Thursday, July 1st, Morning

The wailing of an infant Digimon was the second unwelcome surprise of the day for Jacob. Did it top the list? No, not yet at least. That honor still belonged to Zack's astounding ability to cling on to him. Did he lie to him for a month just for a 10 second punchline?

"I wouldn't put it past him…" Jacob mumbled to himself.

His pondering left him temporarily ignorant of the screeching newborn in his lap. At least, until the Digimon heard him. The crying seemed to have stopped as the two of them locked eyes in a blissful moment of silent understanding. A moment that faded all too fast when Jacob's Digivice began to beep.

"Hush Hush!" Jacob pleaded as he picked the ball creature up in one arm and started to rock it, "Please stop crying!"

It was no use. The source of the Digimon's frustration continued to sound from the pocket of Jacob's jeans. With his free hand, he reached for his Digivice and pressed the button that was glowing. A holographic compass appeared from the device and pointed towards the door he entered from.

"Alright you big cry baby, I guess we're headed back to the gym!" Taunted Jacob has grabbed his backpack and strolled back out of his dorm room through the only exit, "Maybe a couple rounds of sparring will toughen you up!"

Only he didn't return to the gym he first arrived in. Instead, he arrived in a long corridor lined with doors similar to the one he exited through with a staircase in the center. Throughout the hall, small groups of students gathered, all looking directly at him. At least he wasn't imagining the crying. Naturally, everyone else had their Digimon with them as well.

"You're a fussy one, aren't you?" said a sweet, familiar voice from his right.

Jacob turned and saw Ivy walking towards him with a cute red Digimon with three protrusions on its head bouncing behind her. She reached out her pale hand but paused before touching the Digimon in his grasp.

"May I?" She asked politely.

Jacob responded with a nod and she patted the black furball gently, causing it to calm down. Jacob couldn't help but laugh at how simply she had done that.

"Who would've guessed gentle pats would work better than threatening to pummel it?" came another familiar voice from the other side.

Jacob didn't bother turning. Zack would make his way into his face regardless. Although it would have saved him from Ivy's agitated scowl. Jacob wasn't quite ready to accept that he was in for another for years of this pattern. Sure enough, Zack comes around with his stupid smile on his stupid face with his dumb hands wrapped around the back of his ridiculous head. Jacob's frustration almost blinded him to the round, green monster nestled on top of Zack's hair. Taking another glance, he saw that the creature had a wide green horn and a tail that hung parallel to his partner's auburn ponytail.

"Hey, don't blame me, I had it calmed down!" Jacob tried to defend himself, "At least until this thing started beeping"

"Relax, we know you didn't mean it," Zack said chimed as his partner jumped off his head to play with the Ivy's, "But you gotta remember these guys don't."

Jacob set the temperamental mon down and the three Digimon bounced around together.

"I guess you're right."

After a few minutes of watching the Digimon play together and bantering between themselves, the trio were approached by Avery, who's partner bounced excitedly on her shoulder. It looked a lot like Jacobs, only white and with black, coal-like eyes instead of golden ones.

"Hey guys, Dr. Rue said to meet downstairs," She said as she bent down to look at the playing Digimon, "Do you guys know the names of your partners yet?"

Jacob stood silently. He didn't want to admit that he had no clue what the Digimon were called and hoped that either Ivy or Zack would ask for him. Zack once again fulfilled his expectations by shaking his head while holding his devilish smirk.

"The green, energetic one is called Zerimon, the red one's name is Punimon, and lastly is Botamon. My partner is actually YukimiBotamon. Maybe they're related?"

"Alright! Team Double Z's on the scene!" shouted Zack before striking an action pose that earned a laugh except for Jacob.

"Okay well, I need to go tell the others. It was nice talking to you guys!"

With that, Avery walked off to tell Tom and Ben about the meeting and the trio picked up their partners. Jacob and Zack began heading towards the staircase while Ivy went back to her room to grab her bag. The two boys made their way downstairs, Zack talking Jacob's ear off about how excited he was to have made it to Leap Zero. Finally, Jacob stopped in the middle of the hallway and broke his silence.

"You lied."

"Oh, that? Yeah, Kyle attacked me when I was trying to hold the door for him. I figure he's going through some stuff so I kept quiet." replied Zack, not grasping what Jacob was talking about.

"Not that. You knew the whole summer that you we're coming to Leap Zero and hid it from us so you could get a cheap laugh!"

"No way man, there was a mixup in the mail and I found it yesterday."

"Shut up!" Jacob raised his voice, "I know you're full of shit."

"Woah woah! Easy now Jacob," pleaded Zack as he took a step back from his furious friend, "Why are you so upset?"

"Because I'm sick of you! This was the best Summer of my life because I thought I'd be free from you always getting in the way!"

Jacob was now leaning in to shout at Zack. Nothing else mattered to him except for unleashing years of frustration towards him. That was, until he saw Ivy from the corner of his eye. Now all he could think about was how somehow... Zack had managed to make him look like an ass again.