To the Highest Bidder
By theladyknight
Disclaimer: Digimon—not mine!
A/N: Wow! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed chapter 1! I wasn't expecting such a response. Sora attempts to come up with a plan this chapter—the auction is next chapter. And remember to review!
i'M-a-ReBeL: Thanks for all the nice words and support for my fic. I'm really glad you like it!
Curits Zidane Ziraa: Yep, it's a Sorato!
SoratoL.O.C.Fan: It's gonna have Koumi in it, and I'm leaning toward a Jun/Tai romance but not too sure. As to writing a Jyoura, I'm pretty busy with all my other fics right now and I'm really not a Jyoura fan, so I'm not making any promises or guarantying anything.
Aino Yuy aka Usagi-Hater: I wish my school had something like that too! You would recommend this fic…awww thanks!
Ishidas girl: I did get the idea off the One Tree Hill episode, but I had a soccer game that night and missed it. So I really don't know what happened during the episode but yeah, the whole general idea came from it!
Skybolt: I tend to prefer A/U fics because they give the author room for more plot ideas. If we all stuck to the actually anime plot line, I think the same ideas would get used too much. As to your comment about Jun, I honestly have to say I never planned on her seeking revenge on Sora or Yamato anywhere in the fic; it really never came to mind. Also, I'm basing Yamato's character on the way I think he would be in the public eye as the lead singer of a very popular band. But thanks for your suggestions; as I mentioned in an earlier response, I'm considering a Tai/Jun romance.
Trio Wing: I don't think 12 dollars will be enough to buy Yamato! How much do you think he should go for?
Chapter 2: Attempts
The moment the bell rang, signifying the end of class and the end of the school day, Yamato rushed over to me. "Have you thought of a way for me to get out of the auction yet?"
"I'm supposed to be the one to figure this out?" I questioned as we walked over to our lockers.
He rolled his eyes as though the answer was obvious. "Well you said you owe me one. Here's where! I need you to save me from the auction; please, please, please, think of something to get me out of it!" He begged desperately, a side of Yamato I usually never saw, only under extremely frantic circumstances.
Knowing he wouldn't give up till I agreed and knowing we both needed to get to our respective after school activities, I gave in. "Fine. I'll help you. But don't be too upset if I can't get you out of it."
A grin lit his handsome face. "Thank you so much, Sor!" he wrapped me in a quick hug before glancing up at his watch. "Shit! I've got band practice, and I need some time to chew Yutaka out for this freaking retarded idea of his. Gotta jet, talk to you later. And don't forget what we talked about! " He yelled as he bolted out the doors through the mass of students to his car.
I watched his retreating back and realized just what an undertaking I had agreed to. Attempting to get Yamato Ishida, the most popular, desired boy in school off the auction block would definitely not be an easy task. For starters, the whole point of this auction was to bring in money for the homeless shelter by selling the guys. And the profits they made from Yamato alone would benefit the shelter for quite some time, I imagine. Thinking about that made me feel guilty.
And if I did somehow manage to spring Yamato from this whole auction thing, whom would I get to take his place? There was nobody else in the school, with the exception of his band mates, that will go over as well as Yamato. The next closest person is the captain of the soccer team, and that's Taichi. As much as Yama rejected the idea earlier, I have a strong feeling he'd like it now. I better go find Taichi before tennis practice starts and at least ask him to consider the idea.
I began walking through the halls, wondering where my best friend is. He has soccer practice at the same time I'm at tennis, but he usually hangs out in the cafeteria with his soccer buddies before then.
It was there that I found my bushy haired friend, and like usual, there was a small flock of girls surrounding him as well. Taichi is also a big flirt but unlike Yamato, usually likes, well craves, the attention from the ladies. Being in a band made Yamato turn into a flirt. According to their manager, no one would want to listen to a band whose lead singer wasn't a flirter or big with the ladies. Their manager is usually full of a lot of crap, though, according to Yamato. That's probably why The Teen-Age Wolves are secretly looking for a replacement manager, but it's all in secret. But this is all beside the point.
Taichi, considering he is captain of the soccer team and very good at the sport, has drawn his own gathering of girls, though nowhere near the numbers Yamato and his band mates draw. He usually didn't mind the attention and the girls fawning over him, but there were a couple of times things got out of hand. Upon noticing me, Tai forced his way through the girls to where I was standing.
"Sor! What's up?" he asked giving me a high-five, our traditional greeting. It was started a long time ago, probably too long ago for me to remember.
"Hey Taichi! Not much. There's something I need to talk to you about though…"
"What would that be?" he asked grinning.
"You know the school fair is coming up, and there's the auction the cheerleaders are running…"
Taichi laughed. "Of course I know about it. I'm one of the twenty guys they chose to be auctioned off. I know I'm going to go for a high price." He answered haughtily.
