Author's Note: Sorry for the long update...but here it is. It's longer than the first chapter...but I don't know if it's better or worse. I wrote the chapter once, and then went back rewrote it because I decided to change something the plot. Anyways...enough talk...hope you enjoy!
The italics are Mimi's thoughts.
The italics-bold are Mimi's conscience's thoughts. Hope it makes sense.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.
Chapter Two: Panic Attack
Mimi usually calls Sora an hour before the plane has to land, so that they have enough time to decide on who's going to go and pick Mimi up, and actually arrive on time. It usually takes them ten minutes to decide on who's going. It takes them another half hour to get to the airport (forty minutes if there's traffic). That leaves them a whole lot of time to get to the terminal where she's supposed to be. They've never arrived on time.
So, why didn't she just call earlier? It just became a habit; she just could never remember to call earlier. As soon as the hour mark struck, it would immediately pop into her head that she had to call Sora remind her to pick her up. But this time, she didn't call. She was too busy…well, sleeping. Dreaming of the day she'd walk down the aisle to get married to the guy of her dreams…Lets not think about that now.
Mimi shook her head and then looked at her watch. 11:30 AM. Urgh…if I call them now, by the time they get here it'll already be 1:00. And-
Her stomach gave a loud growl (she didn't finish her breakfast; too tired to eat). I'm starving.
Mimi hated airport food; in fact, she hated everything in the airport. It was just too expensive. It's not that she couldn't afford it; she just didn't like getting ripped off, that's all. She knew everything here was over priced; and she refused to buy anything that was priced more than it should be.
With a sigh, she got up from her seat and dragging her luggage behind her, started to make her through the hoards of people to the exit. Once outside, she took out her cell phone and dialed Sora's number.
"Hey Mimi," answered Sora's voice.
"Hey Sora. Listen, no need to pick me up this time. I've decided to take a taxi; forgot to call you. So let's say, I'll be there in 30 minutes?" Mimi explained in a rather sullen tone.
"What? You're…you're already here?" Sora seemed a little panicked.
"Yeah. Is there a problem?" Mimi asked. Great more things to be confused about.
"Uhh…yeah. You can't stay over at my place this time. I've…I've decided to…redecorate my room. The entire place is a mess. No place for you to sleep. Sorry."
Sora's explanation didn't seem to satisfy Mimi. She knew something was up. As she thought about that, a little smile crept up on her face; first one today.
"Right, right. Well, guess I'll just have to stay at a hotel. Well, you go and finish redecorating your room," she said, still smiling. More like decorating for my birthday party!
"Yeah, well, I'll talk to you later. Bye!" Before Mimi could say 'bye', Sora hung up.
Well might as well head to a hotel. Maybe a nice shower will turn the day around.
She got into the taxi and off they went. On her way to the hotel, Mimi thought about what she should wear to Sora's house. There was no question about it: they, her friends, were decorating Sora's house for her party. But why would they set it at Sora's place. What if I had showed up unannounced? I've done that before. Well maybe they expected you to call; and when you did, they would come and pick you up and take to Sora's place and surprise you! There was that voice again. Why did she keep on hearing it? Was she really going crazy? Maybe she was schizophrenic.
"Who are you and why do you keep on talking me?" she suddenly blurted out.
"I'm your taxi driver and I haven't said anything to you, Miss," responded the driver, slightly nervous.
"What? Oh, no. I wasn't talking to you," Mimi said, apologetically. "I was talking to…myself." Yeah, that wasn't the best answer. Great, now he thinks I'm crazy, too. See what you did?
Did what? You're the one that was talking to yourself.
Who are you?
I'm your conscience sweetie. You know; the little voice inside your head that's supposed to lead you to the right path.
Why are you here?
To help you.
With what?
Let me take out my files. Ahh…right here. Some bloke named Taichi Yagami.
I don't need help with Tai. I'm perfectly capable of handling him on my own.
Well, if you didn't need my help; then you wouldn't be arguing with yourself in your own head. Now, would you?
She wanted to scream. She really did. But she didn't want to freak out the driver anymore then he already was. Just breathe, Mimi. Just breathe. There isn't some voice inside your head. And after a nice shower, it'll all be clear. It'll all just go away.
I ain't going anywhere, honey. At least, not until my job is done. Man, I'm starving. When are you gonna get some food?
Forget about screaming. Now, she just wanted to sit in a little corner and cry.
"Why me? Why ME?" she whined to herself in a low whisper, so that the driver wouldn't hear. This day just kept getting worse and worse.
"Uhh…Miss?" the driver called out. "We're here."
"Huh? Oh. Okay." Hey, if you don't want people to think you're crazy, maybe you should stop spacing out on them. Shut up. Just shut up!
She slowly got out of the car, heaving her purse onto her shoulder. She took the remaining luggage from the driver and gave him the money.
"Keep the change," she said to him. Lord knows you deserve it.
He smiled at her brightly, and walked (no, more like skipped) back to the car.
She went up to the front desk and signed in. The bell boy took her luggage up to her room as she followed. She gave him his tip and shut the door. She walked up to the mirror and looked at herself. God, she looked like hell. All this flying, stressing, and arguing with herself had a done a number on her. Her stomach gave another loud rumble. Should she order the food first or take the shower. OOO…food first! I'm starving!
