A/N:WOW! I read over the last chapter and that was well.. short and confusing. Haha.^-^ Sorry guys,I didn't mean to put you through that... I'll do better in this one I hope. I love the reviews you guys are sending me! Thanks a-bunches! ^_~ P.S--Sorry that it took so long to get this one out..
Anyway...on with the story...
Ch. 13: Breaking Away
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The sun had just a half peering over the trees when I got home, it was still early. And in any other situation I would be sound asleep in my bed for the next 8 hours. But last night was the night that we partied, the night at The Docks. Sora seemed half dead as we arrived. Her eyes were almost shut, it was incredible that she didn't walk into anything on the way to the front door. Light from the sun was just enough to help me find my house key on the chain that I had. Pushing it and turning the door knob, I softly walked over the step and into the foyer, taking off my heels. I pulled the key from the keyhole and gently pushed the door shut. I hadn't noticed, but Sora had made her way over to the stairs, leaning against the wall, already asleep.
'She must've had a long night...' I told myself, flipping the switch to the floor lights. Small, circular lights shown through the carpet in every corner of the family room. I walked over to Sora and picked her up by the arms. Sora stood upright against the wall, still asleep, as I began to position myself to carry her. Bending with my knees, I slung her over my shoulder, turning left into the family room. I slowly placed on the white couch, her head on a pillow, and a blanket over her. 'Phew...' I started to think in my head, 'I am sooo out of shape...'
After putting Sora on the couch, I walked over to the door frame and turned the switch one more time, turning off the corner lights. The room went black again, only lit by little pink and purple shadows on the wall from the sun peering through. I climbed the stairs to my room in the attic, shutting the door so softly. Pink lamps lit up the room only enough to see where objects on the floor were. The clothes that Sora and I had changed out of were still cluttering up the floor. Tonight was definitely a different night.
'I was the one who wanted to stay home..' I kept telling myself, 'But no! We HAD to go out anyway. I would've been happy sleeping!' I continued to complain to myself as I ripped of the articles of clothing that I had on, which were pretty flimsy, so it wasn't too hard. After I put on my pink tank top, I climbed into bed, not caring if I wasn't wearing any pants. I curled up in ball, laying on my side, holding my knees to my chest. I couldn't understant why Madison could act like that.
Muttering a few words under my breath, which no one else could even if they were in my room, my eyes shot open immediately. I lay still, focusing on nothing in particular.
"OH LORD!" I exclaimed softly, bringing a hand up to cover my mouth. 'She's getting to me..'
Slowly, I sat up, and braced myself against the headboard. I stared at the dark wall ahead of me. Thinking.
'I can't let her get to me.' I told myself again. 'If I let her get to me.. she'll have an advantage against me... a weakness.' I reminded myself of everything that has happened in past experiences when someone had the advantage over me. Never again... in any circumstances.
Closing my eyes, I said a quiet prayer. "Oh God... help me SLEEP." I started, "Help me to remember my mistakes before I repeat them. Keep me calm against the people that intentionally want to hurt me... Amen." In one motion, I was back on my side, huddled up in a ball with my eyes closed.
It seemed like I had been sleeping for only five minutes before Gram woke me up. And obviously, I wasn't very believing when she told me that it was 8:00 AM. How could it have been four hours already? I buried my head in my pillow, pulling the sheets over my head. I wasn't ready to get up. Then again... I'm normally never ready to get up unless its noon. But hey, that's just me!
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Sora.
I wasn't expecting Gram to wake me up. And I definitely was not expecting to be woken up downstairs on the couch at EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING!! "Mimi go away..." I said in a muffled tone, considering that my face was still fitting in the pillow.
I heard hoarse laughter. "Sora, dear. Get up or get out. Either way, GET UP. We're going to church this morning." Gram said sternly, but yet sweetly enough that I knew she wasn't angry. If that made any sense at all....
Shifting body position, I was so reluctant to get up from the warmth of the blanket. "Is Meems, up yet?" I asked her, not getting a response, I finally noted that she had left the room. I rolled my eyes and sat straight up on the couch. As I raised my arms high above my head, I felt the cracking and stretching. Feeling satisfied at how I had dismembered my body parts, I stood up and walked upstairs to Mimi's bedroom. Opening the door, I looked in to see Mimi sitting indian style of her bed.
"Yo" I said. She looked up and smiled.
"So you finally decided to come up." She mocked.
"Freakin' shut up..." I started. "But yes. Gram woke me up not even five minutes ago."
"Ditto." She yawned. "It's all your fault! You just had to go out and party last night! And we got in so late that we only got four hours of sleep!"
She yelled with blame in it. But she wasn't upset either.
"You never told me that we were going to church in the morning!"
"I didn't know either. So don't even blame it on me!" She confessed. "It all leads back to you SORA!" She pointed her finger at me. I rolled my eyes.
"So, we're going to church... I haven't been there in years." I told her as I sat down next to her on the bed. She frowned slightly.
"Ditto.. again." She looked down at her legs, "That's kinda sad though.. that I haven't been there in so long, ya know?"
"No. I don't. It's not a bad thing." Mimi gave me a confused look as I told her that. "Let me explain."
She nodded slightly, making sure to listen to me.
