Author's notes: Just to warn you, we've got some lightly mature Sorato content in today's chapter, but I think it stays on the T rated side of things.

Summer Plans

After the Fashion Show

"Almost there," Matt murmured into Sora's ear. She was leaning into him, her head supported on his shoulder. The students they passed in the dorm hallways stared, likely shocked to see Sora in what looked like a drunken stupor. Matt grinned at any of them who met his eye, as if daring them to judge her. Amy trailed at his heels, looking almost as weary as Sora, except that she was still walking on her own.

When they approached Sora's room, Amy passed him and unlocked the door, then held it open. He muttered his thanks as he slid past, then eased Sora onto her bed.

"There we go," he said soothingly. She muttered indistinctly. He removed her shoes as Amy dragged around in the background, hanging up dresses that the other models had left behind. Matt was trying to decide how much Sora would object to Amy helping him change her into pajamas when the sounds of Amy clattering about ceased.

"Guess we should let her sleep," she whispered. Matt glanced over at Sora and found that she had passed out.

"Wow," he muttered. "You're the only person I've ever seen fall asleep that fast."

Amy frowned and crossed her arms. "I've been worried about her. She was working so hard... Always doing something, you know? I mean, I'm really glad it all went well for her, but..."

Matt stared at her, then snorted. "Well that's the pot calling the kettle black."

Amy's jaw dropped, then snapped shut. She scowled, and Matt suddenly remembered that they had been at odds just a few days ago. "I was worried about her, too," he said quickly. "And I worry about you when you bury yourself in your schoolwork. You should relax the rest of the day, too. You look exhausted."

Matt hoped that this would soothe her, but he was mistaken. Her features hardened as she sat on her bed. "I was at the show for four hours. I'm behind."

"Is there really something that can't wait until tomorrow?" Matt asked, trying to clear the annoyance and skepticism from his tone.

Amy eyed him dubiously, as if he were failing to understand a simple concept. "If I get behind, then it's over."

Over? What's over? The freaking world? "Okay," he returned, struggling to speak with his jaw clenched. "But you know, I'd say you're falling behind in other ways."

The coolness in Amy's eyes warned of her growing unhappiness. She didn't invite him to clarify, and Matt had to take a deep breath before going on.

"When's the last time you did something with anyone? And don't say school stuff with Joe," he snapped, anticipating a pointless interruption. "Given how smart you are, I'd say you're more likely to see a slip in your relationships than your GPA."

Matt couldn't tell if Amy was going pale beneath her flushing, or flushing on top of going pale. What's happening to me? Matt wondered. Normally, he was so careful with Amy. But he had always believed that there was strength buried in her, and maybe her choices to take part in the fashion show and the bat research indicated that she was growing interested in finding it. Whatever the reason, he suddenly couldn't continue treading so lightly around her.

"When's the last time you did something with Izzy?" There was a laziness to the question that made it sound almost like a taunt. It would have snapped Tai into prime form, but he wasn't sure what would happen with Amy.

She swallowed hard, stood, and went to her desk. She unzipped her backpack, grimacing when Sora stirred at the sound.

"I assume we're swapping beds tonight?" she whispered. Textbooks and binders were seized and placed into the bag.

She's running. Wonderful. "Amy," Matt sighed. "I didn't mean to piss you off. Just... why don't you rest tonight? Maybe use Izzy's bed, instead of mine, hey?" Matt was convinced that some alone time with a romantic interest was one of the best ways to relax and recharge, but Amy's back muscles snapped tight.

"He has a roommate, too." Somehow, her lack of comment on the rest of his speech was a lot more telling than what she did say. Matt grimaced.

"Amy," he repeated, his tone entreating.

"Why is this about me?" Amy asked. "Sora just put together something amazing. Focus on her."

Matt pinned her down with his iciest, most focused glare. "Fine. But you can't talk about Sora working too hard if you're going to be just as reckless." Let's see you dance around the problem when I spell it out for you.

She didn't look up from packing some clothes and a few personal effects, like her glasses and contact case. "I'm going to the library. I'll take your bed tonight."

Matt favored this announcement with an unimpressed grunt. Amy hefted the backpack onto her shoulders, then struggled to straighten herself under its weight. "See ya tomorrow," she said crisply. Matt scowled at the implication that she didn't want his company until then.

"You're pissed," he said, sighing. "I guess that's fair. I'm pretty annoyed, too."

Amy was almost out the door, but she trudged back over to him. "Let's not be mad," she said, taking hold of his hand. "I'll get over it by tomorrow. Okay?"

