Tai made his way to the cafeteria as lunch rolled around. He was thinking about his upcoming game and wasn't paying attention to where he was going. He slammed into someone and they went down. "I got you!" Suddenly Matt appeared and caught the person before they landed on the floor. Tai looked down at the person in his friends arm and gulped, "hey Sora, erm sorry about that." Tai said lamely and he put his hand behind his head and awakwardly laughed. Matt stood Sora up who scowled. "Let me guess, soccer on the brain?" Sora assumed and she put her hands on her hips. Tai shrugged and tried to smile. Matt rolled his eyes, "you okay Sora?" He asked and Sora nodded, "oh I'm fine. Tai? How are you or is your ego bruised now?" Tai frowned, "ha-ha, look Sora I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention." Sora sighed and then waved a hand. "So what's got you distracted?" Tai didn't want to admit that Sora was right so he quickly lied, "uhh you know school stuff." Sora bit her lip, "I went by your place today. Thought I would catch you but you had already left for practice. I wanted to talk to you." Tai sobered, "what's up?" He asked and Sora frowned, "is Kari okay? I saw her leaving and she looked upset." Tai was stunned, "I don't know. She was fine when I left." Sora nodded, "oh it's probably nothing she just looked, well..." Sora stopped and looked at Matt and then Tai, "maybe give her a call Tai." She ended and Tai furrowed his eyebrows. "Sure..." Tai replied and he pulled his phone out but eyed Sora suspiciously. Kari picked up on the second ring "hello?" "Hey Kar, it's me." Tai listened to his sister adjust the phone, "hey Tai, everything okay?" Tai nodded, "yeah just checking in on you. You okay?" "Why wouldn't I be?" Kari asked and Tai smirked, "just making sure nothing happened before you left for school this morning." Kari paused "oh that." She replied and Tai stood up straighter now worried "it was nothing I'm fine." Kari said quickly. Tai didn't like how rushed his sister sounded. "Kari what happened?" He asked sternly and he could see Matt and Sora step closer. "Tai I'm totally fine." Tai growled, "most of the time when you say that, you're totally not fine." He said angrily. Kari sighed, "I broke one of your trophies." Kari spat out and Tai went wide eyed, "wait? You broke one of my trophies?" "Yes." Tai was confused, "so you left the house crying because you broke one of my trophies." "Yes I am really sorry." Kari stated and Tai looked quizzically at Matt and Sora. "You're not hurt?" "No, no. I just knocked it off your dresser and I felt really bad." Tai couldn't help feeling that his sister wasn't being totally honest. "Well... okay... I guess. Sora just saw you this morning that's why I'm asking." Tai explained. "Mhmm, okay well Tai I really got to get going. I'm sorry though." Tai shook his head, "no sweat sis just take it easy okay?" "Okay, love you." "Love you too." Tai pulled his phone away and ended the call. "So is she okay?" Sora asked and Tai stared at his phone. "I don't think so." He said quietly. "Why's that?" Matt asked and Tai pocketed his phone and looked at his blond friend, "I think she's lying." Matt raised an eyebrow, "a sister lying to her brother, I think that's called adolescents." Matt smirked and Tai growled, "whatever I know my sister." He defended and Matt put his hands up, "TK lies to me sometimes, it's nothing to freak out over. She's not little anymore Tai. She's 14." Tai huffed, he wanted to fight Matt. He thought about his parents yelling the night before. He stopped "maybe you're right." He conceded. Sora bit her lip, "Tai? You okay?" She asked and Tai grinned, "hungry. Really hungry come on let's eat." He turned and started walking towards the lunch hall. He hoped Sora and Matt believed him. He wasn't so sure that things were okay for him and Kari.