That cracked me up, and I momentarily forgot the reason I had sought him out. "What's your plea? Free to a good home? Potty trained? Doesn't make too big a mess at the dinner table anymore?" I joked. Taichi flushed but then joined in my laughing.
"Just wait and see. I'll bring in the big bucks. But why are you asking? Were you considering placing a bid on me?"
"I'll pass. I unfortunately have to put up with you everyday. Why would I want to go on a," I paused and made quotation marks with my fingers, "romantic date, with you?" Taichi and I often have little jarring matches in a battle of words. Take a guess at who wins. While most people would consider this flirting, it's much more like a friendly teasing. Taichi and I will never be anything more than friends and quite honestly, neither of us want to be anymore than friends. I look at him as a goofy, annoying little brother and he looks at me like a funny, annoying older sister. "Actually, I was going to ask you if you wanted to take Yamato's place in the auction."
"Why doesn't the hot shot wanna get sold?" Taichi teased, using his nickname for our blond friend. "And why are you asking for him? Have you two finally gotten your act together and decided to go out?"
"What are you talking about?" I exclaimed, not expecting that response, especially from Taichi.
Taichi laughed again. "Come on, Sora, don't give me that. I know you too well. You and Yamato have been crazy about each other since, well, forever!" he responded knowingly.
"And you say that because?" I asked very confused. Yamato is my best friend, granted my very hot, talented, and charming best friend, but still nothing more. I think.
"You two are always flirting everywhere we go. I'm not the only one who notices. At parties, you're one of the only girls Yamato will dance with, and you two are always hanging out together, alone." He stressed.
"So?" I wondered before casually glancing at the clock. "I've gotta run Taichi, tennis starts soon. I'll tell Yamato it's a no."
"Yep," he smirked, "though if I hadn't already been asked I'd take up the chance to be the hot shot for a day. Think of the possibilities." He grinned like a maniac. "See you later Sor."
"Bye, dork." I answered as he made his way back to his buddies, and I headed out the door to drive to the tennis courts. Well, there goes my only plan so far. I guess I've gotta think of something else. What else can I do? I stopped at my locker and got my stuff before heading to my car.
Tennis practice went very slow today, probably because I didn't have my mind completely on the game. We spent most of the time watching video because tomorrow night we have a match against our biggest rival. It would be a tough match, but we could take them.
When practice was over, I went home, ate supper, and showered, only now I had more things on my mind. I had to find a way to get Yamato out of the auction, get prepared for tomorrow, and the things Tai said still lingered in my mind. Did Yama and I act like that? I didn't think so. It was so easy to be comfortable and myself around the blond singer, and I always had a good time around him. The Yamato that I know, not the act he puts on when he's Yamato Ishida, lead singer of The Teen-Age Wolves, would make the perfect boyfriend for any girl. I don't want him to be my boyfriend, do I?
But I had little time to contemplate the matter. In addition to all the other things going on at the moment, I had a killer physics exam tomorrow that I needed to do well on. Yawning, though by this time, it was barely past nine o'clock. I pulled out my thick textbook and began rereading chapter 10 for what seemed like the hundredth time…
The next morning I awoke to a knock on my door and realized I had fallen asleep sometime while I was studying. "Sora, honey," my mom knocked, "it's time for you to get up. You're running late!"
I glanced at my clock and cursed my bad luck. Physics is first period today, and I needed to get in some last minute studying. I rushed over to my closet and grabbed my school uniform, throwing it on and grabbing a ponytail holder for my hair. Yelling a quick goodbye and picking up a granola bar and book bag, I rushed out the door to my car.
Five minutes later I arrived at school and ran to my locker. I had three minutes to get to class. A familiar blond was waiting for me, ignoring the girls crowded around him.
"Excuse me! I need to get through!" I yelled but not one of them budged.
"Move." Yamato commanded in a cold voice. The girls instantly parted, allowing me access to my locker.
"Thanks." I breathed as I grabbed my books for my first few classes and shut the door. Yamato grabbed my hand before I could leave for class. "I've gotta get going. Physics exam." I explained."I'll walk you there." He answered as we made our way to my classroom. "Have you come up with any ideas to spring me yet?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry." I replied, shaking my head. "I asked Taichi if he could take your spot, but he's also one of the guys up for auction. My ideas are running low. But I'll keep thinking."
He looked at me gratefully as we reached my classroom. "You don't know how much I appreciate this, Sor. Good luck on your test."
"Thanks, I replied. Talk to you later, Yama."