He couldn't help but grin, if reluctantly. "Deal." He squeezed her hand, and then she smiled and was gone.

Could have gone better, could have gone worse. I already knew she had the heart to be cool about it, but… She also had enough backbone to get mad. I guess that's good to know.

Matt sighed and turned his gaze and thoughts back to Sora.

Later

Sora rolled over and sighed. The call of sleep was alluring, like a clear voice in the distance, and it took effort to resist sinking back into the deep. But a spark of excitement was agitating her, lifting her towards consciousness.

It's over. I did it. I did it, and it's over, and I think it went well!

Her eyes opened, and she saw a leg in black jeans. Blinking, she backed up enough to see Matt bent over her desk, wearing headphones and scribbling intermittently.

"What time is it?" Sora asked. Matt turned towards her, smiled, and removed the headphones.

"Almost nine, sleeping beauty." She twitched and reached for the phone in her pocket, as if she didn't believe him.

"You let me sleep for three hours?!" The shock lifted her straight out of the haze of grogginess, and she was suddenly alert.

"Ah, Sora," he said, gracing her with that boyish grin, "I don't think I could have woken you with a marching band."

But Sora's attention had wandered too far away to appreciate the humor. "The clothes," she gasped, vaulting to her feet. "I didn't pick up the clothes!"

Matt dropped his pencil and held his hands out, laughing softly. "It's alright. Amy hung everything in your closet. Well, probably most of it's on her side, but..."

Sora shifted through the hangers, making sure that her friends had gathered everything. When she found that it was all safe, she relaxed, then started organizing. "I want Amy and Mimi to keep the outfits I made them," she said, moving Amy's dress further into her closet. "I'm not sure what I should do with the rest of them..."

"The girls would probably buy them from you. Everyone seemed happy with their clothes."

She hesitated and made an indistinct sound in the back of her throat. "Oh, I don't know... I don't feel right about charging them..."

Sora turned when she heard Matt's faint chuckle. "Amy and Mimi ran around for hours to help with the show, but the other girls were just there long enough to get made up and work the catwalk. I'd just send an email to the group of them, offering their outfit at a fair price, if they want it. At least cover your fabric expenses."

"That might be a good idea," Sora allowed. "But... Matt, I was so focused during the show, and then so tired." She sat on her bed, and Matt sat beside her, tugging at her until she was across his lap. "I really need you to be honest. How was the show?"

"Well," Matt began, tucking her head beneath his chin, "I've never seen a fashion show before, but your girls looked amazing. Everyone seemed thrilled with their clothes. And Mimi wouldn't shut up for two seconds about how great everyone looked. I think you really nailed it."

Sora wrapped an arm around him, staring up at his face. Her free hand cupped it automatically, tracing the masculine, yet somehow beautiful, cut of his face. "You really think so?"

A faint laugh moved his chest against her side. "Yes. Do you know when your professor will post your grade?"

Sora tipped her head onto his shoulder. Finally, after weeks of endless activity, she was beginning to relax. She breathed in deeply, and the air tasted different than she remembered, sweeter, richer. "It's not really a grade, since I'm technically not advanced enough to have a show, not based on the classes I've taken. But apparently I can skip ahead a bit if my performance was comparable to the other students."

Sora didn't want to move, but she was curious to see if the professor had sent her any messages about the show. She grabbed her laptop, then, noticing the way Matt's eyes followed her movement, she returned to him.

He watched over her shoulder as she opened her email. The long string of new messages had her backing into him for support.

"That's... that's quite the response," Matt muttered. "Who are these people?"

Sora flicked her cursor over a few messages. "Most of them are from my models, I think. Oh, look! They're sending pictures, how nice of them! I didn't even think of that..." A quick run through the images confirmed Matt's earlier words. Everyone looked beautiful, happy, excited... Without willing it, Sora covered her heart with a palm, rubbing at the expanding sensation beneath her skin.

"I told you everyone looked great." Matt spoke the words directly into her ear, using a low, smooth tone that had her shivering. She hadn't noticed it until now, but his hands were all over her, sliding beneath her shirt, inching along the top of her pants. His skin was soothingly cool against hers.

"I'm happy everyone seemed to enjoy it." He put enough pressure on the side of her face to tip her head, then went for her neck, dropping tiny kisses along the curve. Something seized in Sora's stomach, then dissolved.

The flurry of preparing for the show had consumed her so fully that she hadn't done anything romantic with Matt for... Sora tried to remember, but gave it up when Matt opened her shirt enough to run his lips along her clavicle.

"L-let me finish the emails," she said weakly. "Then- then-"

He lifted his head enough to give her a lazy smile. "Then I can tire you out all over again?"

Thankfully, Sora managed to swallow the exclamation that tried to pop out of her. "Five minutes," Matt decreed, fastening his arms around her waist.

Reading was a stretch with her head spinning like this, but Sora persevered. She scanned the first message, then sat up so suddenly that her head collided with Matt's jaw.

"Sorry!" she cried. "Sorry! It's just- Matt- look at this!"

Matt rubbed his injury. "Give me the cliff notes."

Sora tried to explain, but the words ran into mush, even in her head. Every useful faculty was drowned beneath a wave of excitement, and Sora seemed to travel back in time and space, until she was a fifteen-year-old at one of Matt's first concerts. She could see herself dancing with her friends, squealing and screaming in a shrill voice that floated up to the rafters, and possibly through the roof.

"It... It says..." she gasped, fanning her face with an open palm. "A local designer... Matt, I follow this designer, I love her work! Ohmygosh, ohmygosh..."

Instinctively, her body tried to stand and pace, but Matt's arms tightened around her waist. She ended up running her fingers through her hair, fluffing it out and away, until she resembled a Pomeranian.

"Gonna need more information than that, babe," Matt chuckled into her ear, but not even that could distract her now. Her finger jabbed the screen, distorting the display.

"She, she's offering me a summer internship."

Matt's body jerked up straight against hers. "And this designer is... local?"

"Huh?" The tightness of his tone had Sora glancing at him over her shoulder. "Yes. Yes, her studio is in the city. Not too far from here." She couldn't keep her eyes away from the offer for long, and she kept glancing between the screen and Matt.

"So, so you'd be staying here? With your father?"

"Well- Yes, I guess I would be." Sora sensed that Matt's mental process was a few steps beyond hers at this point. She couldn't seem to get past the offer on her screen. But Matt squished her even closer to his front and shifted his legs so that they surrounded hers.

And something finally broke through her shock. "Are you, uh..." She shifted in his lap, trying to find an angle where her rear wasn't being uncomfortably poked.

Matt exhaled slowly against her neck. His hands slid down from her waist, fastening around either side of her butt. He lifted his hips and pressed down on hers, and, this time, the whimper slid right out of her throat.

"I know it's not my choice, and I know your top priority has to be the offer itself." He paused long enough to briefly nibble her earlobe, and Sora started to go limp. "But, if you would stay here…"

The rotation of their hips came to an abrupt halt, and Sora's hands closed around his thighs and squeezed, as if to scold him. She tipped her head back, intending to give him a look, but he used the angle to run his lips down her jaw.

Which, on the whole, was a solid counter.

"You deserve this offer. You're going to be amazing, just like you were today." He paused, and he must have licked his lips, because Sora felt the flick of his tongue against her cheek. "Please stay here. Even if it's for the internship, it would… It would mean a lot to me."

Heat and electricity rushed to her head, as if she had downed a bottle of wine in a single swig. Her fingers closed around his arms, anchoring her shaky body. How does he do this to me with just a few words? She wasn't sure if she was reacting to the pleasure of being desired, or to the rare offer of openness from a man who kept his cards so close to his chest. But whatever the reason, she seemed to be melting against him, both physically and emotionally.

Sometimes, Sora worried that she was too besotted, that she was blinded to the real Matt by her long-standing fangirly crush on him. But the days kept passing, and she found herself being allowed further and further in his defenses.

And with each additional insight, her attachment to him grew, until it exploded past her ability to contain or control it.

Her grip tightened until her fingers dented his flesh. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay in the past, and I'm sorry if it seems like I needed a reason to stay now. But it's all just because of- well- complications. But yes, I'm staying now."

Sora felt the air being sucked in past her ear. Matt pulled back from her, flipping her around so quickly that she squeaked. Before she could find her bearings, hands closed around her face, then tipped it up. She found herself staring into Matt's eyes.

He was making one of the least attractive expressions she had ever seen from him. His eyes were too wide, too wild. Then, suddenly, something seemed to fall into place, and his gaze cleared and sharpened. He seized her waist, pulled her against him, and kissed her. She quickly grew lightheaded and floaty, discerning only that she was wearing less and less clothing, and that the room kept growing hotter. The kissing and touching and stroking sapped the strength from her legs, and she slid down.

