Chapter Four: Waltz and BBQ Part 2

Once again, special thanks to all reviewers! Woot to Anthro Beta-chan because she puts the airy in hairy.

Author's Note: The oldest ones are right around 17 or 18. The youngest are between 14 and 16. There really isn't a set age exactly, but just that general time frame.

Oooh I left ya at a cliffy, eh? Well, I guess not really, but I'm assuming a few of you have certain guesses to what the next few sentences contain………………

CONTINUED!

The thought to have everyone smear their piece of cake into the person they love's face crossed his mind. He quickly shot down the idea knowing that Mimi would probably kill him. Brutally. Hey, he had Jess and his brand new laptop to live for. But still, he figured that since he had the control, and that his girlfriend was at her home safe from any embarrassment, he had to do something to bring them together. It was just too good of an opportunity. But what on earth could he do to bring them together without making it too forward? He snickered. The perfect plan was about to be executed.

"Ok, Jyou, I need a stereo," Izzy asked. Jyou dashed into the house later emerging with a battery ran system. "Ok," Izzy announced, "you ready for this?" Everyone nodded. Yolei detected the malicious look on his face that she had only seen once before. "Ok, we all need partners, which I'll choose for you. Thank you to Mimi's idea to break the boredom last year; we all learned how to do the waltz. So you must waltz with your partner with your slices of cake on your heads. The couple to have it NOT on the ground shmushed by the end of the song wins. Ok, hmm, let's have Kari over here with…………..Ken? No, no, no, how about TK?" Izzy began. He continued to pair Mimi, Sora, and Yolei with Jyou, Tai, and Ken. "Ok, only Matt and I are left so we sure as hell aren't dancing with each other therefore we'll be the judges. You have to try to keep the cake on your head for an entire song." After he finished scanning the radio for a slow song, Matt started the contest officially.

Tai looked at Sora. "Alright, I wanna win!" said Tai trying to mask his heart that seemed to be pounding painfully out of his chest. Sora giggled and placed her cake on her head. With a long sweeping bow, Tai asked, "May I have this dance m'lady?" The mischievous glints in his eyes lead her to his outstretched arms. The two began to move as one to the music while being extra careful not to tip the paper plates on their heads. Sora looked up and locked her cinnamon eyes with his very dark chocolate ones. It seemed that in the two minutes that they gazed into each other's souls that no one else existed. Only bliss was around. Every twang of sorrow Sora felt and each bad memory Tai held melted. They automatically moved now, no longer having to think about their partner. The two had such a connection that they had their whole minds poured into the cake on their head and the intensity of each other's company.

Kari motioned to her brother and Sora while she was dancing with TK. It wasn't as big of a deal to them. TK and Kari had danced with each other so many times that if they did dance with any other person, it was tremendously awkward. At school dances, they always just went as one big group and traded dancing partners. However, Yolei usually seemed hell bent on always keeping Kari and TK together. Not that they cared. TK glanced at the dreamy look being exchanged between the couple. He giggled. "Good god, it's about time," he whispered to her. She snickered. "No kidding," she muttered. After just a few steps, what seemed to be magnetic force drew her eyes to his face. Smiling, TK gently turned her around forgetting about the cake. It fell to the ground with a splat, but neither seemed to care. Kari elegantly spun and came back into his arms, a bit closer than earlier. His strong shoulders lead her to and fro, occasionally stopping to twirl her again. By now, looks of pure euphoria covered their faces.

Yolei yanked Ken out of his shock. Ken couldn't dance anything, really, let alone waltz. He wasn't able to make it to Meem's little dance lesson last year, so he was dumbfounded. "C'mon Ken, before Mimi and Jyou put some stiff competition on us!" she pointed out. "Um, Yolei?" he said.

"Yes Ken?"

"I have no idea how to waltz."

"Oh, well I'll show you."

She began to show him the proper posture. Soon he caught onto the steps, but nearly tripped about ten seconds after he got the rhythm down. The two tumbled to the patio, laughing hysterically. Unfortunately, Ken landed face first into the fallen cake slice, making the laughing couple's stomachs hurt with laughter at each glance of his frosting covered face. Their laughter ended abruptly when Yolei leaned in slowly and licked the tip of his nose to rid of the frosting stuck there. She then leaned in a tenderly kissed his lips.

