Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon

A/N: Well I'm finally done another chapter. I know some of you reading are FTFOD fans, and I have some news! I've started a character guide in my profile in case you start to lose track, so go check it out.

My Best Friend's Girlfriend

Chapter 6: Avoiding Disaster

Tai Kamiya

Tai woke up to the feel of warm sunshine on his face, and he let out a moan which was muffled by the pillow he had thrown over his head to block out the light.

I am so dead. Matt's going to kill me, and I deserve nothing less than that.

Last night he had not been able to sleep very well because he had realized what a huge mistake he had made. Matt was going to find out that he had lied.

Why did I say that? Why did I tell him that I have a soccer game today?

He knew very well why he had said it. When Matt had asked him if he wanted to come over, he had panicked. Deep down inside he was scared that he would not be able to hold in all the pain and sorrow that he had been feeling for the last several months. His biggest fear was that he would end up saying something to Matt that would completely destroy their friendship.

I can't let that happen. Despite everything that Matt's done, I still care. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost his friendship. No one could ever take his place as my best friend.

Tai sighed and let out a soft groan.

Besides, losing Matt would be just as painful as losing Sora. If not worse. Relationships often came and went, but real friendships, like the one that he shared with Matt, were suppose to last forever.

Am I really willing to risk losing one of the most important people in the world to me? That's exactly what would happen if Matt knew how I felt about Sora. I'd end up losing him for sure. At least this way I still have Sora's friendship, which is going to have to be enough, and I can still keep Matt's friendship, too. Only how long is it going to be before friendship with Sora isn't enough anymore?

"Why does life have to be so complicated?" he mumbled to himself. If Matt ever finds out about my feelings for Sora, he really will kill me.

That was why he had stayed silent for so long. Matt was his best friend, and the blond deserved to be happy.

Especially after all of the sadness that has lived inside of him for all these years. They're so happy together. I'd never be able to stand it if I ended up being the one to ruin Matt's happiness. I would never forgive myself if I became responsible for breaking them up.

"Like that would ever happen anyway," he muttered to himself. "Sora has always seen me as being nothing but a friend, and she isn't going to change her mind anytime soon."

The thought made his heart ache, and he closed his eyes against the wave of sadness that washed over him.

He and Sora had been friends for quite a few years now, and he had always thought that she was a pretty amazing person. After all, she did play soccer, but it was not until last year that he had begun to realize that his feelings had started to grow into something that went beyond the boundaries of friendship. At first he had merely dismissed them because he had figured that it was probably just a crush that would eventually pass. Then he had realized that the feelings were not going away, and he knew that it had to be something special.

Unfortunately he had been way too nervous to say anything to Sora because he had been afraid that she would not feel the same way. He was not the type of person who faced rejection very often, and he did not think he would be able to handle it very well from someone that he cared about so much...

When he did finally work up the courage to reveal his feelings to her, it had been too late. He had waited too long, and her heart had settled on Matt.

It isn't Matt's fault that Sora chose him. So why am I being such a jerk? All of the girls choose Matt. He can't help being handsome and perfect. It's not Sora's fault either. Of course she would want to date Matt. He's an amazing person. If only he had picked someone different...

"Matt could have had any girl he wanted," Tai whispered. "Why did he have to choose the one that I fell in love with?"

Sora was beautiful, talented, sensible, good-hearted, and the best female soccer player that he had ever seen. She made the other girls look like beginners. They were perfect for each other, or at least they would have been if life had not decided to take such a sudden horrible twist of fate. There was no way he could face Matt today after everything that he had done.

He'll probably hate me forever after this. Either that or he'll be upset.

The thought of being responsible for making Matt upset made his eyes sting.

"Tai! Wake up!"

He let out a startled shout as the pillow was ripped away from his face.

"Hey! Give that back!" he complained.

Tai opened his eyes and winced. The bright sunshine made him squint, but he managed to make out his sister who was standing next to the bed.

"What did you do that for?" he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Kari raised an eyebrow and threw the pillow aside on the floor. "You better get up, Tai, or you're gong to be late. Mom told me to bug you until you did."

"I'm not going," he mumbled, rolling over onto his stomache and pulling the sheets over his head.

"Why not?"

"I don't feel well," he muttered.

Kari pulled back the blanket and frowned at him. "You look fine to me."

She sat down next to him on the bed, and her amber eyes filled with concern. "Is something wrong?"

"I wish people would stop asking me that!" he snapped.

Kari stared at him, and he felt his face heat up.

"No," he mumbled. "Now go away. I'm trying to sleep."

He turned his back on her and stared at the wall, his eyes filling with sudden tears. I'm so pathetic.

Kari was silent for a moment, and then he felt his sister's comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, Tai?" she said softly. "I know something's been bothering you lately, and I just want you to know that I'm here to listen if you want to talk about it."