Matt laughed, low and dark, and laid her down on the bed. He sat the computer aside, ruffled through her desk drawer, turned off the light, then returned, stretching out on top of her.

His fingertips ran over her stomach. Although she was overheated, her skin studded over, especially as he kissed her, slowly and deeply, like a lover with long, decadent plans.

His palms landed on hers, and their fingers wove together. Sora's hips tipped up towards his. Perhaps the reflexive invitation should have embarrassed her, but it didn't. She loved wanting, needing, giving, taking. If Matt was her partner, then she could slip into a sensuous world as easily as she breathed. She was already there, unable to differentiate the crashing in her chest from the thudding in his.

And, in a moment, differentiating was inapplicable.

The Next Day

"Joe! Joe! Joe, Joe, Joe!"

Joe jerked away from his desk as the door slammed against the toe stop. Mimi bounced into his room, and he choked at the sight of her outfit. His eyes jerked from Mimi to Izzy's face, checking the redhead's reaction. But if Joe was hoping to feel validated by seeing his agitation mirrored, then he was disappointed. Izzy merely looked put-upon, and he began to place books and his laptop into a backpack.

Stomach sinking and writhing, Joe returned his glance to Mimi. She was wearing clingy pajama bottoms and a skin-tight camisole that just barely touched her bellybutton. Did she run through the dorm like that? I wonder if anyone broke their necks tripping down the stairs as she passed...

She threw herself onto his lap, and he gasped as he secured her against him. Izzy sighed in the background, but Joe hardly registered it.

"Guess what guess what guess what!" Mimi swung her legs over the side of the chair, vibrating it. Joe's body buckled, despite being safely seated.

"Uh, what?"

Mimi peppered kisses all over his face, and Joe's hands tightened around her waist. It was hard to tell what was smoother and softer: her skin, or the silk pajamas. "Nonono, you have to guess!"

"You're getting a hotel room." Izzy's tone was completely devoid of emotional input, and Joe found himself laughing- most unwisely so.

Mimi turned in his arms and scowled. "Shoo," she said, making a swatting hand motion. Izzy allowed himself a tiny grin as he pulled his backpack over his shoulders.

As soon as Izzy cleared the room, Mimi scooted even closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Sora got an email from someone who saw her fashion show. They had a picture of me from the runway in the message, and guess what!" Her voice went so high and squeaky that it clawed at Joe's ear drums, and he fought not to flinch. Joe could never be sure if Mimi's announcements would be welcome, or if they would rain stress on him. Meeting her eye suddenly required courage.

She leaned in and grinned, eyelids lowered, head tipped playfully. Joe felt sweat beading on the back of his neck. Mimi was in prime form, so whatever this was, it was big. "This lady, she hires models, right? And she asked Sora to put her in touch with me, so she did, so I called her, and..."

Mimi drew very, very close, then paused, as if for dramatic effect. "I'm going to do a summer internship with her!"

"Oh! Mimi- That's great! Congratulations!" Joe bent closer, intending to press his lips to her forehead, but she intercepted, and his mouth somehow ended up on hers. What was intended as light, affectionate contact morphed into something quite different.

By the time the kiss ended, Joe forgot why Mimi had entered the room. She licked her lips as she drew back, her eyes darkening from reddish-honey to toffee.

"Joe." She strung his name into three syllables, each delivered on a different pitch. He fought to respond, but all that came out was a high sound. Mimi giggled, but Joe was too focused on her face to register embarrassment. "I'll be needing a place to stay."

The words slowly pierced the haze of arousal around Joe's brain. "Oh! Uh- Well- I can't promise anything until I've asked my parents, but they've been wanting to meet you, and we have a guest room. I think they would be happy to have you for the summer. But, uh, I do have another internship at the hospital."

"I know," Mimi said, flapping a hand. "And I'll be working, too. And it's going to be amazing, ohmygaaawd, I'm so excited! Can you even believe it?!"

She hopped down from his lap and started pacing the room, gushing and asking strings of questions without allowing time for answers. Joe smiled to himself and nodded whenever she caught his eye. He was more than happy to watch her half walk, half hop around the room in clingy little sweats.

I can't believe things worked out so well. I was getting worried about what we'd do over the summer. Joe eased back into his chair, fully relaxing for the first time in the last few weeks.

Another Day

Amy stared at the suitcase waiting at the end of her bed. She was bringing so little on her trip, and it felt kind of sad to leave with just one bag and a purse.

I'll be working most of the time, she reminded herself. I don't need much. I'm doing the reasonable thing.

