Note: I'm back! This is the first time I haven't really updated in a while, haha. Anyway, I want to thank you for all the reviews! Also, thanks to theladyknight for telling me the names of the band members!

Another note: The title for the chapter is the title for the song by The Ramones.

Amor Vincit Omnia

Love Conquers Everything

Chapter Nine – I Want You Around

……………………………………

Matt

……………………………………

"Um…" I looked around the dark room nervously… If I told her that I forgot to pay the electricity bill, she'd probably get pissed at me and start scolding me for being so irresponsible, and then she would leave. I didn't really want that to happen… so I quickly tried to think of lies and excuses…

Sora sat there in the darkness, staring at me and waiting for an explanation. I cleared my throat, "There must be a blown fuse or something…" I said finally.

"Idiot." Sora scowled, "It's the whole house. If there was a blown fuse, then there would only be like one room without any light."

Well. She's smart. I'll give her credit for that. "In that case…" I blinked rapidly, as if this could help me with the hole I was digging myself into, "Must be a power outage."

Sora sighed and walked over to the window, peeking through the blinds. "The lights are on next door." She said flatly.

"That's nice." I said sarcastically, getting frustrated.

I was silent for a moment, and so was she, as we sat there in the darkness.

"Tell me the truth." Sora said threateningly, "You forgot to pay your bill or something?"

I winced, and grabbed a sandwich, stuffing it into my mouth so I would be too occupied to say anything.

"Well…?" She tapped her foot impatiently.

I kept chewing.

"Fine." She threw up her hands, "I'm leaving." She grabbed her purse and walked quickly to the door.

"Mmmrgh… Wait!" I said through a mouthful of peanut butter and jelly, "You can't leave yet!"

Sora turned around and put her hands on her hips, "Why not?"

"Because… well, uh… I'm scared of the dark." I said sheepishly.

She glared at me, "Like hell you are." She pulled open the door and slammed it shut behind her.

So much for lying.

I looked out the window and saw that, as predicted by the weather channel (surprisingly) the storm from yesterday night was coming back. It was beginning to rain.

Lucky me.

I sat down on the couch and listened to the rain hitting my windows and finished the sandwich I had on my hand.

I heard rapid footsteps down the hall coming closer and closer. Then, I heard a knocking on my door.

Amused, I stood up and pulled the door open, only to see a slightly wet Sora standing outside.

"Well, well, well." I said, grinning at her, "Look who came back."

"Shut up." She glared at me, "It's raining, okay?"

"Interesting."

"…Can I come in?"

I stood aside and she walked passed me, "Thanks."

"No problem."

"You forgot to pay your bill, right?" Sora said, finally.

"Um… well…" I guess I had no choice to tell the truth, I mean, there was no point in lying now, right? "It's more like I didn't pay the bill."

"Because you forgot." She added.

"…Right."

Looking irritated, she sighed in disgust, "God, how irresponsible can you be?"

"Hey, this was just a one time thing. It just… slipped my mind, that's all."

"I wonder what was so important that you forgot to pay your bill for the first time." She rolled her eyes and sat down in the chair that she had slept in the last time she was in this house.

Interesting question. Really, did I want to tell her that it was HER that caused me to forget? No way.

"Some people aren't like you, Sora, ok?"

"What does that mean!"

"You like to plan. You're organized. You hate to have one little detail out of place or unfinished."

"What's wrong with that? At least I'm not some sloppy and forgetful asshole who thinks he knows everything about me! Which, by the way, you don't. You don't know me at all."

"Is that so?" I leaned in towards her face and stared at her, "Because, I think I know you a lot more than you think."

"No. You don't." She said defiantly, staring back at me.

She looked so cute when she's pouting. I chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"You just make me laugh, that's all."

"What?" A look of confusion spread across her face and I began to laugh again.

"Stop it." She furrowed her eyebrows, and looked at me as if I were crazy, "I'm not even doing anything."

As if frustrated, she stood up from her chair and walked over to sit on the couch next to me, that way I wouldn't be facing her, but I just turned by body towards her.

I looked at her and she frowned at me, as if daring me to laugh at her again and I smiled at her. She stared back at me.

"Don't take it too seriously." I said.

"I'm not." She retorted, "I don't care what you think of me."

