Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: The chapters will probably get longer once I get more into the heart of the story. I'll try to update at least once a week so if you don't see an update, don't worry, I definitely plan on finishing this story! Oh and for any fans of Following the Footsteps of Destiny, I'm updating that next, I promise, so don't kill me! There will be lots of Ryoko!

Oh and just so you know, the only kind of review I think is a bad review is no review at all! Indifference is way worse than someone saying your story sucks! On that note, please review!

My Best Friend's Girlfriend

Chapter 3: Bitter Thoughts

Tai Kamiya

Tai Kamiya trudged off the soccer field feeling hot, tired, and extremely irritable. Soccer practice had not gone very well, and he had a nasty feeling that it was entirely his fault. No matter how hard he had tried, he just had not been able to focus. His thoughts kept coming back to one thing...

"Tai! Over here!"

Tai glanced up and spotted Mimi waving at him from the stands. He sighed and slowly made his way up the steps to where she sat with Joe and Izzy.

"You guys were looking really good out there!" she said with a cheery smile.

Tai gave her a sullen look. "Are you kidding? We were horrible out there!" I am so not in the mood for this!

Mimi began to look a little sheepish. "Okay, so maybe you were all a little bit rusty, but I'm sure you guys will look great in no time."

"We thought that you could use a little encouragement," Joe added from his seat next to Izzy.

Tai did not bother to respond. He sank wearily into the seat next to Mimi and pulled on the t-shirt of his soccer uniform. It was sticking to his lean, athletic body with sweat, and it was making him feel itchy.

"Come on, Tai. No one's perfect their first time out at the beginning of the school year. You just have to give your teamwork skills a little tune-up, that's all. Once your new players get enough coaching, you guys will be back to your usual standard in no time," Izzy said, snapping his laptop shut and turning to look at him.

"How would you know? You probably didn't even see a single play!" Tai said sarcastically. He was starting to feel very annoyed.

"As a matter of fact, I did," Izzy replied, his voice calm. The computer whiz was sitting on Mimi's other side, and he was dressed in brown pants, a white long- sleeved shirt, and an orange short-sleeved button shirt over top.

"He did, mind you, I had to steal his computer!" Mimi added.

Tai ignored them and glared down at the soccer field. I can't believe this. I'm suppose to be captain, and I totally blew it. This is all Jun's fault! Not to mention those girls didn't help any. If they hadn't started bugging me about my best friend... Speaking of Matt...

"Where are Matt and Sora anyway?" he snapped, startling the other three. "What? They couldn't even take two minutes to come watch some of my practice?"

Now he felt really low and hurt, which was making him angry. Don't they care about me at all anymore?

Izzy looked up in the middle of a reproachful stare at Mimi, (apparently he had not forgiven her for stealing his laptop) and pointed at the soccer field. "Here they come now."

Tai jerked up in his seat, his stomache lurching, and glanced down at the field. Matt's golden hair and Sora's flaming tresses were plainly visible in the afternoon sunshine. They were standing at the edge of the soccer field talking to Tomo who was a member of Tai's soccer team.

Tai frowned. They're probably talking about me. Sure enough. Matt suddenly glanced in his direction as Tomo said something to the blond, and Tai's hands clenched into fists. A moment later, Matt and Sora were climbing the steps towards him.

"Nice of you to show up!" Tai snapped. He knew he sounded grumpy, but at the moment, he did not really care.

"Don't mind him. He's just in a really bad mood," Mimi said, giving Matt a warm smile.

Matt sat down next to him and exchanged a look with Tomo. "Bad practice, huh?"

Tai snorted. "Try disastrous!" His insides were churning, and he had to clamp his hands together to stop them from shaking.

"Sorry. We would have been here sooner if it hadn't been for Jun. She was trying to lock herself in an empty classroom with Matt," Sora explained. She did not look at all pleased, and Tai felt a nasty urge to laugh.

"Don't remind me," Matt muttered, shuddering slightly.

"Don't worry, Tai. We'll be much better next time," Tomo said with a smile of encouragement. "We just have to practice, that's all."

"And I did watch some of it, I swear!" Izzy added, looking apologetic.

"Just forget it," Tai mumbled, glancing away. His words sounded extremely glum, even to him.

"Come on, Tai," Matt said, patting him on the shoulder. "Why don't you get changed, and we'll all get something to eat. I bet you're really hungry after all that exercise. Besides, you're really starting to stink! Sorry, Tai, but you totally need a shower!"

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Matt!" Tai snapped, his anger flaring up again.

Tai glared at the blond as Matt started to laugh. When he realized that his friend was joking, he quickly looked away, feeling embarrassed. Laughter was not something that people usually associated with Matt. When it did happen, it always caught Tai off guard.

"Lets go." Matt's warm fingers took hold of Tai's upper arm, and he jumped, startled by the sudden touch. He allowed Matt to pull him up and glanced at the blond, but Matt's face remained expressionless. "We'll meet up with the rest of you later, alright?"