She sat on her bed and sighed. In all honesty, Amy didn't like leaving her things at home unattended. Her precious lock box was under her bed, her favorite books were back on the shelf. But already her bedroom had become a storage space for her parents, and some of her things were gone, mostly pillows and decorative objects. Frowning, Amy checked her keyring for the lockbox key. It was the only way to open the box, and she had to make sure it stayed safely with her.

Time passed as Amy sat there, motionless. The house was silent, as her parents were at work, and her brother was in another state. The last thing Amy wanted to do was call a cab to take her to the station, but if she put it off any longer, she risked missing her train.

The doorbell rang, and Amy rose, equally annoyed and grateful for the interruption. She passed down the dim hallway and the dark stairs, then opened the door.

She recoiled with surprise when she found TK waiting on the welcome mat. He laughed at her, long and loud, and Amy rolled her eyes and waited for him to finish.

"It's your goal to always be where you're least expected, isn't it?" His answering smirk was so like Matt's that Amy ruffled his hair automatically, forgetting that TK didn't dislike it like his brother.

"I believe you'll be needing a ride, my lady," he said, bowing with an arm stretched towards the driveway.

A blank stare was the most she could manage. "H-how did you even know..."

TK snorted. "Matt told me. Obviously."

"I, I didn't tell Matt?" Amy stammered. She backed out of the way as TK walked into her, entering the house.

"No kidding," TK said, pulling the door shut behind him. "He was ticked off."

Amy's hands flew up. "He has band practice! I'm not going to make him miss it when I am perfectly capable of getting to the train on my own."

"And Tai, naturally, is pissed," TK continued, not acknowledging her interruption.

"And he's supposed to get out of soccer practice... How, exactly?" Amy ran her fingers roughly through her hair, splitting a knot in two. "They have things to do, TK."

"In fact," TK continued, increasing his volume and his obnoxious fake cheer, "if you hadn't asked Sora about the cab service she used to get to the airport when she went back to Japan, no one would have known what day and time you were leaving."

He planted his hands on his hips and smiled fiercely.

"You don't have a license," Amy said weakly.

"Learner's permit. Don't change the subject. That doesn't work on me."

Sighing, Amy started back up the stairs. "Can we talk in the car? I'm starting to cut the time close."

"That is an excellent suggestion." TK's tone was dry, and Amy somehow knew he was thinking about the fact that she couldn't escape a moving vehicle. Which might have been why the click of her seatbelt seemed so ominous a few minutes later.

"So," TK said cheerfully, staring over his shoulder as he backed out of the driveway, "why exactly are you so eager to piss off your boys?"

Amy gasped as the tires clunked down from the driveway to the road. "I think you're supposed to do that at an angle," she choked, gripping her seat.

"Have you ever been behind the wheel?" TK returned serenely. "Noooope." He rode down the suburban road that the driveway fed into, then stopped before making the turn onto a less residential road. Amy jerked forward, nearly smashing into the glove box.

"A bit less sudden on the braking, maybe?" She tugged on her seatbelt until it locked into place.

"Why are you trying to sneak away to Ohio?" Amy was tossed against the car door as TK made his turn.

"Is this your first time behind the wheel?" Amy demanded. "In fact- Aren't you supposed to be driving with a license-holding adult while you have a learner's?"

TK repeated his question with a foreign note of annoyance. Amy massaged the smacked side of her head and grimaced into the side mirror beyond her door. "I'm not sneaking away. I told you guys that I was leaving this week."

"We sort of expected that more detailed information would follow."

"Well-" Amy flinched as TK began tailgating the driver ahead of them. He glanced over at her, then slowed down, backing off from the other vehicle.

"Well, I can take care of it myself. I thought that was part of why I'm going in the first place? To be more independent? The messages are getting a little mixed here."

TK snorted. "Mixed messages? Please. You spend a month down in the dumps because you think everyone wants you to go away, and then you try to sneak away." He paused, as if expecting a response, but Amy merely watched her lips form a thin line in the mirror. "You know what you're doing, right? You're sulking." TK sighed and stooped over the wheel. "My sweet tempered Amy is sulking like Tai. What next?"

Amy grit her teeth. "I am not sulking. Look, everyone has things to do. I don't want them canceling them for me. That's all."

"Is that so?" TK asked, his tone obnoxiously airy. "Then you need to tell them that. Because, from where I'm standing, it looks like you're avoiding us."