"I never liked going to church. The ministers or preachers or priests or whatever you want to call them! I never liked them, I always felt like they were convicting me! They made me feel like I was a horrible person... a bad seed..."
"Sora, I don't think that they were doing that." Mimi tried to convince but I wouldn't have it.
"NO!" I yelled, moving away from her. Mimi's face was filled with shock after I yelled at her. "I'm freakin' not gonna go! And that's it!"
She sat up straight in the same position, her eyes showing hurt. She licked her dry lips and got up. "Well, I'm sorry Sora. But I'm going to church today with Gram. You can either come or not. But if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready." She told me quietly, walking by me, toward her closet.
I could see directly through her calm exterior, I knew I hurt her when I yelled. She was only trying to help me and trying to get me to go to church with her.. and I blew up at her. I shouldn't have blamed it all on her, but I did. I looked at the ground as I turned toward the door and started down the stairs. As I entered the foyer, Gram called my name from the kitchen. I stopped again, and turned around and walked to the door frame.
"Are you not going with us?" The elderly woman asked sweetly, wiping her hands off on a blue hand towel. She smiled gently and waited for an answer.
"No ma'am." I said plainly. Gram's smile didn't fade, as she was expecting me to say that. Like it wasn't a surprise...
"You really should come, my dear."
"No, that's all right." I bluntly told her. "Not today."
She smiled, which made it hard to tell if she was disappointed or any other emotion for that matter. "Now if you'll excuse me... I'll be leaving." With that, I walked out of the kitchen, past the wooden stair case and through the front door. I ran to my car, which was still parked in the same place that I had left it last night, and jumped into the driver's seat. The key slid through and I waited for the engine to rumble before I turned my car around, preparing to drive the long driveway to the estate's gate.
'Not today.. not ever..'
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Matt.
'How did I get stuck with him?' I asked myself. I kept questioning it in my head as I walked out of the bathroom, just exitting the shower. My hair dripped with water as I continued to my desk, where I had layed out todays clothes. I let the black towel that I had used, drop to the ground as I continued to dress myself. Just as I pulled my pants over my boxers, the phone rang. I picked up the towel, and dried off my hair one quick time before I ran to the phone that was laying on my bed.
"Hey, Ishida residence." I told the person on the other line.
"Yo buddy!" Tai yelled through the other end. Did he think that I couldn't hear him? I think he took out my ear drum...
"Sup Tai?" I asked, holding the phone in between my ear and my right shoulder as I unbuttoned the long sleeved one shirt, and slipped one arm through.
"Nothin'. Where's Mike?"
"I don't know. He's probably still sleeping. Unless dad woke him up before he went to work." I started buttoning the shirt up again, watching my actions in the mirror.
"Sorry about just leaving him with you, man. Hope you don't mind."
"Yeah, whatever, Tai."
"Come on, dude! You know that I don't get along with the Brad Pitt-wannabe!" Tai pleaded.
"Who the heck is Brad Pitt?" I wondered, contemplating whether or not Tai made this guy up.
"He's some American actor or something. Mimi was fantasizing over him the other day." He told me, "He's probably not even that popular.."
I groaned a little bit, running my left hand through my hair, pushing my hair, giving it a look of messiness. "Hey man, it's ok. But he's staying with you tonight." I laughed. "He snores man, I could hear all the way in my room last night."
Tai laughed lightly and agreed.
"Well, listen bro, I gotta get going. I better wake him up anyway." I said, still walking around to the other side of the bed to pick up some hair gel.
"Aight, ja"
"Ja" I hung up the line, throwing the phone back on the bed. I climbed over the bed, bending down, careful not to hit my head on the ceiling. I jumped down to the floor and looked at myself in the mirror again. Pouring some green hair gel in my hand, I rubbed it over my head. I pushed it back, combing some of it down, leaving the other part lose enough to hang. I flipped my hair again, by running my hands through it again. Finally satisfied with my hair, I unbuttoned 3 buttons on my shirt, showing off my chest. I grinned again and walked out of my room.
"Michael wake up." I said to his sleeping body on the couch as I walked by the opening to the living room and into the kitchen. I turned to the sink and lifted the blinds to window that showed into the living room. "MICHAEL! Come on man, wake up."
His body didn't move from the time I yelled at him to the time I walked into the living room five minutes later. What's up with this guy? Even I don't sleep this much... I stood in front of him, folding my arms across my chest, waiting impatiently, almost as if I expected him to know that I was standing here. I groaned and called at him again. "Michael. WAKE UP."
He didn't move again, so instead of thinking properly, I picked up a pillow from the other couch and through it at him, hitting his head. He stirred slowly and took the pillow off his head. Moaning, he sat up on the couch. Michael scratched his and looked up at me.
"Put some clothes on.." I told him, turning away from him, heading back into the kitchen. I suppose that he got the hint that I didn't feel like watching him get dressed, because he sat back against the couch, crossing his arms over his bare chest, waiting for me to leave before he got up. I just met this guy yesterday and he's already sleeping on my couch without his shirt on, this is crossing the line... just a bit. As I rounded the corner back into the kitchen three knocks came to the door, so I placed a hand on the wall, bracing myself before I punched something. Frustration boiled in me, ready to let go, I pulled back and hit the wall as I turned to face the front door. I didn't even bother to look through the peep-hole, I didn't care who it was. 'I'll just tell whoever it is that I'm sick and don't want to give it to them.. yeah, that's right.. sick.' I told myself in my head, knowing full well that if I said that or not would depend on who was standing on the other side of the door. More knocks, harder this time, came.