"Is that so?"

Before I knew better that I shouldn't have, I leaned in and kissed her, enjoying the taste of her lips again. She didn't pull away, she didn't resist it; she just kissed me back.

We both pulled away for air and as if just now realizing it, she backed away from me, scowling.

"Touch me again, and I'll kill you." She threatened.

I laughed again, "I couldn't resist, Sora. Face it, you're pretty irresistible."

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes, but even through the darkness, I could tell she was blushing.

Just then I heard the sound of a key turning from the door, and then a click as the lock turned. I stared at the door as it suddenly swung open.

Great. Another interruption. This always seems to happen whenever I kiss Sora.

"Matt?" the voice of my father came from the shadow in the doorway.

"Hi, Dad." I said lamely.

"You're still awake? Who's with you?" He closed the door behind him.

"Oh, it's just—"

"Um, I should get going." Sora interrupted, standing up, "Bye, Mr. Ishida." She quickly walked through the door.

"It's raining!" My dad called after her.

"I don't think she cares anymore." I said.

"What kind of son do I have?" He said grumpily, "Bringing girls to my apartment, on a school night, no less." He paused, "Good for you."

"Uh, thanks, I guess."

"So, who was that girl? Your girlfriend?"

"Not really, just Sora."

……………………………………

Sora

……………………………………

I really couldn't wait to get out of there, to just get away from everything. I didn't even care that I was now standing in the rain, completely wet, and exhausted from running.

He always did this. This was the second time that he had sneaked a kiss from me, and in less than a week! That asshole.

Why did he always do this? He always hit me where it hurt most, he confronted me with my flaws and even though I denied that I had those flaws, I knew that what he was saying was true. He acted like he had me all figured out, and the scary thing was… it felt like he did. Truthfully, it made me feel vulnerable and weak, like if I opened up to him, then he would truly see how flawed and messed up I was. I didn't want him to see that side of me.

Just then, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I hastily grabbed it from my purse and flipped it open.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, Sora!" Mimi's voice sang on the other end.

Now I felt even more discouraged, "Hey Mimi."

"I just wanted to call you to tell you some good news!"

I was silent, and Mimi waited for my answer. When there was none, she continued, "Matt's band is officially playing at the 'Q' Club every Tuesday nights now!" She practically screamed.

"Oh." How did she know this stuff so fast? Matt just told this news today.

"So…" her voice suddenly sounded very suspicious, "I just came up with something—"

"You can't be serious!" I nearly shouted.

"C'mon, Sora! You know how much I like Matt!" She whined.

"No! I'm not sneaking into anymore clubs! After what happened last time…" I trailed off. Mimi didn't know what had happened last time.

"Last time?" she sounded confused. "What happened last time?"

"Nothing. I just, don't like the idea of it."

"Pleaseee?" She pleaded, "Just a few more times! I promise I won't bug you ever again!"

"Yeah right." I rolled my eyes. "And no. You can go by yourself."

"Please. What am I going to do in a club alone? Dance? Act like a fan girl? No way. I need you there with me!"

"No."

"You're no fun." She sighed.

"Damn straight." I shot back.

"Look, if you come with me, I'll buy you lunch for the next three weeks!"

"No."

"Um… I'll buy you clothes?"

"Definitely no."

"…I'll…" She was silent for a moment, then in a meek voice, "…clean my room…?"

Hmm… this was definitely tempting. Every time I went to her house, her room always horrified me. There were always clothes strewn everywhere and open powder compacts or unplugged hair irons. (I'm not a neat freak!) It would be nice to see it clean for a change.

"Well…" I started, but then thought better of it. I could just avoid going to her house, so then I wouldn't have to be so irritated by the fact that it was a mess.

"Good!" She chirped, "I'll see you tomorrow so we can discuss our outfits and such! Byee!"

"Mimi, wait! I haven't—"

She hung up.

Damn. What mess have I gotten myself into now?

……………………………………

Mimi

……………………………………

Sora is so easy. All I had to do was throw in a bribe that I would clean my room, and she backed down immediately. It's nice having a best friend who is a complete neat freak.

I sat up in my bed and surveyed my room. Please. My room isn't even that messy in the first place.