The GPS began to speak in a smooth, British accent, and they fell silent. Amy leaned against the inside of her door, then rested her head on the window. "I didn't mean badly," she said at last. Her plan had honestly seemed like the best choice at the time, but the more TK picked at it, the more she saw her true motives, showing through the holes in her argument.

It wasn't exactly a comfortable feeling.

TK sighed. "I'll try to smooth things over."

"Are they that mad?" Amy asked, frowning at the passing trees. "It seems like such a little thing."

"Hmm..." TK's fingers drummed against the steering wheel. "Well, if one of us left for three months, wouldn't you want to see us off? Don't you want to see them one more time?"

There was a digging sensation in her chest, and she shut her eyes. "Yeah." Her throat tightened, and she swallowed a few times. Don't cry in front of TK. Don't do that to a kid. What even is wrong with you?

A hand landed on her knee, and she turned reflexively. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Amy dug into her lower lip with her teeth. As always, her instinct was to dodge the question, but TK didn't seem to be in an indulgent mood. Is it worth offending him some more, right before I leave?

"I just, I don't even know if I should be doing this." She spoke quietly, directing the words to her knees. "I feel like… I'm going to hate it and be miserable. But I know a good opportunity when I see it, and I want to take all the steps I can towards being able to care for myself." Amy held her hands out on either side of her body, as if to weigh her options out. "Maybe this makes me sound like a baby, but I think I would cry if I said good-bye properly. I'm not sure I could get on the stupid train, not if the three of you were on the platform. Especially Tai… He might have tried a final argument if he saw me hesitating."

"And it would have been hard for you not to agree in that setting," TK finished. His hand moved up and down against her knee. "It's alright," he said quietly. "Honestly? No one knows what the hell they're doing. Don't let that part trouble you."

"Mmm." Amy wasn't convinced that the concept of universal confusion was comforting. It seemed like someone out there should have their ducks in a row, but it certainly wasn't her.

She could feel TK looking at her, and she really wished he wouldn't. The road wouldn't watch itself, after all. And, somehow, she could feel him working his way towards another point, likely going down a previously formed checklist of questions. And he wouldn't have that long to get through them all before they reached the station. Her fingers inched towards the door handle, as if she had some hope of escape.

"So, have you seen Izzy at all today?" Amy flinched, and her next breath entered with a hiss. "Ah. You did- You did tell your boyfriend what day you're leaving?" he asked, somewhat desperately.

"I don't want to talk about it." Amy had the urge to draw her knees up in front of her torso, but she couldn't manage it in a car.

"Oh, that sounds promising." TK removed his hand and placed it back against the wheel with a smacking sound. He suddenly perked up, and Amy blinked, unable to process the mood swing.

"Oh- Oh- I can say this for the first time! Ahem- Amy, don't make me stop the car."

Amy sighed and rolled her eyes, then straightened as the car began to slow down. "TK," she babbled, "the train!"

"Yuuuup." He popped the 'p' obnoxiously and flicked the blinker on.

Amy seized his arm. "TK- Just- Zeus above! Keep driving!"

Smirking, TK turned off the blinker and picked up speed, then waved pleasantly as the car behind him passed with the fast lane. "You were saying?"

"I should have called the cab," Amy muttered. "Look, I tried to tell Izzy. Or rather, I did tell him a few days ago, but I guess…" She hesitated, unwilling to finish the thought. "I… I guess he forgot."

"Forgot?" TK echoed. "How did he forget? Didn't he make arrangements to see you off when you told him?"

Her lungs burned as she breathed, as if she had just run a marathon. She fixed her gaze on the passing trees. "No. He didn't offer anything at the time. I assumed he would as the date got closer, but… Nothing."

You knew Izzy doesn't really care that you're leaving, she reminded herself, as if that would relieve the pressure building up around her eyes. Like he said, we're not physical, so, as long as we have computers, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.

TK frowned at the windshield. "Hmm. Well…" He faltered, then snapped back into focus, likely remembering that list of questions. "Why tell Izzy, but not us?"

Amy licked her lips nervously. "I, I... I just..."

"Wanted to make out gratuitously in the station? Wave a handkerchief out of the window as the train pulled away?"

"What!" Amy's eyelids flared back as she turned towards him. "That's not- He wouldn't-"

TK waved a hand. "I know. Joking. You are wound up tight today."

No kidding. And you're not helping. Amy trailed her fingers across her forehead. "I don't mean to favor Izzy over you guys. Tai and Matt have been trying too hard ever since... Well, I guess I just want them to focus on their own things right now, not mine. And, like I said, it would be really hard to get on the train if they're on the platform. But, with Izzy..."

