Entertaining Notions

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Happy? Same goes for any songs or films mentioned in this fic.

Summary: Matt, Tai, and Sora. They're a trio, the best of friends. As senior year begins, things begin to get crazy. Still, they have each other. But what happens when notions are entertained and the fine line between love and friendship blurs beyond recognition?

Chapter Two

Sora had always wanted a father. Her own had left when she was young, and after a time, Mr. Ishida had become her surrogate one. Sora had always wanted a real father. But now that Kevin, her step, had returned, she wasn't so sure anymore.

Kevin was a big man, both in build and in height. He still towered over the girl and her mother, but both Matt and Tai already reached his eyes. He was also loud, messy, and obnoxious, three things Sora despised in grown men. Kevin hated Sora, had from the moment he saw her in the house on that very first date. But he was also her step-father. And no matter how much she wished it wasn't true, nothing would change.

"Hello, Sora." She tried her hardest not grimace as Kevin acknowledged her from the kitchen table. Instead, Sora nodded at him. "Kevin."

It had been a week. He'd moved back into the master bedroom with her mother, and generally taken run of the house, effectively jostling the foundation of Sora's life once again.

"You still hang around with those two punks?"

Ignore him. Walk away… Gritting her teeth, Sora did just that, ignoring his cries as she walked out of the house. Sora walked aimlessly until her feet guided her to the park, where a familiar figure was juggling a soccer ball on his knees. Silently, Tai passed her the ball and headed for the net, adjusting his gloves and goggles.

A hard glint in her eye, Sora slammed the ball at the mesh, the boy grasping it by the tips of his fingers. He tossed it back, and she shot again. Again and again. Some Tai caught, some he didn't. They continued like this in steady silence, until the moon glowed high above their heads. But eventually the ferocity of Sora's kicks lessened, until she stopped.

Tai abandoned the net, coming to a halt before her. "Sora…"

A muffled sob was heard as the auburn haired teen fell to her knees, tears streaming down her already red face. Tai dropped beside her, enveloping the girl in a hug. They stayed like that for a while, until Sora managed to collect herself for the walk home.

This was how she vented. They never spoke of it again.

"Matt! It's me! Your biggest fan!"

A stampede of fangirls, let by one June Motomiya, charged down the music room hallway. Remember that fanclub? June's the president.

Tai was the first to notice. Matt quickly followed suit. Sora, who had her back to the throng, glanced up at the boys quizzically. "Guys? What—"

The remainder of the question was cut off by a flurry of movement. Both Matt and Sora's books crashed to the floor as the boy pushed the latter up against the wall, putting both hands on either side of her head. Tai stepped easily in front of them as the Matt fanatics came to a screeching halt.

"Sorry ladies," said Tai in his most professionally suave voice, "Matt's a little busy at the moment."

"With what?" demanded June, "That little whore?"

"What did she just call me?" Sora hissed, moving to confront the other girl, but finding she couldn't. Matt was too close. "Sora," he whispered. "Please play along. Please?"

She glared at him. He looked quite adorable when he was desperate. "You owe me one, Ishida."

He nodded, and she reached up to play with the choker peeking out from his unbuttoned collar. Sora knew the others could probably all see what she was doing; and sure enough, they were all glaring at her.

"But Matty…" she pouted on her best pout to go along, "You promised you'd teach me how to play the guitar tonight."

"I know, Sor." Even to her own ears, Matt sounded incredibly sexy. Hell, if music ever fell through, the boy could sure make as an actor. "But the band got a last-minute gig, and we could use the money. You understand, don't you?"

It took Sora a moment to respond. She'd never seen Matt's eyes such a deep blue before. The girl gave him her best smile. "I understand."

The teen idol flashed a grin of relief. Sora couldn't tell if he was acting this time. "You're amazing, you know that?" Matt's breath tickled her ear. She giggled involuntarily. Sora was extremely ticklish.

It was very quiet in the hallway. The rest of the student body present seemed to enjoy witnessing Matt and Sora's distraction.

"I gotta talk to Mr. Carson about something." Matt said, breaking the silence. "Wait for me?"

The final stage of the improv. Sora smiled softly. "Sure."

And with half the school watching, he bent down and planted a sweet kiss on her forehead. A faint pink flushed Sora's cheeks as Matt slipped into the music room. Sora let a small smile grace her lips as she glanced down at the floor. When she looked up again, every fan girl alive was thinking how much they hated her.

Tai, who'd thoughtfully picked up all the fallen books, handed Sora her own. Everyone waited for the leader of the Teenage Wolves to reappear. When Matt finally did, he took his things from Tai, turned to the crowd, and in his infamously deep voice announced:

"If anyone ever badmouths my friends again, I will personally make sure they never go to another Teenage Wolves concert."

