Chapter 4

For the next two days no matter HOW hard she tried, Sora could not bring herself to do anything but read over Tai's note and listen to that song. She analyzed every single word; its position, its meaning. She scoured over it meticulously for hours…but the more she looked…the more she noticed Tai had said nothing about love.

Yes, the note and the song had been sweet beyond all reckoning…but what was there to suggest it was anything but platonic? "You're the best friend I've ever had" didn't exactly sound like a love confession…but what was " it goes farther then that" suppose to mean!? In truth, the note that was suppose to answer all her questions had actually left her more confused and only more determined to find out how Taichi really felt. 

Despite this, the note had turned from kryptonite into some kind of drug. Every time she read it, she would become indescribably happy and nothing else would matter. She slept with it under her pillow at night and carried it with her everywhere. It reminded her that no matter what, someone cared, and that seemed to be the only thing in the world that made any difference.

This little euphoric world was often interrupted when Sora realized she had to find a way to respond to Tai. She would get nervous, try to figure out what she wanted to say and how she wanted to say it…and then quickly let the idea slip from her head, promising herself she would do it in a little bit.

However, three days later, she knew Taichi would be getting worried that he hadn't heard from her. Obviously, she couldn't talk to him and not mention the note…so yes, she would have to reply.

It took her almost an hour to write it all out, editing the email down to the placement of the very last comma. At one point she had been bold enough to type, "…what I mean Tai, is…I think I'm in love with you." Of course, that sentence that sentence was deleted as quickly as it was typed out. Instead, she used the same strategy as Tai had used. She danced around what she really wanted to say, hinting at her feelings…hoping that he if felt the same, he would catch the hints she was dropping and if he didn't…he wouldn't even notice them.

And as much as she obsessed over the email…it really wasn't much. Basically a thank you for  "the nicest thing anyone has EVER said to me", a guarantee that he was the shoulder that she cried on and the one she called when things were great ,and that they would never lose touch because she would be lost without him. She was even bold enough to sign "…I will miss you more then you know :\" which she saw as a big step.

When she was content with the email, she sent it off, signed offline, and plopped on her bed. Thankful Meichico had gone out again (unlike Sora, some of Meichi's friends had made it into TAGAT and she spent most of her time hanging out with them), she pulled out "the note" and a picture of Tai, Mimi, and Matt from beneath her pillow. She smiled widely at the picture but more specifically, at Taichi. He stood awkwardly with his newfound height, back bending slightly in a nervous "why-is-she-making-me-take-this-stupid-picture" kind of way.

While Matt and Mimi (dating at the time), stood close together with Matt's arm snaked around Mimi's waist, Tai stood completely aloof from the group. Sora had gone to great lengths to get him to agree to pose for the picture at all and while he was unhappy about the whole business and about standing next to the "happy couple"…he still wore his goofy trademark smile.

It was almost like for just a second, he had forgotten about the picture and about Mimi and Matt and was simply smiling at Sora, standing in front of them, happily urging them to stand still and 'smile big'. Anyone looking at the picture could see it, the boy could obviously care less about the two people on his right hand but his eyes seemed to be staring directly into the camera…or directly past it. It was like-

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"You can come in Meichi, it's your room too you know," Sora laughed as she quickly shoved the picture and note back under her pillow and grabbed a book off of her nightstand.

 "It's James, from the bus," called a voice from the other side. Sora was shocked. Why was he here? How did he even know what room she was staying in? "Can I still come in?" James asked patiently from outside the door. Sora glanced quickly at her clock, 3:05. Boys were allowed in the girl's rooms until 6.

"Sure," Sora said and got up quickly to open the door.

"Hey," James smiled as he entered, closing the door behind him.

Sora blushed nervously; she definitely wasn't comfortable having a stranger with an unknown agenda in her room. "Something you need?" she asked, looking up to meet his eyes. She hid a smile; he was tall, like her Taichi…but that was about the only similarity. His blue hair, pierced eyebrow, baggy jeans, Drop Kick Murphy's shirt and the way he laid down coolly on her bed, arms behind his head…were all very un-Taichi-like.

"Just came to see how you were liking it so far," he said. He grimaced a little and dug his hand under his back, withdrawing the small black notebook he had laid down on. "What's this?" he questioned slyly. Sora blushed again and quickly snatched the notebook from him.

"I like to write," she said, sitting down on Meichico's bed, opposite to hers.

"Cool," he grinned, "Maybe I could read you're stuff sometime, unless it's all just love poems to that Tai guy."

She blushed, what on earth was going on? Was he…flirting with her?! Ignore it, ignore it and it will go away…you're probably wrong anyway, she insisted. "Well, I don't write love poems. Mostly short stories…" she answered, trying to sound casual when she desperately wanted this conversation to end.

"That's good," he laughed, "You know-"

"Oh! Sorry! I knew I should have knocked!" Meichico squeaked as she quickly turned to exit the room again.

 "NO!" Sora yelled loudly, "I mean…no…it is your room too, after all." She turned to James, who was eyeing Meichico with interest. "James, this is my roommate, Meichico. Meichico, this is James."

James stood up and much to her surprise, shook Meichico's hand, "Pleased to meet you."

"I better head out…but it was nice talking to you Sora," he smiled, "We should do it again sometime…and maybe I can read some of those stories of yours."

"Uh…yeah…" Sora responded hesitantly as the boy exited.

"He's cute," Meichico mentioned as she sat down and began taking off her shoes.

"That was the weirdest experience I've ever had," Sora stated plainly. She stared into the distance, still looking quite shocked.

"What do you mean?" Meichi asked, giggling at the expression on her roommates face.

"He just came in here! Like it was nothing! Like we'd been friends for ages! And he was too smiley!!!" Sora panicked.

"Calm down! Calm down!" Meichico said, laughing so hard she could barely breath, "He likes you, that's all."

"Likes me?" she questioned, horrified, "What if I don't want him to like me!?"

Meichi sighed, "You don't have a choice in such matters Sora."  Sora nodded in knowing agreement and decided to drop the subject before Meichico thought was completely insane.

She sighed, spent, and looked toward the closed door, I wish Taichi were here.

Next chapter: More Taiora fluff ^_- Sora goes to her first day of orientation, a response is received, and a new tradition is formed ;)

I know this chapter was a short one so you don't have to review if you don't want too :) I've written up to at least…chapter 10 (right about where the climax comes in :O!)  in rough draft…but going over each chapter before posting is a long, meticulous, and boring process so you shouldn't expect 6 for a while (darned exam week -_-). Still, I'll try to get it up as soon as I can. As always, thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter I appreciate it GREATLY *worships ground they walk on* but I don't want to wear you out, so really, feel free to review this chapter, but I will not be offended if you don't :) 

Best wishes,

Soragirl