I unlocked the door and pulled it open. To see none other than Madison. 'Great..' I sighed loudly, and I'm guessing she took it as a sigh of relief because she didn't take much hint to it. She slyly walked through the door, closing it softly behind her. One thing I've learned about Madison is that she always greets me like she hasn't seen me in years, with a huge make out scene. Before I could protest and tell that I was ill, which by the way I REALLY WANTED TO TELL HER, she pushed me against the wall and kissed me. Now what do you think I did next? Reject her kiss and make her feel like an idiot? No!, I'm a guy, what do you think I did!? I kissed her back. Despite how much I don't want to be with her, she was an excellent kisser, so I just couldn't make myself look bad in front of her. ^_~
We kissed for what seemed like a half an hour, thankfully Michael walked into the hallway when he did, or else I would've died from lack of air. He didn't stop walking when he saw us, he just looked at me in shock and continued to head for the kitchen. Madison on the other hand, did a double take. She immediately let go of me and stood a few feet away, staring at him in the kitchen.
"What is he doing here?" She asked harshly. I raised a brow and leaned over to look at him.
"Michael? He's Mimi's boyfriend." I explained to her, placing my head against the wall.
"That doesn't answer the question Matt! What is he doing HERE." Her hands balling into fists. Why did she have such a problem with Michael?
"Michael is here from America, visiting Mimi. And he stayed here last night. He went to the party, maybe y--"
"I know he went to the party!" She interrupted, "He was flirting with all those girls while Mimi was talking to some guy." She said knowingly, watching for his response. My eyes flared as she mentioned that he was flirting with other girls while dating his best friend. Though my back was turned to her, I could feel her grin burning into my back. Michael, overhearing her comment, walked over to the doorframe.
"Oh! Did I say that too loud..?" Madison played off innocently, watching me fume and Michael glare at her in annoyance.
"Why's she here?" Michael asked calmly, clearly trying to hide that he wished to drop an anvil on her.
"I'm his girlfriend you moron." Madison pulled herself over to me, linking arms. I let my arm hang lose as she held it tight.
"Oh my bad, I didn't know you had a boyfriend from the way that you were rubbing all up on me last night." He cut out, watching her eyes glaze over. I narrowed my eyes and slowly turned my head to look down at her still body. What was she doing? Was she waiting for me to say something?
"Yama, he doesn't know what he's talking about! Don't listen to him.. he's jus--"
"Shut. Up." I said slowly, rather calmly compared to how I wanted to react. She moved away from me while she tried to keep her eyes from my stare. "I knew it.. I knew it was true all along."
She still didn't look up at me as I continued to talk, disregarding that Michael was still standing there. "Everyone told me that you just weren't the right girl for me. My dad told me, Darien told me... even my mom told me Madison! My mom! Who I see only a couple times a year told me that I shouldn't have been dating you! Do you even know how pathetic that is?"
Madison looked down at the ground and held her hands tightly in a clasp. "Matt, I never cheated on you! I never really did anything!"
"You mean you never 'really' did anything? Really? You think I didn't notice what you were doing behind my back? What everyone was telling me!" I yelled, startling her. "How could it not affect me Madison! It eventually gets to you after a while! You know, everyone telling you that your girlfriends a slut and that you shouldn't be going out with her. It finally pays off if you say it enough!"
"Your going to believe everyone else over me? Your own girlfriend... the one who was there for you through every hard time!?" She said hastily, trying to convince me not to get rid of her. It was obvious she was afraid of being alone..
"Bull crap Madison! When were you there for me!? WHEN! You weren't there for me when my mom got sick! You weren't there for me when my dad started going out with Nyoko and when he started to ignore me! WHERE WERE YOU DURING THOSE TIMES?"
I could feel the heat rushing to my face as I continued to yell at her. I hadn't noticed when tears rolled down my face every once and a while. The things that had been bothering me for so long were held up in my mind for so long that I had forgetten the toll that they had on me. I couldn't wait for a response, my mind was running 20 miles per minute.
"You were never there for me. You were my friend for all those years before this crap with my dad and before my mom got sick... but you still weren't there for me. You weren't there for me when my best friend moved to America.. what kind of a girlfriend isn't there for her boyfriend when he needs her most? Or even as a friend.." I chocked down on more tears, holding down my voice.
"I'm sorry Matt." Madison breathed out silently, looking at my face, watching the tears swell up in my eyes.
"But the truth of the fact is that you weren't there for me Madison. Don't try to lie to me anymore.. no more excuses." I told her, watching for a reaction. "So get out... and go after the guys that want you for what you've been giving them behind my back."
I talked harshly, looking straight at her like I was ready to burn her with my eyes. She tried speaking, but chocked on the words. My eyes narrowed enough for her to know that I meant what I said. "..Get..out." I repeated, this time glaring harder. The door clicked loudly, breaking the intense silence that had overcome the apartment as Madison stood in disbelief. Michael continued to slide open the door, pushing it to the wall, symbolizing for her to leave. Madison shook her head slightly and looked at the ground, then the at me again, finally stammering over to the door. It clicked behind her as she walked through it.
