Well, first things first I should think: Review replies

Luvwell: thank you so very much! I love getting such sweet little compliments and I very much intend on continuing.

MintyCat: ahh, you caught me! I am reposting this.

EmeraldDragon: I'm glad I've got you interested!


Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon...

Tayla
Chapter1- Falling Star
by flurobandaid

A soft chord rang through the rehearsal studio as Matt finalised the tuning of his guitar.

"You guys ready?" he called out to his other band members.

Lindsay, the drummer looked up from the snare drum he was adjusting with pale green eyes. "Almost. I just need to finish adjusting this and then I need to move the hi-hat."

Nodding, Matt turned to the other two. The bass player, Jeschetha, was adjusting his amp, kneeling in front of it. He stood up and looked over to Matt to indicate he was ready.

"Ariel?"

The other guitarist turned to face Matt. Dark eyes met blue ones and Ariel nodded before turning back to his microphone.

"All done," called out Lindsay as he positioned himself on his 'throne'.

"Okay. Good... Let's go then," Matt waited for Lindsay to set the beat with four gentle taps of his drumsticks.

Low, haunting chords hummed through the pulsing silence. Jeschetha turned away from the band to face the wall, his dark eyes closed as he fell into the smooth rhythm of the music. Matt and Lindsay joined them, playing an identical riff. The air vibrated from the music, ribbons of melody sailed through the studio, painting it with the colours of the music. Matt's gentle pink lips parted as he waited for the right moment... There was a slight pause in Lindsay's pulsing beat... Matt's voice sailed through the music, weaving the threads of melody together in a veil of enchantment...

Another turning point;

A fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrists

directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test

and don't ask why.

Matt was lost in the music, his own voice seize his soul. The breath was sucked from his lungs but he could still sing... The beat of Lindsay's was in perfect timing with his pulse, his blood was flowing through his veins like the song was flowing from his heart, slipping past his lips... released into world in golden droplets of his voice...

It's not a question

but a lesson learned in time

His eyes shut of their own accord. The voice of his mind was silent; the magic of his heart and his love for music was burning inside him like a fire of overpowering magic. It drowned out all his thoughts and he could rely only on his instincts as the blissful emptiness swallowed the bitterness that had been residing in him for the past week...

It's something unpredictable

But in the end it's right

I hope you have the time of your life

So take the photographs

And still frames in your mind

Hang it on a shelf

In good health and good time

Tattoos of memories

And dead skin on trial

For what it's worth

It was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable

But in the end it's right

I hope you have the time of your life

It's something unpredictable

But in the end it's right

I hope you have the time of your life

It's something unpredictable

But in the end it's right

I hope you have the time of your life...

His voice trailed off, as one last lingering chord filled the room. A silent mourning seeped through him from where it grew deep inside... He hated hearing silence like this... hated hearing a song end. The happiness within him started to slip away... the sour anguish was slowly creeping back...

"Brilliant," breathed Ariel. "That felt amazing... We've never played anything so... so..." He trailed off, unable to find the word.

Matt nodded. "Definitely going on the album."

There was a murmur of agreement. "Let's do it again... We need to be able to play it that good every time..." Matt stood up straight and nodded absently in time to the beat that echoed in the room... The first chords began humming and the misery within began to dim...

It was late in the evening. Dark was beginning to spread across the sky like midnight blue ink, pale stars peeping through from the silent heavens... The city had never been so quiet. It was like a graveyard of shadows... So silent. Matt looked away from his window as his fingers calmly strummed a gentle chord on his guitar. It didn't seem to break the silence yet it blended into it, like another still layer of echoes... Matt savoured moments like this. The tranquillity pushed the thoughts from his head and he was free in a blissful trance of contentment. His heart was beating softly, but everything was so still he could feel it dance in a slow pattern of grace against his ribs. Everything was so peaceful...

His bedroom door burst open to reveal his father standing their, his air of arrogance screaming through into the room, bursting Matt's happiness. Azure eyes glanced up at the man with silent loathing, lingering on him with an invisible intensity. Bile rose in his throat as he fought the animalistic instincts dawning within him, his conscience at a bare minimum. Pursing his lip to keep from growling in despise, Matt waited for his father's ritual of verbal onslaught.

"Your mother called." Matt looked up at him with mild curiosity. What was he getting at? "She wanted to know why you didn't get an Excellence in Academic Achievement at the presentations last week." Oh great, thought Matt cynically. He knew where this was going. "I told her she was mistaken and that there was no way you could possibly have failed to achieve an Excellence. She persisted and e-mailed me the awards list. Your name is under 'Merit'!" he barked.

His face was an ugly shade of red, twisted into an expression that made Matt's insides shudder. "There's a bloody lot of kids on that 'Excellence' list," rumbled Mr. Ishida coldly. "How will you get into Yale if you can't even get an Excellence. That bloody moron Taichi got a fucking Excellence."