"Bye." He replied. I darted into my class and pulled out my book, skimming over the material before the bell rang. My teacher shut the door and handed out the test. I gulped; this would be an interesting day…
The rest of my day passed like a blur, and unfortunately for Yamato, I came no closer to finding him an escape plan. Actually, his problem was at the bottom of my priority list. I had so much other stuff going on that I couldn't worry about his issue when I had some of my own to deal with. Besides the incredibly hard physics test, I had a pop quiz in Literature, and lots of busy work in the other classes. Then there was the tennis match, in which our school, just like I had predicted, creamed the other team.
After being congratulated for winning my match and informed there would be no practice tomorrow due to the carnival, I remembered my promise to Yamato. I climbed into my car, trying to think of a possible way to get him out of it. As I stopped at a red light, my cell phone rang.
"Hello." I answered.
"How'd you do." Yamato's rich voice asked.
"We won, big time."
He chuckled. "Doesn't surprise me. After all, the team does have you on it…"
I smirked at his response. "I have a feeling you didn't call me to praise me, Yamato."
"How'd you guess? Any ideas yet?"
I sighed, attempting to concentrate on my driving while thinking about his situation at the same time. "None. I'm trying, Yama, I really am. Just don't be mad at me if I can't get you out of it."
"I'll never be mad at you for something like that." He answered sincerely. This made me smile. As I was saying before, Yamato would make the perfect boyfriend. He is one big sweetheart. I looked in my rearview mirror and realized I was blushing. Oh my God! Why am I blushing?"Sor, are you still there?"
I remembered I'd been silent for a few seconds. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that. Listen, I'll sleep on it and get back to you tomorrow. Sound good?"
"Yep." He answered. "Bye, Sora."
"Bye." I responded as I pulled into my driveway. I walked into the house and immediately took a shower trying to figure out something that would help Yamato but to no avail. Tired didn't even begin to describe how I was feeling. I had no homework, thankfully, because of the carnival tomorrow. Tomorrow would basically be an easy day. I changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed yawning. Maybe an idea will come to me during the night.
I woke up to my alarm Friday morning feeling disappointed. No idea came over night. I guess I still have today to figure out a plan. This morning, I had more time to get ready and made it to school with plenty of time.
Morning classes passed rather quickly. None of my close friends were in any of those classes. I bumped into Yamato in the hall once, and he looked quite down when I told him no genius idea had arisen. He forced a smile as we walked to lunch but was quiet throughout the rest of the day.
When Calc ended, I made my way to the art room. I was on the setup committee for the art club's cupcake booth. Two people walking down the hall caught my attention, causing me to stop. Mimi and Koushiro, two juniors and friends of mine, were walking down the stairs by the art room. Wait a minute, there's an idea! Mimi's one of the cheerleaders in charge of the auction.
"Mimi!" I yelled running over to her. She turned around and let go of her boyfriend's hand.
"Hey Sora, what's up?" she exclaimed in her usual perky voice. Koushiro smiled at me as well.
"You're helping out with the auction tonight, right?" I asked quickly."Yeah. It's going to be such a success. With Yamato and the rest of his band up for sale along with Taichi and a few other infamous seniors, it's definitely going to be a hit!"
"Mimi, is there any way you could get Yamato off the auction block? He really doesn't want to be up there."
Mimi and Koushiro both looked at me with open mouths. "Sora, do you know what you're asking. I would get in so much trouble if I even suggested that. Come to think of it, why are you asking?"
I sighed. "It's a long story. Basically Yamato asked me to help him think of a way to not get placed in the auction. I take it that's a no?" I asked frustrated.
"Sorry, Sora. If I could, I would try, but there's no way the other cheerleaders, not to mention the remaining female population of our school would let me."
Koushiro took the chance to speak up. "Well, Sora, you could always buy Yamato. I'm sure he wouldn't mind going on a date with you."
The thought has crossed my mind many times over the past two days, but I don't think it will be coming a reality. Yamato and I, on a date? Besides where would I get the money? "I don't think so, Koushiro. There's no way I would have enough money to buy him. But I've gotta go help set up the art club's booth. Talk to you two later, okay?"
"Yep!" they replied in unison walking out the door and out of the building. I headed into the art room, feeling I had let Yamato down.
After three hours of hard work, I finally arrived back home to get ready for the carnival. I changed clothes and was about to leave the house when a note on the table caught my eye. It was from my mom, saying she was at my grandparent's house and was going to be waiting for my family to arrive. It's my eighteenth birthday next Wednesday, and my relatives were all coming home for a big bash on Sunday. Mom also left me an envelope with some money, though I didn't look at how much she left,along witha grocery list of things she needed me to buy after the carnival. I grabbed the envelope, list, and my car keys, shutting the door behind me. Guess it's time to go break the bad news to Yamato…
A/N: Thoughts? I apologize again for skipping so much, I just needed to get all that in before the next chapter. Speaking of which...next chapter is the auction! I'm curious to know what price you all think Yamato should go for…next chapter will be up soon! Until then, review!