"Ohhhh dear," TK said mournfully. "His being around isn't too great a temptation to stay?"

Amy flicked his knee. "It's not that. It's just, well... Ever since Izzy started working for a professor and being a TA, he's become so... distant. And, I mean, I know his work is important to him." Amy failed to notice her sudden increase in speaking speed and volume. "I know he's doing things he likes. And I don't want to take that away from him. But... Things were going so well, and now..." Amy cleared the lump from her throat and clasped her hands in her lap. "Well, I was sort of figuring that he would, you know... I thought for sure that he wouldn't forget... I thought he'd want to..."

Her fingers blurred, and the ring on her right hand was reduced to a purple blob. She twisted it around like a camera lens, as if that would bring it into focus.

TK reached over and popped the handle on the glove box. It fell open, revealing a car manual, some paperwork, hand sanitizer, and a packet of tissues. Sighing, Amy took the packet and dabbed at her eyes.

"Okay," he said, and Amy's head swiveled towards him. He sounded overwhelmed, and Amy suddenly remembered that he was younger than her, and fairly sensitive, despite his wit and troublesome nature. She cursed her inability to control her emotions.

"Uh... Out of curiosity, when he doesn't spend time with you, and when he forgets things, what do you do?"

"Do?" Amy echoed, placing a hand on his knee. "What would I do? I can't change him. I can't take away things he likes."

TK was silent for a while. "It's not… Not really about changing him as a person. I can see where you could argue for or against a person's right to change someone else. But you absolutely have a right to address issues with your relationship. You're hurting, Amy. Don't tell me it's not a big deal, I don't want to hear that. If you're hurting, it's a big deal to me, and it should be to Izzy, too. But if you don't tell him about it, nothing will change, and the hurt will just fester."

"I... Yeah, I know." Amy worked his knee with her hand, and the fine, blond hairs tickled her palm. "But... I don't..."

"You don't want to have to tell your boyfriend something as basic as, 'hey, spend some time with me, jerk.' Which I understand, but again, you're sulking."

Amy scowled and retracted her touch, balling her fists in her lap. "Well! I'm sorry! But, like you said, it does hurt!"

"I know, and I sympathize. But when someone avoids a person because that person hurt or disappointed them, my dear, we call that sulking."

Amy stared at him, stiff and frozen. She didn't know how to react, but TK didn't force further conversation. Whether this was out of charity, or because he was pulling into the station parking lot, was unclear, but Amy didn't question the reprieve.

TK parked, then hefted her bag out of the trunk. He batted her hands away when she tried to take it. Not as suave as Matt, but similar in intent.

They walked to the platform in silence and took a seat on a bench. "Should be here soon," Amy said, glancing up at the arrivals display.

Despite the train's impending approach, there weren't that many passengers waiting. I suppose not that many people are headed to Ohio, not from here... She bent forward, shoulders stooping. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, all by myself... What was I thinking? Why am I doing this?

TK patted her back in a heartening fashion. "You're getting paid. You don't have to stay at your house. It will look great on your resume. You're going to do great work, and get lots of experience. Stop looking so sad."

Amy jerked straight up. "How did you... You frighten me, sometimes."

TK removed his bucket hat and scratched roughly at his head, like a dog. "You're not hard to read. I don't think so, anyway."

Amy wasn't sure what to make of that, and she cast about for another subject. She noticed a package on TK's opposite side, and asked what it was.

"Hm? Oh, right. This is for you," he said, handing it over.

"For me?" Amy repeated. Pleasure, curiosity, and wariness warred inside her, and she stared blankly at the offering, making no move to accept.

TK deposited it on her lap. "Yep. Open it on the train."

Oh, dear. Amy frowned down at the package, unsure what to make of TK's request to not be present when it was unwrapped. TK laughed and clapped her on the back, but said nothing to ease her mind.

"Thanks," she sighed. TK responded with a wicked grin.

A few minutes passed, and there came a far off rattling. Amy leaned over, checking the rails. There was a faint black blur in the distance. She started to stand, but paused when TK took hold of her wrist.

"You can do this," he said, looking her straight in the eye. "If you need us, call us, any time. Pull a disappearing act, and Tai will get on a train and track your ass down."

"And won't that be fun," Amy muttered. TK's serious expression faltered, then returned in portions, with much strain. Amy couldn't stop herself from smiling at him, despite his string of ultimatums.