Maybe while I was at it, I could try to match make Sora and Tai again. More discreetly this time, of course. I would be doing both Tai and Sora favors anyway.

But I had to act fast. I picked up my phone again and dialed Tai's number.

"Heggo?" Tai mumbled when he answered the phone.

"Tai?"

"Yea…?"

"It's Mimi!"

"Do you realize what time it is?" He demanded on the other line, and I clicked my tongue with annoyance.

"Yes, I know what time it is."

"Then you realize that some people are trying to sleep!"

"Whatever. That's not important. I just wanted to call you to tell you that you're coming with me and Sora to the 'Q' Club next Tuesday."

"Not this crap again, Mimi. Honestly, do you have anything better to do with your time than chase Matt around?"

"Excuse me! Of course I do! I'm just trying to do you a favor, and you insult me to my face!"

"Technically, we're on the phone, Mimi."

"I don't care! I was trying to help your ungrateful ass!"

"Well, I don't need your help!"

"FINE!" I shouted.

"FINE." He shouted back.

"You're still coming with us to the club on Tuesday!"

"FINE."

"FINE!"

I hung up.

God, he was so annoying. Some people can't appreciate what others do in the goodness of their hearts. (A/N: Right…)

……………………………………

Tai

……………………………………

Mimi is crazy.

What's her problem anyway? She acts like she owns everybody, and is a total tyrant. I don't know how Sora even puts up with her.

"Who was that?"

Surprised, I turned around and saw Kari standing behind me.

"No one." I said automatically.

"I heard you yelling…" She squinted her eyes suspiciously at me.

"Good for you." I answered, walking back into my room, "Good night."

……………………………………

(The next day)

"Hey Tai, how's it going?" Matt asked, sitting down beside me on the bench at school.

"Nothing." I mumbled sleepily. I couldn't get any sleep last night because Mimi called me again to tell me that I had to be at the club by eight, and that I shouldn't dress like a dork. Then, when I was about to drift back into sleep, the phone rang again, but I didn't even bother to answer it, causing my mom to pick it up and wake me up again by scolding me and telling me that I shouldn't have friends calling me so late at night.

Life is a bitch.

"—every Tuesday." Matt said, when I snapped back to attention.

"Yeah, I heard." I said

"Huh?"

"Mimi told me."

"How did Mimi know?"

"I don't know…maybe from one of your fan girls." Mimi was probably one of them.

"I don't have any fan girls."

"I'm sure you don't." I said sarcastically.

……………………………………

Sora

……………………………………

"Hello Sora." Matt said, sliding into a chair next to me in the library, where I was hiding out, during lunch.

"Don't talk to me." I snapped.

"Now, now. Still angry about last night?"

I ignored him.

"You see, I really couldn't help myself."

"I think you could."

"The thing is, I like you." He looked at me seriously.

I blushed, "Like hell you do!"

"No, really, I do. See, you're not like other girls who swoon at the sight of me—"

"You're rude and conceited, and I honestly don't care what you think of me, so leave me alo—"

"You didn't let me finish!" He exclaimed, bringing his face closer to mine. I blinked at him.

"Now, what I was about to say was that, you're different. You tell me straight up what you think of me, and you don't make an effort to even impress me or—"

"Because I don't want to impress you. In fact, I hate you."

"See? That's what I'm talking about." He laughed, "You're not afraid of speaking your mind."

"So you like me because I'm a bitch?"

"No, not just that." He held up his hands, "I also like your confidence. You're not insecure at all. Also, deep down, you're just a big softie. You act tough, but in your own way your very sweet—"

"Would you stop calling me that!"

"But you are! You made me sandwiches…"

"They were for me! And by the way, you still owe me money for your half of the groceries."

"You cleaned my room…"

"Haven't we been through this already?"

"You let me into your house during my time of need!"

"You're just repeating the same things over and over!"

"I have to get your attention somehow." He grinned at me.

TO BE CONTINUED

Geez, took me a long time to write this chapter, for some reason. Call me crazy, but I rewrote it a thousand times. Oh well, I'm happy with the way it turned out. Anyway, Spring break is here for me! I'm so happy! Maybe I'll dish out another chapter later this week. Haha… probably not. Hope you liked it! PLEASE REVIEW… for me?