The bell went for the end of the day and Kari cringed thinking about going home. She shook the fear away feeling like she was overreacting it was a mistake, he won't hurt you. He's your dad. She thought. A shadow loomed over her and Kari quickly looked up seeing TK. "Oh, hey." Kari greeted and TK smiled, "how's your hand?" He asked and Kari stood from her desk, "it's fine. Much better." She smiled and TK took a step back allowing Kari to move away from her desk. "Can I walk you home? I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you much today." Kari smirked, "I'm sure you were hurting real bad. Weren't you hanging out with Tina?" Kari asked with a smirk. TK chuckled, "yeah not my idea of a good time." Kari stopped, "TK, she's gorgeous and she's into you. What about that wouldn't be fun?" Kari asked slightly serious. TK grinned and shook his head, "jealous?" He asked and Kari laughed, "sure." She rolled her eyes and skipped ahead of him. She enjoyed teasing TK it made her feel more like a kid. It was fun. "So I guess you're sick of me then?" TK joked and Kari faced him with a serious expression, "how'd you know?" She then smirked and TK lunged towards her and poked her sides. Kari started laughing at the contact. TK poked her again and this time her stomach hurt. "Ah." Kari winced and she put a hand to her stomach. "You okay Kari?" TK asked now concerned. Kari nodded, "I'm fine just sore." She admitted and TK frowned, "I'm really sorry." Kari smiled trying to ease TK's worries. "I'm fine, I'm just being a baby." Kari downplayed her injury hoping she believed herself. TK grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Can I walk you home?" He asked softly and Kari was caught staring into his eyes. She didn't understand how he could do that, make her freeze with just one look. She loved it but also felt intimidated by the feeling. She nodded unable to speak. TK released her hand and stepped back, "I'll meet you out front." Kari nodded and TK winked at her before turning to head to his own locker. Once he was out of sight Kari frowned, I'm loosing my mind she thought and she turned and approached her own locker. "Hey Kari." Kari opened her locker and looked to her left. She smiled at Tanner a boy who was a year older than herself, "oh hey tanner, what's up?" She asked and Tanner smirked, "wondering what you're up to right now?" Kari looked at him a moment and felt uncomfortable. Tanner seemed to look at girls like they were a snack. It creeped Kari out. She grabbed her books and put them in her bag. She then closed her locker and looked at Tanner with a polite smile, "just heading out with a friend. Anything you need?" She asked hoping he'd say no and walk away. "When are you free?" He asked and he stepped closer. Kari felt her personal space being invaded and tried to stay polite and positive. "I'm not sure Tanner, I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked really hoping he'd leave. Tanner smirked and put a finger under Kari's chin. "Tomorrow then." He replied and then to Kari's relief, he turned and left. Kari blew out a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding. Guys can be so creepy, she thought bitterly. She put her bag over her shoulder and took a deep breath. The hallway was nearly empty and she hoped no one saw the exchange between herself and Tanner. She then tried to forget about it and move her feet towards the front door. She approached the glass doors and her shoulders relaxed as she saw TK standing outside waiting for her. She wasn't sure how but for as long as she had known TK, he always made her feel safe. She pushed through the doors and smiled at TK who looked up at her. "Ready?" He asked with a smile and TK nodded, "let's get out of here." She breathed and She walked in step next to TK. "So Matt texted me, he's got a gig tomorrow night." TK spoke and Kari was surprised to hear that Matt was playing a show. "I thought his band broke up?" She questioned and TK smirked, "oh yeah they did but he's in a new band now." Kari nodded happy Matt was still playing. She thought he was very talented and didn't want him to give up on his passion, "so do you want to go with me?" TK asked and Kari looked at him a moment. He sounded almost nervous. She pushed her shoulders against his in a playful manner, "trying to make your girlfriends jealous?" Kari teased and TK gently pushed Kari back, "maybe." He joked and Kari laughed as she bounced off her friend. She stopped walking a moment and thought about TK's offer, "I'd really like that TK." TK then stopped, "like what? To make my girlfriends jealous?" Kari rolled her eyes and started walking ahead of him, "ugh." She groaned jokingly. TK chuckled and caught up to her grabbing her arm gently, "I'm joking, you want to go?" Kari smiled, "yeah I would." She smiled and TK grinned, "cool... cool." He mumbled and Kari giggled, "weirdo." She commented and TK pulled on her arm to stop her from walking, "alright Kamiya. I've about had it with your sass." Kari stared at TK a moment, "what are you gonna do about it?" She asked with a raise of her eyebrow. TK then quickly lunged towards her and quickly scooped her up and hauled her over his shoulder. Kari started laughing hysterically but kept a hand on the back of her skirt. "TK! I'm in a skirt!" TK started walking with Kari over his right shoulder, "you're fine." He joked and Kari was red in the face as he walked a few more steps still carrying her. "You're a jerk." She submitted and TK chuckled, "you love me." He replied and Kari made a puking noise. TK laughed and then took a few more steps before setting Kari back on her feet. "Fine you win." TK said and Kari flattened out her uniform. She then punched him in the shoulder, "jerk." She joked again and TK wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "try to get rid of me Kar, I dare ya." Kari nestled into his side and smiled, "nah, I like having you around." She said honestly. TK squeezed her shoulders and then kissed her head. Kari felt her cheeks grow red. She was scared to look up at TK so she kept her face downward as the two walked, TK's arm still wrapped around Kari's shoulder. Suddenly TK's phone started buzzing and to Kari's disappointment, TK took his arm away and answered his phone. "Hello?" Kari put a finger to her mouth and started chewing on her nail. She turned away trying to rid her face from any redness. She hoped TK couldn't see how flushed she was. "Okay I'll see you soon." TK hung up his phone and Kari looked at him. "Who was that?" She asked and TK smiled, "Matt. He's coming over for dinner." Kari smiled "oh that's nice." She said and TK nodded, "yeah but I have to get to the grocery store and pick up some stuff." Kari nodded, "well have fun with Matt tonight." TK smiled and stepped towards her, "I'm excited for tomorrow night." He told her and Kari looked up at him, "me too." She admitted and TK closed the space between them and kissed her cheek. "I'll call you tomorrow." He said softly as he stepped back. Kari didn't trust herself to speak so she nodded instead. TK chuckled and then turned and walked towards the market. Kari knew she was as red as a tomato but she didn't care. She felt light and excited. She liked the way TK was treating her. She didn't know when TK started to act this way but she hoped he never stopped. She skipped across the street and glided towards her apartment building. It wasn't until she was standing in front of her front door the events from that morning flooded through her mind. She gulped as she slid her key into the lock. She shook her head, you're over reacting it's fine, she thought to herself and she opened her front door and went inside.