"C'mon Jyou!" Mimi exclaimed as she pulled him into dancing. Mimi loved to dance, and Jyou was a good dancer despite what you might think. "Look how happy Kari and TK look", he commented.

"Yeah, it's so sweet."

"It's about time too."

"Look at Sora and Tai! Geez, I don't know how, but they're even topping TK and Kari right now."

"Oh my god…………."

"Did you just see what I just saw Jyou?"

"Yulp."

"Oh my god, go Yolei! Geez, even I wouldn't have the guts to do something like that."

"Why not?"

"Well, everything would have to be, well, perfect, you know?"

"Yeah I know Meems."

At that moment he swung her around and suavely lowered her into a seductive dip. Of course the cake fell from their heads, but like they cared. Mimi was only inches away from his lips. Her eyes fluttered closed and they leaned in.

Izzy and Matt leaned back on the columns of the stained wood patio. They glanced from couple to couple. "Damn I wish Jenny was here," Matt said. Watching couples dance- you get sick for your own love. "I know what you mean," Izzy said. His eyes widened at Yolei. "Dude……." he said. "What the fuck……." Matt replied. At that moment they both started laughing their asses off, leaning on the other's shoulder and clutching their stomachs. "Remind me to tell Jenny about this and to buy a cake before the next time I see here," remarks Matt. Izzy laughed whole-heartedly. "Well, it looks like we have a winner," he said. Shutting the radio off, Matt walked over to Tai and Sora and removed their untouched pieces.

The song ended abruptly when Jyou was only inches from Mimi. The two spun around and jumped, blushing. TK and Kari snickered. "The winners of this year are Tai and Sora!" Matt shouted. "Oh, great, what's out prize?" Tai asked. "Well, you get to host the annual sleepover, particularly since your folks are out of town," Izzy commented. "However, Sora has to help too," Matt added. After another cake was brought out and every slice was eaten, the plans for the sleepover started. Their parents never really cared about this one boy-girl sleepover; they all trusted their kids and understood their bond. "Ok, well, of course we need Truth or Dare, can't have a party without that," Yolei said. Mimi smiled. "I know! Let's play I Never!" Mimi said with a smug grin. "What's that?" TK asked, "I've never played that before."

"You better not have," flatly said Matt. "Ok, Matt, I know you have had experience in this game, so, you bring the goods," Mimi instructed. "What food should we all bring?" Jyou inquired. "Our favorites, I guess," answered Sora. "What time should it be at?" Tai wondered. "Noon tomorrow until three the next day?" Ken put in. "Sure, sounds good", everybody said.

After working out a schedule of events for the sleepover the following day, everyone went their separate ways. Cody was run over by a car on the way to his grandfather's house, not that anyone noticed. Tai walked Sora home as they discussed everything they needed to do. Making a workable plan, Sora then invited Tai in for something to drink before he walked the whole three blocks home. "Thanks", said Tai, as she handed him a blue glass. Sora noticed a note hung on the refrigerator door.

Sora-

There was an emergency over at Grandma's; her gout has gotten worse. I drove out to visit her; I won't be home until Sunday night. For tonight, if you could find a friend to stay the night with, that would great. You'll be ok Saturday because of the sleepover. Miss and Love you, Mom.

Tai read over her shoulder. "Well, you could spend the night with me and Kari if you like," he asked shyly. "Thanks, that might work better since we have to set up the house for the party anyway, it saves me a trip," Sora said, winking. She hustled to throw together a bag for both nights and everything she needed for the sleepover. "Ok, I'm all ready," she said after a while. The two best friends began the short trek home. Sora looked at Tai. His hair was dusted by small snowflakes that had fallen of the trees as they walked under them. It was quite a contrast compared to his dark hair and eyes. His cheeks flushed with the cold. She now looked down at the slushy ground beneath her feet. 'Damn those in the whole snowflakes made him so……….endearing,' she thought. 'Wait what am I thinking? He's my best friend wide world!' she chided herself. Tai looked down at the auburn hair to his right. It was so vibrant against the gray and white wonderland. He noticed her shivering; her jacket was obviously not heavy enough. He placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer in an attempt to warm her. "Thanks, Tai," she said smiling. "No problem," he said with a rising flush as she leaned against him more.