Matt glared at him. Tai is my best friend, you cold bastard. He thought silently. And he's a damn genius so don't call him a moron. His fists curled into balls as his guitar rested in his arms. The urge to hit his father was great, but it was pointless. Matt was thin and wiry, not nearly as strong as the man bellowing in the doorway.

Quietly, ignoring his burning resentment, Matt replied, "I failed a Literature assignment that was worth 50 of the overall grade." Mr. Ishida went silent. Matt could see a vein throbbing in his temple. Oh how sad, he spat bitterly in his mind. I got a C for Lit.

"What do you mean you failed an assignment?" bellowed Mr. Ishida. Matt said nothing, unsure whether his question was rhetorical or not. Idiot, thought Matt, what part of failed don't you understand? "What are you going to do if you don't get into a university? You're bloody not going to stay here!" Like I'd want to... He directed a frosty blue glare towards the man, loathing and hating everything about him. Resentment and repulsion rose within him, growing at a rapid speed.

"I'm the leader of the most successful band in Japan," he stated quietly, wishing that he could die right then. He was drowning in the sourness that devoured him so mercilessly every night, every time he saw his father. I hate you... I hate you... Matt repeated in his mind.

"If that's the reason you failed the essay you can kiss music goodbye."

Matt opened his mouth to protest. "I wro-" His father ignored him.

"You know what. That's it. Call up your stupid friends and tell them that's it. No more band after today. You can toss that thing away," he pointed a finger towards the guitar. "You won't be needing it anymore."

Matt's eyes burned as his father exited the room. His arms tightened around his guitar as he held it close to him. Without looking at him, his father ordered, "Stay in there. I don't want to see you again for at least a day."

Placing his guitar on his bed, Matt got up to softly close the door. He looked down at his thin frame with resentment. He felt so bitter. The air tasted sour with hatred as he breathed resentfully. His hands began to flex uncontrollably as the bitterness rose within him. Disgust and despise ate its' way through him like a fire blazing violently. He staggered forwards, bile rising in his throat. He hated the man so much it made him sick. His head was spinning. He was so dizzy. Everything grew bright, dark around the edges as he began to lose his balance. Matt dashed into his bathroom, kneeling next to the toilet where he vomited bitterly. He got up to wash his face and hands, finding his reflection in the mirror. The face of his father stared back at him.

Glaring at it, Matt whispered fiercely, "I hate you," and he collapsed on the cold white tiles, unconsciousness claiming him as a victim of dreamless slumber...

Matt opened the package he had found in the mail the next morning interestedly. A photo fell into his hands, along with a letter from his manager. It was their new album's cover. A girl in a white dress stared up at him, her eyes so sad and empty. She looked up at him with a pleading blue gaze, her hands folded in her lap. Her ivory skin was pale as chalk against the white material, her golden hair dull as though it reflected the shadows that cast over her, shrouding her face. Tayla-Mae Periwinkle. She looked like a fallen angel. Yet she still had the strength to keep searching for what it was she had lost. As he gazed at the unique girl in the photo he fell in love with her. She was perfect. But she was so sad... He wished he could wipe that look of her face and paint a smile in its place. She was perfect. They needed her for the clip of one of the songs they had been meddling with. Could he contact her? He had to... Matt skimmed through the letter from Terry, his manager.

'to contact Ms. Periwinkle call 56...'

Matt reached for the mobile in his jacket's pocket and began to dial her number...

"... Great. Would you like to meet up with us? We're going to the park on Bendigo Avenue at 5.30 for pizza tonight. Come join us," Matt invited her after talking for forty minutes.

"I'd love to... I'll have to ask Holly first. She's my chaperone. It'll probably be fine with her but if I tell her there's pizza she'll lock me away from ever meeting you."

"Call me if you can't make it," said Matt. "I promise I'll meet you though."

"I promise I'll meet you too. I've got to go. Holly wants me to go and get a hair treatment," said Tayla dully.

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye." Matt ended the call and tucked his phone back into his pocket, beaming on the inside and out. He strode over to his wardrobe, looking for something to wear. Something casual and cool. Or something sophisticated? Athletic? He bit his lip. What should he wear? At that moment he completely forgot that girls everywhere loved him and that guys everywhere copied his style and that it didn't matter what he wore because he was tomorrow's trendsetter. What should he wear? Nothing to flashy... Leather? No... Yes... He looked at the jacket in his hands... Leather jacket or no? What was he going to do. He needed help. He needed someone stylish. Someone female. Someone female that knew him well... Matt made his second phone call for the day. He knew exactly what he needed...

"Mimi..." Matt grinned. He was saved...


The song is called 'Time of your life (Good Riddance)' by Greenday. Hope u enjoyed... luv lots and please review.

Just a note, the bit where I've written "He fell in love with her" gave me a few probs with my reviewers last time I posted this, yes, I know that it sounds too superficial to suit Yamato's character, but, I didn't mean it literally, I mean to emphasise the fact that Tayla has a intriguing charm about her that has like, caught Matt's attention.

flurobandaid