Disclaimer: It has been disclaimed.

Chapter 5

"Thanks Yamato," Sora said as they entered the shop a few hours later. "No problem Sora, I really enjoyed it," Matt responded softly, looking straight into her eyes.

Oh, he's good, Tai thought bitterly as he watched from the back through narrowed eyes. "I'll see you later Sora," Yamato said, took her hand, and kissed it.

Tai was outraged, using every ounce of will power he had not to march to the front and punch him in the face. He clenched his fists as Sora blushed and watched Matt go. Once he was gone, she walked back towards Tai, "I can't believe you Tai Kamiya!" Sora yelled, hands on her waist, as soon as she spotted him.

Tai's eyes widened considerably, had she seen him watching? Did she sense his anti-Yamato feelings? Or worse, did she realize what spurred those feelings? " 'Yeah, no problem,' ?! You were suppose to get me out of that," she said.  Now Taichi was even more surprised.

"You didn't want to go?" he asked quizzically. Sora stared. "No." She answered, as if it was common knowledge. "What did you think those signals were for?" "I thought you really wanted to go," Tai responded, embarrassed he had misread her signs. Sora laughed, "Not exactly."

Tai paused, unsure whether or not to ask…but he had to know… "So…you don't like Matt then?" Sora blushed, "No, well, I mean yes….maybe…I don't know." Her voice indicated a hint of frustration, angry at herself for being so unsure. She lifted herself onto the counter and gazed idly down towards the roses. "It's just sometimes…it's hard, you know? People come in here all the time to buy dozens of flowers for their girlfriends; you can't walk down the street without seeing a hundred couples holding hands. Everywhere you go, every one has someone…but I don't. I've never had anyone to send me flowers or hold my hand…I'm the bearer of the crest of love, but I've never experienced it…at least not mutually…I kept hoping for such a long time....that my dream guy would notice me…but he hasn't," gathering her strength, she turned her stare to Taichi, "…and I'm beginning to think he never will. So…I'm thinking, maybe…it's time to stop dreaming and accept reality. Matt may not be my 'dream guy', but he cares about me…and that's not something that happens to me very often..."

He was stunned. Sora had never expressed any interests in relationships before, never gave the slightest hint that all these couples effected her…Usually, when other guy's saw Tai's best friend was a girl, one of the many questions he received was, "How can you stand it? They talk about boys and crushes and stuff all the time." The inquirers were always surprised to find that Sora NEVER talked about such things. She never once mentioned a crush, or a guy she might be interested in…and now all this? He had to ask, "Rhetorical dream guy? Or…actual dream guy?" Sora gave a bittersweet smile, forced to see the ironic humor in him asking that question…though not finding it at all humorous, "Actual guy." That is obviously incapable of catching any signals, she added cynically to herself. "Sora Takenouchi!?! Sora Takenouchi has a crush after 15 years?!" Tai asked, honestly shocked. Sora laughed again, though she hoped for the end of this conversation, "Well I guess I've had it for a while…a long while…"

Tai was devastated, "Sora, why wouldn't you tell me something like that? You know you can trust me." Sora, upset that she had made Tai upset, tried to explain without actually explaining, "It's complicated Tai-"

Suddenly, there was jingling from the front. Saved by the bells, Sora thought with relief… "Sora! Tai! I need help unloading!" Ms. Takenouchi yelled from the front. Sora walked quickly towards her mother without another word. Her mom and those loathed bells had saved her from spilling the secret that could quite possibly destroy her friendship with the adorable, but sometimes quite dense, Tai.

AN: *yawn* I know it's short…but it's late, and I'm soo sleepy…I'm sorry. :`( Also, some more bad news, I fear the next update might take quite a while as I've got a MAJOR project due that I've been avoiding, plus a soccer tournament, plus another fic, plus sooo much else, but I'll try to get it up ASAP. Thanks for all your patience :) Reviews are most appreciated!

Best wishes and lots of love,

Soragirl

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