"Don't forget Kari, or your new friends. And try to fix this thing with Izzy, will you?"

"TK-" He had wandered down a road she didn't want to travel, and she tried to slip her hand away, but he held firm.

"I'm serious. Look, see how you're getting all upset and touchy?"

"Who's touchy, Grabby McClingy?" Amy retorted, twisting her wrist, trying to stand.

"I dunno," TK returned pleasantly. "Could it be the girl who's suddenly writhing like a cat being shoved into a carrier?" Amy froze and scowled, but TK pressed on cheerfully. "That just means that this matters to you. A lot. I hardly know Izzy, and I wish I knew why you're so attached to him, but what matters is that you are. That much is fact."

"TK-" The train was slowing down with a loud, pervasive squeal, and the platform rumbled beneath her. There wasn't much time for whatever this was, and that suited her just fine.

"Can you afford to risk your relationship with him over something as basic and sitcom-ish as a lack of communication?"

Amy finally succeeded in prying herself free, and she vaulted to her feet. TK's present plopped onto the concrete, but she hardly noticed. "Why is everyone giving me such a hard time lately?" Her voice was weak and whiny, and that only frustrated her more. The burn of tears started in her eyes, and she rubbed at them automatically.

TK stared at her for a long moment, sighed, and picked up the present. "I'm not apologizing," he said as he handed it over. "I'm doing it because I care about you."

The train came to a complete stop behind her, and a final rush of air rustled around her. The other passengers were standing and heading towards the doors, but she stood still, her eyes flicking all around TK.

"That's why I'm here," he added softly. "Even though you didn't call me."

A tear bubbled over, and she sniffed, wet and loud. Something broke through her discomfort and annoyance, and she threw her arms around TK, squishing him and his gift against her.

"I'm so sorry. Thank you."

He stood there, awkward and still. Finally, he returned the hug with one arm, then broke away. His facial muscles were pinched.

"Try to have a good time. And for the love of the Bard, tell us when you're coming back."

Amy laughed weakly. The train whistled, making her jump. TK tried to laugh, but it was just as fake as hers. He turned her around by the shoulders and pushed gently.

"I'll miss you," she said. "Thanks for dropping me off."

"Sure. No problem. Would you get on the damn train?"

Man, we're bad at this stuff. "Alright. I'm going. Thanks for the present." Amy kissed his cheek. He responded by sighing and pushing on her back some more, until she was at the door.

They said goodbye, quickly and painfully, and Amy moved into the car, where she was helped into a seat. A wave of panic hit her as she settled in. She had never traveled by herself, had never left home without someone else in charge. This whole thing suddenly seemed like a massive disaster waiting to happen, and Amy looked out the window, as if to signal to TK that she had to call this off.

And there he was, standing below her seat, making ridiculous faces. Amy snorted as he wrinkled his nose, pulled his eyelids down, and waggled his tongue. "What are you even doing," she said, although he had no chance of hearing it.

He cycled through a few more faces, and then the door closed with a thunk. TK grinned, winked, waved, and strolled off, hardly waiting for her return wave.

Amy watched him until he was out of view, then turned to the present on her lap. Alright, she thought warily, fingering the sloppy-assembled wrapping paper. She tore it apart and found sheets of heavy weight parchment paper. There were envelopes, as well, stamped and ready to go, bearing TK's name and address.

Oh, TK. Her eyes pinched shut, and she leaned back in her seat, resting her head against the cushion. Subtle.

There was no message included, which was unlike TK, who rarely missed a chance to put pen to paper, even if the note was meandering and superfluous. Somehow, that only added gravity to the demand: Write me, damn it.

It took a while for Amy to sort her emotions out. By then, the train was on its way, and the car was vibrating against the rails. She opened her eyes, flicked her tray down, fished a pen from her purse, and began her first letter of the summer.

Author's Notes:

That's the pot calling the kettle black: This is an idiom, meaning that the speaker is accusing someone else of a fault that the speaker has, as well. The idea is that the pot is calling the kettle sooty from being on the stove, but the pot is just as dirty.

Announcement: I have a giveaway going on my tumblr. The winners will receive a drawing or a scene written by me, featuring whatever they request! If this sounds interesting to you, please check out my tumblr (there's a link on my fanfiction profile)! If you don't have a tumblr account, you can enter by sending me a private message on fanfiction, but please remember to read the contest rules on tumblr beforehand.

Thanks for reading, ladies and gents! I am planning to update Growing Up with You next Sunday. There will be an accompanying image on my tumblr, so remember to check that out.