Tai squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. That was one of the things that made his sister such a great person. She always went out of her way to help other people, and she was always putting others first. He was touched by her concern, but he was not yet ready to speak. Eventually, though, he knew he would tell her.

"Thanks, Kari," he whispered. "Listen. I would really appreciate it if you didn't mention this to T.K."

"How come?" she asked, looking confused.

Because I know for a fact that T.K. will go straight to Matt and tell him. If Matt finds out that I'm upset about something, he's never going to leave me alone until he finds out what it is.

"Just don't, okay?" he mumbled, turning around to face her.

"What makes you think I was going to tell him?" she asked, looking a little offended.

"I don't know. It could be the fact that you tell T.K. everything," he smirked.

Kari's face turned pink. "Not everything," she mumbled, avoiding his eyes.

Tai grinned. "Well, I guess you could do worse!"

"Tai!" Kari squealed, giving him a very indignant look. Her face appeared to be on fire.

"That was a compliment!" Tai laughed. "T.K.'s like a little brother to me, and I trust him. Now if it was Davis, then it would be a whole different story. I wouldn't trust that guy to be alone with you for two seconds!"

"I do care about Davis, just not in that way," she murmured.

"Well that's a load off my mind!" he joked.

"So you don't mind T.K. then?" she asked hesitantly.

"No way," he replied with a smile. "T.K.'s really cool. Mind you, if he ever did anything to hurt you, I'd have to come after him with a baseball bat. I really wouldn't want to have to do that since I happen to like him and all!"

"Tai," she scolded, giving him a disapproving look.

Tai shrugged. "Hey, that's what big brothers are for. I can't have anyone upsetting my baby sister, can I?"

"Oh , Tai," she said softly, giving him a warm hug and a fond smile. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Tai?"

Tai let out a gasp at the sound of his mother's voice and quickly dived under the covers.

"Kari, I thought I asked you to wake Tai," his mother scolded, coming into the room.

Tai peeked out from under the covers and watched Kari shrug.

His mother turned to look at him, and he hastily ducked his head under the blankets again.

"Tai! School's about to start, and you're not even dressed yet!"

"Actually, Mom, I don't feel that well," he replied, doing his best to sound like an invalid.

His mother came over to the bed and put a hand to his forehead. "You do feel a bit warm," she said, frowning slightly. "Maybe you should stay home today. I don't want you getting sick."

Ever since the time that Kari had gotten really sick, his mother had decided that it was always better to be safe than sorry.

"Thanks," he mumbled and let out a small sigh of relief. He felt a little guilty, but staying home was better than facing Matt. He had dug himself a hole and there was no use changing plans now. Confronting Matt so soon would only make things worse.

"I'll make you some hot soup for lunch." His mother turned to Kari and frowned at her. "You, young lady, had better get to school," she said before heading out of the room.

"Say hi to T.K. for me!" Tai grinned.

"You know, if you ever went through with your threat to come after T.K., Matt would be after you faster than you could say lone wolf!" Kari giggled.

"Oh right," Tai groaned. "Having Matt come after me is seriously making me reconsider my words!"

"Tai? Are you sure you're okay with this? I mean, I know Matt's your best friend..."

"Are you kidding me? I'd love to have Matt for a brother," he said softly.

"Tai!" she squealed. "Be quiet! You'll jinx it!"

When she realized what she had said, she turned bright red in the face and began to fiddle with the hem on her short, pink skirt that she wore with a matching white top.

Tai started to laugh, and she glared at him.

"Besides, nothing has happened yet," she mumbled.

"Maybe not, but in a few years things will definitely change! You had better get to school," he said.

Kari managed to nod and started to leave the room, but he called out her name, and she turned to look back at him.

"Hey, Kari?" he said hesitantly, avoiding her eyes. "Thanks for not ratting me out to Mom."

"It's okay," she said softly. "You look like you could use some time to be alone with your thoughts. Whenever you're ready to tell me what's wrong, come find me, okay?"

"I will," he said quietly.

"It seems so wrong for you to be sad," she said, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Especially for this long. I miss the old Tai. I know he's in there somewhere and for your sake I hope you find him again. I'll see you after school."

She left the room, and Tai flopped back against the rest of his pillows with a sigh. Having Matt suddenly thrown into the conversation had left him with an ache in his heart. Everyone was always going on about how he and Matt had such an amazing friendship. As close as brothers, they all said. Everything that he had mentioned to Kari about Matt was all true, but things did not always end happily ever after. He had an uneasy feeling that his friendship with Matt was going to be one of those things that ended in disaster.

The next time he saw Matt face to face, he would know where they stood. For some reason he had a horrible feeling that he was not going to like how things turned out.