Shower it is. You're mean.
After the nice and relaxing shower, she decided to order some food. The sea-food medley looked delicious, but she also wanted chicken. Sea-food or chicken? OOO…chicken. Sea-food it is.
You know. You're right. You are going to help solve my problems.
After lunch, she got ready to go over to Sora's house. She was dressed enough for a party, but casual enough so she could act surprised. She grabbed her purse and went out. She grabbed a taxi to Sora's place.
Once she arrived, Mimi saw Sora coming out of their flower store (their apartment was above the store) in her tennis attire. Wait, why is wearing her tennis stuff?
"Sora, where're you going?" Well, that must've been the stupidest question.
"Umm...tennis practice," Sora answered in a where-do-you-think-I'm-going tone.
"During summer?" Mimi asked, skeptical.
"Uhh…I'm not going to go to Regionals just by sitting around." Sora seemed irritated now.
"Well, I just thought that maybe—"
"Listen, Mimi, I can't hang with you today. I got practice until four, and then I have help my mom with the store until six, and then I have plans with Matt. I'm sorry. But I'm completely free tomorrow," Sora explained.
Mimi couldn't believe it. Sora hadn't actually forgotten about her birthday, had she? No way.
"You can't be serious," she asked, incredulous.
"Of course I'm serious. Look, I'm already late for practice. I've gotta go," Sora said while getting into the taxi. "I'll call you later." And with that, she was gone.
Mimi couldn't believe. Sora really had forgotten about her birthday. There had to be a reason. Yeah, they've got their own lives here. What'd you expect them to do; just throw everything they have planned for you? I thought you were supposed to help me. Not put me down. What? Just giving some reasons for why she might have forgotten.
Mimi was about to say something back, when her phone rang. The name flashed 'SORA"S CELL", and with a sigh, she picked it up.
"Hey," she said. She really didn't want to talk to Sora. She wasn't mad or anything; she just didn't want to talk.
"Mimi, I really am sorry. Even more that I just had to leave you there like that. But I promise, tomorrow I'm all yours. We'll do anything you want to. Hope you understand." She really didn't know. This was no joke. But on the other hand, she did sound like she was really sorry.
"It's fine. I know you guys have your own things planned and everything. And I don't expect you all to drop everything for me either. So well just hang out tomorrow."
Could this day get any worse? People thought she was crazy, she had this annoying voice inside her head, and her best friend forgot about her birthday. And when Sora forgets about something like that, lord knows nobody else remembers. Nope, this day had officially hit rock bottom.
"Why don't you go over to Tai's house; he never has anything to do over the summer." Sora's mention of Tai brought Mimi back to the conversation.
"Uhh…yeah. Sure. I guess." She really didn't want to see Tai right. Not in this state. But maybe he can make her feel better. A little smile crept upon her face at that thought.
"Uhh...Mimi? You there?"
"What?" Man, you really should stop spacing out on people.
"Uhh...yeah. I'm…I'm still here," she managed to stutter out. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Alright. Well, bye," Sora said.
"Bye." Wow, she really was loosing it. Maybe she shouldn't go to Tai's house. But then again, maybe she should. Urgh, she didn't know what to do.
I say you go. But you never listen to me, do you?
She let out a sigh. Fine. Just this one time.
Tai's house that far from Sora's, so she decided to walk. Once she got to his building, she took the elevator up to his floor and then walked to his door. With each step her heart seemed to have increased its beating by (according to her calculations) about a gazillion percent. This was a bad idea. I shouldn't have come. I can't face. I really can't.
Oh, would you stop worrying. Just talk to him like you usually do.
Once she reached his door, she hesitated a bit, but finally knocked on the door. Some shuffling was heard, before footsteps reached the door. Then she swore she heard someone (most likely Tai) say 'Shit', and then finally the door was opened. Tai popped his head out and smiled. Oh god. Breathe. In. Out. In. Out.
"Mimi, you….here," he said with a nervous laugh.
"Yeah. I'm…here." Way to be lame. "So…uhhh…you busy or anything. Sora had practice and she told me to come by here and see if you wanted to…you know…hang out."
"Uhhh…sorry. I can't. I'm busy," he replied, slightly disappointed.
"Oh. That's fine." Ask him what's he so busy with. No, I'm going sound nosy. Just ask. Ask. Ask. Ask. FINE! "Uhh…exactly what are you so busy with?"
"Uhh…doing stuff. With…somebody," Tai said with a strange look on his face.
What? Oh my god.
"Oh. Oh. I am so sorry…for…interrupting anything." Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh. My. GOD!
"NO! Nothing like that. Just hanging out," he said, scratching his neck nervously.
"Alright, well, I'll talk to you later." Don't cry. Don't cry. Breathe. Just Breathe.
"Yeah, alright. Umm…why don't you come by later tonight? Say eight-ish? I'll be free then."
"Uhh…yeah. Sure." Great, just great.
"Alright, well, bye," Tai said.
"Bye." And with that, he closed the door.
She wanted break down right then and there. She couldn't believe it: Tai already had a girlfriend. Why hadn't he told me? I thought he trusted me.
She was wrong; all wrong. NOW, her day had official hit rock bottom.
A/N: How was it? Please review. Sorry if it was confusing/boring/just plain crap. And sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes.