Love Just Is
By Christine Lennoire
Chapter Eleven: Home
Dear Diary,
Times up and we're going home now. This trip was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me. I could never replace it, but I'm kinda happy to be going home. Whatever happens, though, I hope things won't change. I was just starting to like the way they were…
Kari set down her pen and closed the book quickly. Time had flown so fast, and now, they were already back. Most of the digimon were sleeping. Some of the kids looked just as tired with their eyes drooping. Kari wasn't, however. She had rested well on the way and was ready to go back to school the next day. Her routine had been smashed, and she was starting to miss it. So much for all fun and games…
"Do we really have to go back to school tomorrow?" Tai asked, gloomily. "I mean… I just got used to sleeping in again!" Sora and Matt both laughed at him as he almost tripped over his own feet. Tk looked heartbroken. Courtney was somewhere far away, and he probably wouldn't get to see her again for a long time. All he could do was write.
But, Davis didn't look too happy either. "What's wrong, Davis?" Kari asked, looking at him sadly. She didn't like to see the usually energetic boy getting like this. It just wasn't his "style". Davis looked at her and shrugged.
"I just have a bad feeling, okay?" He said, looking around. "Things were going so well… I almost wished that time would actually stop for once. I know time stops for no man, but… what about some average teenager?" Kari giggled.
"Davis… you're always saying weird things like that. Don't worry. Nothing is going to change. Now… let's go inside and get unpacked. It's late and we have school early tomorrow morning whether we're ready or not." She said, taking his hand. "You can stay the night if you want and go with us to school. Sora and Matt are." She said.
"Yeah. Sounds good." Davis said, looking a little livelier. "I'll help you with that." He said, grabbing one of her bags. After everything was back inside, they decided to crash. It was already midnight and school started at eight. "We can still get a good night's rest, anyway." He said, smiling and curling up on the floor with a nice, fuzzy warm blanket.
Kari had thought about going back to her room, but snuggled alongside Davis instead. "It's good to be home…" She smiled, wrapping her arms around him happily. "This is the life…"
… … "WAKE UP!"
Everyone snapped to attention rather quickly at the sound of Mrs. Kamiya's harsh voice. "It's time for you kids to get off to school." She said. "I even made you a nice, warm, pancake breakfast. So get ready and come into the kitchen for some good cooking!" Tai grumbled and rolled over, but everyone else got up. After a while, Mrs. Kamiya came back in and kicked the lump in the blanket that was her son. "GO NOW!"
In a good fifteen-twenty minutes, they had all gotten ready and dressed for school, using the clothes that they had packed for the trip, which Mrs. Kamiya so kindly cleaned for them. Finally, they got to sit down and enjoy some of her wonderful food… Although Tai and Kari knew better. They just wondered what she did wrong to it this time…
"I wouldn't eat it if I were you…" Kari whispered to Davis, but he wasn't listening. For all he knew, it was just an innocent mother's breakfast. After they all finished, they picked up their things and headed out the door together. Davis and Kari hung close together. She even let him hold her hand in public. That's what started it all…
Two of the girls in their class spotted them. The first was Noriko. She was a little more discreet about her feelings. But Maiko was not. Maiko was one of the most popular girls in school and Noriko was her friend, so it was obvious that they'd be drama queens.
"I can't believe it. Kari Kamiya and Davis, the nobody." Maiko said, sneering. "How could you ever stoop so low?" Kari heard them and stopped. Davis heard them, but tried the opposite… going as fast as he could to get as far away from them as possible. Maybe that way they wouldn't do it anymore… pretend that they didn't care that someone as cool as Kari thought he was worthy. Maybe they'd even agree eventually…
"What do you mean?" Kari huffed. This was what Davis had meant by 'a bad feeling'. Not that Kari didn't blame him… it was pretty bad.
Maiko looked at her and laughed. "You know what I mean. He's not worthy your time. You better get your act together. Besides… you were better off with Tk… MUCH better off." And they left, laughing out loud.
"Forget them." Sora said, patting Davis on the shoulder. Tk nodded in agreement, although he still didn't seem himself. Everyone had agreed to feel bad for him, after all, he was pretty alone without Courtney. Tai and Matt had hardly noticed though, since they were busy talking about some weird video game they were planning to play when they got home.
"Davis…" Kari said. "I…"
"Forget it. Maybe she was right." Davis said sadly. He cast his eyes at the ground, shifting his feet awkwardly.
Kari blinked rapidly. "What?"
"Just… I don't want to talk about it." Davis said, walking past her, leaving her feeling pretty lonely. What had just happened? It had happened so fast for Kari that she didn't even know where to begin. Sure, she had wanted to be home again, and get back to her old routine, but…
"Is this really what it's supposed to feel like coming back home?"
Dear Diary,
I was so happy about coming home, but now… I'm not sure. I could lose everything that I worked so hard for while I was away with my friends, and I don't want that! What can I do? I don't understand why things changed. It would be so much easier if we could run away. But in the world, there's always someone watching you, and there's always time to doubt yourself. With love being as fragile as it is, I don't see how a love like mine could survive the "real" world…
Sorry this part took so long. I told you, I'm not going to drop it! Thank you, all my loyal fans… especially enyol1990. You're my hero…
Christine Lennoire