Chapter 2

Kari

I had wanted to talk to TK all morning, and it killed me that I hadn't seen him at all. Instead, I sat playing with my lunch, barely eating it. Murmurs from my classmates swirled around me.

"Kari!"

I turned my head and smiled. She was one of my non-digidestined friends. She had that look on her face that told me she was full of gossip. Typically, I brushed off the gossip and didn't pay any real attention to it, but something seemed different.

"What's the scoop on TK's girlfriend?" she asked.

The blood drained from my face. "What are you talking about?"

She took a deep breath. "TK apparently told Josh who told Elaine who told me that he had a girlfriend who lived in Paris. I figured you're his best friend. You would know, so spill."

I gripped the table, feeling a wave of nausea in the pit of my stomach. "I don't feel well. I'm going to the nurse."

I stood up, but I didn't get too far before Davis blocked my path. "Hey, Kari, what's going on?"

"I'm okay," I said. "I just need some air."

I walked past him, though I wasn't really sure where I was going. I just needed to get out of there.

I couldn't help but remember the last time I walked out of class and used the nurse as an excuse. TK had come to find me. Part of me hoped he would this time, too, but the more logical part of me knew that he wouldn't, especially because this time he hadn't seen me walk out.

Like last time, I went outside, though I didn't sit on a bench. I just wanted to go for a walk. Maybe the fresh air would help me.

Wings flapping and paws rustling through the grass caught my attention. I turned to Gatomon and Patamon, giving them a small smile.

"Ditching school on the first day. You're such a rebel," Gatomon teased.

I sighed. "I think I'm done for the rest of the year."

"Why? What's wrong?" she asked.

I looked at her, then turned to Patamon. "Why did someone ask me about TK's Paris girlfriend?"

That guilty look from earlier returned to his face. Gatomon turned to him as well.

"He didn't want to tell you. He doesn't know what to tell you," Patamon said. "Something happened, but he's not even sure what. That's why he didn't want to tell you. At least, not until he knew."

I stared past them, unable to meet their worried gazes. "He fell in love. Didn't he?"

Patamon flew higher, forcing me to look at him. "It's not that. Well, not in the way you're thinking."

"But, why is he avoiding me?" I asked. "Or, does he know . . . and that's why . . . "

Panic shot through my body. Of course he knew. He avoided me because he didn't want to tell me he found someone else. It would be like TK to want to spare my feelings.

"Does he know what?"

Gatomon turned to Patamon, who floated back down. "Kari is in love with TK."

Patamon's jaw dropped.

Gatomon smacked her forehead. "You and TK are perfect together. You're just as oblivious as he is."

Patamon looked at me again. "He doesn't know that. You should tell him."

Gatomon shook her head. "These are human teenagers we're talking about, Patamon. She's hid her feelings for years. He's going to find out only at the worst possible time, and then this hot mess is going to turn into an inferno."

I fought back the smile that tugged at my lips. That was typically how it happened, wasn't it?

"Kari, if you want him, you're going to have to fight for him," Gatomon said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "If he's really your friend, he still will be no matter what."

I nodded. She was right. I needed to do this today.

I heard the faint ring of the bell, so I headed back inside. Once I got in there, I found Malik, looking as if he was waiting for someone.

"I was looking for you," he said. "I thought you ran away."

I smiled, shaking my head. "No, I just needed to take a walk."

"I saw you get upset when that girl asked you about some TK person. What was up with that?"

I paused. Had he really been watching me? We were sitting next to each other, but I thought he wasn't paying attention.

"It's nothing," I said. I wanted to leave it at that, but I felt almost compelled to continue, "TK is just a friend of mine, but he's been kind of distant lately."

"And you were upset over someone asking about his girlfriend?"

I tensed up. "He just didn't tell me is all."

He didn't seem convinced. "So you're his friend and had no idea, but some random person knew before you did?"

I stopped walking. I hadn't even thought about that. I told TK everything, but he didn't say a word, even before he became distant.

"I don't know," I admitted. "Things have been weird between us lately."