Sora rolled her eyes slighty. "Can we go now?" He was too sweet sometimes. Her words seemed to break the spell. The hallway came to life once more, taking our three best friends along with it.

--

"C'mon Sor! Show me what you've got."

The girl set her jaw determinedly. It was the middle of Gym class, and Tai was currently taunting her with the soccer ball at his feet. She lunged, and missed. The boy dodged her attempt, but wasn't fast enough to do it twice. Sora laughed triumphantly as she jogged away, Tai hot on her heels.

How she loved this game.

--

Whoever said Senior Year was the highlight of the four year stint clearly had a selective memory. The homework was endless, project criteria steadily becoming more difficult. Sora's back and shoulders ached almost constantly, not to mention her head. So you can understand how the girl must've felt after a terrible conversation with Mimi.

Flashback

Sora had only managed a single bite of her chicken Caesar salad wrap when a pink blur rushed up. "LIAR!"

The girl looked up, startled. "Mimi? What's—"

"You lied to me!" Mimi wailed. It seemed people had no trouble interrupting Sora. But at the moment, that was the last thing on her mind. The auburn-haired teen was eating only with Izzy today; Matt and Tai had a joint project to finish.

"Mimi." Sora began again, "What are you talking about?" It was a frequent question between the two of them. Between her sobs, Mimi told her.

"You said you and Matt were just friends."

"That's right." Affirmed the girl, dreading what could come next.

"Then WHY did June say that she say he kissed you yesterday? That you were flirting and cannodeling with each other?"

From across the table, Izzy choked on his soda. Apparently this was news to him as well. Sora took a deep breath. If June wasn't Davis's sister…

"Because," she explained impatiently, "June's obsessed with Matt. I think that's pretty clear. Matty and I—" Sora caught herself. "Matt and I were just pretending to flirt to get rid of all the girls. Incase you haven't noticed, Mimi, he doesn't like the attention all that much."

The tomboy was getting increasingly agitated. She didn't gauge Mimi's insulted reaction before plunging on: "And we weren't cannodeling, or whatever else June might have said." Who said thatanymore?

"What about the kiss?" the other girl demanded. Sora groaned. "He kissed me on the forehead, Mimi. It wasn't like we were making out or anything."

"Then why did you blush?" The look in Mimi's said she thought she had her.

"Well, Matt doesn't usually kiss me in front of a hundred other people."

"B-but he kisses you a lot?!" Hysterical, anyone?

Sora rolled her eyes. "I dunno, not really. On the forehead, on the cheek—he's been doing it since we were fifteen. Tai too."

Mimi didn't seem to hear that last part. "Have you kissed him?"

"Sure I have." Sora replied without thinking. Then it registered. "It's not what you think—"

But the girl was too far gone. "Don't think we're still friends you traitor!" And then she ran for June's table.

Sora sighed and turned to Izzy. "Sorry you had to hear that."

The boy drained what was left of his soda. "It's okay. But Sora…"

"Not you too!" Sora pinched the bridge of her nose. "It was nothing. Matt…you know how he is. He hates those girls. I was just helping him out; although I didn't exactly have a choice."

Izzy chuckled. "I know. I believe you Sora, don't worry."

It was everyone else she would have to convince.

"Gee Sor, you look terrible."

The teen heaved a sigh and glared half-heartedly at Tai, who was parked in the street before her home, with Kari in front and Matt in the backseat. She still couldn't believe he drove a Mustang with a pull-down top.

"Shut up."

The boy just grinned as she clamoured inside. "Seriously though, did you sleep at all last night?"

Sora shook her head. "Company. I couldn't go to bed until they left." The girl took a closer look at her seat companion as they drove away, eyes narrowing. Matt had pale circles under those blue orbs.

"Oh no. Did you have a show last night?"

The blonde averted his gaze, and Sora frowned. "Matt, you know I hate it when you take late gigs."

"Sorry Sor."

She sighed, stifling a yawn. "Just don't do it anymore okay? Please."

Matt nodded. "Yeah." Sora yawned again, and the boy glanced sideways at her. "Sleep."

"Where?" The girl gestured dubiously at the space around them. Matt waved her closer, raising his eyebrows. Sora wrinkled her own at him. "You sure?"

He just nodded. "I don't mind."

-

When Kari looked back and giggled, Tai glanced in the rearview mirror to see Sora on Matt's shoulder, his head against hers. They were both asleep.

They made a cute couple. Tai shook his head slightly to rid himself of the thought. Sometimes he'd wondered if there were anything more going on between his two closest friends. And then he'd convince himself it wasn't true.

Of course it wasn't.

Author's Note: That's right, I'm back. This is it for a while, since I'm swamped with the rest of my life and other projects going on right now. If anyone has suggestions on how to connect these few scenes:

Sickness and Heros

Broken Pacts

Drunken Scares.

I don't want to give it away. I just need some filler stuff. Anything is appreciated.

Annie