I didn't move my eyes from the spot that she was standing, I glared straight to the wall that was behind her. Michael stood still in front of the door, watching me until he figured out that I wasn't going to move yet.
"Matt, I uh... I'm sorry man.." He apologized politely, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Unless Madison was right and you were flirting with other girls at the party last night." I implied to him, turning my head to face him. "Because you know that Mimi is my best friend and if you hurt her in any way I'll hunt you down and rip you apart. You got that?"
My cold tone didn't phase him at all, he just smirked slightly and folded his arms over his shoulders. "No. I didn't flirt with any girls. They just came over and started talking to me."
"Good." I sighed and walked into the living room, fell on the couch and sprawled out.
"Well at least I know Mimi will be protected while she's here, even if it's not me." Micahel said, walking casually in behind me.
'Not that Mimi needs protecting.. but yeah, she's got me here.' I thought to myself, remembering how she treated Madison. "I think Mimi can handle herself. But worst comes to worst, I'm here."
Today was apparently going to be one those days where everything just seems to go wrong. Caught up in the moment of my thoughts, I didn't hear the phone ring until Michael picked it up and answered the last ring.
"Hello?"
"Who's this?" The person's voice on the opposite phone sounded confused as to who was answering the phone at my house.
"The name's Michael." I heard him say as he walked over to me with the phone against his ear. "Can I ask who's speaking?"
I saw him nod slightly and hand me the phone.
"Hey mom." I knew it was her immediately. I took the phone in my hand and reached over to it's cradle, pushing the speaker phone button.
"Hi sweetie, how was your morning?" She asked sweetly, it was obvious she was getting ready for something while talking to me.
"Screwed up. Yours?" I yawned, leaning back in my spot on the couch, throwing the phone down next to me. She sighed.
"What happened this time?" She questioned, her tone showing more than enough complaint.
"Well let's just say that you'll be happy to find out that Madison and I aren't together anymore."
"Why not?" She said with too much excitement, but quickly covering it up with a compassionate voice. "Matt, you'll get over her soon enough. But do you mind telling me how this happened?"
"No. I don't feel like talking about it right now." I cut off. I could just imagine her rolling her eyes at me.
"Fine, fine. But I'll get it out of you eventually." She inquired happily. "So who is Michael? And why don't I know him."
As much as I love my mom, this really wasn't my favorite time to be having a conversation with her. 'I wish she would just call back later..'
"Michael is Mimi's boyfriend."
"Mimi..? As in cute little girl with brown hair who you used to be joined at the hip with!?" She smiled brightly to herself. I sighed loudly and agreed.
"What's she doing in Japan!?" She squeeled. "Did she move back?"
"No mom, she just came back for the school year. Of course she moved back!" I said sarcastically. I heard her giggle. 'She's like a child..'
"Well I'll just have to go stop by and say hello to her family! It's been so long since--" She started.
"You can't do that. Her family isn't here. It's just her." I told her silently. "Her parents sent her back here alone for some reason."
Michael shifted silently in his place on the floor, earning my attention. I looked at him for a few minutes, expecting him to explain the reason as to why he was looking so uncomfortable all of a sudden. When he didn't give any explanation, I looked back at the phone.
"Well mom, I better get going..."
"Oh wait! T.K. wants to say hi." She said urgently, handing the phone to my brother.
"Hey bro!" T.K. exclaimed happily. He was always in a good mood, he never had any problems with anyone. The only happy child of the family.
"Yo little man. Sup?" I replied cooly, running my hand through my glossy hair again.
"Not too much, you?" He said silently.
"Not much. You still gonna come chill with me and Mimi at the race Tuesday? She says she's dying to see you, man." I told him, I heard his laugh.
"Heck yeah! You know I'm up for that." He smiled, "So how is she anyway?"
"She's good. You can even talk to her boyfriend if you wanted." I started, "Say hey to Michael over here."
"Hey Michael." T.K. sounded just a little bit disappointed. Was he expecting her to not have a boyfriend when she came back? "So is Mimi there too?"
"Nah, little man. She's probably still sleeping, along with Sora."
"Why is Mimi's boyfriend at your house, but she's not?"
"Because we went homosexual on your butt." I laughed. "Nah, because he didn't have a place to stay, so he stayed here last night."
"Right!" He laughed, "Alright bro, I'll see you on Tuesday."
"Cool. I'll pick you up after school and you'll hang with me until Wednesday morning. Got it?" I confirmed with him.
"Your gonna take me to school right? I mean, you wont make me walk."
"Nope. Your walkin' all the way there BY YOURSELF." I joked, laughing deep in my throat. "Nah, I'll take you. I'll make sure to wear something good to impress all your little friends."
"Yeah right. All the girls already drool over you anyway." He began, "But seriously, ja bro."
"Ja"
I hang up the speaker phone and climbed off the couch. "You ready to go?"
"Where are we going?"
"I have to make a pit-stop at NOSotros. Do you mind going with me to run a few erronds?" I asked, grabbing my keys off of the counter. Michael shook his head and slid into his shoes.
"Lets go."