He had stopped, too. His intense gaze locked on mine, and for a moment I forgot to breathe. "A real friendship isn't complicated like this. I hope you know that a real friend wouldn't do this to you. Would you ever do this to him?"

I shook my head. "I'm always there for him."

He nodded. "Just as I thought."

"But, until now, he's always been there for me, too. I know it'll get better." The feeling of dread started to go away again, but it lingered. What if it didn't get better?

He turned away and started walking again. "I'm sure you're right. I just hate seeing someone as nice as you get treated like that."

TK

My classes were all a blur as I tried to make sense of the million thoughts and feelings going on inside me. This had been my life for weeks now, and I should've been used to it, but seeing Kari again just made it worse.

Last period, I had a science lab class with Kari. I ducked into the restroom beforehand and splashed cold water on my face. I could get through this. I just needed to focus.

A guy with dark hair and dark eyes entered as I was drying off. I hadn't seen him before, but he looked to be around my age.

"You're in year 9, right?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, why?"

He smiled. "Name's Malik. I'm new here. I'm just trying to get to know some people."

"I was the new kid a couple years ago," I said. "I was lucky enough to already have a friend who went here, though. I'm TK, by the way."

"Nice to meet you." He looked to the side. "Do you happen to know Kari Kamiya?"

A sharp pang went through my chest at the mention of her name. "Yeah, I know her. She's one of my friends. Why?"

He looked back at me. "I met her this morning. She seems nice enough. But, just a few minutes ago, she ran into me in the hallway and she was crying."

The pain grew. "Where is she?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure. I overheard someone ask her a question about some guy, and she just took off crying."

Pain turned to guilt. Why did I get the feeling I was the reason why she was crying?

He locked eyes with me, and the guilt seemed to intensify. "She's too nice. She doesn't deserve that kind of person in her life. She should be happy."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I agree."

He walked out, leaving me alone again. It was as if this guy just came in to talk to me, as if he knew who I was. Had Kari told him about me?

It didn't matter. Upsetting her was the one thing I was trying not to do. I needed a new plan.

Kari

On my way to my last class, someone came up beside me and grinned. "Finally, just the two of us. Or something close to that."

The halls were still crowded, but not a digidestined around besides us. I looked up at TK. His blue eyes were full of that familiar warmth I had missed.

I smiled, and for the first time that day, I completely meant it. "Not for long. Davis is in this class, too."

As if on cue, Davis ran up behind us. "Hey, TK, I'll race you for the seat beside Kari."

TK waved him off. "Go ahead. I sat beside her the last few years. I should give you a turn."

Davis and I looked at TK as if there was an alien parasite on his face. He wasn't serious, was he?

TK headed in. "I'll sit behind you, so you better not try anything, Davis."

I wanted to talk to TK, but I couldn't with Davis now at my side. As he said, TK took a seat behind me. I wanted to get up and sit beside him anyway, but then a blushing red-haired girl sat next to him. He didn't want to sit beside me now. What was I supposed to make of that?

"It's no fun when he doesn't even try," Davis whispered to me.

I didn't reply. Instead, I turned my focus on the front of the room and tried to pay attention. Confronting TK would have to wait until after class.

After class, TK headed out and I was quick to follow him. I placed my hand on his shoulder and he jumped and turned around.

"Sorry to startle you, but I was wondering, would you mind walking me home?"

His eyes read like an apology, and I knew what was coming. "I can't tonight. Mom wants me home early."

My heart sank a little, but then an idea hit me. "Can I go home with you for a bit, then? I really want to talk to you."

He looked away, and I could tell he was trying to make another excuse.

I sighed. If you don't want me around, just say it, TK. Don't make excuses. Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes. I wanted so bad to say those words to him, but I didn't. I wasn't good at confrontations.

"Hey, Kari, I can walk you home."

I turned around and saw Malik standing there. I nodded. "Okay, thank you."

I walked over to Malik's side, and he slung his arm around my back. A weird feeling came over me, one I couldn't describe. For a second, I looked back at TK, whose eyes had widened in apparent shock.

Thanks again for reading :) Hope you're enjoying it.