you two don't!" Tai declared.
Sora laughed. "What are you going to do, lock her in her closet?"
"YES!"
Lea walked in, from her room.
"Don't worry, I'll let you out after Tai's asleep," Sora told her.
"Outta where?" Lea asked.
"Out of the closet I'm going to lock her in for thinking about sleeping with boys!" Tai growled.
"TK, you're going to have to watch it. Tai's going to follow you two around on dates." Lea grinned.
"Don't give him ideas! Sora, help!" Keri pleaded.
"Don't worry, Kari, know him he'll get lost, looking for you two," Sora reassured.
"Sora! You're supposed to be on my side!" Tai whined.
"Why? It's not like you two are dating." TK smirked.
"TK's right!" Kari announced.
"Oh, leave me alone!" Tai yelled at the two. "So I haven't asked her out yet! So sue-" Tai cut himself off mid yell.
Sora blinked, while TK, Kari, and Lea were trying not to burst out laughing.
"Oops, I said that didn't I?" Tai asked blushing.
Lea nodded her head.
"Sora-"
"You want to ask me out?" Sora asked sounding surprised.
"Of course! Who wouldn't? You're a wonderful person! You-"
"Why haven't you?"
"I was afraid you'd say no."
"Oh."
Tai took a deep breath. "Sora, would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?"
The room filled with silence.
Tai was begging to get nervous when Sora responded, "Yes."
Tai's eyes lit up. "Really? Cool!"
Kari rolled his eyes. "Took him long enough," She muttered.
"No kidding." TK nodded his head.
"Well, I'm going to go get ready to go," Lea announced.
"Where are you going?" Tai asked.
"Out for dinner with Matt."
"But you spent the night there! You can't go for one day without seeing each other?" Tai demanded.
"Matt and I need to do some talking, and over dinner is the best way, Ok?" Lea asked walking out of the room.
"Well...That's one way of ending a conversation."

Lea and Matt sat across from each other at a semi-formal restaurant. "Is something wrong? You've barely said anything tonight," Matt pointed out, looking nervous.
"Nothing's wrong. I've just been thinking."
"About what?" Matt asked.
Lea smiled at him. "Us."
"Oh, and what about us?" Matt asked coyly.
"Where we are, what kind of relationship we have, and where it's going," Lea responded.
"Oh, so are you happy with all that you've been thinking about?" Matt asked smiling across the table at Lea.
"Yes, vary happy." Lea smiled, mind flashing to the small box in her purse.
"About last night..." Matt blushed. "I'm sorry if I-"
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Lea interrupted him.
Matt smiled looking down at his hands. "I was kind of afraid you'd be angry with me after that."
"Why would I be angry with you? You didn't do anything that I didn't want."
"Did you think we'd end up like that last night?" Matt asked looking into her eyes.
''Honestly, no. But I don't think I've been happier." Lea smiled at him.
Matt looked confused. "Why's that?"
"I realized something," Lea smirked down at her purse.
"Oh, and what's that?"
"That I've never been happier than when I'm with you," She answered gently.
Matt smiled at her. "You know what? I haven't been either."
The two gazed at each other until their food came.
"You know, we're going have to make some rules up about us spending the night and stuff like that. We're going to end up being walked in on," Matt noted.
"You mean like this morning," Lea asked giggling.
"What?" Matt asked looking a little hurt.
"We're really pathetic."
"Huh?"
"Some people sleep over for years without being caught; first night and we get caught." Lea kept giggling and was soon joined by Matt.
"You're right." Matt finished chuckling. "But seriously..."
"Yeah." Lea nodded. "First one, we teach TK to knock."
"I think he learned his lesson this morning."
"True."
"Can you think of any?" Matt asked.
"Not off the top of my head," Lea responded.
"Ok...let's think about it for a couple of days."
"Sounds good to me."
"Lea?" Matt asked her.
"Yes?"
Matt suddenly froze. "I...um...I...er...glade you could make it tonight!" Matt winced.
Lea smiled sadly. "Me too."

Matt looked at Lea nervously as he walked her down the hall to her apartment. He'd all ready tried to tell her how he felt during dinner, and failed miserably. It felt like his chance to tell her was getting further and further away, as he walked closer to her door.
He'd done everything he could think of to make the date go longer. After dinner, they'd gone for a walk in the park and sat by the lake. And then, gone out for ice cream. But the time was growing closer to her having to go, and he knew it.
"I've always been good around girls. I never got tongue before. But sometimes when I look at her, I forget what ever it was I was going to say." Matt thought to himself.
"Matt?" Lea asked stopping a few feet from her door.
"Yes?" Matt asked nervously.
"Thanks for taking me out tonight. I had a lot of fun," She told him smiling.
"Yeah I did too." Tell her!
"Well...night..." "Give him the blasted crystal!" Lea's mind screamed at her.
Lea's hand reached for the doorknob, but Matt laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Before you go in," Matt felt himself starting to freeze again. "Don't freeze! Just tell her!"
"Yes?" She asked looking up at him, eyes full of hope.
"Please don't look at me like that. I don't want to disappoint you." His mind silently begged.
"I...I..." Matt swallowed. "I love you." He blurted out too her.
A smile spread across Lea's lips. Her eyes suddenly sparkling with tears.
Matt was worried she was going to start to cry again.
"I love you too," she whispered.
Matt smiled down at her. He pulled her closer to him, and kissed her gently. Lea's arms wound around his neck, pulling him closer. Matt wrapped one of his arms around her waist and the other on her back, pulling her as close to him as he could get.
The two broke apart a while later, both gasping lightly for air.
Lea leaned against him as he held her. "Now, can you give it to him?" Her mind scolded. Matt started to play with her hair. "In just a minute. This feels too good to interrupt."
Lea's watch beeped signaling a new hour.
"You should go in. I was supposed to have you home ten minutes ago."
"But you did. I've been right out side the door for the last fifteen minutes." Lea smiled up at him.
"I know. But we both have class tomorrow."
Lea sighed. "Alright." She reached into her purse and pulled out the box. "Here, this is for you."
"Thanks."
"I'd better get in."
"Yeah, night." Matt leaned down and kissed her again. "I love you."
They both smiled. "I love you too. Sweet dreams," Lea responded opening the door.
"You too." Matt stood there smiling after the door closed. "I finally told her. And she loves me too!"