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A/N: I really liked writing this chapter. Hope you liked reading it. Actually, I hope its as good as I thought it was. If not, maybe I should just quit writing here! Haha. Just playin. Thanks for all the reviews guys! I LOVE YOU!
Anyway...on with the story...
Ch. 13: Breaking Away
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The sun had just a half peering over the trees when I got home, it was still early. And in any other situation I would be sound asleep in my bed for the next 8 hours. But last night was the night that we partied, the night at The Docks. Sora seemed half dead as we arrived. Her eyes were almost shut, it was incredible that she didn't walk into anything on the way to the front door. Light from the sun was just enough to help me find my house key on the chain that I had. Pushing it and turning the door knob, I softly walked over the step and into the foyer, taking off my heels. I pulled the key from the keyhole and gently pushed the door shut. I hadn't noticed, but Sora had made her way over to the stairs, leaning against the wall, already asleep.
'She must've had a long night...' I told myself, flipping the switch to the floor lights. Small, circular lights shown through the carpet in every corner of the family room. I walked over to Sora and picked her up by the arms. Sora stood upright against the wall, still asleep, as I began to position myself to carry her. Bending with my knees, I slung her over my shoulder, turning left into the family room. I slowly placed on the white couch, her head on a pillow, and a blanket over her. 'Phew...' I started to think in my head, 'I am sooo out of shape...'
After putting Sora on the couch, I walked over to the door frame and turned the switch one more time, turning off the corner lights. The room went black again, only lit by little pink and purple shadows on the wall from the sun peering through. I climbed the stairs to my room in the attic, shutting the door so softly. Pink lamps lit up the room only enough to see where objects on the floor were. The clothes that Sora and I had changed out of were still cluttering up the floor. Tonight was definitely a different night.
'I was the one who wanted to stay home..' I kept telling myself, 'But no! We HAD to go out anyway. I would've been happy sleeping!' I continued to complain to myself as I ripped of the articles of clothing that I had on, which were pretty flimsy, so it wasn't too hard. After I put on my pink tank top, I climbed into bed, not caring if I wasn't wearing any pants. I curled up in ball, laying on my side, holding my knees to my chest. I couldn't understant why Madison could act like that.
Muttering a few words under my breath, which no one else could even if they were in my room, my eyes shot open immediately. I lay still, focusing on nothing in particular.
"OH LORD!" I exclaimed softly, bringing a hand up to cover my mouth. 'She's getting to me..'
Slowly, I sat up, and braced myself against the headboard. I stared at the dark wall ahead of me. Thinking.
'I can't let her get to me.' I told myself again. 'If I let her get to me.. she'll have an advantage against me... a weakness.' I reminded myself of everything that has happened in past experiences when someone had the advantage over me. Never again... in any circumstances.
Closing my eyes, I said a quiet prayer. "Oh God... help me SLEEP." I started, "Help me to remember my mistakes before I repeat them. Keep me calm against the people that intentionally want to hurt me... Amen." In one motion, I was back on my side, huddled up in a ball with my eyes closed.
It seemed like I had been sleeping for only five minutes before Gram woke me up. And obviously, I wasn't very believing when she told me that it was 8:00 AM. How could it have been four hours already? I buried my head in my pillow, pulling the sheets over my head. I wasn't ready to get up. Then again... I'm normally never ready to get up unless its noon. But hey, that's just me!
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Sora.
I wasn't expecting Gram to wake me up. And I definitely was not expecting to be woken up downstairs on the couch at EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING!! "Mimi go away..." I said in a muffled tone, considering that my face was still fitting in the pillow.
I heard hoarse laughter. "Sora, dear. Get up or get out. Either way, GET UP. We're going to church this morning." Gram said sternly, but yet sweetly enough that I knew she wasn't angry. If that made any sense at all....
Shifting body position, I was so reluctant to get up from the warmth of the blanket. "Is Meems, up yet?" I asked her, not getting a response, I finally noted that she had left the room. I rolled my eyes and sat straight up on the couch. As I raised my arms high above my head, I felt the cracking and stretching. Feeling satisfied at how I had dismembered my body parts, I stood up and walked upstairs to Mimi's bedroom. Opening the door, I looked in to see Mimi sitting indian style of her bed.
"Yo" I said. She looked up and smiled.
"So you finally decided to come up." She mocked.
"Freakin' shut up..." I started. "But yes. Gram woke me up not even five minutes ago."
"Ditto." She yawned. "It's all your fault! You just had to go out and party last night! And we got in so late that we only got four hours of sleep!"
She yelled with blame in it. But she wasn't upset either.
"You never told me that we were going to church in the morning!"
"I didn't know either. So don't even blame it on me!" She confessed. "It all leads back to you SORA!" She pointed her finger at me. I rolled my eyes.
"So, we're going to church... I haven't been there in years." I told her as I sat down next to her on the bed. She frowned slightly.
"Ditto.. again." She looked down at her legs, "That's kinda sad though.. that I haven't been there in so long, ya know?"
"No. I don't. It's not a bad thing." Mimi gave me a confused look as I told her that. "Let me explain."
She nodded slightly, making sure to listen to me.
"I never liked going to church. The ministers or preachers or priests or whatever you want to call them! I never liked them, I always felt like they were convicting me! They made me feel like I was a horrible person... a bad seed..."