"Actually, I told my mom I'd help her in the flower shop today so I'm going to have to pass on the food." Sora said.

"Okay. I'll call you later," Matt said, smiling at her.

She nodded and gave Matt a quick kiss on the cheek before racing down the bleachers. She waved to everyone over her shoulder, her carrot coloured hair streaming out behind her.

"I better go, too," Tomo added. "Trust me, Tai. Things will get better. See you."

Tai watched his goalie head down to the field where several other members of the soccer team were still standing around and sighed. I doubt it, Tomo.

The rest of them exchanged goodbyes, and Tai found himself being dragged to the locker room by Matt.

Since Matt was staring straight ahead and would not notice, Tai took the opportunity to study his best friend. The blond walked with his head high and a cool expression on his face, as if he could care less what anyone thought of him, but Tai knew that Matt did care.

He let his gaze fall to the blond's hand that was not wrapped around his wrist. Matt wore only two things on his left arm. One was a wristwatch and the other was a slim silver band. It was simple in style except for the symbols of courage and friendship that covered it's surface in an alternating pattern. On the inside surface was a handwritten inscription that Tai knew off by heart since he had been the one who had given it to Matt. It had been a gift for the blond's seventeenth birthday. The inscription said: True friendship takes real courage. We all must take that leap of faith to fully trust those we care about. Thank you for giving me that gift.

He could still remember the moment when he had given it to Matt. His friend had stared at it for so long that Tai had been afraid that the blond might not like it. Then Matt had hugged him tightly, his face a mask of emotions. The blond had never said a word about the bracelet, but Tai had never once seen Matt take it off.

Have I really drifted so far away from the person that I used to be? The thought made him feel sad and a little bit guilty. Matt was suppose to be his best friend. That was why he had given the blond such a meaningful gift in the first place. Only I haven't been acting like a very good best friend lately. The worst part was that Matt did not even seem to notice. What's happening to us?

Matt dragged him inside the locker room and turned to face him. Now that they were alone, the change on Matt's face was so immediate that Tai found himself gazing at his friend in astonishment. The moment that they had entered the room, Matt's face had softened into a warm smile. All of Tai's anger faded away in an instant. When Matt looked at him like that, it was impossible for him to stay mad. He was one of the few people who could bring a genuine smile to Matt's face, and it made him feel special to know that his friend trusted him so completely. At least that used to be true. Now I can't help but wonder...

"Tai, one bad practice is not the end of the world," Matt said, his head turned to one side and a patient expression on his face.

"Why do you do that?" Tai asked softly, staring hard at his friend's face.

Matt stared at him in confusion. "Do what?"

Tai felt his face heat up. "Nothing," he said quickly, turning away. "And I know it's not the end of the world, but it still stinks!"

"Yes well, so do you! Now get in there before I fall over and die from the stench!" Matt laughed, giving him a push towards the showers.

Wow. Matt laughed twice in one day. I'm on a roll!

He pulled off his sweaty clothes and stepped under the spray, closing his eyes, while Matt waited on a bench just outside.

The silence in the room made him feel uneasy. This was the first time he had been alone with Matt for quite some time, and it had his nerves on edge. What if he can sense how I feel? It was only a matter of time before Matt finally realized that something was not right between them. That was the reason he had been trying so hard not to be left alone in the same room with the blond. Also, he was afraid that he might end up saying something that he regreted. All of those reasons played a role in why he had not been over at Matt's house during the school break and why he had avoided having Matt come to his place unless one of the others were around. How could Matt not have noticed? Could it really be that Matt did not care about him anymore? That would explain everything. A part of him prayed that Matt would never find out why he had felt so betrayed, and yet another part of him wished, more than anything, that Matt would finally see.

"Do you mind hurrying it up a bit? I don't have all day, you know," Matt said, sounding huffy.

Back to his usual self.

Tai took a deep breath. He could be mature about this.

Yeah right. Then why am I trying to avoid Matt like the plague? This is stupid. Matt's my best friend. He wouldn't deliberately hurt me...would he?

"Well?" Matt said, sounding impatient.

"Hold your digihorses," he muttered. Turning off the shower, he stepped out and grabbed a towel to dry himself off with. He glared at Matt who smiled innocently at him looking every bit as angelic as T.K.

"Alright, I'm out. You happy?" he grumbled, drying himself off.

"Yeah, now put something on and lets get out of here," Matt replied, throwing his clothes at him. "At least you smell better."

Tai caught them in mid-air and quickly began to pull them on. He'd only just gotten his shirt half on when Matt grabbed him again and dragged him back out the door. Several girls stood nearby and giggled when they spotted his bare chest, eyeing him with interest. Tai blushed and sighed.

Well, I suppose I should be grateful that I have my pants on so I guess it hasn't been a completely horrible excuse of a day!