"Sora, I don't think that they were doing that." Mimi tried to convince but I wouldn't have it.
"NO!" I yelled, moving away from her. Mimi's face was filled with shock after I yelled at her. "I'm freakin' not gonna go! And that's it!"
She sat up straight in the same position, her eyes showing hurt. She licked her dry lips and got up. "Well, I'm sorry Sora. But I'm going to church today with Gram. You can either come or not. But if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready." She told me quietly, walking by me, toward her closet.
I could see directly through her calm exterior, I knew I hurt her when I yelled. She was only trying to help me and trying to get me to go to church with her.. and I blew up at her. I shouldn't have blamed it all on her, but I did. I looked at the ground as I turned toward the door and started down the stairs. As I entered the foyer, Gram called my name from the kitchen. I stopped again, and turned around and walked to the door frame.
"Are you not going with us?" The elderly woman asked sweetly, wiping her hands off on a blue hand towel. She smiled gently and waited for an answer.
"No ma'am." I said plainly. Gram's smile didn't fade, as she was expecting me to say that. Like it wasn't a surprise...
"You really should come, my dear."
"No, that's all right." I bluntly told her. "Not today."
She smiled, which made it hard to tell if she was disappointed or any other emotion for that matter. "Now if you'll excuse me... I'll be leaving." With that, I walked out of the kitchen, past the wooden stair case and through the front door. I ran to my car, which was still parked in the same place that I had left it last night, and jumped into the driver's seat. The key slid through and I waited for the engine to rumble before I turned my car around, preparing to drive the long driveway to the estate's gate.
'Not today.. not ever..'
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Matt.
'How did I get stuck with him?' I asked myself. I kept questioning it in my head as I walked out of the bathroom, just exitting the shower. My hair dripped with water as I continued to my desk, where I had layed out todays clothes. I let the black towel that I had used, drop to the ground as I continued to dress myself. Just as I pulled my pants over my boxers, the phone rang. I picked up the towel, and dried off my hair one quick time before I ran to the phone that was laying on my bed.
"Hey, Ishida residence." I told the person on the other line.
"Yo buddy!" Tai yelled through the other end. Did he think that I couldn't hear him? I think he took out my ear drum...
"Sup Tai?" I asked, holding the phone in between my ear and my right shoulder as I unbuttoned the long sleeved one shirt, and slipped one arm through.
"Nothin'. Where's Mike?"
"I don't know. He's probably still sleeping. Unless dad woke him up before he went to work." I started buttoning the shirt up again, watching my actions in the mirror.
"Sorry about just leaving him with you, man. Hope you don't mind."
"Yeah, whatever, Tai."
"Come on, dude! You know that I don't get along with the Brad Pitt-wannabe!" Tai pleaded.
"Who the heck is Brad Pitt?" I wondered, contemplating whether or not Tai made this guy up.
"He's some American actor or something. Mimi was fantasizing over him the other day." He told me, "He's probably not even that popular.."
I groaned a little bit, running my left hand through my hair, pushing my hair, giving it a look of messiness. "Hey man, it's ok. But he's staying with you tonight." I laughed. "He snores man, I could hear all the way in my room last night."
Tai laughed lightly and agreed.
"Well, listen bro, I gotta get going. I better wake him up anyway." I said, still walking around to the other side of the bed to pick up some hair gel.
"Aight, ja"
"Ja" I hung up the line, throwing the phone back on the bed. I climbed over the bed, bending down, careful not to hit my head on the ceiling. I jumped down to the floor and looked at myself in the mirror again. Pouring some green hair gel in my hand, I rubbed it over my head. I pushed it back, combing some of it down, leaving the other part lose enough to hang. I flipped my hair again, by running my hands through it again. Finally satisfied with my hair, I unbuttoned 3 buttons on my shirt, showing off my chest. I grinned again and walked out of my room.
"Michael wake up." I said to his sleeping body on the couch as I walked by the opening to the living room and into the kitchen. I turned to the sink and lifted the blinds to window that showed into the living room. "MICHAEL! Come on man, wake up."
His body didn't move from the time I yelled at him to the time I walked into the living room five minutes later. What's up with this guy? Even I don't sleep this much... I stood in front of him, folding my arms across my chest, waiting impatiently, almost as if I expected him to know that I was standing here. I groaned and called at him again. "Michael. WAKE UP."
He didn't move again, so instead of thinking properly, I picked up a pillow from the other couch and through it at him, hitting his head. He stirred slowly and took the pillow off his head. Moaning, he sat up on the couch. Michael scratched his and looked up at me.
"Put some clothes on.." I told him, turning away from him, heading back into the kitchen. I suppose that he got the hint that I didn't feel like watching him get dressed, because he sat back against the couch, crossing his arms over his bare chest, waiting for me to leave before he got up. I just met this guy yesterday and he's already sleeping on my couch without his shirt on, this is crossing the line... just a bit. As I rounded the corner back into the kitchen three knocks came to the door, so I placed a hand on the wall, bracing myself before I punched something. Frustration boiled in me, ready to let go, I pulled back and hit the wall as I turned to face the front door. I didn't even bother to look through the peep-hole, I didn't care who it was. 'I'll just tell whoever it is that I'm sick and don't want to give it to them.. yeah, that's right.. sick.' I told myself in my head, knowing full well that if I said that or not would depend on who was standing on the other side of the door. More knocks, harder this time, came.
I unlocked the door and pulled it open. To see none other than Madison. 'Great..' I sighed loudly, and I'm guessing she took it as a sigh of relief because she didn't take much hint to it. She slyly walked through the door, closing it softly behind her. One thing I've learned about Madison is that she always greets me like she hasn't seen me in years, with a huge make out scene. Before I could protest and tell that I was ill, which by the way I REALLY WANTED TO TELL HER, she pushed me against the wall and kissed me. Now what do you think I did next? Reject her kiss and make her feel like an idiot? No!, I'm a guy, what do you think I did!? I kissed her back. Despite how much I don't want to be with her, she was an excellent kisser, so I just couldn't make myself look bad in front of her. ^_~
We kissed for what seemed like a half an hour, thankfully Michael walked into the hallway when he did, or else I would've died from lack of air. He didn't stop walking when he saw us, he just looked at me in shock and continued to head for the kitchen. Madison on the other hand, did a double take. She immediately let go of me and stood a few feet away, staring at him in the kitchen.
"What is he doing here?" She asked harshly. I raised a brow and leaned over to look at him.
"Michael? He's Mimi's boyfriend." I explained to her, placing my head against the wall.
"That doesn't answer the question Matt! What is he doing HERE." Her hands balling into fists. Why did she have such a problem with Michael?
"Michael is here from America, visiting Mimi. And he stayed here last night. He went to the party, maybe y--"
"I know he went to the party!" She interrupted, "He was flirting with all those girls while Mimi was talking to some guy." She said knowingly, watching for his response. My eyes flared as she mentioned that he was flirting with other girls while dating his best friend. Though my back was turned to her, I could feel her grin burning into my back. Michael, overhearing her comment, walked over to the doorframe.
"Oh! Did I say that too loud..?" Madison played off innocently, watching me fume and Michael glare at her in annoyance.
"Why's she here?" Michael asked calmly, clearly trying to hide that he wished to drop an anvil on her.
"I'm his girlfriend you moron." Madison pulled herself over to me, linking arms. I let my arm hang lose as she held it tight.
"Oh my bad, I didn't know you had a boyfriend from the way that you were rubbing all up on me last night." He cut out, watching her eyes glaze over. I narrowed my eyes and slowly turned my head to look down at her still body. What was she doing? Was she waiting for me to say something?
"Yama, he doesn't know what he's talking about! Don't listen to him.. he's jus--"
"Shut. Up." I said slowly, rather calmly compared to how I wanted to react. She moved away from me while she tried to keep her eyes from my stare. "I knew it.. I knew it was true all along."
She still didn't look up at me as I continued to talk, disregarding that Michael was still standing there. "Everyone told me that you just weren't the right girl for me. My dad told me, Darien told me... even my mom told me Madison! My mom! Who I see only a couple times a year told me that I shouldn't have been dating you! Do you even know how pathetic that is?"
Madison looked down at the ground and held her hands tightly in a clasp. "Matt, I never cheated on you! I never really did anything!"
"You mean you never 'really' did anything? Really? You think I didn't notice what you were doing behind my back? What everyone was telling me!" I yelled, startling her. "How could it not affect me Madison! It eventually gets to you after a while! You know, everyone telling you that your girlfriends a slut and that you shouldn't be going out with her. It finally pays off if you say it enough!"
"Your going to believe everyone else over me? Your own girlfriend... the one who was there for you through every hard time!?" She said hastily, trying to convince me not to get rid of her. It was obvious she was afraid of being alone..
"Bull crap Madison! When were you there for me!? WHEN! You weren't there for me when my mom got sick! You weren't there for me when my dad started going out with Nyoko and when he started to ignore me! WHERE WERE YOU DURING THOSE TIMES?"
I could feel the heat rushing to my face as I continued to yell at her. I hadn't noticed when tears rolled down my face every once and a while. The things that had been bothering me for so long were held up in my mind for so long that I had forgetten the toll that they had on me. I couldn't wait for a response, my mind was running 20 miles per minute.
"You were never there for me. You were my friend for all those years before this crap with my dad and before my mom got sick... but you still weren't there for me. You weren't there for me when my best friend moved to America.. what kind of a girlfriend isn't there for her boyfriend when he needs her most? Or even as a friend.." I chocked down on more tears, holding down my voice.
"I'm sorry Matt." Madison breathed out silently, looking at my face, watching the tears swell up in my eyes.
"But the truth of the fact is that you weren't there for me Madison. Don't try to lie to me anymore.. no more excuses." I told her, watching for a reaction. "So get out... and go after the guys that want you for what you've been giving them behind my back."
I talked harshly, looking straight at her like I was ready to burn her with my eyes. She tried speaking, but chocked on the words. My eyes narrowed enough for her to know that I meant what I said. "..Get..out." I repeated, this time glaring harder. The door clicked loudly, breaking the intense silence that had overcome the apartment as Madison stood in disbelief. Michael continued to slide open the door, pushing it to the wall, symbolizing for her to leave. Madison shook her head slightly and looked at the ground, then the at me again, finally stammering over to the door. It clicked behind her as she walked through it.
I didn't move my eyes from the spot that she was standing, I glared straight to the wall that was behind her. Michael stood still in front of the door, watching me until he figured out that I wasn't going to move yet.
"Matt, I uh... I'm sorry man.." He apologized politely, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Unless Madison was right and you were flirting with other girls at the party last night." I implied to him, turning my head to face him. "Because you know that Mimi is my best friend and if you hurt her in any way I'll hunt you down and rip you apart. You got that?"
My cold tone didn't phase him at all, he just smirked slightly and folded his arms over his shoulders. "No. I didn't flirt with any girls. They just came over and started talking to me."
"Good." I sighed and walked into the living room, fell on the couch and sprawled out.
"Well at least I know Mimi will be protected while she's here, even if it's not me." Micahel said, walking casually in behind me.
'Not that Mimi needs protecting.. but yeah, she's got me here.' I thought to myself, remembering how she treated Madison. "I think Mimi can handle herself. But worst comes to worst, I'm here."
Today was apparently going to be one those days where everything just seems to go wrong. Caught up in the moment of my thoughts, I didn't hear the phone ring until Michael picked it up and answered the last ring.
"Hello?"
"Who's this?" The person's voice on the opposite phone sounded confused as to who was answering the phone at my house.
"The name's Michael." I heard him say as he walked over to me with the phone against his ear. "Can I ask who's speaking?"
I saw him nod slightly and hand me the phone.
"Hey mom." I knew it was her immediately. I took the phone in my hand and reached over to it's cradle, pushing the speaker phone button.
"Hi sweetie, how was your morning?" She asked sweetly, it was obvious she was getting ready for something while talking to me.
"Screwed up. Yours?" I yawned, leaning back in my spot on the couch, throwing the phone down next to me. She sighed.
"What happened this time?" She questioned, her tone showing more than enough complaint.
"Well let's just say that you'll be happy to find out that Madison and I aren't together anymore."
"Why not?" She said with too much excitement, but quickly covering it up with a compassionate voice. "Matt, you'll get over her soon enough. But do you mind telling me how this happened?"
"No. I don't feel like talking about it right now." I cut off. I could just imagine her rolling her eyes at me.
"Fine, fine. But I'll get it out of you eventually." She inquired happily. "So who is Michael? And why don't I know him."
As much as I love my mom, this really wasn't my favorite time to be having a conversation with her. 'I wish she would just call back later..'
"Michael is Mimi's boyfriend."
"Mimi..? As in cute little girl with brown hair who you used to be joined at the hip with!?" She smiled brightly to herself. I sighed loudly and agreed.
"What's she doing in Japan!?" She squeeled. "Did she move back?"
"No mom, she just came back for the school year. Of course she moved back!" I said sarcastically. I heard her giggle. 'She's like a child..'
"Well I'll just have to go stop by and say hello to her family! It's been so long since--" She started.
"You can't do that. Her family isn't here. It's just her." I told her silently. "Her parents sent her back here alone for some reason."
Michael shifted silently in his place on the floor, earning my attention. I looked at him for a few minutes, expecting him to explain the reason as to why he was looking so uncomfortable all of a sudden. When he didn't give any explanation, I looked back at the phone.
"Well mom, I better get going..."
"Oh wait! T.K. wants to say hi." She said urgently, handing the phone to my brother.
"Hey bro!" T.K. exclaimed happily. He was always in a good mood, he never had any problems with anyone. The only happy child of the family.
"Yo little man. Sup?" I replied cooly, running my hand through my glossy hair again.
"Not too much, you?" He said silently.
"Not much. You still gonna come chill with me and Mimi at the race Tuesday? She says she's dying to see you, man." I told him, I heard his laugh.
"Heck yeah! You know I'm up for that." He smiled, "So how is she anyway?"
"She's good. You can even talk to her boyfriend if you wanted." I started, "Say hey to Michael over here."
"Hey Michael." T.K. sounded just a little bit disappointed. Was he expecting her to not have a boyfriend when she came back? "So is Mimi there too?"
"Nah, little man. She's probably still sleeping, along with Sora."
"Why is Mimi's boyfriend at your house, but she's not?"
"Because we went homosexual on your butt." I laughed. "Nah, because he didn't have a place to stay, so he stayed here last night."
"Right!" He laughed, "Alright bro, I'll see you on Tuesday."
"Cool. I'll pick you up after school and you'll hang with me until Wednesday morning. Got it?" I confirmed with him.
"Your gonna take me to school right? I mean, you wont make me walk."
"Nope. Your walkin' all the way there BY YOURSELF." I joked, laughing deep in my throat. "Nah, I'll take you. I'll make sure to wear something good to impress all your little friends."
"Yeah right. All the girls already drool over you anyway." He began, "But seriously, ja bro."
"Ja"
I hang up the speaker phone and climbed off the couch. "You ready to go?"
"Where are we going?"
"I have to make a pit-stop at NOSotros. Do you mind going with me to run a few erronds?" I asked, grabbing my keys off of the counter. Michael shook his head and slid into his shoes.
"Lets go."
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A/N: I really liked writing this chapter. Hope you liked reading it. Actually, I hope its as good as I thought it was. If not, maybe I should just quit writing here! Haha. Just playin. Thanks for all the reviews guys! I LOVE YOU!